Rotary magnetic head mechanism with the head having a smooth flat face that extends perpendicularly to the diametrical direction of the rotary drum and further having a record/playback element disposed in a range of contact of the face with a tape medium

Abstract

A magnetic head, a recording and/or playback method for a tape-type magnetic recording medium and a rotary magnetic head mechanism which are simple in structure and superior in contact characteristic with a tape-type magnetic recording medium. A window portion is formed in a concave manner on an outer circumferential face of a rotary drum along which a magnetic tape can be wrapped. A flat head of a width smaller than that of the window portion in the advancing direction is disposed in the window portion such that a pair of channels each in the form of an air gap are formed between the opposite leading and trailing ends of the flat head and the opposite leading and trailing ends of the window portion, respectively. The flat head has an exposed smooth flat face extending perpendicularly to a diametrical direction of the rotary drum and provided at a position retracted from the outer circumferential face of the rotary drum for being opposed to and fluidically interference with the magnetic tape. A head element for contacting and magnetically interference with the magnetic tape is disposed on the smooth flat face within a range within which the magnetic tape contacts with the smooth flat face.