Magnetic head positioner for recording and reproducing apparatus

Claim 2

A recording and reproducing apparatus including: a magnetic head having an erase gap, and a record-playback gap; means to move said magnetic head and a recording medium relative to each other whereby said magnetic head scans the recording medium in alternate directions; means to step said magnetic head and the recording medium relative to each other in a direction substantially normal to the scanning direction when scanning of the recording medium by said magnetic head in each of the alternate directions is completed and in the same stepping direction at the end of each scan; and means to maintain said erase gap in advance of said recordplayback gap during scanning irrespective of the direction of scanning.

Claim 3

The apparatus according to claim 1 in which said maintaining means includes means to rotate said magnetic head 180* at the completion of scanning of the recording medium by said magnetic head in each direction.

Claim 4

A recording and reproducing apparatus including; a magnetic head having an erase gap and a record-playback gap; means to move said magnetic head and a recording medium relative to each other whereby said magnetic head scans the recording medium in alternate directions; said moving means comprises means to move said magnetic head while the recording medium is stationary; means to change the direction of movement of said moving means for said magnetic head at the completion of scanning in each direction; means to step said magnetic head and the recording medium relative to each other when scanning of the recording medium by said magnetic head in each of the alternate directions is completed; and means to maintain said erase gap in advance of said record-playback gap during scanning irrespective of the direction of scanning.

Claim 5

A recording and reproducing apparatus including; a magnetic head having an erase gap and a record-playback gap; means to move said magnetic head and a recording medium relative to each other whereby said magnetic head scans the recording medium in alternate directions; said moving means comprises means to move said magnetic head while the recording medium is stationary; means to change the direction of movement of said moving means for said magnetic head at the completion of scanning in each direction; means to step said magnetic head and the recording medium relative to each other when scanning of the recording medium by said magnetic head in each of the alternate directions is completed; and means to maintain said erase gap in advance of said record-playback gap during scanning irrespective of the direction of scanning.

Claim 6

The apparatus according to claim 3 in which: said maintaining means includes means to rotate said magnetic head 180* after completion of scanning of the recording medium by said magnetic head in each direction; and said rotating means is responsive to said moving means for said magnetic head on completion of scanning in one of the alternate directions to rotate said magnetic head.

Claim 7

The apparatus according to claim 4 in which said rotating means includes means actuated by said moving means for said magnetic head to rotate said magnetic head 180*.

Claim 8

The apparatus according to claim 4 in which, said rotating means includes: motive means to rotate said magnetic head when said motive means is activated; and means to activate said motive means upon coMpletion of scanning by said magnetic head in one of the alternate directions.

Claim 9

The apparatus according to claim 4 in which said rotating means includes means to cause said stepping means to be effective when said rotating means is rotating said magnetic head.

Claim 10

The apparatus according to claim 4 in which, said rotating means includes: energy storing means to rotate said magnetic head when said energy storing means is released; means to release said energy storing means upon completion of scanning by said magnetic head in one of the alternate directions; and said moving means for said magnetic head includes means to cause storing of energy in said energy storing means during scanning of the recording medium by said magnetic head.

Claim 11

The apparatus according to claim 8 in which said stepping means includes means driven by said energy storing means when said energy storing means is released.

Claim 12

The apparatus according to claim 8 in which, said moving means for said magnetic head includes; a double threaded lead screw having a pair of spiral grooves therein and extending in opposite directions; a follower cooperating with each of said grooves in said lead screw, said follower moving in one direction when disposed in one of said grooves and in an opposite direction when disposed in the other of said grooves; and a carrier connected to said follower, said carrier rotatably supporting said magnetic head; and said changing means moving said follower from one of said grooves in said lead screw to the other and vice versa to change the direction of movement of said carrier.

Claim 13

The apparatus according to claim 10 in which said changing means includes means driven by said energy storing means when said energy storing means is released.

Claim 14

The apparatus according to claim 11 in which said stepping means includes means driven by said energy storing means when said energy storing means is released.