Abstract: A helical scan magnetic tape recorder includes a rotary magnetic head scanner and a received magnetic tape cassette including spaced coplanar supply and take-up reels having magnetic tape spooled on the reels with a span of magnetic tape extending between the reels. Supply and take-up vacuum cavities are located contiguous to and on respective opposite sides of the scanner. Supply and take-up capstans are spaced from the rotary head scanner located in a tape transport path between the vacuum cavities and the tape cassette. Magnetic tape is initially removed from the cassette and moved to a tape vacuum loading position where it partially contacts the rotary head scanner, by a mechanical threading device. Thereafter, vacuum is applied to the vacuum cavities to draw the tape into contact with the vacuum cavities to substantially wrap the tape around the rotary head scanner. The supply and take-up capstans are rotated during vacuum threading to assist drawing the tape into the vacuum cavities.

Abstract: A scanning type magnetic tape recorder comprises a deck including a rotatable scanning assembly mounted and at least one transducer and at least one capstan mounted in spaced relation to one side of the scanning assembly. A rotary drive is connected to rotate the transducer and the capstan at correlated speeds. A cassette, having a supply hub and a take-up hub in spaced relation, contains a quantity of tape movable between the hubs, and a drive belt passing in contact with portions of the tape wound on both the hubs. The cassette having an opening at one end of a size to fit around said scanning assembly.Guides in the cassette locate a length of the tape between the hubs, away from the belt and across the opening in position to form a turn around the scanning assembly in response to placement of the cassette on said deck. A first roller guides a length of the belt where separated from the tape to one side of said opening for driving by the one capstan.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for video signal recording comprises helically scanning a plurality of transducer heads (20-23) sequentially along separate parallel paths (30-32) of equal width on a record medium (10) at a rate such that a plurality of the scans occur within a field interval, and diverting the signal in predetermined sequence to different ones of the heads. The scanning of said heads and diverting of the signal to different heads is arranged to cause some redundant recording of information in different ones of the paths, information recorded in a path that is adjacent an edge of the medium having corresponding redundant information recorded in an internal path that is bounded by other parallel paths.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for video signal recording comprises helically scanning a plurality of transducer heads sequentially along separate parallel paths of equal width on a record medium at a rate such that a plurality of the scans occur within a field interval, and diverting the signal in predetermined sequence to different ones of the heads. The scanning of said heads and diverting of the signal to different heads is arranged to cause some redundant recording of information in different ones of the paths, information recorded in a path that is adjacent an edge of the medium having corresponding redundant information recorded in an internal path that is bounded by other parallel paths.

Abstract: A variable ratio drive employs an elastic extensible control belt which changes its cross-section in relation to induced changes in its length, according to Poisson's ratio. The control belt is introduced between a pulley and a drive belt, and a mechanism employing a gear head control motor, or the like, acts to change the length of the control belt in a precise manner. This in turn changes the thickness of the control belt in a precise way, and the effective radius of the pulley/control belt, acting on the drive belt, operates to change the ratio of the pulley and drive belt system. A specific embodiment is disclosed in a lightweight video tape recorder, used to change the drive ratio between a motor and a tape transport capstan, according to control signals.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for video signal recording comprises helically scanning a plurality of transducer heads (20-23) sequentially along separate parallel paths (30-32) of equal width on a record medium (10) at a rate such that a plurality of the scans occur within a field interval, and diverting the signal in predetermined sequence to different ones of the heads. The scanning of said heads and diverting of the signal to different heads is arranged to cause some redundant recording of information in different ones of the paths, information recorded in a path that is adjacent an edge of the medium having corresponding redundant information recorded in an internal path that is bounded by other parallel paths.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for video signal recording comprises helically scanning a plurality of transducer heads sequentially along separate parallel paths of equal width on a record medium at a rate such that a plurality of the scans occur within a field interval, and diverting the signal in predetermined sequence to different ones of the heads. The scanning of said heads and diverting of the signal to different heads is arranged to cause some redundant recording of information in different ones of the paths, information recorded in a path that is adjacent an edge of the medium having corresponding redundant information recorded in an internal path that is bounded by other parallel paths.