Tape tensioning device

Claim 1

A TAPE TENSIONSING DEVICE FOR USE WITH A TRANSPORT OF THE CLASS WHEREIN A TAPE IS PULLED BY A CAPSTAN FROM A SUPPLY REEL, SAID DEVICE COMPRISING: MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID TRANSPORT FOR PRESSURIZED FRICTIONAL BRAKING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID SUPPLY REEL; MEANS COUPLED TO SAID BRAKING MEANS FOR URGING SAID BRAKING MEANS INTO SAID PRESSURIZED ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID REEL; AND AN ARM PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID TRANSPORT AND COUPLED TO SAID BRAKING MEANS SO AS TO RELIEVE THE PRESSURE OF SAID BRAKING MEANS ON SAID REEL WHEN PRESSURE IS APPLIED IN A FIRST ROTATIONAL DIRECTION TO SAID ARM, SAID ARM EXTENDING TO ENGAGE SAID TAPE AT A POINT SPACED FROM SAID REEL AND SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR TO THE RADIUS OF SAID REEL AT SAID POINT SO AS TO RECEIVE A COMPONENT OF THE TENSION OF SAID TAPE WITH SAID COMPONENT ACTING IN SAID FIRST ROTATIONAL DIRECTION ON SAID ARM, SAID COMPONENT BEING A FUNCTION OF THE ANGLE DEFINED BY SAID TAPE AND SAID ARM, SO THAT SAID ANGLE IS CHANGED AS SAID FORCE APPLIED BY SAID BRAKING MEANS AND THE RESTRAINING FORCE APPLIED BY SAID BRAKING MEANS TO SAID REEL IS PROGRESSIVELY DECREASED TO MAINTAIN THE TENSION OF SAID TAPE AT A CONSTANT VALUE.