Abstract: A reel for use with a web material such as a magnetic recording tape, a photographic film, etc, wherein the reel is so designed as to enable the web to be removed from the reel without first unspooling the web from the reel. The reel comprises a first and a second flange assembly, each having a flange member and a core element affixed to the flange member. Means are provided for temporarily attaching the core element of the first flange assembly to the flange member of the second flange assembly, and also for attaching the core element of the second flange assembly to the flange member of the first flange assembly. By detaching the temporary attaching means, the flange assemblies may be separated, thereby allowing a web wrapped on the reel to be removed without unspooling. The flange assemblies may be reassembled for repeated use.

Abstract: In a video head assembly employing ceramic-ferrite transducer heads, the present invention proposes modification of head assembly components, i.e., the recording tape vacuum guide and the head wheel, so that a head assembly may be provided which possesses an operating lifetime commensurate with the ceramic-ferrite transducer heads. The invention proposes a head wheel having an outer surface which will wear to an unacceptably out-of-round condition at a significantly slower rate than present head wheels. To complement the proposed head wheel, the invention further proposes a tape guide having a guide surface so constructed as to wear more slowly than present tape guides so the radius as defined by the SMPTE will be maintained for more tape hours, thus helping to retain the proper guide surface contour throughout the life of the transducer heads.

Abstract: A tapered roller guide, provided for use with a helical-scan tape recorder, is rotatably mounted on a stationary guide post for guidedly inclining a magnetic tape toward or away from a helical path around a recording drum. A contoured edge guide provided on the guide post supports the edge of the tape as it wraps around the roller and changes its inclination and direction of travel. By providing for an arcuate adjustment of the contoured edge guide, the tape may be precisely guided into a predetermined helical path around the recording drum.

Abstract: Two magnetic ferrite pieces having longitudinal channels formed in the side faces thereof are bonded together with a gapping substance so that the resultant channels form a window. The bonded pieces are precisely slotted to a depth below the apex of the window to form a narrow track-defining comb-like array. The resulting slots are adapted to receive gap-protecting compatible ceramic support material which is so chosen as to wear slightly faster than the ferrite surfaces. In one embodiment, the slots contain ceramic-convertible glass which is devitrified by firing the array. The assembly is then processed to form a ceramic-ferrite-ceramic or ceramic-ferrite transducer sandwich which may be further processed to form part of a magnetic record and/or reproduce head.

Abstract: Time base instability of signals in a train thereof is corrected by use of a frequency controlled delay device. As employed in the correction of time base instability of video signals, a charge-coupled delay device is used. The delay device is clocked by a frequency which is proportional to the reciprocal of the phase difference between a fluttering input signal and a reference synchronizing signal. This corrects errors caused by the nonlinear transfer characteristics of the delay device, i.e. the transit time through the device is porportional to the reciprocal of the frequency of the clock signal which controls the delay device.