Tape recorder with pivotal erase head bearing

Claim 1

Magnetic erasing head apparatus for use in a magnetic tape cassette recorder of the type which is operable with a magnetic tape cassette formed of a housing for magnetic tape and having a plurality of windows through which said tape is accessible, comprising: a bearing member for supporting a pinch roller, said pinch roller being rotatably journaled in said bearing member; a magnetic erasing head having at least a portion thereof mounted in and supported by said bearing member and having another portion thereof extending outwardly from said bearing member, said magnetic erasing head having a tape contact portion positioned at said another portion for slidably contacting said magnetic tape, said magnetic erasing head further having tape guide flanges positioned adjacent said tape contact portion for guiding said magnetic tape into slidable contact with said tape contact portion, said magnetic erasing head being mounted in said bearing member in juxtaposition with said pinch roller; a pinch lever pivotally mounted in said recorder for pivotally supporting said bearing member and said erasing head mounted in said bearing member such that when said pinch lever is pivoted into an operative position with respect to said magnetic tape, said pinch roller and said erasing head are urged through one of said cassette housing windows into contact with said magnetic tape, said pinch roller advancing said tape past said tape guide flanges and in slidable contact with said erasing head; and means for pivotally mounting said bearing member on said pinch lever to thereby define a first pivot axis about which said bearing member pivots with respect to said pinch lever.