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US 4,523,133 AGranted
Tape transport system with tension sensing bearings
AssigneeComputer Peripherals, Inc.
InventorCarl Messenger
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tape transport system has reduced unreeled tape length by employing only one tape-deflecting bearing on each side of the read/write head. These bearings are fixed in position, but capable of pneumatically sensing tape tension. This tape tension is sensed at both bearings, and used to counteract the effects of stiction at the head.
Claims16
A system for transporting magnetic tape between reels and past a magnetic read/write head, comprising
- a pair of tape-deflecting bearings, respectively supporting the tape on opposite sides of said head,
- said bearings being geometrically positioned relative to the head so as to produce a predetermined amount of tape wrap about the head, with one direction of curvature around said bearings and the opposite direction of curvature around said head,
- said pair of bearings being the only tape-deflecting bearings between the reels and the head, and said bearings being constructed and arranged so as not to be subject to intentional displacement in the plane of rotation of the tape reels,
- each of said bearings having means for sensing the tension in the tape portion supported thereby,
- servo motors for driving said reels, and
- means for utilizing the tension sensed by both said sensing means to control the motor driving one of said reels.
3 more elements
A system for transporting magnetic tape between reels and past a magnetic read/write head, comprising
- a pair of tape-deflecting air bearings, respectively supporting the tape on opposite sides of said head,
- said air bearings being geometrically positioned relative to the head so as to produce a predetermined amount of tape wrap about the head, with one direction of curvature around said air bearings and the opposite direction of curvature around said head,
- said pair of air bearings being the only tape-deflecting bearings between the reels and the head, and said air bearings being constructed and arranged so as not to be subject to intentional displacement in the plane of rotation of the tape reels,
- each of said air bearings having pneumatic means forming part of the air bearing for sensing the tension in the tape portion supported thereby,
- servo motors for driving said reels, and
- means for utilizing the tension sensed by both said sensing means to control the motor driving one of said reels.
3 more elements
A system for transporting magnetic tape between reels and past a magnetic read/write head, comprising
- a pair of tape-deflecting air bearings, respectively supporting the tape on opposite sides of said head,
- said bearings being geometrically positioned relative to the head so as to produce a predetermined amount of tape wrap about the head, with one direction of curvature around said bearings, and the opposite direction of curvature around said head,
- said pair of bearings being the only tape-deflecting bearings between the reels and the head, and said bearings being constructed and arranged so as not to be subject to intentional displacement in the plane of rotation of the tape reels,
- each of said air bearings having means for sensing the tension in the tape portion supported thereby,
- servo motors for driving said reels, and
- means for utilizing the tension sensed by both said sensing means to control the motor driving one of said reels,
- said utilizing means including
- means for producing signals respectively representing the tension sensed by the respective sensing means,
- means for producing a reference signal,
- means for comparing said reference signal subtractively with the sum of said tension representing signals, and
- means for utilizing the comparison to control said motor.
8 more elements
A system for transporting magnetic tape between reels and past a magnetic read/write head, comprising
- a pair of tape-deflecting air bearings, respectively supporting the tape on opposite sides of said head,
- said bearings being geometrically positioned relative to the head so as to produce a predetermined amount of tape wrap about the head, with one direction of curvature around said bearings, and the opposite direction of curvature around said head,
- said pair of bearings being the only tape-deflecing bearings between the reels and the head, and said bearings being constructed and arranged so as not to be subject to intentional displacement in the plane of rotation of the tape reels,
- each of said air bearings having means for sensing the tension in the tape portion supported thereby,
- servo motors for driving said reels, and
- means for utilizing the tension sensed by both said sensing means to control the motor driving one of said reels,
- said utilizing means including
- means for producing signals respectively representing the tension sensed by the respective sensing means,
- means for producing a reference signal with an absolute magnitude substantially equal to the sum of the signals representing the desired tension in the respective tape portions,
- means for comparing said reference signal subtractively with the sum of said tension representing signals, and
- means for utilizing the comparison to control said motor.
8 more elements
A system for transporting magnetic tape between reels and past a magnetic read/write head, comprising
- a pair of tape-deflecting air bearings, respectively supporting the tape on opposite sides of said head,
- said bearings being geometrically positioned relative to the head so as to produce a predetermined amount of tape wrap about the head, with one direction of curvature around said bearings, and the opposite direction of curvature around said head,
- said pair of bearings being the only tape-deflecting bearings between the reels and the head, and said bearings being constructed and arranged so as not to be subject to intentional displacement in the plane of rotation of the tape reels,
- each of said air bearings having means for sensing the tension in the tape portion supported thereby,
- servo motors for driving said reels, and
- means for utilizing the tension sensed by both said sensing means to control the motor driving one of said reels,
- said utilizing means including
- means for producing signals respectively representing the tension sensed by the respective sensing means,
- means for producing a reference signal,
- means for comparing said reference signal subtractively with the sum of said tension representing signals, and
- means for utilizing the comparison to control said motor, said comparison utilizing means including means for causing the controlled motor to change the torque applied to the reel driven by that motor so that the tension in the portions of the tape between the driven reel and the head is caused to vary in opposite sense to the variation in tension sensed in the tape portion between the head and the other reel.
8 more elements
A system for transporting magnetic tape between reels and past a magnetic read/write head, comprising
- a pair of tape-deflecting bearings, respectively supporting the tape on opposite sides of said head,
- said pair of bearings being the only tape-deflecting bearings between the reels and the head, and said bearings being constructed and arranged so as not to be subject to intentional displacement in the plane of rotation of the tape reels,
- said bearings being geometrically positioned relative to the head so as to produce a predetermined amount of tape wrap about the head, with a first direction of curvature around said head, a second direction of curvature opposite the first direction around said bearings, and a third direction of curvature opposite the second direction around said reels,
- each of said bearings having means for sensing the tension in the tape portion supported thereby,
- servo motors for driving said reels, and
- means for utilizing the tension sensed by both said sensing means to control the motor driving one of said reels.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.