US3552618A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tape handling and storage apparatus
Assignee: WILTEK Inc
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Filing: 1968-11-13
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Granted: 1971-01-05
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Expires: 1988-11-13
Abstract
Abstract A tape handling mechanism and horizontal storage bin for a continuous loop of magnetic tape includes slotted tape guides positioned at critical angles to achieve a smooth and uniform passage of tape from the bin onto a pair of separately operable sprocket drives, past read and write heads tangential to the sprocket drives, and from the sprocket drives back into the bin, while preventing gripping or jamming of the tape loop in the confined bin. A pair of tape guide slots between the read and write heads guides tape into a buffer loop whenever data is recorded by the write head more rapidly than recorded data is read out by the read head. A first tape tension switch operates when the buffer loop is too tight, to cause the write head sprocket to advance tape without recording data, while a second tape tension switch prevents further operation of the recording head sprocket when the buffer store is completely filled.
Inventors
- 👤 John A Molnar
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 09:22
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L13/00; H04L13/02; H04L13/06; G; G11; G11B; G11B15/00; G11B15/60; G11B15/66; G11B23/00; G11B23/02; G11B23/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
205 words
A buffer storage tape handling apparatus comprising in combination: A. a pair of adjacent, separately operable, motor driven sprocket wheels each having associated therewith a magnetic transducer head adapted either for recording or reading data signals in a plurality of parallel tracks on a magnetic tape passed therebetween; B. a pair of free running tape guide rollers adjacent and substantially tangent to each of said motor driven sprocket wheels, but spaced therefrom by a distance approximately equal to twice the thickness of tape to be passed therebetween; C. a first and second pair of linear tape guiding slots, each said pair of slots adjacent one of said motor driven sprocket wheels; 1. the width of each said slot being approximately equal to twice the thickness of tApe to be passed therethrough; 2. each said slot aligned with the space between one of said motor driven sprocket wheels and one of said free running rollers, the axis of said slot being substantially tangential to said roller and said sprocket wheel, whereby tape introduced into a first one of said slots is guided thereby through the space between one of said sprocket wheels and one of said adjacent rollers into tangential engagement with said one sprocket wheel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
205 words
A buffer storage tape handling apparatus comprising in combination: A. a pair of adjacent, separately operable, motor driven sprocket wheels each having associated therewith a magnetic transducer head adapted either for recording or reading data signals in a plurality of parallel tracks on a magnetic tape passed therebetween; B. a pair of free running tape guide rollers adjacent and substantially tangent to each of said motor driven sprocket wheels, but spaced therefrom by a distance approximately equal to twice the thickness of tape to be passed therebetween; C. a first and second pair of linear tape guiding slots, each said pair of slots adjacent one of said motor driven sprocket wheels; 1. the width of each said slot being approximately equal to twice the thickness of tApe to be passed therethrough; 2. each said slot aligned with the space between one of said motor driven sprocket wheels and one of said free running rollers, the axis of said slot being substantially tangential to said roller and said sprocket wheel, whereby tape introduced into a first one of said slots is guided thereby through the space between one of said sprocket wheels and one of said adjacent rollers into tangential engagement with said one sprocket wheel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
the angle between said third and fourth tape guide slots limiting the extent of contact with said second sprocket wheel of tape passed therethrough to an arc of substantially less than 180*.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
the angle between said third and fourth tape guide slots limiting the extent of contact with said second sprocket wheel of tape passed therethrough to an arc of substantially less than 180*.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
115 words
the angle between said first and second tape guide slots limiting the extent of contact with said first sprocket wheel of tape passed therethrough to an arc of substantially Less than 180*; D. a second sprocket wheel tape drive tangential to the second transducer head; E. a third linear tape guide slot having a first end thereof adjacent to the periphery of said second sprocket wheel at a first point and the opposite end thereof opening into said tape storage chamber in proximity to the opposite end of said second linear tape guide slot, whereby a buffer loop of tape may be formed between said opposite ends of said second and third tape guide slots;
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
115 words
the angle between said first and second tape guide slots limiting the extent of contact with said first sprocket wheel of tape passed therethrough to an arc of substantially Less than 180*; D. a second sprocket wheel tape drive tangential to the second transducer head; E. a third linear tape guide slot having a first end thereof adjacent to the periphery of said second sprocket wheel at a first point and the opposite end thereof opening into said tape storage chamber in proximity to the opposite end of said second linear tape guide slot, whereby a buffer loop of tape may be formed between said opposite ends of said second and third tape guide slots;
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
53 words
A buffer storage tape handling apparatus according to claim 1 including a first pressure sensitive electrical switch located between said first and second pairs of linear tape guiding slots and positioned to be operated by a tight loop of tape passing from said first pair of slots into said second pair of slots.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
73 words
each said slot aligned with the space between one of said motor driven sprocket wheels and one of said free running rollers, the axis of said slot being substantially tangential to said roller and said sprocket wheel, whereby tape introduced into a first one of said slots is guided thereby through the space between one of said sprocket wheels and one of said adjacent rollers into tangential engagement with said one sprocket wheel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
73 words
each said slot aligned with the space between one of said motor driven sprocket wheels and one of said free running rollers, the axis of said slot being substantially tangential to said roller and said sprocket wheel, whereby tape introduced into a first one of said slots is guided thereby through the space between one of said sprocket wheels and one of said adjacent rollers into tangential engagement with said one sprocket wheel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
The combination of claim 2 and a second pressure sensitive switch adapted to be operated by a second tight loop of tape externally of said guide slots and sprocket wheel driving means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
The combination of claim 2 in which said first pressure sensitive switch is adapted to cause operation of one of said sprocket wheel drives while inhibiting the recording of data signals by the magnetic transducer associated with said sprocket wheel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
The combination of claim 3 in which said second pressure sensitive switch is adapted to interrupt operation of one of said sprocket wheel drives while inhibiting the recording of data signals by the magnetic transducer associated with said sprocket wheel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
53 words
A magnetic tape transport according to claim 1 wherein the angle a which said first and fourth tape guide slots, of said first and second pair of linear slots, form with a central line bisecting either of said sprocket wheels and its associated magnetic transducer is of the order of 25 to 30*.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
49 words
A magnetic tape transport according to claim 1 wherein the angle b which said second and third tape guide slots, of said first and second pair of linear slots, form with a central line bisecting either of said sprocket wheels and its associated magnetic transducer is less than 30*.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
A magnetic tape transport as defined in claim 7 wherein said angle a is approximately 28 1/2 * and said angle b is approximately 28*.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein the arcuate angle c subtended between the points of tangency of each said pairs of rollers with its adjacent sprocket wheel is of the order of 120* to 130*.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
12 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein the angle c is approximately 124*.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
75 words
In an incremental tape transport apparatus, means for reversibly feeding and guiding a continuous loop of magnetic tape past first and second transducer heads, comprising in combination: A. a first sprocket wheel tape drive tangential to the first transducer head; B. a first linear tape guide slot having one end thereof adjacent to the periphery of said first sprocket wheel at a first point, and the opposite end thereof opening into a tape storage chamber;
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
75 words
In an incremental tape transport apparatus, means for reversibly feeding and guiding a continuous loop of magnetic tape past first and second transducer heads, comprising in combination: A. a first sprocket wheel tape drive tangential to the first transducer head; B. a first linear tape guide slot having one end thereof adjacent to the periphery of said first sprocket wheel at a first point, and the opposite end thereof opening into a tape storage chamber;
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
The combination of claim 11 wherein said first and third tape guide slots are substantially parallel to each other, and said second and fourth tape guide slots are substantially parallel one to another.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
47 words
The combination of claim 11 and a pair of free running tape guide rollers adjacent each of said first and second sprocket wheels at said first and second points of substantial tangency of the axes of said tape guide slots with the peripheries of said sprocket wheels.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
40 words
The combination of claim 11 including a pressure sensitive switch located between the opposite ends of said second and third tape guide slots, said switch operable by tape passing between said slots whenever tape tension therebetween exceeds a predetermined limit.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
30 words
The combination of claim 14 and a second pressure sensitive switch located in the tape storage chamber and operable by tape passing thereover whenever tape tension exceeds a predetermined limit.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-01-04 | 1974-07-06 | 1975-01-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-01-04 | 1978-07-06 | 1979-01-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-01-04 | 1982-07-06 | 1983-01-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |