An assembly for transferring information to and/or from flexible sheet
media in a highly advantageous curved configuration is disclosed. The
sheet material includes a length and a width defining first and second
opposing surfaces. The assembly includes support means for supporting the
sheet the curved configuration across its width, having the first surface
inwardly oriented with respect to the curved configuration. Thereafter,
moving means moves the flexible sheet material so supported in a
direction along a read/write path generally parallel to the sheet
material length and transverse to the direction of curvature. A
read/write arrangement is provided which is configured for reading and/or
writing information across the width of the first surface of the sheet as
the sheet is moved along the path in the curved configuration. In one
feature, means is provided for rotationally moving the read/write
arrangement in a predetermined way in the housing such that the
read/write arrangement is in a confronting relationship with the first,
inwardly oriented surface and cooperates with the movement provided by
the sheet material moving means so as to cause the read/write arrangement
to sequentially read information from and/or write information to the
inwardly oriented, first surface of the sheet as the read/write
arrangement traverses the width of the flexible sheet material while the
latter is on the read/write path in the curved configuration. In another
feature, a read and/or write operation may be performed on the second,
outwardly oriented surface of the sheet material.