Helical scan magnetic tape transport system including vacuum column tension control and helical scanner air bearing

Claim 2

A tape transport system for transporting magnetic tape on a predetErmined tape path comprising in combination: a supply means for continuously supplying magnetic tape at the beginning of the tape path; a take-up means for continuously storing magnetic tape at the end of the tape path; a plurality of air bearing guide means for low friction guiding of the tape on the tape path; a helical scanner assembly arranged on said tape path; a first vacuum column and a second vacuum column arranged on the tape path on either side of said helical scanner assembly between said supply means and said take-up means having air control means for variably controlling the tension of the tape across said helical scanner assembly, and having monitoring means for continuously monitoring the distance of the tape loop in said columns; and a drive capstan arranged on said tape path between said vacuum columns, said drive capstan having drive means for transporting tape on said path.

Claim 3

The combination of claim 1 wherein the elements of said combination are mounted on a tape deck comprising a casting having a bi-directionally corrugated surface for dampening of structural vibrations.

Claim 4

A tape transport system having a recording mode and a playback mode for transporting magnetic tape on a predetermined tape path comprising: supply means for continuously supplying magnetic tape at the beginning of the tape path; take-up means for continuously storing magnetic tape at the end of the tape path; a first vacuum column and a second vacuum column arranged on the tape path between said supply means and said take-up means; monitoring means, including variable air evacuation means responsive to a control signal for retaining a tape loop in said vacuum columns; a helical scanner assembly for recording information on the tape and reading recorded information from the tape; drive means for transporting tape across said scanner assembly, said scanner assembly and drive means arranged on said tape path between said vacuum columns; and circuit control means, operating in combination with said monitoring means applying a control signal to said variable air evacuation means for maintaining a predetermined constant vacuum pressure in said vacuum columns to provide a predetermined tension in the tape during the recording mode and for controllably varying the vacuum pressure in said vacuum columns to modulate the tension in the tape during the playback mode for duplicating recording conditions during the playback mode.

Claim 5

A tape transport system having a recording mode and a playback mode for transporting magnetic tape on a predetermined tape path comprising: supply means for continuously supplying magnetic tape at the beginning of the tape path; take-up means for continuously storing magnetic tape at the end of the tape path; a first vacuum column and a second vacuum column arranged on the tape path between said supply means and said take-up means; monitoring means, including variable air evacuation means responsive to a control signal for retaining a tape loop in said vacuum columns; a helical scanner assembly for recording information on the tape and reading recorded information from the tape; drive means for transporting tape across said scanner assembly, said scanner assembly and drive means arranged on said tape path between said vacuum columns; and circuit control means, operating in combination with said monitoring means applying a control signal to said variable air evacuation means for maintaining a predetermined constant vacuum pressure in said vacuum columns to provide a predetermined tension in the tape during the recording mode and for controllably varying the vacuum pressure in said vacuum columns to modulate the tension in the tape during the playback mode for duplicating recording conditions during the playback mode.

Claim 6

The tape transport system of claim 3 wherein recorded information on said tape includes a reference signal from which longitudinal stretch or shrinkage in the tape can be detected, and said circuit control means includes first means for generating a fixed state signal for maintaining a constant vacuum pressure in said vacuum columns during the record mode, and second means receiving said reference signal read from said tape during the playback mode and generating an error signal in response thereto for applying said error signal as said control signal to said variable air evacuation means to thereby vary the vacuum pressure in the vacuum columns in response to said reference signal during the playback mode.

Claim 7

The tape transport system of claim 4 wherein said monitoring means comprises further, means arranged with said first and second vacuum columns and operably connected to said supply and take-up means for detecting and monitoring the length of the tape loops in said vacuum columns.