Air guide for tape transports having air jets at tangent points

An air guide apparatus adapted to support and guide a span of multi-track video recording tape as it is transported at high speed, said apparatus comprising:

• a curved support surface;
• a means for centering the recording tape and substantially sealing the airflow about the lateral edges of said recording tape as it is transported over said support surface comprising a pair of beveled flanges spaced apart at their base a distance less than the minimum width of said recording tape and located on opposite sides of the path to be followed by said tape over said support surface between the tangent points where said tape enters and exits from the guide in close proximity to said support surface;
• and
• first means located substantially at the tangent points where said tape enters and exits from said guide for providing air under pressure, and second means located in the portion of said support surface intermediate said first means for providing supplemental air support, to said tape whereby an air film of substantially constant pressure may be generated along the air chamber formed by said tape, support surface, beveled flanges and tangent points to support said tape;
• the geometry of said beveled flanges and the tape parameters being so correlated that said pressurized air film will operate in conjunction with said air chamber to maintain said tape in an equidistant relationship from said beveled flanges.