Multiple head magnetic recording array

Claim 1

In an imaging system operatively connectable to a data input channel which is adapted to carry data defining a desired final image, with the system being of the type useable with a magnetic image-storage medium having a magnetizable facial expanse, such system having an image-producing zone through which such a medium is transportable along a known transport axis, apparatus for producing a preselected final image in such an expanse as the same is transported through such zone, which image comprises an arrangement of individual magnetic image units and image line segments formed of a plurality of linearly disposed substantially contiguous units, with adjacent units in a line segment having a first predetermined center-to-center spacing when viewed in a direction substantially parallel with the transport axis, adjacent units in adjacent line segments having a known maximum actual center-to-center spacing, and with each line segment disposed at a common angle relative to such transport axis, said apparatus comprising plural magnetic writing heads, each capable of producing an image unit, and collectively capable of producing different line segments, disposed adjacent such zone and having an actual center-to-center spacing which exceeds the predetermined and maximum spacings mentioned above, said heads being distributed to have, when viewed in a direction substantially parallel with the transport axis, an effective center-to-center spacing equaling the first predetermined spacing whereby adjacent heads, as so viewed, are spaced to produce non-overlapping adjacent image units in a line segment, and input control means operatively connected to said heads and connectable to such an input channel to receive data carried thereby, and in response to such data to generate time-coordinated head-energizing signals feedable to selective ones of said heads at appropriate times with such an expanse traveling through such a zone to effect recording on the expanse of image units and line segments filling an area which is directly related, geometrically, to the desired final image.