EP0229996A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System for recording, storing and reading information signals on a record medium
Assignee: Eastman Kodak Co
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Filing: 1986-12-15
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Granted: —
•
Expires: 2006-12-15
Abstract
Abstract A tape cassette (10) that includes a rotatable cylinder (12) having a centrally disposed tape storage device (20) and a surrounding circumferential wall (14) with at least one opening therein through which tape (T) passes from the storage device (20) to and helically around the outer surface (16) of the wall (14) and then back inside the cylinder (12). A cooperating recorder/reader head (30) is mounted outside the cylinder (12) in alignment with the tape (T) to record/read a slant track (t) thereon as the cylinder (12) rotates. The tape storage device (20) may be indexable to incrementally advance the tape (T) around the wall surface (16), or the head (30) may be indexable so as to incrementally move across the tape (T), each time the cylinder (12) completes one revolution, to thereby record/read a succession of slant tracks (t) as the cylinder (12) rotates through successive revolutions. Such a cassette (10) offers the combined advantages of a fast-access disk and a mass- storage tape.
Inventors
- 👤 Marvin Frederick Estes
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 20:06
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B25/00; G11B25/06; G11B25/063; G11B15/00; G11B15/18; G11B15/1808; G11B15/1883; G11B15/60; G11B15/61; G11B21/00; G11B21/003; G11B21/02; G11B23/00; G11B23/02; G11B23/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 49
Claim 1
Independent Claim
133 words
A tape cassette (10) operatively positionable in associated apparatus having rotatory drive means (28) and a signal-communicating head (30), said cassette (10) comprising: a cylindrical housing (12) having a circumferential outer wall (14) with tape passageway means (18 or 18a, 18b) therein, said housing (12) being adapted for rotation about a central axis (X); tape storage means (20) disposed inside said housing (12) with tape (T or T') extending therefrom through said passageway means (18 or 18a, 18b), around said outer wall (14), and back inside said housing (12); and means (34) cooperable with the apparatus drive means (28) for imparting rotation therefrom to said housing (12) about said axis (X), thereby to move said wall (14) and said tape (T or T') extending therearound together relative to the apparatus signal-communicating head (30).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
133 words
A tape cassette (10) operatively positionable in associated apparatus having rotatory drive means (28) and a signal-communicating head (30), said cassette (10) comprising: a cylindrical housing (12) having a circumferential outer wall (14) with tape passageway means (18 or 18a, 18b) therein, said housing (12) being adapted for rotation about a central axis (X); tape storage means (20) disposed inside said housing (12) with tape (T or T') extending therefrom through said passageway means (18 or 18a, 18b), around said outer wall (14), and back inside said housing (12); and means (34) cooperable with the apparatus drive means (28) for imparting rotation therefrom to said housing (12) about said axis (X), thereby to move said wall (14) and said tape (T or T') extending therearound together relative to the apparatus signal-communicating head (30).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
A tape cassette (10) as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said passageway means comprises an opening (18) in said outer wall (14) through which said tape (T or T') passes both out of and back into said housing (12).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
A tape cassette (10) as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said passageway means comprises a plurality of openings (18a, 18b) in said outer wall (14) through which said tape (T or T') passes out of and back into said housing (12).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
A tape cassette (10) as claimed in Claims 1 to 3 wherein said tape storage means (20) comprises an endless loop of tape (T') wound on rotatable means (26) centrally mounted in said housing (12) for rotation relative thereto.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
A tape cassette (10) as claimed in Claims 1 to 3 wherein said tape storage means (20) comprises an elongate length of tape (T) coupled to superposed rotatable means (22, 24) centrally mounted in said housing (12) for rotation relative thereto.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
A tape cassette (10) as claimed in either Claim 4 or Claim 5 including means (27 or 25) centrally mounting said rotatable means (26 or 22, 24) for rotation about an axis substantially coincident with said central axis (X).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
A tape cassette (10) as claimed in either Claim 4 or Claim 5 wherein said tape (T' or T) extending around said outer wall (14) is wound helically therearound through at least one substantially complete turn.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
A tape cassette (10) as claimed in Claim 7 including means (27 or 25) cooperable with the apparatus (38) for imparting rotation to said rotatable means (26 or 22, 24), thereby to move said tape (T' or T) relative to said wall (14).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
81 words
A tape cassette (10) as claimed in Claim 8 wherein, when said cassette (10) is operatively positioned in the apparatus, said means (27 or 25) for imparting rotation to said rotatable means (26 or 22, 24) is operative to move said tape (T' or T) relative to said wall (14) by a determined amount when said means (34) for imparting rotation to said housing (12) has moved said wall (14) and said tape (T' or T) together through substantially one revolution.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
80 words
A tape cassette (10) as claimed in Claim 9 wherein, when said cassette (10) is operatively positioned in the apparatus, a portion of said tape (T' or T) helically wound around said wall (14) is disposed in signal-communicating relation to the apparatus head (30), whereby the head (30) communicates information signals along a separate slant track (t' or t) on said tape (T' or T) as said wall (14) and said tape (T' or T) move through each succeeding revolution.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
171 words
A tape cassette (10) as claimed in Claim 10 wherein said tape (T A/B ' or T A/B ) helically wound around said outer wall (14) has first and second sides (B', A' or B, A) and includes at least first and second substantially complete turns thereof around said wall (14); wherein said first turn extends around said wall (14) in a first direction, with said first side (B' or B) facing outward; wherein said cassette (10) includes tape direction reversing means (48 or 46), disposed inside said housing (12) to receive said tape (T A/B ' or T A/B ) from said wall (14), for reversing said first direction between said first and second turns; and wherein said second turn thereupon extends around said wall (14) in a second direction opposite to said first direction, with said second side (A' or A) facing outward; whereby each of said sides (B', A' or B, A) is oriented on said wall (14) to confront the apparatus head (30) for signal communication therewith.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
A tape cassette (10) as claimed in Claim 11 wherein said reversing means (46) is centrally mounted in said housing (12) coaxially with said rotatable means (22, 24).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
A tape cassette (10) as claimed in Claim 12 wherein said reversing means (46) and said rotatable means (22, 24) are each rotatably mounted for rotation about an axis substantially coincident with said central axis (X).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
A tape cassette (10) as claimed in Claim 11 wherein said reversing means (48) is eccentrically mounted in said housing (12) to revolve with said wall (14) around said central axis (X).
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
A tape cassette (10) as claimed in Claim 14 wherein said reversing means (48) is rotatably mounted on a portion (32) of said housing (12) for rotation about an axis (Y) eccentric to said central axis (X).
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
A tape cassette (10) as claimed in Claims 10 to 15 wherein said wall (14) includes means (14' or 14") for facilitating movement of said tape (T' or T) thereon.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
47 words
A tape cassette (10) as claimed in Claim 16 wherein said means for facilitating movement of said tape includes a tape-bearing portion (14') of said wall (14) that is separately rotatable, together with said tape (T' or T) thereon, relative to non-tape-bearing portions of said wall (14).
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
A tape cassette (10) as claimed in Claim 17 wherein said tape-bearing portion (14') of said wall (14) includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced grooves (g) substantially parallel with said axis (X).
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
44 words
A tape cassette (10) as claimed in Claim 16 wherein said means for facilitating movement of said tape includes a tape-bearing portion (14") of said wall (14) having a plurality of axially spaced grooves (s) substantially parallel with said tape (T' or T) thereon.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
A tape cassette (10) as claimed in Claim 19 wherein said grooves (s) have a pitch of substantially one tape-width per circumferential-length of said tape-bearing portion (14").
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
276 words
Apparatus for recording/reading information signals on tape (T or T') supported by a cassette (10), the cassette (10) including a rotatable cylindrical housing (12) having a circumferential outer wall (14) with passageway means (18 or 18a, 18b) therein, the cassette (10) further including tape storage means (20) inside the housing (12) having a spool (22, 24 or 26) centrally mounted therein for rotation relative to the housing (12), with tape (T or T') extending from the storage means (20) through the passageway means (18 or 18a, 18b), helically around the outer wall (14), and back inside the housing (12), said apparatus comprising: means for supporting the cassette (10) in an operative position; rotatory drive means (28), couplable with the cassette (10) when in said operative position, for rotating the cassette housing (12) and the tape storage means (20) together relative to said supporting means; a signal-communicating head (30), mounted in said apparatus for alignment with a portion of the tape (T or T') extending helically around the housing outer wall (14) of the cassette (10) when in said operative position, for recording/reading information signals along a slant track (t or t') on the tape (T or T') as said drive means (28) rotates the housing (12) and the storage means (20) together relative to said supporting means; and tape advancing means (38), couplable with the tape storage means (20) of the cassette (10) when in said operative position, for rotating the storage means spool (22, 24 or 26) relative to the cassette housing (12), thereby to advance the tape (T or T') extending helically around the housing outer wall (14) relative to the outer wall (14).
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
276 words
Apparatus for recording/reading information signals on tape (T or T') supported by a cassette (10), the cassette (10) including a rotatable cylindrical housing (12) having a circumferential outer wall (14) with passageway means (18 or 18a, 18b) therein, the cassette (10) further including tape storage means (20) inside the housing (12) having a spool (22, 24 or 26) centrally mounted therein for rotation relative to the housing (12), with tape (T or T') extending from the storage means (20) through the passageway means (18 or 18a, 18b), helically around the outer wall (14), and back inside the housing (12), said apparatus comprising: means for supporting the cassette (10) in an operative position; rotatory drive means (28), couplable with the cassette (10) when in said operative position, for rotating the cassette housing (12) and the tape storage means (20) together relative to said supporting means; a signal-communicating head (30), mounted in said apparatus for alignment with a portion of the tape (T or T') extending helically around the housing outer wall (14) of the cassette (10) when in said operative position, for recording/reading information signals along a slant track (t or t') on the tape (T or T') as said drive means (28) rotates the housing (12) and the storage means (20) together relative to said supporting means; and tape advancing means (38), couplable with the tape storage means (20) of the cassette (10) when in said operative position, for rotating the storage means spool (22, 24 or 26) relative to the cassette housing (12), thereby to advance the tape (T or T') extending helically around the housing outer wall (14) relative to the outer wall (14).
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus as claimed in Claim 21 wherein said signal-communicating head (30) is fixedly mounted, relative to said supporting means, near said portion of the tape (T or T') extending helically around the housing outer wall (14).
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus as claimed in Claim 21 wherein said signal-communicating head (30) is movably mounted near the housing outer wall (14) for movement in a direction (N) transverse to the tape (T") extending helically therearound.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
110 words
to 23 24. Apparatus as claimed in Claims2l/including control means (C), operatively associated with said drive means (28) and said advancing means (38), for causing said advancing means (38) to advance the tape (T or T') relative to the outer wall (14) by a determined amount each time said drive means (28) has rotated the housing (12) and the storage means (20) together through substantially one revolution, whereby said head (30) records/reads information signals along 1 2 3 a succession of slant tracks (t , t , t ...) on the tape (T or T') as the housing (12) and the storage means (20) are rotated together through successive revolutions.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
40 words
24 25. Apparatus as claimed in Claims21 wherein said drive means (28) and said advancing means (38) include respective rotation imparting members rotatable about a common axis and couplable with the cassette (10) and the tape storage means (20) respectively.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
51 words
Apparatus as claimed in Claim 25 wherein said rotation imparting members of said drive means (28) and said advancing means (38) are mounted adjacent to axially opposite ends (32, 42) of the cassette (10) for coupling with the cassette housing (12) and the storage means spool (22, 24 or 26) respectively.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
206 words
A system for recording, storing, and reading information signals on an elongate flexible tape (T or T'), said system comprising: a cylinder (12) having an outer wall (14) with an opening (18) therein, said cylinder (12) being adapted for rotation about a central axis (X); tape storage means (20) disposed inside said cylinder (12) and including a spool (22, 24 or 26) centrally mounted in said cylinder (12) for rotation relative thereto, said tape (T or T') extending from said storage means (20) through said opening (18), around said outer wall (14), and back inside said cylinder (12); a signal-communicating head (30) disposed outside said cylinder (12) and aligned with a portion of said tape (T or T') extending around said outer wall (14); rotatory drive means (28) for rotating said cylinder (12) and said storage means (20) together so as to move both said outer wall (14) and said tape (T or T') extending therearound relative to said head (30); and tape advancing means (38) for rotating said storage means spool (22, 24 or 26) relative to said cylinder (12) so as to move said tape (T or T') extending around said outer wall (14) relative to both said wall (14) and said head (30).
Claim 30
Independent Claim
206 words
A system for recording, storing, and reading information signals on an elongate flexible tape (T or T'), said system comprising: a cylinder (12) having an outer wall (14) with an opening (18) therein, said cylinder (12) being adapted for rotation about a central axis (X); tape storage means (20) disposed inside said cylinder (12) and including a spool (22, 24 or 26) centrally mounted in said cylinder (12) for rotation relative thereto, said tape (T or T') extending from said storage means (20) through said opening (18), around said outer wall (14), and back inside said cylinder (12); a signal-communicating head (30) disposed outside said cylinder (12) and aligned with a portion of said tape (T or T') extending around said outer wall (14); rotatory drive means (28) for rotating said cylinder (12) and said storage means (20) together so as to move both said outer wall (14) and said tape (T or T') extending therearound relative to said head (30); and tape advancing means (38) for rotating said storage means spool (22, 24 or 26) relative to said cylinder (12) so as to move said tape (T or T') extending around said outer wall (14) relative to both said wall (14) and said head (30).
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system as claimed in Claim 27 wherein said outer wall (14) includes means (14' or 14") for facilitating movement of said tape (T or T') thereon.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
34 words
or 28 29. A system as claimed in Claim 27 / wherein said tape (T or T') extending around said outer wall (14) is wound helically therearound through at least one substantially complete turn.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
29 words
A system as claimed in Claim 29 wherein said head (30) is fixedly disposed near said portion of said tape (T or T') extending around said outer wall (14).
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
32 words
A system as claimed in Claim 29 wherein said head (30) is movably disposed near said outer wall (14) for movement in a direction (N) transverse to said tape (T") extending therearound.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
107 words
A system as claimed in Claim 29 including control means (C), operatively associated with said drive means (28) and said advancing means (38), for causing said advancing means (38) to move said tape (T or T') relative to said wall (14) by a determined amount each time said drive means (28) has rotated said cylinder (12) and said storage means (20) together through substantially one revolution, whereby said head (30) communicates information signals along a 123 succession of slant tracks (t , t , t ...) on said tape (T or T') as said cylinder (12) and said storage means (20) are rotated together through successive revolutions.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
164 words
A system as claimed in Claim 32 wherein said tape (T A/B or T A/B' ) helically wound around said outer wall (14) has first and second sides (B, A or B', A') and includes at least first and second substantially complete turns thereof around said wall (14); wherein said first turn extends around said wall (14) in a first direction, with said first side (B or B') facing outward; wherein said system includes tape direction reversing means (46 or 48), disposed inside said cylinder (12) to receive said tape ( T A/B or T A/B' ) from said wall ( 14 ), for reversing said first direction between said first and second turns; and wherein said second turn extends around said wall (14) in a second direction opposite to said first direction, with said second side (A or A') facing outward; whereby each of said sides (B, A or B', A') is outwardly oriented to confront said head (30) for signal communication therewith.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system as claimed in Claim 33 wherein said reversing means (46) is centrally mounted inside said cylinder (12) in concentric relation to said central axis (X).
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system as claimed in Claim 33 wherein said reversing means (48) is eccentrically mounted inside said cylinder (12) to move with said wall (14) around said central axis (X).
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
71 words
to 35 36. A system as claimed in Claims33 / wherein said head (30) is movably mounted near said wall (14) for movement from a first position (30b or 30b') in alignment with a portion of said first turn to a second position (30a or 30a') in alignment with a portion of said second turn, to communicate information signals on said first and second sides (B, A or B', A') respectively.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
96 words
to 35 37. A system as claimed in Claims33 wherein said head (30B) is mounted near said wall (14) in alignment with a portion of said first turn, to communicate information signals on said first side (B); and wherein said system includes another signal-communicating head (30A) disposed outside said cylinder (12) and aligned with a portion of said tape (T AA/BB ) extending around said outer wall (14), said other head (30A) being mounted near said wall (14) in alignment with a portion of said second turn, to communicate information signals on said second side (A).
Claim 41
Independent Claim
25 words
A system as claimed in Claims 27 to 37 wherein said spool (22, 24 or 26) is mounted for rotation about said central axis (X).
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
55 words
A system as claimed in Claim 38 wherein said drive means (28) and said advancing means (38) include respective rotation imparting members rotatable about said central axis (X) and operatively disposed to rotate said cylinder (12) and said storage means (20) together and said spool (22, 24 or 26) relative to said cylinder (12) respectively.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
62 words
A system as claimed in Claim 39 wherein said rotation imparting members of said drive means (28) and said advancing means (38) are operatively disposed adjacent to axially opposite ends (32, 42) of said cylinder (12) so as to rotate said cylinder (12) and said storage means (20) together and said spool (22, 24 or 26) relative to said cylinder (12) respectively.
Claim 44
Independent Claim
318 words
A method for recording, storing, and reading information signals on an elongate flexible tape (T or T') supported by a cassette (10) that is operatively positionable in associated apparatus having energizable motion-imparting drive means and signal-communicating head means (30), said cassette (10) having a rotatable cylindrical housing (12) including a circumferential outer wall (14) with passageway means (18 or 18a, 18b) therein and tape storage means (20) inside said housing (12) including a spool (22, 24 or 26) mounted centrally therein for rotational movement along with and relative to said housing (12), said tape (T or T') extending from said storage means (20) through said passageway means (18 or 18a, 18b), helically around said outer wall (14), and back inside said housing (12), said method comprising the steps of: positioning said cassette (10) in operative relation to said apparatus so that a portion of said tape (T or T') extending helically around said outer wall (14) is aligned with said head means (30); energizing said drive means so as to rotate said housing (12) and said storage means (20) together, and thereby move said outer wall (14) and said tape (T or T') extending therearound together, relative to and past said head means (30); energizing said head means (30) to record/read information signals along a slant track (t or t') on said tape (T or T') extending around said outer wall (14) as said wall (14) and said tape (T or T') therearound move together past said head means (30); and energizing said drive means so as to move one of said spool (22, 24 or 26) and said head means (30) relative to said housing (12), and thereby move one of said tape (T or T') and said head means (30) respectively relative to said wall (14), to enable said head means (30) to record/read information signals along another slant track on said tape (T or T').
Claim 45
Independent Claim
318 words
A method for recording, storing, and reading information signals on an elongate flexible tape (T or T') supported by a cassette (10) that is operatively positionable in associated apparatus having energizable motion-imparting drive means and signal-communicating head means (30), said cassette (10) having a rotatable cylindrical housing (12) including a circumferential outer wall (14) with passageway means (18 or 18a, 18b) therein and tape storage means (20) inside said housing (12) including a spool (22, 24 or 26) mounted centrally therein for rotational movement along with and relative to said housing (12), said tape (T or T') extending from said storage means (20) through said passageway means (18 or 18a, 18b), helically around said outer wall (14), and back inside said housing (12), said method comprising the steps of: positioning said cassette (10) in operative relation to said apparatus so that a portion of said tape (T or T') extending helically around said outer wall (14) is aligned with said head means (30); energizing said drive means so as to rotate said housing (12) and said storage means (20) together, and thereby move said outer wall (14) and said tape (T or T') extending therearound together, relative to and past said head means (30); energizing said head means (30) to record/read information signals along a slant track (t or t') on said tape (T or T') extending around said outer wall (14) as said wall (14) and said tape (T or T') therearound move together past said head means (30); and energizing said drive means so as to move one of said spool (22, 24 or 26) and said head means (30) relative to said housing (12), and thereby move one of said tape (T or T') and said head means (30) respectively relative to said wall (14), to enable said head means (30) to record/read information signals along another slant track on said tape (T or T').
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
126 words
A method as claimed in Claim 41 wherein said step of energizing said drive means so as to move one of said spool (22, 24 or 26) and said head means (30) relative to said housing (12) is effected so as to move said one of said spool (22, 24 or 26) and said head means (30) by a selected amount each time said drive means has rotated said housing (12) and said storage means (20) together through substantially one revolution, so that said head means (30) records/reads information signals along a succession of slant tracks 1 2 3 (t , t , t ...) on said tape (T or T') as said housing (12) and said storage means (20) are rotated together through successive revolutions.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
62 words
A method as claimed in either Claim 41 or Claim 42 wherein said one of said spool (22, 24 or 26) and said head means (30) is said spool (22, 24 or 26), which is moved rotationally relative to said housing (12) so that said tape (T or T') extending around said outer wall (14) moves longitudinally relative to said wall (14).
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
57 words
A method as claimed in either Claim 41 or Claim 42 wherein said one of said spool (22, 24 or 26) and said head means (30) is said head means (30), which is moved translationally relative to said housing (12) in a direction (N) transverse to said tape (T or T') extending around said outer wall (14).
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
80 words
A method as claimed in either Claim 41 or Claim 42 wherein said tape (T or T') extends helically through a plurality of turns around said outer wall (14); wherein said head means (30) includes a plurality of signal-communicating heads (30A, 30B) alignable with said turns; and wherein said step of energizing said head means (30) includes energizing said heads (30A, 30B) so as to record/read information signals along a slant track (t or t') on each of said turns.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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