Transport apparatus for a single reel tape cartridge

A transport apparatus comprising:

• a loading rack for receiving a tape cartridge containing a web of tape on a supply reel and including a leader block for engaging a free end of said web of tape;
• a supply motor for engaging and rotating said supply reel;
• a take-up reel for receiving said leader block and said web of tape, for transport between said supply reel and said take-up reel;
• a take-up motor for rotating said take-up reel;
• leader block loading means for transferring said leader block from said tape cartridge to said take-up reel and for returning said leader block to said tape cartridge;
• a head and guide assembly including a magnetic read/write head and a plurality of guide means for receiving said web of tape and for directing said web of tape across said head;
• and
• air supply means for providing compressed air to said guide means;
• wherein said leader block loading means comprises:
• a drive motor having a shaft receiving a drive coupling,
• a first arm pivoted for rotation about the shaft of said motor and coupled with said drive coupling, and
• a second arm pivoted for rotation upon said transport apparatus and coupled with said drive coupling and said first arm;
• and
• said loading rack, said supply motor, said take-up reel, said take-up motor, said leader block loading means, said head and guide assembly and said air supply means are confined within an 8 inch form factor.

A transport apparatus comprising:

• a loading rack for receiving a tape cartridge containing a web of tape on a supply reel and including a leader block for engaging a free end of said web of tape;
• a supply motor for engaging and rotating said supply reel;
• a take-up reel for receiving said leader block and said web of tape, for transport between said supply reel and said take-up reel;
• a take-up motor for rotating said take-up reel;
• leader block loading means for transferring said leader block from said tape cartridge to said take-up reel and for returning said leader block to said tape cartridge;
• a head and guide assembly including a magnetic read/write head and a plurality of guide means for receiving said web of tape and for directing said web of tape across said head;
• and
• air supply means for providing compressed air to said guide means;
• wherein said take-up reel comprises a hub for receiving said web of tape, and includes a nest for receiving said leader block, a pair of flanges attached to opposing ends of said hub, and means for consistently packing said web of tape upon said hub;
• and
• said loading rack, said supply motor, said take-up reel, said take-up motor, said leader block loading means, said head and guide assembly and said air supply means are confined within an 8 inch form factor.

A transport apparatus comprising:

• a loading rack for receiving a tape cartridge containing a web of tape on a supply reel and including a leader block for engaging a free end of said web of tape;
• a supply motor for engaging and rotating said supply reel;
• a take-up reel for receiving said leader block and said web of tape, for transport between said supply reel and said take-up reel;
• a take-up motor for rotating said take-up reel;
• leader block loading means for transferring said leader block from said tape cartridge to said take-up reel and for returning said leader block to said tape cartridge;
• a head and guide assembly including a magnetic read/write head and a plurality of guide means for receiving said web of tape and for directing said web of tape across said head;
• and
• air supply means for providing compressed air to said guide means;
• wherein said head and guide assembly defines the tape path between said supply reel and said take-up reel;
• said head and guide assembly includes a head and a plurality of guides positioned on either side of said head, each mounted to a common plate;
• and
• said loading rack, said supply motor, said take-up reel, said take-up motor, said leader block loading means, said head and guide assembly and said air supply means are confined within an 8 inch form factor.

A transport apparatus comprising:

• a loading rack for receiving a tape cartridge containing a web of tape on a supply reel and including a leader block for engaging a free end of said web of tape;
• a supply motor for engaging and rotating said supply reel;
• a take-up reel for receiving said leader block and said web of tape, for transport between said supply reel and said take-up reel;
• a take-up motor for rotating said take-up reel;
• leader block loading means for transferring said leader block from said tape cartridge to said take-up reel and for returning said leader block to said tape cartridge;
• a head and guide assembly including a magnetic read/write head and a plurality of guides for receiving said web of tape and for directing said web of tape across said head;
• and
• air supply means for providing compressed air to said guides;
• wherein said guides are comprised of a hollow body having a curved open end, and a foil attached over the open end of the hollow body;
• and
• said loading rack, said supply motor, said take-up reel, said take-up motor, said leader block loading means, said head and guide assembly and said air supply means are confined within an 8 inch form factor.

A transport apparatus comprising:

• a loading rack for receiving a tape cartridge containing a web of tape on a supply reel and including a leader block for engaging a free end of said web of tape;
• a supply motor for engaging and rotating said supply reel;
• a take-up reel for receiving said leader block and said web of tape, for transport between said supply reel and said take-up reel;
• a take-up motor for rotating said take-up reel;
• leader block loading means for transferring said leader block from said tape cartridge to said take-up reel and for returning said leader block to said tape cartridge;
• a head and guide assembly including a magnetic read/write head and a plurality of guide means for receiving said web of tape and for directing said web of tape across said head;
• and
• air supply means for providing compressed air to said guide means;
• wherein said air supply means includes a compressor for providing compressed air to said guide means;
• air for said compressor is withdrawn from a knife edge tape cleaner associated with said head and guide assembly, providing vacuum for use in connection with said knife edge tape cleaner;
• and
• said loading rack, said supply motor, said take-up reel, said take-up motor, said leader block loading means, said head and guide assembly and said air supply means are confined with in an 8 inch form factor.

A transport apparatus comprising:

• a loading rack for receiving a tape cartridge containing a web of tape on a supply reel and including a leader block for engaging a free end of said web of tape;
• a supply motor for engaging said rotating said supply reel;
• a take-up reel for receiving said leader block and said web of tape, for transport between said supply reel and said take-up reel;
• a take-up motor for rotating said take-up reel;
• leader block loading means for transferring said leader block from said tape cartridge to said take-up reel and for returning said leader block to said tape cartridge;
• a head and guide assembly including a magnetic read/write head and a plurality of guide means for receiving said web of tape and for directing said web of tape across said head;
• and
• air supply means for providing compressed air to said guide means;
• wherein said air supply means includes a compressor for providing compressed air to said guide means;
• said guide means are air bearings, and said air supply means includes means for delivering said compressed air to said air bearings when said web of tape is in transport, and to said air bearings and an air jet in said head when said web of tape is stationary;
• and
• said loading rack, said supply motor, said take-up reel, said take-up motor, said leader block leading means, said head and guide assembly and said air supply means are confined within an 8 inch form factor.

A transport apparatus comprising:

• a loading rack for receiving a tape cartridge containing a web of tape on a supply reel and including a leader block for engaging a free end of said web of tape;
• a supply motor for engaging and rotating said supply reel;
• a take-up reel for receiving said leader block and said web of tape, for transport between said supply reel and said take-up reel;
• a take-up motor for rotating said take-up reel;
• leader block loading means for transferring said leader block from said tape cartridge to said take-up reel and for returning said leader block to said tape cartridge;
• a head and guide assembly including a magnetic read/write head and a plurality of guide means for receiving said web of tape and for directing said web of tape across said head;
• and
• air supply means for providing compressed air to said guide means;
• wherein said transport apparatus is housed in a container including a slot for receiving said tape cartridge and positioned for communication with said loading rack, and a control panel for operating said transport apparatus;
• said control panel is removably connected to said container to assume a plurality of different orientations relative to said container;
• and
• said loading rack, said supply motor, said take-up reel, said take-up motor, said leader block loading means, said head and guide assembly and said air supply means are confined within an 8 inch form factor.