Apparatus for splicing the ends of magnetic tape wound on spools of the type used in endless tape cartridges

A splicing apparatus for joining the ends of a magnetic tape wound on spools of the type used in endless tape cartridges in which an endless tape is withdrawn from the innermost winding on the spool and returned to the spool as the outermost winding, comprising:

• splicing tape supply means for supplying a continuous length of splicing tape of the type having a contact adhesive on one surface and having a foil-like thickness dimension selected to insure that a splice formed thereby on the magnetic tape moves smoothly past all points in the tape path of the endless tape cartridge;
• cutting means including a cutting blade, a coacting cutting surface, and means for lengthwise advancement of the splicing tape so that the adhesive surface thereof is moved into contact with and adherence to said cutting surface, and mean for controllably advancing said cutting surface and the splicing tape adhering thereto past said blade and for actuating said blade to sever the splicing tape into individual splicing segments which are retained on said cutting surface by the contact adhesive of the splicing tape;
• said splicing tape supply means comprising means for rotatably supporting a spool of splicing tape, and wherein said cutting means comprises a cutting wheel, the circumference of which provides said cutting surface and about a portion of which the splicing tape is circumferentially wrapped, and controllable drive means for rotating said cutting wheel in a direction to cause the splicing tape wrapped thereon and held thereto by the adhesive surface of the splicing tape to be advanced lengthwise past said cutting blade.

A splicing apparatus for joining the ends of a magnetic tape wound on spools of the type used in endless tape cartridges in which an endless tape is withdrawn from the innermost winding on the spool and returned to the spool as the outermost winding, comprising a splicing tape supply means for supplying a continuous length of splicing tape of the type having a contact adhesive on one surface and having a foil-like thickness dimension to insure that a splice formed thereby on the magnetic tape moves smoothly past all points in the tape path of the endless tape cartridge, cutting means for cutting individual splicing segments from the splicing tape for application to abutting ends of the magnetic tape wound on the spool and means for supporting the spool adjacent the cutting means,

• a rotatably mounted cutting wheel having a cylindrical circumference serving as a cutting surface, said cutting wheel being so arranged relative to said splicing tape supply means so that the continuous length of splicing tape is wrapped partially circumferentially about said cutting surface of said cutting wheel with the contact adhesive surface of the splicing tape adhering to said cutting surface;
• movably mounted cutting blade means deflectable into abutting contact with and arranged proximate to said cutting surface of said cutting wheel and oriented crosswise with respect to the length of splicing tape thereon for forming crosswise cuts at longitudinally spaced intervals along the splicing tape wherein each pair of adjacent such cuts defines a splicing segment;
• and
• pickup means for picking up individual ones of said splicing segments from said cutting surface of said cutting wheel for application to the ends of the magnetic tape to be spliced, said pickup means comprising a rotating arm and a suction means at an outer end of the arm.