Abstract: As a method of increasing the storage capacity of a magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus for recording and reproducing information to and from a magnetic tape in a cartridge, there is a helical scan recording method in which the magnetic tape is diagonally wound around a drum which rotates a magnetic head. With an apparatus adapted to this method, the disposition of the cartridge and the take-up reel for taking up the magnetic tape on the same plane arises a necessity of considerably bending the magnetic tape at the drum portion and, accordingly, the magnetic tape is damaged. In order to prevent the damage of the foregoing type, the tape passage surface from the cartridge to the drum and the tape passage from the drum to the take-up reel are formed by an angle at which the direction in which the magnetic tape is moved is changed due to winding of the magnetic tape around the drum so that the magnetic tape is not bent excessively.

Abstract: A load torque imposed on a take-up reel motor is estimated from the current in a take-up reel motor and the rotational speed of the take-up reel. The current value supplied to the take-up reel motor is adjusted on the basis of the estimated load torque. A tape feed rate detected is compared with a reference signal produced from a target tape speed signal. On the basis of the comparison result, the torque of the take-up reel motor is controlled in such a manner that the tape feed rate assumes a predetermined value. The gain of a speed control system for controlling the rotational speed of the take-up reel is adjusted on the basis of a detected period of tape speed.

Abstract: In a tape loading device of the invention, a tape is taken out by tape guides mounted on an inclined loading ring, and the loading ring is rotated to wind the tape on a rotary drum from one side thereof. An auxiliary inclined guide is provided between the rotary drum and the leading tape guide. Only during a loading operation, the auxiliary inclined guide contacts the tape, while angularly moved about the leading tape guide. When the loading operation is completed, the auxiliary inclined guide is disengaged from the tape. With the provision of the auxiliary inclined guide, the tape is prevented from being twisted between the rotary drum and the leading tape guide.

Abstract: A magnetic recording and reproducing device and a magnetic tape library device are provided for properly recovering a function and issuing a warning when a failure of a magnetic head of the device takes place because of wear and dirt of the magnetic head. Further, a method for maintaining the magnetic head is provided. A wear sensor and a dirt sensor are prepared for sensing a wear amount of a state of dirt of the magnetic head. A head check controller operates to determine the wear amount of the magnetic head and the state of dirt based on the sensed result. In accordance with the determined result, the warning device is started for taking a precaution of preventing a head failure. As one aspect, the tape library device instructs to load the cleaning tape using a robot.

Abstract: A recording/playback apparatus including a stationary drum on which a traveling magnetic tape is wound, a plurality of magnetic heads for recording and playing back data, a rotary portion which is rotated while carrying the heads thereon, a drive portion which drives the rotary portion, an air injection device which spouts air from the vicinities of the magnetic heads toward the magnetic tape in order to separate the tape from the heads, and a control device which controls the start and stop of the air spouting of the air injection device. In the standby mode of the apparatus, in which the rotary portion is rotated though the heads perform neither the recording nor the playback operation, the tape is separated from the heads, so that the heads are prevented from wearing away. As soon as the standby mode has ended, the tape is brought into contact with the heads, so that the recording or playback operation can be immediately started.

Abstract: A magazine in which a plurality of cartridges are contained as vertically moved stepwise by a distance separating two successive ones of the cartridges. The lift has a plurality of lift steps alternately engaged by a latching member. A rotary disk having two pins on its face is arranged adjacent the latching member. During rotation of the disk, one of the pins pivots the latching member out of engagement with a lift steps while the other of the pins supports the disengaged lift step to raise or lower the lift, depending upon the rotational direction of the disk. Further rotation of the disk permits the spring biased latching member to pivot back into a path where it engages the next lift step, thereby accomplishing one step of movement of the lift. Each time the lift is moved by one step, a pinch roller arrangement detects whether a cartridge is in the magazine corresponding to the position currently aligned with the inlet/outlet of the tape changer.