Tape scanning apparatus

An apparatus for recording and retrieving information on a tape record medium which comprises:

• a drum having a cylindrical outer surface which has a relatively narrow longitudinal opening therethrough, with the drum being rotatable about a longitudinal central axis thereof;
• a supply reel and a take-up reel for the tape record medium, both reels carried by the drum and each reel being rotatably mounted along the central axis of the drum;
• a path for the tape record medium from the supply reel within the drum which extends through the opening out of the drum, along a helical path around the cylindrical outer surface of the drum, through the opening back into the drum and to the take-up reel;
• means on the drum for advancing the tape record medium along the helical path;
• means on the drum for placing tension on the tape record medium along the helical path, with the tension placing means including at least one rotatable roller which is biased into engagement with the tape record medium and which is aligned on an axis other than the central axis of the drum and a counterweight opposed from the roller across the central axis of the drum;
• means for rotating the drum about the central axis of the drum;
• means for detecting and retrieving information on the tape record medium as the tape record medium is rotated and advanced along the helical path, with the detecting and retrieving means being fixed in position relative to the rotatable drum;
• and
• means for recording information on the tape record medium as the tape record medium is advanced along the helical path, with the recording means being fixed in position relative to the rotatable drum.

An apparatus for retrieving information from magnetic tape which comprises:

• a drum having a generally cylindrical outer surface and being rotatable about a central axis, with the drum having an annular groove in its generally cylindrical outer surface and with the groove extending in a plane perpendicular to the central axis of the drum;
• tape supply means for supplying magnetic tape wound on a helical path on and about the generally cylindrical outer surface of the drum, the magnetic tape covering the annular groove;
• magnetic tape advancing means for advancing the magnetic tape along the helical path;
• rotating means for rotating the drum, the magnetic tape wound thereon and the magnetic tape supply means about the central axis;
• and
• detecting and retrieving means for detecting and retrieving information on the magnetic tape as the magnetic tape is rotated and advanced along the helical path, the detecting and retrieving means being fixed in position relative to the drum and including at least one magnetic head on contact with the magnetic tape opposite the annular groove.

An apparatus for recording and retrieving information on magnetic tape which comprises:

• a drum having a generally cylindrical outer surface and being rotatable about a central axis, with the drum having an annular groove in its generally cylindrical outer surface and with the groove extending in a plane perpendicular to the central axis;
• tape supply means for supplying magnetic tape wound on a helical path on and about the generally cylindrical outer surface of the drum so that the magnetic tape covers the annular groove;
• magnetic tape advancing means for advancing the magnetic tape along the helical path;
• rotating means for rotating the drum, the magnetic tape wound thereon and the magnetic tape supply means about the central axis;
• detecting and retrieving means for detecting and retrieving information on the magnetic tape as the magnetic tape is rotated and advanced along the helical path, with the detecting and retrieving means being fixed in position relative to the drum and including at least one magnetic head in contact with the magnetic tape opposite the annular groove;
• and
• means for recording information on the magnetic tape as the magnetic tape is rotated and advanced along the helical path, with the recording means being fixed in position relative to the drum and including at least one magnetic head in contact with the magnetic tape opposite the annular groove.