US 6,480,356 B1 · Magnetic head transducer spring assembly and method of making same

Abstract

A magnetic head assembly with dual parallelogram supporting structure device and method of making the same has a single or multiple track magnetic stripe read head transducer mounted to a support structure by a dual parallelogram spring structure. This dual spring structure allows the head to move perpendicularly and rotationally to the magnetic stripe while preventing the head from rotating in the y direction, namely, preventing lateral movement. The novel magnetic head assembly is produced using a rapid and accurate assembly without the use of mounting screws in single and multiple track configurations. The unique spring also reduces wear on the magnetic heads which increases the functional life of the unit. The simple construction allows inexpensive manufacture of the magnetic head assembly, yet the durability of available manufacturing materials and the structure of the spring provide the magnetic head assembly with a long useful life, requiring little or no maintenance expense or upkeep.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A magnetic head transducer mounting system spring comprising:

(a) dual parallelogram spring means having a unitary body and C-shaped profile structure, whereby said dual parallelogram spring means solely supports a single transducer head;
and
(b) two or more leaf spring members per said dual parallelogram spring means, whereby said two or more leaf spring members per dual parallelogram spring means allows only transverse transducer head structure movement relative to said leaf spring members, for the purpose of enabling accurate magnetic track reads with no lateral movement of the transducer head during read, write, or read/modify/write operations.

A magnetic head transducer assembly, comprising:

(a) a housing means having two mounting surface portions wherein said surface portions include a plurality of track locating grooves;
(b) spring means including a double parallelogram torsion box spring frame affix able to a magnetic head transducer;
(c) end cap means removably fastened to the proximal ends of said spring means, said end caps including a plurality of mating protrusions corresponding to said plurality of said track locating grooves on said housing mounting surface means;
(d) locking means located on said end cap means, whereby when said end caps are in place on the proximal ends of said spring means, slide into said housing mounting surfaces along said track locating grooves such that said track locating grooved mate with said protrusions on said end caps;
(e) whereby said locking means secures said spring means and end cap means holding said magnetic head transducer moveably within said housing, and further whereby said spring means enables torsional and perpendicular movement of said magnetic head transducer during magnetic stripe card transduction operations;
and
(f) further whereby said spring means are securely held in said end cap means, are locked in position when a magnetic stripe card is inserted, and the friction between said end caps and said spring prevents any lateral movement of the magnetic head transducer.

4 more elements

A method for making a magnetic head transducer assembly, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing housing means having two mounting surface portions wherein said surface portions include a plurality of track locating grooves;
(b) providing spring means including a double parallelogram torsion box spring frame affixable to a magnetic head transducer;
(c) providing end cap means removably fastened to the proximal ends of said spring means, said end cap means including a plurality of mating protrusions corresponding to said plurality of said track locating grooves on said housing mounting surface means;
(d) providing locking means located on said end cap means, whereby when said end cap means are in place on the proximal ends of said spring means, slide into said housing mounting surfaces along said track locating grooves such that said track locating grooves mate with said mating protrusions on said end cap means;
and
(e) assembling said end cap means and said spring means;
and
(f) mounting said end cap and spring assembly, whereby said locking means secures said spring means and end cap means holding said magnetic head transducer moveably within said housing, and further whereby said spring means enables torsional and perpendicular movement of said magnetic head transducer during magnetic stripe card transduction operations.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Magnetic head transducer spring assembly and method of making same

Life of this patent

Magnetic head transducer spring assembly and method of making same

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20