Pneumatically biased tape loading

Claim 2

An automatic tape-loading apparatus, including the combination: a pair of tape storage chambers having first and second immediately adjacent openings; a plenum chamber enclosing both of said openings and having a third opening opposite said adjacent openings; tape supply means disposed on said plenum opposite said adjacent openings and adapted to supply a loop or tape into said plenum and supplying said tape first toward said first opening and then toward said second opening such that said closed loop separates said third opening from said adjacent openings; pressure differential means including vacuum means in communicative relationship with said storage chambers and said third opening for creating a pressure differential across said tape for urging said tape supply means to supply tape under urging on said tape from said pressure differential means; and means for exerting a greater force of attraction on said tape at said second opening for a limited period of tape supply such that a loop of predetermined size is formed in said tape storage chamber at said second opening.

Claim 3

An automatic elongated web loading apparatus; first and second web storage chambers having adjacent openings for removably receiving said elongated web; a plenum chamber common to said adjacent openings; web supply means adjacent said plenum chamber and adapted to initially place a web into said plenum such that said web forms a flexible fluid movement-retarding diaphragm in said plenum forming two chamber portions therein and further adapted to supply said web into said plenum past said adjacent openings of said first storage chamber before the other; fluid pressure means in communicative relationship with said chambers to establish a pressure differential between said plenum chamber portions for forcing said web toward said storage chambers; the improvement including the combination: said first storage chamber having a smaller opening than said second storage chamber for exerting a lesser attracting force on said web than said second storage chamber such that a loop of said web is formed in said second storage chamber; and means for establishing an equal web attracting force in said storage chambers after a predetermined size loop of said elongated web is formed in said second storage chamber such that said first chamber then receives the web supplied from said tape supply means.

Claim 4

An automatic elongated web loading apparatus; first and second web storage chambers having adjacent openings for removably receiving said elongated web; a plenum chamber common to said adjacent openings; web supply means adjacent said plenum chamber and adapted to initially place a web into said plenum such that said web forms a flexible fluid movement-retarding diaphragm in said plenum forming two chamber portions therein and further adapted to supply said web into said plenum past said adjacent openings of said first storage chamber before the other; fluid pressure means in communicative relationship with said chambers to establish a pressure differential between said plenum chamber portions for forcing said web toward said storage chambers; the improvement including the combination: said first storage chamber having a smaller opening than said second storage chamber for exerting a lesser attracting force on said web than said second storage chamber such that a loop of said web is formed in said second storage chamber; and means for establishing an equal web attracting force in said storage chambers after a predetermined size loop of said elongated web is formed in said second storage chamber such that said first chamber then receives the web supplied from said tape supply means.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said adjacent openings are substantially at a right angle with the apex of said angle being intermediate said web storage chambers and said web supply means disposed at said plenum chamber opposite said apex.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said fluid pressure means causes a substantially equal and constant pressure in both said storage chambers.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said second storage chamber has an enlarged upper end portion extending from the opening thereof to said means for establishing an equal web-attracting force.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said means for establishing an equal web-attracting force includes an inwardly extending shoulder at a lower end of said enlarged upper end portion such that the cross-sectional area of said second storage chamber is substantially the same size as said adjacent opening of said first storage chamber.

Claim 9

An automatic tape-loading apparatus, including the combination: a pair of tape storage chambers situated in a side-by-side relationship and respectively having immediately adjacent openings; a plenum in common communicative relationship to said openings; tape supply means on said plenum opposite to said openings and adapted to supply a tape into said plenum with the tape being supplied toward a first one of said openings; pneumatic means in communicative relation to said plenum and said tape storage chambers for establishing an equal pressure differential between said storage chambers and said plenum immediately adjacent said tape supply means whereby said tape is urged through said openings to form a loop into said first one of said openings because of the proximity of the tape supply means thereto; and the other one of said tape storage chambers having an enlarged opening for providing an increased pressure differential force such that, as the tape supply means supplies tape, a predetermined sized loop is formed in said other one of said storage chambers and yieldable limit means in said other one of said storage chambers for yieldably limiting the size of the loop therein such that a loop is subsequently formed in said storage chamber having said first opening.

Claim 10

An automatic tape-loading apparatus, including the combination: a pair of tape storage chambers situated in a side-by-side relationship and respectively having immediately adjacent openings; a plenum in common communicative relationship to said openings; tape supply means on said plenum opposite to said openings and adapted to supply a tape into said plenum with the tape being supplied toward a first one of said openings; pneumatic means in communicative relation to said plenum and said tape storage chambers for establishing an equal pressure differential between said storage chambers and said plenum immediately adjacent said tape supply means whereby said tape is urged through said openings to form a loop into said first one of said openings because of the proximity of the tape supply means thereto; and the other one of said tape storage chambers having an enlarged opening for providing an increased pressure differential force such that, as the tape supply means supplies tape, a predetermined sized loop is formed in said other one of said storage chambers and yieldable limit means in said other one of said storage chambers for yieldably limiting the size of the loop therein such that a loop is subsequently formed in said storage chamber having said first opening.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 7, further including capstan drive means disposed intermediate said adjacent openings and capable of being in a driving engagement with said tape for overriding said yieldable limiting means for supplying a greater portion of said tape into said other storage chamber greater than said predetermined sized loop.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said adjacent openings are at substantial right angles with said capstan drive means at the apex of such angle; said one storage chamber having an upper ell portion, vacuum latch means in each said storage chambers for holding said tape securely between said cartridge and said latches during any tape-processing operations; and means for processing signals to and/or from said tape.