US3598926A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus of the automatic tape threading system
Assignee: Victor Company of Japan Ltd
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Filing: 1969-01-23
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Granted: 1971-08-10
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Expires: 1989-01-23
Abstract
Abstract A magnetic tape recording and reproducing apparatus includes an automatic tape threading system comprising a supply reel of magnetic tape. A normally straight and flexible tape leader portion is connected to the leading end of the magnetic tape. A delivery roller unwinds the magnetic tape from the supply reel and guides the tape leader portion to preclude contact between the leader and a magnetic head. The tape itself is deflected from the path followed by travel of the tape leader portion and is brought into contact with the magnetic head. A takeup reel automatically catches the tape leader portion and loads the apparatus with the magnetic tape.
Inventors
- 👤 Hiroyuki Umeda
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 07:37
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B15/00; G11B15/60; G11B15/66; G11B15/67
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
409 words
An automatic tape threading system for a magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus comprising a supply reel having a roll of magnetic tape wound thereon and a takeup reel on which said tape is wound, a tape leader connected to the leading end of said magnetic tape, said tape leader consisting of first and second leader portions, said first leader portion being a normally straight relatively hard flexible material having a slot therein, said first leader having a width which is the same as the width of said magnetic tape, said second leader portion being a relatively soft flexible material which does not damage a magnetic head tip when brought into direct contact with said tip, said second leader portion having a width which is less than the width of said magnetic tape, said second leader portion being disposed between said first leader portion and said magnetic tape, means comprising a delivery roller making contact with the outer periphery of said roll of tape for unwinding said tape leader and said magnetic tape, a guide drum having built-in rotary magnetic heads for recording and reproducing video signals, a leader guide for guiding said tape leader along a predetermined path of travel, said leader guide being mounted adjacent and spaced apart from the outer circumferential surface of said guide drum, said leader guide being further disposed obliquely with respect to the axis of said guide drum, said leader guide having a passage for said first leader portion to pass through with an opening which is provided along the tape path, said opening being wider than the width of said second leader portion and narrower than the width of said first leader portion, said first leader portion being at least long enough to reach from said supply reel to said takeup reel, said first leader portion being led through said passage of said tape guide, said second leader portion following said first leader portion and being led through said opening and escaping out of said tape guide whereby said second leader portion and the magnetic tape following said second leader portion travel along a path outside said tape guide and comes into engagement with the magnetic heads in said guide drum, and means comprising said tape takeup reel having a pawl for engaging said slot and thereby catching said first leader portion as the latter emerges from said leader guide for completing automatic threading of the magnetic tape through a predetermined path.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
409 words
An automatic tape threading system for a magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus comprising a supply reel having a roll of magnetic tape wound thereon and a takeup reel on which said tape is wound, a tape leader connected to the leading end of said magnetic tape, said tape leader consisting of first and second leader portions, said first leader portion being a normally straight relatively hard flexible material having a slot therein, said first leader having a width which is the same as the width of said magnetic tape, said second leader portion being a relatively soft flexible material which does not damage a magnetic head tip when brought into direct contact with said tip, said second leader portion having a width which is less than the width of said magnetic tape, said second leader portion being disposed between said first leader portion and said magnetic tape, means comprising a delivery roller making contact with the outer periphery of said roll of tape for unwinding said tape leader and said magnetic tape, a guide drum having built-in rotary magnetic heads for recording and reproducing video signals, a leader guide for guiding said tape leader along a predetermined path of travel, said leader guide being mounted adjacent and spaced apart from the outer circumferential surface of said guide drum, said leader guide being further disposed obliquely with respect to the axis of said guide drum, said leader guide having a passage for said first leader portion to pass through with an opening which is provided along the tape path, said opening being wider than the width of said second leader portion and narrower than the width of said first leader portion, said first leader portion being at least long enough to reach from said supply reel to said takeup reel, said first leader portion being led through said passage of said tape guide, said second leader portion following said first leader portion and being led through said opening and escaping out of said tape guide whereby said second leader portion and the magnetic tape following said second leader portion travel along a path outside said tape guide and comes into engagement with the magnetic heads in said guide drum, and means comprising said tape takeup reel having a pawl for engaging said slot and thereby catching said first leader portion as the latter emerges from said leader guide for completing automatic threading of the magnetic tape through a predetermined path.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
149 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said slot in said first leader portion is positioned to engage said pawl when said leader reaches said pawl, and a rotating capstan for moving the magnetic tape, a pinch roller, means for bringing the magnetic tape between said capstan and said pinch roller, means including an arm in engagement with said tape leader or said magnetic tape which pivots in response to the tensioning of the tape leader or the magnetic tape when the forward end of said pawl of the tape takeup reel catches said slot in said first leader portion, switch means opened and closed responsive to movement of said pivotal motion of said arm, means responsive to said switch means for releasing said delivery roller from engagement with said roll of tape, and means responsive to said switch means for causing said pinch roller to bear against said capstan.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
148 words
The system of claim 1 which further comprises a rotatable capstan for moving the magnetic tape, a pinch roller, means for bringing the magnetic tape between said capstan and said pinch roller, means comprising light emitting means and a photocell positioned in face to face relationship with respect to each other and on the opposite sides of the tape path, said tape leader being made of a transparent material, means for releasing said delivery roller from engagement with said roll of the magnetic tape in response to cutting the light path between said light emitting means to said photocell when the magnetic tape replaces the transparent leader, and means for shifting said pinch roller to bear against said capstan in response to cutting said light path when the magnetic tape replaces the transparent leader so that said magnetic tape is held between the capstan and the pinch roller.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
58 words
The system of claim 1 in which said leader guide has a substantially -C-shaped cross section, said guide being semicircular in longitudinal shape, said leader guide being constructed with a width such that only the first wide leader portion is able to pass therethrough, said second narrow leader portion escaping through the open part of said C-shaped section.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
165 words
The system of claim 1 in which said first leader portion is formed with a slot in the forward end portion thereof, and said tape takeup reel comprises a reel hub formed in two sections for winding the leader and the tape on the peripheral surface thereof, a plurality of pivotal pawls mounted for pivotal motion through one of said reel hub sections, said pawl moving above and below the peripheral surface of said reel hub during said pivotal motion, a forward end on said pawl for catching said slot in said first leader portion, a plurality of springs for urging said pivotal pawl to move above the peripheral surface of said reel hub with a force which is less than the force required to wind the tape leader portion and the magnetic tape on the reel hub, and a plurality of arresting springs adapted to absorb the impact force applied to the pivotal pawl when the tape leader portion is caught by the pawl.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
77 words
The system of claim 1 which further comprises a pivotal guide panel of substantially the same shape in cross section as said leader guide, said panel being mounted for pivotal motion, and means for bringing said guide panel into the tape path in the vicinity of the entrance to said leader guide by pivotal motion during the tape rewinding operation, said panel pressing against the tape leader portion and the magnetic tape during the tape rewinding operation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
163 words
The system of claim 1 which further comprises a tape cartridge containing said supply reel and having a recess on one side thereof, means for exerting a force on said tape cartridge, said force acting in the direction in which the tape cartridge moves when withdrawn from the apparatus, a resilient member engaging said recess of the tape cartridge for locking the tape cartridge in a locked position against said force, disengaging means for disengaging said resilient member from said recess to unlock the tape cartridge from said locked position, a pivotal tape detection lever brought into engagement with said tape leader or the magnetic tape and held under the influence of a tape tension which overcomes a biasing force which acts on said tape detection lever, and means for suppressing the operation of said disengaging means while said tape detection lever is held under the influence of the tension of said tape leader or the magnetic tape unwound from said tape cartridge.
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) | 1974-08-09 | 1975-02-08 | 1975-08-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-08-09 | 1979-02-08 | 1979-08-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-08-09 | 1983-02-08 | 1983-08-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |