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US 4,065,801 AGranted
Kit for cleaning tape cartridge playback unit
OwnerRaymond C. Leaminginventor
Life of this patent
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OwnerRaymond C. Leaminginventor
Estimating the term…
A kit for cleaning the interior working parts of a cartridge type tape playback unit comprises a completely hollow cartridge case having parallel track guide means disposed in its two sides. The hollow cartridge case is designed to actuate the unit when it is inserted in the unit and provide the user of the cleaning kit with an unobstructed view of the playback head, the capstan and the sensing pole as well as other similarly disposed interior working parts over which the tape would normally travel. A tool holder having three interchangeable heads is provided. Two of the heads, one of abrasive material and the other of felt or the like, are formed with a concave cleaning surface and are dimensioned so as to be received between the guides in the side walls of the cartridge case. The guides are aligned with the capstan so as to direct the concave surface of the cleaning head into intimate contact with the capstan surface. The third cleaning head is formed as a swab of cotton-like material and is designed for cleaning the sensing pole and playback head.
A kit for cleaning the components of a cartridge tape playback unit having a rotating drive capstan and an opening for receiving a cartridge enclosed tape, comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
Drawings are temporarily unavailable. Open the PDF at USPTO
Using web-form record carriers, e.g. tape: using tape inside container
Recording by magnetisation or demagnetisation of a record carrier; Reproducing by magnetic means; Record carriers therefor: cleaning of heads
Information storage based on relative movement between record carrier and transducer
Term ended 27 Dec 1994 (estimated)
USPTO file history isn’t available for this patent, so only indexed dates are shown.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the cleaning of components of a tape player of the cartridge type and more particularly relates to a kit, including a hollow cartridge insertable in a tape player, for effecting the cleaning of the player components.
2. Description of the Prior Art
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the various components of the kit of the present invention indicating the manner in which the hollow cartridge is inserted in a tape playback unit.
FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the hollow cartridge of the present invention inserted in the playback unit with a cleaning tool positioned for cleaning the drive capstan.
FIG. 3 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 2 but indicating the manner in which the cleaning tool is positioned to clean the other components of the playback unit.
Referring now to the drawings and in particular to FIG. 1, there is shown a portion of a conventional 8-track playback unit 11 having an opening 11a therein for normally receiving an 8-track cartridge. The elements of the kit of the present invention for cleaning the components of the playback unit are generally designated by the reference numeral 20.
The elements of the kit include a hollow cartridge 10, formed of plastic or the like, and which may be conveniently made by removing the inner parts of a conventional 8-track cartridge tape. The hollow cartridge case 10 includes an upper wall 10a, a bottom wall 10b, a rear wall 10c, a front wall 10f and side walls 10d and 10e. Apertures 30a and 30b are provided in side walls 10d and 10e respectively for a purpose which will appear more fully hereinbelow. The conventional cartridge case is modified by providing parallel trackways 18a and 18b on the interior sides of side walls 10d and 10e, respectively for a purpose which will be explained more fully hereinbelow.
Provided with the kit of the present invention is tool holder 21 having a handle portion 26 and a shaft 27 with a bayonet slot 28 in its end for lockingly receiving interchangeable cleaning heads 22, 23 and 24. Cleaning head 22 has a concave abrasive surface for mating with a drive capstan, cleaning head 23 has a concave felt surface for cleaning the drive capstan while cleaning head 24 takes the form of a cotton swab or the like. Cleaning heads 22, 23 and 24 are respectively provided with shafts 25a, 25b and 25c having projections 29a, 29b and 29c thereon for lockingly engaging bayonet slot 28 of tool holder 21.