Method and apparatus for aligning a drum assembly used in a video recording device

An alignment fixture for aligning a component of a drum assembly used in a video recording device, said alignment fixture allowing said drum assembly to be aligned outside of said video recording device, said alignment fixture comprising:

• a base configured to receive and support said drum assembly;
• a reference system configured to place a portion of said drum assembly in a known position relative to said base, said reference system including one or more reference pins for guiding said drum assembly into said known position, said reference pins engaging the outer peripheral surface of said drum assembly so as to prevent the drum assembly from moving laterally;
• and
• a positioning system for adjusting the position of said component of said drum assembly relative to said base when said portion of said drum assembly is positioned in said known position.

An alignment system for aligning a component of a drum assembly associated with a video recording device, the drum assembly including a stationary lower drum connected to a base, a stationary upper drum connected to the lower drum via an upper and lower drum support, a spindle assembly rotatably coupled to the base about a spindle axis, and a rotatable inner drum attached to the spindle assembly and including a plurality of record/reproduce heads located between the lower and upper drums for digital video recording and reproducing, said alignment fixture allowing said drum assembly to be aligned outside of said video recording device, said alignment system comprising:

• an alignment fixture including,
• a fixture platform configured to receive and support the drum assembly, the fixture platform including an opening that receives the base of the drum assembly therethrough, and a mounting surface that engages a bottom surface of the lower drum of the drum assembly thereby supporting the drum assembly on the fixture platform in the z direction;
• a reference system configured to hold a second component of the drum assembly in a known position relative to the fixture platform;
• and
• a positioning system for adjusting the position of the component of the drum assembly relative to the second component of the drum assembly when the second component of the drum assembly is held in the known position.

An alignment system for aligning a component of a drum assembly associated with a DVW model video recording device, the drum assembly including a stationary lower drum connected to a base, a stationary upper drum connected to the lower via an upper and lower drum support, a spindle assembly rotatably coupled to the base about a spindle axis, and a rotatable inner drum attached to the spindle assembly and including a plurality of record/reproduce heads located between the lower and upper drums for digital video recording and reproducing, said alignment fixture allowing said drum assembly to be aligned outside of said video recording device, said alignment system comprising:

• an alignment fixture including,
• a fixture platform configured to receive and support the drum assembly;
• a reference system configured to hold a second component of the drum assembly in a known position relative to the fixture platform;
• and
• a positioning system for adjusting the position of the component of the drum assembly relative to the second component of the drum assembly when the second component of the drum assembly is held in the known position.

An alignment fixture for aligning a drum of a drum assembly used in a video recording device, said alignment fixture allowing said drum assembly to be aligned outside of said video recording device, said alignment fixture comprising:

• a base configured to receive and support said drum assembly;
• a reference system configured to place a portion of said drum assembly in a known position relative to said base;
• and
• a positioning system for adjusting the position of said drum of said drum assembly relative to said base when said portion of said drum assembly is positioned in said known position said positioning system including a positioning mechanism for adjusting the position of said drum, said positioning mechanism including an adjustment post structurally coupled to said base and an adjustment screw threadably coupled to said adjustment post, the adjustment screw being configured to engage and exert a force on said drum so as to adjust its position.