Magnetic recording and/or reproducing apparatus having rotary heads with still mode of operation

Claim 2

In a magnetic recording and/or reproducing device having a rotary magnetic recording/reproducing head and a tape guide drum about which is wrapped a run of movable magnetic tape, the rotary magnetic head scanning the run of magnetic tape in skewed relation thereto to record information on the magnetic tape or reproduce information from the magnetic tape; apparatus for controlling the rotary head, comprising: driving means for rotating the rotary magnetic head; mode changing means for selectively changing the mode of operation of the magnetic recording and/or reproducing device between a normal reproducing mode wherein the magnetic tape moves and the rotary magnetic head moves relative to the tape and a still reproducing mode wherein plural reproductions of the information recorded on a limited portion of the magnetic tape are made; tape run control means responsive to said mode changing means for stopping the movement of said magnetic tape when the mode of operatiOn of the magnetic recording and/or reproducing device is changed from a normal reproducing mode to a still reproducing mode; and drive control means coupled to said driving means for controlling the rotating speed of the rotary magnetic head for each of said modes of operation of the magnetic recording and/or reproducing device such that a first rotating speed at which said rotary magnetic head is driven during a normal reproducing mode of operation is changed to a second rotating speed during a still reproducing mode of operation.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said drive control means includes speed selecting means responsive to said mode changing means for selecting said first and second rotating speeds in response to the selected operation of said mode changing means.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said drive control means includes gate means for comparing a signal representing the actual rotating speed of the rotary magnetic head to a signal derived from the speed selecting means and representing a selected speed of the rotary magnetic head to supply a driving signal to said driving means, whereby the rotating speed of the rotary magnetic head is varied to conform to said selected speed.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said driving means comprises an electric motor and said driving signal comprises a motor energizing signal.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 4 further including position detecting means for detecting the relative positions of the magnetic tape and the rotary magnetic head; and means for varying the signal derived from the speed selecting means in accordance with the detected relative positions when said mode changing means selects the normal reproducing mode of operation.

Claim 7

In a magnetic recording and/or reproducing head and a tape guide drum about which is wrapped a run of movable magnetic tape, the roatry magnetic head scanning the run of magnetic tape in skewed relation thereto to record information on the magnetic tape or reproduce information from the magnetic tape; apparatus for controlling the rotary head, comprising: driving means for rotating the rotary magnetic head; mode changing means for selectively changing the mode of operation of the magnetic recording and/or reproducing device between a normal reproducing mode wherein the magnetic tape moves and the rotary magnetic head moves relative to the tape and a still reproducing mode wherein plural reproductions of the information recorded on a limited portion of the magnetic tape are made; tape run control means responsive to said mode changing means for stopping the movement of said magnetic tape when the mode of operation of the magnetic recording and/or reproducing device is changed from a normal reproducing mode to a still reproducing mode; and drive control means coupled to said driving means for controlling the rotating speed of the rotary magnetic head for each of said modes of operation of the magnetic recording and/or reproducing device such that a first rotating speed at which said rotary magnetic head is driven during a normal reproducing mode of operation is changed to a second rotating speed during a still reproducing mode of operation, said drive control means including relative position detecting means for detecting the relative positions of the magnetic tape and the rotary magnetic heads first pulse generating means for generating a first pulse having a duration representing the actual rotating speed of the rotary magnetic head; and second pulse generating means for generating a second pulse having a duration representing a selected speed of the rotary magnetic head, said second pulse duration being variable in accordance with detected relative positions of the magnetic tape and the rotary magnetic head.

Claim 8

In a magnetic recording and/or reproducing head and a tape guide drum about which is wrapped a run of movable magnetic tape, the roatry magnetic head scanning the run of magnetic tape in skewed relation thereto to record information on the magnetic tape or reproduce information from the magnetic tape; apparatus for controlling the rotary head, comprising: driving means for rotating the rotary magnetic head; mode changing means for selectively changing the mode of operation of the magnetic recording and/or reproducing device between a normal reproducing mode wherein the magnetic tape moves and the rotary magnetic head moves relative to the tape and a still reproducing mode wherein plural reproductions of the information recorded on a limited portion of the magnetic tape are made; tape run control means responsive to said mode changing means for stopping the movement of said magnetic tape when the mode of operation of the magnetic recording and/or reproducing device is changed from a normal reproducing mode to a still reproducing mode; and drive control means coupled to said driving means for controlling the rotating speed of the rotary magnetic head for each of said modes of operation of the magnetic recording and/or reproducing device such that a first rotating speed at which said rotary magnetic head is driven during a normal reproducing mode of operation is changed to a second rotating speed during a still reproducing mode of operation, said drive control means including relative position detecting means for detecting the relative positions of the magnetic tape and the rotary magnetic heads first pulse generating means for generating a first pulse having a duration representing the actual rotating speed of the rotary magnetic head; and second pulse generating means for generating a second pulse having a duration representing a selected speed of the rotary magnetic head, said second pulse duration being variable in accordance with detected relative positions of the magnetic tape and the rotary magnetic head.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said drive control means comprises pulse duration comparison means for producing a motor energizing signal proportional to the difference between said first and second pulse duratIons.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said second pulse generating means comprises a monostable multivibrator admitting of a selectively variable time constant and actuable by said first pulse, the time constant of said monostable multivibrator being selected in response to the operation of said mode changing means and being further varied by a bias voltage applied to said monostable multivibrator by said relative position detecting means.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said monostable multivibrator includes a switch for selecting a first time constant when said mode changing means selects a normal reproducing mode and a second time constant when said mode changing means selects a still reproducing mode.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said relative position detecting means comprises transducing means for sensing the position of the moving magnetic tape; voltage generating means coupled to said transducing means for generating a voltage having a magnitude dependent upon the sensed position of the magnetic tape; head position transducing means for sensing the position of the rotary magnetic head; sampling pulse generating means coupled to said head position transducing means for generating sampling pulses dependent upon the sensed position of the rotary magnetic head; and sampling means coupled to said voltage generating means and said sampling pulse generating means for sampling said generated voltage magnitude at sampling times determined by the sampling pulses to produce a bias voltage being adapted to be applied to said second pulse generating means for varying the durations of said second pulse.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said voltage generating means comprises a saw tooth waveform generator.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said sampling means comprises a sample-and-hold circuit.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said firsst pulse generating means comprises a motor speed transducer for sensing the speed of the electric motor and for generating a motor speed signal having a frequency proportional to the sensed motor speed; and a pulse width convertng circuit coupled to the motor speed transducer for generating said first pulse having a duration proportional to the frequency of said motor speed signal.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said drive control means includes an AND gate coupled to said pulse width converting circuit for producing an output pulse having a duration proportional to the difference between the duration of said first pulse and the duration of said second pulse; and energizing means coupled to said AND gate for producing an energizing signal for said electric motor, said energizing signal having a magnitude proportional to the output pulse duration.

Claim 17

In a magnetic recording and/or reproducing device having a rotary magnetic recording/reproducing head and a tape guide drum about which is wrapped a run of movable magnetic tape, the rotary magnetic head scanning the run of magnetic tape in skewed relation thereto to record information on the magnetic tape or reproduce information from the magnetic tape; apparatus for controlling the rotary head, comprising: driving means for rotating the rotary magnetic head; mode changing means for selectively changing the mode of operation of the magnetic recording and/or reproducing device between a normal reproducing mode wherein the magnetic tape moves and the rotary magnetic head moves relative to the tape and a still reproducing mode wherein plural reproductions of the information recorded on a limited portion of the magnetic tape are made; tape run control means rsponsive to said mode changing means for stopping the movement of said magnetic tape when the mode of operation of the magnetic recording and/or reproducing device is changed from a normal reproducing mode to a still reproducing mode and including a capstan in combination with a pinch roller for translating a run of magnetic tape interposed therebetween; and means fOr selectively positioning said pinch roller in pressure contact with said capstan when said mode changing means selects said normal reproducing mode and out of pressure contact with said capstan when said mode changing means selects said still reproducing mode; and drive control means coupled to said driving means for controlling the rotating speed of the rotary magnetic head for each of said modes of operation of the magnetic recording and/or reproducing device such that a first rotating speed at which said rotary magnetic head is driven during a normal reporducing mode of operation is changed to a second rotating speed during a still reproducing mode of operation.

Claim 18

In a magnetic recording and/or reproducing device having a rotary magnetic recording/reproducing head and a tape guide drum about which is wrapped a run of movable magnetic tape, the rotary magnetic head scanning the run of magnetic tape in skewed relation thereto to record information on the magnetic tape or reproduce information from the magnetic tape; apparatus for controlling the rotary head, comprising: driving means for rotating the rotary magnetic head; mode changing means for selectively changing the mode of operation of the magnetic recording and/or reproducing device between a normal reproducing mode wherein the magnetic tape moves and the rotary magnetic head moves relative to the tape and a still reproducing mode wherein plural reproductions of the information recorded on a limited portion of the magnetic tape are made; tape run control means rsponsive to said mode changing means for stopping the movement of said magnetic tape when the mode of operation of the magnetic recording and/or reproducing device is changed from a normal reproducing mode to a still reproducing mode and including a capstan in combination with a pinch roller for translating a run of magnetic tape interposed therebetween; and means fOr selectively positioning said pinch roller in pressure contact with said capstan when said mode changing means selects said normal reproducing mode and out of pressure contact with said capstan when said mode changing means selects said still reproducing mode; and drive control means coupled to said driving means for controlling the rotating speed of the rotary magnetic head for each of said modes of operation of the magnetic recording and/or reproducing device such that a first rotating speed at which said rotary magnetic head is driven during a normal reporducing mode of operation is changed to a second rotating speed during a still reproducing mode of operation.

Claim 19

The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said selective positioning means comprises solenoid means having a movable armature; a movable arm mechanically coupled to said armature and upon which said pinch roller is mounted; electrical means coupled to said solenoid means and responsive to the operation of said mode changing means to energize said solenoid means when the normal reproducing mode is selected, whereby said movable arm is moved in a first direction to position said pinch roller in pressure contact with said capstan; and mechanical means responsive to the operation of said mode changing means for urging said movable arm in a second direction to overcome the energization of said solenoid means, whereby said pinch roller is displaced from said capstan when the still reproducing mode is selected.

Claim 20

The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said solenoid means includes first and second energizing coils, whereby said armature is driven into an energized position in response to the energization of both said coils and said armature is maintained in said energized position in response to the energization of one of said coils.

Claim 21

The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said electrical means comprises means for receiving a coil energizing signal when said magnetic recording and/or reproducing apparatus is adapted to reproduce information from the magnetic tape; a first coil energizing circuit coupled to said first energizing coil; a second coil energizing circuit coupled to said second energizing coil; means for supplying said first coil energizing circuit with said coil energizing signal such that the first coil is energized whenever said coil energizing signal is received; and means responsive to said mode changing means for selectively supplying said second coil energizing circuit with said coil energizing signal when the mode of operation of the magnetic recording and/or producing device is changed to a normal reproducing mode.

Claim 22

The apparatus of claim 18 wherein ssaid means for selectively supplying comprises a switch for selectively interconnecting said coil energizing signal receiving means and said second coil energizing circuit when said mode changing means changes the mode of operation of the magnetic recording and/or reproducing device to the normal reproducing mode; and means for interrupting the supply of said coil energizing signal to said second coil energizing circuit after a predetermined time.

Claim 23

The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said mode changing means comprises manually operable mechanical linkage coupled to switch means included in said speed selecting means and said electrical means, and further coupled to said mechanical means; whereby operation of said mechanical linkage to select a normal mode of reproducing switches said speed selecting means to select the first scanning speed, switches the electrical means to energize the solenoid means to move said movable arm in said first direction and removes said mechanical means from an operating relation with respect to said movable arm to permit the movement of said movable arm, and whereby operation of said mechanical linkage to select a still mode of reproducing switches said speed selecting means to select the second scanning speed, switches the electrical means to reduce the energization of the solenoid means and driVes the mechanical means against said movable arm to overcome the reduced energization of the solenoid means such that said movable arm is urged in said second direction.