Endless tape loop storage apparatus

In an endless tape loop storage apparatus of the type having a generally horizontally disposed storage receptacle for tape being driven by and returned to a tape drive mechanism, such as for storing a loop of magnetic tape or the like when driven at high speed by the capstan drive means of a conventional audio tape recorder transport deck or the like, and wherein such storage receptacle is defined by a generally horizontal top plate, a generally horizontal bottom plate, a front wall defining an entrance slot through which the tape passes from the drive mechanism into the receptacle, a rear wall defining an exit slot through which the tape emerges from the receptacle for return thereof to the drive mechanism, and two side walls, with air jet delivery means being associated with said entrance and exit slots and directed to assist the flow of the tape into and out of the receptacle, the improvement comprising:

• (a) two relatively high velocity, low volume air jet delivery means closely spaced at opposite sides of said entrance slot and directed into the receptacle in a direction generally away from the front wall and effective to move the tape through said entrance slot and into the receptacle at high speed without mechanical contact therewith;
• (b) two relatively low velocity, high volume air jet delivery means situated adjacent said front wall and placed approximately equidistant between the entrance slot and the respective side walls, and directing air streams into the receptacle in a direction generally away from the front wall for the purpose of causing the tape entering the receptacle to become arranged in long serpentine folds on edge in the receptacle;
• and
• (c) a plurality of air exhaust apertures in at least one of said top plate and said bottom plate in the region(s) thereof adjacent the serpentine folds of the tape in the receptacle, and through which air can exhaust freely, thus influencing the direction and pressure of air flow inside the receptacle;
• said high velocity air jet delivery means comprising jet delivery orifices adjacent the entrance slot, each with a cross-sectional area of about 0.002 square inch, delivering an air jet at a velocity of about 30 feet per second, and said low velocity air jet delivery means adjacent the entrance slot and situated laterally outwardly of said high velocity air jet delivering means, said low velocity air jet delivery means including two jet delivery orifices, each with a cross-sectional area of about 0.5 square inch, delivering an air jet at a velocity of about 5 feet per second.

In an endless tape loop storage apparatus of the type having a generally horizontally disposed storage receptacle for tape being driven by and returned to a tape drive mechanism, such as for storing a loop of magnetic tape or the like when driven at high speed by the capstan drive means of a conventional audio tape recorder transport deck or the like, and wherein such storage receptacle is defined by a generally horizontal top plate, a generally horizontal bottom plate, a front wall defining an entrance slot through which the tape passes from the drive mechanism into the receptacle, a rear wall defining an exit slot through which the tape emerges from the receptacle for return thereof to the drive mechanism, and two side walls, with air jet delivery means directed to assist the flow of the tape into and out of the receptacle, the improvement comprising:

• (a) two relatively high volume, low velocity jet delivery means placed approximately equidistant from and in spaced relation to the exit slot of the apparatus, and each arranged to direct an air stream into the receptacle in a direction generally toward the portion of the tape being withdrawn through the exit slot for the purpose of causing that portion of the tape to writhe back and forth in directions laterally of its direction of movement out of the exit slot, and for the purpose of straightening and tensioning the tape during its withdrawal through the exit slot;
• and
• (b) a plurality of air exhaust apertures in at least one of said top plate and said bottom plate laterally across the generally central region(s) thereof, and through which air can exhaust freely, thus laterally distributing the flow of air into the receptacle counter to the flow of tape therefrom;
• said low velocity air jet delivery means adjacent the exit slot comprising jet delivery orifices, each with a cross-sectional area of about 0.375 square inch, delivering an air jet at a velocity of about three feet per second.

In an endless tape loop storage apparatus of the type having a generally horizontally disposed storage receptacle for tape being driven by and returned to a tape drive mechanism, such as for storing a loop of magnetic tape or the like when driven at high speed by the capstan drive means of a conventional audio tape recorder transport deck or the like, and wherein such storage receptacle is defined by a generally horizontal top plate, a generally horizontal bottom plate, a front wall defining an entrance slot through which the tape passes from the drive mechanism into the receptacle, a rear wall defining an exit slot through which the tape emerges from the receptacle for return thereof to the drive mechanism, and two side walls, with air jet delivery means being associated with said entrance and exit slots and directed to assist the flow of the tape into and out of the receptacle, the improvement comprising:

• (a) two relatively high velocity, low volume air jet delivery means closely spaced at opposite sides of said entrance slot and directed into the receptacle in a direction generally away from the front wall and effective to move the tape through said entrance slot and into the receptacle at high speed without mechanical contact therewith;
• (b) two relatively low velocity, high volume air jet delivery means situated adjacent said front wall and placed approximately equidistant between the entrance slot and the respective side walls, and directing air streams into the receptacle in a direction generally away from the front wall for the purpose of causing the tape entering the receptacle to become arranged in long serpentine folds on edge in the receptacle;
• (c) a plurality of air exhaust apertures in at least one of said top plate and said bottom plate in the region(s) thereof adjacent the serpentine folds of the tape in the receptacle, and through which air can exhaust freely, thus influencing the direction and pressure of air flow inside the receptacle;
• and
• (d) said side walls comprising laterally movable wall portions extending from said front wall to locations about two-thirds the distance from the front wall to said rear wall in diverging relation toward the rear wall, and further side wall portions converging toward the rear wall and extending generally toward said exit slot.

In an endless tape loop storage apparatus of the type having a generally horizontally disposed storage receptacle for tape being driven by and returned to a tape drive mechanism, such as for storing a loop of magnetic tape or the like when driven at high speed by the capstan drive means of a conventional audio tape recorder transport deck or the like, and wherein such storage receptacle is defined by a generally horizontal top plate, a generally horizontal bottom plate, a front wall defining an entrance slot through which the tape passes from the drive mechanism into the receptacle, a rear wall defining an exit slot through which the tape emerges from the receptacle for return thereof to the drive mechanism, and two side walls, with air jet delivery means being associated with said entrance and exit slots and directed to assist the flow of the tape into and out of the receptacle, the improvement comprising:

• (a) two relatively high velocity, low volume air jet delivery means closely spaced at opposite sides of said entrance slot and directed into the receptacle in a direction generally away from the front wall and effective to move the tape through said entrance slot and into the receptacle at high speed without mechanical contact therewith;
• (b) two relatively low velocity, high volume air jet delivery means situated adjacent said front wall and placed approximately equidistant between the entrance slot and the respective side walls, and directing air streams into the receptacle in a direction generally away from the front wall for the purpose of causing the tape entering the receptacle to become arranged in long serpentine folds on edge in the receptacle;
• (c) a plurality of air exhaust apertures in at least one of said top plate and said bottom plate in the region(s) thereof adjacent the serpentine folds of the tape in the receptacle, and through which air can exhaust freely, thus influencing the direction and pressure of air flow inside the receptacle;
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• (d) hinge means along one side of said top plate, enabling upward opening thereof, and air retaining seals along said side walls to prevent air from exiting around said side walls when the top plate is in closed position.

In an endless tape loop storage apparatus of the type having a generally horizontally disposed storage receptacle for tape being driven by and returned to a tape drive mechanism, such as for storing a loop of magnetic tape or the like when driven at high speed by the capstan drive means of a conventional audio tape recorder transport deck or the like, and wherein such storage receptacle is defined by a generally horizontal top plate, a generally horizontal bottom plate, a front wall defining an entrance slot through which the tape passes from the drive mechanism into the receptacle, a rear wall defining an exit slot through which the tape emerges from the receptacle for return thereof to the drive mechanism, and two side walls, with air jet delivery means being associated with said entrance and exit slots and directed to assist the flow of the tape into and out of the receptacle, the improvement comprising:

• (a) two relatively high velocity, low volume air jet delivery means closely spaced at opposite sides of said entrance slot and directed into the receptacle in a direction generally away from the front wall and effective to move the tape through said entrance slot and into the receptacle at high speed without mechanical contact therewith;
• (b) two relatively low velocity, high volume air jet delivery means situated adjacent said front wall and placed approximately equidistant between the entrance slot and respective side walls, and directing air streams into the receptacle in a direction generally away from the front wall for the purpose of causing the tape entering the receptacle to become arranged in long serpentine folds on edge in the receptacle;
• and
• (c) a tape storage receptacle wherein the side walls laterally defining said receptacle comprise laterally movable wall portions extending from the front wall to locations about two-thirds the distance from the front wall to the rear wall in diverging relation toward the rear wall, and further side wall portions converging toward the rear wall and extending generally toward said exit slot.