Tape duplicating system

In combination for duplicating the image of a master tape on a slave tape,

• first cassette means for providing a movement of the master tape, the first cassette means including a first housing and a first supply reel and a first take-up reel in the first housing,
• second cassette means for providing a movement of the slave tape, the second cassette means including a second housing and a second supply reel and a second take-up reel in the second housing,
• a capstan,
• a pinch roller disposed relative to the capstan in a first position for pressing the master tape and the slave tape against the capstan to provide for the duplication on the slave tape of the image on the master tape,
• means disposed in co-operative relationship with the pinch roller for disposing the pinch roller in the first position for the duplication on the slave tape of the image on the master tape and for disposing the pinch roller in a second position displaced from the capstan for facilitating the disposition of the master tape on the pinch roller and the disposition of the slave tape on the capstan,
• first alignment means disposed relative to the master tape in the first position of the pinch roller for guiding the master tape to a particular position on the pinch roller, and
• second alignment means disposed relative to the slave tape in the first position of the pinch roller for guiding the slave tape to the particular position on the capstan to obtain a duplication on the slave tape of the image on the master tape.

In combination for providing for a transfer of information on a master tape to a slave tape,

• a capstan,
• a pinch roller movable relative to the capstan between a first position with the pinch roller abutting the capstan for providing a force between the pinch roller and the capstan to obtain a transfer of the magnetic information on the master tape to the slave tape and a second position displaced from the capstan to facilitate a disposition of the slave tape on the capstan and the master tape on the pinch roller,
• means for guiding the movement of the pinch roller between the first and second positions, and
• means associated with the capstan for locking the pinch roller in the first position when the pinch roller has been moved to the first position.

In combination for transferring information on a master tape to a slave tape,

• a capstan for holding the slave tape,
• a pinch roller for holding the master tape,
• the pinch roller being movable between first and second positions,
• the pinch roller abutting the capstan in the first position to press the master tape against the slave tape for a transfer of the information on the master tape to the slave tape,
• the pinch roller being displaced from the capstan in the second position to facilitate the disposition of the slave tape on the capstan and a disposition of the master tape on the pinch roller, and
• detent means disposed on the capstan and the pinch roller for locking the pinch roller in a fixed relationship with the capstan in the first position of the pinch roller.

In combination for transferring information on a master tape to a slave tape,

• a capstan for holding the slave tape,
• a pinch roller for holding the master tape,
• the capstan and the pinch roller being disposed in abutting relationship to press the master tape in a first position against the slave tape for a transfer of information on the master tape to the slave tape,
• the pinch roller being movable relative to the capstan between the first position and a second position displaced from the capstan to facilitate the disposition of the slave tape on the capstan and the master tape on the pinch roller,
• means for locking the pinch roller to the capstan in the first position of the pinch roller, and
• guide means movable with the pinch roller during the movement of the pinch roller to the first position and operative in the first position of the pinch roller to guide the master tape to the pinch roller.

In combination for transferring magnetic information on a master tape to a thermomagnetic layer on a slave tape where the thermomagnetic layer has a Curie temperature above which any magnetic information in the thermomagnetic layer is destroyed and below which the magnetic information on the master tape can be transferred to the thermomagnetic layer on the slave tape,

• a capstan for holding the slave tape,
• a pinch roller disposed in abutting relationship to the capstan for holding the master tape to obtain a transfer of the magnetic information on the master tape to the thermomagnetic layer on the slave tape,
• heater means adjustably disposed between the first guide means and the capstan for heating the slave tape to a temperature above the Curie temperature and for guiding the slave tape to the particular position on the capstan,
• first guide means disposed relative to the capstan and constructed to guide the slave tape to a particular position on the heater means without contact between the slave tape and the first guide means, and
• second guide means disposed relative to the pinch roller and constructed to guide the master tape to a position on the pinch roller corresponding to the particular position on the capstan without contact between the master tape and the second guide means.

In combination for transferring magnetic information on a master tape to a thermomagnetic layer on a slave tape where the thermomagnetic layer on the slave tape has a Curie temperature above which the magnetic information in the thermomagnetic layer is destroyed and below which the magnetic information in the master tape can be transferred to the thermomagnetic layer on the slave tape,

• a capstan for holding the slave tape,
• a pinch roller for holding the master tape in abutting relationship with the thermomagnetic layer on the slave tape,
• heater means disposed in contiguous relationship to the capstan at a position in front of the capstan in the direction of the movement of the slave tape for heating the thermomagnetic layer on the slave tape to a temperature above the Curie temperature before the movement of the slave tape to the capstan,
• first guide means disposed at a position in front of the heater means in the direction of movement of the slave tape for guiding the movement of the slave tape to the heater means without contact between the slave tape and the first guide means,
• a first cassette for holding the slave tape in a wound relationship and having a first supply reel for providing for an unwinding of the slave tape and having a first take-up reel for receiving the slave tape unwound from the first supply reel,
• second guide means disposed at a position in front of the pinch roller in the direction of movement of the master tape for guiding the movement of the master tape to the pinch roller without contact between the master tape and the second guide means,
• a second cassette for holding the master tape in a wound relationship and having a second supply reel for providing for an unwinding of the master tape and having a second take-up reel for receiving the master tape unwound from the second supply reel,
• first control means disposed between the first supply reel and the first guide means for damping variations in the movement of the slave tape between the first supply reel and the capstan as a result of spring characteristics in the portion of the slave tape between the first supply reel and the capstan, and
• second control means disposed between the second supply reel and the second guide means for damping variations in the movement of the master tape between the second supply reel and the pinch roller as a result of spring characteristics in the portion of the master tape between the second supply reel and the pinch roller.

In combination for transferring magnetic information on a master tape to a thermomagnetic layer on a slave tape where the thermomagnetic layer on the slave tape has a Curie temperature above which the magnetic information in the thermomagnetic layer is destroyed and below which the magnetic information on the master tape can be transferred to the thermomagnetic layer on the slave tape,

• a capstan for holding the slave tape,
• a pinch roller for holding the master tape in abutting relationship with the thermomagnetic layer on the slave tape,
• heater means disposed in contiguous relationship to the capstan at a position in front of the capstan in the direction of movement of the slave tape for heating the thermomagnetic layer on the slave tape to a temperature above the Curie temperature before the movement of the slave tape to the capstan,
• a first cassette for holding the slave tape in a wound relationship and having a first housing and a first supply reel in the first housing for providing for an unwinding of the slave tape and having a first take-up reel in the first housing for receiving the slave tape unwound from the first supply reel,
• first means for decoupling the first supply reel from the heater means
• a second cassette for holding the master tape in a wound relationship and having a second housing and a second supply reel in the second housing for providing for an unwinding of the master tape and having a second take-up reel in the second housing for receiving the master tape unwound from the second supply reel, and
• second means for decoupling the second supply reel from the pinch roller, the regulation provided by the second means on the master tape being different from the regulation provided by the first means on the slave tape to compensate for the expansion of the slave tape by the heater means.

A method of transferring magnetic information from a magnetizable layer on a master tape to a slave tape where the slave tape has a thermomagnetic layer with a Curie temperature above which any magnetic information in the thermomagnetic layer on the slave tape is destroyed and below which any magnetic information on the magnetizable layer of the master tape can be transferred to the thermomagnetic layer on the slave tape, including the steps of:

• guiding the movement of the master tape to a pinch roller for disposition with the magnetizable layer facing away from the pinch roller,
• guiding the movement of the slave tape to a capstan disposed in abutting relationship with the pinch roller such that the thermomagnetic layer on the slave tape abuts the magnetizable layer on the master tape, and
• passing the slave tape over a heater, during the movement of the slave tape to the capstan, with the thermomagnetic layer of the slave tape facing the heater, and
• heating the heater to obtain a temperature of the thermomagnetic layer on the slave tape to a temperature above the Curie temperature,
• adjusting the movement of the master tape to the pinch roller to provide a particular disposition of the master tape on the pinch roller,
• adjusting the movement of the slave tape to the capstan to provide a particular disposition of the slave tape on the capstan, the particular disposition of the master tape on the pinch roller coinciding with the particular disposition of the slave tape on the capstan,
• damping variations in the movement of the master tape to the pinch roller, and
• damping variations in the movement of the slave tape to the capstan.

In combination for transferring magnetic information on a master tape to a thermomagnetic layer on a slave tape where the thermomagnetic layer on the slave tape has a Curie temperature above which the magnetic information in the thermomagnetic layer is destroyed and below which the magnetic information in the master tape can be transferred to the thermomagnetic layer on the slave tape,

• a capstan,
• a heater disposed adjacent the capstan and provided with an external configuration defined at a first surface by a segment of a cylinder and at an opposite surface by a planar configuration,
• the heater being disposed relative to the capstan to receive the slave tape with the thermomagnetic layer abutting the first surface of the heater and being further disposed relative to the capstan to provide for the movement of the slave tape to the capstan with the thermomagnetic layer on the slave tape displaced from the capstan,
• the heater being provided with a length to heat the thermomagnetic layer of the slave tape for a time no greater than five milliseconds (0.005 sec.) during the movement of the slave tape on the heater.

In combination for transferring magnetic information on a master tape to a thermomagnetic layer on a slave tape where the thermomagnetic layer on the slave tape has a Curie temperature above which the magnetic information in the thermomagnetic layer is destroyed and below which the magnetic information in the master tape can be transferred to the thermomagnetic layer on the slave tape,

• a capstan,
• a heater disposed adjacent the capstan and provided with an external configuration defined at a first surface by segment of a cylinder and at an opposite surface by a planar configuration,
• the heater being disposed relative to the capstan to receive the slave tape with the thermomagnetic layer abutting the first surface of the heater and being further disposed relative to the capstan to provide for the movement of the slave tape to the capstan with the thermomagnetic layer on the slave tape displaced from the capstan, and
• means disposed in co-operative relationship with the heater for heating the heater to obtain the heating of substantially only the thermomagnetic layer on the slave tape to a temperature above the Curie temperature.

In combination for transferring magnetic information on a master tape to a thermomagnetic layer on a slave tape where the thermomagnetic layer on the slave tape has a Curie temperature above which the magnetic information in the thermomagnetic layer is destroyed and below which the magnetic information in the master tape can be transferred to the thermomagnetic layer on the slave tape,

• a capstan, and
• a heater disposed adjacent the capstan and provided with an external configuration defined at a first surface by a segment of a cylinder and at an opposite surface by a planar configuration,
• the heater being disposed relative to the capstan to receive the slave tape with the thermomagnetic layer abutting the first surface of the heater and being further disposed relative to the capstan to provide for the movement of the slave tape to the capstan with the thermomagnetic layer on the slave tape displaced from the capstan,
• the heater being shaped to inhibit the formation of air pockets between the heater and the slave tape upon the movement of the slave tape to the heater and the movement of the slave tape from the heater.

In combination for transferring magnetic information on a master tape to a thermomagnetic layer on a slave tape where the thermomagnetic layer has a Curie temperature above which magnetic information in the thermomagnetic layer is destroyed and below which magnetic information on the master tape can be transferred to the slave tape,

• a capstan having a surface for receiving the slave tape,
• a pinch roller having a surface for receiving the master tape,
• the pinch roller being disposed in abutting relationship to the capstan,
• a heater disposed in contiguous relationship to the capstan for heating the thermomagnetic layer on the slave tape above the Curie temperature,
• means for applying power to the heater to heat the heater for producing a temperature above the Curie temperature in the thermomagnetic layer of the slave tape, and
• means for regulating the amount of the power applied to the heater to obtain the production of the temperature above the Curie temperature substantially only in the thermomagnetic layer of the slave tape before the slave tape reaches the capstan, and
• means for driving the pinch roller to obtain a movement of the master tape on the pinch roller and a movement of the slave tape on the capstan for a transfer of the information on the master tape to the slave tape.

In combination for transferring magnetic information on a master tape to a thermomagnetic layer on a slave tape where the thermomagnetic layer has a Curie temperature above which magnetic information in the thermomagnetic layer is destroyed and below which magnetic information on the master tape can be transferred to the slave tape,

• a capstan having a surface for receiving the slave tape,
• a pinch roller having a surface for receiving the master tape,
• the pinch roller being disposed in abutting relationship to the capstan,
• a heater disposed in contiguous relationship to the capstan for heating the thermomagnetic layer on the slave tape above the Curie temperature,
• means for applying power to the heater to heat the heater for producing a temperature above the Curie temperature in the thermomagnetic layer of the slave tape,
• means for driving the pinch roller to obtain a movement of the master tape on the pinch roller and a movement of the slave tape on the capstan for a transfer of the information on the master tape to the slave tape,
• the heater being disposed relative to the capstan for receiving the slave tape with the thermomagnetic layer facing the heater and with the thermomagnetic layer facing away from the capstan upon the movement of the slave tape from the heater to the capstan,
• means for providing an indication of a desired amount of power in the heater,
• means for determining at each instant any difference between the desired amount of power in the heater and the amount of power actually applied to the heater at such instant, and
• means responsive to the difference determined at each instant for varying the amount of power introduced to the heater at such instant to minimize such difference.

In combination for transferring magnetic information on a master tape to a thermomagnetic layer on a slave tape where the thermomagnetic layer has a Curie temperature above which magnetic information in the thermomagnetic layer is destroyed and below which magnetic information on the master tape can be transferred to the slave tape,

• a capstan having a surface for receiving the slave tape,
• a pinch roller having a surface for receiving the master tape,
• the pinch roller and the capstan being disposed in abutting relationship to provide for a movement of the capstan with the pinch roller,
• means for providing for a movement of the capstan and the pinch roller to provide for a simultaneous movement of the master tape and the slave tape,
• heater means disposed in contiguous relationship to the capstan and having a surface for receiving the slave tape and transferring the slave tape to the capstan,
• means for providing a control representing a particular amount of power to be generated in the heater,
• means for producing power in the heater to be transferred to the slave tape, and
• means responsive to differences between the particular amount of power and the amount of power produced in the heater for varying the amount of power produced in the heater to minimize such differences.

In combination for transferring magnetic information on a master tape to a thermomagnetic layer on a slave tape where the thermomagnetic layer has a Curie temperature above which magnetic information in the thermomagnetic layer is destroyed and below which magnetic information on the master tape can be transferred to the slave tape,

• a capstan having a surface for receiving the slave tape,
• a pinch roller having a surface for receiving the master tape,
• the receiving surfaces of the pinch roller and the capstan being disposed in abutting relationship,
• first means for driving the pinch roller and the capstan to obtain a movement of the slave tape on the surface of the capstan and a movement of the master tape on the surface of the pinch roller for a transfer of the information on the master tape to the slave tape,
• a heater for heating the thermomagnetic layer of the slave tape to a temperature above the Curie temperature, the heater being disposed in contiguous relationship to the capstan,
• second means for providing a signal representing the desired amount of power to be produced in the heater,
• third means for applying power to the heater,
• fourth means responsive to the power applied to the heater for providing a signal representing such amount of power,
• fifth means responsive to the signals representing the desired amount of power and the actual amount of power applied to the heater for producing a signal representing at each instant the difference between the desired amount of power and the actual amount of power, and
• sixth means responsive at each instant to the difference signal for varying the amount of power applied to the heater at such instant to minimize such difference signal.

A method of transferring magnetic information on a master tape to a thermomagnetic layer on a slave tape where the thermomagnetic layer has a Curie temperature above which any magnetic information in the thermomagnetic layer is destroyed and below which magnetic information on the master tape can be transferred to the slave tape, including the steps of:

• disposing a capstan and a pinch roller in abutting relationship with the master tape disposed on the pinch roller and the slave tape disposed on the capstan and with the master tape and the slave tape abutting each other,
• disposing a heater in contiguous relationship to the capstan for heating the thermomagnetic layer on the slave tape above the Curie temperature,
• applying power to the heater to heat the heater for producing a temperature above the Curie temperature in the thermomagnetic layer of the slave tape,
• regulating the amount of power applied to the heater at a particular value to obtain the production of the temperature above the Curie temperature substantially only in the thermomagnetic layer of the slave tape, and
• providing a rotation of the pinch roller and the capstan to obtain movements of the master and the slave tapes past their positions of abutting relationship and to obtain a transfer of the magnetic information on the master tape to the slave tape at the positions of their abutting relationship.

A method of transferring magnetic information on a master tape to a thermomagnetic layer on a slave tape where the thermomagnetic layer has a Curie temperature above which any magnetic information in the thermomagnetic layer is destroyed and below which magnetic information on the master tape can be transferred to the slave tape, including the steps of:

• disposing a capstan and a pinch roller in abutting relationship with the master tape disposed on the pinch roller and the slave tape disposed on the capstan and with the master tape and the slave tape abutting each other,
• disposing a heater in contiguous relationship to the capstan for heating the thermomagnetic layer on the slave tape above the Curie temperature,
• applying power to the heater to heat the heater for producing a temperature above the Curie temperature in the thermomagnetic layer of the slave tape,
• regulating the power applied to the heater to obtain the production of the temperature above the Curie temperature in the thermomagnetic layer of the slave tape, and
• providing a rotation of the pinch roller and the capstan to obtain movements of the master and the slave tapes past their positions of abutting relationship and to obtain a transfer of the magnetic information on the master tape to the slave tape at the positions of their abutting relationship,
• providing the master tape from a supply reel in a first cassette and winding the master tape on a take-up reel in the first cassette after the magnetic information on the master tape has been transferred to the slave tape, and
• providing the slave tape from a supply reel in a second cassette and winding the slave tape on a take-up reel in the second cassette after the magnetic information on the master tape has been transferred to the slave tape,
• providing an indication of a desired amount of power in the heater,
• introducing power to the heater,
• determining at each instant any difference between the desired amount of power in the heater and the amount of power actually introduced to the heater at such instant, and
• varying the amount of power introduced to the heater in accordance with any such difference to regulate the amount of power introduced to the heater.

A method of transferring magnetic information on a master tape to a thermomagnetic layer on a slave tape where the thermomagnetic layer has a Curie temperature above which any magnetic information in the thermomagnetic layer is destroyed and below which the magnetic information on the master tape can be transferred to the slave tape, including the steps of:

• providing a capstan for holding the slave tape,
• providing a pinch roller for holding the master tape,
• providing for a disposition at first times of the pinch roller in a first position displaced from the capstan and at second times different from the first times in a second position abutting the capstan,
• providing, in the first position of the pinch roller, a disposition of the master tape on the pinch roller and a disposition of the slave tape on the capstan,
• providing a disposition of the pinch roller in the second position after the disposition of the master tape on the pinch roller and the slave tape on the capstan,
• locking the pinch roller to the capstan in the second position of the pinch roller,
• providing a heater in contiguous relationship to the capstan in the second disposition of the pinch roller,
• heating the heater to obtain a temperature above the Curie temperature in the thermomagnetic layer of the slave tape when the pinch roller is locked in the second position with the capstan, and
• providing a movement of the pinch roller and the capstan with the master tape on the pinch roller in abutting relationship to the slave tape on the capstan to obtain a transfer of the magnetic information on the master tape to the slave tape.

A method of transferring magnetic information on a master tape to a thermomagnetic layer on a slave tape where the thermomagnetic layer has a Curie temperature above which any magnetic information in the thermomagnetic layer is destroyed and below which the magnetic information on the master tape can be transferred to the slave tape, including the steps of:

• disposing a master tape on a pinch roller,
• disposing a slave tape on a capstan in abutting relationship to the master tape on the pinch roller,
• disposing a heater in contiguous relationship to the capstan to obtain a heating of the thermomagnetic layer on the slave tape to a temperature above the Curie temperature,
• providing a first guide in contiguous relationship to the pinch roller and providing for a disposition of the master tape on the first guide,
• providing a second guide in contiguous relationship to the capstan and providing for a disposition of the slave tape on the second guide,
• providing for a rotation of the pinch roller to obtain a movement of the master tape and the slave tape past the position of abutment and a transfer of the image on the master tape to the slave tape,
• providing a damped regulation of the tension on the master tape during the movement of the master tape to the first guide, and
• providing a damped regulation of the tension on the slave tape during the movement of the slave tape to the second guide.

In combination for transferring an image on a master tape to a slave tape,

• first cassette means for providing a movement of the master tape, the first cassette means including a first housing and a first supply reel and a first take-up reel in the first housing,
• second cassette means for providing a movement of the slave tape, the second cassette means including a second housing and a second supply reel and a second take-up reel in the second housing,
• a capstan,
• a pinch roller disposed in abutting relationship to the capstan to receive the master tape and the slave tape in abutting relationship between the capstan and the pinch roller and to provide for a coordinated movement of the master tape and the slave tape,
• first means disposed relative to the first cassette means and the capstan and the pinch roller for moving the master tape from the first supply reel in the first housing to a position between the capstan and the pinch roller and back to the first take-up reel in the first housing, and
• second means disposed relative to the second cassette means and the capstan and the pinch roller for moving the slave tape from the second supply reel in the second housing to a position between the capstan and the pinch roller, in abutting relationship with the master tape, and then back to the second take-up reel in the second housing,
• means disposed between the first supply reel in the first cassette means and the pinch roller for decoupling the first tape from the first supply reel,
• means disposed between the second supply reel in the second cassette means and the capstan for decoupling the second tape from the second supply reel, and
• means for obtaining a transfer of the image on the master tape to the slave tape during the co-ordinated movement of the master and slave tapes.

In combination for transferring an image on a master tape to a slave tape,

• first cassette means for providing a movement of the master tape, the first cassette means including a first housing and a first supply reel and a first take-up reel in the first housing,
• second cassette means for providing a movement of the slave tape, the second cassette means including a second housing and a second supply reel and a second take-up reel in the second housing,
• a capstan,
• a pinch roller disposed in abutting relationship to the capstan to receive the master tape and the slave tape in abutting relationship between the capstan and the pinch roller and to obtain a co-ordinated movement of the master and slave tapes,
• first means disposed relative to the first cassette means and the capstan and the pinch roller for moving the master tape from the first supply reel in the first housing to a position between the capstan and the pinch roller and back to the first take-up reel in the first housing, and
• second means disposed relative to the second cassette means and the capstan and the pinch roller for moving the slave tape from the second supply reel in the second housing to a position between the capstan and the pinch roller, in abutting relationship with the master tape, and then back to the second take-up reel in the second housing,
• means disposed between the first supply reel in the first cassette means and the pinch roller for damping any variations in the movement of the master tape between the first supply reel and the pinch roller,
• means disposed between the second supply reel in the second cassette means and the capstan for damping any variations in the movement of the master tape between the second supply reel and capstan, and
• means for obtaining a transfer of the image on the master tape to the slave tape during the coordinated movements of the master and slave tapes.

In combination for transferring an image on a master tape to a slave tape,

• first cassette means for providing a movement of the master tape, the first cassette means including a first housing and a first supply reel and a first take-up reel in the first housing,
• second cassette means for providing a movement of the slave tape, the second cassette means including a second housing and a second supply reel and a second take-up reel in the second housing,
• a capstan,
• a pinch roller disposed in abutting relationship to the capstan to receive the master tape and the slave tape in abutting relationship between the capstan and the pinch roller and to provide for a co-ordinated movement of the master and slave tapes,
• first means disposed relative to the first cassette means and the capstan and the pinch roller for moving the master tape from the first supply reel in the first housing to a position between the capstan and the pinch roller and back to the first take-up reel in the first housing, and
• second means disposed relative to the second cassette means and the capstan and the pinch roller for moving the slave tape from the second supply reel in the second housing to a position between the capstan and the pinch roller, in abutting relationship with the master tape, and then back to the second take-up reel in the second housing,
• means disposed between the first supply reel in the first cassette means and the pinch roller for providing a variable friction force on the master tape to regulate the movement of the master tape to the pinch roller, and
• means disposed between the second supply reel in the second cassette means and the capstan for providing a variable friction force on the slave tape to regulate the movement of the slave tape to the capstan.

In combination for transferring an image on a master tape to a slave tape,

• first cassette means for providing a movement of the master tape, the first cassette means including a first housing and a first supply reel and a first take-up reel in the first housing,
• second cassette means for providing a movement of the slave tape, the second cassette means including a second housing and a second supply reel and a second take-up reel in the second housing,
• a capstan,
• a pinch roller disposed in abutting relationship to the capstan to receive the master tape and the slave tape in abutting relationship between the capstan and the pinch roller and to provide for a movement of the master tape and the slave tape in a co-ordinated relationship,
• first means disposed relative to the first cassette means and the capstan and the pinch roller for moving the master tape from the first supply reel in the first housing to a position between the capstan and the pinch roller and back to the first take-up reel in the first housing, and
• second means disposed relative to the second cassette means and the capstan and the pinch roller for moving the slave tape from the second supply reel in the second housing to a position between the capstan and the pinch roller, in abutting relationship with the master tape, and then back to the second take-up reel in the second housing,
• the master tape having a spring effect during the rotation of the first supply reel,
• means for minimizing any deviations in the movement of the master tape between the first supply reel and the pinch roller as a result of the spring effect in the master tape,
• the slave tape having a spring effect during the rotation of the second supply reel,
• means for minimizing any deviations in the movement of the slave tape between the second supply reel and the capstan as a result of the spring effect in the slave tape, and
• means for obtaining a transfer of the image on the master tape to the slave tape during the coordinated movements of the master and slave tapes.

In combination for transferring an image on a master tape to a slave tape at a first particular speed greater than a second particular speed at which the slave tape is moved thereafter to obtain the reproduction of the image transferred to the slave tape,

• first cassette means for providing a movement of the master tape at the first particular speed, the first cassette means including a first housing and a first supply reel and a first take-up reel in the first housing,
• second cassette means for providing a movement of the slave tape at the first particular speed, the second cassette means including a second housing and a second supply reel and a second take-up reel in the second housing,
• a capstan,
• a pinch roller disposed in abutting relationship to the capstan to receive the master tape and the slave tape in abutting relationship between the capstan and the pinch roller and to provide for a movement of the master tape and the slave tape in a co-ordinated relationship,
• first means disposed relative to the first cassette means and the capstan and the pinch roller for moving the master tape from the first supply reel in the first housing to a position between the capstan and the pinch roller and back to the first take-up reel in the first housing,
• second means disposed relative to the second cassette means and the capstan and the pinch roller for moving the slave tape from the second supply reel in the second housing to a position between the capstan and the pinch roller and back to the second take-up reel in the second housing,
• third means for driving the pinch roller at the first particular speed to obtain a co-ordinated movement of the master and slave tapes at the particular speed, and
• fourth means for obtaining a transfer of the image on the master tape to the slave tape during the co-ordinated movements of the master and slave tapes at the first particular speed.