US 3,939,491 AGranted

Tape apparatus including means to count length-related pulses for video editing

AssigneeSony Corporation

InventorYasuo Shigeta

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Abstract

Video tape apparatus using a cassette with a tape running between reels. A short loop of tape is drawn out and follows a path past an erase head. This short path offers low friction and permits fast tape movement in Fast Forward and Rewind modes while allowing the erase head to pick up tape synchronizing pulses. A counter counts these pulses to indicate the length of tape passing the head during the count, thus facilitating reaching a predetermined point quickly for editing tape. The short loop also more correctly aligns the tape to facilitate withdrawing it from either reel and feeding it onto the other. At slower tape speed for Playback and Record modes, pulses to be counted can be derived from the video signal, from a control head, or from a generator that responds to speed of the recording head shaft.

Claims17

Dependent claims

In video tape apparatus comprising a rotatable head drum, means for loading tape on said apparatus in a first position in which a loop of said tape is wrapped around a portion of said rotatable head drum and engages an arcuate surface of said drum, and means for moving said tape lengthwise along said loop at a controlled speed suitable for signal recording and playback when said tape is in said first position, the combination comprising:

A. means for loading said tape on said apparatus in a second position in which a shorter loop of said tape does not substantially engage said rotatable head drum;
B. means for moving said tape along its length at a higher speed than said controlled speed when said tape is in said second position;
C. timing pulse transducing means located adjacent said tape in said second position to generate pulses synchronous with tape synchronizing signals recorded on said tape;
and
D. a counter for counting said pulses from said timing pulse transducing means.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.