Magnetic tape cartridge

Claim 2

A cartridge for supplying a length of tape to a recording and/or reproducing machine having means for driving a pair of axially aligned reels in the same direction about their axis including a single reel driving spindle adapted to drive each reel of a said pair of axially aligned reels through an independent slip clutch, said cartridge comprising: a container formed of shell means defining a boxlike enclosure with a cutaway portion along one edge and an aperture in one wall for access to the interior thereof by said reel driving means; a shaft supported generally centrally of said enclosure by said shell means; flanges, rotatably mounted on said shaft for rotation relative to said shaft and to each other; tape guide means defining a tape path from one of said reels along said one edge, across said cutaway portion of said container and back across said cutaway portion in spaced parallel relationship, to the other of said reels, said guide means including one guide roller rotatably mounted on an axis normal to the axis of said shaft; and a length of tape, said tape extending between said reels along said tape path and being convolutely wound on said reels in the same direction about their axes.

Claim 3

A cartridge according to claim 1 including a friction reel brake assembly supported by said shell means for braking said reels when not in operation.

Claim 4

A cartridge according to claim 1 wherein both portions of said tape path defined by said tape guide means across said cutaway portion lie in the same plane.

Claim 5

A cartridge for supplying a length of tape to a reproducing machine having a single vertically positioned reel driving spindle comprising: a container formed of shell means defining a boxlike enclosure with a cutaway portion along one edge; a shaft rotatably mounted generally centrally of said enclosure on said shell means, said shaft having means on one end to afford a drive coupling with said reel driving spindle and at least a pair of clutch discs affixed thereto in axially spaced relation; a pair of reels, each having axially spaced parallel flanges, rotatably mounted on said shaft, said reels being positioned on opposite sides of one of said pair of clutch discs and each of said reels being supported by a different one of said discs with a flange of each of said reels frictionally engaging an associated disc when said one end of said shaft is connected to a said spindle; and tape guide means defining a tape path from one of said reels along said one edge across said cutaway portion of said container and back across said cutaway portion to the other of said reels.

Claim 6

A cartridge for supplying a length of tape to a reproducing machine having a single vertically positioned reel driving spindle comprising: a container formed of shell means defining a boxlike enclosure with a cutaway portion along one edge; a shaft rotatably mounted generally centrally of said enclosure on said shell means, said shaft having means on one end to afford a drive coupling with said reel driving spindle and at least a pair of clutch discs affixed thereto in axially spaced relation; a pair of reels, each having axially spaced parallel flanges, rotatably mounted on said shaft, said reels being positioned on opposite sides of one of said pair of clutch discs and each of said reels being supported by a different one of said discs with a flange of each of said reels frictionally engaging an associated disc when said one end of said shaft is connected to a said spindle; and tape guide means defining a tape path from one of said reels along said one edge across said cutaway portion of said container and back across said cutaway portion to the other of said reels.

Claim 7

A cartridge for supplying a length of tape to a reproducing machine having a single vertically positioned reel driving spindle comprising: a container formed of shell means defining a boxlike enclosure having a cutaway portion along one edge; a shaft rotatably mounted generally centrally within said enclosure on said shell means, said shaft having means on one end to afford a drive coupling with a said reel driving spindle and at least a pair of clutch discs affixed thereto in axially spaced relation; a pair of reels, having axially spaced parallel flanges, rotatably mounted on said shaft for rotation relative to said shaft and to each other, said reels being positioned on oPposite sides of one of said pair of discs and each of said reels being supported by a different one of said discs when in an operating position with a flange of each said reel engaging a different one of said discs, each reel having said flange provided with a friction covering to engage the cooperating clutch disc; tape guide rollers positioned adjacent opposite corners of said cutaway edge to define a tape path from one reel along said edge across the cutaway portion and back across said cutaway portion to the other reel; and a bifurcated tape guide and friction reel brake assembly supported by said shell means and positioned between the reels for braking the reels when not in operation and for supporting the tape across the cutaway portion.

Claim 8

A cartridge for supplying a length of tape to a reproducing machine having a single vertically positioned reel driving spindle comprising: a container formed of shell means defining a boxlike enclosure having a cutaway portion along one edge; a shaft rotatably mounted generally centrally within said enclosure on said shell means, said shaft having means on one end to afford a drive coupling with a said reel driving spindle and at least a pair of clutch discs affixed thereto in axially spaced relation; a pair of reels, having axially spaced parallel flanges, rotatably mounted on said shaft for rotation relative to said shaft and to each other, said reels being positioned on oPposite sides of one of said pair of discs and each of said reels being supported by a different one of said discs when in an operating position with a flange of each said reel engaging a different one of said discs, each reel having said flange provided with a friction covering to engage the cooperating clutch disc; tape guide rollers positioned adjacent opposite corners of said cutaway edge to define a tape path from one reel along said edge across the cutaway portion and back across said cutaway portion to the other reel; and a bifurcated tape guide and friction reel brake assembly supported by said shell means and positioned between the reels for braking the reels when not in operation and for supporting the tape across the cutaway portion.

Claim 9

A cartridge for supplying a length of tape to a reproducing machine having a single reel driving spindle comprising: a container formed of first and second shell means joined together by a suitable fastening means to define a boxlike enclosure having a cutaway portion along one edge; a shaft rotatably mounted generally centrally of said enclosure on said shell means, said shaft having means on one end to afford a drive coupling with a said reel driving spindle and a pair of clutch discs affixed thereto in axially spaced relation; a pair of reels, having axially spaced parallel flanges, rotatably mounted on said shaft for rotation relative to said shaft and to each other, said reels being positioned on opposite sides of one of said pair of discs and each of said reels being supported by a different one of said discs when said container is positioned with said one end of said shaft below the other end thereof, and each reel having a felt ring affixed to a flange thereof and positioned in opposed cooperating position with the clutch disc supporting the reel; a length of tape wound on said reels, said tape having one end attached to one of said reels and the other end attached to the other of said reels; and tape guide means defining a tape path from one of said reels along said one edge of said container across said cutaway portion and back across said cutaway portion to the other of said reels, said guide means including a pair of rollers positioned in axially aligned position and rotatably on a pin, the axis of which is parallel to said shaft, mounted in said container adjacent one side of said cutaway portion and a roller mounted for rotation on an axis normal to said shaft and positioned in said container on the side of said cutaway portion opposite said pair of rollers.

Claim 10

A cartridge for supplying a length of tape to a reproducing machine having a single reel driving spindle comprising: a container formed of first and second shell means joined together by a suitable fastening means to define a boxlike enclosure having a cutaway portion along one edge; a shaft rotatably mounted generally centrally of said enclosure on said shell means, said shaft having means on one end to afford a drive coupling with a said reel driving spindle and a pair of clutch discs affixed thereto in axially spaced relation; a pair of reels, having axially spaced parallel flanges, rotatably mounted on said shaft for rotation relative to said shaft and to each other, said reels being positioned on opposite sides of one of said pair of discs and each of said reels being supported by a different one of said discs when said container is positioned with said one end of said shaft below the other end thereof, and each reel having a felt ring affixed to a flange thereof and positioned in opposed cooperating position with the clutch disc supporting the reel; a length of tape wound on said reels, said tape having one end attached to one of said reels and the other end attached to the other of said reels; and tape guide means defining a tape path from one of said reels along said one edge of said container across said cutaway portion and back across said cutaway portion to the other of said reels, said guide means including a pair of rollers positioned in axially aligned position and rotatably on a pin, the axis of which is parallel to said shaft, mounted in said container adjacent one side of said cutaway portion and a roller mounted for rotation on an axis normal to said shaft and positioned in said container on the side of said cutaway portion opposite said pair of rollers.

Claim 11

A cartridge for supplying a length of tape to a reproducing machine having a single vertically positioned reel driving spindle, a cartridge receiving area, and slip-clutched reel driving means driven by said driving spindle for independently frictionally driving a pair of axially stacked reels in said cartridge receiving area in the same direction about their axes, said cartridge comprising: a container formed of shell means defining a boxlike enclosure with a cutaway portion along one edge and an aperture in a second edge for receiving said reel driving means; a shaft supported generally centrally of said enclosure by said shell means; a pair of reels, each having axially spaced parallel flanges, rotatably mounted on said shaft for rotation relative to said shaft and to each other; tape guide means supported by said container defining a tape path from one of said reels along said one edge across said cutaway portion of said container and back across said cutaway portion to the other of said reels, said guide means including one guide roller rotatably mounted on an axis normal to the axis of said shaft; and a length of tape, said tape extending between said reels along said tape path and being convolutely wound on said reels in the same direction about their axes.

Claim 12

A cartridge for supplying a length of tape to a reproducing machine having a single vertically positioned reel driving spindle, a cartridge receiving area, and slip-clutched reel driving means driven by said driving spindle for independently frictionally driving a pair of axially stacked reels in said cartridge receiving area in the same direction about their axes, said cartridge comprising: a container formed of shell means defining a boxlike enclosure with a cutaway portion along one edge and an aperture in a second edge for receiving said reel driving means; a shaft supported generally centrally of said enclosure by said shell means; a pair of reels, each having axially spaced parallel flanges, rotatably mounted on said shaft for rotation relative to said shaft and to each other; tape guide means supported by said container defining a tape path from one of said reels along said one edge across said cutaway portion of said container and back across said cutaway portion to the other of said reels, said guide means including one guide roller rotatably mounted on an axis normal to the axis of said shaft; and a length of tape, said tape extending between said reels along said tape path and being convolutely wound on said reels in the same direction about their axes.

Claim 13

A cartridge for supplying a length of tape to a recording-reproducing machine having a single vertically positioned reel drive sPindle, a cartridge receiving area spaced from said drive spindle, slip-clutched reel driving means driven by said drive spindle for independently rotating a pari of axially stacked reels in said cartridge receiving area in the same direction about their axes, an adjustably positioned transducer and a capstan positioned adjacent said cartridge receiving area, and cartridge locating means movable in response to operation of said reproducing machine comprising: a container formed of shell means defining a boxlike enclosure with a cutaway portion along open edge to be aligned with said capstan when said container is in said cartridge receiving area and an aperture in the wall of a second edge providing access to the interior of said container by said slip-clutched reel driving means; a shaft supported generally centrally of said enclosure by said shell means; a pair of reels, each having axially spaced parallel flanges, rotatably mounted on said shaft for rotation relative to said shaft and to each other; tape guide means defining a tape path from one of said reels along said one edge across said capstan aligned cutaway portion of said container and back across said capstan aligned cutaway portion to the other of said reels, said guide means including one guide roller rotatably mounted on an axis normal to the axis of said shaft; a length of tape, said tape extending between said reels along said tape path and being convolutely wound on said reels in the same direction about their axes; and a friction reel brake and pressure roller assembly supported by said shell means, said assembly positioning a pressure roller adjacent said cutaway portion of said container across said tape path and a friction reel brake in engagement with said reels when not in operation and engaged by said cartridge locating means to position said pressure roller in said cutaway portion of said container to press said tape against said capstan drive and to move said friction reel brake away from said reels when in operation.

Claim 14

A cartridge for supplying a length of tape to a recording-reproducing machine having a single vertically positioned reel drive sPindle, a cartridge receiving area spaced from said drive spindle, slip-clutched reel driving means driven by said drive spindle for independently rotating a pari of axially stacked reels in said cartridge receiving area in the same direction about their axes, an adjustably positioned transducer and a capstan positioned adjacent said cartridge receiving area, and cartridge locating means movable in response to operation of said reproducing machine comprising: a container formed of shell means defining a boxlike enclosure with a cutaway portion along open edge to be aligned with said capstan when said container is in said cartridge receiving area and an aperture in the wall of a second edge providing access to the interior of said container by said slip-clutched reel driving means; a shaft supported generally centrally of said enclosure by said shell means; a pair of reels, each having axially spaced parallel flanges, rotatably mounted on said shaft for rotation relative to said shaft and to each other; tape guide means defining a tape path from one of said reels along said one edge across said capstan aligned cutaway portion of said container and back across said capstan aligned cutaway portion to the other of said reels, said guide means including one guide roller rotatably mounted on an axis normal to the axis of said shaft; a length of tape, said tape extending between said reels along said tape path and being convolutely wound on said reels in the same direction about their axes; and a friction reel brake and pressure roller assembly supported by said shell means, said assembly positioning a pressure roller adjacent said cutaway portion of said container across said tape path and a friction reel brake in engagement with said reels when not in operation and engaged by said cartridge locating means to position said pressure roller in said cutaway portion of said container to press said tape against said capstan drive and to move said friction reel brake away from said reels when in operation.