Noncontact transverse scan rotating head recording device

A new transverse scan rotating head recording device was investigated which is capable of high speed tracking and noncontact recording. Small tracking time less than 1 ms was obtained in a reel-to-reel tape transport by the circuit technology improving the effective resolution of a reel motor tachometer. Noncontact recording capable of more than 10
⁷
head scans without tape wear was achieved by the development of both a pressurized air bearing female guide and a spherical monolithic head. High track density of 12 tracks/mm was also obtained by this monolithic head.