Tape transport system of video tape recorder with longitudinal recording

Claim 2

A magnetic tape scanning system for a video tape recorder providing scanning in the longitudinal direction of a moving magnetic tape, with the tape being wrapped about the periphery of a guide drum perpendicular to the drum axis comprising: a rotatably mounted drum of generally hollow construction having a shaft and having at least one slot in the periphery thereof disposed with its axis generally parallel to the axis of said drum, a magnetic head assembly in each of said slots with each of same mounted in said drum for reciprocating movement in the slot direction, guide means on said drum supporting and guiding said magnetic head assemblies to provide said reciprocating movement within said slot, drive means for rotating said drum and for reciprocating said magnetic head assembly, whereby the recording of video tape information is improved.

Claim 3

The magnetic tape transport system according to claim 1, including kinematic means mechanically coupling the rotation of said drum with the reciprocating movement of said magnetic head assembly.

Claim 4

A tape transport system as of claim 2, in which each said assembly of magnetic heads comprises additionally (n-1) pairs of said magnetic heads, all said magnetic heads in such an assembly being rigidly interconnected at a spacing equal to 1/2n of the working width of said magnetic tape and advanced in a reciprocating manner through about 1/2n of this width, which permits recording of video information in n channels simultaneously.

Claim 5

The magnetic tape transport system according to claim 1, wherein said drum is provided with a pair of slots disposed generally opposite each other, and each head assembly having two magnetic heads fixedly interconnected at a spacing equal to about half the working width of the magnetic tape; a cam surface and a cam follower having two end faces, forming part of said drive means, one end face cooperates with said magnetic head assemblies, and the other face cooperates with said camming surface for providing said reciprocating movement of said magnetic head assembly; and gearing means forming part of said drive means to provide uniform reciprocating movement of said magnetic head assemblies through about half the working width of the magnetic tape while rotating said drum.

Claim 6

The magnetic tape transport system according to claim 4, wherein said camming surface is formed about the periphery of a flat disk-like cam.

Claim 7

The magnetic tape transport system according to claim 4, including a switching means mounted rigidly on a common axis of rotation with said cam for switching electrically said magnetic head assemblies at periods when the latter reverse the direction of their movement, with the result that said magnetic tape is scanned uniformly during forward and back movement of said magnetic head.

Claim 8

The magnetic tape transport system according to claim 1, wherein said magnetic head assembly in said slot is provided with two magnetic heads fixedly interconnected at a spacing equal to about half the working width of the magnetic tape; and a cam forming part of said drive means providing reciprocating movement of said magnetic head assembly; said cam being disposed within said hollow drum, and being cooperatively associated with gearing means forming part of said drive means for imparting uniform reciprocating movement of said magnetic head assembly for about half the working width of the magnetic tape, whereby the scanning of said tape is uniform during forward and back travel or reciprocating motion of said magnetic head assembly.

Claim 9

The magnetic tape transport system according to claim 7, wherein said cam is a two-dimensional cylindrical cam provided with a camming surface on a peripheral portion of an end face thereof.

Claim 10

A tape transport system as of claim 7, in which said magnetic head assembly comprises additionally (n-1) pairs of said magnetic heads, all said magnetic heads in such an assembly being rigidly interconnected at a spacing equal to 1/2n of the working width of said magnetic tape and traveling in a reciprocating manner through a distance equal to about 1/2of this width, which permits recording of video information in "n" channels simultaneously.

Claim 11

The magnetic tape transport system according to claim 1, wherein said drum has two slots provided about 180° relative to each other, and each magnetic head assembly having one magnetic head, and two cams forming part of said drive means providing reciprocating movement to said magnetic head assemblies; said cams being disposed within said hollow drum, and each of said cams being cooperatively associated with a respective Geneva cross; a common driver for said Geneva crosses being mounted on an end face of a shaft disposed coaxially with the shaft of said hollow drum; said common driver comprising pin means engageable in turn by said Geneva crosses; and gearing means forming part of said drive means connecting each of said Geneva crosses to said respective cams for imparting alternate intermittent reciprocating motion to said magnetic head assemblies.

Claim 12

The magnetic tape transport system according to claim 10, wherein said cams are cylindrical cams provided with camming surfaces on the cylindrical side wall portions of said cams.

Claim 13

A tape transport system as of claim 10, wherein each said magnetic head assembly comprises additionally (n-1) pairs said magnetic heads, all said magnetic heads in such assemblies being rigidly interconnected at a spacing equal to I/n of the working width of said magnetic tape and traveling in an intermittent reciprocating manner through a distance equal to about I/n of this width, which permits recording of video information in "n" channels simultaneously.