US 4,056,835 A · Head support and eject mechanism for recording and/or playback apparatus

Abstract

Head support apparatus for a recording and/or playback apparatus including a pivotable support member upon which the head is mounted. The support member is pivotally coupled to a pivot rod and pivots in a plane substantially normal to the movement of tape past the record and/or playback head with the pivotal movement of the support member controlled to selectively place the head in contact with the tape. In one embodiment, the tape is stored in a housing which is supported within the recording/playback apparatus, the tape and tape housing being loaded and unloaded with the assistance of a tray. A second support member adjacent the first-mentioned support member is pivotally coupled to the same pivot rod. A spring is coupled between the tray and the second support member to bias the tray toward a receiving position for receiving a tape housing and to bias the second support member toward the tray. A latching member on the second support member cooperates with a detent on the tray to releasably lock the tray in an operative position. An erase head is mounted on the second support member to be inserted into the tape housing when the tray is locked in its operative position.

Claims18

Dependent claims

In a recording and/or playback apparatus of the type wherein information is recorded on and/or played back from magnetic tape driven past a record and/or playback head, support apparatus for said head, comprising a first pivotable support member upon which said head is mounted;

means extending from said first support member for pivotally coupling said first support member to a pivot axis such that said first support member and said head are pivotable through an arc which lies in a plane substantially normal to the movement of said tape;
means for controlling the pivotal movement of said first support member to selectively place said head in contact with said tape;
a second pivotable support member disposed adjacent said first support member;
an erase head mounted on said second support member to selectively contact said tape;
means extending from said second support member to said pivot axis such that said second support member is pivotable through an arc which lies in a plane substantially normal to said movement of tape;
and means for pivotally moving said second support member.

3 more elements

In a recording and/or playback apparatus of the type wherein information is recorded on and/or played back from magnetic tape stored in a housing and movable past a record and/or playback head insertable into said housing, apparatus comprising a tray pivotable about a first pivot axis in response to a force exerted thereon between a receiving position for receiving said housing and an operative position for disposing said housing in an operable position;

a first support bridge having depending legs for pivotally supporting said bridge on a second pivot axis and a cross-member for supporting a record and/or playback head and a pinch roller;
means for selectively pivoting said first bridge toward and away from said tray to selectively insert said record and/or playback head and said pinch roller into said tape housing when said housing is disposed in said operable position;
a second support bridge adjacent said first bridge having depending legs for pivotally supporting said second bridge on said second pivot axis and a cross member for supporting an erase head;
a spring coupled between said tray and said second bridge to bias said tray toward said receiving position and said second bridge toward said tray for inserting said erase head into said tape housing when said housing is disposed in said operable position;
a latching member on said second bridge having upper and lower cam faces;
a detent member on said tray having upper and lower cam faces, the lower cam face of said detent member riding on the upper cam face of said latching member as said tray is pivoted to its operative position to pivot said second bridge away from said tray until said detent member clears said latching member;
and a manually depressible eject lever coupled to said second bridge for pivoting said second bridge away from said tray, said lower cam face of said latching member riding on said upper cam face of said detent member as said second bridge is pivoted away until said latching member clears said detent member.

4 more elements

a tray for receiving said tape housing, said tray being coupled to and pivotable about a first pivot axis between a receiving position and an operative position so as to dispose a received tape housing in a predetermined operable alignment;
a pivotable support member upon which said head is mounted, said support member being pivotally coupled to a second pivot axis for moving said head in a plane substantially normal to the direction of tape movement to selectively place said head in contact with said tape when said tape housing is in said predetermined operable alignment;
and latching means pivotally coupled to said second pivot axis for releasably latching said tray in said operative position.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Head support and eject mechanism for recording and/or playback apparatus

Life of this patent

Head support and eject mechanism for recording and/or playback apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18