US 5,430,586 AGranted

Tape extractor and pad lifter for extracting tape from a cassette center well, and related method

OwnerKah O. Kooinventor

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Abstract

The invention permits extraction of a magnetic tape from a conventional audio cassette for processing the tape externally of the cassette to reduce prior art tape-to-head alignment problems. A tape holder is first retracted and inserted in to a cassette well and is then extended adjacent an inside face of the tape. Prior to extracting the tape, tape guides are inserted into the well to prevent undesirable contact between extracted tape portions and the cassette body. The tape holder draws a length of extracted tape from the cassette so that the tape passes a fixed magnetic head as the tape holder attains a final position, or alternatively, as the tape holder approaches a final position, the head is moved to contact the extracted length of tape. In some embodiments, the tape is extracted from one of the two outer wells of the cassette, in which case the remaining outer well provides access for one capstan and pressure roller only. In other embodiments, a pad lifter displaces the pressure pad in the center well of the cassette, to permit extraction of the tape from the center well, thus permitting a capstan and pressure roller to access both outer wells.

Claims37

Dependent claims

A tape processing apparatus for a data bearing tape cassette having a center well in a processing edge thereof to provide access to the tape, and a pressure pad within the well, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a cassette body holding means for holding the cassette,
(b) a tape shifter having inner and outer portions, the inner portion being movable to effect movement of the outer portion,
(c) a tape holder mounted on the outer portion of the tape shifter, the tape holder being rotatable with respect to the tape shifter about a holder axis disposed normally to axes of rotation of cassette reels of the tape cassette,
(d) tape shifter moving means for moving the inner portion of the tape shifter so as to move the tape holder towards or away from the well,
(e) a pad lifter, and a pad lifter mounting and moving means for mounting and moving the pad lifter into the well to displace the pressure pad inwardly into the well from an inside face of a portion of the tape in the well to provide a clearance space between the inside face of the tape and the pad lifter of a size sufficient to receive the tape holder,
(f) tape holder rotating means for rotating the tape holder about the holder axis after entering the well of the cassette and after the pressure pad is displaced by the pad lifter, so as to position the tape holder in the clearance space between the inside face of the tape and the pad lifter to permit subsequent extraction of the said tape portion, and
(g) a movable tape guide means to contact the tape at at least a single location, and means for mounting and moving said tape guide means into the well of the cassette to contact an outside face of the tape at at least the said single locations and to remain in the well while the tape is extracted, the tape guide means being adapted to hold at least a single portion of tape which is displaced outwardly from a normal position of the tape in the cassette to be clear of the cassette to prevent undesirable contact between the said portion of the tape and portions of the cassette defining the well.

4 more elements

A method of processing a tape of a data bearing tape cassette having a cassette body and a pair of cassette reels carrying the tape, the body having a processing edge having a cassette center well to provide access to the tape and a pressure pad within the cassette well adapted to contact a length of the tape extending across the well, the method including the steps of:

(a) displacing the pressure pad inwardly into the cassette well so as to provide a clearance space between an inside face of the tape and the pressure pad of a size sufficient to permit extraction of the tape from the well,
(b) passing a tape holder in a retracted position inwardly into the well between an edge of the tape and an oppositely facing portion of the well of the cassette body, so that the tape holder is located adjacent the clearance space between the tape and the pad,
(c) rotating the tape holder about a holder axis disposed normally to axes of rotation of the cassette reels so as to extend and position the tape holder in the clearance space between the pressure pad and the inside face of a portion of the tape,
(d) positioning a movable tape guide means into the well to contact an outside face of the tape at at least one location,
(e) moving the tape holder outwardly from the cassette well so that the tape holder draws an extracted length of tape from the well of the cassette body for processing, and
(f) maintaining the said movable tape guide means in the well while the tape is extracted to prevent undesirable contact of the extracted length of the tape with portions of the cassette body defining the well.

3 more elements

A tape processing apparatus for a data bearing tape cassette having a center well in a processing edge thereof to provide access to the tape and a pressure pad within the well, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a tape holder rotatable about a holder axis between retracted and extended positions of the tape holder, the holder axis being disposed normally to axes of rotation of cassette reels of the cassette,
(b) tape shifter means for mounting and shifting the tape holder between an inserted position of the tape shifter adjacent a length of tape within the cassette center well, and an extended and final operative position of the tape shifter in which the tape is extracted or displaced outwardly of the well,
(c) a pad lifter, and a pad lifter mounting and moving means for mounting and moving the pad lifter into the cassette well to displace the pressure pad inwardly into the cassette well from an inside face of the tape to provide a clearance space between the inside face of the tape and the pad lifter of a size sufficient to receive the tape holder,
(d) sequencing means for controlling a sequence of operation of the tape shifter means, the tape holder, and the pad lifter, the sequence of operation comprising:
moving the pad lifter so as to displace the pressure pad into the center well so as to provide the clearance space between the inside face of the tape and the pad lifter to receive the tape holder;
moving the tape shifter means to shift the retracted tape holder generally perpendicularly to the processing edge inwardly into the well of the cassette body to position the tape holder adjacent the clearance space between the tape and the pad lifter;
rotating the tape holder about the holder axis from the retracted to the extended position thereof to position the tape holder in the clearance space between the pressure pad and the inside face of the tape;
and moving the tape shifter means to shift the tape holder initially generally perpendicularly to the processing edge of the cassette outwardly of the well to draw an extracted length of the tape from the well, and
(e) a movable tape guide means to contact the tape at at least a single location, and means for mounting and moving said tape guide means into the well of the cassette to contact an outside face of the tape at at least the said single location, and to remain in the well while the tape is extracted, the tape guide means being adapted to hold at least a single portion of tape which is displaced outwardly from a normal position of the tape in the cassette to be clear of the cassette to prevent undesirable contact between the said portion of the tape and portions of the cassette defining the well.

6 more elements

A method of processing a tape of a data bearing tape cassette having a cassette body and a pair of cassette reels carrying the tape, the body having a processing edge having a center well, and a pressure pad within the well adapted to contact a length of the tape extending across the well;

the method including the steps of:
(a) displacing the pressure pad into the well so as to provide a clearance space between an inside face of the tape and the pressure pad of a size sufficient to permit extraction of the tape from the well,
(b) moving a tape holder in a retracted position thereof generally perpendicularly to the processing edge into the well to position the tape holder adjacent the clearance space between the tape and the pad,
(c) rotating the tape holder about a holder axis disposed normally to axes of rotation of the cassette reels to locate the tape holder in an extended position thereof and to position the tape holder between the pad and the inside face of the tape,
(d) prior to extracting the tape from the well, positioning a movable tape guide means into the well to contact an outside face of the tape at at least one location,
(e) moving the tape holder outwardly from the cassette well so what the tape holder draws an extracted length of tape from the well of the cassette body processing, and
(f) maintaining the said movable tape guide means in the well while the tape is extracted to prevent undesirable contact of the extracted length of the tape with portions of the cassette body defining the well.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.