# US 4,393,424 A · Pressure arm assembly for disc recorders > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 4,393,424 A - Document ID: US4393424A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 06/235,587 - Filed: 1981-02-18 - Granted: 1983-07-12 - Earliest claimed: 1979-06-21 - Assignees: Sycor, Inc. - Inventors: Mohan P. Vidwans - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4393424A ## CPC - G11B 5/54: with provision for moving the head into or out of its operative position or across tracks - G11B 17/32: Maintaining desired spacing between record carrier and head, e.g. by fluid-dynamic spacing {(damping of vibrations of record carriers on turntables by fluid-dynamic means G11B19/2018)} - G11B: INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER (recording measured values in a way that does not require playback through a transducer G01D9/00; recording or playback apparatus using mechanically marked tape, e.g. punched paper tape, or using unit records, e.g. punched or magnetically marked cards G06K; transferring data from one type of record carrier to another G06K1/18; circuits for coupling output of reproducer to radio receiver H04B1/20; gramophone pick-ups or like acoustic electromechanical transducers or circuits therefor H04R) ## Abstract A pressure arm assembly is disclosed for use in a data recorder of the type employing a disc recording medium and a carrier supporting a magnetic head. The pressure arm assembly includes a bracket and an upper arm pivotally carried by the bracket for rotation about a transverse axis. A spring biases the arm into engagement with the head carrier. An automatic release lever is carried by the bracket and holds the upper arm in a first nonoperating position and releases the arm so that it may pivot under the action of the spring upon insertion of a disc into the data recorder. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A pressure arm assembly adapted for use in a data recorder of the type including a base, a diskette holder pivotally mounted to the base, a head support assembly carrying at least one head thereon and being adjustably mounted on the recorder to move the head into and out of operation contact with a disc medium positioned within the holder, and drive means engaging the head support for translating the head support and hence the head along the disc medium, said pressure arm assembly comprising: a bracket adapted to be secured to the base of the data recorder; a pressure arm; means for pivotally connecting said pressure arm to said bracket and for permitting a portion of said pressure arm to rotate towards and away from the head support assembly; resilient mechancial means for biasing the pressure arm towards the head support assembly; and a release member carried by the bracket and being movable with respect to said pressure arm, said release member having a first position wherein said release member abuts said pressure arm and holds the pressure arm away from said head support assembly against the bias of said resilient mechanical means, and a second position wherein said release member disengages said pressure arm upon insertion of a diskette into the diskette holder, thereby permitting said resilient mechanical means to move said pressure arm into engagement with the head support assembly and force the head into operative contact with the disc medium. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A pressure arm assembly as defined by claim 1 wherein said release member comprises: a lever pivoted to the bracket, and lever including a diskette engaged member disposed in the holder at a position to abut the diskette upon insertion thereinto and thereby automatically shift said release member from said first position to said second position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A pressure arm assembly as defined in claim 2 wherein said release means further includes lever reset means engaging said lever for resetting the release member by moving the release member from its second to its first position upon pivotal movement of the pressure arm away from the diskette holder. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A pressure arm assembly as defined in claim 3 wherein said reset means comprises a reset spring engaging the lever and biasing the release member towards its first position. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A pressure arm assembly as defined by claim 4 wherein said lever includes a stop tab portion, said stop tab portion adapted to contact the base of the data recorder to stop said lever in its first position under the bias of the reset spring. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A pressure arm assembly as defined by claim 5 further including adjustment means carried by the pressure arm and engaging the lever for adjusting the position of said pressure arm relative to said lever when said lever is in its first position. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) A pressure arm assembly as defined by claim 6 wherein said pressure arm includes a plate having an elongated groove therein defining a track within which a portion of the data recorder head support assembly rides during operation of the data recorder. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A pressure arm assembly as defined by claim 7 further including means for adjusting the vertical position of said plate relative to said bracket. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A pressure arm assembly as defined by claim 8 further including means for adjusting the transverse position of said plate relative to said bracket when said lever is in the first position. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) A pressure arm assembly as defined by claim 9 wherein said resilient mechanical means comprises a leaf spring engaging the bracket to bias the pressure arm towards the diskette holder and the head support assembly. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A pressure arm assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said resilient mechanical means comprises a leaf spring engaging the bracket to bias the pressure arm towards the diskette holder and the head support assembly. ### Claim 12 In a double-sided data recorder of the type having a base, a diskette holder supported on the base in a generally vertical position for limited pivotal movement about a vertical axis, a drive hub for rotating a recording disc insertable within the holder, a pair of magnetic heads mounted on a carrier, means for translating the carrier relative to the holder so that the heads move radially of a recording disc, the carrier including an arm whereby movement of the arm biases both heads into engagement with the disc and the holder being pivotal to a nonoperating position permitting a disc to be inserted therein past the drive hub, the recorder further including improved pressure means for biasing the heads into engagement with the disc, said improved pressure means comprising: a support secured to the base immediately adjacent the holder; resilient mechanical pressure means carried by the support and movable from a first position to a second position for exerting a pressure on the carrier arm to bias the heads into engagement with the disc; and automatic mechanical release means carried by the support for holding the pressure means in the first position out of engagement with the carrier arm and for automatically releasing the pressure means for movement to the second position in engagement with the carrier arm upon insertion of a disc into the holder. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) In a double-sided data recorder as defined by claim 12 wherein said automatic release means comprises: a lever pivoted to said support and including a stop portion engaging the pressure means to hold the pressure means in the first position when the lever is in a first position, said lever further having a portion extending into the holder and engaged by a disc inserted into the holder for shifting the stop portion out of contact with the pressure means allowing the pressure means to move to the second position when the lever is in a second position. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) In a double-sided data recorder as defined by claim 13 wherein said automatic release means further includes reset means for biasing the lever to its first position at which said stop portion is in position to engage said pressure means, said lever including a tab engaging the base to limit movement of the lever to its first position under action of the reset means. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) In a double-sided data recorder as defined by claim 14 wherein said reset means comprises a spring carried by the support and engaging the lever. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) In a double-sided data recorder as defined by claim 15 wherein said mechanical pressure means comprises: a first member pivoted to the support for rotary movement about a transverse axis; a second member adjustably carried by said first member for vertical movement relative to said first member; and a spring engaging said first member for biasing said first member towards said holder and towards the pressure means second position. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) In a double-sided data recorder as defined by claim 16 wherein said pressure means further includes an adjustment means for shifting the second member relative to said first member towards and away from the holder. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) In a double-sided data recorder as defined by claim 12 wherein said mechanical pressure means comprises: a first member pivoted to the support for rotary movement about a transverse axis; a second member adjustably carrier by said first member for vertical movement relative to said first member; and a spring engaging said first member for biasing said first member towards said holder and towards the pressure means second position. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) In a double-sided data recorder as defined by claim 18 wherein said pressure means further includes an adjustment means for shifting the second member relative to said first member towards and away from the holder.