Transducer positioning device

Claim 2

In a transducer positioning device for accurately moving a transducer to each of a plurality of discrete transducing positions on a record medium comprising a transducer support member for carrying a transducer to move from one of said positions to another, brake means operable to selectively grip or free said member, cam means having a plurality of discrete steps disposed to position said member, biasing means urging said member toward said steps to position said member and transducer relative to said positions on said record medium, and means for moving said steps out from under said member to form a gap therebetween while said brake member inhibits movement of said member toward said cam means whereby selective release of said brake means serves to permit said biasing means to move said member toward said step to translate said transducer to a related degree.

Claim 3

In a transducer positioning device for accurately moving a transducer to each of a plurality of discrete record tracks on a moving record medium comprising a transducer support member, cam follower means supporting said member for movement in response to movements of the follower means, a cam formed with discrete steps for positioning said follower means and said member to dispose the transducer at related tracks of said medium, bias means urging said follower means toward said steps, means for advancing said cam from one step to another, and means for locking said follower means against movement toward said cam while said cam advances to form a spacing between said cam follower means and said cam and for releasing said follower portion after completion of said advance to permit said bias means to move said follower to engage said cam.

Claim 4

In a transducer positioning device for accurately moving a transducer to each of a plurality of discrete record tracks on a moving record medium comprising a transducer support member, cam follower means supporting said member for movement in response to movements of the follower means, a cam formed with discrete steps for positioning said follower means and said member to dispose the transducer at related tracks of said medium, bias means urging said follower means toward said steps, means for advancing said cam from one step to another, and means for locking said follower means against movement toward said cam while said cam advances to form a spacing between said cam follower means and said cam and for releasing said follower portion after completion of said advance to permit said bias means to move said follower to engage said cam.

Claim 5

In a transducer positioning device according to claim 2 comprising ratchet means for advancing said cam from one step to another, and viscous damping means serving to limit the advance of said cam to a predetermined degree.

Claim 6

In a transducer positioning device according to claim 2 further comprising means forming a fixed frame member, means carried by said frame member and movable relative thereto, the last named means carrying said cam, said transducer support member, and transducer, and means for adjusting the relative position of said last named means with respect to said frame member to align said transducer with said tracks.

Claim 7

In a transducer positioning device according to claim 4 wherein said means for adjusting includes means extending transversely of said last named means and an eccentric disposed to engage a portion thereof for moving said last named means.

Claim 8

A transducer positioning device for accurately moving a transducer to each of a plurality of discrete record tracks on a moving record medium and for registering the transducer with the tracks of the medium comprising a fixed frame member, a transducer support member carried by said frame member and movable relative thereto for positioning the transducer to each of a plurality of record tracks, cam follower means supporting said support member for movement in response to movements of said follower, a cam for positioning said follower and said support member, bias means urging said follower toward said cam, means carrying said cam and said transducer support member and transducer for movement thereof relative to said frame member to permit adjustment of the relative position thereof with respect to said frame member for aligning said transducer with said tracks, and means for advancing said cam to move said follower and support member to dispose the transducer from one track position to another.

Claim 9

A transducer positioning device for accurately moving a transducer to each of a plurality of discrete record tracks on a moving record medium and for registering the transducer with the tracks of the medium comprising a fixed frame member, a transducer support member carried by said frame member and movable relative thereto for positioning the transducer to each of a plurality of record tracks, cam follower means supporting said support member for movement in response to movements of said follower, a cam for positioning said follower and said support member, bias means urging said follower toward said cam, means carrying said cam and said transducer support member and transducer for movement thereof relative to said frame member to permit adjustment of the relative position thereof with respect to said frame member for aligning said transducer with said tracks, and means for advancing said cam to move said follower and support member to dispose the transducer from one track position to another.

Claim 10

A transducer positioning device for accurately moving a transducer to each of a plurality of discrete record tracks on a record medium comprising a fixed frame member, a transducer, a transducer support post for carrying said transducer thereon in transducing relation to the moving record medium, guide means comprising a bifurcated U-shaped bracket formed with aligned openings in the sides of the U, said post being disposed within said openings to extend between the sides of said U, clearance around said post within said openings sufficient to readily permit axial movement of said post therethrough, said bracket being disposed in fixed relation to said frame member, selectively operable brake means serving to selectively press said post against the sidewall of said openings to inhibit axial movement of the post, cam means having a plurality of discrete steps disposed to move in a predetermined path for engaging said post in cam following relation, means for advancing said steps along said path by discrete units and serving to move the steps out from under said post to form a gap therebetween while said brake inhibits axial movement of said post, biasing means urging said post toward said cam steps whereby selective release of said brake means after forming said gap serves to permit said biasing means to drive said post through said gap into registration with one of said steps so as to translate said transducer to a related degree.

Claim 11

A transducer positioning device for accurately moving a transducer to each of a plurality of discrete record tracks on a record medium comprising a fixed frame member, a transducer, a transducer support post for carrying said transducer thereon in transducing relation to the moving record medium, guide means comprising a bifurcated U-shaped bracket formed with aligned openings in the sides of the U, said post being disposed within said openings to extend between the sides of said U, clearance around said post within said openings sufficient to readily permit axial movement of said post therethrough, said bracket being disposed in fixed relation to said frame member, selectively operable brake means serving to selectively press said post against the sidewall of said openings to inhibit axial movement of the post, cam means having a plurality of discrete steps disposed to move in a predetermined path for engaging said post in cam following relation, means for advancing said steps along said path by discrete units and serving to move the steps out from under said post to form a gap therebetween while said brake inhibits axial movement of said post, biasing means urging said post toward said cam steps whereby selective release of said brake means after forming said gap serves to permit said biasing means to drive said post through said gap into registration with one of said steps so as to translate said transducer to a related degree.

Claim 12

In a positioning device for accurately moving a piece to each of a plurality of discrete positions comprising a support member for carrying said piece to move from one of said positions to another, brake means operable to selectively grip or free said support member, biasing means urging said member to move in a given direction to position said member and piece at one of said positions, and means for successively forming gaps of predetermined displacement between a portion of said support member and a registration surface spaced therefrom while maintaining said brake means operable to grip said support member to retain said support member against the urging of said biasing means, and means for selectively freeing the grip of said brake means on said support member to permit said biasing means to urge said support member to move into engagement with a said registration surface.

Claim 13

In a positioning device for accurately moving a piece to each of a plurality of discrete positions comprising a support member for carrying said piece to move from one of said positions to another, brake means operable to selectively grip or free said support member, biasing means urging said member to move in a given direction to position said member and piece at one of said positions, and means for successively forming gaps of predetermined displacement between a portion of said support member and a registration surface spaced therefrom while maintaining said brake means operable to grip said support member to retain said support member against the urging of said biasing means, and means for selectively freeing the grip of said brake means on said support member to permit said biasing means to urge said support member to move into engagement with a said registration surface.