There is disclosed herein a pneumatic read/write station which achieves very high speed and high density recording and reading on a document having a magnetic medium. The read/write station is characterized by the ability of the document to be transported on a rotating drum past the read/write head numerous times at a constant high speed and without any contact. The close proximity of the document to the head required for a read/write cycle is achieved by raising the document off the rotating drum toward the head after which it is lowered back to the drum, by controlling the amount of air bearing between the head and the document, and by utilizing a document whose length is longer than the drum circumference.

An improved tape transport for use in the magnetic tape recording and reproducing of high frequency signals, such as video signals. The transport is adapted to include a helical scanner head assembly for recording and reproducing signals on the tape in a helical scan format. Vacuum chambers are included for handling the tape passing to and from the scanner head assembly. A vacuum chamber is positioned intermediate the tape take-up source and the capstan, and another vacuum chamber is positioned intermediate the scanner head assembly and the tape supply source. The scanner head assembly supports a separate record head and a separate playback head spaced apart relative to one another such that record and playback may be realized simultaneously.

This invention relates to improvements in magnetic tape transport mechanisms and provides means for facilitating the visual inspection of the magnetic head for use in combination with a flux shield for the magnetic tape. Reflector means is disposed in such a manner that the magnetic head may be easily visually inspected when the flux shield is in a position removed from the vicinity of the magnetic tape.

A capstan having one or more annular slots with transducer heads therein for scanning of respective channels of a tape record medium, preferably with a vacuum source coupled with the slot or slots and for example an insert shaped to break the vacuum at a tape release position of the slot. A capstan pressure roller if used may be relieved at the groove or grooves and at locations corresponding to the edges of the tape path about the capstan.

Methods and apparatus for transducing information relative to an information carrier tape employ a cylindrical tape drive capstan rotatable about a line of intersection of two relatively stationary planes extending through the cylindrical capstan at right angles to each other. The tape is placed in a loop about the capstan and a first unsupported tape portion is formed at one side of one of the planes and at one side of the other of the planes, while a second unsupported tape portion is formed at the other side of that one plane and at the one side of that other plane. The tape is further formed into a first leg adjacent the loop at the other side of the other plane and into a second leg adjacent the loop at the other side of the other plane. The capstan is rotated to advance the tape and information is transduced relative to the advancing tape between the above mentioned curvature and the first peripheral region at the first unsupported tape portion and between that curvature and the second peripheral region at the second unsupported tape portion.