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US3967769A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Tape driving assembly

Assignee: Sony Corp
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Filing: 1974-12-09
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Granted: 1976-07-06
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Expires: 1994-12-09
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Abstract

Abstract A tape driving assembly for use in a mini-cassette which includes a capstan holder having a capstan bearing and a capstan cover which prevents tape from becoming entangled on the capstan and further provides a second bearing support for the capstan so it is not deflected by side pressure from a pinch roller and further which provides a pair of reference surfaces so as to accurately and positively position the cassette relative to the capstan, the pinch roller and the magnetic head.

Inventors

  • 👤 Isao Matsumoto

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-08 22:08
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B15/00; G11B15/18; G11B15/26; G11B15/28; G11B15/1883

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim 122 words
A tape driving assembly for a recording tape contained in a cassette and which is transported past a signal reproducing head, comprising: a. a pinch roller; b. a capstan mounted adjacent to said pinch roller and operating therewith to transport said tape; c. a capstan cover partially surrounding said capstan and having a vertical reference surface against which said cassette is receivable so as to provide a position reference; d. means engageable with said cassette to hold it against said vertical reference so as to accurately position said cassette; including a horizontal reference surface formed adjacent said capstan cover to form an accurate vertical reference for said cassette; and wherein said capstan cover has an upper tapered portion for guiding said cassette.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 122 words
A tape driving assembly for a recording tape contained in a cassette and which is transported past a signal reproducing head, comprising: a. a pinch roller; b. a capstan mounted adjacent to said pinch roller and operating therewith to transport said tape; c. a capstan cover partially surrounding said capstan and having a vertical reference surface against which said cassette is receivable so as to provide a position reference; d. means engageable with said cassette to hold it against said vertical reference so as to accurately position said cassette; including a horizontal reference surface formed adjacent said capstan cover to form an accurate vertical reference for said cassette; and wherein said capstan cover has an upper tapered portion for guiding said cassette.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 33 words
A tape driving assembly according to claim 1, including a projection formed on said capstan cover between said tapered portion and said vertical reference surface to provide a lock to hold said cassette.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 35 words
A tape driving assembly according to claim 2, including an upper bearing attached to the upper tapered end of said capstan cover and the upper end of said capstan rotatably supported by said upper bearing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 20 words
A tape driving assembly according to claim 3, wherein said horizontal reference surface is integrally formed with said capstan cover.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 92 words
A tape driving assembly for a recording tape contained in a cassette and which is transported past a signal reproducing head, comprising: a. a pinch roller; b. a capstan mounted adjacent to said pinch roller and operating therewith to transport said tape; c. a capstan bearing for supporting said capstan; and d. said capstan bearing formed with a planar surface engageable with said cassette so as to accurately position said cassette at the correct height relative to said head and first biasing means holding said cassette in contact with said planar surface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 92 words
A tape driving assembly for a recording tape contained in a cassette and which is transported past a signal reproducing head, comprising: a. a pinch roller; b. a capstan mounted adjacent to said pinch roller and operating therewith to transport said tape; c. a capstan bearing for supporting said capstan; and d. said capstan bearing formed with a planar surface engageable with said cassette so as to accurately position said cassette at the correct height relative to said head and first biasing means holding said cassette in contact with said planar surface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 30 words
A tape driving assembly according to claim 5, wherein said assembly further includes a capstan cover which prevents said tape from being wound about said capstan accidentally during tape transport.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 22 words
A tape driving assembly according to claim 6, wherein said capstan cover is formed as a unitary body with said capstan bearing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 51 words
A tape driving assembly according to claim 7 wherein said capstan cover includes a reference semicircular surface which extends at right angles to said planar surface and said cassette has a semicircular surface engageable with said reference semicircular surface and second biasing means holding said cassette against said reference semicircular surface.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 39 words
A tape driving assembly according to claim 8 wherein said second biasing means is a projection formed on said capstan cover adjacent said reference semicircular surface and said first biasing means is a spring means engageable with said cassette.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 25 words
A tape driving assembly according to claim 6, wherein said assembly further includes a radial bearing for said capstan to support it at two points.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3462057A Cited
US3581966A Cited
US3734373A Cited
US3790055A Cited
US3921881A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1979-07-06 1980-01-05 1980-07-06 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1983-07-06 1984-01-05 1984-07-06 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1987-07-06 1988-01-05 1988-07-06 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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