Abstract: An apparatus for guiding a span of high-speed magnetic recording tape past a recording/transducing head. Low volume pressurized air is utilized to lift the tape off of the guide assembly thereby eliminating sliding friction between the apparatus and the tape. The periphery of the guide is provided with a means to facilitate the formation of an air seal with the edges of the tape thereby substantially isolating the pressurized air from the atmosphere. Air jets are provided at the tangent points where the tape enters and departs from the air guide so as to prevent the tape from touching any portion of the guide during the transport operation. The pressurized air emitted from the air jets located at the tangent point where the tape enters the guide forms a supporting boundary layer of air along the surface of the tape which is carried along by the tape across the guide.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a transducer positioning and adjusting apparatus and, more particularly, to an improved system for accurately and reproducibly positioning a transducer head in vertical relationship to a series of parallel horizontal tracks on a recording medium such as magnetic video tape. The apparatus comprises a frame upon which the elements of the system are mounted and with respect to which they are vertically aligned. A cam having a plurality of horizontally planar steps formed about its upper surface is rotatably mounted upon said frame and a vertically moveable bearing post, which is secured at one end to the transducer head, is held in continuous contact with the stepping surfaces formed on the cam. A ball bearing which contacts the underside of the cam substantially beneath the stepping surface upon which the bearing post is held in contact is utilized to support the cam on the mounting frame and maintain said stepping surface in precise vertical alignment therewith.

Abstract: A magnetic transducer device for maintaining improved recording tape to transducer head contact at reduced contact pressure. A pair of vertical outrigger bars are mounted on either side of the transducer head transverse to the path of the recording tape. The surfaces of the vertical bars facing the recording tape are located slightly below the plane of the outer surface of the transducer head thereby maintaining a constant, shallow wrap angle of the recording tape over the transducer head. Furthermore, a second pair of horizontal outrigger bars are mounted on either side of and adjacent to the transducer head along an axis transverse to the path of the recording tape.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for generating constant tape or web tension in a transport system of the type wherein the supply and take-up reels are simultaneously driven by surface engagement with a capstan. Uniform tension is maintained throughout the entire tape pack by balancing the supply reel peripheral velocity rate of change occurring during the transport operation to the greater, but correspondingly sloped, take-up reel peripheral velocity rate of change. This balancing of the peripheral velocity of the supply and take-up reels is achieved through utilization of a constant braking system that combines the effects of torque and bias forces acting on the supply reel so as to produce constant tape tension in the take-up reel.

Abstract: An apparatus for guiding a span of high speed magnetic recording tape past a recording/transducing head. Pressurized air is utilized to lift the tape off of the guide thereby eliminating sliding friction between the apparatus and the tape. In addition, a pair of beveled flanges are provided on opposite sides of the path followed by the tape as it is transported, which are spaced apart at their base a distance less than the minimum width of the tape. In operation, an air film of substantially constant pressure is generated along the air chamber formed by the tape, guide, beveled flanges and tangent points where the tape enters and exits from the guide sufficient to lift the tape off of the guide to a point where its width substantially equals the horizontal distance between the beveled flanges, thereby maintaining the tape in a centered relationship with respect to the center line of the guide and impeding the airflow about the lateral edges of the tape.

Abstract: A method of generating constant tape tension in a tape transport apparatus of the type in which the supply and take-up reels of tape are simultaneously driven by surface engagement with a driving capstan.The method involves the utilization of a flexible but relatively inelastic belt around the periphery of resilient capstan material to introduce reel size-related supply and take-up reel velocity adjustments to counteract the similar but opposite velocity adjustments which inherently occur through the use of a resilient capstan and which, if uncompensated, result in undesirable tension variations during the course of the tape transporting operation.

Abstract: A system for automatically loading and tensioning a supply reel of magnetic recording which is contained in a tape cassette. The system is designed to be utilized with a tape transport mechanism of the type wherein the supply reel is driven by surface engagement of the outermost layer of tape on the reel with a capstan. A motor driven leadscrew mechanically engages the tape transport apparatus and functions as a means for sequencing its operation in a manner so that upon loading, the normally-closed cassette is opened and the tape pack is advanced by the transport apparatus into an operative position in which it is in contact with the capstan. Following the threading of the tape about the take-up reel, the leadscrew causes the transport apparatus to withdraw the supply tape pack from close contact with the capstan in order to allow slack to be removed therefrom through the action of a brake upon the supply reel.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically threading a supply reel of magnetic recording tape equipped with a self starting leader into a tape transport mechanism of the type in which take-up and supply reels are simultaneously driven by surface engagement of a capstan with the outermost tape layer on each reel.

Abstract: An improved tape transport apparatus of the type in which the supply and take-up reels are simultaneously driven by surface engagement of a capstan with the outermost layer of tape on each reel. The uniform tape tension required in a system of this type is produced and maintained by the combination of a braking force on the reel acting as the supply reel and of different biasing forces which cause different deformation of the capstan at the points of surface engagement of the supply and take-up reels with the capstan. A substantially constant tension profile is obtained by balancing the tension contributed by the two types of forces. A braking/biasing unit on each of the reel shafts provides both an undirectional braking force to resist the rotation of the shaft acting as the supply shaft and the biasing forces required to produce the unequal deformation.

Abstract: A cassette loading mechanism for use in conjunction with a tape transport apparatus in which the take-up and supply reels are simultaneously driven by surface engagement of a capstan with the outermost tape layer on each reel. The loading mechanism enables a hinged protective cassette containing a supply reel to be easily loaded into the tape transport apparatus and made ready for threading with only three simple actions to be performed by the operator. First, depending on the particular embodiment, the cassette is loaded into either a cassette tray or into a pocket in a hinged door directly over the take-off shaft. Second, pushing down, either on the cassette itself or on the hinged door, accomplishes the simultaneous snapping of the hub within the cassette onto the supply shaft and the releasing of the locks holding the cassette closed. Finally, the sliding of a single knob opens the cassette and advances the supply tape pack until brought into contact with the driving capstan.

Abstract: An apparatus for guiding a span of high speed magnetic tape past the recording/transducing head which utilizes a low volume lubricating air film to virtually eliminate the sliding friction between the guide itself and the magnetic tape. The periphery of the guide is slightly concave to permit the formation of an air film while permitting the tape to retain a desirable flat cross section and also facilitating a seal between the edges of the tape and the convex peripheral surface of the guide to isolate the lubricating air film from the atmosphere in order to reduce the supply of compressed air required. The design also enables the utilization of boundary layer air being dragged along by the tape to supplement the compressed air supply to further reduce the volume of air required.

Abstract: An improved self threading leader for a reel of recording tape which engages only itself as it is wrapped around the supply reel to maintain the reel's integrity and which engages a take-up hub to begin winding therearound when the reel is used with a tape transport unit of the type having a capstan to drive a supply reel and take-up hub by surface contact.