Signal storage apparatus with a plurality of magnetic read-write heads movable together for cooperation with selected tracks on a signal-storing surface

Claim 2

In a signal storage apparatus, a combination comprising at least one signal storage means having a signal-storing surface and parallel tracks extending in one direction on said surface; means supporting said signal-storing means for movement in said one direction; a plurality of magnetic read-Write heads disposed along a line extending in a direction transverse to said one direction and located opposite said signal-storing surface so as to respectively cooperate during movement of said signal-storing means with said parallel tracks on said surface; operating means for moving said read-write heads together disengaged from said surface in said transverse direction between a plurality of positions cooperating with selected different tracks on said surface; and electric switching means connected with said readwrite heads for controlling the storing of signals in said tracks and the reading out of stored signals from said tracks by said read-write heads.

Claim 3

The combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said signal-storing means include a storage drum rotatable about an axis and having a cylindrical storing surface having circumferential tracks, and wherein said read-write heads are disposed in a row parallel to said axis.

Claim 4

The combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said operating means are adapted to operate with at least two speeds for moving said read-write heads over groups of said tracks and between single tracks.

Claim 5

The combination as defined in claim 3, wherein said operating means include first and second drive means and first and second differential transmission means having different ratios of transmission and connecting said drive means with said read-write heads for moving the same over groups of said tracks and between single tracks.

Claim 6

The combination as defined in claim 4, wherein said first transmission means includes a first drive gear and a first rack meshing with said first drive gear, wherein said second transmission means includes a second drive gear rotating at a lower speed than said first drive gear and a second rack meshing with said second drive gear, and wherein said operating means further include a driven gear meshing with said first and second racks, and means connecting said driven gear with said read-write heads and including a pivot rotatably supporting said driven gear.

Claim 7

The combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said operating means include a motor, a locking wheel and a locking pawl, friction clutch means connecting said locking wheel with said motor, spring means biasing said pawl into locking engagement with said locking wheel, electromagnet means for holding, when energized, said pawl in an inoperative position releasing said locking wheel, and transmission means connecting said locking wheel with said read-write heads for moving the same in said transverse direction, and wherein said electric switching means comprise a power source and a plurality of switches for connecting said power source with said electromagnet means, means for selectively closing one of said switches and rotary means driven by said locking wheel for successively disconnecting said switches so that movement of said read-write heads in said transverse direction is stopped when said one closed switch is disconnected and causes deenergization of said electromagnet means.

Claim 8

The combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said signal storage means includes a pair of rotary storage drums having parallel axes and cylindrical storage surfaces, and further including a carrier for said plurality of read-write heads, another plurality of read-write heads mounted on said carrier, said two pluralities of read-write heads respectively cooperating with said surfaces of said storage drums, means mounting said carrier for pivotal movement between two operative positions in which said two pluralities of read-write heads respectively cooperate with said surfaces of said storage drums, and shifting means for shifting said carrier between said operative positions.

Claim 9

The combination as defined in claim 7, wherein said shifting means include biasing means for holding said carrier in a neutral intermediate position, and two electromagnetic means selectively energizable for moving said carrier to said operative positions.

Claim 10

The coMbination as defined in claim 7, and comprising a series of pairs of said storage drums and a series of said carriers with said pluralities of read-write heads, and a series of shifting means for said carriers.

Claim 11

The combination as defined in claim 9, and further comprising an intermediate storage drum having a larger diameter than said aforementioned storage drums and rotating at a higher speed than the latter, recording means for recording on said intermediate storage drum, and means for reading out a signal stored on said intermediate storage drum and for storing the readout signal on said series of pairs of storage drums.