Machine for splicing and winding tape into a cassette

Claim 2

Apparatus for winding and splicing tape comprising support means for rotatably supporting a supply roll of tape, rotatable means for drawing tape from a supply roll supported by said support means and winding said tape on a spool supported by said rotatable means, said rotatable means being spaced from said support means; selectively operable means for rotating said rotatable means so that tape may be drawn from a supply roll supported by said support means and wound on a spool supported by said rotatable means; a splicing head comprising a stationary member and a first moveable member, said members having contiguous flat surfaces forming a splicing platform extending along the path of tape being transported from a supply roll supported by said support means to a spool supported by said rotatable means, said platform including a knife slot formed in one of said surfaces; selectively operable means for releasably holding a tape extending along said platform against the said surface of said first moveable member when said rotatable means is stationary; means for applying suction to said stationary member when said rotatable means is stationary so that a tape extending along said platform will be held against the said surface of said stationary member; a knife moveable into and out of said slot for slitting a tape extending along said platform and held against said surfaces into a first end portion held against the surface of said stationary member and a second end portion held against the surface of said first moveable member; a second moveable member having a flat surface and means for releasably holding the end of a tape leader against said flat surface; means for moving said first moveable member away from said stationary member and for moving said second moveable member adjacent to said stationary member so that the surface of said second moveable member is contiguous with the surface of said stationary member and the end of said tape leader is adjacent to and aligned with said first end portion; and splicing tape applicator means operative after said second moveable member is adjacent to said stationary member for splicing the end of said tape leader to said first end portion.

Claim 3

Apparatus for severinG a leader tape that is attached at its opposite ends to two hubs into two leaders and for splicing said leaders to the opposite ends of a length of use tape obtained from a supply roll of said use tape, said apparatus comprising: a splicing station comprising a first stationary tape support member and second and third moveable tape support members; means for alternately shifting said second and third support members into and out of adjacent relation to said first tape support member, said first and second support members when adjacent to each other constituting a first splicing head and said first and third support members when adjacent to each other constituting a second splicing head; a knife operable to slit tape supported on said first and second splicing heads; means for holding said supply roll of use tape, selectively operable first and second tape-holding means for holding said leader tape on said first and second tape support members respectively; selectively operable third tape-holding means for holding the leading end of said use tape on said third tape support member; selectively operable splicing tape applicator means for applying a splicing tape to the adjacent ends of leader and use tapes supported by said first and second splicing heads; selectively operable tape-winding means comprising a rotatable spindle adapted to hold and rotate one of said hubs and means for rotatably driving said spindle; and control means for sequentially operating the foregoing means so as to effect the following operations: operating said first, second and third tape-holding means so as to hold said leader tape on said first and second support members and the leading end of said use tape on said third support member, operating said knife to slit said leader tape into a first leader held to said first tape support member and a second leader held to said second tape support member, shifting said second and third tape support members to form said second splicing head, operating said splicing tape applicator means to splice said first leader to the end of the use tape held to said third tape support member, releasing said first and third tape-holding means and rotatably driving said spindle to wind said first leader and a predetermined length of the use tape spliced to said first leader on said one hub, reoperating said first and third tape-holding means to hold said use tape to said second splicing head, operating said knife to slit the use tape on said second splicing head, shifting said second and third tape support members to form said first splicing head, reoperating said splicing tape applicator means to splice said second leader to the trailing end of the use tape held on said first tape support member, and releasing said first and second tape holding means.

Claim 4

Apparatus for severinG a leader tape that is attached at its opposite ends to two hubs into two leaders and for splicing said leaders to the opposite ends of a length of use tape obtained from a supply roll of said use tape, said apparatus comprising: a splicing station comprising a first stationary tape support member and second and third moveable tape support members; means for alternately shifting said second and third support members into and out of adjacent relation to said first tape support member, said first and second support members when adjacent to each other constituting a first splicing head and said first and third support members when adjacent to each other constituting a second splicing head; a knife operable to slit tape supported on said first and second splicing heads; means for holding said supply roll of use tape, selectively operable first and second tape-holding means for holding said leader tape on said first and second tape support members respectively; selectively operable third tape-holding means for holding the leading end of said use tape on said third tape support member; selectively operable splicing tape applicator means for applying a splicing tape to the adjacent ends of leader and use tapes supported by said first and second splicing heads; selectively operable tape-winding means comprising a rotatable spindle adapted to hold and rotate one of said hubs and means for rotatably driving said spindle; and control means for sequentially operating the foregoing means so as to effect the following operations: operating said first, second and third tape-holding means so as to hold said leader tape on said first and second support members and the leading end of said use tape on said third support member, operating said knife to slit said leader tape into a first leader held to said first tape support member and a second leader held to said second tape support member, shifting said second and third tape support members to form said second splicing head, operating said splicing tape applicator means to splice said first leader to the end of the use tape held to said third tape support member, releasing said first and third tape-holding means and rotatably driving said spindle to wind said first leader and a predetermined length of the use tape spliced to said first leader on said one hub, reoperating said first and third tape-holding means to hold said use tape to said second splicing head, operating said knife to slit the use tape on said second splicing head, shifting said second and third tape support members to form said first splicing head, reoperating said splicing tape applicator means to splice said second leader to the trailing end of the use tape held on said first tape support member, and releasing said first and second tape holding means.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said means for shifting said second and third support members comprises a mechanical linkage between said members and means for operating said linkage in one or the other of two opposite directions.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said tape-holding means are adapted to hold tape to said tape support members by suction.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said means for holding said supply roll of use tape includes drive means for rotating said supply roll of use tape when said tape-winding means is operating.

Claim 8

Apparatus according to claim 5 further including tension-responsive means for varying the operating speed of said tape-winding means and said drive means to maintain the tension on said use tape as it passes from said supply roll to said one hub within predetermined limits.

Claim 9

Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said means for rotatably driving said spindle comprises a first air turbine, and said supply roll drive means comprises a second air turbine, and further wherein said tension-responsive means controls the rate of flow of air through said turbines.

Claim 10

Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein saiD control means includes means for measuring the length of use tape being wound by said tape-winding means and means responsive to said measuring means for causing said control means to terminate operation of said winding means when said predetermined length is reached.

Claim 11

Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said control means includes means for detecting an information signal carried by said use tape, and means for terminating operation of said winding means when said information signal is detected.

Claim 12

Apparatus for severing a leader tape into two leaders and for splicing said leaders to the opposite ends of a length of use tape severed from a supply roll of said use tape, said apparatus comprising: a splicing station comprising a first stationary tape support means and second and third moveable tape support means; means for alternately shifting said second and third tape support means into and out of aligned relation to said first tape support means, said first and second support means when aligned with each other constituting a first splicing head and said first and third support means when aligned with each other constituting a second splicing head, said second tape support means normally being aligned with said first tape support means, knife means operable to slit tape supported on either of said first and second splicing heads; means for holding a supply roll of use tape, selectively operable first and second tape-holding means for holding a leader tape on said first and second tape support means respectively; selectively operable third tape-holding means for holding the leading end of said use tape on said third tape support means; selectively operable splicing tape applicator means for applying a splicing tape to the adjacent ends of leader and use tapes supported by either of said first and second splicing heads; selectively operable tape-winding means; and control means for sequentially operating the foregoing means as follows: operating said first, second and third tape-holding means so as to place them in tape-holding condition with respect to said first, second and third tape support means; operating said knife means; shifting said second and third tape support means to form said second splicing head; operating said splicing tape applicator means; releasing said first and third tape-holding means and operating said tape-winding means; termination operation of said tape-winding means; reoperating said first and third tape-holding means so as to place them in tape-holding condition with respect to said first and third tape support means; reoperating said knife means; shifting said second and third tape support means to again form said first splicing head; and reoperating said splicing tape applicator means.

Claim 13

Apparatus for severing a leader tape into two leaders and for splicing said leaders to the opposite ends of a length of use tape severed from a supply roll of said use tape, said apparatus comprising: a splicing station comprising a first stationary tape support means and second and third moveable tape support means; means for alternately shifting said second and third tape support means into and out of aligned relation to said first tape support means, said first and second support means when aligned with each other constituting a first splicing head and said first and third support means when aligned with each other constituting a second splicing head, said second tape support means normally being aligned with said first tape support means, knife means operable to slit tape supported on either of said first and second splicing heads; means for holding a supply roll of use tape, selectively operable first and second tape-holding means for holding a leader tape on said first and second tape support means respectively; selectively operable third tape-holding means for holding the leading end of said use tape on said third tape support means; selectively operable splicing tape applicator means for applying a splicing tape to the adjacent ends of leader and use tapes supported by either of said first and second splicing heads; selectively operable tape-winding means; and control means for sequentially operating the foregoing means as follows: operating said first, second and third tape-holding means so as to place them in tape-holding condition with respect to said first, second and third tape support means; operating said knife means; shifting said second and third tape support means to form said second splicing head; operating said splicing tape applicator means; releasing said first and third tape-holding means and operating said tape-winding means; termination operation of said tape-winding means; reoperating said first and third tape-holding means so as to place them in tape-holding condition with respect to said first and third tape support means; reoperating said knife means; shifting said second and third tape support means to again form said first splicing head; and reoperating said splicing tape applicator means.

Claim 14

Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein at least one of said tape-holding means is adapted to hold tape to a tape support means by suction.

Claim 15

Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said means for holding a supply roll of use tape comprises a rotatable shaft adapted to hold a supply roll of use tape, and further including drive means for rotating said shaft when said tape-winding means is operating.

Claim 16

Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said tape-winding means comprises a first air turbine and a winding spindle driven by said first turbine, and said drive means for rotating said shaft comprises a second air turbine, and further including means for controlling the rate of flow of air through said turbines.

Claim 17

Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said control means includes means for measuring the length of use tape being wound by said tape-winding means and means responsive to said measuring means for causing said control means to terminate operation of said winding means when said predetermined length is reached.

Claim 18

Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said control means includes means for detecting an information signal carried by tape being wound by said winding means, and mEans for terminating operation of said winding means when said information signal is detected.

Claim 19

Apparatus loading use tape into a cassette having two rotatable hubs and a leader tape having its ends connected to said hubs, said apparatus comprising: means for rotatably supporting a roll of use tape; means for releasably supporting said cassette; means for releasably supporting a portion of the leader tape of said cassette exterior of said cassette; means for releasably supporting the leading end of said use tape; tape-slitting means; tape-splicing means; and means for (a) operating said tape-slitting means to slit said leader tape portion and thereby form first and second hub-connected leaders; (b) operating said splicing means to splice said first leader to the leading end of said use tape; (c) rotating the hub to which said first leader is attached so as to wind a quantity of use tape thereon; (d) terminating rotation of the said hub and further operating said tape-slitting means to slit said use tape at a point spaced from said cassette; and (e) further operating said splicing means to splice the trailing end of the use tape wound on the said hub to said second leader.

Claim 20

Apparatus loading use tape into a cassette having two rotatable hubs and a leader tape having its ends connected to said hubs, said apparatus comprising: means for rotatably supporting a roll of use tape; means for releasably supporting said cassette; means for releasably supporting a portion of the leader tape of said cassette exterior of said cassette; means for releasably supporting the leading end of said use tape; tape-slitting means; tape-splicing means; and means for (a) operating said tape-slitting means to slit said leader tape portion and thereby form first and second hub-connected leaders; (b) operating said splicing means to splice said first leader to the leading end of said use tape; (c) rotating the hub to which said first leader is attached so as to wind a quantity of use tape thereon; (d) terminating rotation of the said hub and further operating said tape-slitting means to slit said use tape at a point spaced from said cassette; and (e) further operating said splicing means to splice the trailing end of the use tape wound on the said hub to said second leader.