High-performance tape memory system

Claim 2

A digital magnetic tape transport having a relatively straight-line tape-threading path suitable for automatic and semiautomatic tape loading comprising a magnetic head and a pair of vacuum storage chambers disposed on opposite sides of the magnetic head so as to define, together with the magnetic head, the relatively straight-line tape-threading path, the pair of vacuum storage chambers being similarly inclined but asymmetrically disposed relative to the relatively straight-line tape-threading path.

Claim 3

A digital magnetic tape transport mounted on a generally rectangular storage rack having a pair of long sides and a pair of short sides comprising: first and second tape reels mounted on the storage rack along an axis generally parallel to the long sides; means defining a substantially straight-line tape-threading path along the storage rack adjacent the reels and generally parallel to the long sides; and a pair of similarly inclined vacuum storage chambers mounted on the storage rack, each having an open end adjacent the tape-threading path.

Claim 4

A digital magnetic tape transport mounted on a generally rectangular storage rack having a pair of long sides and a pair of short sides comprising: first and second tape reels mounted on the storage rack along an axis generally parallel to the long sides; means defining a substantially straight-line tape-threading path along the storage rack adjacent the reels and generally parallel to the long sides; and a pair of similarly inclined vacuum storage chambers mounted on the storage rack, each having an open end adjacent the tape-threading path.

Claim 5

A digital magnetic tape transport according to claim 2, wherein the vacuum storage chambers are asymmetrically disposed relative to the tape-threading path, and further including a capstan mounted along the tape-threading path adjacent the open end of one of the vacuum storage chambers.

Claim 6

A digital magnetic tape transport having a generally linear tape-threading path and mounted on a vertically disposed rectangular frame having generally parallel upper and lower edges of long length and generally parallel left and right edges of short length comprising: a first tape reel mounted on the frame adjacent an upper right-hand corner defined by the upper and right edges; a second tape reel mounted on the frame adjacent an upper left-hand corner defined by the upper and left edges; first and second tape guides mounted on the frame along the linear tape-threading path below the first and second tape reels adjacent the right and left edges respectively; a first vacuum storage chamber mounted on the frame and having a bottom and terminating adjacent a lower right-hand corner defined by the lower and right edges and an open mouth terminating on the linear tape-threading path a sufficient distance to the left of the first tape guide to provide the first vacuum chamber with a desired tape loop forming length; third and fourth tape guides respectively mounted at opposite sides of the mouth of the first vacuum storage chamber; a second vacuum storage chamber mounted on the frame, having an open mouth terminating on the linear tape threading path adjacent the second tape guide and being disposed at an angle relative to the vertical sufficient to provide a nonslipping tape wrap angle around a capstan mounted at the open mouth thereof; a magnetic head mounted on the frame along the linear tape-threading path between the first and second vacuum storage chambers; and a fifth tape guide mounted on the frame along the linear tape-threading path between the magnetic head and the second vacuum storage chamber.

Claim 7

A digital magnetic tape transport having a generally linear tape-threading path and mounted on a vertically disposed rectangular frame having generally parallel upper and lower edges of long length and generally parallel left and right edges of short length comprising: a first tape reel mounted on the frame adjacent an upper right-hand corner defined by the upper and right edges; a second tape reel mounted on the frame adjacent an upper left-hand corner defined by the upper and left edges; first and second tape guides mounted on the frame along the linear tape-threading path below the first and second tape reels adjacent the right and left edges respectively; a first vacuum storage chamber mounted on the frame and having a bottom and terminating adjacent a lower right-hand corner defined by the lower and right edges and an open mouth terminating on the linear tape-threading path a sufficient distance to the left of the first tape guide to provide the first vacuum chamber with a desired tape loop forming length; third and fourth tape guides respectively mounted at opposite sides of the mouth of the first vacuum storage chamber; a second vacuum storage chamber mounted on the frame, having an open mouth terminating on the linear tape threading path adjacent the second tape guide and being disposed at an angle relative to the vertical sufficient to provide a nonslipping tape wrap angle around a capstan mounted at the open mouth thereof; a magnetic head mounted on the frame along the linear tape-threading path between the first and second vacuum storage chambers; and a fifth tape guide mounted on the frame along the linear tape-threading path between the magnetic head and the second vacuum storage chamber.

Claim 8

A digital magnetic tape transport comprising first and second spaced-apart vacuum storage chambers defining the opposite ends of a relatively straight-line tape-threading path, a magnetic recording head disposed along the straight-line tape-threading path between the first and second vacuum storage chambers, and a capstan disposed along the straight-line tape-threading path adjacent the second vacuum storage chamber, the first vacuum chamber being inclined relative to the straight-line tape-threading path to permit a maximum length thereof within available tape transport space and the second vacuum chamber being inclined relative to the straight-line tape-threading path in a direction similar to the first vacuum storage chamber to provide a sufficient wrap angle of tape around the capstan to prevent slippage between tape and capstan.

Claim 9

A digital magnetic tape transport comprising first and second spaced-apart vacuum storage chambers defining the opposite ends of a relatively straight-line tape-threading path, a magnetic recording head disposed along the straight-line tape-threading path between the first and second vacuum storage chambers, and a capstan disposed along the straight-line tape-threading path adjacent the second vacuum storage chamber, the first vacuum chamber being inclined relative to the straight-line tape-threading path to permit a maximum length thereof within available tape transport space and the second vacuum chamber being inclined relative to the straight-line tape-threading path in a direction similar to the first vacuum storage chamber to provide a sufficient wrap angle of tape around the capstan to prevent slippage between tape and capstan.

Claim 10

A digital magnetic tape transport according to claim 5, wherein the wrap angle of tape around the capstan is determined in accordance with the formula F T(e Mu theta - 1), where F is the maximum frictional driving force applied to the tape, T is the nominal tape tension, e is the base of the natural logarithm 2.178, Mu is the coefficient of friction between the tape and capstan surface, and theta is the wrap angle of tape.

Claim 11

For use on a digital magnetic tape transport mounted on a standardized rectangular frame and having first and second reels mounted on an upper portion of the frame at opposite sides thereof, means defining a generally linear tape-threading path including: first and second tape guides mounted on the frame at opposite sides thereof below the first and second reels, the first and second tape guides establishing the opposite ends of the generally linear tape-threading path; a first vacuum storage chamber mounted on the frame and having a bottom terminating at a lower corner of the frame and an open mouth terminating on the generally linear tape-threading path, the angular position of the first vacuum storage chamber relative to the generally linear tape-threading path being chosen so as to optimize both the size of the open mouth along the generally linear tape-threading path and the length of the first vacuum storage chamber accommodated by the rectangular frame; a second vacuum storage chamber mounted on the frame and having an open mouth terminating on the generally linear tape-threading path, the second vacuum storage chamber having an angular position relative to the generally linear tape-threading path similar to that of the first vacuum storage chamber and which is chosen so as to optimize the wrap angle of tape on a capstan located at the mouth of the second vacuum storage chamber; a capstan mounted at the mouth of the second vacuum storage chamber on a side thereof nearest the first vacuum storage chamber; and a magnetic head mounted on the frame along the generally linear tape-threading path between the first and second vacuum storage chambers.

Claim 12

For use on a digital magnetic tape transport mounted on a standardized rectangular frame and having first and second reels mounted on an upper portion of the frame at opposite sides thereof, means defining a generally linear tape-threading path including: first and second tape guides mounted on the frame at opposite sides thereof below the first and second reels, the first and second tape guides establishing the opposite ends of the generally linear tape-threading path; a first vacuum storage chamber mounted on the frame and having a bottom terminating at a lower corner of the frame and an open mouth terminating on the generally linear tape-threading path, the angular position of the first vacuum storage chamber relative to the generally linear tape-threading path being chosen so as to optimize both the size of the open mouth along the generally linear tape-threading path and the length of the first vacuum storage chamber accommodated by the rectangular frame; a second vacuum storage chamber mounted on the frame and having an open mouth terminating on the generally linear tape-threading path, the second vacuum storage chamber having an angular position relative to the generally linear tape-threading path similar to that of the first vacuum storage chamber and which is chosen so as to optimize the wrap angle of tape on a capstan located at the mouth of the second vacuum storage chamber; a capstan mounted at the mouth of the second vacuum storage chamber on a side thereof nearest the first vacuum storage chamber; and a magnetic head mounted on the frame along the generally linear tape-threading path between the first and second vacuum storage chambers.

Claim 13

The combination defined in claim 7, wherein the frame has dimensions of 19 inches by 24 inches and the first and second reels each have a diameter of 10 1/2 inches.

Claim 14

The combination defined in claim 8, wherein the first vacuum storage chamber is mounted on the frame at an angle of approximately 45* relative to the generally linear tape-threading path and the second vacuum storage chamber is mounted to provide a wrap angle of tape on the capstan of approximately 154*.