Magnetic transducer apparatus with damped spring action

Claim 1

In a magnetic transducer unit having a frame, and a magnetic recording head unit mounted for limited movement relative to said frame, wherein said head unit is to be supported a minimal distance away from a moving magnetic recording surface by the air carried along with said surface, said spacing to be substantially maintained despite irregularities in the movement of said surface that would otherwise tend to induce oscillation in said head unit, wherein the improvement comprises: bias means including a loading spring, a supporting spring which cooperates with said bias means for supporting said head unit at said minimal distance, damping means for damping said oscillations of said head induced by said moving magnetic recording surface, said damping means comprising a substantial area of contact maintained during relative movement of substantially parallel surfaces on said loading spring and said head unit, whereby progressively increasing oscillations are eliminated to produce a head unit that closely follows said moving magnetic recording surface at a minimal spacing therefrom.