Tape transport with non-linear buffer loop boxes

Claim 1

A TAPE RECORDING UNIT COMPRISING: A SUPPLY REEL, A TAKEUP REEL, A CAPSTAN OPERABLE TO ENGAGE THE TAPE FOR MOVEMENT BETWEEN SAID SUPPLY REEL AND SAID TAKEUP REEL ALONG A PREDETERMINED TAPE PATH, A RECORDING HEAD POSITIONED ALONG SAID TAPE PATH ADJACENT SAID CAPSTAN, FIRST AND SECOND LOOP BOXES DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID CAPSTAN AND SAID SUPPLY REEL AND SAID CAPSTAN AND SAID TAKEUP REEL, RESPECTIVELY, EACH OF SAID LOOP BOXES COMPRISING, FIRST AND SECOND SECTIONS, SAID FIRST AND SECOND SECTIONS BEING SEPARATED BY A WALL MEMBER SHORTER THAN THE OUTSIDE WALLS DEFINING THE LOOP BOX, SAID WALL MEMBER BEING CLOSER TO THE SIDE WALL OF SAID SECOND SECTION THAN THAT OF SAID FIRST SECTION, MEANS CONNECTING A SOURCE OF VACUUM TO SAID FIRST AND SECOND SECTIONS WHEREBY THE ARCUATE LENGTHS OF TAPE DISPOSED IN SAID FIRST AND SECOND SECTIONS NORMALLY TEND TO EQUALIZE.