Video recording and/or reproducing apparatus and record assembly for use therein

(54) Title: Video recording and / or reproduction apparatus

The invention can be briefly described as referring to an apparatus for recording and / or reproducing at least video signal information. As a recording medium, the apparatus records a recording assembly, which comprises a case, for example in the form of a relatively rigid cover with an open end, and at least one flexible sheet arranged to have at least recorded video signal information and can slide through the open end of the casing between a storage box , in which the sheet is substantially enclosed and protected by the envelope, and a working position in which a major portion of the sheet is withdrawn from the casing and a small portion of the sheet remains within the casing. The recording and / or reproducing apparatus has a sheet drive device which can optionally be brought into operation to move each sheet relative to the casing or case from the stock position to the working position and to return the sheet to its stock position from the working position, rotary signal converter which is a tube signal converter a circular path around a shaft lying at substantially right angles to the direction of movement of the sheet between its storage and working positions; sheet control means receiving each sheet during its movement to its working position, and controlling the major portion of the sheet in an arcuate path substantially coincident with at least a portion of the circular path of the rotary signal transducers, and a translation mechanism for moving the recording apparatus and rotary signal transducers. relative to each other in directions, which are parallel to the axis of rotation of the transducers so that the transducers scan successive parallel recording grooves on the main portion of the sheet in the arcuate web. If audio signal information is also to be recorded and / or reproduced, rotary transducers are provided for this purpose so that they scan successive parallel recording tracks either on the same sheet receiving the recorded video signal information or on another sheet. When the cover contains two or more sheets, these sheets may optionally be either simultaneously or individually actuated by the sheet drive device as shown in Figs. 42 and 43, respectively. in Fig. 37, for moving between the storage and working positions of the sheets. In cases where the sheets are simultaneously moved to the in the operating position, the apparatus comprises a separator device by which the sheets are separated from each other as they move to the respective position. operating modes so that they can be controlled independently of each other. rotary signal converter.

The rotary signal transducers are preferably fixed in the direction of their rotational axes and the translation mechanism comprises a trolley carrying the sheet control devices and which is movable parallel to the rotational symmetry axis between spaced apart starting and ending positions. A holder is fixed relative to the trolley for receiving and positioning the record assembly case relative to the sheet control devices and means are provided for driving the trolley from the starting position to the final position and for returning the trolley from its final position to the starting position.

A further feature of the apparatus according to the invention consists in that, when placing the case or casing with the recording unit in a plug-in position on the holder, the sheet drive device automatically functions to move each sheet from the storage position to its recording or reproduction position and when the carriage reaches its final position automatically be returned to its start position. When the carriage returns to the start position, either automatically in the manner described above, or in response to a manually actuated control for stopping a recording or reproduction function before the carriage reaches its final position, the sheet drive device automatically operates to return each sheet to its position. storage position within the case or case, after which the case or case is pushed out of the insert position on the holder.

The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for

The invention relates to a recording and / or reproducing apparatus of the type in which signal transducers are mounted for rotation in a circular path transverse to the direction of movement of the recording sheet, such video signal information is recorded and / or reproduced from the sheet in a series of parallel recording tracks.

Conventional apparatus for recording and / or reproducing video signals, ie. video recorders have used a magnetic tape recording tape wound on at least one coil and carried from such a coil in a spiral path around the circular rotation path of the magnetic heads or transducers so that they record and / or reproduce video signal information in parallel recording tracks obliquely across the tape. The coil or coils with the tape are bulky and fairly heavy so they are unsuitable to transport and inconvenient to store. In addition, when one wishes to record or reproduce signals on a portion of the band somewhere between the ends of the band, it is necessary to either wrap or wrap the band on the empty coil in order to access the desired portion of the band and such winding or unwinding is time-consuming. If you try to reduce this waste time by, for example, arranging fast rewind and forward, the apparatus becomes unnecessarily complicated. The apparatus described above, which is known per se, has the disadvantage that special functions are required for still image reproduction or slow motion reproduction.

Known videotape recorders using magnetic tapes such as recording medium require an extremely accurate servo system to ensure that the converters carefully scan the recording tracks during recording and / or reproduction operations. If the magnetic tape is in a cassette, relatively complex mechanisms are required for extracting the tape from the cassette housing and for threading the extended tape around the conventional control drum associated with the rotating heads or transducers. Finally, in case the video signals are recorded on magnetic tapes, it is difficult and expensive to mass-reproduce recorded tapes.

In US Patent 2,915,596 this year ¹959 it has been proposed to record and / or reproduce information on a sheet of paramagnetic material in an apparatus, which includes a housing provided with an inwardly directed, semi-cylindrical control channel in which the sheet

7411323-4 is inserted in the direction of the curvature of the channel so that a straight margin of the sheet engages a stop extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of symmetry of the semi-cylindrical channel and for controlling the sheet during its sliding motion within the channel. parallel to this shaft by means of a rotating drive roller, which can be pushed into the channel. Rotating magnetic transducers or heads are placed in a circular path which substantially coincides with the curvature of the channel in and for recording or reproduction of the signals on the sheet present in the sheet, combining the sliding movement of the sheet and the rotary movement of the transducers so that the transducers are scanned. spaced apart parallel recording grooves on a portion of the sheet. The foregoing known arrangements are intended for magnetic recording and reproduction of sound only and are only suitable for this purpose. If one is to attempt to use the apparatus of US Patent 2,915,569 for recording and / or reproducing video signal information, the successive recording tracks spaced apart and the associated poor utilization rate of the sheet surface for recording signal information allow only a very short playing time for each sheet. As mentioned above, the known apparatus also does not permit simultaneous recording and / or reproduction of both video signal information and associated audio signal information. It is also clear that the sheets which are used separately as recording medium in the known apparatus will have their para-magnetic coatings damaged when the sheets are not used, especially after recording, and these sheets are furthermore very wrinkled both when not used and partly when they are used. inserted into the apparatus, especially if the sheets are made of thin film material.

It has further been proposed to record video signal information on a recording disc which is normally in a protective case or envelope and which is completely removed from the case in the recording and / or reproduction apparatus and placed in a working position in which the disc rotates around its center while it is being scanned. by a transducer or a head in a spiral groove. The above arrangement is unsatisfactory in that difficulties arise when the disc is reinserted into the protective case or envelope after the recording or reproduction operation is completed. Also, in these known devices, the conditions required for hi-fi recording and reproduction of video and audio signals have not been realized. Furthermore, the latter arrangement involves an unsatisfactory short playing time for the recording or reproduction of the video sig7411323-4.

An object of the present invention is an improved recording and / or reproducing apparatus in which at least video signal information is recorded on a recording sheet by rotary converter means.

Another object of the invention is an improved apparatus of the kind described in which audio signal information as well as video signal information is recorded on one or more flexible sheets by means of respective rotary transducers or heads.

The invention also relates to an apparatus of the kind described in which the video signal information and the audio signal information are recorded in respective series of parallel recording tracks on one or more flexible recording sheets, which respectively when not used are protected against damage within a relatively rigid case or cover.

The invention also relates to an apparatus of the kind described with improved devices for feeding the sheet or sheets from the protective case to a working position extending around at least a portion of the circular path of the respective rotary transducers and for returning the sheet or sheets to a storage position inside. case.

The invention also relates to an apparatus of the kind described with improved control means for positioning each recording sheet during recording or reproduction of signal information thereon, respectively.

The invention also relates to an apparatus of the kind described, the various operations of which are performed essentially automatically in order to limit as much as possible the interventions that an apparatus user needs to make.

The features of the invention which are characteristic of the invention are apparent from the appended claims.

The invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a recording assembly which may be used in connection with the apparatus of the present invention, which recording assembly comprises a single flexible recording sheet; Figures 2Λ and 2B are enlarged, partial views. sectional views along line 2-2 in Fig. 1, with Fig. 2A showing the recording sheet in its storage position and Fig. 2B showing it in its working position.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the recording assembly shown in Fig. 1 in a loaded position on a designated holder and in the figure the recording sheet is shown in its working position with dashed lines, in which the working position most of the sheet is in an arcuate path in and for recording or reproducing signal information thereon; FIG. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view along line 4-4 of FIG. 3 and the figure schematically shows components by means of which the record sheet is moved between its working and storage positions, the sheet being in its working position, the main part thereof guided in the arcuate path shown in Fig. 3, Fig. 5 is a sectional view along the line. 5-5 of Fig. 4 and in the figure, a rotating converter assembly for recording and / or reproducing signal information is shown on the main part of the recording sheet in the aforementioned arcuate path, said fig. 5 also shows a trolley carrying sheet control devices and subjected to translation movements in and for moving the recording sheet in directions parallel to the axis of rotation of the transducer assembly, said trolley being shown in its size position; FIG. 6 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 5, however, the carriage is shown in its final position; FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 6 and the figure illustrates the connection between the transducer assembly and a sheet support; Figure 8 is a detail view along line 8-8 of Figure 7; Figure 9 is an enlarged sectional view along line 9-9 of Figure 7; and the figure illustrates the manner in which the sheet support ensures uniform contact pressure for each signal converter or head against the recording sheet; Figs. 10a and 10b schematically show, in connection with the description ext, the advantages of intermittently advancing the recording sheet between its storage and drawing positions; Figs. 11a and 11b are side views of a device for intermittently driving the sheet in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; 12 and 13 are side views similar to FIG. 11a and 11b, although other embodiments of devices according to the invention for intermittent propulsion of the recording sheet between its storage and working positions are shown, FIGS. 14A-14P are plan views showing different types of cut-outs which can be arranged in the casing of the recording unit to allow

Fig. 15A - 15D show the advantages of a sheet support for positioning the recording sheet in relation to the rotary transducer assembly; Fig. 16 is a perspective view showing the possible bulging of the sheet sheet device to engage the recording sheet in the case; the record sheet when this is only directed along its opposite sides, Fig. 17 is a perspective view showing additional sheet control devices arranged in the apparatus according to the invention to avoid the protrusions shown in Fig. 16; Figs. 18A and 18B are plan views showing schematically how it is possible for the recording sheet to stand on edge as it is moved in directions. which are parallel to the axis of rotation symmetry of the assembly in case the sheet guide devices which engage the opposite sides of the sheet are not exactly parallel to each other, Fig. 19 is a perspective view of an embodiment of sheet control devices in accordance with the present invention, which sheet controllers are utilized to avoid the condition shown in Figs. 18A and 18B; Fig. 20 is a sectional view along a line 20-20 of Fig. 19; sectional view along line 21-21 of FIG. 19; FIG. 22 is a perspective view of another embodiment of sheet control means utilizing sheet control means to avoid the condition shown in FIGS. 18A and 18B; Fig. 23 is a sectional view taken along line 23-23 of Fig. 22; Figs. 24Λ and 24B are sectional views taken along line 24-24 of Fig. 22, wherein said Figures 24A and 24B each show the state of one of the sheet control devices when the carriage carrying them is located. be in the start position for moving the recording sheet between its storage position and its working position, or when the carriage is in the middle between the start and end positions, for example during recording or reproduction for travel; Fig. 25 is a side sectional view of a portion of modified sheet control devices; Fig. 26 is an enlarged partial perspective view of the sheet guide device portion shown in Fig. 25; Fig. 27 is a plan view showing the operation of the sheet control device shown in Figs. 25 and 26;

Fig. 28 is an enlarged detail view showing a preferred mount of each signal converter in the recording and / or reproducing apparatus of the present invention; Fig. 29A is a plan view showing the manner in which video signal information can be recorded magnetically on the recording sheet; Fig. 29B is a plan view showing the relationship between the positions of the signal converters or magnetic heads for recording video signal information in the manner shown in Fig. 29A; Fig. 29C is a diagram showing the relationship between input video signals, recorded signals and reproduced signals when using field elimination techniques when recording video signals with an apparatus in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 30 is a perspective view showing the manner in which both video signal information and audio signal information can be recorded in a single record sheet in an apparatus in accordance with the present invention, Fig. 31 is a plan view of a recording assembly containing two recording sheets; Fig. 32 is a cross-sectional view along line 32-32 of Fig. 31; Fig. 33 is a longitudinal sectional view along line 33-33 of Fig. 32; Fig. 34 is a perspective view showing portions of an apparatus according to the present invention for recording and / or reproducing signal information on recording sheets in the recording assembly shown in Figs. 31-33, Fig. 35 is a perspective view showing the carriage of the apparatus shown in Fig. 34 where it is in its initial position; Fig. 36 is a plan view from above of a holder for the apparatus shown in Fig. 34 during movement of the recording unit towards its loaded position on such a holder. , Fig. 37 is a sectional view showing the manner in which a separator device in the apparatus of Fig. 34 is used to separate the output sheet sheets during their movement of the recording sheets and direct them to the respective control devices; Fig. 38 is an enlarged detail sectional view along line 38-38 of Fig. 36; Fig. 39 is an enlarged detail sectional view along line 39-39 of Fig. 34; Fig. 39 shows a detector included in the apparatus to prevent the apparatus from recording when the recording sheet carries signal information which is not to be erased; Figs. 40A-40C show various forms of removable portions arranged

7411323-4 on the record assembly case in order to mark, by its absence, as indicated in Figures 40A'-40C ', that the record sheet of the case carries recorded signal information which is not to be deleted, Figure 41 is a perspective view showing the manner in which video signal information can be recorded successively on the two recording sheets in the recording assembly of FIGS. 31-33 for providing extended playing time; Fig. 42 is a perspective view of a recording assembly comprising four recording sheets arranged in pairs, the pair of sheets being associated with a modified sheet drive device so that pairs of recording sheets can optionally be moved from the storage position to the working position and for recording or reproducing signal information on the sheets; Fig. 43 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 42, however, showing a recording assembly and a sheet drive device in accordance with another embodiment of the invention, according to which any one of a plurality of recording sheets can be moved from its storage position to its working position in and for recording; reproducing signal information on this sheet; Fig. 44 is a plan view of yet another recording assembly; Figs. 45A - 45D are longitudinal sectional views along line 45-45 of Figs. and said figures show the record sheets in different positions relative to the case; Fig. 46 is a perspective view of additional sheet guide arrangements preferably arranged in conjunction with a record sheet which undergoes a double or reverse bend when it moves to its working position, for example in connection with the apparatus described in Figs. 34 and 35; Fig. 47 is a cross-sectional view along line 47-47 of Fig. 46; Figs. 48A and 48B are perspective views showing control mechanisms in a recording and / or reproducing apparatus in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 49 is a sectional view similar to Fig. IIA although the figure shows the sheet drive device of the apparatus shown in Figs. 48A and 48B; 50 is an enlarged cross-sectional view along line 50-50 of Fig. 48A; Fig. 50 shows a device by means of which the carriage is automatically returned to its starting position after the completion of a recording or reproduction operation; Fig. 51 is a detail sectional view along line 51-51 of Fig. 50;

Fig. 52 is an enlarged sectional view along line 52-52 of Fig. 48A; Fig. 53 is a detail sectional view along line 53-53 of Fig. 52; Fig. 54 is an enlarged sectional view along line 54-54 of Figs.

48A, wherein Fig. 54 shows a coupling assembly included in the apparatus which allows reproduction of recorded video signal information in slow motion or still images; Fig. 55 is a circuit diagram of the electrical control system of the apparatus shown in Figs. 48A and 48B; Fig. 56 is a block diagram of recording and reproduction circuits for recording and reproducing video and audio signal information in a way that enhances playing time; which can be obtained for each recording sheet in an apparatus in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 57A is an enlarged plan view showing the recording tracks in which video signal information is recorded on the respective recording sheets; Fig. 57B is a plan view to which the description text refers in connection with the method being explained. according to which video signal information is recorded in the recording tracks shown in FIG. 57A, Fig. 57C is an enlarged plan view to which the description text refers in connection with explaining how video signal information is reproduced from the recording tracks shown in Fig. 57A; Fig. 57D is a similar plan view, however, which now shows the recording tracks in which audio signal information is recorded on Fig. 58A - 58D are plan views showing different phases of an automatic ejecting mechanism present in the apparatus shown in Figs. 48A and 48B; Fig. 59 is a schematic view showing another form of a rotary transducer assembly that can be used in recording and / or reproducing apparatus in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 60 is a sectional view along line 60-60 of Fig. 59; a greatly enlarged detail view showing the manner in which each converter in the assembly shown in Figs. 59 and 60 can be used to reproduce signals recorded on a recording sheet.

In Figures 1, 2A and 2B it is shown that a recording medium for recording and reproducing at least video signal information may be in the form of a recording unit R comprising a case C

7411323-4 and at least one flexible, resilient record sheet S which is movable with respect to the case C between a storage position (Figs. 1A and 2A), in which the sheet S is substantially surrounded and protected by the case C, and a working position (Fig. 2B). in which a major portion of the sheet S is withdrawn from the case C while a smaller portion of the sheet remains inside the case. When the record sheet S is intended to carry signal information that is magnetically recorded, the sheet may be formed of a flexible plastic material, for example a plastic material or a plastic film of the type sold by the company Ε In DuPont Company under the trademark MYLAR *.

This sheet may have a thickness of from 0.3 to 1.3 microns and be provided with a magnetic coating of, for example, chromium dioxide in case video signal information is to be recorded on the sheet. If the recording sheet S is intended to carry audio signal information by magnetic recording thereof on the sheet, the sheet may be formed by YFejOy If both video signal information and audio signal information are to be recorded on the same recording sheet, the flexible plastic film or flexible substrate is provided with successive coatings of> ^ Fe20g and CrO2 such recording sheet first records the audio signal information after which the sheet is heated in and for erasing audio signal information from chromium dioxide coating and then the video signal information is recorded on the chromium dioxide coating. When both audio signal and video signal information are recorded on equal lengths of the recording sheet, the audio and video signals are separated from each other by appropriate filters.

As can be seen from Fig. 1, the recording sheet S preferably has a substantially rectangular shape and the case or cover C is similar in substantially rectangular shape. The case C has an open end O through which the sheet F can slide with opposite sheet edges loosely guided by the corresponding sides of the case C. The casing C is preferably fairly rigid and may, for example, be formed of cardboard or the like and it is preferably glued or otherwise attached to a relatively rigid support or plate p, for example of rigid plastic material, which plate P has lateral dimensions such that its opposite side portions protrude laterally over respective adjacent sides of the case C.

In order for a limited area of ​​the sheet S to be exposed even when the sheet is in the storage position in which it can also come into engagement with means for moving the sheet towards its working position, both the walls of the receipt and the plate P are provided with evenly cut portions or openings A adjacent to the open end O of the case.

* Reg. trademark

7411323-4

The sheet S has a longitudinal dimension such that it? its storage position has the end edge E^r at the open end of the case 0, a piece lies inside the open end and a piece over the openings A between the ends of the opening (Figs. 1 and 2A). As can be seen from Fig. 2B, the opposite edge of the recording sheet, i.e. its rear end edge, E ”extends across the openings A between the ends of the openings when the sheet S is in working position. The reason for this will be described in more detail below.

Since the recording sheet S is formed of a thin flexible film or sheet material, the end edges Ξ 'and E of the sheet can bend into the openings A in the stock and working positions of the sheet. Thus, if the openings A are of rectangular shape, that is, opposite end portions which are parallel to the transverse direction of the sheet S as shown in FIG. 14A, the end edge of the sheet Ξ * and Ξ ”can engage opposite end edges of the openings A, thus interfering with the movement of the sheet S from its storage position to its working position and from its working position to its storage position. If the rectangular openings A are formed such that they extend to the Open End 0 of the case C as shown in FIG.

14B avoids spreading the sheet S in its movement from its stock position to its working position, but the inner edges of the openings A will still engage the rear end edge E "of the sheet, thus interfering with its movement from its working position to its stock position. Thus, the openings A are preferably made such that they have ends which form non-significant angles with the transverse direction of the sheet. For example, the openings A may be elongated in the longitudinal direction of the sheet and have rounded opposite ends (Fig. 140) or the openings A may be circular (Fig. 14B), diamond-shaped (Fig. 14B) or hexagonal (Figs.

14P).

From Figs. 3-6, it will be seen that an apparatus 65 in accordance with the present invention for recording and / or reproducing signal information on a sheet S of the recording unit R comprises substantially a holder 66 for receiving and positioning the case C, a sheet drive device 67 ( Fig. 3 and 4) which may optionally be brought into operation to move the sheet S relative to the case C from the sheet stock position to its working position, and to return the sheet to the stock storage position from its working position, a rotary signal converter assembly 63 (Figs. 5 and 6) which is movable in a circular path around an axis, which is substantially at right angles to the direction of movement of the sheet S between its storage and working positions, a sheet guide assembly 69 (FIG. 4-6) receiving the sheet S during its movement toward it

And controlling the major portion of the sheet in an arcuate path which: substantially coincides with at least a portion of the circular motion path of the rotary signal converter assembly 68, and a transverse path; lation means 70 for moving the holder 65 and sheet guide aggregate the gate 69 as a unit and thus the recording unit et is relative to the signal converter assembly 68 in directions which are parallel to the axis of rotation of the transducer assembly 68 so that the transducers or heads of the converter assembly are successively searched. parallel recording grooves on the main portion of the sheet S in the arcuate web assembly 69 defined by the arc web.

As can be seen from Figures 3 and 4, the holder 66 for receiving and | positioning of the recording assembly R simply comprises j a substantially horizontal table 71 slidably sideways on guide rods 72 which run parallel to the axis of rotation of the transducer assembly 68 and supported at their ends by upright walls 73 (Figs. 5 and 6 ) which are spaced apart on a base 74. A record element 75 for recording assembly R extends over the front of table 71 and has downwardly directed side flanges 75a which are secured to the table so that recording record R can be inserted in the direction of arrow 76 of Figure 3 below the open member 75 with open end 0 of the case C protruding forwardly from the positioning element. In this way, when the recording unit R is plugged in, the opposite sides of the plate P will slide into engagement with the inner surfaces of the flanges 75a to laterally place the recording assembly R on the table 71. The flanges 75a on the positioning element further have inwardly folded flaps 75b, at the front edges of the flanges (Figs. 3) and with these tabs, ledges Pa can be engaged. Said abutments Pa are arranged on the laterally projecting lateral! the edge portions of the plate P adjacent the open end 0 of the case C (fig.

1), whereby the case C is positioned longitudinally with respect to the table 71. An upward edge 77 (Fig. 3) extends over the rear end of the table 71 to engage the rear end edge one of the plate P when the recording assembly R is loaded. position on the table 71 with the ledges Pa in contact with the tabs 75b. Thus, the loading position of the recording unit R is accurately determined on the table 71. In order to facilitate the removal of the recording unit R from the table 71, the edge 77 and adjacent rear end portions of the table 71 can be provided with an opening 77a at which the rear end portion of the case can be gripped and for lifting over the edge 77 before the recording unit R is pulled out under the positioning element 75 in direction of arrow 76.

7411323-4

As can be seen from Fig. 4, the sheet drive assembly 67 comprises substantially co-operating rollers 78 and. 79, the periphery of which is at least formed of rubber and each of which is rotatably arranged above and below | the front portion of the table 71 on shafts 80 and 81. The lower roller t 79, which may be a driving roller, is arranged to project upwardly through a suitable opening 73 provided in the front portion of the table 71 and the axis of symmetry of the roller shaft 81 lies in a vertical plane 82 which in turn lies on a distance in front of the tabs 75b, which distance d 2 is substantially equal to the distance d₂ (Fig. 1) in the longitudinal direction of the case C, calculated between the abutments Pa and the center of the openings A. Thus, when the case C is in the loading position on the holder 66, the drive roller 79 is arranged to project upwards through the openings A in the plate P and in the lower wall. of the case C to engage the limited and exposed surface of the sheet S.

The upper roller 78, which may be a clamping roller and may have a smaller diameter than the drive roller 79, has its shaft 8t suitably mounted, for limited forward and backward movement, ie. in the longitudinal direction of the sheet S between a first position shown with solid lines in FIG. 4 in which the axis of symmetry of the shaft 80 lies behind the vertical plane 82, 3 passing through the axis of symmetry of the shaft 81, and a second with dashed lines in FIG. 4 in the first and second positions of the clamping roller 78, the roller is arranged to pass through the opening A in the upper wall of the case when the case is in a loading position whereby the roller i can be engaged with it. of the opening exposed area of ​​the sheet s.,

When the sheet drive device 67 is scaled to move the sheet S from its storage position (Fig. 2A) to its working position (Fig. 2B) | the clamping roller 78 is moved to its first position, which is shown in solid line 4 in which the clamping roller may engage the front of the portion of the section exposed on the sheet through the aperture. Thus, when the pinch roller 78 is in engagement with the sheet and the drive roller 79 is appropriately rotated counterclockwise, as shown in FIG. 4, rollers 78 and 79 interact so that θ-tt drives the sheet S to the left, i.e. £ in the outward direction from the open end 0 of the case C. The rollers 78 and f continue to cooperate and drive the sheet S in the direction out of the foil C until the sheet S comes into its working position (Fig. 2B) where so;

the rear end edge E of the sheet is led into the center of the openings A, i.e. approximately in the plane 82 of Fig. 4. Thus, when the sheet S assumes its ar position, the clamping roller 78 has left the rear end edge Ξ "and can no longer press the sheet against the drive roller 79 which results in the operation of the sheet ceasing.

When it is desired to operate the sheet drive device 67 so that the sheet S is returned from its working position to its storage position in the case C of the holder 66, the clamping roller is moved to its second position, which is shown by dashed lines at 7θ * in Fig. 4, whereby the clamping roller engages. with the rear end edge portion of the portion exposed by the opening A in the upper wall of the case C, after which the drive roller 79 is rotated in a clockwise direction, as shown in Fig. 4. The rollers 78 and 79 are then arranged to cooperate and drive the sheet S between them in the right direction seen in FIG. 4, thus the sheet S is inserted longitudinally in the case C. When the sheet S has been returned to its storage position in the case C (FIG.

2A), i.e. when the front end edge E 'of the sheet protrudes over the center of the openings A, the front position of the clamping roller 78 shown in broken lines in Fig. 4 will leave the front edge portion of the sheet S and no longer be able to press the sheet against the drive roller 79 as a result, the operation of the sheet ceases and the sheet is returned to its storage position.

Because of the flexible and resilient nature of the record sheet S, the sheet will bend or pivot downward as it leaves the leading edge of the table 71 as a result of being driven by the sheet drive device 67 from its storage position to its working position. As shown in FIG. 4, 5 and 6, the sheet guide assembly 69 which receives the sheet S as it moves toward its working position may be in the form of a carriage comprising side members 84a and 84b which are fixed relative to each other and are parallel to each other and spaced apart from each other. each other by spacers 85. The side members are slidably mounted on guide rods 86 extending between the walls 73 parallel to the axis of rotation of the transducer assembly 68. The carriage 69 'and the holder 66 are suitably joined to one another, for example, as schematically shown at 87 in Fig. 4, so that they can move as a unit along the control rods 72 and 86 between a starting position of the carriage 69 (Fig. 5). and a final position (Fig. 6). P-shaped guide members 88a and 88b are mounted on the side members 84a and 84b and each form guide grooves 89a and 89b which - as seen in the direction of the axis of rotation of the transducer assembly 68 - are facing each other and are substantially U-shaped, so as to face each other ends of each guide groove are open upwards. The side elements 84a and 84b are positioned in relation to each other and i

7411323-4 in relation to the holder 66 in such a way that the lateral distance between the inner surfaces of the grooves 89a and 89b corresponds substantially to the width of the sheet S and further such that as the sheet S bends downwardly from the leading edge of the table 71 as the sheet is driven towards its working position. the side edges of the sheet at the leading end edge Ξ 'of the sheet will descend into the upwardly opening input ends 89 * of the grooves 89a and 89b (Fig. 4). Thus, as the sheet continues its movement toward its working position, a major portion of the sheet will have its side edges sliding and guided in arcuate grooves 89a and 89b which place the major portion of the sheet in a corresponding arcuate web. Further, the arcuate grooves 89a and 89b are sized and positioned so that they are concentric with the axis of rotation of the rotary transducer assembly 6? and so that the above-mentioned arcuate web in which the major part of the sheet is guided will substantially coincide with at least a portion of the circular path of the rotary transducer assembly, for example with the lower half of such a circular path of movement.

In the described embodiment of the invention, it is appreciated: The signal converter assembly 68 is fixedly fixed in the axial direction with respect to the base 74 and the assembly 68 is shown to comprise a relatively small rotating drum 90 mounted at its center on an axis 91 to an electric motor 92, which is suitably fixed to the base 74. Stair pairs of signal converter heads 93 (FIG. 7-9), for example magnetic recording and / or reproduction heads, project from the periphery of the drum 90 at substantially diametrically opposed positions and the drum 90 is axially positioned between the side members 84a and 84b of the carriage 69 so that the drum is adjacent the sheet guide member 88b in the starting position of the carriage 69 (Fig. 5) and adjacent to the second sheet guide element; 88a in the final position of the carriage 69 (Fig. 6). In addition, to ensure that each head 93 is in proper engagement with the inner surface of the sheet S in the arcuate web of the sheet around the lower half of the circular path of the heads, the apparatus 65 further preferably comprises a sheet support member 94 which is suitably secured to the substrate. 94 "" id in the position of the rotating Grumman 90. The sheet support element 94 has a width - calculated in the direction of the drum's axis of symmetry - which is no larger than the width of the drum. The sheet support member 94 is provided with a U-shaped sheet support surface 95 which extends around the lower semi-circular portion of the periphery of the drum 90 and which is radially spaced from the periphery of the drum to form a gap which does not fit tightly holds the sheet S. Sheet support 7411323-4 surface 95 has a central groove 96 extending along its surface, which is flush with the plane of rotation of the heads 93 so that the heads can press the sheet into the groove 96 while the sheet is supported accurately at opposite sides of the groove 96 on the surface 95 (cf. FIG. 9).

In accordance with the present invention, the sheet S is carefully positioned in its working position - seen in the longitudinal direction of the sheet - by means of a stop stop 97 (Figs. 7 and 8) mounted on an upper surface of the sheet support member 94 at one side of the rotating drum 90 and projecting inward past the sheet support surface 95 to engage the front end edge E 'of the sheet S. The sheet S has a longitudinal dimension such that when its front end edge E 'engages the stop stop 97, as shown in Fig. 7, the rear end edge Ξ "of the sheet will have moved out of engagement with the clamping roller 78 when it is located. in the solid line shown in Fig. 4. As the apparatus 65 records or reproduces, the motor 92 rotates the drum 90 and the heads 93 in a clockwise direction in FIG. 7 so that the circumferential surface of the drum 90 and the heads 93 move along the sheet S in the direction of the front end edge E 'abutting against the stop stop 97.

Thanks to the arrangement described above, the very rapidly rotating drum 90 will induce an air flow in the direction of rotation, which air flow enters the semi-circular gap between the sheet S and the periphery of the drum 90. Such air flow will by friction affect the sheet S in the longitudinal direction towards the stop stop 97 and because the sheet has an arcuate shape around the lower half of the drum 90 and because the sheet material is resilient, it comes from the air on the sheet S. exerted frictional force to be transformed into radially outwardly directed forces affecting the sheet against the sheet support surface 95. This is indicated by the arrows _t in Fig. 15A. Thus, since the sheet S is securely held against the support surface 95 and since the heads 93 alternately press against the sheet S along the portion of the sheet passing over the groove 96 in the sheet support surface 95, each head will apply a relatively soft contact pressure to the magnetic surface of the sheet 3 and this contact pressure is constant over substantially the lower half of the rotating drum 90, which is marked at PU in Fig. 15B.

As is particularly evident in Fig. 28, each magnetic head 93 associated with the drum 90 includes a frame 98 slidably mounted on an adjacent end portion of a support rail 99, e.g. by means of a guide pin 100 extending from the support rail 99 and slidably accommodated in a groove 101 in the frame 98, and by means of a locking screw 102

7411323-4 which enters a recessed hole in the support rail 99 · The frame 98 is substantially U-shaped and an element 103 supporting a main washer 104 is resiliently supported between the arms of the frame 9θ by means of e.g. resilient wire springs 105. Thus, the main washer 104, which protrudes slightly over the periphery of the drum 90 to engage the recording sheet S, will be resilient or resiliently supported for smooth and vibration-free contact with the recording sheet. Since the magnetic heads 93 scan the magnetic surface of the sheet S with a relatively soft contact pressure against the sheet, signals can be recorded and reproduced with hifi quality. As a result of the air cushion maintained between the recording sheet S and the circumferential surface of the drum 90, and further to the very soft contact pressure of the heads 93 towards the recording sheet and also due to the small width of the sheet support element f 94, the recording sheet S's friction resistance to movement in relative to the rotary converter assembly 68 in the direction of this axis of symmetry to be minimized and thus can | the sheet perform a smooth movement during recording and reproduction. The | the aforementioned airbag which is maintained between the sheet S and the drum | The 90 perimeter surface also ensures that any vibrations in the drum 90, which can occur when the drum rotates at high speed, will not be transmitted to the sheet S, thereby avoiding jumps that may occur during recording and reproduction as a result of such vibration. Furthermore, because the drum 90 has very small axial width, the drum has a minimal mass, which in turn causes the torque required to achieve the high speed rotation of the drum and which the motor 92 supplies is reduced to a minimum.

The importance of the position described above for the stop stop 97 so that it engages the front end edge of the recording sheet S when this is in the working position is understood if one considers; Fig. 150 takes such a stop device 97, which may engage the front end edge E * of the sheet, to be replaced with a stop or sheet grab device 97 'which engages the sheet S in front of the drum 90 in determining the working position of the sheet. . Assume with dec in fig. 150 The arrangement showed that the drum 90 is rotated at high speed counterclockwise. Then air will be drawn in between the sheet S and the moving peripheral surface of the drum 90 will again by friction affect the sheet S in the direction of rotation. However, since the sheet S is now fixed in front of the drum 90, the frictional effect of the air flow will produce a stretch of the sheet in its sheet direction between

The sheet gripping device 97 'and the front end edge of the sheet, which results in radially inward forces marked by the arrows v, will arise and affect the sheet S towards the periphery of the drum. Thus, the recording sheet S is separated from the surface 95 by the sheet support member 94 and the contact pressure of the magnetic heads 93 with the recording sheet S becomes independent of the accuracy with which the sheet support surface 95 is formed relative to the circumferential surface of the drum 90. It should also be noted that in this case, the pressure of the sheet S against the periphery of the drum 90 will be relatively large in the area of ​​the initial contact between these units and relatively modest at the free front end edge E * of the sheet, which means that the contact pressure of each magnetic head 93 towards the record sheet S is not uniform along the lower half of the rotating drum, for example in the region PU 'of FIG. 15D »Since in this case air exiting between the peripheral surface of the rotating drum 90 and the sheet S at the front end edge E 'of the sheet, as indicated by the arrows a in Fig. 150, this free leading end edge E * will vibrate in the horizontal direction. As a result of the above, the magnetic contact 93 of each magnetic head 93 with the recording sheet S will be unstable and the quality with which the signals are recorded and reproduced will be lowered. Furthermore, the useful life of the recording sheet and magnet heads will be shortened.

From FIG. 5 and 6, it appears that the translation means 70 for providing mutual movement between the recording sheet S and the rotary transducer assembly 68 in the direction of the latter axis of symmetry substantially comprises one or more feeder screws 106 which run parallel to the guide rods 86 and are suitably stored, for example, in the sheet support member 94 and a of the walls 73 so that they can rotate while at the same time being fixed against axial movement, and a nut or other threaded element 107 of the carriage 69, e.g. on the side member 84b of the carriage, which nut or the corresponding 107 may engage the feeder screw 106 to move the carriage 69 in axial direction along the feeder screw in response to its rotation. A predetermined low rotational speed for each feeder screw 106 can be provided by an extension 108 of the shaft of the engine 92, which extended portion extends to a speed reducing transmission 109.

If desired, the carriage 69 can be reliably actuated toward its starting position (Fig. 5), for example by means of springs 110, in which case the combined effect of the feeder screws 106 and associated nut or threaded element 107 is used to effect movement of the valve. 69 only in the direction from the start position (Fig. 5) to the end position

7411323-4 (Fig. 6), i.e. during recording or reproduction operation of apparatus 65. When the carriage 69 arrives at its final position (Fig. 6), ie. upon completion of a signal recording or reproduction operation, the nut or threaded element 107 is released from engagement with the feeder screw 106 (which will be described in more detail below) or the springs 110 enter into operation to relatively quickly return the carriage 69 to its start position.

It will be appreciated that when the carriage 69 is in its initial position (Fig. 5), the fixed sheet support member 94, which is located at the position of the rotary transducer assembly 68, is located close to the side member 94b of the carriage, i.e. close to the lateral edge of the sheet S supported in the guide groove 89b, so that the major portion of the width of the sheet S would remain undisturbed between the sheet support member 94 and the arcuate guide member 88a guiding the opposite lateral edge of the sheet. If a major portion of the width of the area S is unsupported, there is a possibility that the recording sheet will bend outwardly, especially at its front end edge E * as schematically shown in Fig. 16. To avoid this, a sheet guide plate 111 can be mounted slidably on the guide rods 86 and the spacers 85 between the end members 84a and 84b of the trolley 69 and such sheet guide plate can be formed with a substantially semicircular edge 111 '(FIG. 17), which essentially coincides with the sheet-shaped web in which the main part of the recording sheet S lies in the working position of the sheet. The sheet guide plate 111 is reliably actuated, for example by springs 112, against a normal position (Fig. 5) against a stop stop 113 on the base 74. Such a normal position for the sheet guide plate 111 is selected to be substantially between the side elements 84a and 84b of the carriage 69 when the carriage is located. in your starting position (fig. 5). Thus, when the sheet S moves from its storage position in the case C to its working position in the manner described above, and when the carriage 69 is in its initial position, the sheet guide plate 111 will support or guide the sheet S approximately between the opposite edges of the sheet, whereby the protrusion shown in FIG. is avoided, which in another case could cause one or other of the opposite side edges of the sheet to exit and leave their respective sides. guide grooves 89a or 89b.

During movement of the carriage 69 towards its final position, the side element 84a of the carriage will encounter the arm control plate 111 and then displace it laterally in the direction of movement of the carriage, so that the sheet control plate 11i when the carriage 69 is in its final position (Fig. 6) is close between the side element 84a of the carriage. an adjacent sheet support member 94. Curving and suspension of the sheet S between the arcuate sheet guide elements 8Sa and 88b is preferably further prevented by an sheet support rod 114 (Figs. 4, 7 and 17) extending between the side elements 84a and 84b of the cart 69 in parallel. The direction of movement of the carriage * This sheet support rod is positioned so that it engages the outer surface of the sheet S close to the front end edge E 'of the sheet when this J is in its working position. When the sheet S is in its working position, even though it is held by the arcuate guide members 88a and 88b, only at its opposite side edges - which makes it possible to utilize in substantially the entire sheet width for recording signal information - will be well stabilized during recording. - and reproduction operations, which ensure that property will be recorded and reproduced with hi-fi quality.

From Fig. 10A, it can be seen that during the movement of the sheet S from its storage position to its working position, this sheet movement will occur in a direction D 2 which forms substantially right angles to the axis of rotation X₁ for the drive roller 79. Thus, if the axis of rotation X ^ of the drive roller 79 forms an angle to the desired axis of symmetry X₂, which is perpendicular to the plane of the arcuate sheet guide elements 88a and 88b, the direction D D of the sheet movement will lie at a similar angle to the desired direction Dg which is parallel to the sheet guide members 88a and 88b. If the above conditions predominate during movement of the sheet S towards its working position, one of the side edges of the sheet, for example the left side edge of FIG. 10A to be gradually advanced deeper into the associated guide groove 89a to press with increasing pressure against the inner surface of this guide groove. Similarly, the left side edge of the sheet S will be forced to abut the adjacent side of the case G, which is due to the fact that the sheet friction resistance to movement will be increased.

The gradually exerting pressure of the side edge of the sheet S towards the adjacent side of the case C and against the inner surface of the respective surface. guide grooves 89a or 89b may possibly cause wrinkling or other deformation of the relatively thin recording sheet and this in turn will result in impaired recording or reproduction of the signal information. In order to avoid the aforementioned problems, the sheet drive device which moves the recording sheet 1 between its storage and working positions in the apparatus 65 of the present invention is preferably arranged to intermittently engage the recording sheet S when the sheet drive device is in operation. Thus, for example, driver roller 79 as shown in Figs. 11A and 11B has its shaft 81 rotatably mounted at one end of a lever 115 pivotally supported between its ends.

7411323-4 for example at point 116. The lever 115 carries a cam follower roller 117 at the end opposite to the shaft 81. A spring 118 is coupled to the lever 115 to pull it laterally in the clockwise direction of Figures 11A and 11B, i.e. in the direction moving the drive roller 79 upwardly to the clamping roller 78 and the movable cam follower roller 117 in engagement with the periphery of a radial cam 119 rotatably disposed on a shaft 120. A reversible electric motor (not shown) drives suitably a shaft 121 provided with fixed pulleys 122 and 123 · These pulleys 122 and 123 each drive belt 124 and 12, respectively. 125 which goes around pulleys 126 and 126 respectively. 127, each of which is fixed to each shaft 81 and 8, respectively. 120 * Due to the mutual diameters between the pulleys 122 and 126 and the pulleys 123 and 127, rotation of the shaft 121 in one or the other direction will cause rotation of the drive roller and the cam 119 in the same direction at relatively high resp. low speeds.

The radial cam 119 is shown to be provided with a radially raised portion 119a of relatively large sector angle, and this raised portion 119a is in engagement with the cam follower roller 117 when the sheet drive device 67 is in non-operative condition, thus the drive roller 79 will be held in its lower position (FIG. 11B) at a distance from the clamping roller 78, for example during the movement of the recording unit R to and from its loading position on the holder 66. The radial cam 19 is further provided with a series of radially raised portions 119b spaced apart along a substantial portion of the remaining circumference of the cam. It is clear that as the cam 119 assumes the angular position shown in FIG. 11A where the cam follower roller 117 engages a portion between the raised portion 119a and the raised portion 119b, the spring 118 will raise or press the drive roller 79 against the clamping roller 78 with the recording sheet S lying therebetween.

When the sheet drive device 67 comes into operation to move the sheet S from its storage position to its working position after the recording assembly R is installed in the loaded state of the holder 66, the shaft 121 rotates counterclockwise in FIGS. 1IA and 11B to thereby cause rotation of the drive roller 79 and cam 119 in the same direction. As the cam 119 thereby begins to rotate from its initial position, the cam follower roller 117 moves down from the raised combat portion 119a, which results in the drive roller 79 moving upward to cooperate with the pinch roller 78 in the manner described in which the sheet is driven. As the rotation of the cam 119 continues, the cam follower roller 117 will disassociate with the radially raised portions 119b of the cam (FIG. 11), which results in the drive roller 79 being moved downwardly and out of engagement with the sheet S, thereby interrupting the operation of the sheet. Similarly, when the device 67 comes into operation to return the recording sheet S from its working position to its storage position, the shaft 121 rotates clockwise in FIG. 11a and 11b wherein the drive roller 79 and the cam 119 rotate in the clockwise direction resulting in the sheet intermittently engaging the rollers 78 and 79 to be intermittently driven toward its storage position.

With the previous arrangement of the sheet drive device 67, the shaft X also comes₁ for the drive roller 79 forms an angle with the desired one.

axis X₂ (Fig. 10B), the intermittent engagement of the drive device with the sheet f to prevent the progressive build-up of an arksidas side pressure against the adjacent side of the case C and against the inner surface of the respective case. guide grooves 89a or 89b. During each period when the drive roller 79 is not engaged with the sheet S (Fig. 115), the sheet S is released and can relieve the side pressure i of a side edge towards the adjacent case side and against the inner surface of the respective surface. : track. Thus, the arrangement described with the sheet drive device 67 avoids wrinkling of the sheet and that it causes undue frictional resistance to the movement of the sheet between its storage and working positions. Thanks to the above frame arrangement, the lateral distance between the inner surfaces of the guide grooves 89a and 89b can be made almost as large as the side width of the sheet, thereby improving the accuracy with which the sheet is placed laterally by the control elements 88a and 88b during signal recording · or reproduction. . in

Although the shown sheet drive device 67 utilizes a drive roller 79 which is inserted into and out of engagement with the sheet S in a vertical direction, it is clear that the shaft 81 of the drive roller 79 may be mounted t for rotation about a fixed axis of symmetry while shaft 80 for clamping roller j79 is moved vertically to intermittently engage the recording sheet between clamping roller 78 and drive roller 79 as the sheet drive assembly operates. Other arrangements are also possible to i

provide the desired intermittent engagement with the record sheet while the sheet is moved from its storage and work positions. In another embodiment of a sheet-turning device 67 ', as shown in FIG. 12, the drive roller 79 * may be eccentrically mounted on its shaft 81' so that as the shaft 81 'rotates, the periphery of the drive roller 79' will be intermittently pressed against the associated pinch roller 78 'with the sheet. Lying therebetween, thereby providing the previously described intermittent movement of the recording sheet between its storage area and the operating positions. A similar result can be obtained with that of FIG.

further illustrated the embodiment of the sheet drive assembly wherein the sheet drive roller 79 "has a flattened peripheral section P, so that the record sheet S between drive roller 89 and associated clamping roller 78" will be released each time the flattened peripheral portion P of the drive roller faces the clamping roller.

Although the sheet drive devices 67, 67 'and 67 have described to have a freely rotatable clamping roller and a driven drive roller which can engage the recording sheet from above and below and for moving the sheet between its storage and working positions, both rollers in such sheet-drying arrangement can be driven or the upper roller may be driven while the lower roller is freely rotatable.

Since there is some frictional resistance to the movement of the sheet S - when the sheet is in the working position - relative to the rotary transducer assembly 68 in the directions soro are parallel to the transducer assembly 6^q axis of symmetry due to the sheet contact with the transducer heads 93 and against the sheet support surface 65, the side edge S_e1 to be pressed against the inner surface of, respectively. guide groove 89a as the carriage 69 moves in the direction from its starting position to its final position (Fig. 18A), the opposite side edge of the sheet S being pressed against the inner surface of associated guide groove 89b as the carriage 69 is returned from its final position to its starting position (Fig. 18B). Thus, if the inner surfaces of the guide grooves 89a and 89b are not flat, which are exactly perpendicular to the directions of movement of the carriage 69 or if the two side edges of the sheet are not exactly parallel to each other, the recording sheet - in its working position - will be oblique with respect to the axis of rotation of the signal converter assembly 68 in depending on the carriage 69 performing translation movements. Such an oblique position is shown in Figures 18A and 18B. It will be appreciated that when the sheet S is in its working position and the majority of the sheet is guided in an arcuate path around at least a portion of the circular path of movement of the heads 93 of the signal converter assembly 68, the relatively fast rotation speed of the signal converter assembly 68 in combination with the relative vaporous translation movement of the carriage 69 from its starting position to its final position causing the heads 93 to scan parallel, successive recording tracks; which are arranged in a series across the width of the sheet S. These grooves are shown with T ^, Tg, T ^ etc. in Fig. 29A. These recording grooves are inclined with respect to the side edges of the sheet S. The inclination forms an angle aj determined by the ratio of the rotational speed of the main

74 and 323 and the speed of the translational movement of the carriage 69. However, if the recording sheet S is free and can be skewed or shifted relative to the direction of translation movement of the carriage 69 as the carriage performs such movement, the pattern of the recording grooves that the rotating heads scan on the recording sheet will be similarly inclined relative to the side edges. of the sheet, as a result, the desired interchangeability of recording assembly R and recording and / or reproducing apparatus 65 in accordance with the present invention will be adversely affected.

In order to avoid this problem and to promote the possibility of interchangeability of the recording assembly R and the recording and / or reproducing apparatus 65 of the present invention, at least the arcuate sheet control elements 88a and 88b against which they are respectively are constructed. the side edges of the recording sheet S are pressed during recording or reproduction of the apparatus so as to allow alteration or adjustment of the plane of the respective sheet. the inner surface of the sheet guide groove in relation to the direction of the translation movement of the carriage 69 and thus also in relation to the axis of rotation of the signal converter assembly 68. As can be seen, for example, from FIG. 19, 20 and 21, each arcuate sheet guide member 88a and 88b may be comprised of two substantially semi-circular members 128 and 129, each member 128 having a substantially rectangular cross section whose major axis extends in a radial direction while each member 129 has a substantially L -shaped cross-section in and for forming an arcuate, radially directed portion 129a having an axially directed flange 129b projecting from the inner edge of the element.

The arcuate elements 128 and 129 are dimensioned to each other in such a way that the flange 129b will be radially spaced within the inner edge of the element 128, which results in the resp. grooves 89a or 89b which receive a lateral edge of the sheet S are formed by the inner edge surface of, respectively. element 128 and the opposite surface of respective flange: 129b while the inner surface of respective grooves 89a or 89b are dilled by the radially extending portion 129a of, respectively. element 129. As can be seen from FIG. For example, the arcuate members 128 of the guide members 88a and 88b may be fixed relative to each other and fixed by spacers 85 while the plane of the portions 129a of the elements 29 is adjustable only with respect to the respective members. element 128.

To effect the adjustment described above, each element 129 may have its radially extending portion 129a adjustably attached to

7411323-4 outside of, respectively. element 128 at three different points along the respective lines. control element 88a or 88b. As can be seen, e.g. there is provided at each such location a central fastening screw 130a which fits loosely in a suitable hole in the radially extending portion 129a of the member 129b and which is threaded into a corresponding hole in the member 128, and adjusting screws 130b arranged on opposite sides of the central fastening screw 130a and which are threaded into holes in the radial portion 129a to abut the adjacent surface of the member 128. It is evident that by appropriately adjusting the various groups of screws 130a and 130b, the plane of the inner or end wall surfaces of the grooves 89a and 89b can be adjusted relative to each other and to the axis of rotation of the signal symmetry. _:the transducer assembly 68, for example in the manner indicated by the dashed lines of Fig. 21. Thanks to such adjustment, the tilting or shifting of the recording sheet during recording or; reproduction operations - as described in connection with Figures 18A and 18B - are eliminated. In addition, it is clear that the arrangement described and the possibility of adjusting the arcuate guide elements 88a and 88b allow adjustment of the lateral distance between the inner surfaces of the guide grooves 89a and 89b and for adapting the apparatus 65j so that it can be used together with recording sheets of different widths. - (there., |

The arcuate guide element 88a k-n may be configured in another manner as shown in Figs. 22, 23, 24A and 24B. As shown in these figures, the arcuate guide includes;

element 88a elements 128 and 129 which are adjustable relative to each other in the manner described in connection with FIGS. 19-21, whereas, on the other hand, the second arcuate guide element 88b is made up of arcuate elements 128 'and 129' which are similar to those above. describe the elements 128 and 129 with the exception that they are resiliently mounted in relation to each other. Specifically, the assembly of the | arcuate member 129 'on associated arcuate member 128' by means of a plurality of spaced apart screws 130 *

may be screwed into holes which are received in the radially directed portion 129a of the member 129 but which have loose fit in holes accommodated in the element 128 'in the axial direction whereby the member 129 * can be moved in axial direction relative to the member 128 '. Further I, spiral pressure springs 131 are provided on, respectively. screws 130 * between resp. screw head and element 128 'so that element 129' is resilient

7411323-4 are affected relative to the element 128 'in the direction of decreasing distance between the inner surfaces of the grooves 89a and 89 As can be seen from FIG. 24A, the heads of the screws 130' are positioned so that they can engage and move in a direction acting against the spring force of the fixed sheet support member 94 when the carriage 6'9 is in its starting position, thereby forming a width or distance between the guide coils. 89a and 89b inner surfaces, which is greater than the width of the sheet S. Thus, when the carriage 69 is in the start position, the sheet S can be moved between its storage and working positions in the manner described with a minimum of frictional resistance to movement of the side edges of the sheet along the guide grooves 89a and 89b. However, when the carriage 69 is removed from the start position, for example during recording or | reproduction (fig. 24B) the heads of the screws 130 'and spring are released; frame 130 can then actuate member 129 'relative to member | 128 'in the direction of decreasing width W₂ between the inner surfaces of the guide grooves 89a and 89b, which means that both sides of the sheet S come into close engagement with these inner surfaces of the grooves to accurately position the recording sheet during recording or playback operations. It is clear that with the arrangement of the arcuate elements 88a and 88 »b of FIG. 22, 23, 24A and 24B, the position j or orientation of the sheet S is determined during the recording or reproduction operation of the setting of the element 129 relative to the corresponding element 128, with the spring actuated element 129 'in the control element 88 b effectively maintains that a side edge of the sheet S1 is in engagement with the aligned inner surface of the groove 89a.

From Figs. 25, 26 and 27, it will be appreciated that according to another arrangement of an arcuate guide element 88b to provide substantially the same power as described above in connection with the control element 88b, at least 'during a recording or reproduction operation, _;shaped element 128 (shown by dashed lines in FIG. 26) and an arcuate element 129, which elements are substantially similar to those described above in elements 128 and 129, but in relation to each other by means of, for example, screws 130 in forming in the portion 129a of the element 129, a plurality of spaced apart spring elements 132 projecting through apertures 133 in the ele. meant b 129 so that they resiliently abut against the side edge I^Se2 ^{of sheet}fc 3 in the guide groove 89b (Fig. 7). With such an arrangement comes the springs 132, even in that case the side edge S_e2 of the item »·

7411323-4

S is uneven, as shown exaggerated in Fig. 27, to effect the sheet S laterally and uniformly and to maintain even and accurate abutment of the opposite side edge. ^Se2 toward the inner surface of the guide groove 89a, which is formed by the radially directed portion 129a of the arcuate guide element 889..

Function of the recording and / or reproduction apparatus.

With the carriage 69 in its starting position and the holder 66 placed in the corresponding position, the recording unit R is placed in a loaded position on the table 71 by the holder 66. Thereafter, the motor 92 starts and the sheet drive assembly 67 is moved to move the sheet S from its storage position within the case C to its working position, in which a major portion of the sheet is guided in an arcuate path in guide members 88a and 88b extending along a portion of the circular path of rotation. the transducer heads 93, wherein the working position of the recording sheet S is limited by its front end edge E * engaging the stop stop 97. Depending on the actuation of the motor 92 and thus of the feed screw '06, the carriage 69 is moved in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the transducer assembly 68 from the starting position of the carriage to its end position shown in Fig. 6. Thanks to the rotational movement of the heads 93 and the translational movement of the carriage 69, and thus also the translational movement of the holder 66, the heads 93 will scan successive parallel recording tracks arranged in series across the width of the recording sheet. During such scanning of the recording tracks, suitable non-displayed recording or reproduction circuits belonging to the heads 93 are optionally operated to either record or play video signals in the scanning recording tracks. When the carriage 69 reaches its final position shown in Fig. 6, the recording or reproduction operation is terminated and the carriage 69 is returned to its position in Figs.

showed the start position. When the carriage 69 is in its starting position? Thus, and the holder 66 is also in a corresponding position, the sheet-turning arrangement 67 will be again operated in the direction of returning the sheet S to its storage position within the case C. Since the rear end portion of the sheet S remains inside the casing C during the recording or reproduction of the apparatus 55, the return of the sheet S to its storage position in the casing is greatly facilitated after the recording or reproduction is completed. Finally, the record assembly R with the sheet S in its storage position in the case C can be removed from the holder 66.

When recording video signals with the described apparatus 65, the so-called field skip method can be used 1 and for increasing the playing time of video signals on each recording 7411323-4 sheets S. In the case of a standard video signal with 30 frames per second and two sub-frames per image for example, motor 92 can rotate the signal converter assembly 68 at the speed of thirty rpm. While the velocity of the translational movement of the carriage 69 is selected - for example, by the transmission 109 and the pitch of the thread on the feed screw 106 so that the carriage 69 and thus also the sheet S is displaced by a path (Fig. 29A) equal to the width of the gap of each recording head 93 during that period. , which is required for the signal converter assembly 68 to travel a full turn. With the above relationship between the rotational speed of the signal converter assembly 68 and the translation speed of the carriage 69, each track, for example, the track h ^ in Fig. 29A, which is scanned by one of the transducer heads, for example the head 93 ^ in Fig. 29B, will overlap by about half. the width of the groove of the groove hg (Fig. 29A) which is immediately scanned by the second head 932 * The grooves T1, Tg, etc. which are successively scanned by one head 93₁ will also be immediately adjacent to each other, ie there are no gaps or unutilized bands on arctic S.

Using the field rejection method, which could also be called the partial image rejection method, and assuming that the incoming video signal has successive sub-image signals 1f,

2f, 3f, 4f, 5f, etc., as shown in Fig. 290, however, only the head 93-j shall be brought into operation during the recording operation, whereby only odd-numbered or even-numbered sub-frames will be recorded, for example only the sub-images 1f, 3f, 5f, etc., in the successive grooves T These signals, which represent each other sub-frame, are recorded in successive tracks with vertical sync signals V and horizontal sync signals H, which are recorded in adjacent tracks, will be aligned with each other in the direction of the sheet. S, i.e. in the direction of the vehicle's 69 translation movement. This is shown in Fig. 29A. In FIG. 29A additionally, the distance 1 represents a sub-frame period because the distance Ig at the beginning of each recording track represents an overlap period. Since signals representing every second sub-image are recorded on sheet 0 in such a way that the horizontal sync signals II and the vertical sync signals V in adjacent tracks are aligned with each other in the lateral direction of the sheet, the recorded video signals can be reproduced from the sheet S without resorting to the conventional tracking sequence j .

Specifically, during a playback operation, both transducer heads 93-, and 93g will be operative while the signal converter assembly 68 is rotated and the carriage 69 is moved at the same speeds as during recording. Thus, during playback, the head 93 ·, the successive tracks T.⁰Successive half turns of the converter assembly 68 in and for reproduction of the sub-picture signals 1f, 3f, 5f, etc., during the intermediate half turns of the signal converter assembly 68, the head 93g will scan adjacent halves of the tracks T 3 and T 2 etc. to simultaneously reproduce the sub-picture signals If and 3f, the sub-picture signals 3f and 5f etc. as shown in Fig. 20c. For this reason, the reproduced signals will give rise to an evenly moving video image without such unnatural or jumping motion usually associated with recording according to the partial image rejection method. Ensure that the reproduced video signal contains continuous horizontal sync signals, ie. horizontal sync signals that do not change phase for adjacent recording tracks, it is necessary that heads 93 · and 932 be at the same level and that the angular distance between heads 93 · and 932 ^A3* ^A3

29B) is an angle corresponding to half a horizontal period in the video signal.

If it is desired to provide still image reproduction of the recorded video signals, the rotation of the signal converter assembly 68 is continued while the translation movement of the carriage 69 is appropriately stopped, resulting in the heads 93 · and 932 alternating and invoking the sheet S along a single track, e.g. - dashed groove h ^ in Fig. 29A, forming an angle with the direction of recording groove one. During still image reproduction of the recorded video signal, each head 93 · and 932 will scan varying portions of adjacent tracks, for example, tracks T 2 and T 2 in case scanning occurs along track h 2 in Fig. 29A. Since the horizontal sync signals in these adjacent grooves are aligned with the side orientation of the sheet, the reproduced still video video signal will obtain stable horizontal synchronization and thus a stationary video image of excellent quality will be obtained. In addition, since successive recording tracks on the sheet S have no gaps or unused bands between them, the "noise" usually associated with such unused bands when reproducing a stationary video signal will be eliminated.

In the above description of the apparatus 65 of the present invention

7411323-4 invention has only been described recording and reproducing the video signal. Cormation on the recording sheet S. However, if desired, audio signal information and video signal information can be recorded simultaneously on the same sheet, for example, by providing the signal converter assembly 68 with a pair of audio signal recording and reproduction heads not shown, arranged so that these head gaps and the video signal information heads gaps at different angles or azimuths at different angles or azimuths. alternatively, as shown schematically in FIG. 30, an apparatus according to the present invention substantially similar to the apparatus described above 65 is adapted for simultaneous recording and / or reproduction of both video signal information and audio signal information by providing such an apparatus with an additional rotary audio signal converter assembly 68 'which is axially aligned. with and at a distance from the above described rotary video signal converter assembly 68. Such additional signal converter assembly 68 'is shown to substantially comprise a drum 90 * similar to the drum 9 described above.ⁿ. The drum 90 'carries two substantially diametrically opposed audio signal transducers or heads 93 * -j and 93 * 2 * Thus, when the transducer assembly 68 * rotates, preferably at a slightly slower rotational speed than the signal converter assembly 68 and the only occurring recording sheet S' parallel to the axis of rotation of the signal converter assemblies, for example, as the carriage 69 moves between its start and end positions, For example, the heads 93 och and 932 of the signal converter assembly 68 will scan successive parallel video recording tracks arranged in a series over the lateral portion S av of the recording sheet, while the heads? 93 * and 93 * 2 P will similarly scan successive parallel audio recording tracks arranged in a tendon over the second side portion S * 2 of the recording sheet in '', T in which case the recording sheet S * is intended to have video signal information and audio signal information recorded on the sheet's side portion S · ^ respectively. S₂ by means of the corresponding magnetic heads, the magnetic coating on the portion S 'of the sheet for recording video signal information may comprise chromium dioxide while the magnetic coating on the portion S *₂ of the sheet, which is intended to have audio signal information recorded,

<img file="SE402997B_D0001.tif" />

The apparatus 65 described above is intended to be used with interchangeable recording sets R, each having a single recording sheet S in the case C, so that when the recording or repro7411323-4 or the reproduction of signal information on the recording sheet S is completed, the recording sheet is then returned to its storage position in the case C and the recording unit R is exchanged for a similar recording unit on the holder 66 so that the recording or playback can be continued. As can be seen from FIG. 43 however, the apparatus described 65 can be modified in a simple manner, particularly with respect to its sheet drive apparatus, whereby the apparatus can be adapted for recording and / or reproduction together with a recording assembly 1QOR comprising a substantially rectangular case or cover 100C open at one end and a plurality of substantially rectangular record sheets 100S, 100S₂100SS and 100S ^ which can be individually moved with respect to the case 100C through the Open end thereof between superposed storage positions within the case and working positions, in which the majority of the selected sheet is outside the case and is controlled by the control elements 88a and 88b of the case. apparatus 65 in an arcuate path passing around a portion of the circular path of the signal converter assembly 68 of the signal converter assembly 68.

In order to provide optional movement of different recording sheets between the storage position and the working position, the top and bottom walls of the case 100C are provided with elongated, lateral openings 100A (shown by dashed lines in FIG. 43) which are accommodated adjacent to the open end of the case and the sheets 100S ^ - 100S ^ are similarly provided with tabs 100T ^ - 100T ^ which project from the front end edge of the sheets and which are substantially offset relative to one another are exposed in the openings 100A when the sheets are in the storage position.

The modified sheet drive device is intended to be used in conjunction with recording unit size 100R and generally designated by reference numeral 167 comprising a clamping roller 178 and a drive roller 179 which are intended to intervene with selected tabs 100T0 10OT when the sheets are in their storage positions. , and a mechanism for displacing at least one of the rollers 178 and 179 in the lateral direction of the sheet in determining which of the tabs 100T For example, as shown in Fig. 43, the drive roller 179 may have a long axial extension such that covers the entire distance along which the tabs 100T0 - 10OT ^ are located, whereas the clamping roller 178 has an axial width less than the width of each tab 10OT - WOT ^. In addition, the clamping roller 178 is rotatably supported by a bracket 168 which is threaded onto a feeder screw 169. Thus, depending on the rotation of the feeder screw 169, the bracket 168 and the clamping roller 178 are laterally displaced, for example from the solid line shown.

7411323-4 position of Fig. 3 where the clamping roller 178 is engaged with the tab 100T ^ to the position indicated by dashed lines at 168 'where the clamping roller is engaged with the tab 100T₂The clamping roller 178 preferably has a sleeve surface which has a rounded cross section, thereby facilitating the lateral movement of the clamping roller 178 from tab to tab. After the ridging of the shackle 168 in order to place the clamping roller 178 in engagement with any selected recording sheet, the sheet drive device 167 may be made to operate in a similar manner as described above in connection with the sheet drive device; 67 in and move the selected sheet from its storage position to its working position and returning the selected sheet to its storage position after completion of reproduction or recording of the signal information thereon.

It will be appreciated that with the arrangement shown in Fig. 43, the recording or reproduction operations may be consecutively performed on the record sheets 10OS - 100S 2 without the recording assembly 100R having to be removed from the holder 66 of the apparatus 65. Although the sheet drive device 167 has been shown to be provided with an axially fixed, oblong drive roller 179 and a relatively narrow clamping roller 178 which moves in the axial direction in selecting a recording sheet, the above described functions of the sheet drive device 167 can be performed if the device is provided with a relatively narrow clamping and drive rollers which are simultaneously moved in the axial direction to engage the selected tab. Alternatively, one can provide an axially extended, i.e., wide fixed clamping roller which cooperates with a relatively narrow sheet drive roller, which is moved in axial direction in order to select the tab, which should engage between the clamping and the drive rollers.

In the above described embodiments of the present invention, during a recording or reproduction operation, only one recording sheet is placed in the working position for recording or reproducing signal information thereon. However, as will be described in more detail hereinafter, the recording and / or reproducing apparatus of the present invention may be provided for use with interchangeable recording assemblies, each having two or more flexible recording sheets, which are simultaneously placed in each working position for recording or reproducing signal information thereon. As can be seen, for example, from Figures 31 - 33, he includes a recording assembly 200R comprising a substantially rectangular case or envelope 2000 with an open end 200-0. The case is mounted on a substantially rigid support plate 200P and two in the main

7411323-4 rectangular, flexible resilient record sheet 200S₁ and 200S₂ which can be passed through the open end 200-0 of the case between superposed storage positions within the case 2000, which are shown in solid lines in Fig. 33, to work positions which are shown by the dashed lines 2000'j and 200S '₂ and in which the main portions of the sheets are exposed outside the case 2000 while smaller portions or rear end edge portions of the sheets remain inside the case.

In the record assembly 200R, the sheets have 200S 2 and 200S₂ 31 and 32. For example, the width of the topsheet 200S. may be less than the widths of the bottomsheet 200S.₂ and the two side edges of the cover 200 are formed to form upper and lower guide channels 201, respectively. 202 wherein the distance between the two upper control channels 201 is less than the distance between the two lower control channels 202 so that the respective control channels 202 respectively. the side edges of the sheets 200S 2 and 200S₂ are loosely controlled in channels 201 and 21, respectively. 202 when the sheets are moved between the working position and the storage position and vice versa. As with the recording unit R, the upper and lower walls of the case 2000 and under the layer plate 200P in the recording unit 200R exhibit openings 200A which are aligned with one another adjacent to the open end of the case. Sheets 200S 2 and 200S₂ are dimensioned to have such a length that in the storage position they have their front end edge lying substantially in the center of the aperture 200A and so that, when the sheets are in the working position, the rear end edges of the sheets are substantially in the middle of the apertures 200A. Finally, the support plate 200P in the recording unit 200R has side portions extending laterally beyond the case 2000 and provided with adjustment stop 200Pa which is adjacent to the open end of the case. These side portions are also provided with triangular notches 203 arranged at suitable locations along the opposite sides of the support plate 200P. As will be described in more detail below, the gate 203 is used to lock the recording assembly 200R in the loaded position on a suitable holder.

From Figs. 34 and 35, it will be seen that a recording and / or reproducing apparatus 265 intended to be used in conjunction with the recording assembly 200R comprises substantially;

includes a holder 266 for receiving and positioning the case ΐ 2000 by the recording assembly, a sheet drive device 267 which may optionally come into operation to move the sheets 200S₂ in relation to the case 2000 from the storage position of the sheets to their respective positions. operating positions and for returning the sheets to their storage positions from such operating positions, rotating signal converter assemblies 268 and 268 'which

7411323-4 are each movable in circular paths around axes of symmetry, which form essentially at right angles to the directions of movement of the sheets between the storage and working positions, which axes of symmetry are parallel to each other and spaced apart, a sheet dividing device 204 moving as the sheets move. their resp. the storage positions within the liner 200C separate the main portions of the sheets from one another, a sheet guide assembly 269 (FIG. 35) receiving the separated parts of the sheets during their movements towards their respective sides. operating modes and for controlling these sheets 200S 2 and 200S₂ main portions of each arcuate paths which substantially coincide with at least portions of the circular paths of movement of the rotary signal converter assemblies 268 and 8, respectively. 268 ', and a translation means 270 for moving a holder 266 and a sheet guide assembly or carriage 269 as a unit and thus also for moving the recording assembly 200R relative to the transducer assemblies 268 and 268 * in directions parallel to the axis of rotation of the signal converter assemblies. that their converters or heads each scan successive record traces on the main portions of the sheets 2008 and 200S₂.

As is particularly apparent from Figs. 34 and 36, the receiving and positioning holder of the recording assembly 200R may simply comprise a substantially horizontal table 271, which is movable laterally in directions parallel to the rotation symmetry axis of the signal converter assemblies 268 and 268 '. Control element 275a projects upwardly from the side edges of the table 271 and is intended to abut against the base plate 200? both side edges for controlling the recording assembly 200R during its longitudinal sliding movement to and from its loaded position on the table 271 (FIG. 34) · Furthermore, a stop stop 275b projects up from one side portion of the table 271 at the front thereof and this stop stop 275b is intended to engage the adjustment stop 200Pa at the respective side of the support plate 200? to limit the movement of the recording unit in its loaded position.

To releasably lock the recording assembly 200R in its loaded position there are two locking members 205a and 205b which are pivotally mounted on the side edges of the table 271, for example at 206a and 206b. These locking members are provided with tips at their free ends and these tips are intended to engage the gate 203 when the recording unit 200R is in its loaded position on the table 271 (Fig. 34). A tension spring 207 is connected at its opposite ends to the locking elements 205a and 205b to actuate them in such directions that tend to pull the locking element's tips towards adjacent side edges of the support plate 200P and thus retain the tips of the locking element 205a and 205b respectively. hedges 203. The locking elements 205a and 205b can be released by a lever 208 which cannot rotate at any angle with respect to the locking element 205a and which extends in the main body: backwards and inwards under the table 271 from the pivot pin 206a. The lever includes a link 209 which also extends under the table 271 and which is pivotally connected at one end to the locking element 205b »for example by means of a pin 210. The opposite end of the link 209 is connected to the free end of the lever 208 by a pin-groove connection 211. 3n angle lever 212 with arms 212a and 212b forming angles with each other is pivotally mounted under the table 271, for example at the stand 213 and its arm 212a projects laterally from the pivot pin 213 past one side of the table 271 and its second arm 212b extends forwardly. from the pivot pin 213 and is pivotally connected at its free end to the link 209, for example at 214 (Fig. 36). It is clear that when the angular lever 212 is rotated counterclockwise according to FIG. 36 the link 209 is substantially displaced in its longitudinal direction in the direction of the locking element 205b, this being displaced at an angle in the direction that the tip of the element leaves the notch 203. Such displacement of the link 209 in its longitudinal direction causes rotation of the lever 208 and thus of the locking element 205a, which rotation takes place in a clockwise direction, thereby also releasing the tip of the locking element 205a from its notch 203. Thus, when the recording unit 200R is in its loaded position and the tips of the locking elements 205a and 205b are in engagement with the respective positions. notch 203, which position is shown in Fig. 34, down an angular displacement or anti-angular lever 212 in a counterclockwise direction that the locking elements are released from the hedge 203 and the entire recording assembly 200 för is released for backward sliding movement from its loaded position.

For automatically ejecting the recording assembly 200R from its loaded position on the table 271, the apparatus shown has a slide 215 (Fig. 38) arranged under the front portion of the table 271 adjacent to the side of the table. The slide is arranged at a distance from the stop stop 275b and is mounted so that it can perform a sliding movement in its longitudinal direction relative to the hump 271, and for this purpose there are pins 216 which project downwardly from the table 271 and engage in groove 217. which are accommodated in slide 215 (Fig. 38). The front end of the slide 215 has an upwardly directed stop 218 which projects above the surface of the table 271 and which may engage the adjustment stop 200Pa at the respective stop. sides of the support plate 20CP when the recording unit 200R is moved to its loaded position. Ξη tension spring 219 extends

7411323-4 extends backwards from an anchor pin 219a on the slide 215 to an anchor pin 219b, which protrudes from the table 271. By means of the spring, the slide 215 is actuated to a rear position, which is marked by dashed lines at 215 'in Fig. 38. the recording assembly 200R is advanced forwardly over the table 271 toward its loaded position, the stop 218 engages' with respective. adjustment stop 200Pa before the recording unit reaches its loaded position and then the slide 215, while the recording device is pushed even further towards its loaded position, is driven forward against the action of the spring 219, for example the position shown in solid lines in Fig. 38. Finally, when the recording unit 200R takes its loaded position against the stop stop 275b, will it lock?

the elements 205a and 205b to engage with, respectively. notch 203 and retain the recording assembly in the loaded position against the action of the spring 219. However, when the locking elements 205a and 205b are released from the respective position. notch 203 in the manner described above, the spring 219 is released and pulls the slide 2^Λ5 backward where the stop 218 which is in contact with, respectively. setting stop 200Pa moves the recording unit 200R back from its loaded position to an ejected, unseen position where the rear portion of the case projects rearwardly over the table 271 and thus can be removed from the holder 266 by simply grasping the recording unit.

Sheet driver 267 may have similar construction and operation with sheet device 67 described in connection with Figs. 4, 11A and 11B. In Fig. 37, the sheet drive assembly 267 is shown to substantially comprise an upper clamping roller 278 rotatably disposed on a shaft 280 located so that when the case 2000 of the recording assembly is in the loaded position on the table 271, the clamping roller 278 will pass through the opening 200A in the upper the wall of the case to engage with the Over Sheet 200S ^. Further, the sheet drive device comprises a lower drive roller 279 which is rotatably arranged on a shaft 281 and which is arranged when the shaft is in the upper position shown in Fig. 37 extending through openings 200A in the support plate 200P and in the lower wall of the case for to be in engagement with the lower record sheet 2003. Thus, both sheets will be pressed between rollers 278 and 279. Thus, as the drive roller 279 rotates counterclockwise in accordance with Fig. 37, both sheets 2003 och and 200Sg will be displaced due to the interaction between rollers 278 and 279 · This movement occurs in a direction away from the storage position of the sheets so that the front end portions of the sheets are successively ejected from the open the end of the case in 2000. Till

7411323-4 followed by sheets 200S.J and 200S₂ flexible suspension, the front end portions of the sheets tend to bend downward as the sheets are gradually moved from the respective sides. storage position against respectively. working position.

In the case of sheets 200S 2 and 200S₂ having different widths, the sheet dividing device 204 may simply consist of a laterally extending plate 220 (Figs. 34, 35 and 37) extending over the open end of the case 2000 in the loaded position of the recording assembly 200R. The leaning plate is above the level of the recording sheets as they move out of the open end of the case in response to the sheet drive device 267 being operative. The edge portion of the plate 220 which lies on the other side of the Open end of the case 2000 is provided with laterally spaced apart, downwardly swinging fingers 221 forming between them an aperture 222 extending over plates. 220 and is substantially as wide as the topsheet 2003 ^. The fingers 221 are preferably curved more strongly than the sheets 200S₂ naturally curves as a result of the effect of gravity when ejected from the case 2000. Thus, when the sheets 200S ^ ooh 200S₂ is moved out of the case 2000 under the plate 220 towards their resp. in the working positions, the upper, slightly narrower sheet 200S2 passes freely through the opening 222 between the downwardly pivoted fingers 221 and thus this sheet assumes the normal downward curvature due to the effect of gravity, whereas the lower sheet 200S₂ longitudinal edges each slidingly engage the downward fingers 221, thereby further curving and separating from the sheet 200S 200. This is clearly shown in Fig. 37. As can be seen from Figs. 34 and 35, if desired, sheet splitting device 204 may also include additional, substantially horizontal guide fingers 223 projecting from plate 220 at locations located within the downwardly swinging fingers 221. These guide fingers 223 ensure that the leading edge of the topsheet 200S cannot inadvertently bend upward as the sheet is ejected under the plate 220.

As can be seen from Fig. 35, the sheet guide assembly 269 to which the holder 266 and sheet dividing device 204 are suitably fastened can be substantially similar to the previously described sheet guide assembly 69. Thus, sheet guide assembly 69 comprises side members 284a and 284b which are fixed relative to each other and spaced apart from each other. each other parallel to each other. This is accomplished by spacers 285. Further, the sheet guide assembly comprises sheet control rods 314 and 314 * which with respect to sheets 200S₂ operates in the same manner as the sheet guide rod 114 described in connection with Fig. 17. Support 7411323-4 rods 286 which are suitably attached to a substrate not shown extend parallel to the rotational symmetry axes of transducer assemblies 268 and 268 * and extend through suitable heels or bushings in side members 284a and 284b in and to support sheet guide assembly 269. move between its start and end positions in directions parallel to the axis of rotation of the signal converter assemblies. To arrange so that the main parts of the two sheets are in arcuate paths extending substantially around the upper halves of the circular paths of movement of the signal converter assemblies 268 and 268 * when these sheets are in the respective sheets. operating positions, as shown at 200S2 and 20OS2 in Fig. 34, arcuate guide members 288a and 288'a are mounted on side members 284a and similar arcuate guides 288b and 288'b are mounted on the side member 284b. Thereby, guide grooves 289a, 289'a, 289b, 289'b (Fig. 35) are formed which are substantially U-shaped. The arcuate guide members 288a and 288b are aligned (laterally) at the front of the sheet guide assembly 269, while the arcuate guide members 288'a and 288'b are in parallel laterally aligned with the rear portion. of the sheet guide assembly or carriage 269. The arcuate guide members 288a and 288b as well as the arcuate guide members 288'a and 288'b are spaced laterally from one another, each corresponding to the widths of the sheets 200S operating modes sheet 200S₁ opposite side edges will slide into the arcuate guide grooves 289a and 289b while the opposite side edges of the sheet 200S₂ will similarly enter the arcuate guide grooves 289'a and 289'b. The pair of the arcuate guide elements 288a and 288b and the pair of the arcuate guide elements 288'a and 288'b may be similar to the control element 88a and the control element 88b, 88'b or 88b described above in connection with FIGS. of each sheet coming into exact position in its working position. As can be seen from FIG. 37 For example, each of the arcuate guide members 288a and 288'a may be an arcuate member 229 with L-shaped cross-section. This arcuate element may be similar to the previously described semi-circular element 129 and the dut is adjustably mounted with respect to the side element 284a along one and the other, respectively. arcuate edge 228, which functionally corresponds to the previously described semi-circular element 128. As further shown in FIG. 37 are the opposite upwardly open ends of the guide grooves 289a and 289 * a, which form the entrance holes of these grooves, spaced apart from the

7411323-4 to each other and placed so with respect to the sheet dividing device 204, that as the sheets 200S₂ move toward their working positions thanks to the sheet drive device 267 and, distinguished from each other by the sheet splitting device 204, the sheets 200S₂ opposite side edges to, at their downward facing edges, enter the entrance portions of the guide grooves 289a and 289b, respectively. 289'a and 289 * b. As an aid in inserting the side edges of the sheets into the respective sheets. guide grooves, a rounded portion 230 of each side element 284a and 284b may extend upwardly between the input portions of the respective portions. guide track.

A sheet support member 294 corresponding to the previously described sheet support 94 is fixedly positioned 3 to a position corresponding to the rotary converter assemblies 268 and 268 * and is provided with pivoted sheet support surfaces 295 and 295 'which correspond to sheet support surface 95 of the sheet support member 94 and these sheet support surfaces are utilized. the desired contact of the converter assemblies 268 and 268 'with resp. sheets in resp. working position. Stop stops 297 and 297 * are mounted on the front and rear ends of the sheet feeding element 294 for limiting the engagement of the front end when, respectively. sheets are located in, respectively. working position.

The rotary signal converter assemblies 268 and 268 'may be substantially similar to the previously described signal converter assembly 68 and may each comprise a rotating drum 290, respectively. 290 * provided with substantially diametrically opposite magnetic recording and / or reproduction heads 293 and 293 'projecting from the drum. Since the record sheets when they are in the resp. the working position goes in essentially opposite directions along the respective directions. the control elements 288a and 288b and the control elements 288'a and 288'b, the transducer assembly 268 may be directly driven by an electric motor 292 in the clockwise direction of FIG. 35, while the second transducer assembly 268 'is driven in the counterclockwise direction by an unassembled suitable transmission connecting a shaft pin. from motor 292 with shaft 309 on transducer assembly 268 '.

The translation means 270 for moving the sheet dividing device 204, the holder 266 and the carriage 269 as a unit in relation to the transducer assemblies 268 and 268 'between the start and end positions of the carriage can generally comprise a feeder screw 306 which is caused to rotate in response to the motor 292 operating. Further, the translation means comprises a nut assembly 307 interacting with the feeder screw 307 mounted on the side member 284b of the carriage and threaded onto the feeder screw 306. About recording or reproduction functions of

The device 265 should be implemented only when the carriage 269 moves from its initial position to its final position, the nut assembly 307 can be disengaged from the feed screw 306 in a manner described below when the carriage 269 reaches its final position, after which springs 310 which are suitably secured at the carriage, becomes operative to provide a relatively rapid delivery of carriage 269 to its starting position, as shown in FIG. · However, if the recording or reproduction functions are to be performed both when the carriage moves from its starting position to its final position and from its final position to its starting position, the nut unit 307 may remain in engagement with the feed screw 306 when the carriage 259 is in its final position and the return movement of the carriage can then be achieved by appropriately reversing the direction of rotation of the feed screw 306.

As schematically shown in Fig. 1, the recording or reproduction functions can be performed as the carriage 269 moves in both directions, in which case both the converter assemblies 268 and 268 'are arranged to record and / or reproduce video signal information on the respective channels. record sheets when they are in the respective. operating mode 200S '^ 2003 * 2 · In the first case, namely during a recording operation, the transducer assembly 268 is operable during movement of the carriage 269 from its starting position to its final position in and for recording video signal information on the recording sheet in question and when the carriage reaches its side position, the transducer assembly is deactivated and the transducer assembly is brought into operation during the return of the carriage. the recording proceeds by video signal information on and off. record sheets, Converter assemblies 268 and 268 * are similarly operated alternately during movement of the carriage 269 in both directions when a reproduction operation is to be performed. Thus, with the arrangement shown in Fig. 41, a relatively long playing time can be obtained for recording or reproducing video signals on the two recording sheets contained in a single recording unit.

In that case recording or reproduction operations are performed only when the carriage 269 is moving in one direction, ie. from its initial position to its final position, the transducer assembly 268 can be adapted for recording or reproducing video signal information on the respective signal. the sheet in its operating position 200S * .j, while the second converter assembly 268 'is similarly arranged to simultaneously record or reproduce audio signal information on, respectively. record sheet when in its working position 200S *₂. When recording unit 200R

7411323-4 contains two record sheets 200S 2 and 200S₂ which are intended to carry video signal information respectively. audio signal information, it is important that the recording unit is placed in a holder 266 for the device 265 with the sheet 200S₁ lying over the sheet 200S₂It is clear that if the position of the recording unit 200 is on the holder 266 is reversed; in relation to what has been described above, ie. about the wider sheet 200S₂ is above the comparatively narrower sheet 200S2, will the sheet partition 204 not be able to accurately distinguish the sheets as they move to their working positions without both sheets being controlled? together around the converter assembly 268 *. In order to ensure correct orientation of the recording assembly 200R on the holder 266 1, the notch in one side edge portion of the support plate 200P, which F notch in FIG. 31 are marked with streaked lines at 203 ', being substantially adjacent to the notch 203, which is gained on the other side edge portion of the backing plate 200P. Similarly, the locking members 205a and 205b may be offset relative to one another on the table 271 so that the locking members 205a and 205b may engage the hedges 203 and 203 'to each lock the recording assembly in its loaded position; only in the event that the recording unit has been placed with the correct orientation on the table 271.

The above-described apparatus 265 can also be utilized with the modifications described below in connection with a recording unit 400R shown diagrammatically in Fig. 43, which mainly comprises a relatively rigid, rectangular case or casing 4000 which is open at one end and which contains a first pair of record sheets 400S ^ ooh, 400S₂ similar to the record sheets 200S 2 and 200S described above₂and also a second pair of record sheets 400S 2 and 400S 3 similar to the above record sheets 200S₁ and 200S₂· The upper and lower walls of the case 4000 are provided with openings 400A ^ and 400A₂located on either side of the center line of the case and on each side of the case; lets over- or resp. the wall. The clamping roller 478 and the drive roller 479 in the sheet of the drive assembly 267 are suitably laterally displaced from the center line by the holder 266 so that they lie in the openings 400A when the recording assembly 400R is in the position shown in FIG. the openings 400A₉ when the recording assembly is turned upside down relative to the position of Fig. 42. Finally, the front end portions of the sheets 400S och and 400S L are provided with cut portions 4OOA3 which, when the sheets are in the storing position * of Fig. 42, are level with the openings 400A-. On similar

7411323-4 ways are the sheets 4003 ^ and 4ö03₂ provided with cut portions 400A 3 in the front end portions and these cut portions 400A₂ when the sheets are in storage.

It will be appreciated that when the recording assembly 400R is in the position shown in Fig. 42, the clamping roller 472 will pass through the opening 400A₁ in the upper wall of the case 400C and through the openings 400Αβ in the sheets 400S ^ and 400S ^ to thereby engage the sheet 400S ^ while the drive roller 479 passes through the opening 400A.] in the lower wall of the case 400C to engagement with the sheet 400S₂· Therefore, when the sheet drive assembly 467 is started, the clamping roller 478 and the drive roller 479 will cooperate and move the sheets 400S.] And 400S₂ in relation to the case 400C. On the other hand, if the recording assembly 4OOR is up and down in relation to the position shown in Fig. 42, it is clear that the clamping roller 478 and drive roller 479 will each engage the sheets 400S4 and 4OOS4 to move them relative to the the cover 4000 when the sheet drive device 467 is in operation. With the recording unit 400R shown in Fig. 42 and the one shown in Figs. As shown in the sheet drive device 467, the above-described apparatus 265 can record or reproduce signal information on either the sheets 400S₂ or on the sheet 4OOS₃ and 400S₄·

In the event that it is desired to prevent the apparatus 265 from performing a recording operation when the recording sheets in the recording assembly 200R installed on the holder 266 carry signal information which it is not desired to erase, the case 2000 and preferably at least one side edge portion of its support plate 200P has a removable portion, e.g. in Fig. 40A with 200P₁ marked, which when not present, for example in Fig. 40A *, indicates that the signal information recorded on the sheet or sheets should not be erased. A detector 231 shown in Figs. 34 and 39 is provided adjacent to the holder 266 to detect the absence of such a removable portion 200?₁ on the recording unit 200R when it is on the holder and this detector prevents the apparatus from performing a recording operation when said absence is indicated.

The removable portion of the backing plate 200P may be of various shapes. As can be seen, for example, from Fig. 40A, the removable portion 200P may be oblong in shape and formed by two U-shaped facing grooves whose ends are at short distances from one another to form narrow neck portions 235 of plastic material connecting the removable portion. 200 with the remainder of the backing plate 200P

7411323-4 and which can be easily rubbed off to remove the portion 200P 2, forming an opening 2) 6 in the support plate 200P.

This is shown in Fig. 40A '. As can be seen from Fig. 40B, the removable portion 200P * may alternatively consist of two L-shaped grooves 234 'which are in different directions, the ends of which are at a short distance from each other and at a short distance from the adjacent side edge of the support plate 200P whereby narrow neck portions 235 'remains of the plastic material. These neck portions can be easily broken by leaving an opening 236 'in the edge portion of plate 200P as shown in Fig. 40B'. In particular, one in FIG. 40C, another removable portion 200P may be in the form of a tab projecting from the side edge of the support plate 200P. A groove 234 "extends between the tab and the plate along substantially the entire length of the tab 200P 'so that the tab is connected to the remainder of the backing plate 200P only at narrow neck portions 235 which can be easily broken off and removed for removal of the tab as shown in FIG. Fig. 40C '. A detector 231 for detecting the absence of the removable portion 200P 2, 200 P 1, or 200 2 below table 271 so that when recording assembly 200R is in the loaded position on table 271 the removable portion of the backing plate 200P will be pushed into the light path from the light source 232 to the photocell 233. This is shown in Fig. 34. However, if the removable portion 200P is not left, but only one aperture 236 remains, as in Fig. 39, the light from the light source 232 will activate the photocell 233 and such activation can, as described further below, prevent the apparatus from performing a recording operation.

In case the recording and reproduction operations are to be performed when the carriage 269 moves in both directions as described above in connection with Fig. 41, the support plate 200P in the recording assembly 200R may have removable portions 200PP arranged on its two side edge portions, thereby indicating that when these Removable portions of removed signal information are already recorded on and off. recording sheets 200S 2 and 200Sg. In this case, the apparatus 265 is provided with two detectors 231 which are located for detecting the absence of the removable portions 200P in both edge portions of the support plate 200P. By the above arrangement, detecting the absence of a removable portion 200P at one of the detectors 231 prevents recording as the carriage 269 moves in one direction while detecting the absence of a removable portion of the second detector 231 results in an

ί i

drawing operation is prevented as the carriage 269 moves in the other direction, »

In the recording assemblies described above with two or more j recording sheets, these have been shown to be of equal lengths. When feeding these sheets along different paths to the respective sheets. operating mode where signal information is to be recorded or played on the sheets, the web lengths may be different and thus it is necessary to arrange the different recording sheets so that they have different lengths and to ensure that the trailing edge portions of the sheets remain constant. inside the case when the sheets are in the respective case. working position. in;

For example, as shown in Figs. 44 and 45A, a recording unit 500R may comprise three recording sheets 500S

500S₂ and 5OOS3 with successively increasing lengths Lp L₂ respectively. Ly These sheets are controlled relatively loosely in a relatively rigid case 500C which is open at one end. The case has such a shape on its periphery that the sheets in their storage positions will have their front edges aligned with one another and below the central portion of openings 500A arranged in the upper and lower walls of the case 500C. When the recording assembly 500R is used in conjunction with a recording and / or reproducing apparatus according to the present invention, all three sheets are gripped between the clamping roller 78 and the drive roller 79 in the above-described sheet drive assembly 67, the three sheets advancing toward the respective sheets. working position to its sheet 500S &lt;| takes its working position and the trailing edge of this sheet moves out and past the clamping roller 78 as shown in Fig. 45B. Next comes the sheet 5OOS₂ and 5OOS3 to be gripped between rollers 78 and 79 to move further toward their working positions until the sheet 5OOS₂ takes its working position and its trailing edge t moves out and past the clamping roller 78 as shown in Fig. 45C · Finally | For example, only the sheet 500S 3 will be engaged between the rollers 78 and 79 which now move the sheet toward its working position in which the trailing edge of the sheet 5OOS3 has left the clamping roll 78. in the working position, the trailing edges of the sheets are aligned with one another and over the central portion of the openings 5θθΑ. When the clamping roller 78 is shifted in the manner previously described to effect the return movement of the sheets from their working positions to their storage positions, the rear edge portions of all three sheets are initially gripped between ^! rollers 78 and 79 and the propulsion of the sheets 500S 5, 5OS₂ and 500S ^ cease in turn as the sheets occupy their respective positions. storage, locations. s ύ

r

IN

7411323-4

When one of the recording sheets has its curvature changed during its movement toward its working position, as is the case, for example, with the sheet 200S 2 in Fig. 37, where the sheet is bent in a direction as it moves from the sheet dividing device 204 to the guide members 285a. and 288b, whereupon it bends in the opposite direction as it moves along these guide elements, the sheet has a tendency to bend upwardly between the guide grooves 289a and 289b, especially at the point where the bend reverses. This tendency is accentuated if the arctic play is increased. As can be seen in particular from Figures 46 and 47, this tendency can be overcome by providing a fixed arcuate plate 237 extending laterally over the region over which the arcuate guide elements 288a and 288b move. The arcuate plate 267 is disposed near the entrance portions of the guide grooves 289a and 289b. A spring or resilient member 238 projects downwardly from the center portion of the arcuate plate 237 to abut against the inner surface of the sheet 200S., At the location where the curvature of the sheet reverses. The spring 238 has bent arms 239 which can ride on the radially inwardly facing surface of the arcuate guide members 288a and 288b in the boundary positions of the translational movement of the carriage 269 such that in FIG. 46 and 47, the structure shown does not interfere or restrict the movement of the carriage between its starting and ending positions. An additional sheet guide assembly 240 may be provided (Figs. 46 and 47) and includes a fixed support 241 on which an arcuate guide member 242 is pivotally mounted by means of a hinge 243 provided with a torsion spring 244 which cooperates with the hinge to reliably mount. The sheet guide member 242 against its solid lines in FIG. 47 shown in a working position in which a finger 245 projecting from the upper end of sheet guide member 242 abuts adjacent sheet guide rod 314. Curved arms 246 extend from both ends of the sheet guide member 242 so as to ride over one or other of the arcuate guide members 288a and 288b in the boundary positions of the movement of the carriage 269, the control element 242 being deflected to that by dashed lines at 242 * in FIG. 47 showed the position in and to avoid the sheet guide element 242 from interfering with the movement of the carriage 269.

The Etx preferred mode of operation for the recording and playback of video and audio signals by the apparatus 265 on the recording sheet 200S., And 100Sp will now be described with reference to Figures 57A-57D.

From Figs. 57A and 57D, it can be seen that when the sheets 200S runt and 200Sg are around the circumference of the drums 290, respectively. 290 'over an angular range

7411323-4 at least 180 ° and as the video recording heads 293 move at a predetermined velocity in the plane of their rotation which is indicated by the arrow £ in Fig. 57A, and the sound recording heads 293 'move at a predetermined speed in their rotation planes. which is indicated by the arrow in Fig. 57D, comes with both sheets 200S 2 and 2003₂ move simultaneously and at the same speed across the rotation plane of the heads marked with arrows d, heads 293 alternately scanning the sheet 200S ^ along parallel, successive grooves arranged in a series across the width of this sheet, as shown, for example, at T₂ and Because these recording grooves will be inclined relative to the side edges of the sheet 2003 and the slope of the grooves and the pitch of the₁ for these are determined by the ratio of the velocity of the heads 293, which velocity is indicated by the arrow £, and the velocity of the sheet transversely to the plane of rotation of the heads, which velocity is indicated by the arrow d. ^!similarly, the sound recording heads 293 will alternately scan the sheet 200S₂ along successive parallel recording grooves arranged in a series across the width of the sheet, such as, for example, marked at t₂ and because these grooves are inclined with respect to the sheet 200S₂both side edges and the slope of the grooves and the pitch of the grooves p₂ is determined by the ratio of the rotational speed of the heads 293, which rotational speed is indicated by the arrow f, and the velocity of the sheet 200S₂ counts transversely to the plane of rotation of these heads, which speed is indicated by the arrow d.

It is clear that if video signals are input to the heads 293 and audio signals are input to the heads 293 * during the described scanning of the sheets 200S.J and 200S₂ of these heads, video and audio signal information will be recorded in the tracks Ty T₂, Ty ~ - etn. on the sheet 200S ^ resp. in the grooves t ^, t₂, t ^ ------ etc. on the sheet 200S₂·

In the apparatus of the present invention, the headers 293 for recording and playing video signal information are each preferably provided with an air gap gy of a width w (Fig. 57A) which is considerably larger than the pitch the distance over which 2003.] moves in the direction of arrow d as each of heads 293 rotates 180 °. Since one of the heads 293 has recorded video signal informat ion in etfc groove T with a width w (cf. fig. 57B), the second head 293 will record video signal information in the next track T_{n +}y which also has the width w, but which overlaps and deletes a portion of the previous track T_n, thereby a so-called

7411323-4 overlap recording is provided. Thus come successive tracesⁿ.'p T₂ and in which video signals are recorded to each have an effective width equal to the pitch and this width is substantially smaller than the gap width w for the heads 293. 3 as there are no gaps or protective bands between successive recording tracks Tp T₂, T2, etc. for the recorded video signal information, it is clear that the area of ​​the recording sheet 200S.J has a significantly improved utilization rate for recorded video signal information.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the jute recording and playback heads 293 'rotate at a slower speed than the video recording and playback heads 293, so that the slope of the audio signal tracks tp t₂, t ^ ----- etc. and the rise £₂ between adjacent audio recording tracks will be greater than the slope and pitch of the video recording tracks. In any case, the width of the air gap g ^ for each head 293 'for recording and / or playing audio signal information is selected to be substantially narrower than the pitch of₂ sound recording tracks formed on the record sheet 200S₂ will show relatively large distances between them. This is clearly shown in FIG.

57D.

When the video signal information being recorded and played back corresponds to a standard television picture signal at 60 frames or 30 frames per second, the drum 290 and associated heads 293 preferably rotate at the speed of 30 turns per second so that each recording track Tp T₂, T2 —-— etc. will contain video signal information corresponding to a single sub-frame. The heads 293 are arranged substantially diametrically opposite each other on the drum 290, but the angular distance between the heads deviates from 180 ° with an angle corresponding to 0.5H (where H represents the line time of a standard video signal). Due to the above and as is particularly apparent from FIG. 57A, the recording positions H of the horizontal sync signals in successive recording tracks will be arranged in straight lines parallel to the direction of the air gap gy of the heads 293 · The heads 293 * for recording and playback of audio signal information may be angularly displaced relative to each other 180 ° and they can rotate at a relatively slow speed, for example

5th revolutions per second as heads 293 rotate at a speed of 30 revolutions per second.

In a preferred recording and / or reproducing apparatus of the present invention, the signal which is

7411323-4 is recorded by the heads 293 provided by allowing the video signal to phase modulate a suitable carrier in the manner described in U.S. Patent Application 425,845 filed December 18, 1973. The signal recorded by the heads 293 'can be obtained by conventional superpo . generates a bias signal on the audio signal. As shown in FIG. 56 in an apparatus according to the present invention, a video signal input at an input 601 will pass from it to a phase modulator 602 in which the video signal phase modulates a carrier obtained from an oscillator 603. The resulting phase modulated signal is adapted to be fed through a recording contact R in a playback switch 604 to heads 293.

With this arrangement, the oscillator 603 which emits the carrier to be phase modulated by the video signal is suitably synchronized with the rotation of the heads 293 so that the phases of the carriers J_Q, which is to be modulated and marked by dashed lines in Fig. 57C are aligned with each other in the successive grooves T_n-1, ^Tn ' ^Tn + 1 in directions parallel to the direction of the air gap gy of the heads 293. Furthermore, the degree of modulation of the phase modulation, which modulation degree is expressed as a radius corresponding to the phase shift of the modulated carrier relative to the unmodulated carrier, is selected to be relatively low, e.g. , 0, whereby the second-order and higher-order sideband components become small enough and can be neglected.

From Fig. 56 it can be seen that the audio signal is input at an input

605 from which it is adapted to be fed through an amplifier

606 and an equalizer 607 to the recording switch R in a recording switch 608. The output of the equalizer 607 has superimposed a bias signal from an oscillator 609 and during recording, the resulting signal is output from the switch 608 to the heads 93 '

To prevent the device from being able to record when the sheets 200S ^ and 2003g have already recorded video and audio signal information which one does not wish to erase, the circuit of FIG. 56 a relay 610 with normally closed contacts 610a and 610b inserted between phase modulator 602 and switch 604 and between equalizer 607 and switch 608 so that when switch 604 and 608 engage their R contacts for selection of recording function, signals go to heads 293 and 293 * for recording on sheets 200SS and 2003g only as long as relay 610 is deactivated and has its contacts 610a and 610b in the normally closed position. A circuit 611 for activating relay 610 is controlled by photocell 233 in detector 231 so that relay 610 remains activated only when photocell 233 receives light from light source 232 in response to the recording aggregate 2001? lacks the previously removable portions 200P 2 (Fig. 40A). Thus, when the relay 610 is activated and its contacts 610a and 610b open, the video and audio signal recording circuits are broken.

When the apparatus is to play, the contacts 604 and 608, which are otherwise mutually beneficial, are changed so that they come into contact with the play contacts P while the heads 293 and 293 'rotate in the same manner as described above in connection with recording, the sheets 200S and 200S₂ moving in the direction parallel to the axis of symmetry of the rotating heads, i.e. in the same way as when recording. The output signal obtained from the heads 93 passes through the contact P of switch 604, a playback amplifier 612 and a limiter 613 to a demodulator 614, which at its output outputs the demodulated video signal, which goes to a terminal 615. The output of the heads 293 'passes through the connector P of switch 608, an equalizer 616 and a playback amplifier 617 whose output is coupled to an output 618 where the reproduced audio signal is obtained.

Since the headers 293 for playing the recorded video signals each have an air gap gy of width w, which in turn is substantially greater than the pitch or effective width of successive recording tracks on the sheet 200S ^, each head 293 will scan more than one of the tracks during playback. the recording grooves, for example the recording groove T_n and portions of adjacent recording tracks and T_{n + 1} As shown in Fig. 570. Due to the use of phase modulation when recording the video signal, the demodulated reproduced signal obtained at output 615 is substantially equivalent to the composite signal obtained from a combination of the original video signals corresponding to the against respectively track TT. and T. with a predetermined level IXI IX ·· I IX * t * in relation, which recording tracks correspond to the position of the playhead relative to the recording tracks in the direction thereof, resulting in no standing-wave interference being formed. Although the scan head 293 is displaced relative to the track T, for example, in the direction of the adjacent track or in the direction of the other adjacent track T, no standing wave interference due to intersection between adjacent tracks will not require toll days and so on. track tracking 7411323-4 servo system when the apparatus of the invention is used for playback.

Reference is now made to Fig. 4ÖA. The apparatus 256 is intended to record or reproduce audio signal information by the heads 293 '. The somewhat slow rotation of the heads 293 'compared to the rotational speed of the heads 293 can be obtained by providing a drive pulley 701 on the shaft 308 to the motor 292. The drive pulley 701 drives a belt 702 which goes around a non-driven pulley 703 and which is further in contact. with a pulley 704 having a slightly larger diameter. The pulley 704 is shown to be mounted on a non-driven shaft 705, which in turn carries a free Christmas 706 and¹'a pulley 707 having a slightly smaller diameter. The pulley 707 drives a belt 708 which goes around a somewhat larger diameter pulley 709 and this pulley 709 is secured to an end portion of the shaft 309 to the transducer assembly 268 'for example by means of an adjusting screw 709a (Fig. 54). Because the transmission chain is constructed in this way, a rapid rotation of the transducer assembly 268 in a clockwise direction as seen in FIG.

48A to result in a relatively slower rotation speed of the converter assembly 268 'and this slower rotation occurs in the counterclockwise direction.

In order to impart the rotary movement of the feeder screw 306 so that the feeder screw can move the carriage 269 to the right as seen in Fig. 48A, i.e. in the direction from its starting position to its side position, a gear 710 is mounted on an end portion of the shaft 309 adjacent the pulley 709 so that the gear can rotate freely relative to the shaft 309 while simultaneously preventing it from moving in the axial direction along the shaft 309, e.g. may be provided by lock rings 710a (FIG.

54). The gear 710 is in continuous gear with a non-driven gear 711 which in turn lies with a gear 712 fixed on an adjacent end of the feed screw 306. The gear 710 is normally rotatably coupled to the shaft 309 by means of a clutch 13 (Fig. 7). 54) which comprises, on the one hand, a drive disc 714 arranged beside the pulley 709 spaced from the gear 10 and, on the other, a hub 714a which is slidably slidable on the shaft 309 and which is rotatably coupled to the shaft, for example by means of a pin 715 extending through a in axial direction elongate groove 719, which runs transversely through shaft 309. Shaft 309 further has an axial bore 717 which is open at one end of the shaft and which holds a compression spring 718. which is positioned between the bottom of the bore 717 and the pin 715 so as to affect the drive disk

7411323-4 van 714 towards its engagement position against the pulley 709 which is shown in solid lines. A drive pin 719 projects axially from the disc 714 through a correspondingly located axial bore 719a in the pulley 709 and this drive pin 719 has such axial dimension that when the drive disc 714 is in its engagement position, the circular path of movement of the free end portion of the drive pin 719 will extending into the circular path of movement of the end portion of a driven pin 720, projecting in axial direction from the gear 710 in the direction of the pulley 709 and disposed at a radial distance from the axis of symmetry of the shaft 309, this distance substantially equal to the radial distance of the drive pin 719 from the axis of symmetry 309. Thus, when the disc 714 is in its position in FIG. 54 shown in engagement position, the drive pin 719 will abut the driven pin 720 to transmit the rotation of the shaft 309 to the gear 710, the shaft 309 and the gear 710 having a predetermined rotational position relative to each other. However, as the drive disc 714 moves axially to the disengaging position, which is marked by dashed lines at 714 'in FIG. 54 the free end of the drive pin 709 moves back axially in relation to the free end of the driven pin 720 whereby the shaft 309 can continue to rotate without transferring its rotary motion to the gear 710 and thus without rotating the feed screw 306, be desirable when the converter assembly 268 is to continue to rotate while the carriage 269 remains at rest; which occurs, for example, when still image reproduction is to be made of recorded video signals. In order to effect the above described decoupling of the coupling mechanism 713, the apparatus further comprises a shaft 720 (FIG.

54) which is rotatable and axially slidable in bore 717 so that the inner end of the shaft affects pin 715 while its opposite end portion projects axially from the open end of bore 717 so that a hub 722a on a pulley 722 can be mounted on this end of shaft 721 . A control mechanism 723 (Fig. 4ÖA) for selecting the still image display mode is shown to include a manually operable lever 724 which is pivotally arranged, for example at 725, between its two ends and having its lower end pivotally coupled to a link 727 at a pivot pin 726 The link 727 is in turn pivotally coupled at a pivot pin 728 to an arm 729a by an angular lever 729. The angular lever 729 is mounted on a shaft 73θ and can pivot in a horizontal plane. The angular lever 729 at its other end 729b has a blade 7411323-4 spring or a resiliently extended portion 731 which can be engaged by a ball bearing 732 (FIG. 54) supported by the hub 722a. It will be apparent that when the lever 724 is manually displaced in the direction shown by the arrow 733 * in Fig. 4OA, the resulting rotation of the angular lever 729 will move the leaf spring 231 f 'to the left of Fig. 54 - so that a corresponding axial displacement is effected by the pulley 722 and shaft 721. This axial displacement of the shaft 721 is transmitted via the pin 715 to the drive disc 714 which will move to the disengaged position 714 *. Thus, the rotation of the feed screw 306 is interrupted while the converter assembly 268 continues to rotate so that its heads 293 repeatedly scan a selected recording track on and off respectively. sheet, which means a still image reproduction of the video signals recorded in the selected recording track.

Further, from Fig. 54 it can be seen that the surfaces facing each other of the gear 710 and the pulley 722 each carry circular strips 734 'and 735' of friction material. These bands are normally spaced apart as shown by the solid lines. However, when the lever 724 is actuated to select still image display of the video signal, the axial displacement of the pulley 722 results in, for example, the position shown by dashed lines at 722 'in FIG. 54, that the circular belt 735 * engages frictionally with the circular belt 734 'whereby the gear wheel 710 and the pulley 722 are coupled to each other for common rotation. Further, an in-em 736 'is provided around the pulley 722 and around a pulley disk or pulley 737', which can be rotated by a manually operable wheel 733 '. Thus, when the clutch mechanism 713 is disengaged in the manner described above, the wheel 738 * can be manually rotated in order to rotate the pulley 722 and, thanks to the frictional engagement between the belts 734 'and 735', the gear 710 also rotates. This means that the feed screw 306 will rotate to arbitrarily select the recording track that you wish to scan multiple times using the heads or transducers of the assembly 268 or alternatively so as to provide slow motion reproduction of the video signals recorded in successive tracks.

During still image reproduction or slow motion reproduction of video signals, it is desirable that apparatus 265 be caused not to reproduce the recorded audio signals even though shaft 309 of the converter continues to rotate 268 '. Thus, for example, a switch 739 with normally closed contacts may be placed in the audio signal reproduction circuit, for example, between the playback contact P at switch 608 and the equalizer 616 (FIG. 56) whereby reproduced audio signals are obtained at output · 618 only as long as switch 739 is closed. The switch 739 is positioned (Fig. 48A) adjacent to the angular lever 729 so that it is actuated by the angular lever 729t to open the contacts of the switch 739 when the lever 724 is manually shifted in and for selection of still or slow motion reproduction.

As can be seen in particular from Figs. 48A, 52 and 53, the nut or threaded member 307 supported by the side member 284b of the carriage 269 may be of a split type, i.e. may comprise a pair of arms 733A and 733B which are mounted at their upper ends on a pivot pin 34 supported by the side member 284b at a location above the feed screw 306.:

The surfaces of the arms 733A and 733B facing each other have arcuate&gt; grooves 735A and 735B between, respectively. arms resp. ends and these grooves, as shown in Fig. 53, are threaded appropriately to engage the threads of the feed screw 306 when the arms 733A and 733B are in their working position, as shown by solid lines in Fig. 52.^!

A split spring ring 736 is located at their respective. side edges engage against the arms 733A and 733B and affect these against their respective arms. operating positions so that the rotation of the feed screw 306 causes movement of the carriage? 269 ​​in the direction from its initial position to its final position. ,)

To remove the split nut 307 from the feed screw! 306 and thereby stop the movement of the carriage 269 as it moves from its starting position to its final position, the apparatus 265 shown in Fig. 48A may comprise a control rod 737 arranged parallel to the directions of movement of the carriage 269 and mounted in a suitable manner to be able to rotate. around its longitudinal axis of symmetry. The control rod 737 is a portion 737a of flat or rectangular appearance and this portion extends between the lower end portions of the arms 733A and 733B of the split nut 307 (Fig. 52). Betta portion 737a is located on the control rod over a greater portion of the length of the control rod, which portion corresponds to at least the range of motion of the side element 284b between the starting and ending positions of the carriage 269. It is clear that in the roll ceatavon 737, its portion 737a is rotated so that the longer portion of its rectangular cross-section is vertical, as shown by solid lines in Fig. 52, the arms 733Λ and 733B are free to actuate it. split the spring ring 736 against their respective. working positions in threaded engagement with feeder screw 306. However, when:

7411323-4 rod 737 is rotated 90 °, for example, so that its portion 737a occupies the position 737 shown in broken lines in Fig. 52, arms 733A and 733B will be disassembled by the control rod to an inoperative or disengaged position marked by dashed lines 733 'A and 733'B in which the arms do not engage the feed screw 306. Such unwinding of the split nut 307 from the feed screw 306 apparently causes the movement of the carriage to stop towards its final position and further releases the carriage so that it can perform its return movement to the starting position relatively quickly, for example by means of one or more springs 310 (Fig. 48A) which are connected at one end to the support of the apparatus and which at the other end are connected to a cable 737 which in turn is connected to the carriage 269, for example at the location 739 '· The cable 738 goes around a pulley 740 which is fixed on the shaft of a damping disc 741 which rotates in a viscous fluid inside a housing 742 for damping or controlling the rate of return movement of the carriage 269 toward its starting position when the split nut 307 is displaced by the feed screw 306.

In order to allow manual operation of the setting position of the control rod 737 and thus also to control the direction of the movement of the carriage 269, the control mechanisms in the apparatus 265 are also shown according to Fig. 4δΒ including a manually operable lever 743 which is pivotally mounted at its lower end, for example at the point 744 . The lever 743 is pivotal in the direction of arrow 745 in and for initiating a recording or reproduction operation of the apparatus or in the opposite direction indicated by arrow 746 in and for termination of reproduction or recording and for initiating ejection of the recording assembly 200R from its loaded position. on the holder 266. The lever 743 is pivotally connected at the pivot pin 747 to one end of a longitudinally movable link 748, which in turn at a pivot pin 749 is pivotally connected to the upper end of a lever 750, which in turn is pivotable around a pivot pin 751 which is located between the end of the lever 750. The lower end portion of the lever 750 has an elongate groove 752 slidingly accommodates a pivot pin 753 projecting from a disc 754 which is attached to one end of the control rod 737. When the lever 743 is manually moved in the direction of the arrow 745, corresponding movement of the link 748 and the lever 750 causes the crank 753 to be moved in a position which is essentially in a vertical plane passing through the rotational symmetry axis of the control rod 737, whereby the portion 737a of the control rod is inserted in the solid line shown in Fig. 52 to allow split nut 307

7411323-4 to engage threads with feeder screw 306, which means that rotation of feeder screw 306 causes movement of carriage 269 in the direction from its starting position to its final position. On the other hand, if the control rod 743 is moved manually in the direction of the arrow 746 of FIG. 48B causes corresponding movements for the link 748 and lever 750 that the crank 753 enters a position substantially in a horizontal plane passing through the axis of symmetry of the control rod 737, thereby rotating the disc 754 and the control rod 737 approximately 90 ° so that the portion 737a of the control rod is shown in dashed lines at Fig. 737 in FIG.

Thus, the position shown where the split nut 307 is displaced by the feeder screw 306, which permits return movement of the carriage 269 toward its star position. This return movement is accomplished by the force of the spring 310.

The split nut 307 is also automatically disengaged from the feed screw 306 when the carriage 269 reaches its final position, thereby allowing the carriage to return automatically from this final position to the starting position. To accomplish this function, the end of the control rod 737, which is opposite to the disc 757, is provided with a disc 755 (Figs. 48A and 51) with an eccentric crank 756 which projects axially out of this disc. The crank 756 slides into a groove 757 which is received at one end portion of a lever 758, the other end of which is pivotally mounted on a pin 759. A tension spring 760 extends between the pivot pin 759 and crank pin 756 so that the crank pin is actuated to the inner end of the associated groove. 757. As can be seen from Fig. 51, the crank pin. 756 engaging the inner end of the groove 757 in two rotational positions of the disc 755 and each such position each corresponds to a downward and an upwardly facing position of the lever 757 and to vertical and horizontal positions of the portion 737a of the control staff 737. the lever 743 is manually moved in the direction of recording or playback, the disk 755 and the lever 758 in the embodiment of FIG. 1 with solid lines shown the position while the rotation of the lever 758 m is the upper inclined position, which is marked by dashed lines at 758 'in Fig. 51, e.g. when the carriage 269 reaches its final position, the disc 755 is rotated whereby the rectangular portion of the control rod 737 is pushed into the position indicated by dashed lines at 737 * a, whereby the split nut 307 is displaced by the feed screw 306. After the lever 758 is moved into the upper inclined position 758 ', the tension spring 760 retains the lever in this upper position until its glass rod 737 is rotated by the lever 743 being manually operated. To turn lever 758 from its lower inclined position to its upper inclined position 758 '

7411323-4 Depending on the carriage 269 moving toward its final position, a device 761 operating the lever 758 is used. According to FIG. 50, this device 761 comprises an angle lever 762 which can tilt back and forth on a pivot 763. The angle lever has an arm 762a projecting laterally under the lever 758 and downward arm 762b, which, for example, is connected by a pin-hole connection 764 to a sliding rod 765 which in its longitudinal direction can slide in a control device 766. If the lever 758 is in its lower inclined position shown by solid lines in Fig. 51, the free end of the push rod 765 enters the path of the lateral member 284b of the carriage 269 as it carries the last movement of the ear travel towards its final position. Thus, the displacement of the side element 284b causes the position shown by dashed lines 284'b in Fig. 50, which corresponds to the final position of the carriage 269, that the sliding rod 765 is displaced in its longitudinal direction, this movement causing the angular lever 762 to swing to the dashed line in FIG.

The arm 762a moves upwardly and displaces the lever 758 to the position shown in broken lines 758 'in Fig. 51. In this case, the split nut 307 will be disengaged with the feed screw 306 and the carriage 269 will automatically is returned to its start position.

It is clear that when the split nut 307 is disengaged with the feed screw 306 in the manner described above, the position of the carriage 269 and thus also of the sheets 200S₂ in relation to the heads 293 and 293 '- seen in the directions of movement of the carriage 269, regardless of the rotational positions of these heads. Thus, there is the danger that heads 293 and 293 'will not be in proper track positions with respect to the recording tracks in which video and audio signals are each recorded on sheets 200S₂ when the nut 307 is subsequently engaged with the feed screw 306. Despite the use of heads 293, which have gap widths w which are significantly larger than the widths of the tracks in which video signals are recorded, and although the use of phase modulation for recording of video signals 1 substantially eliminates the above problems with respect to the reproduction of the recorded video signals it is nevertheless necessary that when the split nut 307 re-engages with the feed screw 306 so provided, that the carriage 269 is in such a position that a correct scan is obtained for the heads 293 'when they scan the recording tracks in which audio signals have been received on the sheet 200S₂. This proper scanning of the audio signal tracks can be accomplished by appropriate intersection of the gears 710, 711 and 712 and by providing the feed screw 306 with a thread of such pitch Pg.^PS ⁼ where P ^ is the pitch p₂ for successive parallel recording tracks on the audio recording sheet 200S₂ and m is an integer.

From Fig. 48B, it is clear that the shaft 280 carrying the upper roller 278 of the sheet drive assembly 267 may be supported in the lower end portions of downwardly projecting arms 767a and 767b by an up and down U-shaped bracket 767 which is pivotally arranged. around a horizontal support rod 768 so that the upper roller 278 can move in a manner similar to the clamping roller 78 in the previously described sheet drive device 67, for example between the solid lines and the respective lines. dashed lines 278 respectively. 278 'showed the positions in Fig. 49. 769 outwardly from the holder 767 above the pivot of the holder and this arm is pivotally arranged at its free end in the link 748, for example by means of a pin hole connection 770. Due to the above connection between the link 748 and the holder 767, manual movement of the lever 743 in the direction of the arrow 745 causes the apparatus to record or reproduce that the holder 767 is pivoted in the direction of the roller 278 to the solid lines. shown in Fig. 49, i.e. to the position in which the sheets 200S ^ and 200S₂ of the recording unit 200R, which is in the loaded position on the holder 266, can be gripped between the rollers 278 and 279 at the beginning of this movement for these sheets from their positions, inside the case 200C of the recording unit. On the other hand, when the lever 743 is manually pushed in the direction of the arrow 746 in order to stop the movement of the carriage 269 in its direction towards its final position and to allow the carriage to return to its starting position, connection between the link 748 and the holder 747 causes the roller 278 to marked with dashed lines 278 * in Fig. 49 so that when the recording sheet 200 S₁ and 200S₂ In its operating positions, the rear end edge portions of the sheets may engage the upper and lower rollers of the sheet drive assembly 267. The displacement of the roller 278 to the dotted lines 278 'in FIG. 79 The position shown will similarly occur when the movement of the carriage towards its final position is automatically stopped when the carriage reaches this position, for example by displacing the divided nut 307 with the feed screw 306 in the manner described, whereby the carriage 269 is released and can be returned to its position. starting position with the help of the spring 310. More specifically, the rotation of the control rod 737 results in automatic switching off of the split nut.

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307 from the feeder screw 306 as the carriage 269 assumes its lateral position that a corresponding rotation is effected by the disc 254 (Fig. 48B) and the corresponding movement of the crank 753 lever levers 750 in a clockwise direction, which means that the link 748 is displaced in its longitudinal direction in the same direction as it would be displaced. manually moving the lever 743 in the direction indicated by arrow 746.

In the sheet drive device 267 of the apparatus 265, both the upper and lower rollers 278 and 279 will rotate as the recording sheets move between their storage and working positions. To rotate the drive rollers 278 and 279, the shaft 280 of the roller 278 is provided with a pulley 771.

An elastic belt 772 goes around the pulley 771 and a drive pulley 773 which is attached to the shaft by a reversible electric motor 774. A stretching belt 775 is suitably actuated against the elastic belt 772 so that it retains its stretch as the shaft 280 is shifted. in relation to the fixed electric motor 774. A gear 776 is fixed to the shaft 280 and is arranged to engage the gear with and drive a gear 777 which is fixed to the shaft 281 to the lower roller 279.

In order to provide for the intermittent engagement of the rollers 278 and 279 with the recording sheets here, these are moved by the sheet drive assembly 267 in a manner similar to that described above in connection with the sheet drive assembly 67 of Figures 11A and 11B, the shaft 281 of the roll 279 is stored in the free the end patties of arms 778a and 778b of a generally horizontally arranged U-shaped brace 778 which can pivot around a fixed pivot 779. Thus, when the jumper 778 is tilted in the direction of raising the roller 279, the recording sheet engages between the rollers 278 and 279 and the gear 777 is engaged with the gear 776 with the roller 279 starting to rotate. If the shackle 778 is tilted in the direction of lowering the roll 279, the roll is disengaged with the recording sheets and their movement is interrupted. The tilt of the jumper 778 is controlled by an arm 780 which projects downwardly from the jumper and carries a cam follower roller 781 at its lower end. The cam follower roller is actuated to engage the periphery by a radial cam disc 782 attached to a suitably mounted rotatable cam shaft 783. A spring 784 is coupled to the shackle 778 to actuate the shackle so that it flips in a direction for lifting the roller 279 and for moving the cam follower roller 781 toward the cam disk 782. The radial cam disk 782 is provided with a radially raised portion 782a extending over a relatively large angle. The cam follower roller 781 engages with these raised portions 782a when the sheet drive assembly 267 is inoperative and keeps the drive roller 7411 in its lower position away from the roller 278. The cam disk 782 is further provided with a series of radially projecting tips 782b spaced apart. along a relatively large angular section of the remainder of the cam. As the cam disk 782 is rotated so that this portion of the cam disk's casing surface is moved under the cam follower roller 781, the drive roller 279 is intermittently raised and lowered with respect to the roller 278, thereby forcing the sheets intermittently between the rollers in the manner described above in connection with the sheet drive device 67. In order to rotate camshaft 783 relatively slowly in one or other direction depending on the activity of reversible electric motor 774, a relatively large diameter pulley 785 which is attached to camshaft 783 engages an elastic belt 786 which runs around and driven by a pulley 787 which is relatively smaller in diameter and which is fixed to the shaft 280. 3n tensioning roller 788 is reliably actuated against belt 786 to maintain appropriate tension when shaft 280 is displaced relative to camshaft 783 ·

The apparatus 265 is automatically controlled so that when the lever 743 is manually displaced in the direction of the arrow 745 for selection of recording or reproduction functions and when the trolley 246 is in the start position, insertion of the recording assembly 200R into the loaded position on the holder 266 will provide for operation of the the motor 292 to rotate the transducer assemblies 268 and 268 'and to initiate the movement of the carriage 269 away from its starting position. Later, the sheet drive device 267 is actuated to move the recording sheets from the storage position to the respective position. operating modes 200S and 200S₂· If the carriage 269 returns to the start position either depending on manual displacement of the lever 743 in the direction of the arrow 746 in and for releasing the split nut 307 from the feed screw 306 or depending on automatic release or disengagement of the shared nut 307 when the carriage 269 reaches its final position, the tree control mechanisms of the apparatus 265 function to automatically activate the sheet drive device 267 to retrieve the record sheets from their respective positions. operating positions to the storage position within the case 200C and to then automatically eject the recording assembly 200R from the holder 266.

As can be seen from Fig. 55, the circuits for controlling the motors 292 and 774 may comprise an alternating current source 289 connected via two parallel switches 790 and 791 to the motor 292 and to the inputs of a rectified bridge 792. When either of the switches

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790 and 791 being in the closed position, the motor 292 will be activated and the rectifier bridge 792 thereby emits a DC voltage at its outputs. The switch 790 is of the normally open type and as shown in Figs. 34 and 36, it is fixedly mounted adjacent the position of the holder 266 corresponding to the starting position of the carriage 269. Thus, when a recording aggregate gate 200R is placed on the holder 266 and displaced in the forward direction toward the loaded position, the above described upward movement of the slide 215 will cause a switch actuator 793 projecting from the slide 215 to engage switch 790 to switch on the closed state of this switch. Of course, when the holder 266 moves with the carriage 269 away from the start position, the switch actuator 793 will move away from the switch 790 (Fig. 4δΑ), allowing switch 790 to switch to its normally open state.

As can be seen from Fig. 48B, switch 791 is guided by a cam 794 on the cam shaft 783. The cam 794 has a groove 794a in its casing surface. The switch 791 is arranged to be in its closed state only when a switch actuator 791a of the switch 791 is engaged with the groove 794a as shown in Fig. 48B. For all other rotational positions of cam 794, switch 791 is in its open state.

From Fig. 55, it will be seen that the circuit for supplying power to the motor 774 from the outputs of the rectifier bridge 792 comprises a switch 795 which allows operation of the motor 774 only when the carriage 269 is adjacent to its starting position, a reversing switch 796 for determining the rotational direction of the reversible direction. 774 »and switches 797 and 797 respectively. 798 for limiting operation of the motor 774 in the direction that causes the sheet-turning device 267 to move the recording sheets from their storage positions to their working positions and in the direction which causes the sheet-driving device 267 to return the recording sheets from their respective positions. working modes to their storage locations. Switch 795 is of the normally open type and as shown in FIG. 48A, it is mounted and fixed adjacent the side element 284a of the carriage 269 in its starting position, whereby the switch 795 is actuated to its closed state by the side element 284a only when the carriage 269 is adjacent to its starting position while the switch 795 returns to its normally open position when the carriage 269 has moved. predetermined distance away from its starting position as shown in Fig. 48A. As can be seen from FIG. 48B, the reversing switch 796 can be actuated by a switch 7411323-4 actuator 799 on the link 748, thereby conditioning the reversing switch to actuate the motor 774 in the direction indicated by arrow 800 as the link 748 is displaced in its longitudinal direction in the direction corresponding to rotation 7 of lever 43 of arrow 745 marked the direction. The switching actuator 799 can also condition the reversing switch 796 for driving the motor 774 in the direction indicated by arrow 801 as the link 748 is displaced in its longitudinal direction in the opposite direction to the direction indicated by arrow 746. The switches 797 and 798 can both be controlled by a radial cam 802 on the cam shaft 783 · The actuators 797a and 798a at the switches 797 and 798, respectively. 798 is shown to engage the casing surface of the cam 802 on portions thereof, which are displaced approximately 270 ° relative to each other. Switches 797 and 798 are in the open state when, respectively. actuator 797a or 798a engages a groove 802a in the mantle surface of cam 802. Thus, when cam 802 is in the shown position in Fig. 48B, switch 74⁷ in its open state while the switch 798 is in the closed state due to its actuator 798a engaging the circular casing surface of the cam 802. The pulleys 785 and 787 which cooperate with the belt 786 for driving the camshaft 783 from the shaft 280 are sized. relative to each other in such a way that a number of turns rotated for the shaft 280 causes the camshaft 783 to rotate approx. 270 °. Said number of turns for the shaft 280 is sufficient to cause the sheet drive device 267 to move the recording sheets from their storage positions to their working positions or from their working positions back to their storage positions. Thus, when the sheet drive device 267 is actuated to move the recording sheets from their storage positions to their working positions, the cam shaft 783 will rotate in the direction of arrow 803 in Fig. 48B from that of Fig. 58A. shown in which the grooves 794a and 802a are located at the top of the chambers 794 and 804, respectively. 802, to the solid line shown in Figs. 48B and 58c, shows the position in which the grooves 794a and 802a on the chambers 794 and 804, respectively. 802 are located on one side of the chambers. When the sheet drive device 267 is actuated to return the recording sheets from their working positions to their storage positions, the cam shaft 783 will inversely rotate in the direction of arrow 804 in FIG. 48B whereby the chambers 794 and 802 are rotated from the position shown in solid lines in Figs. 48B and 58c to the positions shown with dashed lines in Figs. 48B and 58A. It is clear that when the chambers 794 and 802 assume the positions indicated by dashed lines in Fig. 48B, the switch 791 is in its open state while the switch

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797 is in its closed state. Furthermore, the switch 798 is in its Open state. When the chambers 794 and 802 are then turned to the solid line shown in Fig. 48B, the switch 791 will close while the switch 797 is switched and the switch 798 is closed.

Function of the automatic control circuits of the sheet drive device.

Assume that camshaft 783 is initially rotated so that the chambers 794 and 802 are in the position shown by dashed lines in Fig. 4δ och and the carriage 269 is in its initial position. The switch 795 will then be closed. Assume further that the lever 743 has been manually set for recording or reproduction. The forward movement of the recording assembly 200R on the table 271 in the holder 266 will, as the recording assembly 200R assumes a loaded position, so that the switch actuator 793 closes switch 790. Thus, motor 292 and rectifier bridge 792 will initially be fed from AC power source^r via the switch 790. As a result of the supply of the rectifier bridge 792 and as a result of the setting of the reversing switch 796, which adjustment is effected by the actuator 799 on the link 748, current will go from the output of the rectifier bridge 792a through the closed switch 795, reversing switch 6, the motor 774, the closed switch 797 and the reverse switch 796 to the output 792b on the rectifier bridge. The current goes in the direction indicated by the arrows 800a in Fig. 55. The motor 774 is then driven in the direction indicated by arrow 800 in Fig. 4ÖB. As a result of this activation of the motor 774, the roller shafts 278 and 279 of the sheet drive are rotated in the directions corresponding to the recording sheets being moved from their storage positions to their working positions and at the same time the cam shaft 783 will rotate in the direction of the arrow 803, the cam 782 providing intermittently driving the sheets through rollers 278 and 279 in the manner described above. Although feed screw 306 will rotate in response to the activation of motor 292 during the activity of sheet drive 267 described, the speed at which cart 26S is removed from its starting position is sufficiently slow relative to the time required to move the recording sheets from their storage locations. so that switch 795 will remain in its closed state during the activity of sheet drive device 267. Activation of the sheet drive device 267 concludes that the recording sheets are in their working positions, which occurs when the chambers 294 and 802 occupy

The position shown in solid lines in Fig. 48B, ie. when the actuator 79 fa of the switch 797 enters the groove &amp; O2a of the cam 802 so that the switch 797 opens and breaks the supply circuit to the motor 774.

With the cam 794 in the solid lines of FIG. 48B, the position shown at the end of the activation of the recording sheet device 267 for moving the recording sheets to their working positions is the actuator 791a to the switch 791 in the groove 794a of the cam 794 whereby the switch 791 closes and maintains the supply to the motor 292 even if the switch 790 is because the actuator 793 moves away from the switch 790 when the holder 266 moves together with the carriage 269 as it moves from its starting position towards their final year. Thus, note 292 continues to be activated and rotates the converter assemblies 268 and 208 'during playback or recording. Motor 292 also continues to drive feed screw 306.

When the carriage 269 reaches its final position or alternatively when the movement of the carriage 269 towards the final position is interrupted by manual actuation of the lever 743 in the direction indicated by the arrow 746, rotation of the rules causes the rod 737 to engage the divided nut 307 with the feed screw 3θ6. whereby the carriage 269 is released and can return to its starting position, even if the reversing switch 796 is operated to a position corresponding to the reversed direction of rotation. Therefore, when the carriage 269 returns to its start position to close switches 790 and 795 by actuator 793 engaging the side element 284a, current will pass through motor 774 in the direction of path 80ia in Fig. 55, i.e. from the output of the rectifier bridge 792 792a through switch 795. switch 796 in d's reversing position, closed switch 798, motor 774 and reversing switch 796 low output. Thus, when the carriage 269 returns to its stationary position, the motor 774 is automatically operated in the direction indicated by arrow 801 in Fig. 4δΒ so that the sheet drive device 267 is activated to return the recording sheets from the respective sheets. working modes to and. In this activity of sheet drive 267, camshaft 783 is rotated in the direction of arrow 804 in FIG. 48B and the motor 774 continue to be activated until the cam 802 returns to the dotted line position, in which the actuator 798a on the switch 798 enters the groove 802a and breaks the switch 798 whereby the activation of the motor 774 ceases.

7411323-4 ⁶⁵ ί and the recording sheet are in their storage locations. in

As previously mentioned, the apparatus 265 is preferably also; provided with an automatic ejector 805 with the aid of | the recording assembly 200R of the holder 266 is automatically ejected; its loaded position when the record sheet returns to its storage? modes after a recording or reproduction operation is completed. As can be seen from Fig. 48B, the automatic ejector 805 includes an angle lever 806 which can tilt on a pivot pin.

807th Angle lever 806 has a substantially horizontal arm 806a provided with cam follower roller 808 which may engage cam 794 on the upper side thereof. Further, the angular lever comprises a substantially vertical arm 806b. A spring 809 acts on the angular lever (arm 806) in such a direction that the cam follower roller 808 abuts the cam 794. The free end of the vertical arm 806b is connected, for example, by a pin-hole connection 810 to one end of a link 811, which can slide in a horizontal direction in a control device 812. The other end of the link 811 is at a pivot pin. 813 is pivotally connected to an extended link portion 814 which ends with a hook 815 with an inclined outer surface 816. An arm 817 protrudes downwards&gt;

from the extended link portion 814 and is coupled to the link 811 by means of a spring 818 so that the extended link portion 814 is actuated and rotated downwardly relative to the link 811. A fixed stop pin 819 may engage the arm 817 to control the extended link portion. 814 tilt under the action of the spring 818.

An actuator 820 for releasing the locking members 205a and 205b is pivotally mounted on a fixed shaft 821 and comprises, upright, spaced apart arms 820a and 820b. The arm 820a has a pin 822 projecting from the arm and engaging the hook 815 on the extended link portion 814. The arm 820b protrudes upwardly behind the arm 212a to the angular lever 212 so that it can move forwardly against the arm 212a to pivot the angular lever 212 in a direction which results in the release of each locking member 205a and 205b. A stop stop 723 is provided to limit the reverse swing of the actuator 720.

It can be seen from Fig. 58A that when the automatic ejector 105 is in the initial state, i.e. before the sheet drive device 267 is actuated to move the recording sheets from their storage positions to their working positions, the cam follower roller 808 in the 3 groove 794a rests on the cam 794 and pivots the angular lever 806 in the counterclockwise direction thereby forcing link 811 to engage arm 817 the link portion 814 is turned upward and raises the tip 815 over the pin 822. During the initial stage of the actuation of the sheet drive device 267 for moving the recording sheets from their storage positions to their respective positions. in the manner described, the rotation of the cam 794 causes the cam follower roller 808 to engage the groove 794a of Fig. 58B, the resulting counterclockwise swing of the angular lever 806 causing the link 811 to move backward along with the extended link portion 814. When the arm 817 moves backward away from the stop stop 819, the spring 818 tends to pivot the extended link portion 814 downwards, but the inclined surface 816 of the hook 815 slides over the pin 822 as the actuator 820 abuts the stop stop 823. After the sheet drive device 267 has completed the displacement movement against their respective. in the working positions, the cam follower roller 808 rides on the mantle surface of the cam 794 and the link 811 as well as the extended link portion 814 is displaced backward and the tip 815 engages the pin 822 as shown in FIG.

58C. The automatic ejection device 805 remains in the condition shown in Fig. 580 for the entire time that the device 265 records or reproduces as well as during the return of the carriage.

269 to its starting position since the recording or reproduction was completed. The various elements are yours. in the automatic ejection device j

805 continues to remain in the mutual positions shown in Fig. 58C [when the sheet dividing device 267 returns the recording sheets from their working positions to their storage locations in the case of each recording unit 200R. At the end of the latter activity of the sheet drive device 267, the rotation of the cam 894 allows the cam follower roller 808 to re-enter the groove 794a. If the cam follower roller 808 thus enters the groove 794a, the angular lever 806 is pivoted in the counterclockwise direction of FIG. 58D which results in the link 811 and the extended link in the portion 814 being moved forward and due to the engagement of the hook 815 with the pin 822 the actuator 820 will be pivoted forward. Such forward-swinging of the actuator 820 causes its arm 820b to engage and actuate the arm 212a of the lever lever 212 so that the lever lever 212 releases the locking elements 205a from the lug 103, the spring 219 in ejecting the recording assembly 200R, ie. pushes the cap 2000 off!

the recording assembly backwards from its loaded position on the table 271. In such an extension of the recording assembly, the cam follower roller 808 rests against the bottom of the groove 794a in the manner shown in FIG.

Fig. 58A which results in the link. 811 and the extended link portion 814 are further displaced in the forward direction during which movement the stop stop 819 activates the arm 817 to swing up the extended link portion 814 and thereby engage the hook 815 with the pin 822, when this occurs, the spring 207 (FIG. 4δΑ) again actuate the locking elements 205a and 205b against each other, which results in the swing lever 212 swinging in the direction in which its arm 212a moves backwards so that the actuator 820 returns to its position shown in Fig. 58A where it rests with the stop stop 823.

In the above description of the various embodiments of the invention reference has been made to recording and reproduction of "video" signals. By this term, in addition to monochrome television signals and color television signals, are also meant other types of signals which, when applied to a cathode ray tube or the like, can be used to provide a visible image.

Although magnetic recording and reproduction of the signals in the above-described embodiments of the invention is preferred, other recording and reproduction methods can also be used. Instead of each of the magnetic record sheets 200S₁and 200S₂ For example, a recording sheet 800S (Figs. 59, 60 and 61) of plastics material, for example, polyvinyl chloride or polyethylene having a thickness of from ca. 0.5 to 1.0 micron and this sheet is similarly guided in an arcuate path around a portion of the circular path of rotation of the rotary converter assembly 868 provided with a sheet support member 294 in the same manner as in apparatus 265. The video or audio signals are recorded on sheet 800S in a series of parallel recording tracks TR, which extend over the width of the sheet at a slight angle to the side edges of the sheet. The recorded signal information is in the form of surface variations SL (Fig. 61) or the like. The converter assembly 868 includes a rotating drum 890 and a pair of pickup units 893 which are arranged at angular spacing from one another along the drum 890, for example at the angular distance 180 ° + 0.5H (where H is the line time of the recorded video signal). In this embodiment, each pickup unit 293 may be constituted by a piezoelectric element 894 mounted on a resilient support 895 and having a diamond needle 896 which projects over the periphery of the drum 890 to engage the recording grooves TR. Pickup units 293 can be connected to a recording or reproduction circuit by means of a slip ring 897 on the drum 890 (Fig. 59). During recording or in *

In reproduction activities, transducer assembly 868 rotates at a relatively high speed while sheet 800S and converter assembly 868 move slowly relative to each other in the direction of rotation axis of symmetry, whereby pickup units 893 will alternately scan recording trace information and record electric transcript. Due to the presence of the sheet support element 294, the air flow between this element and the drum 890 and due to the fact that each needle 896 presses the recording sheet 800S through the resilient substrate, for example, with a pressure of about 0.2 to 0.5 g during a reproduction activity, is obtained. a very stable contact for each needle against the recording sheet, whereby the recorded signal information is reproduced with hint quality.

The apparatus 206 of the present invention may also be utilized for electro-optic recording and reproduction of video and audio signals, in which, for example, the successive recording tracks of the recording medium exhibit variations in either light reflection or transmission in response to the recorded signals. The invention can also be used in connection with electrostatic capacitive recording and reproduction of video and audio signals, for example in connection with an apparatus in which each recording sheet consists of a vinyl-based sheet provided with an aluminum or copper coating and a dielectric coating, for example polystyrene, arranged on top of the aluminum or copper coating. In this case, the video or audio signals are recorded as variations in capacitance along successive recording tracks. When such video or audio signals are reproduced, the capacitance variations between the electrode are utilized by a pickup head that sequentially moves along the recording grooves, and aluminum or copper coating on the recording medium to provide an output signal corresponding to the originally recorded video or audio signals. Although described in connection with FIG. 57A-57D prefer to record the video signal as a phase modular signal without any protective bands between adjacent recording tracks, thereby improving the utilization rate of the recording medium without any standing-wave interference between signals reproduced from adjacent tracks and without the need for any tracking system reproduction is also used in connection with an apparatus where the video signal is recorded as a frequency modulated signal.

The above described embodiments of the invention can be applied

Many ways are modified and varied within the scope of the basic idea of ​​the invention. IT

FK

ff

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