Back to results
US 4,072,280 AGranted
Tape and/or film handling mechanism
AssigneeInterdyne Company
InventorRichard A. Lewis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tape storage unit comprises a single reel having flanges between which tape is stored and protected by a strippable leader strip wound about the tape and snapped into grooves in the flanges. A tape transport compatible with the reel includes a second reel with leader receiving grooves formed in its flanges, there being structure to guide and urge the leader toward the grooves in the reels in either direction of tape travel; also, novel drive systems for the reels are provided.
Claims32
In a tape transport, the combination comprising
- a. a reel having an axis, spaced flanges extending normal to said axis, and a hub about which tape is wound for storage between the flanges,
- b. a leader strip connected with the tape, the width of the leader strip being greater than the tape width, and
- c. there being grooves sunk in the inner walls of the flanges and extending about said axis outwardly of the hub to retain the opposite edges of the leader strip so that the tape becomes protectively confined by the flanges and leader strip, the tape and flanges forming a rotatable unit, and
- d. a driving and supporting system for the reel and tape, said system including an endless drive belt, said system being in peripheral engagement with said unit and positioning the reel for rotation, said system including an endless surface carried for bodily movement in the plane of the reel into and out of engagement with said unit to enable removal of the reel from rotating position, said surface projecting between the flange to engage the leader and tape, and
- e. stripper means projecting between the leader and tape on the reel.
2 more elements
In a tape transport, the combination comprising
- a. a reel having an axis, spaced flanges extending normal to said axis, and a hub about which tape is wound for storage between the flanges,
- b. a leader strip connected with the tape, the width of the leader strip being greater than the tape width, and
- c. there being grooves sunk in the inner walls of the flanges and extending about said axis outwardly of the hub to retain the opposite edges of the leader strip so that the tape becomes protectively confined by the flanges and leader strip, the tape and flanges forming a rotatable unit,
- d. means in peripheral engagement with said unit and positioning the reel for rotation, said means including a displaceable element carried for bodily movement in the plane of the reel into and out of engagement with said unit to enable removal of the reel from rotating position, said element projecting between the flanges to engage the leader and tape, and
- e. stripper means projecting between the leader and tape on the reel,
- f. said means including a rotor having a radially outwardly tapered periphery projecting sufficiently between the flanges and in local contact with the leader to bow the leader widthwise for forcibly urging the leader opposite edges into the grooves.
3 more elements
In a tape storage unit, the combination comprising
- a. a reel having an axis, spaced flanges extending normal to said axis, and a hub about which tape is wound for storage between the flanges,
- b. a leader strip connected with the tape, the width of the leader strip being greater than the tape width,
- c. the flanges retaining the opposite edges of the leader strip so that the tape becomes protectively confined by the flanges and leader strip,
- d. there being multiple rotors at least two of which are in peripheral engagement with said flanges and positioning the reel for rotation,
- e. means mounting another of the rotors for movement away from the reel to enable bodily removal of the reel from rotating position and return of the reel to said position, said means also mounting the other rotor for return movement toward the reel in said position,
- f. there being a housing for the reel in said position and for said rotors, the housing containing an opening enabling pull out withdrawal of the reel from the housing in a direction generally normal to the reel axis, and said means mounting said other rotor comprising a closure for said opening, the closure carried for movement toward and away from the reel in said position, and in a direction generally normal to the reel axis.
3 more elements
In a tape storage unit, the combination comprising
- a. a reel having an axis, spaced flanges extending normal to said axis, and a hub about which tape is wound for storage between the flanges,
- b. a leader strip connected with the tape, the width of the leader strip being greater than the tape width,
- c. the flanges retaining the opposite edges of the leader strip so that the tape becomes protectively confined by the flanges and leader strip,
- d. there being multiple rotors at least two of which are in peripheral engagement with said flanges and positioning the reel for rotation, and
- e. a stripper finger projecting between the leader and the tape on the reel to flex and strip the leader strip free of said flanges as the reel rotates.
2 more elements
In a tape transport, the combination comprising
- a. first and second tape reel each having an axis, a hub and spaced flanges projecting normal to said axis and radially outwardly of the hub,
- b. tape wound about one of the hubs and a leader strip connected with the tape, the width of the leader strip being greater than the tape width,
- c. there being grooves sunk in the inner walls of the flanges of each reel and extending about the reel axis outwardly of the hub to receive the opposite edges of the leader strip,
- d. means mounting the reels for rotation in spaced apart relation,
- e. guide means for guiding leader strip and tape travel between the reels, and
- f. structure located adjacent the reel peripheries to urge the leader toward said grooves in either direction of tape travel between the reels.
3 more elements
A belt drive system for use in a tape transport wherein first and second tape reels are to be rotated, said system including first and second pulleys for effecting drive of the respective reels, a third pulley and a motor connected with the second pulley, an idling fourth pulley, and an endless elastic belt entraining all of the pulleys characterized in that the belt passes over the first pulley, then over the second pulley, then over the fourth pulley and third pulley in sequence, then back to the first pulley.
In a tape transport, the combination comprising
- a. first and second tape reels each having an axis, a hub and spaced flanges projecting normal to said axis and radially outwardly of the hub,
- b. tape wound about one of the hubs and a leader strip connected with the tape, the width of the leader strip being greater than the tape width,
- c. the inner walls of the flanges of each reel providing means extending about the reel axis outwardly of the hub to receive and retain the opposite edges of the leader strip,
- c. means mounting the reels for rotation in spaced apart relation, an endless belt system driving the reels and tape,
- e. guide means for guiding leader strip and tape travel between the reels, and
- f. structure located adjacent at least one reel periphery to urge the leader toward said retention means at the flange inner walls during tape travel between the reels.
3 more elements
In a tape storage unit, the combination comprising
- a. a reel having an axis, spaced flanges extending normal to said axis, and a hub about which tape is wound for storage between the flanges,
- b. a leader strip connected with the tape, the width of the leader strip being greater than the tape width
- c. the flanges retaining the opposite edges of the leader strip so that the tape becomes protectively confined by the flanges and leader strip, the tape and flanges defining a rotatable unit,
- d. a driving and supporting system for the reel and tape, said system including an endless drive belt, said system being in peripheral engagement with said unit and positioning the reel for rotation, said system including an endless surface carried for bodily movement out of engagement with said unit to enable bodily removal of the reel from rotating position and return of the reel to said position, and
- e. a stripper finger projecting between the leader and the tape on the reel to flex and strip the leader strip free of said flanges as the reel rotates.
2 more elements
In a tape transport, the combination comprising
- a. first and second tape reels each having an axis, a hub and spaced flanges projecting normal to said axis and radially outwardly of the hub,
- b. tape wound about one of the hubs and a leader strip connected with the tape, the width of the leader strip being greater than the tape width,
- c. there being retention structure at the inner sides of the flanges of each reel and extending about the reel axis outwardly of the hub to receive and retain the opposite edges of the leader strip,
- d. means mounting the reels for rotation in spaced apart relation, an endless belt system driving the reels and tape,
- e. guide means for guiding leader strip and tape travel between the reels, and
- f. other structure located adjacent reel flange peripheries to urge the leader toward said retention structure during tape travel between the reels.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.