Apparatus for controlling tape tension
AssigneeSony Corporation
InventorMasataka Mukai
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
When a reference tape tension is changed progressively from a current tape tension to a target tape tension, a tape tension can be made to approach the reference tape tension rapidly and reliably regardless of the magnitude of the difference between the current tape tension and the target tape tension. A tape servo apparatus detects a current tape tension, compares the detected current tape tension with the reference tape tension and regulates the tape tension in response to the comparison between the detected current tape tension and the reference tape tension while the reference tape tension is gradually changed from the current tape tension to the target tape tension, preferably, in a step-wise fashion. The current tape tension is thereby corrected so the system maintains the desired tape tension.
Claims17
A tape tension servo apparatus for maintaining a desired target tension of a magnetic tape which is guided along a predetermined tape path between a supply reel and a take-up reel, comprising:
- tension detecting means for detecting a current tension of said magnetic tape in said tape path;
- means for providing a transitional reference tension which is in the region intermediate the detected current tension and the target tension;
- control means for periodically varying said transitional reference tension so as to approach said target tension;
- comparing means for comparing said detected current tension with said transitional reference tension;
- and
- tension regulating means for regulating said current tension in response to an output of said comparing means so that said current tension is regulated to approach said target tension.
A method for maintaining a desired target tension of a magnetic tape which is guided along a predetermined tape path between a supply reel and a take-up reel, including the steps of:
- detecting a current tape tension of said magnetic tape in said tape path;
- providing a transitional reference tension which is in the region intermediate the detected current tension and the target tension;
- periodically varying said transitional reference tension so as to approach said target tension;
- comparing said detected current tension with said transitional reference tension;
- and
- regulating said current tension in response to an output of the comparison between said detected current tension and said transitional reference tension so that said current tension is regulated to approach said target tension.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.