Magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus

Claim 1

A magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus comprising: a recording head for recording a signal on a recording medium on which a plurality of tracks are provided along the direction in which the recording head and the recording medium are relatively moved; a reproducing head for reproducing a signal; support means for supporting said recording head and said reproducing head to establish a predetermined separation distance therebetween; head moving means for moving at least one of said recording head and said reproducing head in a direction perpendicular to the track to change said separation distance therebetween; and drive means operatively connected to said support means for driving said support means in a direction perpendicular to said tracks while maintaining said separation distance between said recording head and said reproducing head.

Claim 14

An apparatus permitting the recording of information signals on a recording medium of the type having plural separated information tracks while simultaneously permitting reproduction of previously recorded information signals, said apparatus comprising: recording head means for recording first information signals on a first one of said plural tracks and thereafter recording second information signals on successive predetermined ones of said plural tracks; reproducing head means for reproducing said first information signals recorded on said first one of said plural tracks after all said first information signals are recorded thereon and thereafter successively reproducing said second information signals previously recorded on said successive predetermined ones of said plural tracks, said recording and reproducing of said information signals being accomplished according to a preselected time interval such that while said second information signals are being recorded on said successive tracks by said recording head means, said first information signals on said first one track are capable of being reproduced by said reproduction head means; and mounting and moving means operatively connected to said recording and reproducing head means for (a) mounting said recording and reproducing head means to establish a predetermined separation dimension therebetween, (b) selectively moving said recording or reproducing head means relative said plural tracks to permit recording of said information signal by said recording head means while simultaneously permitting reproduction of previously recorded information signals by said reproduction head means, and (c) selectively moving said recording head means and reproducing head means relative to one another to selectively change said separation dimension therebetween and thus establish said predetermined time interval.

Claim 15

An apparatus permitting the recording of information signals on a recording medium of the type having plural separated information tracks while simultaneously permitting reproduction of previously recorded information signals, said apparatus comprising: recording head means for recording first information signals on a first one of said plural tracks and thereafter recording second information signals on successive predetermined ones of said plural tracks; reproducing head means for reproducing said first information signals recorded on said first one of said plural tracks after all said first information signals are recorded thereon and thereafter successively reproducing said second information signals previously recorded on said successive predetermined ones of said plural tracks, said recording and reproducing of said information signals being accomplished according to a preselected time interval such that while said second information signals are being recorded on said successive tracks by said recording head means, said first information signals on said first one track are capable of being reproduced by said reproduction head means; and mounting and moving means operatively connected to said recording and reproducing head means for (a) mounting said recording and reproducing head means to establish a predetermined separation dimension therebetween, (b) selectively moving said recording or reproducing head means relative said plural tracks to permit recording of said information signal by said recording head means while simultaneously permitting reproduction of previously recorded information signals by said reproduction head means, and (c) selectively moving said recording head means and reproducing head means relative to one another to selectively change said separation dimension therebetween and thus establish said predetermined time interval.

Claim 18

An apparatus for simultaneously recording and reproducing information on a recording medium of the type having plural separated tracks, said apparatus comprising: recording head means for recording information including first positioning means for positioning said recording head means relative to a predetermined first one of said plural tracks and thereafter recording information on successive ones of said plural tracks by determining when said first one of said plural tracks has information completely recorded thereon and then successively recording further information on the successive ones of said plural tracks until all desired information has been recorded on said recording medium; reproducing head means for reproducing said information including second positioning means for positioning said reproducing head means relative to said first one of said plural tracks at a time subsequent to information being completely recorded thereon by said recording head means and thereafter reproducing said further information by determining the end of said first one of said plural tracks and then successively moving said reproducing head means relative to said successive ones of said plural tracks to reproduce said further information previously recorded thereon by said recorded head means, whereby simultaneous recording of information on said recording medium and reproduction of previously recorded information thereon is accomplished by virtue of the time interval established between the recording of information on any selected track of said recording medium and the reproduction of said information previously recorded on said selected track.

Claim 19

An apparatus for simultaneously recording and reproducing information on a recording medium of the type having plural separated tracks, said apparatus comprising: recording head means for recording information including first positioning means for positioning said recording head means relative to a predetermined first one of said plural tracks and thereafter recording information on successive ones of said plural tracks by determining when said first one of said plural tracks has information completely recorded thereon and then successively recording further information on the successive ones of said plural tracks until all desired information has been recorded on said recording medium; reproducing head means for reproducing said information including second positioning means for positioning said reproducing head means relative to said first one of said plural tracks at a time subsequent to information being completely recorded thereon by said recording head means and thereafter reproducing said further information by determining the end of said first one of said plural tracks and then successively moving said reproducing head means relative to said successive ones of said plural tracks to reproduce said further information previously recorded thereon by said recorded head means, whereby simultaneous recording of information on said recording medium and reproduction of previously recorded information thereon is accomplished by virtue of the time interval established between the recording of information on any selected track of said recording medium and the reproduction of said information previously recorded on said selected track.