Magnetic recording and reproduction apparatus for data processing unit and magnetic tape for use in such apparatus

Abstract

Disclosed are a magnetic recording and reproduction apparatus for a data processing unit, which includes a plurality of magnetic heads formed integrally by a thin-film forming technology, and a magnetic tape. A magnetic tape has a plurality of recording tracks corresponding to a plurality of independent data. The recording tracks are arranged in parallel to a moving direction of the magnetic tape and share the same starting position. A plurality of magnetic heads are arranged in parallel to a width direction of the magnetic tape to correspond to the recording tracks in a one-to-one correspondence, and are fixed at the starting position of the recording tracks. The magnetic tape is moved in a direction in which the starting position is away from the magnetic heads for data recording onto the magnetic tape and for data reproduction from the magnetic tape. Further, the magnetic tape is controlled to automatically and immediately move in an opposite direction to the previous direction until the starting position reaches the position of the magnetic heads in response to each of the end of the data recording and the end of the data reproduction. Thus, the starting position of the recording tracks is the same, i.e. at the position of magnetic heads upon the start of data recording and the start of data reproduction.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.