Rotary head type magnetic recording/reproducing unit

A rotary head type magnetic recording/reproducing unit for reading from or writing to a magnetic tape, the magnetic tape having first and second parallel edges, the magnetic tape including a plurality of parallel elongated data storage areas arranged in a diagonal direction with respect to the first and second parallel edges, each data storage area having first and second ends which define a length of the data storage area measured in the diagonal direction, said unit comprising:

• a drum for receiving in close contact the magnetic tape on its periphery such that the magnetic tape is wrapped on a contact portion of the periphery of the drum, and
• a pair of magnetic heads arranged on said drum for running slantly on the magnetic tape for recording to or reproducing from the data storage areas,
• wherein each data storage area includes a starting marginal contact area located between the first edge of the magnetic tape and the first end of the data storage area, and a trailing marginal contact area located between the second edge of the magnetic tape and the second end of the data storage area,
• wherein a span of the contact portion of the tape in contact with the drum is greater than the length of one of the data storage areas such that the magnetic head initially contacts the magnetic tape in the starting margin contact area and is separated from the magnetic tape from the trailing margin contact area, and
• wherein a distance between a first point of contact in each starting margin contact area and the first end of an associated data storage area is sufficient to allow distortion to settle, the distortion being caused by the initial contact between the magnetic head and the tape, the distance also being sufficient to perform a switching operation, after the distortion has settled, whereby the magnetic head is connected to recording/reproducing circuitry.

A magnetic recording/reproducing system for reading from or writing to a magnetic tape, the magnetic tape having first and second parallel edges, the magnetic tape including an elongated data storage area arranged in a diagonal direction with respect to the first and second parallel edges, the data storage area having first and second ends which define a length of the data storage area measured in the diagonal direction, said system comprising:

• a drum for receiving the magnetic tape on its periphery;
• a plurality of magnetic heads arranged on said drum, the magnetic heads for performing recording operations and reproducing operations on the data storage area of the magnetic tape as the drum is rotated, wherein the recording and reproducing operations are performed within a fixed central angle of rotation of the drum corresponding to the length of the data storage area;
• and
• loading means for wrapping a magnetic tape in contact with the drum around a portion of the periphery of the drum, wherein a span of contact between the periphery of the drum and the magnetic tape covers an angle greater than the fixed central angle by an amount sufficient to allow the magnetic heads to be connected to recording/reproducing circuitry after initial contact between the magnetic heads and the magnetic tape and before the magnetic heads are located over the data storage area, thereby preventing distorted recording and reproducing caused by unstable contact between the tape and the drum.

A method for reading to or writing from a magnetic tape using a rotary head-type recording/reproducing device, the device including a rotating cylindrical drum having a peripheral surface and a magnetic head mounted adjacent the peripheral surface, the magnetic tape having first and second parallel edges and including a plurality of parallel elongated data storage areas arranged in diagonal directions with respect to the first and second parallel edges, each data storage area having first and second ends which define a length of the data storage area measured in the diagonal direction, said method comprising the steps of:

• training the magnetic tape over a portion of the periphery of the drum such that an amount of the magnetic tape in contact with the periphery of the drum, measured in the diagonal direction, is greater than the length of the data storage area, and such that the magnetic head initially contacts the magnetic tape at a first point between the first edge of the magnetic tape and the first end of the data storage area, travels along the length of the data storage area to the second end, and is separated from the magnetic tape at a second point located between the second end of the data storage area and the second edge of the magnetic tape;
• and
• connecting the magnetic head to recording/reproducing circuitry after the magnetic head initially contacts the magnetic tape and before the magnetic head contacts the first end of the data storage area, the connecting step being performed a sufficient time after the initial contact to allow magnetic head signal distortions to settle, the distortions being caused by the initial contact of the magnetic head and the magnetic tape.