Cassette cleaner having both capstan and pinch roller elements

Abstract

Device for cleaning a head assembly (12) of a magnetic tape player and/or recorder with a cleaning solution. The device includes a housing (14) adapted to be inserted in the player/recorder in a cleaning position, a drive mechanism (18) and wiper and (16) connected within the housing (14) for providing oscillating movement, and a cleaning head (20) connected to the wiper arm (16) for cleaning the head assembly (12). The cleaning head (20) comprises a rigid body (82) having a plurality of cleaning materials (84, 86, 88) extending forwardly out of the rigid body (82). One of the cleaning materials is a solution-holding material (84) characterized by its ability to absorb a cleaning solution, for spreading the cleaning solution on the head assembly (12). Another cleaning material (86, 88) comprising a relatively stiffer material for scrubbing the head assembly, is positioned on both sides of the solution-holding material (84). In use, the drive mechanism (18) within the housing is driven by the tape player and/or recorder such that it moves the wiper arm (16) with the attached cleaning head (20) back and forth along a transverse path on the head assembly (12) to be cleaned as it both spreads a cleaning solution and scrubs the area clean. The device also includes a cleaning cartridge (150) for cleaning the drive capstan and pinch roller of the associated player/recorder. The cleaning cartridge is provided with a first cleaning pad (154) for cleaning the pinch roller and a second cleaning pad (156) for cleaning the drive capstan. The cleaning cartridge pivots so that it does not blow the invention of the device into the player/recorder and to ensure the drive capstan and pinch roller are properly cleaned.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.