METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING TAPE ALONG A PATH OF A ROTATING HEAD

摘要

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING TAPE ALONG THE PATH OF A ROTATING HEAD In rotating-head magnetic recording, the rotor carrying the magnetic transducer is enlarged in width so that the width of the rotor is much greater than the track width of the head. The rotor is mounted in the middle of an air bearing mandrel around which magnetic tape is wrapped. The wide rotor also provides an air bearing for the tape. The air bearing for the rotor and mandrel is accomplished by forcing air through their cylindrical surfaces. These cylindrical surfaces may be either a porous material or a nonporous material with holes through which the air may flow. The wide air bearing rotor provides a very stable platform upon which the magnetic tape may rest while it is scanned by the rotating head.