Device for erasing visible recorded signals from a recording medium having oriented magnetic components

Abstract

A device for erasing visible recorded signals from a recording medium such as an elongated tape, sheet or web having oriented magnetic components. The carriage carries one or a plurality of rotatable magnets which rotate in a plane parallel to the recording medium. The magnets may be supported by pulleys on which is entrained an endless belt. The pulleys may be operatively coupled by a gear train to a rack gear on a frame so that the magnets rotate when the pulleys are driven and the carriage is moved along the frame. Alternatively, the pulleys may be coupled to a motor which drives the magnets. Spaced or contiguous paths are traversed by magnetic fields maintained by the rotating magnets. The recording medium may be drawn underneath the carriage which is stationary, or the recording medium may be stationary and the carriage moved along the recording medium, or the recording medium and carriage may be moved simultaneously. The rotating magnetic fields restore the orientated magnetic components in the recording medium to preoriented condition thus erasing the recorded signals.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.