A retractable bi-directional tape head mechanism
AssigneeShinwa Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorSumiyoshi Kato
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A switching plate includes a cam portion engaging a head moving plate for moving a head on an axis normal to a tape surface during a shifting operation so as to retract the head from the tape during shifts between forward and reverse to prevent surface damage to the tape. The switching plate carries a head driver having tapered ridges upon which a head holder rests. The head holder is movable on an axis parallel to the widthwise direction of tape. Shifting of the switching plate drives the head holder to rest upon elevated ridges for reverse mode operation or upon a second surface for forward mode operation.
Claims16
A tape head mechanism for positioning a head in alignment with a forward and a reverse track of a tape in a bi-directionally operating tape machine comprising:
- means for shifting said head along a first axis in a widthwise direction of a tape between one of a forward mode position and a reverse mode position so as to respectively align said head with one of said forward track and said reverse track;
- and
- means for retracting said head from said tape during shifting of said head from one of said forward and reverse modes to another one of said forward and reverse modes by moving said head along a second axis generally normal to a surface of said tape.
A head mechanism of a tape player for switchably aligning a tape head with forward and reverse tracks on a tape during reversal of a direction of tape travel, the head mechanism comprising:
- a head moving plate positioned to be movable perpendicularly to the direction of movement of said tape;
- said head moving plate being provided with a cam follower pin projecting therefrom;
- a head holder having said tape head attached thereto;
- said head holder being mounted on said head moving plate such that said tape head is movable up and down across a width of said tape to and from alignment with said forward tracks and alignment with said reverse tracks;
- a head driver having forward mode support surfaces for supporting said head holder at a position wherein said tape head is aligned with said forward tracks;
- said head driver having reverse mode support surfaces for supporting said head holder at a position wherein said tape head is aligned with said reverse tracks;
- and
- a switching plate for operating said head driver having a cam portion engaging said cam follower pin such that said head moving plate retracts said tape head from said tape during re-alignment of said tape head with one of said forward and reverse tracks.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.