Geometrical instruments – Gauge – With support for gauged article
Reexamination Certificate
2001-09-28
2003-07-08
Gutierrez, Diego (Department: 2859)
Geometrical instruments
Gauge
With support for gauged article
C033S543000, C033S549000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06588120
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to video tape recorders. More particularly, the present invention relates to improved techniques for aligning the component parts of a drum assembly that is used in a video tape recorder.
Video tape recorders that employ rotating record/reproduce head assembly are well known. In such recorders, tape that is used as the recording medium is wrapped partially around a drum assembly that houses the rotating record/reproduce head assembly. In general, the head assembly rotates while the tape is moved (or held stationary) so as to record or reproduce. By way of example,
FIG. 1
illustrates a video tape recorder
2
that includes a housing
4
for enclosing the components and circuitry of the video recording devices. As shown in the cut away portion
6
, one of the components is a drum assembly
10
having a tape
8
wrapped partially therearound. By way of example, representative video tape recorders utilizing a drum assemblies may include models DVW, DNW, HDW Series manufactured by Sony Corporation.
FIGS. 2A & 2B
illustrates an exemplary drum assembly
10
.
FIG. 2A
is a perspective view, of the drum assembly
10
, and
FIG. 2B
is a side elevation view, in cross section, of the drum assembly
10
. As shown, the drum assembly
10
includes an upper drum
12
, an inner drum or scanner
14
, a lower drum
16
, a drum support
18
, a spindle assembly
20
, an upper base
22
and a lower base
24
. The inner drum
14
, which is disposed inside an opening
26
formed in the upper drum
12
, is attached to the spindle assembly
20
via four inner drum screws
28
. The inner drum
14
, among other things, includes a plurality of record/reproduce heads
15
configured for video recording. The record/reproduce heads
15
are disposed between the upper and lower drums
12
,
16
. As should be appreciated, the record/reproduce heads
15
are rotated via the spindle assembly
20
to accomplish any recording or reproducing tasks. The inner drum
14
, also includes a cavity
32
for allowing a slip ring assembly (not shown) to be positioned therein. Slip ring assemblies carry electrical signals between the rotating heads and other equipment with which the rotating head has relative motion. By way of example, representative slip ring assemblies may be found in co-pending patent application Ser. No. 09/721,436, which is titled “Slip Ring Assembly For Use In a Video Recorder” and filed on Nov. 22, 2000, and which is herein incorporated by reference.
The lower base
24
is structurally coupled to the upper base
22
and the upper base
22
is structurally coupled to the lower drum
16
. The drum support
18
is configured to hold or support the upper drum
12
relative to the lower drum
16
. For example, as shown, the drum support
18
includes an upper drum support arm
36
and a lower drum support arm
38
that are attached together via a pair of upper drum support screws
40
. Further, the lower drum support arm
38
is attached to a lower surface of the lower drum
16
via a pair of lower drum support screws
42
and the upper drum support arm
36
is attached to an upper surface of the upper drum
12
via a pair of upper drum screws
44
. In most cases, the lower drum support arm
38
includes an inner peripheral surface
39
, which abuts an outer peripheral surface
13
of the upper drum
12
. The inner peripheral surface
39
is typically arranged in an arcuate manner. In order to ensure contact between the lower drum support arm and the upper drum, a leaf spring mechanism
45
for biasing them together may be provided. In addition, the drum support
18
provides a space
30
so as to position a tape (not shown) along the outer periphery of the drum
10
adjacent the recording/reproducing heads
15
.
The spindle assembly
20
includes a spindle
46
and a spindle pad
48
. The spindle
46
is rotatably coupled to the upper base
22
via a set of bearings
52
and powered by a motor (not shown) housed within the lower base
24
. The motor is typically configured to rotate the spindle
46
along an axis
54
at speeds up to 10,000 revolutions per minute (rpm). One end of the spindle pad
48
is attached to the spindle
46
while the opposite end is attached to the inner drum
14
. The spindle pad
48
includes a guide post
33
and a mounting flange
50
. As shown, the guide post
33
extends into a portion of the cavity
32
, and the mounting flange
50
provides a mounting surface for securing the inner drum
14
thereto. Furthermore, the guide post
33
includes a guide hole
34
configured for supporting a slip ring assembly (not shown).
Unfortunately, the design and implementation of the drum assembly leads to problems which may shorten part life and the proper functioning of the video recording device in which it is used. For example, one problem associated with the above assembly is that the component parts (e.g., spindle assembly
20
, lower drum
16
, upper drum
12
) of the drum assembly may become misaligned. As a result of misalignment, excessive vibrations and/or excessive wear may be encountered during rotation of the spindle within the upper and lower drums. In addition, it may be difficult for the heads
15
to record or reproduce.
In view of the foregoing, there are desired improved methods and apparatuses for aligning the component parts of a drum assembly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates, in one embodiment, to an indicator tool for checking the alignment of a component of a drum assembly used in a video recording device. The indicator tool includes a housing. The indicator tool further includes a holding mechanism coupled to the housing and adapted to secure the indicator tool to a second component of the drum assembly. The indicator tool also includes a measuring device coupled to the housing and adapted to measure the eccentricity of the component when the indicator tool is secured to the second component of the drum assembly.
The invention relates, in another embodiment, to an alignment tool for aligning a support structure of a drum assembly used in a video recording device. The alignment tool includes an alignment plate adapted to be secured to a component of the drum assembly. The alignment plate includes a reference surface, which provides a reference position relative to the position of the component of the drum assembly when the alignment plate is secured to the component of the drum assembly. The alignment tool also includes a positioning mechanism coupled to the alignment plate and adapted to adjust the position of the support structure so that the support structure abuts the reference surface of the alignment plate. When the support structure abuts the reference surface, the support structure is placed in the reference position relative to the position of the component.
The invention relates, in another embodiment, to an alignment fixture for aligning a component of a drum assembly used in a video recording device. The alignment fixture allows the drum assembly to be aligned outside of the video recording device. The alignment fixture includes a base configured to receive and support the drum assembly. The alignment fixture further includes a reference system configured to place a portion of the drum assembly in a known position relative to the base. The alignment fixture further includes a positioning system for adjusting the position of the component of the drum assembly relative to the base when the portion of the drum assembly is positioned in the known position.
The invention relates, in another embodiment, to a method of aligning a drum assembly used in a video recording device. The method includes checking the alignment of a first component of the drum assembly relative to an axis of the drum assembly. The method further includes making a determination as to whether the alignment is within a desired limit. The method also includes adjusting the position of the first component relative to the axis when the alignment is not within the desired limit. The adjusting placing the alignme
Athanasiou Constantine
Athanasiou George
Athan Corporation
Beyer Weaver & Thomas LLP
Courson Tania C.
Gutierrez Diego
LandOfFree
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