Linear tracking arm assembly with electric brake

A linear tracking arm assembly for linearly tracking a recording medium carrying thereon audio or video information in response to lead-in and return indication signals, which assembly comprises;

• recording medium drive means for driving said recording medium in a predetermined manner;
• support and guide means fixedly positioned in conjunction with said recording medium, said support and guide means comprising a pair of guide rails spaced apart from and coextensive with each other and extending in a predetermined direction with respect to said recording medium drive means;
• conveyor means to engaged with said support and guide means as to be linearly movable substantially in parallel with said predetermined direction, said conveyer means including a support body and at least three rollers rotatably mounted on said support body, at least one of said rollers being rollable on one of said guide rails and the remaining rollers being rollable on the other guide rail so that said support body is movable along said guide rails;
• a pick-up arm movable with said support body;
• electro-magnetic drive means connected to said conveyer means, for moving said conveyer means linearly along guide rails in response to a drive signal;
• a speed sensor mounted on said conveyer means, for producing a speed signal according to the detected speed;
• and
• control means connected to said electro-magnetic drive means, for producing said drive signal in accordance with said lead-in and return indication signal and a deviation signal;
• a deviation detector mounted on said conveyer and connected to said control means, for producing said deviation signal in accordance with deviation of said pick-up arm with respect to said support body;
• and
• electric brake means connected to said speed sensor and said control means, for modifying said drive signal in response to said speed signal so as to apply a brake to said conveyer means.