Abstract: In a tape transport having a bidirectional drive for movement of tape at playback speed and fast speed in either direction, including a reversing mechanism, signal detection circuit means for receiving audio signals from one or the other sets of head channels and for producing actuating signals in response to a silence interval of predetermined minimum duration in audio signals indicating a silence period between recordings on the corresponding set of recording tracks, a control for the drive including a member having two states representing the respective directions of tape movement, connected for switching the sets of head channels to accommodate the direction of tape movement upon reversal of the drive, and disconnected from switching the sets of head channels upon reversal of the drive for movement of the tape at fast rewind speed, so as to maintain the same set of head channels enabled when the drive is shifted to fast forward or fast rewind in order to playback the same tracks for detection of silence i

Abstract: Method and apparatus for monitoring movement of tape in tape transport apparatus for reel/tape assemblies such as cassettes, using tape position determination algorithms for determining absolute values of tape position as tape is driven from reel to reel using numerical constants stored in memory and periodically measured reel rotational speed ratios. The apparatus incorporates a microprocessor based controller having a CPU and program memory unit storing programs operating the CPU under program control to make the position determinations based on inputs from pulse generators representing reel rotational speeds and numerical constants corresponding to each of a plurality of known types of cassettes, which constants are derived for the one of the known types of cassettes loaded in the apparatus.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for determining automatically the type of tape carrier introduced into a device designed for transferring a tape between two reels. Two positions of the tape are compared and a signal is generated which is representative of this comparison. The comparison signal is compared with an interval or a reference value and as a result of this latter comparison, the indication of the type of tape carrier is either corrected or not corrected.

Abstract: A method for controlling the transfer of a flexible web member from a supply reel to a take-up reel, according to which the rotational speeds of the supply reel and the take-up reel are measured and whereby the ratio between these measurements is established independently of the speed and direction of the movement of the web member. The method comprises the steps of storing reference information representing the characteristics of different types of reel and web, releasing the reference information corresponding to the reels and webs used, generating intermediate signals which represent the said ratio combining these intermediate signals with the released reference information and generating output signals in dependence upon the momentary position of the web in relation to one or other ends thereof, and using these output signals for the purpose of visually displaying the position of the web and/or of controlling certain operations of the apparatus.

Abstract: A method for controlling the transfer of a flexible web member from a supply reel to a take-up reel, according to which the rotational speeds of the supply reel and the take-up reel are measured and whereby the ratio between these measurements is established independently of the speed and direction of the movement of the web member. The method comprises the steps of storing reference information representing the characteristics of different types of reel and web, releasing the reference information corresponding to the reels and webs used, generating intermediate signals which represent the said ratio combining these intermediate signals with the released reference information and generating output signals in dependence upon the momentary position of the web in relation to one or other ends thereof, and using these output signals for the purpose of visually displaying the position of the web and/or of controlling certain operations of the apparatus.