Spin Physics, Inc.

Eastman-kodak Company

John F Bagby

Roy H Seim

Prior art quadruplex head assemblies (equipped with metal heads) are detachable for purposes of refurbishment with ferrite heads. The concept of the invention is to mount corrective compensation circuits to each such refurbished quadruplex head assembly so that recordings by means of ferrite heads resemble recordings by metal heads. As a result, recordings produced by ferrite and metal heads are interchangeably playable on the same recorder without adjustment thereto. The compensation circuits are such that they self-disable during signal playback.

Quadruplex recordings with ferrite heads resembling quadruplex

Two magnetic ferrite pieces having longitudinal channels formed in the side faces thereof are bonded together with a gapping substance so that the resultant channels form a window. The bonded pieces are precisely slotted to a depth below the apex of the window to form a narrow track-defining comb-like array. The resulting slots are adapted to receive gap-protecting compatible ceramic support material which is so chosen as to wear slightly faster than the ferrite surfaces. In one embodiment, the slots contain ceramic-convertible glass which is devitrified by firing the array. The assembly is then processed to form a ceramic-ferrite-ceramic or ceramic-ferrite transducer sandwich which may be further processed to form part of a magnetic record and/or reproduce head.

Method of manufacturing a single-track video ferrite record/reproduce

In a video head assembly employing ceramic-ferrite transducer heads, the present invention proposes modification of head assembly components, i.e., the recording tape vacuum guide and the head wheel, so that a head assembly may be provided which possesses an operating lifetime commensurate with the ceramic-ferrite transducer heads. The invention proposes a head wheel having an outer surface which will wear to an unacceptably out-of-round condition at a significantly slower rate than present head wheels. To complement the proposed head wheel, the invention further proposes a tape guide having a guide surface so constructed as to wear more slowly than present tape guides so the radius as defined by the SMPTE will be maintained for more tape hours, thus helping to retain the proper guide surface contour throughout the life of the transducer heads.

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Encinitas, CA, United States of America

John F Bagby