Electronic and kinematic contrivance for a selective recording of signals on a single tape

A device for recording signals on magnetic tape comprising:

• a supply reel with means to drive said supply reel;
• a takeup reel with means to drive said takeup reel;
• loop support means intermediate said supply reel and said takeup reel, said loop support means adapted to support a loop of magnetic tape and being selectively actuatable to vary the length of said loop between a maximum and a minimum loop length;
• a first tape drive capstan between said supply reel and said loop support means selectively engageable with said magnetic tape to transport said magnetic tape from said supply reel to said loop support means;
• a first magnetic head between said supply reel and said loop support means selectively engageable with said magnetic tape;
• a second drive capstan between said takeup reel and said loop support means selectively engageable with said tape to transport said magnetic tape from said loop support means to said takeup reel;
• a second magnetic head between said takeup reel and said loop support means selectively engageable with said magnetic tape;
• an auxiliary tape drive capstan intermediate said takeup reel and said loop support means selectively engageable with said magnetic tape between said takeup reel and said loop support means to transport said magnetic tape from said takeup reel to said loop support means at a transport speed higher than the transport speed of said first and second capstans;
• said device operating in a cyclic manner in response to control signals from a control means, said cycle including
• a short loop mode during which said magnetic tape is transported from said supply reel to said takeup reel through said loop support means which responds to said control means to support said tape at its minimum length loop, and during which said first and second capstans and heads engage said tape to record signals thereon;
• a short loop to long loop transition mode during which said first capstan and magnetic head engage said tape to record signals thereon and transport said tape from said supply reel to said loop support means and during which said auxiliary tape capstan engages said tape to transport said tape from said takeup reel to said loop support means with said loop support means responding to said control means to vary the length of said loop from its minimum to its maximum length;
• a long loop mode during which said tape is transported from said supply reel to said takeup reel through said loop support means with said loop support means responding to said control means to support said tape at its maximum loop length, and during which said first and second capstans and heads engage said tape to record signals thereon;
• and
• a long loop to short loop transition mode during which said second capstan and head engage said tape to record signals thereon and transport said magnetic tape to said takeup reel, and during which said tape is transported from said loop support means to said supply reel with said loop support means responding to said control means to vary said loop length from its maximum to its minimum loop length.