Apparatus for scanning two sets of angularly disposed oblique tracks on a magnetic medium

Claim 2

In a tape transport: a pair of transducers; means coupled with said transducers form for mounting the same for rotation along respective, spaced paths; means coupled with said transducers for applying thereto respective signals to be recorded; a flexible tape; and means adjacent to said paths for mounting a pair of spaced stretches of the tape in at least partially wrapped relationship about respective transducer paths with the stretches being disposed helically along said paths and in positions to be scanned by respective transducers along relatively angularly disposed tracks thereon, whereby the signals will be recorded on said tape and the tracks will be oblique to the longitudinal axis of the tape.

Claim 3

A tape transport comprising: a movable magnetic tape; a pair of transducers; means mounting said transducers for rotation along respective paths; drum structure adjacent to said paths and disposed to position a pair of spaced portions of the tape in at least partially wrapped relationship about the paths of respective transducers with the tape portions being helically disposed relative to the paths and in proximity to the transducers to cause the latter to scan the tape along oblique tracks of respective tape portions and with the tracks scanned by a first of said transducers being angularly disposed with respect to the tracks scanned by the second of said transducers; means adapted to be coupled with said transducers for applying thereto respective signals to be recorded on said tape; means adApted to be coupled with said transducers after said signals have been recorded on said tape for playing back said signals; means coupled with the transducers for rotating the same relative to said tape; and means coupled with the tape for moving the same relative to said transducer paths.

Claim 4

A tape transport comprising: a movable magnetic tape; a pair of transducers; means mounting said transducers for rotation along respective paths; drum structure adjacent to said paths and disposed to position a pair of spaced portions of the tape in at least partially wrapped relationship about the paths of respective transducers with the tape portions being helically disposed relative to the paths and in proximity to the transducers to cause the latter to scan the tape along oblique tracks of respective tape portions and with the tracks scanned by a first of said transducers being angularly disposed with respect to the tracks scanned by the second of said transducers; means adapted to be coupled with said transducers for applying thereto respective signals to be recorded on said tape; means adApted to be coupled with said transducers after said signals have been recorded on said tape for playing back said signals; means coupled with the transducers for rotating the same relative to said tape; and means coupled with the tape for moving the same relative to said transducer paths.

Claim 5

In a tape transport: a pair of transducers; drum structure having a pair of outer peripheral portions for each transducer respectively; means mounting said transducers for rotation relative thereto along respective circular paths adjacent to and between respective outer peripheral portions of said drum structure; means coupled with said transducers for applying thereto signals to be recorded; and means adjacent to said drum structure for guiding a flexible tape onto and in at least partially wrapped relationship about said outer peripheral portions of the drum structure with a pair of stretches of the tape being helically disposed adjacent to respective transducer paths and in positions to be scanned by the transducers, said transducers being disposed to cause the tracks on the tape scanned by a first of said transducers to be angularly disposed with respect to the tracks scanned by the second of said transducers.

Claim 6

In a tape transport: a pair of transducers; drum structure having a pair of outer peripheral portions for each transducer respectively; means mounting said transducers for rotation relative thereto along respective circular paths adjacent to and between respective outer peripheral portions of said drum structure; means coupled with said transducers for applying thereto signals to be recorded; and means adjacent to said drum structure for guiding a flexible tape onto and in at least partially wrapped relationship about said outer peripheral portions of the drum structure with a pair of stretches of the tape being helically disposed adjacent to respective transducer paths and in positions to be scanned by the transducers, said transducers being disposed to cause the tracks on the tape scanned by a first of said transducers to be angularly disposed with respect to the tracks scanned by the second of said transducers.

Claim 7

A tape transport comprising: a pair of transducers; drum structure having a pair of outer peripheral portions for each transducer respectively; means mounting said transducers for rotation along respective circular paths adjacent to and between respective outer peripheral portions of said drum structure; a flexible tape; means adjacent to said drum structure and coupled with said tape for guiding the latter onto and in at least partially wrapped relationship about said outer peripheral portions of said drum structure with a pair of stretches of the tape being helically disposed adjacent to respective transducer paths and in positions to be scanned by the transducers as the latter rotate relative to said drum structure; means coupled with said transducers for rotating the same along said paths; means coupled with said transducers for simultaneously placing the same in a record mode; and means coupled to said tape for moving the latter relative to the drum structure, whereby the transducers move in scanning relationship to said tape stretches along oblique tracks thereon, said transducers being disposed to cause the tracks on the tape scanned by a first of said transducers to be angularly disposed with respect to the tracks scanned by the second of said transducers.

Claim 8

A tape transport comprising: a pair of transducers; drum structure having a pair of outer peripheral portions for each transducer respectively; means mounting said transducers for rotation along respective circular paths adjacent to and between respective outer peripheral portions of said drum structure; a flexible tape; means adjacent to said drum structure and coupled with said tape for guiding the latter onto and in at least partially wrapped relationship about said outer peripheral portions of said drum structure with a pair of stretches of the tape being helically disposed adjacent to respective transducer paths and in positions to be scanned by the transducers as the latter rotate relative to said drum structure; means coupled with said transducers for rotating the same along said paths; means coupled with said transducers for simultaneously placing the same in a record mode; and means coupled to said tape for moving the latter relative to the drum structure, whereby the transducers move in scanning relationship to said tape stretches along oblique tracks thereon, said transducers being disposed to cause the tracks on the tape scanned by a first of said transducers to be angularly disposed with respect to the tracks scanned by the second of said transducers.

Claim 9

A tape transport as set forth in claim 4, wherein the drum structure includes a pair of drum sections for each transducer respectively, the drum sections being in end-to-end relationship with each other, said guide means being angularly disposed relative to the drum sections.

Claim 10

A tape transport as set forth in claim 5, wherein a drum section corresponding to one of the transducers is connected to a drum section corresponding to he the other transducer, said interconnected drum sections being coupled to said transducer rotating means for rotation therewith.

Claim 11

A tape transport as set forth in claim 5, wherein said guide means includes a rotatable member having a conical outer surface engaging a segment of the tape between said tape stretches.

Claim 12

A tape transport as set forth in claim 4, wherein said drum structure includes a number of coaxially aligned drum sections, said transducer rotating means including a shaft concentric with the drum sections, and power means coupled with the shaft for rotating the same.

Claim 13

A tape transport as set forth in claim 8, wherein said shaft has a pair of opposed ends, said power means including a structure coupled with the ends of the shaft for rotating the same.

Claim 14

A tape tar transport as set forth in claim 4, wherein said drum structure has a section rotatable with said transducers, said section having a band of magnetizable material thereon, and wherein is included a third transducer adjacent to and fixed relative to said band and disposed in scanning relationship thereto, said third transducer being coupled to one of the first mentioned transducers.

Claim 15

A tape transport as set forth in claim 4, wherein said drum structure includes a pair of generally cylindrical drums, the central axes of the drums being angularly disposed relative to each other, each drum having a pair of spaced, coaxial sections defining said outer peripheral portions.

Claim 16

A tape transport as set forth in claim 11, wherein each drum section has an outer continuous flange defining a part of said guide means, there being a shaft extending coaxially of the drum sections of each drum respectively, each transducer being coupled to and rotatable with the corresponding shaft, said rotating means being coupled to the shafts for rotating the latter and thereby said transducers.

Claim 17

A tape transport as set forth in claim 12, wherein the axes of said shafts are substantially perpendicular to each other.

Claim 18

A tape transport as set forth in claim 13, wherein the tape stretches form a 360* wrap about each drum, said moving means including a capstan coupled to the tape.