Tape-handling apparatus

Claim 2

An endless loop tape cartridge insertable in and cooperable with a tape reader for guiding a tape past a sensing station, said cartridge comprising, a housing having a first compartment elongated in one direction to form an essentially closed tape transport path and further having a second compartment to form a tape storage bin opening into one end of the tape transport compartment, rotatably mounted drive means proximate the end of the tape transport compartment remote from the bin for driving a tape loop from the bin past the sensing station of a tape reader and for returning the tape to the bin, segmental support means fixedly mounted in the bin in a plane inclined relative to said tape transport path for receiving and supporting the helically coiled portion of an endless loop tape at the same inclination in the bin so that the axis of the coiled portion of the tape extends in converging relation to the axis of said drive means, and tape guide means mounted in said bin within the area substantially enclosed by said support means for controlling the path and the angle at which tape is withdrawn from the innermost wrap of the helically coiled portion of an endless tape supported on said support means, the surface of the tape guide means last contacted by the innermost wrap of the coiled portion of the tape as it is withdrawn from the bin extending approximately parallel to the axis of rotation of said drive means with the result that the tape is fed in an untwisted substantially straight line to the drive means.

Claim 3

The tape cartridge defined in claim 1 wherein said support means comprises a pair of diametrically oppositely positioned substantially semicircular, fixedly mounted spaced-apart wall members in the bin having their respective arcuate surfaces approximately centered on a common axis, and wherein said tape guide means comprises post means in the space between the semicircular wall members for guiding tape from the innermost wrap of said helically coiled portion of the tape through a U-shaped transport path in the area enclosed by said spaced-apart semicircular wall members.

Claim 4

The tape cartridge defined in claim 1 wherein said bin is generally cup-shaped and said tape support means therewithin comprises upstanding arcuate wall sections of similar radii of curvature centering on a common axis, and wherein said guide means comprises an upstanding generally elliptically shaped guide member in the area enclosed by said wall sections for guiding tape withdrawn from the innermost wrap of the helically coiled portion of the tape through a U-shaped turn within said area before being fed at said angle to said drive means.

Claim 5

The tape cartridge defined in claim 2 wherein said post means includes spaced-apart first and second fixedly mounted posts and additionally includes a planar guide member fixedly mounted intermediate said posts.

Claim 6

An endless loop tape cartridge comprising: frame means defining a normally closed tape storage bin compartment and a normaLly closed elongated tape loop transport compartment opening at one end into the bin compartment, rotatably mounted drive means in the transport compartment for imparting movement to said endless loop of tape in the cartridge, segmental support means for supporting a portion of aid endless loop tape in helically coiled form in the bin compartment, the support means extending at an angle less than 90* to the axis of rotation of said drive means and disposing the plane of said coiled tape form at an inclination to said tape transport compartment, and tape guide means in the bin compartment mounted within the area enclosed by said segmental support means for guiding the direction and the angle at which tape is withdrawn from the innermost turn of said helically coiled form and is fed to said drive means, the surface of said guide means last contacted by the tape extending at an angle less than that of said support means to the axis of rotation of said drive means so that the tape is guided from the bin compartment to the drive means and return in untwisted substantially straight line condition.

Claim 7

An endless loop tape cartridge comprising: frame means defining a normally closed tape storage bin compartment and a normaLly closed elongated tape loop transport compartment opening at one end into the bin compartment, rotatably mounted drive means in the transport compartment for imparting movement to said endless loop of tape in the cartridge, segmental support means for supporting a portion of aid endless loop tape in helically coiled form in the bin compartment, the support means extending at an angle less than 90* to the axis of rotation of said drive means and disposing the plane of said coiled tape form at an inclination to said tape transport compartment, and tape guide means in the bin compartment mounted within the area enclosed by said segmental support means for guiding the direction and the angle at which tape is withdrawn from the innermost turn of said helically coiled form and is fed to said drive means, the surface of said guide means last contacted by the tape extending at an angle less than that of said support means to the axis of rotation of said drive means so that the tape is guided from the bin compartment to the drive means and return in untwisted substantially straight line condition.

Claim 8

The tape cartridge defined in claim 5 wherein the segmental support means includes a pair of oppositely positioned spaced-apart semicircular support members fixedly mounted within the bin and having their respective arcuate surfaces centered on a common axis, and wherein said guide means comprises an approximately elliptically shaped guide member fixedly mounted in the space between said support members, the opposite end surfaces of said elliptically shaped guide member extending substantially flush with the arcuate surfaces of said spaced-apart semicircular support members.

Claim 9

The tape cartridge defined in claim 5 wherein said segmental support means comprises a pair of substantially semicircular oppositely disposed support members, and wherein said tape guide means comprises a plurality of posts intermediate the pair of support members, the posts being positioned such that portions of the surfaces of said posts form a substantially continuous cylindrical tape support surface in conjunction with the tape support surfaces of said pair of semicircular members.

Claim 10

The endless loop tape cartridge defined in claim 5 wherein said drive means includes a shaft journaled for rotation in the tape transport compartment proximate the end thereof remote from the bin compartment, sprocket means fixed to said shaft for imparting rotational movement to a tape threaded therearound, and gear means fixed to said shaft exteriorly of the tape transport compartment for mechanically coupling rotational movement to the shaft.

Claim 11

The endless loop tape cartridge defined in claim 5 wherein said drive means includes a combined cylindrical drum and feed sprocket wheel about which a portion of the endless tape is trained for imparting rotational motion to the tape loop, the drum being recessed in its periphery for receiving sensing fingers from the associated tape reader during tape sensing operations.

Claim 12

The endless loop tape cartridge defined in claim 9 wherein said recessed periphery of the drum is constituted by a plurality of circumferentially extending, axially spaced-apart grooves, said grooves aligning with respective information positions of a multilevel code in said tape.

Claim 13

The endless loop tape cartridge defined in claim 9 wherein, the sprocket wheel is fixed to the midportion of a shaft journaled for rotation in the tape transport compartment proximate the end thereof remote from the bin compartment, and the drum is composed of a pair of stationary substantially cylindrical support members positioned about said shaft on opposite sides of said sprocket wheel and has its recessed periphery constituted by aligned slots in the support members extending across the path of travel of a tape transported by the sprocket wheel.

Claim 14

A tape cartridge insertable in and cooperable with a tape reader for guiding a length of tape past a sensing station of said tape reader, said cartridge comprising a housing defining an enclosed tape transport path for the tape, guide means supported within the housing for dividing the tape transport path into separate ingress and egress channels, a shaft journaled for rotation in said housing proximate one end of said path, sprocket means fixed to said shaft for imparting rotational movement to a tape threaded thereabout, gear means carried by said shaft exterior to said housing and cooperable with a tape reader for imparting rotational drive to said shaft in one direction, means in the housing for imposing a frictional drag on the shaft when rotated in said one direction, and means in the housing for preventing reverse rotation of the shaft, said last means including a pawl and ratchet assembly wherein the ratchet is fixed to said shaft and cooperates with said pawl for arresting rotational movement of said sprocket means in the reverse direction.

Claim 15

A tape cartridge insertable in and cooperable with a tape reader for guiding a length of tape past a sensing station of said tape reader, said cartridge comprising a housing defining an enclosed tape transport path for the tape, guide means supported within the housing for dividing the tape transport path into separate ingress and egress channels, a shaft journaled for rotation in said housing proximate one end of said path, sprocket means fixed to said shaft for imparting rotational movement to a tape threaded thereabout, gear means carried by said shaft exterior to said housing and cooperable with a tape reader for imparting rotational drive to said shaft in one direction, means in the housing for imposing a frictional drag on the shaft when rotated in said one direction, and means in the housing for preventing reverse rotation of the shaft, said last means including a pawl and ratchet assembly wherein the ratchet is fixed to said shaft and cooperates with said pawl for arresting rotational movement of said sprocket means in the reverse direction.

Claim 16

The tape cartridge defined in claim 12 additionally including resilient feed means depending into the ingress channel and in contact with said sprocket means for urging the free end of a tape inserted into said ingress channel into self-threading relationship with said sprocket means.

Claim 17

The tape cartridge defined in claim 12 additionally including, a closed tape storage bin in tape-feeding communication with the tape transport path of the housing, segmented support means fixedly mounted in said bin for supporting a helically coiled portion of the length of an endless tape loop within the bin and so that the plane of said helically coiled portion is angularly disposed relative to said tape transport path, and tape guide means fixedly mounted in the area intermediate said segmented support means for controlling the angle and path at which tape is withdrawn from the innermost wrap of said helically coiled portion and for guiding the tape portion withdrawn from the innermost wrap in a straight line onto said sprocket past the helical wrap.

Claim 18

The tape cartridge defined in claim 2 wherein said post means includes a plurality of spaced-apart posts and wherein the post farthest from said drive means is positioned substantially parallel with the axis of rotation of said drive means whereby tape withdrawn from the innermost wrap of the coiled portion of the tape is guided around said parallelly disposed post and so that it is projected in a straight line onto said drive means past the coiled portion of the tape on said support means.

Claim 19

The tape cartridge defined in claim 3 wherein the upstanding end of the elliptical guide member farthest from said drive means serves as the last surface of the guide member contacted by the tape before leaving the bin, said upstanding end extending at an angle approximately parallel to the axis of rotation of the drive means whereby tape withdrawn from the innermost turn of the tape stored on the support means in helical wrap form is guided around said end of the guide member so that it is projected in an untwisted substantially straight line path onto said drive means past the helical turns of tape wrapped on said support means.

Claim 20

Data input apparatus comprising: frame means defining a tape storage compartment and an elongated tape loop transport compartment forming an extension to the storage compartment and opening into communication therewith, a selectively mutilated perforated tape arranged in an endless loop configuration and comprising a length of weblike material including an information section for the greater part of its length and a shorter position indicating section, and further having a portion thereof helically coiled and seated in the storage compartment and another portion thereof forming a loop extending from the coiled portion and lying within the tape transport compartment, means within said storage compartment for supporting the coiled portion of the tape at an inclination relative to thE path of the tape loop in the transport compartment and such that the tape loop for the transport compartment extends in untwisted condition clear of the tape coiled portion seated in the storage compartment, said endless tape having a plurality of groups of information apertures spaced apart in the information zone of said weblike material, the information apertures being arranged in accordance with a predetermined binary code, and further having a row of tape feed apertures regularly spaced apart throughout at least the information zone of said weblike material. a rotatable sprocket wheel in the transport compartment for engaging the tape feed apertures of the tape and for moving the portion of the tape in the transport compartment and the turns of the tape in the coiled portion thereof, and an elongated opening located in the position-indicating zone in the area corresponding to and in alignment with the row of the tape feed apertures such that when the opening in the tape reaches the sprocket wheel the latter is prevented from imparting movement to the endless loop tape thus stopping further advancement of the tape even though the sprocket wheel continues to rotate.

Claim 21

Data input apparatus comprising: frame means defining a tape storage compartment and an elongated tape loop transport compartment forming an extension to the storage compartment and opening into communication therewith, a selectively mutilated perforated tape arranged in an endless loop configuration and comprising a length of weblike material including an information section for the greater part of its length and a shorter position indicating section, and further having a portion thereof helically coiled and seated in the storage compartment and another portion thereof forming a loop extending from the coiled portion and lying within the tape transport compartment, means within said storage compartment for supporting the coiled portion of the tape at an inclination relative to thE path of the tape loop in the transport compartment and such that the tape loop for the transport compartment extends in untwisted condition clear of the tape coiled portion seated in the storage compartment, said endless tape having a plurality of groups of information apertures spaced apart in the information zone of said weblike material, the information apertures being arranged in accordance with a predetermined binary code, and further having a row of tape feed apertures regularly spaced apart throughout at least the information zone of said weblike material. a rotatable sprocket wheel in the transport compartment for engaging the tape feed apertures of the tape and for moving the portion of the tape in the transport compartment and the turns of the tape in the coiled portion thereof, and an elongated opening located in the position-indicating zone in the area corresponding to and in alignment with the row of the tape feed apertures such that when the opening in the tape reaches the sprocket wheel the latter is prevented from imparting movement to the endless loop tape thus stopping further advancement of the tape even though the sprocket wheel continues to rotate.

Claim 22

An endless loop of information-bearing tape, said tape being cooperable with drive apparatus of a tape reading apparatus for insuring a single pass of information recorded on the tape past the reading station of said tape reading apparatus, said tape comprising a weblike member having its respective ends spliced to form an endless loop, said member including an information zone and a position indicating zone, a plurality of information areas regularly spaced apart throughout the extent of said information zone of said member for accommodating information to be recorded, said information being encoded in accordance with a predetermined code, a row of regularly spaced-apart sprocket holes formed in said weblike member and extending longitudinally thereof for at least the extent of said information zone and being engageable by the teeth of a rotatable sprocket wheel for moving the member, and an elongated opening in said row of sprocket holes formed in at least a portion of said position-indicating zone of said member for preventing the feeding of the member past said reading station when the elongated opening is cooperably juxtapositioned with respect to the sprocket wheel even though the latter continues to rotate.

Claim 23

An endless loop of information-bearing tape, said tape being cooperable with drive apparatus of a tape reading apparatus for insuring a single pass of information recorded on the tape past the reading station of said tape reading apparatus, said tape comprising a weblike member having its respective ends spliced to form an endless loop, said member including an information zone and a position indicating zone, a plurality of information areas regularly spaced apart throughout the extent of said information zone of said member for accommodating information to be recorded, said information being encoded in accordance with a predetermined code, a row of regularly spaced-apart sprocket holes formed in said weblike member and extending longitudinally thereof for at least the extent of said information zone and being engageable by the teeth of a rotatable sprocket wheel for moving the member, and an elongated opening in said row of sprocket holes formed in at least a portion of said position-indicating zone of said member for preventing the feeding of the member past said reading station when the elongated opening is cooperably juxtapositioned with respect to the sprocket wheel even though the latter continues to rotate.

Claim 24

The tape cartridge defined in claim 12 additionally including tape guide means carried by said pawl for stripping tape fed by said sprocket means from the teeth thereof.

Claim 25

The tape cartridge defined in claim 12 wherein said drag-imposing means forms a part of the pawl which is cooperable with at least a portion of the surface of said sprocket means for developing a retarding frictional drag on said sprocket means during rotation thereof in said one direction.

Claim 26

The tape cartridge defined in claim 12 wherein a cylindrical drum is fixed to the shaft adjacent to the sprocket means and about which a portion of the tape threaded on the sprocket means is trained, the drum being recessed in its periphery for receiving sensing fingers from an associated tape reader during tape-sensing operations.

Claim 27

The tape cartridge defined in claim 21 wherein said recessed periphery of the drum is constituted by a plurality of circumferentially extending, axially spaced-apart grooves, said grooves aligning with respective information positions of a multilevel code in the tape which is trained about the drum.

Claim 28

The tape cartridge defined in claim 21 wherein the sprocket means is fixed to the midportion of the shaft and wherein the drum is composed of a pair of substantially cylindrical support members coaxially fixed to the shaft on opposite sides of said sprocket means, the recessed periphery of the drum being constituted by aligned slots in the support members which extend across the path of travel of a tape threaded about the sprocket meAns and transported thereby.