Eastman-kodak Company

Sheldon W Hower

George W Brock

Jeremiah F Connolly

Robert E Swanson

In a photographic system including means for magnetically recording/reproducing data relative to magnetically coated film, an assembly for conforming a thin film magnetic head array to the nonplanar magnetic surface during data transfer only, the assembly comprising: a platen for holding magnetically coated film in a film plane; a magnetic head array including first and second thin film heads located side-by-side and a third thin film head located fore or aft the first and second heads and forming an equilateral triangle of their centers; a head mounting spring fixed at one end to the platen and having a free end for mounting the magnetic head array adjacent to magnetically coated film transported through the film plane the mounting spring allowing pitch and roll movement of the head assembly; and a loading spring for biasing the magnetic head array into contact with the magnetically coated film so that the point of contact is at the center of gravity of the three head magnetic head array.

Horizontal head assembly and suspension method for magnetically coated

In a photographic apparatus which handles film having a magnetic layer on one side for magnetically storing data on the film, a photographic film transport mechanism including a magnetic head suspension system that allows balanced roll motion of two magnetic heads while in contact with the nonplanar magnetic recording surface of film, and allows for in contact magnetic recording during transfer of data only, with release of the contact pressure at all other times, the mechanism comprising: a platen for confining film that is transported past the platen; a cantilever spring having one end fixed to the platen and a free end, the spring extending in the direction of transport of the film; a pair of magnetic heads; means for mounting the pair of magnetic heads side-by-side on the free end of the cantilever spring which allows the heads to rotate about a roll axis parallel to the film transport direction; and means coupled to the free end of the spring for moving the heads into and out of contact with the film.

Retractable two track head assembly with controllable roll stiffness

A magnetic recording and/or reproducing head system particularly for use for writing and/or reading information on tracks in a magnetics-on-film (MOF) layer in the image area of photographic filmstrips, wherein the system provides for mounting of such magnetic heads on a suspension and translation system to move the magnetic heads from track to track of the MOF layer and longitudinally along a selected track. The filmstrip exhibits a lengthwise curvature of a predetermined sign and a cross-film curvature. The filmstrip is advanced to a stationary position in a curved transport path in the length dimension of the filmstrip, the curved transport path having a curvature radius of the same sign as the predetermined curvature sign of the filmstrip. The filmstrip edges are engaged in edge guides such that the transport path curvature and the edge guides negate cross-film curvature. The magnetic head is lengthwise translated along the selected track following the curvature radius on a head track selection assembly which includes a head track guide connected between first ends of a pair of positioning arms extending across the film edge guides for supporting the magnetic head for engagement and lengthwise translation with the filmstrip selected track by pivotal movement thereof. A head track motor drives the magnetic head along a head track selection assembly to a selected track position. The head track selection assembly includes a guide rod and a rotatable lead screw extending between free ends of the positioning arms and across the film transport path. Head mounting means for mounting the magnetic head in relation to the film transport path have a guide opening for engaging the guide rod for inhibiting rotation of the head mounting means about the lead screw on rotation of the lead screw and have a threaded bore for engaging the lead screw, whereby rotation of the lead screw effects translation of the head mounting means along the lead screw and guide rod and across the film transport path to a selected track.

Growing community of inventors

San Diego, CA, United States of America

Sheldon W Hower