Method and apparatus for extracting leader tape from a cassette and loading the cassette with use tape
AssigneeTapematic U.S.A., Inc.
InventorLuciano Perego
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for extracting leader tape from a cassette to load the cassette with use tape is provided. In this apparatus, a first staging area is adapted to receive a cassette from an input mechanism wherein a pin orthogonally mounted on a rotating pick controlled by a rotary switch engages and extracts the leader tape when the rotating pick is rotated by the rotary switch. A second staging area is adapted to receive the cassette with the extracted leader tape from the first staging area wherein the use tape is spliced to the extracted leader tape and use tape is loaded into the cassette.
Claims9
An apparatus for extracting leader tape from a cassette to load the cassette with use tape, comprising:
- a first staging area adapted to receive a cassette having bottom flanges from an input mechanism with the bottom flanges of the cassette facing forward;
- a rotating pick controlled by a rotary switch;
- a first pin orthogonally mounted on said rotating pick and rotatable through an arc, wherein said first pin engages and extracts said leader tape in the form of a loop when said rotating pick is rotated by said rotary switch and passes between the bottom flanges of the cassette in the first staging area;
- a second staging area spaced from said first staging area and adapted to receive said cassette with the extracted leader tape in the form of a loop from said first staging area wherein a second bidirectionally movable pin enters the loop to extract further leader tape from the cassette;
- and
- a loading section for splicing use tape to the extracted leader tape and for loading said cassette with use tape while said cassette is located in said second staging area.
An apparatus for extracting leader tape from a cassette to load the cassette with use tape, comprising:
- receiving means for receiving a cassette having bottom flanges with the bottom flanges of the cassette facing forward;
- extracting means for extracting leader tape from the received cassette, said extracting means including a rotary pick including a first pin mounted thereon and rotatable through an arc wherein said first pin engages and extracts said leader tape in the form of a loop;
- loading means spaced from the receiving means for receiving said cassette having said extracted leader tape in the form of a loop and for loading said cassette with use tape and wherein in said loading means a second movable pin enters the loop to extract further leader tape from the cassette.
A method for extracting leader tape from a cassette and loading the cassette with use tape, comprising the steps of:
- receiving a cassette having bottom flanges from an in-feed conveyor with the bottom flanges of the received cassette facing forward;
- extracting the leader tape from the received cassette by rotating a pick having an orthogonally mounted first pin, wherein said first pin is rotatable through an arc and engages and extracts said leader tape in the form of a loop when the first pin passes between the bottom flanges of the received cassette;
- and
- moving the cassette with extracted leader tape in the form of a loop to a loading station wherein a second bidirectionally movable pin enters the loop to extract further leader tape from the cassette;
- and
- splicing use tape to the extracted leader tape and loading said cassette with use tape while said cassette is located in said loading station.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.