Solid state tape transport control apparatus

Claim 1

An arrangement for automatically controlling the movement of a magnetic tape, said tape having a relatively opaque record portion and relatively translucent leader and trailer portions adjoining the ends of said record portion comprising a magnetic recording head adapted to be placed in recording and nonrecording positions with respect to said tape, means for monitoring the translucency of said tape in the proximity of said recording head, first solenoid means for controlling the positioning of said recording head, second solenoid means for reversing the direction of tape movement, first silicon control device means in circuit with said first solenoid means and second silicon control device means in circuit with said second solenoid means, said second silicon control device means being connected to be turned on by conduction of said first silicon control device means, switch means operable to complete a sustainable conduction path to said first solenoid means, linkage means coupled to said switch means and to said recording head and operable to place the head in said recording position when said switch means is operated to complete said conduction path to said first solenoid means, and pulse coupling means connecting said monitoring means to said first silicon control device means, said pulse coupling means turning on said first silicon control device means when said monitoring means detects said trailer portion in the proximity of said recording head, said first solenoid means being operated in response to the turning on of said first silicon control device means to operate said linkage means to release said switch means and to restore said head to said nonrecording position. 2. An arrangement according to claim 1 the combination further comprising third silicon control device means and third solenoid means in circuit with said third silicon control device means, second switch means operable to connect said pulse coupling means to said third silicon control device means, and means controlled by said third solenoid means to turn off said second silicon control device means, said pulse coupling means turning on said third silicon control device means when said monitoring means detects said leader portion in the proximity of said recording head.