Apparatus for guiding tape between two planes

Claim 2

Apparatus for transporting tape along a tape path, the apparatus comprising: a length of tape; first means for guiding the tape so its centerline along a first portion of the tape path lies in a first plane; second means for guiding the tape so its centerline along a second portion of the tape path lies in a second plane that is canted with respect to the first plane; and a vacuum column for guiding the tape so its centerline along a third portion of the tape path intermediate the first and second portions coincides approximately with the line of intersection of the first and second planes.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1, in which the vacuum column lies in the second plane and has an outer sidewall that coincides with the line of intersection of the first and second planes, the vacuum column guiding the tape to form a fourth portion of the tape path intermediate the first and third portions, the third and fourth portions of the tape path defining a slack loop in the vacuum column.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 1, in which the vacuum column lies in the second plane and has two sidewalls, one of which coincides with the line of intersection of the first and second planes, the tape approaching the sidewall as it extends into the vacuum column such that the tape twists along the third portion and contacts the sidewalls of the vacuum column at the bend in the slack loop.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 3, in which the first guiding means comprises a tape storage reel oriented so the centerline of the tape stored thereon lies in the first plane and means at the intersection of the first and third portions of the tape path for bending the tape about an axis perpendicular to the first plane.

Claim 6

In a tape-handling system, the combination comprising: a work surface; a pair of coaxially arranged tape storage reels, said pair being canted at an angle with respect to the work surface such that tape extends upwardly from one of the reels toward the work surface and such that tape extends downwardly from the other reel toward the work surface; guiding means and a vacuum column individual to each of the reels, the guiding means bending the tape extending from such reel into the vacuum column to form a slack tape loop the outside of which is twisted relative to the tape on such reel and the tape of the inside of the slack loop; and means for guiding the tape along the work surface between the vacuum columns untwisted relative to the tape of the insides of the slack loops.

Claim 7

In a tape-handling system, the combination comprising: a work surface; a pair of coaxially arranged tape storage reels, said pair being canted at an angle with respect to the work surface such that tape extends upwardly from one of the reels toward the work surface and such that tape extends downwardly from the other reel toward the work surface; guiding means and a vacuum column individual to each of the reels, the guiding means bending the tape extending from such reel into the vacuum column to form a slack tape loop the outside of which is twisted relative to the tape on such reel and the tape of the inside of the slack loop; and means for guiding the tape along the work surface between the vacuum columns untwisted relative to the tape of the insides of the slack loops.

Claim 8

The combination of claim 5, in which: the guiding means individual to each of the reels bends the tape extending from such reel about an axis parallel to the axis of the reel pair and into approximate coincidence with the line of intersection between the tape along the work surface and the tape on such reel; the vacuum column individual to each of the reels lying in the work plane such that the outer sidewall of the vacuum column coincides approximately with the line of intersection, the tape extending from the guiding means into the vacuum column to form a slack loop.

Claim 9

The combination of claim 6, additionally comprising tape cleaning means disposed in the tape path between one of the vacuum columns and the corresponding reel.

Claim 10

The combination of claim 7, additionally comprising a bidirectional capstan along the work surface that drives the tape between the vacuum columns.

Claim 11

The combination of claim 8, in which the work surface is vertical, the reels are arranged on a horizontal axis, the vacuum columns are spaced apart and vertical, and the means for guiding the tape along the work surface between the vacuum columns comprises: a first convergent vacuum buffer and a second convergent vacuum buffer arranged horizontally back-to-back above the vacuum columns such that the tape path from one vacuum column extends through the first buffer, across the capstan, over the buffers, and through the second buffer to the other vacuum column; and a transducer head disposed in the tape path over the buffers.

Claim 12

The combination of claim 9, in which the guiding means individual to each of the reels for bending the tape comprises a guiding surface and means for generating an air bearing between the guiding surface and the adjacent tape.

Claim 13

The combination of claim 10, in which the means for guiding the tape along the work surface additionally comprises a first guiding surface between the one vacuum column and the first buffer, a second guiding surface between the portion of the tape path over the buffers and the second buffer, and a third guiding surface between the second buffer and the other vacuum column, and means for generating an air bearing between the first, second, and third guiding surfaces and the adjacent tape.

Claim 14

In a tape handling apparatus having: a work surface, a rotatable tape storage reel canted at an angle with respect to the work surface, first means for guiding such tape in a first segment of tape path formed along the work surface so such tape centerline lies in a first plane parallel to the work surface, second means for guiding such tape in a second segment of tape path formed between the reel and the work surface so such tape centerline lies in a second plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the reel, and said first and second means cooperating so as to guide such tape in a third segment of tape path intermediate the first and second segments so there are changes in tape path direction between the first and third segments and between the second and third segments and so such tape centerline of the third segment substantially coincides with the line of intersection of the first and second planes, the the improvement comprising first guiding means that is a vacuum column the outer sidewall of which coincides with the line of intersection.

Claim 15

In a tape handling apparatus having: a work surface, a rotatable tape storage reel canted at an angle with respect to the work surface, first means for guiding such tape in a first segment of tape path formed along the work surface so such tape centerline lies in a first plane parallel to the work surface, second means for guiding such tape in a second segment of tape path formed between the reel and the work surface so such tape centerline lies in a second plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the reel, and said first and second means cooperating so as to guide such tape in a third segment of tape path intermediate the first and second segments so there are changes in tape path direction between the first and third segments and between the second and third segments and so such tape centerline of the third segment substantially coincides with the line of intersection of the first and second planes, the the improvement comprising first guiding means that is a vacuum column the outer sidewall of which coincides with the line of intersection.

Claim 16

Apparatus for transporting tape along a tape path, the apparatus having a length of tape, first means for guiding the tape so its centerline along a first portion of the tape path lies in a first plane, second means for guiding the tape so its centerline along a second portion of the tape path lies in a second plane that is canted with respect to the first plane, and third means for guiding the tape so its centerline along a third portion of the tape path intermediate the first and second portions substantially coincides with the line of intersection of the first and second planes, the improvement comprising a vacuum column the outer sidewall of which is the third means and the inner sidewall of which is the second means.

Claim 17

Apparatus for transporting tape along a tape path, the apparatus having a length of tape, first means for guiding the tape so its centerline along a first portion of the tape path lies in a first plane, second means for guiding the tape so its centerline along a second portion of the tape path lies in a second plane that is canted with respect to the first plane, and third means for guiding the tape so its centerline along a third portion of the tape path intermediate the first and second portions substantially coincides with the line of intersection of the first and second planes, the improvement comprising a vacuum column the outer sidewall of which is the third means and the inner sidewall of which is the second means.