US 4,354,644 A · Reel mounting methods and apparatus

Abstract

A hollow-cylindrical member, such as a reel, is releasably retained on a rotatable hub against forces tending to loosen the reel. To this end, a plurality of locking keys are inserted into corresponding axial slots in the reel at the inside thereof. These locking keys are first driven up corresponding ramps on the hub into engagement with the inside of the reel at corresponding slots. After such engagement, and during rotation of the hub and reel, the locking keys are continously biased or further urged into their corresponding slots in order to inhibit any looseness between the releasably retained reel and the rotating hub. By way of example, tape reels of large size and mass may thus be securely retained against strong inertial forces occasioned particularly during rapid reversals of the reel rotation as occurring, for instance, in modern instrumentation tape recording and data processing machines.

Claims65

Dependent claims

A method of releasably retaining a hollow-cylindrical member on a rotatable hub against forces tending to loosen said member, comprising in combination the steps of:

providing a wedge-shaped member for engaging said hollow-cylindrical member on the inside thereof;
providing said hub with a ramp for said wedge-shaped member;
placing said hollow-cyindrical member on said hub;
driving said wedge-shaped member up said ramp into engagement with the inside of said hollow-cylindrical member;
and
inhibiting any looseness between said releasably retained hollow-cylindrical member and the hub by urging said wedge-shaped member further up said ramp after engagement with the inside of said hollow-cylindrical member and continuously during rotation of said hub.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Reel mounting methods and apparatus

Life of this patent

Reel mounting methods and apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims65