U.S. Philips Corporation

Johannes C Muller

Norbert C Vollmann

Abraham Hoogendoorn

Heinrich Hutter

Harald Fleck

Cornelis M Beijersbergen Van Henegouwen

Jelm Franse

Waltherus C Bierhoff

Daniel Ong

Robert C Boereboom

Arnoldus R Schout

A magnetic tape apparatus intended for consumer use includes at least one digital head with nine digital transmission gaps for reading and/or writing compressed digital information in longitudinal tracks on a magnetic tape. The apparatus also includes electronic circuitry for compressing the digital information prior to writing, and for expanding the digital information after reading. This arrangement enables at least playback of digital audio information at the same frequency used for analog compact cassettes, so that inclusion of an analog head enables playback of analog compact cassettes as well.

Magnetic head configured to read and/or write information on digital and

A support device (1) with a first bearing part (33) and a second bearing part (51). The first bearing part (33) is in a housing (11), while the second bearing part (51) is provided on a locking piece (53) fastened to the housing (11). Leakage along the locking piece (53) of a fluid present between the bearing parts (33, 51) is prevented by the use of a sealing element (59). The sealing element (59) is provided under pretension between the locking piece (53) and a pressure member (61, 87) fastened to the housing (11), the locking piece (53) bearing on the housing (11) under the influence of the pretension of the sealing element (59). Since the locking piece (53) bears on the housing (11) under the influence of the pretension of the sealing element (59), the locking piece (53) is fixed in an accurate position relative to the housing (11 ). An accurately defined mutual position of the first and the second bearing part (33, 51) is achieved in this manner.

Support device with a uniformly sealing locking-piece, and data storage

A helical scan magnetic-tape apparatus (1) including at least three tape guides (2, 25, 27, 28, 29, 30, 32, 33), including a magnetic-head unit (2). The apparatus (1) co-operates with a magnetic tape (8) wound on reels (9, 10) in a cassette (44). The tape-transport path in the apparatus includes at least three path sections (35, 36, 37) in which the tape (8) is twisted through a specific angle to correct for differences in level and inclination arising as a result of the helical path of the magnetic tape (8) around the magnetic-head unit (2).

Helical-scan magnetic tape apparatus having a tape-transport path with

A helical scan head drum assembly includes upper and lower drums having an aligned guide surface. The upper and lower drums can be easily separated from each other to install or replace a head support between the drums, and reassembled without loss of alignment of the circumferential guide surface. Each drum has three positioning elements formed in a wall portion, arranged such that the positioning elements of the two drums engage each other pairwise to form a statically defined alignment of the two drums. The fixing element presses the two drums together at the location of the positioning elements to fix them in place.

Helical scan type apparatus with readily aligned scanning unit

A magnetic-tape apparatus comprises a deck (1) carrying the cylindrical drum system (3), which is provided with at least one rotating magnetic head (7). A supporting member (31) mounted on the deck (1) for rectilinear movement towards and away from the drum system (3) and has at least two mutually spaced tape guides (73 to 76) fixed thereto. By a movement of the supporting member (31) towards the drum system (3) a length of magnetic tape (84) is led to the drum system and is wrapped around a part of the circumference of the drum system. There is provided at least one positioning element (77) which forms part of a non-rotating drum section (4) which positions the tape guides (73 to 76) relative to the drum system (3) in the end position of the supporting member (31) by cooperating with projecting portions (31d) thereof.

Magnetic tape threading apparatus

A printer having a printing head (3) which is secured to a holder (1) and which is movable in a reciprocating manner along an information carrier, the holder (1) engaging with resilient force a first roller (55) and a second roller (57). The rollers (55 and 57) move over two fixedly arranged roll surfaces (59 and 61), as a result of which a guidance substantially without friction of the holder (1) with the printing head (3) is obtained.

Printer comprising a printing head guided by rollers

The support for a magnetic head rotating about an axis is relatively movable with respect to a circular cylindrical guide surface which guides the tape past the path of the rotating magnetic head. In the playing mode, the rotation axis is coaxial with the cylindrical guide surface axis. In a stand-by mode either the bearing support for the rotating head assembly, or the cylindrical guide surface, is moved radially a small distance away from the other such that the head remains in contact with the guide surface, but is clear of the path swept by the rotating magnetic head. When the two portions of the device are moved back into coaxial alignment for the playing mode, a position device locates them accurately so that the two axes coincide.

Helical scan tape recorder without head-tape contact in stand-by mode

A magnetic-tape apparatus comprises a deck (1) carrying a cylindrical drum system (3) provided with at least one rotatable magnetic head (7). On the deck (1) a sliding plate (31) is guided for rectilinear movement towards and away from the drum system (3). The sliding plate carries at least two mutually spaced tape guides (73 to 76) which lead a length of magnetic tape (84) to the drum system (3) by a movement of the sliding plate (31) towards the drum system (3). The deck (1) carries two winding spindles (12, 13) for winding and unwinding the magnetic tape respectively. The sliding plate (31) is provided with projecting portions (31d) which position the tape guides (73-76) relative to the drum system (3) in the end position of the sliding plate (31). The sliding plate is also provided with guide edges (69, 79), which control two pivotal arms (62, 63) which are arranged on the deck and which carry tape guides (65, 66). A second control groove (60) in the sliding plate (31) controls a pressure-roller lever (32) carrying a pressure roller (34) while a third control groove (31a) controls an idler wheel (26) for driving one of the winding spindles (12, 13).

Magnetic tape apparatus with integrated control mechanism

For measuring single flank error, the toothed wheels are secured onto respective shafts, so that the toothed wheels intermesh. Each shaft has a disk on it having a diameter equal to the diameter of the respective toothed wheel, and a single length of wire or tape is wound around the first of the disks, over a measuring disk disposed on a displaceable carriage, and then around the other of the disks. Upon rotation of the toothed wheels, the carriage moves to maintain the wire or tape taut, and rotation of the measuring disk provides a measure of the single flank error.

Device for measuring the single flank error of a pair of intermeshing

Static electricity is drained from a magnetic tape by a draining element mounted on a movable support which also carries the movable guides that pull tape from the cassette and wrap it around the drum in a playing loop during the play mode of operation. In the inoperative position the run of tape across the front of the cassette passes between the movable playing-loop guide and the static draining element. Preferably, the draining element is not in contact with the magnetic tape in the play mode.

VCR with improved fast winding static electricity drain

A tape threading device for a helical scan tape cassette recorder, having pivotal levers each having a tape guide for withdrawing and wrapping the tape about a guide drum. The levers overlap each other at an area of instantaneous overlap at which they are coupled to each other by a mechanism including a sliding block which is guided by a carrier device along a path which extends in the area of overlap. The sliding block is in force-sustained engagement with a link-motion surface on at least one of the levers.

Helical scan cassette recorder with improved tape threading

An electro-magnetically controllable beam deflection device for use in an optical system for deflecting a radiation beam obtained from a radiation source, in particular for use in video players. The deflection means may for example comprise a pivoting mirror, or an assembly of a plano-concave and a plano-convex lens which with their concave and convex surfaces face each other, and can perform pivoting movements at a small distance from each other. The deflection means is connected to frame by means of an integrated plastic bearing component. The bearing component has a local portion of small cross-section which under the influence of the control forces exerted on the deflection means, is relatively readily deformable. This portion may for example take the form of an integral hinge or of a thin cylindrical portion.

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Eindhoven, Netherlands

Johannes C Muller