Abstract: Rather than engage the grooves of a cartridge's splined hub by means of fingers attached to a reel motor shaft, the present invention uses a mechanical coupler mounted on the motor shaft which contacts the spline lands at two places and locks the mechanical coupler position by insertion of a spring loaded tongue into one of the grooves of the spline. This groove is angularly located midway between the lands which contact the mechanical coupler, effecting a "three point" engagement of the mechanical coupler with the hub. The land contacting surfaces and the tongue are chamfered to facilitate engaging the hub for slight off-axial misalignment of the hub and mechanical coupler. The spring loaded tongue forces the spline contacting surfaces of the mechanical coupler into a "zero clearance" fit with the contacted lands of the spline, providing an intimate and backlash free connection between the hub and driving motor.

Abstract: In a recorder having two inline heads, such as a record head followed by a reproduce head, it is necessary to insure adequate tape wrap angle at the transducing element of each head. Because the tape is spanned between the two inline heads, the tape leaves the apex of one head at a zero wrap angle and arrives at the apex of the second head with a zero wrap angle. The invention provides outriggers on each head assembly which guide the tape, and teaches placing each transducing element off the apex of its head assembly to maintain adequate wrap angles at the transducing elements of each inline head. The outriggers are provided with slots which skive entrapped air to prevent tape "flying" with attendant loss of contact with the transducing elements. The contours of the outriggers and the lands on which the transducing elements of each head assembly are located form constant area profiles to provide constant wear characteristics for the head assemblies.

Abstract: A capstanless magnetic tape transport system employs supply and take-up motors, the supply motor being employed as a drag motor. The supply motor is controlled to meter tape at a predetermined speed, and the take-up motor is of such design that, in response to a constant voltage applied thereto, it provides constant tension to the tape being metered.