Magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus with erasing head and a tape guide mounted on a movable carriage

Claim 1

A magnetic tape recording and reproducing apparatus comprising tape drive means for transporting a magnetic tape at least in one direction along a predetermined path during recording and reproducing operations of the apparatus, magnetic recording and reproducing head means engageable with the tape in said path during said operations of the apparatus, tape guide means fixedly located in respect to said magnetic recording and reproducing head means in advance of the latter considered in said one direction of tape transport along said path, said tape guide means being engageable with the tape in said path during said recording and reproducing operations and having a tape contact surface with a straight generatrix to extend across the tape and a pair of projections spaced apart by said surface therebetween and extending beyond said surface for contact with opposite edges of the tape, permanently magnetized erasing head means disposed immediately adjacent said tape guide means and having a tape contact surface, means mounting said erasing head means for movement relative to said tape guide means and relative to said recording and reproducing head means between a first position, in which said tape contact surface of the erasing head means extends at least as far as said tape contact surface of the tape guide means in the direction toward said path, and a second position, in which said tape contact surface of the erasing head means is retracted relative to said tape contact surface of the tape guide means in the direction away from said path, and control means for said erasing head means disposing the latter in said first position during said recording operation of the apparatus and disposing said erasing head means in said second position during said reproducing operation of the apparatus.

Claim 18

An apparatus for magnetically recording and reproducing signals on a magnetic tape contained in a cassette including an edge wall having windows therein past which a run of the tape is guided for exposure at the windows, said apparatus comprising a chassis having means for locating the cassette thereon, a carriage on said chassis carrying magnetic recording and reproducing head means and being movable relative to said chassis between an operative position for recording and reproducing operations of the apparatus, where said recording and reproducing head means enters at least one of the windows of said cassette for engagement with said run of the magneTic tape, and an inoperative position where said recording and reproducing head means is spaced from the cassette, tape guide means fixed on said carriage and disposed to extend through another of the cassette windows into engagement with said tape run for stabilizing movement of the tape along said run when said carriage is in said operative position thereof, permanently magnetized erasing head means disposed adjacent said tape guide means on said carriage in advance of said recording and reproducing head means considered in the direction of tape movement, means mounting said erasing head means for movement relative to said tape guide means between a first position in which, with said carriage in said operative position, said erasing head means extends through said other window and contacts the tape in said run for erasing signals recorded on the tape, and a second position in which, with said carriage in said operative position, said erasing head means is spaced from the cassette in the direction toward said inoperative position of the carriage, and control means for said erasing head means disposing the latter in said first position during said recording operation of the apparatus and disposing said erasing head means in said second position during said reproducing operation of the apparatus.

Claim 19

An apparatus for magnetically recording and reproducing signals on a magnetic tape contained in a cassette including an edge wall having windows therein past which a run of the tape is guided for exposure at the windows, said apparatus comprising a chassis having means for locating the cassette thereon, a carriage on said chassis carrying magnetic recording and reproducing head means and being movable relative to said chassis between an operative position for recording and reproducing operations of the apparatus, where said recording and reproducing head means enters at least one of the windows of said cassette for engagement with said run of the magneTic tape, and an inoperative position where said recording and reproducing head means is spaced from the cassette, tape guide means fixed on said carriage and disposed to extend through another of the cassette windows into engagement with said tape run for stabilizing movement of the tape along said run when said carriage is in said operative position thereof, permanently magnetized erasing head means disposed adjacent said tape guide means on said carriage in advance of said recording and reproducing head means considered in the direction of tape movement, means mounting said erasing head means for movement relative to said tape guide means between a first position in which, with said carriage in said operative position, said erasing head means extends through said other window and contacts the tape in said run for erasing signals recorded on the tape, and a second position in which, with said carriage in said operative position, said erasing head means is spaced from the cassette in the direction toward said inoperative position of the carriage, and control means for said erasing head means disposing the latter in said first position during said recording operation of the apparatus and disposing said erasing head means in said second position during said reproducing operation of the apparatus.