# US 5,699,972 A · Magnetic tape apparatus for eliminating a slack of magnetic tape when changing a tape winding direction > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,699,972 A - Document ID: US5699972A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/671,394 - Filed: 1996-06-26 - Granted: 1997-12-23 - Earliest claimed: 1995-06-29 - Assignees: Mitsumi Electric Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Ikuichiro Nawa - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5699972A ## CPC - G11B 15/6656: {using two-sided extraction, i.e. "M-type"} - G11B 15/43: Control or regulation of mechanical tension of record carrier, e.g. tape tension - G11B: INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER (recording measured values in a way that does not require playback through a transducer G01D9/00; recording or playback apparatus using mechanically marked tape, e.g. punched paper tape, or using unit records, e.g. punched or magnetically marked cards G06K; transferring data from one type of record carrier to another G06K1/18; circuits for coupling output of reproducer to radio receiver H04B1/20; gramophone pick-ups or like acoustic electromechanical transducers or circuits therefor H04R) ## Abstract A magnetic tape apparatus in which data is recorded on or reproduced from a magnetic tape when the magnetic tape is run on a rotary drum, includes a tension regulating unit which regulates a tension of the magnetic tape when the magnetic tape is run, the tension regulating unit pressing the magnetic tape at a first position in a tension-applying direction. A slack preventing unit exerts a rotating force on the tension regulating unit at a second position such that the rotating force exerted at the second position acts on the tension regulating unit at the first position to further press the magnetic tape in the tension-applying direction, thus preventing a slack of the magnetic tape from being produced when changing a tape winding direction of the magnetic tape. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A magnetic tape apparatus in which data is recorded on or reproduced from a magnetic tape when the magnetic tape is run on a rotary drum, said apparatus comprising: a tension regulating unit regulating a tension of the magnetic tape when the magnetic tape is run, said tension regulating unit pressing the magnetic tape at a first position in a tension-applying direction; and a slack preventing unit, associated with said tension regulating unit, exerting a rotating force on said tension regulating unit at a second position such that said rotating force exerted at the second position acts on said tension regulating unit at the first position to further press the magnetic tape in the tension-applying direction, thus preventing a slack of the magnetic tape from being produced when changing a tape winding direction of the magnetic tape. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said tension regulating unit comprises a tension regulator arm rotatably supported on a rotating shaft, a tension post attached to an end of said tension regulator arm, a tension brake connected to an opposite end of said tension regulator arm, and a first spring connected to a portion of said tension brake, said tension post pressing the magnetic tape at the first position in the tension-applying direction. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said tension regulating unit comprises a tension regulator arm rotatably supported on a rotating shaft, and a tension post attached to said tension regulator arm, said tension post pressing the magnetic tape in the tension-applying direction at the first position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic tape is wound on the rotary drum in a range of a predetermined rotating angle around the rotary drum. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said slack preventing unit comprises a spring attached to said tension regulating unit at said second position and fixed to a chassis of said apparatus, said spring exerting the rotating force on said tension regulating unit at the second position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said magnetic tape apparatus further comprises: a reel rotating member which selectively rotates one of a supply reel and a take-up reel, included in a tape cassette, said reel rotating member including a swing arm, a swing gear rotatably supported on said swing arm, and a belt wound on a pulley of a capstan and connected to said swing gear. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said swing arm is swung to one of the supply reel and the take-up reel in accordance with a direction of rotation of the capstan, and said swing gear is rotated by said belt in accordance with the rotation of the capstan, said swing gear selectively rotating one of the supply reel and the take-up reel in accordance with a swinging movement of the swing arm. ### Claim 8 A magnetic tape apparatus in which data is recorded on or reproduced from a magnetic tape when the magnetic tape is run on a rotary drum, said apparatus comprising: a tension regulating unit regulating a tension of the magnetic tape when the magnetic tape is run, said tension regulating unit pressing the magnetic tape at a first position in a tension-applying direction; and a slack preventing unit, associated with said tension regulating unit, exerting a rotating force on said tension regulating unit at a second position such that said rotating force exerted at the second position acts on said tension regulating unit at the first position to further press the magnetic tape in the tension-applying direction, thus preventing a slack of the magnetic tape from being produced when changing a tape winding direction of the magnetic tape wherein said tension regulating unit comprises a tension regulator arm rotatably supported on a rotating shaft, and a tension post attached to said tension regulator arm, said tension post pressing the magnetic tape in the tension-applying direction at the first position, and wherein said slack preventing unit exerts a rotating force FA on said tension regulator arm at the second position, said rotating force FA being defined by the formula: FT.multidot.L1>FA.multidot.L2, where FT is a reaction force of the magnetic tape on said tension post, L1 is a distance between the rotating shaft and the first position, and L2 is a distance between the rotating shaft and the second position.