Tape reel with self-generating negative pressure
AssigneeStorage Technology Corporation
InventorsRobert A. Beard, Hartvig E. Melbye
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A tape winding method and apparatus for facilitating the escape of air from between layers of a tape during a tape winding operation. A tape winding apparatus has a tape reel onto which a tape is adapted to be wound during a tape winding operation. A plurality of generally radial slots are provided in at least one of first and second flanges of the tape reel to create a fan-like action that generates a negative air pressure in the vicinity of the tape as the tape is being wound onto the tape reel to facilitate the escape of air from between layers of the tape during the tape winding operation.
Claims18
A tape winding apparatus comprising:
- a tape reel onto which a tape is adapted to be wound during a tape winding operation, the tape reel further comprising a hub around which the tape is wound during the tape winding operation, and first and second flanges attached to opposite ends of the hub for guiding the tape onto the hub;
- and
- a negative air pressure generator for generating a negative air pressure in the vicinity of the tape as the tape is being wound onto the tape reel to facilitate the escape of air from between layers of the tape during the tape winding operation, wherein the negative air pressure generator comprises a plurality of generally radial slots in at least one of the first and second flanges.
A tape winding apparatus comprising:
- a tape reel onto which a tape is adapted to be wound during at ape winding operation, the tape reel including a hub around which the tape is wound during the tape winding operation, and first and second flanges attached to opposite ends of the hub for guiding the tape onto the hub;
- and
- a plurality of generally radial slots in each of the first and second flanges and extending through the first and second flanges from an inner surface to an outer surface thereof for generating a negative air pressure in the vicinity of a tape pack being formed around the hub as the tape is wound around the hub for facilitating the removal of air from between layers of the tape during the tape winding operation.
A method for winding a tape onto a tape reel, comprising:
- providing a tape reel onto which a tape is adapted to be wound during a tape winding operation, wherein the tape reel includes first and second flanges for guiding the tape onto the tape reel;
- and
- generating a negative air pressure in the vicinity of the tape as the tape is being wound onto the tape reel for facilitating the escape of air from between layers of the tape during the tape winding operation, and wherein generating a negative air pressure comprises providing a plurality of generally radial slots on at least one of the first and second flanges to create a fan-like action to withdraw air from the vicinity of the tape as the tape is being wound onto the tape reel during the tape winding operation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.