Cassette unit with two or four digital data track cassette - commutes automatically from one track to another under control of photodetectors

摘要

The cassette recording/playback unit has a bidirectional transport mechanism for the tape cassette, and a double or quadruple read/write head, for cooperating with the respective tape tracks. The start and end of each of the latter is detected by photoelectric means, to allow the unit to switch from one track to a succeeding track, without an intermediate rewind operation. The head is positioned in accordance with the tape track in use, so that the respective transducer cooperates with the latter, and during data recording the current through each of the other transducers flows in the opposite sense to the current in the transducer in use.