JPH0355126Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] The present invention generally relates to a cassette-type cleaning device suitable for cleaning recording/playback equipment, and more specifically, the present invention relates to a cassette-type cleaning device suitable for cleaning recording/playback equipment, and more particularly, the present invention relates to a cassette-type cleaning device in which each cleaning element has a replaceable cotton swab inserted therein. Recording/playback heads, erasing heads and capstans and pinch rollers, consisting of a holder for cleaning heads and having the common feature that they can be locked in various types of sockets to meet the required purpose. The present invention relates to a cleaning tool that can be used to clean.

The invention is intended for three uses: a cleaning of the recording/playback head; b cleaning of the capstan and pinch roller; and c cleaning of the erase head.
The prior art will be discussed here in terms of these three corresponding aspects.

In the very early days, so-called "cassette-type cleaning tapes" were employed for cleaning all magnetic heads. Frictional tape was used in place of regular magnetic tape in a cassette.
Run it in contact with the surface to be cleaned. The operation was frictional and the effect was poor. Later, pads of felt material were offered for cleaning purposes, but their poor solvent absorption capacity made them unusable.

With the advent of the current type of cassette type cleaning implements, as far as materials are concerned, the present invention uses cotton due to its excellent absorbency.

First, for cleaning the recording/playback head of a recording/playback device, the prior art discloses instruments that use a cassette-like housing with a cleaning arm pivotally mounted for reciprocating movement. At one end of the cleaning arm is a cleaning pad that cleans back and forth against the head of the device. It is desirable that the cleaning pad be securely retained on the cleaning arm, and that the pad be periodically replaced after a number of cleaning operations. Although some of the prior art may have already disclosed instruments having the above characteristics, the cleaning pads are rarely held securely enough in the cleaning arm and it is not possible to securely attach the pad to the surface of the element to be cleaned. It is almost impossible to get close.

Second, the prior art for cleaning the capstan and pinch roller of a recording/playback device typically includes a pair of cleaning pads that engage the capstan and pinch roller, respectively. These pads can be mounted with any suitable mounting structure. However, the same drawbacks such as loose contact and lack of replaceability still exist.

Third, some cleaning tools for "self-reversing" recording/playback devices have separate erase heads, which must accommodate two capstans and two pinch rollers. The pads of this device also have the disadvantages of incomplete contact, unreliable retention, and impossibility of convenient replacement.

Therefore, the main purpose of the present invention is to use a pine-like cotton swab with a cotton pad glued on it, which can be applied to the cleaning of recording/playback heads, capstans and pink rollers, as well as erasing heads, and to use a pine-shaped cotton swab with a cotton pad glued on it, which requires firm insertion of the cotton swab. An object of the present invention is to provide a multipurpose cleaning tip assembly which is configured to be removably inserted into a tubular holder having a tapered inner wall for securing the tip. On one side of the outer wall of the tubular holder,
For example, a locking means is provided which is punched out to form a resilient tongue on which a locking member protrudes. On the opposite side of the outer wall, one cut is formed on the upper and lower sides. The purpose will be explained in detail later. No matter what purpose the cleaning device is used for, the tubular tip holder can be used as a recording/playback head,
It has a basic structure that can be used universally for cleaning capstans, pinch rollers, and erasing heads.

Another object of the present invention is to clean the capstan and the pinch roller by installing a pair of built-in units for cleaning the capstan and the pinch roller, and a first unit installed in a step-like manner directly below their position. It is an object of the present invention to provide a socket for a chip holder of the type. The sockets are formed into two longitudinally cut half cylinders which are joined by a pair of blocks within each half of the cleaning cassette. The bottom of each socket includes a compression spring that biases the lower end of the inserted tip holder to force the cotton tip firmly against the surface being cleaned.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a spring bias that selectively engages one upper and lower notch in the outer wall of the tip holder and serves to release the lock when the pinch roller to be cleaned is pressed against the cleaning tip. Lateral slots for retaining wing locks are provided in one pair of halves to enable the capstan and pinch roller to engage the tip while both are free to move up and down during cleaning. and on the other hand, a longitudinal slot is provided in each of the other pair of half cylinders, through which the tip of a pencil is pushed from outside the socket wall, and the protrusion formed in the elastic tongue of the holder wall is inserted. The purpose is to release the mounting lock from engagement by the upper edge of its longitudinal slot so that the tip retainer can be ejected from the socket for replacement by the compressive force of the biasing spring.

Another object of the invention is to provide a second type of tip retainer socket block having a cylindrical internal space which is engaged with the upper edge of the slot on the retainer tongue and which can be released by pushing the tip of a pencil through the slot. A longitudinally inner slot for holding a tip retainer assembly having a sharply protruding lock is provided. This structure is similar to the first type, except that the lower part of the block extends to form a pivotably mounted cleaning arm for reciprocating swinging to clean the record/playback head. The structure is almost the same as that of a socket. The lower end of the cleaning arm serves as a follower driven by a pair of complementary eccentrics molded integrally with one of a pair of follower gears meshing with a pair of main drive gears driven by the drive shaft of the recording/playback device. There is.

A further object of the invention is to provide a third type of chip holder socket which is actually a simplified form of the second type and is intended for cleaning the erase head. Here, the part below the pivot of the second type of cleaning arm is omitted, since the arm is not directly driven by the gear train. However, a coupling means, for example a coupling rod, is provided between the second type of arm and the third type of arm via a pair of ears arranged on the sides of each arm. A parallelogram linkage is thus formed such that the third type of socket can be moved in unison with the oscillation of the second type of cleaning arm to effect cleaning of the erase head. There is.

Other objects and features will become apparent from the detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

First, referring to FIG. 1, the capstan 32,
A cassette-type cleaning instrument 10 is shown suitable for use with a cleaning tip assembly designed for the dual purpose of cleaning a pinch roller 31 and a record/playback head 33. However, this cleaning implement serves a further purpose, cleaning the erase head 34, as shown separately in FIGS. 3A and 3B.

The record/playback head, erase head, capstan, and pinch roller are all parts of playback and/or recording equipment of a common type, and only a portion of that equipment is shown here with the reference numeral 30 for convenience of illustration. It is shown in A glance at Figures 2A and 2B will readily show that the individual cleaning tip assemblies are placed in corresponding locations with insertion openings. That is, cleaning tip assembly 22P-22C is in position 101-102 for pinch roller 31 and capstan 32, tip assembly 22H is in position 103 for record/playback head 33, and as shown in FIG. 3A. Referring to FIG. 3B, tip assembly 22E is placed in position 104 for erase head 34. Referring to FIG.

The cassette-type cleaning device consists of a cassette-like housing 10 having the general shape of a conventional cassette housing for cassette tapes. For purposes of illustration, the top of housing 10 is not shown in FIG. The housing 10 has a front end 35, a rear end 38, and left and right side parts 36, 37.

Whatever purpose this cleaning device serves, the same construction of the cleaning tip assembly as shown in FIG. 4B forms the essential part of the invention. Also,
Referring to FIG. 4A, which is an exploded view of the assembly 20 generally showing the tip assemblies 22P, 22C, 22H, and 22E, it is shown that the cotton tip 221 is secured to the tubular retainer 21 and the mate rod 222. It consists of a wrapped tip rod 22 (a suitable adhesive can be used to ensure integrity). The tubular holder 21 has an inner wall 211 so that it can be firmly grasped when the cotton tip stick 22 is inserted.
is tapered downward. Holder 2
A small hole 212 is provided in the bottom of 1 to facilitate the insertion of a push rod for pushing out and replacing the tip rod 22. Referring to another FIG. 4B for the tubular holder 21, one side wall thereof has a U-shaped tongue 21 punched therefrom.
3, and a protruding lock 214 is formed on the tongue piece 213. The opposing side walls are formed with one upper and lower notch 215, the usage of which will be described later.

Cleaning tip assembly 2 which is the basic part of this invention
0 can be used universally for any of the purposes mentioned above, except that the shape of the socket may change from time to time depending on its mission. Of course, the cross-section of the tubular holder can be triangular, square, diamond-shaped, etc. other than circular here, and the socket for supporting the holder will have a proportionate internal space accordingly.

The first type of seat or socket 40 is
By referring to FIG. 2 or FIG.
detailed here. In FIG. 5, cassette housing 10 has been opened to show its bottom 11 and lid 12, respectively. Valve seat or socket 40
is divided into two halves 401, 402, each half having a bottom 11 and a lid 12. When the cassette housing 10 is closed, a pair of stepped socket members 403, 404 and 4 are provided.
03', 404' as a whole. Half cylinder body 403
-403' when brought together form a cylindrical socket, each holding one cleaning tip assembly 20. It should be noted that no matter what type of seat or socket the tip assembly is inserted into, there is always a compression spring 23 underneath it to elastically bias the tip assembly towards the cleaning surface. That is, it should be inserted.

The half body 401 of the socket 40 has a half cylinder body 40
There is a circular aperture 407 opening at the border of the wall connecting 3,404, which extends laterally towards the curvature of the half-cylindrical wall. Additionally, a pair of widened wing-shaped grooves 408 are formed to support and hold a widened wing-shaped locking member 410. Lock member 41
0 has a central recess, into which a compression spring 409 is inserted and straight wings 411, 412 are inserted into the upper and lower notches 21.
5, 216 or slide the tip assembly 20 along the rounded ramps formed in the wing members 411, 412 and 413, 414. Gives elasticity.

The half body 402 of the socket 40 has a half cylinder body 403-4 when the cassette halves 11 and 12 are closed.
The entire upper portion of each of the longitudinal slots 421, 422 extends through the wall of the lid 12 so that the cylindrical sockets formed by the cylindrical sockets 03', 404-404' each receive one chip assembly 20. It has been cut. A protruding lock 214 on the tongue 213 of each tip assembly 20 is connected to a respective slot 42.
The upper edges 423, 424 of 1,422. The lock 214 can be unlocked by inserting the tip of a pencil into the slot from the outside of the lid wall 12 and pushing the elastic tongue 213 inward.
The first tip assembly 22C can be inserted into the cylinder 404 before the cassette housing halves 11 and 12 are closed together. Upper notch 21
Tip assembly 22C is pushed fully downward until wing 412 of lock 410 catches tip assembly 22C.
Next, the lower notch 216 is inserted into the wing 41 of the lock 410.
Another tip assembly 22P is inserted into the cylinder 403 until it hooks onto the tip. When the cleaning assembly is placed in the recess of the cassette, the tip 22C is located just below the capstan 32, while pressing the pinch roller 31 causes the tip 22P to lower further;
As a result, the retainer 20 with the lower notch 216
is disengaged from the lock wing 411, and the lock 4
10 into the hole 407, and thus the retainer 22C
The upper notch 215 of is also released. Until then, both tips 22P and 22C are not engaged and are in a neutral position where they can move up and down freely. Springs 23 held at the bottom of cylinders 405, 406 bias tips 22P and 22C firmly against pinch rollers 31 and capstan 32 to ensure thorough cleaning.

1 and 6 for a detailed description of the second type of holding socket 56 that holds the chip 22H for cleaning the recording/playback head 32. 56 is
It is also block-shaped and has a cylindrical internal space for supporting and holding the chip 22H.
Parallel to the socket block 56 is a longitudinal slot 561 into which the tip of a pencil is inserted in order to release the tongue lock on the retainer wall. The socket block 56 extends to the other end to form a rocker arm 50, which is pivoted to the center of the cassette housing 10 by a pin 57. Lower end 5 of Rotzker arm 50
8 is cut in half in thickness and is guided by a pair of complementary eccentrics 54E, 54E'. Eccentric wheels 54E, 54E' are a pair of driven gears 54, 5 that are meshed on the back side of the lower end 58 of the rocker arm.
4' is integrally molded. The gear 54, 5
4' is driven by a pair of main drive gears 53, 53' driven by a pair of drive shafts 51, 51' of the recorder/player. A pair of complementary eccentrics 54, 54'
The vibration of the rocker arm 50 caused by the rotation of the cleaning chip 22H causes the cleaning chip 22H to move toward the recording/playback head 3.
It vibrates back and forth under 3. The arrangement of the pair of eccentrics is complementary to each other and therefore the rocker arm 50
It can be guided to push or pull.

A second type of retention socket 56 variation is illustrated in FIG. 6A as 56', which is cylindrical rather than block-shaped. A cylinder 56' having a trunk shaft 562 extends downward and is rotatably held in the bearing seat 501. A ratchet wheel 59 is fixed to the main shaft 562 and is rotatable therewith, and the ratchet wheel 59
It is held in a recess 502 formed in . The lower end of the rocker arm 50 extends to a follower 58.
form. This follower 58 is half-thick and has a pair of complementary eccentrics 54E, the same as in FIG.
54E'.

Referring to FIG. 6B, a ratchet pawl 59a in the form of a leaf spring is located on the floor of the cassette housing 11 so that the follower 58 swings about the pivot 57, causing the ratchet wheel to intermittently move the plate. Upon contact with the spring-like ratchet pawl 59a,
The shaft 562 with the cylindrical socket 56' is rotated through a corresponding angle from time to time. The cleaning tip thus redirects its contact with the surface to be cleaned, allowing full utilization of the cleaning tip.

This modification device can be used exclusively for automatic reversing type recording/playback machines.

The third type of tip retaining socket 66 shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B is actually a simplified version of the second type of tip retainer 56. A pivot pin 67 is provided for pivotally mounting the chip retaining socket 66 and is intended for cleaning the erase head 34. The portion of the second type of cleaning arm below the pivot 57 has been omitted. This is because here the arm is not directly driven by the gear train. However, the connecting means, such as the connecting rod 560, has a pair of ears 562, 662 disposed between the second type socket arm 56 and the third type socket arm 66, facing each other on the sides of each arm. It is provided as an aid. Thus, arm 56,
Ear 562 - connecting rod 560 - ear 662, arm 66
and pivots 57-67 form a parallelogram linkage. The short arm 66 is vibrated in accordance with the rocking of the cleaning arm 50,
Clean the erase head 34. The connecting rod 560 is
Each end thereof has coupling means for connecting to the respective ears shown.

If the erase head 34 is not spaced apart as shown in Figures 3A and 3B, or if the recording/
If the playback device is of double capstan/pinch roller construction, in other words if the recording device is of the self-reversing type, another pair of cleaning Chips 22C' and 22P' can be provided.

FIG. 7 shows a modification of the drive gear 54 in which the eccentric guide 54E is integrally formed.
a gear ring 53a for engaging with the
It is disassembled into a cross gear 531 having teeth 534 arranged in a cruciform manner for engaging the inner cruciform recess 533 of the ring gear 53a. The cross gear 531 is driven by the drive shaft of the recorder/player. This modification in the drive means can result in improved transmission, reducing vibrations due to improperly or loosely meshed gear trains, allowing much smoother operation.

The thickness t of the cross gear 531 is the thickness of the inner cross-shaped recess 5
The thickness of the gear 53a is about 1/3 of the thickness T of the gear 53a. The radius of the inner cruciform recess 533 of the gear 53a is designated R, while the outer diameter of the cruciform gear 531 is designated r. Here, R>r and R
-r=C, and C is gear 531 and gear 53a
It is the gap between As a result of this configuration, the vibration absorbing ability of the gear 531 due to the buffering effect of the gap C is strengthened, so that the gear 53a rotates correctly and is driven while steadily meshing with the follower gear. This relationship can be clearly understood from the illustration in FIG.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a cassette-type cleaning device suitable for use with the cleaning tip assembly of the present invention for cleaning the recording/playback head and cleaning the capstan and pinch roller of a self-reversing cassette tape recorder. The drive mechanism is also illustrated at the same time. FIG. 2A is a partial plan view of the cleaning implement shown in FIG. 1, with the cleaning tip shown in close proximity to the capstan, pinch roller and record/playback head, but with the drive mechanism not shown; Not yet. FIG. 2B is a front view thereof.
FIG. 3A is a partial plan view of a cassette-type cleaning device suitable for cleaning both the record/playback head and the erase head, where the tape recorder has separate record/playback and erase heads; The cleaning tip is of general type and is shown in close contact with the surface to be cleaned and the connecting link for the drive shown. FIG. 3B is a front view of FIG. 3A. FIG. 4A is an exploded view showing essential parts of a cleaning tip assembly having a matchstick-shaped tip and a holder in a front view. FIG. 4B is a side view of the cleaning tip assembly, notch and locking projection. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a portion of a cassette-type cleaning instrument, the relative position of a pair of conjugate halves or tube halves serving as a retention socket for a cleaning tip assembly. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the pivoting cleaning arm of the record/playback head cleaning instrument guided by a pair of eccentric drive members. FIG. 6A is a perspective view showing a modification of the cleaning arm. FIG. 6B is a plan view of the associated ratchet wheel. FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a modification of the drive gear to ensure better transmission. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the gear of FIG. 7, showing the gap provided to absorb vibrations of the drive shaft. 10...cassette housing, 11...bottom,
12...Lid part, 20...Cleaning tip assembly, 21
... Tubular holder, 212 ... Small hole, 213 ... Tongue piece, 214 ... Protrusion lock, 215, 216 ...
Cut, 22...Cleaning tip rod, 22C, 22
C'...Cleaning tip (for capstan), 22E...
...Cleaning chip (for erasing head), 22H...Cleaning chip (for recording/playback head), 22P, 22
P'...Cleaning tip (for pinch roller), 31...
Pinch roller, 32... Capstan, 33...
Recording/playback head, 34... Erasing head, 40,
56, 56', 66...Socket, 407...Round hole, 408...Horizontal slot, 410...Open wing lock member, 411, 412...Wing, 50...Cleaning arm, 54E, 54E'...Complementary sexual eccentricity, 56
1...Slot, 57, 67...Pivot pin,
59...Ratchet gear, 59a...Ratchet pawl.

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] 1. A housing, a plurality of cleaning chips provided in the housing, a vibration means for reciprocating the at least one cleaning chip, a recording/reproducing head for the cleaning chip, A cassette-type cleaning tool that is equipped with an erasing head and a bias means for biasing the object to be cleaned, such as a capstan/pinch roller, and can be used for multiple purposes for cleaning the object to be cleaned. In order to securely insert and hold the pine-shaped cotton swab into the internal space, the inner wall is tapered toward the bottom, and a hole is provided at the bottom to facilitate replacing the swab. a cleaning tip assembly having a holder; a socket block of a selectable type for supporting and holding the cleaning assembly in a position corresponding to the object to be cleaned; and locking means for locking the cleaning tip assembly to the socket block. A cassette-type cleaning tool characterized by: 2. An elastic lock, such as a U-shaped tongue with a protruding lock, is stamped and formed on one side of the outer wall of the tubular holder to facilitate locking on the inner upper edge of the selected type of socket, and the tongue The outer wall of the holder opposite to the single lock is provided with one upper and lower notch for engaging with the locking means of the first type socket in order to temporarily occupy a certain position before cleaning the capstan and the pinch roller. A cassette-type cleaning tool according to claim 1 of the utility model registration claim. 3. A selectable socket block having a normally cylindrical inner space for bearing and retaining the chip assembly, and a longitudinally through-wall slot whose upper edge is engaged by a tongue lock in the outer wall of the retainer. the slot acts as an opening for the insertion of a pencil point, etc., by pressing and releasing the tongue lock; and the thrust of a compression spring placed at the bottom of the socket allows the tip assembly to be inserted for replacement, etc. A cassette-type cleaning tool according to claim 1, characterized in that the tool is designed to pop out. . 4 A first type of socket has a pair of joined cylinders in a stepped arrangement; the cylinders are arranged in the bottom and lid of the cleaning cassette and, when the cassette is closed, for cleaning the capstan and pinch rollers. Claim for registration of a utility model characterized in that it is longitudinally divided into two semi-cylindrical halves balanced to form a pair of cylindrical sockets for supporting and holding a pair of chip assemblies. A cassette-type cleaning tool according to any one of Items 1 and 3. 5 A pair of semi-cylindrical halves have a transverse slot with a central hole for retaining a spring biased expansion type locking means, the locking means having a tip assembly inserted therein. Upper and lower notches on the outside of the wall of the tubular retainer allow the cleaning tips to press firmly against the capstan and pinch roller surfaces when the wing locks are released. The cassette-type cleaning tool according to claim 4, which is characterized in that it engages with a solid body. 6. Said vibrating means is provided with a second type of socket serving for cleaning the recording/playback head, which is pivotably provided in the center of the cassette, the lower end of which is arranged in a push-pull manner, and which is connected to the reel drive of the recording/playback device. The swing arm extends downward from the pivot center to form a swinging arm guided by a pair of complementary eccentric wheels driven by a pair of main drive gears driven by a shaft. A cassette-type cleaning device according to claim 1 or 3 of the utility model registration claim. 7. The cassette-type cleaning tool according to claim 6, wherein the pair of complementary eccentric wheels are integrally formed with a pair of driven gears driven by the main drive gear. 8. The socket is a cylindrical socket with a trunk shaft, and the trunk shaft is held in a bearing formed in a swinging arm and has a fixed ratchet wheel, the ratchet wheel being attached to the bottom surface of the cassette housing. When the rocker arm swings, the ratchet wheel intermittently comes into contact with the leaf spring, causing the main shaft to move at a certain angle with the socket from time to time. The cassette-type cleaning device according to claim 6, characterized in that it is configured to rotate to ensure complete use of the cleaning tip. 9. The main drive gear further consists of a cruciform gear and an inner cruciform gear, and a gap is provided between the meshing gears to increase vibration absorption from the drive shaft and to prevent loosening more properly. A cassette-type cleaning device according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the device is configured to ensure reliable transmission. 10 having a third type of socket that is the same as the second type of socket except that the downwardly extending arm of the pivot axis is omitted, and a pair of ears are provided on opposite sides of the socket; , a connecting rod is connected between both ears,
A practical use characterized in that the rocker arm of the second type becomes a follower of the socket by means of a parallelogram linkage and is adapted to vibrate in unison with the socket of the second type for cleaning the erase head. A cassette-type cleaning tool according to any one of claims 1 or 3.