Head Shifting Device

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a head shifting device employed in a recording or reproducing apparatus which changes the recording or reproducing position thereof from one position to another by shifting a recording or reproducing head in the radial direction of a disc-shaped flexible recording medium.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Various magnetic recording or reproducing apparatuses have been known which record or reproduce a video signal of a still or slow motion picture, an audio signal, a data signal, or other information by bringing a magnetic head into contact with a flexible magnetic disc contained in a cassette. In the magnetic recording or reproducing apparatus of this kind, if the magnetic recording or reproducing apparatus is unused over a long period of time with the cassette left loaded on the apparatus, a portion of the magnetic disc in contact with the head tends to be permanently deformed by the protrudent state of the magnetic head or, in some cases, the head comes to stick to the disc because the magnetic head under that condition remain in contact with the flexible magnetic disc contained in the cassette. Then, if the magnetic disc is rotated in that state, the magnetic material on the recording surface of the magnetic disc would be peeled off. In recording, the peeled part becomes unrecordable. In reproduction, it becomes a video signal undetectable region and thus results in a signal drop-out.

To avoid this inconvenience, an arrangement has been proposed to have the head set in a specific position remote from the recording area on the magnetic disc when no recording or reproduction is to be performed over a long period of time.

However, the recordable density of signals on a magnetic disc has increased during recent years. As a result, the size of the magnetic disc is tending to become smaller. Therefore, even if the magnetic head is positioned outside of the recording area of the magnetic disc as mentioned above, a swelled portion of the disc which is formed with the head at the apex of the swell would spread to the recording area to cause a permanent deformation of the recording area.

In view of this, a method has been proposed to have the head set away from the magnetic disc in the specific position remote from the recording area on the magnetic disc when no recording or reproduction is to be performed over a long period. As an alternative, another method is also proposed to arrange the head to be movable back and forth relative to the disc in response to locking and unlocking operations of a recording operation member provided on the recording apparatus.

However, the former method requires shifting the head to a given position outside the recording area of the recording medium and then moving the head away from the medium or disc. This tends to result in a complex structural arrangement of a head shifting device or a complex control system for the device. Further, in recording or reproduction, the head must be shifted over a given distance to a required position. This impairs the promptness of the recording or reproducing operation. In the case of the latter method, the head shifting device must be provided with some arrangement to interlock the device with a lock device for the recording operation member. This requirement not only tends to result in a complex structural arrangement, but also presents another problem that the head would be left in contact with the recording medium if a locking operation is not performed as an oversight. Therefore, that method does not give a sufficient assurance for elimination of the inconvenience mentioned in the foregoing.

It is an object of this invention to provide a head shifting device which is capable of preventing, with simple structural arrangement, a magnetic recording disc from being damaged. To attain this object, in a recording or reproducing apparatus of the kind which changes the recording or reproducing position thereof by shifting a recording or reproducing head in the radial direction of a disc-shaped flexible recording medium, a head shifting device, arranged according to this invention as an embodiment example thereof, comprises: First means for shifting the head in the radial direction of the recording medium; and second means for moving the head toward and away from the recording medium in association with the radial movement of the head. To attain this object, another embodiment of this invention is arranged to have the head automatically moved back and forth relative to the recording medium in a repeating manner, accordingly, as the head is shifted in the radial direction of the medium, so that the head can be readily set in its retracted position in cases where no recording nor reproduction is performed. This eliminates the danger of having the recording medium deformed or damaged by the head.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a recording or reproducing apparatus which is capable of always stably controlling the relation between a recording medium and the head thereof.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a head shifting device which changes a distance between the surface of a recording medium and the head of a recording or reproducing apparatus according to the shift of a positional relation which takes place between them along the surface of the recording medium. To attain this object, a head shifting device, arranged according to this invention as a further embodiment thereof, comprises: First means for moving the head along the surface of the recording medium; and second means for changing a distance between the head and the recording medium relative to each other, accordingly, as the positional relation between the head and the medium is changed by the first means. Therefore, the arrangement of the embodiment ensures that the head has access to and comes into contact with the recording medium only for recording or reproduction and that the medium is never deformed by the head while the head does not have access to the recording medium for recording or reproduction.

Further, a recording or reproducing apparatus arranged as a further embodiment of this invention comprises: A recording or reproducing head; a motor arranged to continuously change the positions of a recording medium and the head relative to each other in a first direction along the surface of the medium; first means for changing the positions of the recording medium and the head relative to each other in a second direction along the surface of the medium, the second direction being different from the first direction; and second means for changing a relative distance between the head and the medium, accordingly, as the positional change in the second direction is brought about by the first means. Therefore, this embodiment ensures that the head can be brought into contact with the medium according to the positional change between the medium and the head brought about by the first means for having access in the second direction, and that the medium is never damaged by any accidental contact with the head while no recording nor reproduction is performed.

These and further objects and features of this invention will become apparent from the following description thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1(a) is a plan view showing a magnetic disc cassette to be used by a recording or reproducing apparatus to which this invention is applicable. FIG. 1(b) is a sectional view taken along line X--X of FIG. 1(a). FIG. 1(c) is an oblique view showing an embodiment of this invention as viewed from a reverse side thereof.

FIG. 2(a) is a plan view of the same embodiment. FIG. 2(b) is a sectional view taken along line Y--Y of FIG. 2(a). FIG. 2(c) is a sectional view taken along line Z--Z of FIG. 2(a).

FIG. 3 shows a tool driver for adjusting a bearing housing mounting position.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view showing the details of a thrust pad arranged for a screw shaft.

FIG. 5(a) is a plan view showing a cam gear. FIGS. 5(b) and 5(c) are side views showing the operation of the cam gear according to a thrusting/retracting changeover operation on a head respectively.

FIG. 6 is an illustration of the relation of a cam lift to the shifting and thrust/retraction movement of the head.

FIG. 7 is a circuit block diagram showing a control system for a stepping motor along with a recording system.

FIG. 8 is a timing chart showing the inputs and outputs of essential circuits blocks shown in FIG. 7

The following describes some preferred embodiments of this invention with reference to the accompanying drawings:

A magnetic disc cassette to be used by a recording or reproducing apparatus embodying this invention is arranged as shown in FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b). FIG. 1(a) shows it in a plan view and FIG. 1(b) in a sectional view taken along line X--X of FIG. 1(a). A flexible magnetic disc 1 serves as a recording medium. A cassette 2, which is formed with a resin material into a flat box-like shape, contains the magnetic disc 1 therein. A hub 3 is secured to the middle part of the magnetic disc 1. A center hole 3a is formed in the hub 3. The hole 3a of the hub 3 is arranged to be fit on a spindle 7 which is coaxially mounted on the shaft of a disc rotating motor 6 as shown in FIG. 2(a). The magnetic disc 1 is thus arranged to be rotated by the motor 6 together with the spindle 7. As shown in FIG. 1(b), a pair of apertures 2a are formed in upper and lower sides of the cassette 2 in mutually corresponding positions. The lower aperture 2a permits a recording or reproducing magnetic head 5 to be inserted into the cassette 2 and to come into contact with the recording surface of the disc 1.

An embodiment of this invention is arranged as follows: FIG. 1(c) shows this embodiment as viewed from the reverse side thereof. In other words, FIG. 1(e) is an oblique view showing it in the direction reverse to the direction in which the embodiment is to be loaded with the magnetic disc cassette 2. FIG. 2(a) shows the same embodiment in a plan view as viewed from the cassette mounting side thereof. FIG. 2(b) is a sectional view taken on line Y--Y of FIG. 2(a).

The disc rotating motor 6 is secured to the chassis 8 of the apparatus body and is arranged to rotate, via the spindle 7 (FIG. 2(a)), the magnetic disc 1 contained in the cassette 2 at a given rotational frequency. A stepping motor 9 serves as a drive source for shifting, thrusting and retracting operations on the magnetic head. The motor 9 is likewise secured to the body chassis 8 and is provided with an output shaft. The output shaft of the stepping motor 9 is secured to a gear 12 which is formed in one unified body with a worm gear 12a and a spur gear 12b. The worm gear 12a engages a worm wheel 15 which is coaxially mounted on a screw shaft 13 in one body therewith. The screw shaft 13 is provided with a head driving lead screw 14 (hereinafter referred to simply as the screw) which is a central element of head shifting means and is arranged coaxially and in one unified body with the screw shaft 13. The shaft 13 is rotatably carried at its two ends by bearings 16 which are secured to the body chassis 8.

The magnetic head 5 is fixedly carried, via an adjusting device 17, by a head carrier 18. A guide shaft 19 is secured by press fitting to one end of the carrier 18.

A bearing housing 20 is formed in an approximately cylindrical shape. Bearings 21 are coaxially inserted into the opposite ends of the cylindrical hole of the housing 20 in a press fit manner. The housing 20 is secured to the body chassis 8 at two screw holes provided in its screw clamping part. The guide shaft 19, which is secured by press fit to the head carrier 18, is pivotally carried by the bearings 21 in such a way as to be linearly and rotatively movable. Meanwhile, the head carrier 18 is urged by the force of a spring 24 to move in the direction of arrow A as shown in FIGS. 1(c) and 2(a).

FIG. 2(c) shows, in an enlarged sectional view taken on line Z--Z of FIG. 2(a), the details of the screw clamping part provided for screwing the bearing housing 20 to the body chassis 8. While the housing 20 is thus secured by screws 21 to the body chassis 8, the chassis 8 is provided with two adjustment holes 8a. The screw clamping part of the bearing housing 20 is provided with slots 20b which are formed in positions corresponding to the adjustment holes 8a. The diameter and slot width of these holes 8a and slots 20b respectively correspond to the distances D and d of the fore end part of a tool driver T which is as shown in FIG. 3. The tool driver T is arranged to be an eccentric driver.

The position of the bearing housing 20 can be finely adjusted after completion of adjustment of the position of the head 5 in contact with the magnetic disc 1, by fitting the fore end diameter parts D and d of the tool driver T, respectively, into the adjustment holes 8a and the slots 20b and by turning the driver T with the mounting screws left in a state of being lightly tightened. Under this condition, the center of the head 5 can be precisely adjusted to a center line C intersecting the center of rotation of the disc rotating motor 6 while optically measuring the position of the head 5 by means of a microscope or the like.

A needle holder 22 is secured to the head carrier 18. A needle 23 is secured to the needle holder 22 in a press fit manner. The needle 23 is in an engaging relation to the screw 14 and is caused to abut on the screw part of the screw 14 by the above-stated spring 24. The spring force of the spring 24 also exerts a thrust force on the screw 14 in the direction of arrow A of FIG. 2(a).

FIG. 4 shows, in an enlarged view, the details of the thrust receiving part B of the screw shaft 13 shown in FIG. 2(a). A steel ball 26 is placed in a recess formed in the end face of the screw shaft 13. A head position adjustment screw 25, which engages a screw hole formed in a wall part 8b of the body chassis 8, is arranged to receive the thrusting force coming via the steel ball 26. The position of the head corresponding to the stopping position of the stepping motor 9 thus can be adjusted by turning this position adjustment screw 25. Further, the needle holder 22 is made of such a material that the length of which varies to the same degree as the change taking place in the radius of the magnetic disc 1 due to thermal expansion. Therefore, the degree of deviation in the positional relation between the head and recording tracks due to changes in temperature can be minimized by virtue of this arrangement.

An arm 28 is pivotally carried at one end thereof by a shaft 27 which is secured to the body chassis 8. A spring 31 urges the arm 28 to turn clockwise on the shaft 27 as shown in FIG. 1(c). A roller shaft 29 is attached to the other end of the arm 28. A roller 30 is rotatably carried by the roller shaft 29. Under the urging force of the above-stated spring 31, the roller 30 is pushing a protrusion 18a of the head carrier 18. In other words, under the condition of FIG. 1(c), the head carrier 18 is urged to turn counterclockwise on the guide shaft 19, i.e. in the direction of thrusting the head 5. In FIG. 2(b), the above-stated turning force is shown as exerted in the direction of arrow E. This turning force causes the fore end of a head height adjustment screw 32, which engages a screw hole provided in the head carrier 18, to abut with given pressure on a head height datum shaft 33 which is secured to the body chassis 8. As apparent from FIG. 2(b), the head carrier 18 turns counterclockwise, according, as the head height adjustment screw 32 is screwed inwardly. By this, the protruding extent of the head 5 can be shortened. Conversely, the protruding extent of the head 5 can be increased by screwing the adjustment screw 32 outwardly. More specifically, the head carrier 18 is linearly guided by the bearing 21 in the head feeding direction while it is restricted from turning around the guide shaft 19 by the head height datum shaft 33. The head 5 is thus carried to be shiftable only in the radial direction of the magnetic disc 1 while its height is under the above-stated restriction.

The driving gear 12 is secured to the output shaft of the stepping motor 9 as mentioned in the foregoing. The worm part 12a of the gear 12 is engaging the worm wheel 15 which is arranged in one body with the screw shaft 13. Therefore, the head carrier 18 moves in the radial directions of the magnetic disc 1 toward the periphery or toward the center of the disc 1 according to the forward or reverse rotation of the stepping motor 9. Further, in this instance, the gear ratio between the worm wheel 15 and the worm part 12a is so arranged that the head 5 is shifted to an extent corresponding to 12 track pitches when the stepping motor 9 rotates 2N steps.

The spur gear 12b of the driving gear 12 engages the gear part 35a of the cam gear 35 which is rotatably carried by the shaft 34 secured to the body chassis 8. The cam gear 35 consists of the gear part 35a and a cam part 35b which is formed in one body with the gear part 35a and is arranged to serve as a central element for the head thrusting-and-retracting means. The gear ratio between the gear part 35a and the gear 12b is arranged such that the cam gear 35 makes one turn while the head is shifted to the extent of one track pitch by the 2N step rotation of the stepping motor 9. The cam part 35b is arranged to complete a lift curve of one cycle when it makes one turn as shown in FIG. 5(a). The lift curve of the cam is preferably formed in a constant acceleration curve such as a sine curve or the like. A head shifter 36 is secured to the free end of the guide shaft 19 opposite to the end which is press fit inserted into the head carrier 18. The head shifter 36 is provided with a cam follower part 36a which is arranged to abut on the periphery of the cam part 35b. Therefore, the cam follower part 36a sways according to the cam lift of the cam part. This causes the guide shaft 19, which is in one unified body with the head carrier 18 to make a reciprocal motion within a predetermined angle range. As a result, the magnetic head 5 is thrusted toward and retracted from the magnetic disc 1, accordingly.

The apparatus which is arranged in the manner as described above operates as follows: When the stepping motor 9 rotates 2N number of steps, the cam gear 18 makes one turn while the head carrier 18 moves to the extent of one track pitch. The phasic position of the cam part 35b in this instance is such that the degree of a lift given to the cam follower 36a by the cam part 35b becomes the smallest when the head 5 is in the predetermined recording or reproducing position (absolute track position). In other words, the cam lift is then at a lower dead point. The periphery of the cam part 35b moves away from the cam follower 36a when the fore end of the head height adjustment screw 32 is brought into contact with the head height datum shaft 33 by the urging force of the spring 31 as shown in FIG. 5(b). In other words, the height of the magnetic head 5 is restricted by the head height datum shaft 33 only when the cam comes close to the lower dead point and is determined by the lift of the cam part 35b at every point of the cam other than the lower dead point (see FIG. 5(c)).

Referring to FIG. 6, the head 5 is in a protrudent recordable or reproducible state only when it is in the neighborhood of the absolute track position. With the exception of this, the magnetic head 5 always remains away from the magnetic sheet 1.

A control system for the stepping motor 9 is arranged as described below:

FIG. 7 shows the control system in a circuit block diagram and FIG. 8 the operation of it in a timing chart. Referring to FIG. 7, a signal produced with a recording button 104 operated is supplied to a differentiation circuit 105 and a monostable multivibrator 109. A positive pulse which is produced from the differentiation circuit 105 as shown in a part A of FIG. 8 causes a stepping motor driving circuit 106 to produce an N number of driving pulses as shown in a part B of FIG. 8.

Under a normal condition, the magnetic head 5 is in an intermediate position .circle.a between one track and another as shown in FIG. 6, that is, the head 5 is in a retracted position. However, with the N number of pulses produced, the stepping motor 9 rotates the N number of steps to bring the magnetic head 5 to the recording or reproducing position, i.e. a thrusted position .circle.b as shown in FIG. 6.

Meanwhile, in response to the operation of the recording button 104, the monostable multivibrator 109 produces a single pulse which is longer than the total length of the N number of pulses by a length of time t as shown in a part C of FIG. 8. This single pulse signal is applied to a differentiation circuit 110. The circuit 110 then produces a negative pulse signal as shown in a part D of FIG. 8. The negative pulse signal is supplied to the set terminal of a fall synchronizing type RS flip-flop 112. At that point of time, a signal processing circuit 102 separates a vertical synchronizing signal, which is as shown in a part F of FIG. 8, from a video signal coming from a terminal 101. The vertical synchronizing signal thus separated is supplied to one of the input terminals of an AND circuit 113.

Therefore, with the magnetic head 5 brought into the recording or reproducing position by the N number of driving pulses, a first vertical synchronizing signal passes through the AND circuit 113 after the lapse of the length of time t. The output of the AND circuit 113 is applied to a differentiation circuit 114. The circuit 114 then produces a positive pulse signal, which is supplied to a gate pulse generating circuit 115 and the reset terminal of the flip-flop 112. The flip-flop 112 then produces an output as shown in a part E of FIG. 8. Meanwhile, in response to this input, the gate pulse generating circuit 115 produces a gate pulse which is of a width corresponding to one vertical period as shown in a part G of FIG. 8. Then, in response to this, a gate circuit 103 supplies the magnetic head 5 with a recording signal produced from the signal processing circuit 102 just for the above-stated period. In this case, a delay circuit 111 is arranged in between the circuits 102 and 103 to make timing adjustment as necessary and to ensure that one field portion of the recording signal is appropriately gated.

The above-stated gate pulse which is as shown in the part G of FIG. 8 is supplied to a differentiation circuit 107 via an inverter 108. The differentiation circuit 107 produces a positive pulse at the fall of the gate pulse. This pulse output is applied to a stepping motor driving circuit 106. Then, the circuit 106 produces the N number of driving pulses. This causes the stepping motor 9 again to rotate to shift the magnetic head 5 to a stand-by state by bringing it into the position .circle.c as shown in FIG. 6.

After completion of the positioning process of the head 5, the time for triggering the recording process is arranged to be delayed at least for the period of time t as shown in the parts B and C. The reason for this delay arrangement is as follows: The magnetic head 5 might vibrate and the rotation of the magnetic disc 1 might fluctuate immediately after the head 5 comes into contact with the disc 1. Then, such vibration or fluctuation requires some period of time before they come to settle.

In accordance with the arrangement of this embodiment as described above, the magnetic head always remains away from the magnetic disc except when the head is in the recording or reproducing position. Therefore, the magnetic head and the magnetic disc can be effectively prevented from being abraded in a stand-by state while the disc is rotating. The magnetic disc can be effectively prevented from being permanently deformed when the apparatus is left unoperated in a state of being loaded with the cassette over a long period of time. It is another advantage that the arrangement of the embodiment does not impair the promptness of the recording or reproducing operation. Besides, the danger of omission to operate by an oversight also can be eliminated.

In accordance with this invention, a recording or reproducing apparatus of the kind using a disc-shaped flexible recording medium can be simply arranged to be capable of reliably eliminating the inconveniences of the prior art such as the possibility of deforming or damaging the recording medium.