Sony Corporation

Hiroyuki Osaki

Shinichiro Kato

Kikuji Kawakami

Tetsuo Endo

A magneto-resistive head, a magnetic tape and a magnetic tape recording/reproducing system, which are capable of suppressing the formation of protrusions around a magneto-resistive element, thereby preventing the occurrence of such problems as spacing loss and tape damage, are provided. A thermally conductive member that is connected to the magneto-resistive element is formed of a material having a thermal conductivity greater than 20 W/m&#xb7;K so as to efficiently release the heat generated when the magneto-resistive element is in use and suppress the rise in temperature around the magneto-resistive element. In addition, by selecting, for a lubricant layer formed on the surface of the magnetic tape, a material whose melting point is higher than the operating temperature of the magneto-resistive element, the lubricant layer is prevented from melting even when the magneto-resistive element is in use and when the temperature of the magnetic head thus rises.

Magneto-resistive head having a thermally conductive layer

To lower the coefficient of static friction of the circumferential surface of the guide or drum constituting the magnetic tape apparatus. A flat portion is formed between peak portions. The peak portions and flat portion are formed so that the relationship: a'&#x3c;a is satisfied, where 'a' represents a distance between the ridges of the peak portions, i.e., pitch of the peak portions, and 'a&#x2032;' represents a bottom width of the peak portions. When this relationship is satisfied between the peak portions and the flat portion, the total area of the meniscuses formed between the magnetic tape and the peak portions can be reduced, thus making it possible to lower the coefficient of static friction.

Magnetic tape apparatus including a circumferential surface having a generally flat portion between peak portions and method for producing the same

The present invention is to provide a magnetic tape recording/reproducing device capable of accurately positioning a magnetic tape relative to a magnetic head to thereby improve recording/reproduction characteristics to or from the magnetic tape even when the running direction of the magnetic tape is inverted between forward and reverse directions. First guide rollers are provided so as to swing between a first inclined position and a second inclined position along a tangential direction of the magnetic tape partially wound on roller portions and, where the first inclined position is such that allowing upper flanges to reside on an upstream side of the lower flanges in the tape running direction, and the second inclined position is such that allowing the upper flanges to reside on a downstream side of the lower flanges in the tape running direction. The first guide rollers are respectively provided with drive means for allowing the first guide rollers to swing between the first and second inclined positions.

Magnetic tape recording/reproducing device and magnetic tape recording/reproducing system

A cleaning device capable of cleaning a rotary head without discharging static electricity to a magnetic head is provided. The cleaning device comprises a protruding shaft-like supporting member provided at a position in a housing facing a portion of the outer peripheral surface of a rotary drum and opposite a portion in contact with a magnetic tape, and a cylindrical cleaning member supported at the upper end of the supporting member. The supporting member is configured with a metal material, and is electrically connected with the housing. The cleaning member is made of an electrically conductive resin in which carbon particles are contained. When and while the outer peripheral surface of the cleaning member is in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the rotary drum, the cleaning member is electrically connected with the housing through the supporting member.

Rotary head cleaning device

A magnetic tape guide apparatus which can guide not only a magnetic tape having an applied magnetic layer thereon but also a magnetic thin metal film magnetic tape with a high transport performance is disclosed. The magnetic tape guide apparatus comprises a magnetic tape guide drum or a guide pin having a cylindrical profile for guiding a magnetic tape along a magnetic guide face provided by an outer circumferential face thereof. The magnetic tape guide face is formed as a roughened face wherein the height .delta. of crests is selected within the range of 0.2 .mu.m to 3.0 .mu.m and the pitch x of the crests is selected so that it satisfies 0.050 mm .ltoreq.x.ltoreq.(329.delta.)1/4 mm.

Magnetic tape guide apparatus

An apparatus for recording and reproducing a tape-shaped recording medium, which is capable of minimizing the effect of adsorbed water present at the interface between the tape and a sliding member and hence enables the tape to travel stably without sticking to the sliding member even under conditions close to moisture condensational conditions. An aluminum alloy is employed as a material for a sliding member such as a fixed drum, stationary tape guides, etc. on which a video tape slides, and a large number of projections are formed on the surface of the sliding member. A material of high water repellency is formed on the surface of the sliding member for the purpose of minimizing the effect of contact portions formed by the video tape and the projections of the sliding member and the effect of bonded portions of adsorbed water produced around the contact portions (at the interface). More specifically, the surface of the sliding member is formed with an electrolessly plated nickel film containing polytetrafluoroethylene particles.

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Miyagi, Japan

Hiroyuki Osaki