Tape transport apparatus

Claim 2

A tape transport apparatus comprising a tape feed reel coupled to a first drive motor and a tape takeup reel coupled to a second drive motor, means for supplying electrical energy to said drive motors for driving the reels and moving the tape therebetween, means for exerting a force against one surface of the tape between the two reels and against the force of the driving motors to create a tension in the tape and to laterally displace the tape a certain distance in the direction of the force, means responsive to a change in the lateral distance of the tape displacement for creating an electrical signal indicative of the direction of the change, and means responsive to said electrical signal for driving both of said drive motors in a direction necessary to feed off, and take up said tape so as to maintain the distance of tape displacement constant.

Claim 3

A tape transport as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for supplying electrical energy to said drive motors includes means for introducing a drive signal into one of said drive motors to cause the associated reel to move said tape in response thereto, said means responsive to the direction of lateral movement of said tape displacement acting to drive said motors to maintain the displacement distance constant and thus resulting in the movement of the tape from said feed reel to said takeup reel under constant tension.

Claim 4

A tape transport as claimed in claim 2 wherein said means responsive to the change in distance of displacement of the tape comprises a photoelectric device producing an electrical signal indicative of the direction of said change, an amplifier coupled to said first drive motor and an amplifier coupled to said second drive motor, said amplifiers receiving said electrical signal from said photoelectric device for supplying driving power to said drive motors.

Claim 5

A tape transport as claimed in claim 3 wherein said means for introducing said other drive signal is coupled to one of said amplifiers.

Claim 6

A tape transport apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the force exerted against said tape forms an open-ended loop in the tape, and said means for controlling said one drive motor comprises a photoemitter and photosensitive means for producing an electrical control signal dependent on the length of said loop.

Claim 7

A tape transport apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein said means for exerting the force against said tape comprises an open-ended chamber and means for creating a vacuum therein, air pressure exerted on the tape at the open end of the chamber moving the tape into the chamber in the form of a loop, said photoemitter means being located on one side of the loop and said photosensitive means being located on the other side of the loop.

Claim 8

A tape transport apparatus comprising two tape reels for taking up and feeding off tape, each being coupled to associated driving motors, means for supplying electrical energy to said drive motors for driving the reels and moving the tape therebetween, means for exerting A force against one surface of the tape extending between the two reels and against the force of the driving motors to create a tension in the tape and to laterally displace the tape a certain distance in the direction of the force, means responsive to change in the lateral distance of tape displacement for creating an electrical signal dependent upon the distance of tape displacement, said electrical signal simultaneously controlling said drive motors to maintain the distance of tape displacement constant, said electrical signal is of one sign to drive said motors in one direction when the change of the lateral distance is in one direction and said electrical signal is of opposite sign to drive said motors in the opposite direction when the change of the lateral distance is in the opposite direction.

Claim 9

A tape transport apparatus comprising two tape reels for taking up and feeding off tape, each being coupled to associated driving motors, means for supplying electrical energy to said drive motors for driving the reels and moving the tape therebetween, means for exerting A force against one surface of the tape extending between the two reels and against the force of the driving motors to create a tension in the tape and to laterally displace the tape a certain distance in the direction of the force, means responsive to change in the lateral distance of tape displacement for creating an electrical signal dependent upon the distance of tape displacement, said electrical signal simultaneously controlling said drive motors to maintain the distance of tape displacement constant, said electrical signal is of one sign to drive said motors in one direction when the change of the lateral distance is in one direction and said electrical signal is of opposite sign to drive said motors in the opposite direction when the change of the lateral distance is in the opposite direction.

Claim 10

A tape transport apparatus comprising two tape reels for taking up and feeding off tape, each being coupled to associated driving motors, means for supplying electrical energy to said drive motors for driving the reels and moving the tape therebetween, means for exerting a force against one surface of the tape extending between the two reels and against the force of the driving motors to create a tension in the tape and to laterally displace the tape a certain distance in the direction of the force, means for creating an electrical signal indicative of change in the lateral displacement of said tape, and amplifier means responsive to said electrical signal to transmit drive signals to said drive motors to drive both of said motors in directions to take up or feed off said tape to maintain the distance of the tape displacement constant.

Claim 11

A tape transport apparatus comprising two tape reels for taking up and feeding off tape, each being coupled to associated driving motors, means for supplying electrical energy to said drive motors for driving the reels and moving the tape therebetween, means for exerting a force against one surface of the tape extending between the two reels and against the force of the driving motors to create a tension in the tape and to laterally displace the tape a certain distance in the direction of the force, means for creating an electrical signal indicative of change in the lateral displacement of said tape, and amplifier means responsive to said electrical signal to transmit drive signals to said drive motors to drive both of said motors in directions to take up or feed off said tape to maintain the distance of the tape displacement constant.

Claim 12

A tape transport apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein the force exerted against said tape forms an open-ended loop in the tape, and said means for creating said electrical signal comprises a photoemitter and photosensitive means for producing an electrical control signal dependent on the length of said loop.

Claim 13

Tape transport apparatus according to claim 8 further comprising: means responsive to the tape velocity between said reels for generating a velocity signal and means for applying said velocity signal to one of said drive motors.

Claim 14

Tape transport apparatus comprising: means for feeding off a supply of tape, means for taking up said supply of tape from said feedoff means, means for exerting a force against the tape between said feedoff and takeup means to displace the tape in the direction of the force, and means responsive to change in the tape displacement to generate a signal for simultaneously controlling said feedoff and takeup means to maintain the distance of tape displacement substantially constant.

Claim 15

Tape transport apparatus comprising: means for feeding off a supply of tape, means for taking up said supply of tape from said feedoff means, means for exerting a force against the tape between said feedoff and takeup means to displace the tape in the direction of the force, and means responsive to change in the tape displacement to generate a signal for simultaneously controlling said feedoff and takeup means to maintain the distance of tape displacement substantially constant.

Claim 16

Tape transport apparatus according to claim 11 further comprising means responsive to the tape velocity between said feedoff and tapeup handling means for generating a velocity signal and means for applying said velocity signal to one of said tape handling means for controlling the velocity of said tape.

Claim 17

Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said means for feeding off a supply of tape includes a first drive motor and said means for taking up said supply of tape includes a second drive motor, said first and second drive motors simultaneously responsive to said signal.

Claim 18

Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said means for exerting a force comprises a single open-ended chamber and means for creating a vacuum therein; air pressure exerted on the tape at the open end of the chamber moving the tape into the chamber in the form of a loop.

Claim 19

Tape handling apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said means for exerting a force comprises a tension wheel and a spring biased to exert a force on the tape when said tension wheel engages the tape.

Claim 20

Tape transport apparatus comprising: tape handling means responsive to a first signal for feeding off a supply of tape, tape handling means responsive to a second signal for taking up said supply of tape, means For exerting a force against the tape between said feedoff and takeup tape handling means to displace the tape in the direction of the force, means responsive to change in said tape displacement for generating a displacement signal, means responsive to the tape velocity between said feedoff and takeup tape handling means for generating a velocity signal, means for applying said displacement signal to only one of said tape handling means, and means for applying said velocity signal to only said other tape handling means.

Claim 21

Tape transport apparatus comprising: tape handling means responsive to a first signal for feeding off a supply of tape, tape handling means responsive to a second signal for taking up said supply of tape, means For exerting a force against the tape between said feedoff and takeup tape handling means to displace the tape in the direction of the force, means responsive to change in said tape displacement for generating a displacement signal, means responsive to the tape velocity between said feedoff and takeup tape handling means for generating a velocity signal, means for applying said displacement signal to only one of said tape handling means, and means for applying said velocity signal to only said other tape handling means.

Claim 22

Tape handling apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said velocity signal is applied to said feedoff tape handling means and said displacement signal is applied to said takeup tape handling means.

Claim 23

Tape handling apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said feedoff tape handling means includes a first drive motor and said takeup tape handling means includes a second drive motor.

Claim 24

Tape handling apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said means for generating a velocity signal comprises a tachometer means driven by the tape for generating a signal dependent on the tape speed.

Claim 25

Tape handling apparatus according to claim 19 wherein said means for exerting a force comprises a single open-ended chamber and means for creating a vacuum therein, air pressure exerted on the tape at the open end of the chamber moving the tape into the chamber in the form of a loop.

Claim 26

Tape handling apparatus according to claim 19 wherein said means for exerting a force comprises a tension wheel and a spring biased to exert a force on the tape when said tension wheel engages the tape.

Claim 27

A tape transport apparatus comprising two tape reels for taking up and feeding off tape, each being coupled to associated driving motors, means for supplying electrical energy to said drive motors for driving the reels and moving the tape therebetween, means for exerting a force against one surface of the tape extending between the two reels and against the force of the driving motors to create a tension in the tape and to laterally displace the tape a certain distance in the direction of the force, means responsive to change in the lateral distance of the tape displacement for driving one of said drive motors to maintain the distance of tape displacement constant, and means responsive to the speed of travel of said tape between the reels for driving the other drive motor, said one drive motor being driven only in response to tape displacement and said other drive motor being driven only in response to the speed of tape travel.

Claim 28

A tape transport apparatus comprising two tape reels for taking up and feeding off tape, each being coupled to associated driving motors, means for supplying electrical energy to said drive motors for driving the reels and moving the tape therebetween, means for exerting a force against one surface of the tape extending between the two reels and against the force of the driving motors to create a tension in the tape and to laterally displace the tape a certain distance in the direction of the force, means responsive to change in the lateral distance of the tape displacement for driving one of said drive motors to maintain the distance of tape displacement constant, and means responsive to the speed of travel of said tape between the reels for driving the other drive motor, said one drive motor being driven only in response to tape displacement and said other drive motor being driven only in response to the speed of tape travel.