Tape transport

A capstan (English for spill ), also capstan is a rotating shaft, which serves in combination with a pressure roller, the tape in a tape device ( tape recorder, cassette recorder, cutting table, scanner ) with a constant speed overtake on the head. In high-quality devices, the capstan is driven by its own motor. In support of tracking it is usually connected to a flywheel.

In order to fulfill the task of a uniform transport, a capstan must be manufactured with high precision and polished. Any irregularity would be heard immediately as " flutter", as unwanted vibration of the sound signal.

Drives for compact cassettes with "Auto Reverse" have two counter rotating sound waves whose pressure rollers are pressed individually for each band toward its capstan.

High-quality devices have a dual - capstan drive, in which the tape is transported to and in addition also defined before the head. This due to the elasticity of the band having an effect on the synchronous operation Aufwickelzug fluctuations can keep.

The Aufwickelteller must be driven faster through a slipping clutch as it would correspond to the belt speed to cause loose band also in the beginning, when this dish must rotate very fast, is rewound tightly. At the beginning of the strip, the winding diameter is small. Here is a tape loop and the resulting Bandsalat must be avoided. Occasionally, these tape loop device and between pinch roller and capstan and wraps tightly around the capstan such that the cassette can be removed from the device only by destroying the tape or the tape.

• Sound equipment
• Component ( tape recorder )