Patent ID: 6154332
Filing Date: 2000-11-28
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
A recording and reproducing apparatus comprising: tape driving means for driving a tape; a rotary drum around which the tape is to be slantly wound; and at least three heads including a first head, a second head, and a third head which are mounted on said rotary drum and which scan the tape to conduct a recording or reproducing operation,said first head having a first azimuth angle, said second and third heads having a second azimuth angle which is different from the first azimuth angle,said second and third heads being mounted on said rotary drum to be opposed to each other at a central angle of 180 degrees,said first head being located in the immediate neighborhood of said third head in a direction along the circumference of said rotary drum, andsaid apparatus recording and reproducing a plurality of signals of different data rates by using said first and second heads for recording and reproducing the signal of a first data rate, and by using said first and third heads for recording and reproducing the signal of a second data rate, whereinsaid first and second heads have a mutual positional relationship in which there is a first minute height difference .DELTA.H1 that is intentionally provided in the rotation shaft direction of said rotary drum, andsaid first and third heads have a mutual positional relationship in which there is a second minute height difference .DELTA.H2 that is intentionally provided in the rotation shaft direction of said rotary drum.