Magnetic tape apparatus and method
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Company
InventorRobert Edward Walsh
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A magnetic tape recording/playback apparatus, and a method of operating the apparatus, which minimises or eliminates the tape damage which is caused by the tape-driving capstan spinning and skidding across the tape at start-up. Initial acceleration of the capstan is held to a relatively low level when capstan speed is below a predetermined value and capstan acceleration is at a higher level at capstan speeds above said predetermined value. Intermediate levels of capstan acceleration can be set for intermediate speeds.
Claims6
A magnetic tape apparatus for reproducing data from or recording data onto a magnetic tape, the apparatus comprising a tape-driving capstan for driving magnetic tape along a tape transport path through the apparatus, the apparatus further comprising control means for controlling the speed of the tape-driving capstan from standstill to a normal operating speed, said control means controlling the acceleration of the tape-driving capstan to a first rate of acceleration while the speed of the tape-driving capstan is below a predetermined value, and said control means controlling the acceleration of the tape-driving capstan to a second rate of acceleration while the speed of the tape-driving capstan is above said predetermined value, wherein said first acceleration rate is less than said second acceleration rate.
A method of operating a magnetic tape apparatus for reproducing data from or recording data onto a magnetic tape, the apparatus comprising a tape-driving capstan for driving magnetic tape along a tape transport path through the apparatus, the operating method comprising the steps of controlling the speed of the tape-driving capstan from standstill to a normal operating speed, controlling the acceleration of the tape-driving capstan to a first rate of acceleration while the speed of the tape-driving capstan is below a predetermined value, and controlling the acceleration of the tape-driving capstan to a second rate of acceleration while the speed of the tape-driving capstan is above said predetermined value, wherein said first acceleration rate is less than said second acceleration rate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.