Tape recorder apparatus capable of playing back selected information while recording other information

Claim 1

Apparatus for recording information on a tape record medium and for reproducing the information recorded on a selected portion of the tape record medium without interrupting the recording of information, said apparatus comprising: (a) a drum structure having a peripheral wall with an opening therein: (b) means disposed within said drum structure for recording information on the tape record medium; (c) means disposed outside said drum structure for playing back information peviously recorded on the tape record medium; (d) means for feeding the tape record medium along a path which extends between said recording and reproducing means, and which tape path extends through said opening in the peripheral wall of said drum structure; (e) means disposed in the tape path between said recording means and said opening in the peripheral wall of said drum structure for stopping the movement of a portion of the tape recording medium; (f) means, operative in response to said tape stopping means for winding at least part of the tape record medium that extends from said tape stopping means to said reproducing means on said peripheral wall of said drum structure to bring the selected portion of the tape record medium into a position for playback by said playback means; and (g) means for unwinding the tape record medium from said drum structure to effect playback of the selected portion of the tape record medium.