Abstract: A copying machine for reproducing magnetic video tapes wherein the copies are brought into contact with a master tape, upon which is recorded original video information and with the copy or slave tape being heated at a temperature in the vicinity of the Curie point such that the recorded information on the master tape will be printed on the slave or copy tape. Since the copy or slave tape will shrink after the heating, the present invention provides for compensation of the shrinkage of the slave or copy tape by expanding the master tape in a direction and manner so as to provide that the information on the slave tape will be accurate after it has cooled down.

Abstract: A thermal printing apparatus for transferring or thermally printing information recorded on a master magnetic tape to a slave magnetic tape which includes a device for detecting or measuring the temperature of the slave tape ahead of the thermal printing process and in which the transport speed of the slave tape and master tape is controlled to accurately control the temperature of the tape. The difference between the temperature of the slave tape ahead of the thermal printing and a reference temperature is utilized to control speed changes and thus achieve optimum thermal printing.

Abstract: In a thermal printing apparatus for magnetic tape in which a running sleeve tape is heated up by a heating means at a predetermined position on a tape running path, pressed to a running master tape by a printing roller at another predetermined position on the tape running path and signals recorded on the master tape are thermally recorded on the slave tape, the running slave tape is located at a heating position opposite to the heating means during the thermal printing operation and it is located at a non-heating position not opposite to the heating means when the thermal printing operation is not desired.