Magnetic head cleaning system for rotary head devices

A cleaning method for a magnetic head provided inside a rotary drum installed on a chassis comprising the steps of:

• maintaining a cleaning member separate from the rotary drum by the pressing a pin provided on a first portion of a cleaning lever having the cleaning member with a drive member connected to a tape guiding member and by allowing the cleaning lever to pivot;
• shifting the tape guiding member in cooperation with the drive member;
• causing the cleaning member to come into contact with the rotary drum by the relaxation of the pressing force on the pin by the drive member and by the pivoting of the cleaning lever due to a resilient member;
• and
• separating the cleaning member from the rotary drum by causing the tape guiding member to come into contact with a second portion of said cleaning lever and free of a pressing force by said drive member on the pin.

A cleaning method for a magnetic head provided inside a rotary drum installed on a chassis comprising the steps of:

• separating a cleaning member from the rotary drum by causing a drive member connected to a tape guiding member to press a pin provided in a cleaning lever having the cleaning member, and by causing the cleaning lever to pivot;
• making the cleaning member come into contact with the rotary drum by causing the pin to come into contact with a cam portion of the drive member, and by causing the cleaning lever to be pivoted;
• and
• separating the cleaning member from the rotary drum by causing the drive member to press the pin and by causing the cleaning lever to be pivoted.

A magnetic head cleaning system for cleaning a magnetic head provided inside a rotary drum installed on a chassis while a tape is being guided thereto, said system including preloading, loading, and loading-complete stages of operation of the tape comprising:

• a cleaning device including
• a freely pivotable cleaning lever supported by a pivot pin secured to the chassis,
• cleaning means installed at one end of the cleaning lever toward the rotary drum for cleaning the magnetic head provided therein,
• a resilient member for normally biasing the cleaning lever and cleaning means toward the rotary drum,
• a first pivoting means for pivoting said cleaning lever away from said rotary drum, and
• second pivot means for pivoting said cleaning lever away from said rotary drum;
• tape guiding means including
• at least one movable tape guiding member
• a freely pivotable drive member supported by a pivot pin secured to the chassis, said drive member being connected to the tape guiding member, and
• an actuating lever integrally formed with said drive member for pressing against said first pivoting means;
• and
• means for actuating said drive member;
• wherein said actuating lever remains pressed against said first pivoting means in an unloaded stage, thereby maintaining separation of said cleaning lever and cleaning means from said head, said actuating lever being released from said first pivoting means by actuation and movement of said drive member in a loading stage, thereby enabling said resilient member to bias said cleaning lever and cleaning means into contact with said head, and said second pivoting means being pressed by said at least one moveable tape guiding member in a loading-complete stage, thereby separating said cleaning lever and cleaning means from said head.