US3656705A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tape transport assembly
Assignee: Leach Corp
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Filing: 1968-12-26
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Granted: 1972-04-18
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Expires: 1988-12-26
Abstract
Abstract The disclosure describes a tape transport assembly that is capable of receiving a plurality of tape cartridges for sequentially operating each cartridge to provide a long period of uninterrupted recording time.
Inventors
- 👤 George Wesley Boyer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 21:57
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B15/00; G11B15/675; G11B15/68; G11B15/682
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
124 words
A tape transport assembly for receiving a plurality of tape cartridges having guide means for exposing magnetic tape at one end of the cartridge comprising: a rectangular compartment being open at the forward end for receiving the tape cartridges, the rearward end of said compartment including a pair of elongated rotating capstans extending across said compartments, and a magnetic head assembly located between said capstans; a plurality of latch means extending across said compartment, each latch means engaging a registering tape cartridge, means for actuating said latch means for moving the respective tape cartridge toward the rearward end of said compartment to enable the exposed portion of said tape to be brought into frictional engagement with said rotating capstans and said magnetic head assembly.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
124 words
A tape transport assembly for receiving a plurality of tape cartridges having guide means for exposing magnetic tape at one end of the cartridge comprising: a rectangular compartment being open at the forward end for receiving the tape cartridges, the rearward end of said compartment including a pair of elongated rotating capstans extending across said compartments, and a magnetic head assembly located between said capstans; a plurality of latch means extending across said compartment, each latch means engaging a registering tape cartridge, means for actuating said latch means for moving the respective tape cartridge toward the rearward end of said compartment to enable the exposed portion of said tape to be brought into frictional engagement with said rotating capstans and said magnetic head assembly.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein: each latch means comprises a pawl pivotally mounted at one end with the other end adapted to engage the respective tape cartridge; and said actuating means comprises a servo mechanism connected to said pawl for pivoting said pawl toward the rearward end of said compartment.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
72 words
The invention in accordance with claim 2 wherein each of said latch means further includes locking means for locking said pawl in a position in which the exposed tape engages the capstan and magnetic head means comprising an arm pivotally connected to the housing of said latch means, said arm further comprising a hook portion for engagement with said latch means on said pawl for maintaining said pawl in the locked position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
The invention in accordance with claim 3 wherein each of said locking means further includes a servo mechanism for pivoting said arm to disengage it from said catch thereby enabling said pawl to move away from the rearward end of said compartment.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
The invention in accordance with claim 3 wherein each of said pawls includes a hollow housing pivotally mounted at one end with a piston member axially movable within said hollow housing, the outer end of said piston member engaging a registering tape cartridge.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
The invention in accordance with claim 5 wherein each of said arms of said locking means is further connected to said respective piston member to retract said piston member within said hollow housing thereby disengaging said piston member from said tape cartridge.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
The invention in accordance with claim 6 further including a rod connected to each of said arms and extending to the forward end of said tape transport assembly and being reciprocable therein to provide a manual disengagement of said tape cartridge.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
94 words
The invention in accordance with claim 2 further comprising: a shaft extending across said compartment; a plurality of take-up puck assemblies, each take-up puck assembly including an arm having one end pivotally connected to said shaft, and the other end having a pulley rotatably journaled thereon, and prong means connected to each of said pawls adapted to engage one of said pulleys whereby upon a rearward pivot of each of said pawls, said respective prong means moves said engaging pulley into engagement with the periphery of the take-up reels of a registering tape cartridge.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The invention in accordance with claim 1 further including means on said tape transport assembly to monitor the amount of magnetic tape wound on the supply reels.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
94 words
The invention in accordance with claim 9 wherein said monitoring means includes: a plurality of light sources, each light source being located adjacent one side of the tape cartridges; and a plurality of photo-sensors, each photo-sensor being located adjacent the opposite side of the tape cartridge, each of said light sources and said photo-sensor being positioned to describe a straight line cutting across the supply reel tangential to the hub thereof, whereby a light beam from said light source is transmitted to said photo-sensor when the tape is substantially removed from the supply reel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
72 words
The invention in accordance with claim 1 further comprising: a shaft extending across said compartment; a plurality of rewind puck assemblies, each rewind puck assembly including an arm having one end pivotally connected to said shaft, the other end having a pulley rotatably journaled thereon, and means for pivoting each of said arms to move said respective pulleys into engagement with the periphery of the supply reel of a registering tape cartridge.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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Cited
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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) | 1975-04-18 | 1975-10-18 | 1976-04-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-04-18 | 1979-10-18 | 1980-04-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-04-18 | 1983-10-18 | 1984-04-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |