Abstract A self-tracking recording tape is disclosed. The invention is primarily directed to thin base magnetic recording tape. However, the concepts of this invention are equally applicable to other recording tapes or film. Instead of a flat base tape, the tape of this invention is corrugated to form a plurality of V-shaped tracks across the width of the tape. The tape reels, the transport mechanisms, and the playback-reproduce heads utilized with the tape of this invention are all designed to accommodate the V-shaped grooves in the tape. In this manner, the tape becomes essentially self-tracking. That is, no auxiliary or additional guide means such as the edge guides normally used with magnetic tape recorders, are required to properly guide the tape across the head. In addition to the self-tracking feature, tapes designed in accordance with this invention can accommodate a large number of tracks across a given width of tape.
Inventors
👤 Robert I Desourdis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number—
JurisdictionUS
Data Sourcegoogle_patents
Last Synchronized2026-11-05 17:38
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B5/00; G11B5/84; G11B5/74
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
189 words
A record-reproduce system comprising: a thin accordion pleated recording tape having a sensitive coating on at least one side thereof, said accordion pleats being so formed in said tape that said tape has a plurality of substantially V-shaped grooves formed on each side thereof, said substantially V-shaped grooves on one side of said tape being separated from each other by the substantially V-shaped projections formed by said substantially V-shaped grooves on the other side of said tape; a guide mechanism having a plurality of substantially V-shaped grooves for accommodating said substantially V-shaped projections, said substantially V-shaped projections on the side of said tape adjacent said guide mechanism mating with said substantially V-shaped grooves in said guide mechanism; at least one guide roller having a plurality of substantially Vshaped grooves formed in its surface for mating with said substantially V-shaped projections on the side of said tape adjacent said guide roller; and a head assembly having a plurality of heads so formed that said head assembly has a plurality of substantially V-shaped projections for mating with said substantially V-shaped grooves of the side of said tape adjacent said head assembly.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
189 words
A record-reproduce system comprising: a thin accordion pleated recording tape having a sensitive coating on at least one side thereof, said accordion pleats being so formed in said tape that said tape has a plurality of substantially V-shaped grooves formed on each side thereof, said substantially V-shaped grooves on one side of said tape being separated from each other by the substantially V-shaped projections formed by said substantially V-shaped grooves on the other side of said tape; a guide mechanism having a plurality of substantially V-shaped grooves for accommodating said substantially V-shaped projections, said substantially V-shaped projections on the side of said tape adjacent said guide mechanism mating with said substantially V-shaped grooves in said guide mechanism; at least one guide roller having a plurality of substantially Vshaped grooves formed in its surface for mating with said substantially V-shaped projections on the side of said tape adjacent said guide roller; and a head assembly having a plurality of heads so formed that said head assembly has a plurality of substantially V-shaped projections for mating with said substantially V-shaped grooves of the side of said tape adjacent said head assembly.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A recording-reproducing system as described in claim 1 wherein said substantially V-shaped grooves in said tape are formed along the length of said tape.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
A recording-reproducing system as described in claim 1 wherein said substantially V-shaped grooves are formed across the width of said tape.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A recording-reproducing system as described in claim 3 wherein said grooves in said head assembly are so arranged as to form a screw thread arrangement.