Magnetic information recorder/reproducer

Abstract: A magnetic information recorder/reproducer which can reduce the possibility of breakage of parts and thus lessen the trouble for maintenance. A resilient member for pressing a magnetic medium against a magnetic head has a resilient, hard guide layer provided on one side thereof facing the magnetic medium. The guide layer prevents the magnetic medium from coming into contact with the resilient member. The resilient member is thus less like to be broken or worn because it does not contact the magnetic medium.

Description: The present invention relates to a magnetic information recorder/reproducer for recording/reproducing magnetic information on a magnetic medium of the type as defined in the preamble of claim 1. A recorder/reproducer of this type is described in US-A-5,541,685. The known device includes a holder for supporting therein a shaft which extends through elongated slots provided in the holder, and elongated slots provided in the legs of a resilient member, and the shaft further extending through a block which is received in a recess of the holder. The block is formed with a recess having a resilient pad attached to the bottom of the recess. The block is biased towards a magnetic head and a magnetic medium until the resilient member is deformed into the recess and abuts in the operative position the resilient pad, which would impede further deformation during recording/reproducing of magnetic information. In printing a film having a magnetic recording layer, magnetic information recorded in the film is read to print the film based on the thus read magnetic information. A typical magnetic information reader for reading such magnetic information has a magnetic head adapted to be brought into contact with film by a leaf spring. The film is fed kept in contact with the head so that the head can read magnetic information recorded in the film. The head-biasing leaf spring has to be made from a nonmagnetic material because a leaf spring made from a magnetic material might erase magnetic information, thus making accurate reading of magnetic information impossible. One problem with conventional magnetic information readers is that the leaf spring, made from a nonmagnetic material, tends to be quickly worn or broken due to contact with the film to such an extent as to need replacement. Thus, maintenance is a major problem for conventional magnetic information readers. An object of this invention is to provide a magnetic information recorder/reproducer which requires less maintenance. According to this invention as claimed in claim 1, there is provided a magnetic information recorder/reproducer for recording/reproducing magnetic information on a magnetic medium. Other features and objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a front view of an embodiment which is not part of this invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a holder unit of the embodiment of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a front view of another holder unit; Fig. 4 is a partially cutaway front view of an embodiment of the present invention; and Fig. 5 is a perspective view thereof. As shown in Fig. 1, a strip of film A having a magnetic recording medium or layer is fed through a feed path in which is provided a magnetic head 1 for reading magnetic information recorded in the film A. The film A is brought into contact with the magnetic head 1 by a holder unit 2 provided over the head 1. The holder unit 2 includes a holder 3 formed with a recess 4 having an opening at the bottom of the holder 3. A pair of protrusions 5 protrude inwardly from both sides of the opening of the recess 4. A resilient member 6 in the form of a metallic leaf spring is mounted in the recess 4. A hard guide layer or member 7 made of a nonmagnetic material is provided on the side of the resilient member 6 facing the film A. The guide layer 7 comprises a resilient sheet strip made of a ceramic material. Here, zirconia is selected as the ceramic material, and zirconia is formed into a thin sheet having a thickness of 0.05-0.5 mm. In the embodiment, "CERAFLEX A" made by SUMIKIN PHOTON CERAMIX is used as the resilient sheet strip 7. Such a resilient strip 7 is high in strength, toughness, resilience and resilient deformability. The resilient sheet strip 7 has its both ends inserted in grooves 8 formed in the side walls of the recess 4 with its central portion deflected outwardly by the resilient member 6. The film A is pressed against the magnetic head 1 by the resilient sheet strip 7 made of a ceramic material and provided on the side of the resilient member 6 facing the film A. While the head is reading magnetic information recorded in the film A, the film is fed while kept in contact with the hard resilient sheet strip 7, so that the resilient member 6 cannot be worn by the film A because it is not in contact with the film A. The resilient member 6 can be used for a longer time without replacement. This significantly reduces the labor for maintenance. The resilient sheet strip 7 is supported with its both ends inserted in the grooves 8 formed in the holder 3. Thus, if the resilient sheet strip 7 is broken, it can be easily replaced with a new one. In the case of the resilient sheet strip 7 made from zirconia, it is extremely high in resilient deformability, so that even if the tension of the film A changes widely, such a change in tension can be absorbed by resilient deformation of the resilient sheet strip 7. This prevents damage to the resilient sheet strip 7. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the guide layer 7 and the resilient member 6 are separate members. But the guide layer 7 may be formed by thermal-spraying a ceramic or zirconia on the central part of the resilient member 6 as shown in Fig. 3. In the embodiment, film A is shown as a magnetic medium, and magnetic information recorded in the film is read by the head. But the magnetic medium is not limited to film but may be e.g. a magnetic tape. Magnetic information is written in such a magnetic medium. An Embodiment of the present invention is now described with reference to Fig. 4 and Fig. 5. Below the pair of protrusions 5 there are formed a pair of inwardly downwardly sloping slits 15 in which are inserted both ends of a resilient member 6 in the shape of a strip. The resilient member 6 is made from a sufficiently resilient ceramic material such as zirconia. By having its both ends inserted in the slits 15, the resilient member 6 is bent downwardly with its central portion into resilient contact with the magnetic head 1. A block 16 is received in the recess 4. Its downward stroke is limited by abutting contact of a pair of protrusions 9 provided on both sides thereof with the pair of protrusions 5. The block 16 is biased downward by a biasing means 10 so that its bottom surface will contact the resilient member 6. In the contact surface with the resilient member 6, the block 16 is formed with a recess 11 that serves to limit resilient deformation of the resilient member 6. The biasing means 10 comprises springs 12 inserted through holes 13 extending through the holder 3 from its top surface into the recess 4. Their tops bear on adjusting screws 14 threaded into the holes 13. Thus, by turning the adjusting screws 14, it is possible to adjust the force of the springs 12 and thus the pressure at which the resilient member 6 is pressed against the magnetic head 1. In use, the magnetic medium A is fed between the magnetic head 1 and the resilient member 6 while resiliently keeping the magnetic medium A in contact with the magnetic head 1 by resilience of the resilient member 6 to read and write magnetic information. When the tension in the magnetic medium A changes while information is being recorded or reproduced, the resilient member 6 is deformed resiliently. Since it is resiliently deformed within the recess 11 formed in the block 16, the member 6 is prevented from being deformed beyond the limit that can lead to breakage. Thus, the resilient member 6 is less likely to be broken. Moreover, since the resilient member 6 is made from a ceramic material, it is wear-resistant and less likely to be worn or broken. This considerably lessens the need of replacements of the resilient member 6. Maintenance is thus easier. Preferably the magnetic medium A is pressed against the magnetic head 1 at a constant pressure. Since the contact pressure depends on dimensional errors of the holder 3, it is necessary to adjust the contact pressure before recording or reproducing information. Specifically, the force of the springs is adjusted to absorb such dimensional errors, by turning the adjusting screws 14. The resilient member is far less likely to be worn because it does not contact the magnetic medium. Since the resilient member does not directly contact the magnetic medium, it is possible to use a durable metallic leaf spring made of a magnetic material. This lightens the maintenance work for replacement of the resilient member due to wear or breakage. Since the guide layer is resilient, the magnetic medium can be always brought into contact with the magnetic head in an optimum way. Further, since the guide layer is a resilient plate strip made of a ceramic material and having its both ends inserted in grooves formed in both sides of a recess of the holder, the resilient plate strip can be replaced easily if broken. By fixing the ceramic layer to the resilient member, the holder unit can be assembled easily.

Claims: A magnetic information recorder/reproducer for recording/reproducing magnetic information on a magnetic medium (A), comprising a holder (3), a magnetic head (1), a resilient member (6) supported by said holder(3) for urging the magnetic medium (A) into contact with said magnetic head (1), said holder (3) being formed with a recess (4), a block (16) mounted in said recess (4) for urging said resilient member (6) against said magnetic head (1), and a biasing means (10) for urging said block (16) against said resilient member (6), said block (16) being formed in surface thereof facing said resilient member (6) with a recess (11) which allows deformation of said resilient member (6), characterised in that said resilient member is made of a ceramic material and in that said recess (11) of said block (16) is formed such that during normal operation the resilient member (6) does not contact the botton of said recess (11); whereas further deformations of said resilient member (6) within said recess (11) are allowed until said resilient member (6) contacts the bottom of said recess (11), so as to avoid breakage of the resilient member. A magnetic information recorder/reproducer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the force of said biasing means (10) is adjustable. A magnetic information recorder/reproducer as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said holder (3) is provided with a pair of inwardly downwardly sloping slits (15) for receiving therein both ends of the strip-shaped resilient member (6). A magnetic information recorder/reproducer as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said ceramic material is zirconia. A magnetic information recorder/reproducer as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the movement of said block (16) within said recess (4) towards said magnetic head (1) is limited by an abutting contact of a pair of protrusions (9) provided on both sides of said block (16), with a pair of protrusions (5) provided on said holder (3).

Inventors: YAMAJI YOSHIYUKI, YOSHIKAWA TORU, YAMAJI, YOSHIYUKI, YOSHIKAWA, TORU
Applicants: NORITSU KOKI CO LTD, NORITSU KOKI CO., LTD.
Application year: 1998
Main classification: G11B15
IPC codes: G11B15, G03B17