US3620476A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cassette duplicator
Assignee: Infonics Inc
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Filing: 1969-04-14
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Granted: 1971-11-16
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Expires: 1989-04-14
Abstract
Abstract A high-speed inexpensive magnetic tape duplicator is provided which is capable, for example, of duplicating a program recorded on a master magnetic tape simultaneously on a plurality of cassette-type magnetic tape cartridges preloaded with magnetic tape, and the like. The apparatus of the invention is controlled so that all tapes quickly come up to speed in order that maximum use may be made of all the tapes in the various cassettes. This minimizes the beginning portion of poor recording quality on the tape, and short leaders may be used.
Inventors
- 👤 Felipe Cervantes
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 03:56
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B5/00; G11B5/86
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
239 words
In a magnetic tape duplicator and which includes: a housing; means on said housing for supporting a master tape supply reel and a master tape take-up reel, a master tape electromagnetic transducer head mounted on said housing; a master tape drive capstan rotatably mounted on said housing for driving the master tape from the supply reel across the aforesaid head; and electrically energized drive motor for the capstan mounted in said housing; a pinch roller mounted in said housing and movable from an inactive position to an operative position in which it squeezes the master tape against the aforesaid capstan; and electrically energized solenoid means for said pinch roller also mounted in said housing; a control system including: first control circuitry coupled to said capstan drive motor for causing said motor to be enerGized selectively so as to drive said capstan either at a relatively low selected speed or at a relatively high selected speed; and a control circuitry responsive to said first control circuitry and electrically coupled to said solenoid means to cause said solenoid means to move said pinch roller to its operative position only when said first-mentioned control circuitry has energized said drive motor to drive said capstan at said relatively low speed, the said further control circuitry including means for activating the first control circuitry to change the capstan drive motor to said relatively high speed when the pinch roller is in its operative position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
239 words
In a magnetic tape duplicator and which includes: a housing; means on said housing for supporting a master tape supply reel and a master tape take-up reel, a master tape electromagnetic transducer head mounted on said housing; a master tape drive capstan rotatably mounted on said housing for driving the master tape from the supply reel across the aforesaid head; and electrically energized drive motor for the capstan mounted in said housing; a pinch roller mounted in said housing and movable from an inactive position to an operative position in which it squeezes the master tape against the aforesaid capstan; and electrically energized solenoid means for said pinch roller also mounted in said housing; a control system including: first control circuitry coupled to said capstan drive motor for causing said motor to be enerGized selectively so as to drive said capstan either at a relatively low selected speed or at a relatively high selected speed; and a control circuitry responsive to said first control circuitry and electrically coupled to said solenoid means to cause said solenoid means to move said pinch roller to its operative position only when said first-mentioned control circuitry has energized said drive motor to drive said capstan at said relatively low speed, the said further control circuitry including means for activating the first control circuitry to change the capstan drive motor to said relatively high speed when the pinch roller is in its operative position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The control system defined in claim 1, in which said drive motor includes a low-speed winding and a high-speed winding, and in which said first control circuitry includes relay means for selectively energizing said low-speed and high-speed windings of said drive motor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
64 words
The control system defined in claim 2, and which includes switching means for initially causing said relay means to energize said low-speed winding of said drive motor, and for subsequently causing said second control circuitry to cause said solenoid means to move said pinch roller to its operative position and simultaneously cause said relay means to energize said high-speed winding of said drive motor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
75 words
The combination defined in claim 1, and which includes a movable chassis mounted in said housing; a plurality of further pinch rollers carried by said movable chassis; a corresponding plurality of further drive capstans mounted in said housing; and further solenoid means mechanically coupled to said movable chassis for causing said movable chassis to move said last-mentioned pinch rollers simultaneously from an inactive position to an operative position with respect to said last-mentioned drive capstans.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The combination defined in claim 4, and which includes circuit means coupled to said second control circuitry to energize said last-mentioned solenoid means upon the activation of said second control circuitry.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The combination defined in claim 4, and which includes a corresponding plurality of electromagnetic record heads mounted on said movable chassis and movable therewith to an operative position upon the aforesaid movement of said chassis.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
184 words
In a magnetic tape duplicator and which includes: a housing; means on said housing for supporting a master tape supply reel and a master tape takeup reel; a master tape electromagnetic transducer head mounted on said housing; a master tape drive capstan rotatably mounted in said housing for driving the master tape from the supply reel and across said head; a pinch roller mounted in said housing and movable from an inactive position to an operative position in which it squeezes the master tape against the aforesaid capstan; and electrically energized solenoid means for said pinch roller mounted in said housing; the combination of: a movable chassis mounted in said housing; a plurality of further pinch rollers mounted on said movable chassis; a corresponding plurality of further drive capstans mounted on said housing in spaced relationship with respective ones of said further pinch rollers; and further solenoid means mechanically coupled to said movable chassis for moving said movable chassis from a first position to a second position to bring said further pinch rollers into operative relationship with respective ones of said further drive capstans.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
184 words
In a magnetic tape duplicator and which includes: a housing; means on said housing for supporting a master tape supply reel and a master tape takeup reel; a master tape electromagnetic transducer head mounted on said housing; a master tape drive capstan rotatably mounted in said housing for driving the master tape from the supply reel and across said head; a pinch roller mounted in said housing and movable from an inactive position to an operative position in which it squeezes the master tape against the aforesaid capstan; and electrically energized solenoid means for said pinch roller mounted in said housing; the combination of: a movable chassis mounted in said housing; a plurality of further pinch rollers mounted on said movable chassis; a corresponding plurality of further drive capstans mounted on said housing in spaced relationship with respective ones of said further pinch rollers; and further solenoid means mechanically coupled to said movable chassis for moving said movable chassis from a first position to a second position to bring said further pinch rollers into operative relationship with respective ones of said further drive capstans.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
45 words
The combination defined in claim 7, and which includes control circuitry for energizing said first-mentioned solenoid means to move said master tape pinch roller to its operative position, and for simultaneously energizing said further solenoid means to move said movable chassis to its second position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
63 words
In the magnetic tape duplicator defined in claim 7, and which includes means for supporting a plurality of cassettes on said duplicator, each cassette having a Tape supply reel and a tape takeup reel, and a magnetic tape extending therebetween; said cassettes being supported by said last-named means with their respective tapes positioned between said further pinch rollers and said further drive capstans.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
52 words
In the magnetic tape duplicator of claim 9, and which includes coordinated drive means for said further capstans and for the takeup reels of the cassettes to avoid breakage and spillage of the cassette tapes when said further pinch rollers are brought into the aforesaid operative relationship with said further drive capstans.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
207 words
Apparatus for reproducing signals prerecorded on magnetic tape and recording the signals simultaneously on a plurality of tape-loaded cassettes comprising a tape transport for receiving the prerecorded magnetic tape, the tape transport including a playback head and means for driving the tape past the head, said drive means moving the tape at a speed past the head at least eight times faster than the normal playback speed of the tape, a plurality of cassette transports for receiving magnetic tape loaded cassettes, each cassette transport including a record head, and means for driving the tapes in the cassettes simultaneously at the same speed, said drive means moving the tapes of the cassettes past the heads at a speed at least eight times the normal recording speed of the tape, the multiple for the prerecorded tape drive speed and the cassette tape drive speed being the same, said drive means for moving the prerecorded tape and the tape in each of the cassettes including a separate motor and capstan for each tape, and means including pinch rollers engaging the tapes with the capstans for simultaneously energizing the motors and engaging the tapes with the capstans, the motors when energized accelerating the capstans and tapes up to said high speed.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
207 words
Apparatus for reproducing signals prerecorded on magnetic tape and recording the signals simultaneously on a plurality of tape-loaded cassettes comprising a tape transport for receiving the prerecorded magnetic tape, the tape transport including a playback head and means for driving the tape past the head, said drive means moving the tape at a speed past the head at least eight times faster than the normal playback speed of the tape, a plurality of cassette transports for receiving magnetic tape loaded cassettes, each cassette transport including a record head, and means for driving the tapes in the cassettes simultaneously at the same speed, said drive means moving the tapes of the cassettes past the heads at a speed at least eight times the normal recording speed of the tape, the multiple for the prerecorded tape drive speed and the cassette tape drive speed being the same, said drive means for moving the prerecorded tape and the tape in each of the cassettes including a separate motor and capstan for each tape, and means including pinch rollers engaging the tapes with the capstans for simultaneously energizing the motors and engaging the tapes with the capstans, the motors when energized accelerating the capstans and tapes up to said high speed.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
171 words
A magnetic tape duplicator comprising a master tape transport for receiving a master tape, a drive capstan positioned to engage the master tape, means for engaging the tape with the drive capstan when activated, means including a playback head for reproducing signals from the tape, means responsive to said engaging means when activated for accelerating the drive capstan up to operating speed after the tape engages the capstan, a plurality of tape cassette drive assemblies for receiving tape-loaded cassettes, a drive capstan associated with each of said assemblies, means for simultaneously engaging the tapes in said cassettes with the drive capstans when activated, means including a recording head associated with each drive assembly for recording signals on each of the tapes in said cassettes, motor means responsive to said engaging means when activated for accelerating the drive capstan associated with each cassette drive assembly up to operating speed after the tapes engage the capstans, and means coupling the signal from said signal reproducing means to each of said signal recording means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
171 words
A magnetic tape duplicator comprising a master tape transport for receiving a master tape, a drive capstan positioned to engage the master tape, means for engaging the tape with the drive capstan when activated, means including a playback head for reproducing signals from the tape, means responsive to said engaging means when activated for accelerating the drive capstan up to operating speed after the tape engages the capstan, a plurality of tape cassette drive assemblies for receiving tape-loaded cassettes, a drive capstan associated with each of said assemblies, means for simultaneously engaging the tapes in said cassettes with the drive capstans when activated, means including a recording head associated with each drive assembly for recording signals on each of the tapes in said cassettes, motor means responsive to said engaging means when activated for accelerating the drive capstan associated with each cassette drive assembly up to operating speed after the tapes engage the capstans, and means coupling the signal from said signal reproducing means to each of said signal recording means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-11-15 | 1975-05-17 | 1975-11-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-11-15 | 1979-05-17 | 1979-11-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-11-15 | 1983-05-17 | 1983-11-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |