EP0156568A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cleaning apparatus for a video unit
Assignee: RYAN PLASTICS IRELAND Ltd
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Filing: 1985-03-08
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2005-03-08
Abstract
Abstract A cleaning apparatus for a video player/recorder (video unit) includes a cassette housing (8) which can substitute for a conventional video tape cassette and which includes a cleaning ribbon (9) wound on a pair of spools (10, 11). The video unit includes a shut-off mechanism of conventional type comprising a light source and first and second shut-off devices (37,38), the former being normally responsive to light through a clear leader at the end of the video tape to effect halting of the tape in the forward direction and automatic rewind, and the latter being normally responsive to light through a clear leader at the beginning of the video tape to effect halting of the tape in the reverse direction. The shut-off mechanism is used by the cleaning apparatus to define a cleaning cycle, to which end the cassette housing (8) of the cleaning apparatus includes a shutter (34) which is rotatably driven by one of the spools (11) and surrounds the light source of the shut-off mechanism. At the beginning of the cleaning cycle neither shut-off device (37, 38) receives light from the source. During the cleaning cycle the shutter (34) is rotated by the spool (11) and at an intermediate point in the cycle an aperture (41) in the shutter (34) permits light to fall on the second shut-off device (38) to inhibit automatic rewind. The cleaning cycle is complete when light falls on the first shut-off device (37) through an aperture (40) in the shutter (34), the light remaining on the second shut-off device (38).
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph Frederick Fritsch
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 01:11
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B23/00; G11B23/02; G11B23/04; G11B23/049; G11B5/00; G11B5/41; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S15/00; Y10S15/13
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
411 words
A cleaning apparatus for use with a video unit of the kind comprising means for locating a video tape cassette in an operative position in the unit, at least one head member subject to contamination, guide means for engaging the tape of a video tape cassette in the operating position to draw the tape out into a head-engaging configuration prior to playing or recording, drive spindles for engaging and rotating a pair of tape spools of the video tape cassette, and a shut-off mechanism comprising a light source and a pair of light-sensitive shut-off devices, the video tape normally blocking light from the light source to the shut-off devices except at the end of the tape when a first portion of clear leader tape permits light from the source to fall on the first shut-off device whereupon forward tape motion is halted, and at the beginning of the tape when a second portion of clear leader tape permits light from the source to fall on the second shut-off device whereupon reverse tape motion is halted, the cleaning apparatus comprising: a cassette housing (8) adapted to be located in the operating position in the video unit (100), a pair of spools (10, 11) rotatably mounted in the cassette housing (8) and adapted for engagement with the drive spindles of the video unit, a cleaning ribbon (9) mounted on the spools (10, 11) and positioned in the housing (8) for drawing out into a head-engaging configuration by the guide means, and a stop mechanism comprising a shutter (34) rotatably surrounding the light source of the shut-off mechanism and a drive means (33) adapted to rotate the shutter (34) during forward motion of the cleaning ribbon (9), the shutter (34) having a first position defining the start of a cleaning cycle wherein light from the source is blocked by the shutter (34) from both the first (37) and second (38) shut-off devices, and a second position defining the end of a cleaning cycle wherein light (90) from the source falls on the first shut-off device (37), and wherein the shutter (34) is arranged to permit light (80) to fall on the second shut-off device (38) before the light (90) falls on the first shut-off device (37) during the forward motion of the cleaning ribbon (9), and the light (80) remains on the second shut-off device (38) until the end of the cleaning cycle where-upon light (80, 90) falls on both shut-off devices (37, 38).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
411 words
A cleaning apparatus for use with a video unit of the kind comprising means for locating a video tape cassette in an operative position in the unit, at least one head member subject to contamination, guide means for engaging the tape of a video tape cassette in the operating position to draw the tape out into a head-engaging configuration prior to playing or recording, drive spindles for engaging and rotating a pair of tape spools of the video tape cassette, and a shut-off mechanism comprising a light source and a pair of light-sensitive shut-off devices, the video tape normally blocking light from the light source to the shut-off devices except at the end of the tape when a first portion of clear leader tape permits light from the source to fall on the first shut-off device whereupon forward tape motion is halted, and at the beginning of the tape when a second portion of clear leader tape permits light from the source to fall on the second shut-off device whereupon reverse tape motion is halted, the cleaning apparatus comprising: a cassette housing (8) adapted to be located in the operating position in the video unit (100), a pair of spools (10, 11) rotatably mounted in the cassette housing (8) and adapted for engagement with the drive spindles of the video unit, a cleaning ribbon (9) mounted on the spools (10, 11) and positioned in the housing (8) for drawing out into a head-engaging configuration by the guide means, and a stop mechanism comprising a shutter (34) rotatably surrounding the light source of the shut-off mechanism and a drive means (33) adapted to rotate the shutter (34) during forward motion of the cleaning ribbon (9), the shutter (34) having a first position defining the start of a cleaning cycle wherein light from the source is blocked by the shutter (34) from both the first (37) and second (38) shut-off devices, and a second position defining the end of a cleaning cycle wherein light (90) from the source falls on the first shut-off device (37), and wherein the shutter (34) is arranged to permit light (80) to fall on the second shut-off device (38) before the light (90) falls on the first shut-off device (37) during the forward motion of the cleaning ribbon (9), and the light (80) remains on the second shut-off device (38) until the end of the cleaning cycle where-upon light (80, 90) falls on both shut-off devices (37, 38).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
A cleaning apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the shutter (34) is accessible externally of the cassette housing (8) for manual rotation from the second position to the first position in preparation for a further cleaning cycle without rotating the spools (10, 11).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
92 words
A cleaning apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the drive means (33) includes a gear (35) driven by one of the spools (11) and which includes at least one tooth (48) for rotating the shutter (34), and wherein the shutter (34) has a plurality of radial projections (A to D) of which successive ones are engaged by at least one tooth (48) during rotation of the gear (35) to intermittently rotate the shutter (34) through an angle substantially equal to the angular separation of the radial projections (A to D).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
92 words
A cleaning apparatus according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, further including a capstan and pinch roller cleaning device (12) mounted in the housing (8), the cleaning device (12) including first (20) and second (19) cleaning pad surfaces adapted to engage the capstan (6) and pinch roller (7) respectively during a cleaning cycle of the apparatus, the cleaning ribbon (9) being engaged by the capstan (6) and pinch roller (7) during the cleaning cycle with the first and second cleaning pad surfaces (19, 20) disposed on opposite sides of the ribbon (9).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
86 words
A cleaning apparatus according to Claim 4, wherein the cleaning device (12) is removable from the cassette housing (8) and comprises a pair of resilient arms (15, 16) each carrying a respective cleaning pad (19, 20) for cleaning a respective one of the capstan (6) and pinch roller (7), and wherein in use the cleaning ribbon (9) passes between the arms (15, 16) but is removable therefrom to permit the cleaning device (12) to be removed from the housing (8) without removing the cleaning ribbon (9).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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