US3688058A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Incremental data-processing sprocketed tape deck
Assignee: MICRODYNE Inc
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Filing: 1970-08-28
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Granted: 1972-08-29
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Expires: 1990-08-28
Abstract
Abstract An incremental data-processing tape deck for use with cartridgehoused magnetic tape punched for a sprocket drive, comprising a recording and reproducing transducer mounted near a drive sprocket, with a movable slide to quide the tape into engagement with the transducer and the sprocket. The slide is actuated by a hold-down device that latches the tape cartridge in operating position. Incremental or slow continuous tape advance is effected by the sprocket, with tape take-up afforded by a first spindle actuated through a slip clutch. The same spindle can be driven directly for fast forward motion of the tape; a second concentric spindle provides for fast reverse tape movement. A tape tensioner maintains the tape in engagement with the transducer.
Inventors
- 👤 John S Findlay
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 17:08
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B15/00; G11B15/18; G11B15/26; G11B15/34; G11B15/1883; G11B15/20; G11B15/44; G11B15/675; G11B27/00; G11B27/10; G11B27/34
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
320 words
An incremental data-processing tape deck for recording data upon and reproducing data from a magnetic tape mounted in a cartridge for movement, within the cartridge, in forward and reverse directions, along a path that extends across an access opening in the cartridge, the tape having a series of longitudinally equally spaced sprocket holes, comprising: support means for supporting a tape cartridge in a given operational position; spindle means, comprising at least one spindle projecting outwardly of said support means and engaging a tape cartridge supported in said operational position, for driving the tape across said access opening in at least one direction; a transducer, positioned in predetermined spaced relation to the access opening in a tape cartridge located in said operational position; incremental drive means, comprising a sprocket positioned adjacent said transducer in spaced relation thereto and in predetermined spaced relation to said access opening, for positively engaging the sprocket holes in the tape and driving the tape across said access opening in a given forward direction in incremental steps of equal predetermined length; tape guide means for displacing a limited portion of tape outwardly of said access opening and into engagement with said transducer and said incremental drive means, said tape guide means comprising a slide movable between a retracted position and an engagement position, said slide having a plurality of tape guide members mounted thereon that project into said access opening in the tape cartridge when the slide is in its retracted position and that hold the tape in engagement with said transducer and said sprocket of said incremental drive means when the slide is in its engagement position; a cartridge holddown member movable between a released position clear of said tape cartridge operational position and an engagement position engaging a tape cartridge located in said operational position; and actuating means for actuating said cartridge holddown member and said slide conjointly between their respective released and engagement positions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
320 words
An incremental data-processing tape deck for recording data upon and reproducing data from a magnetic tape mounted in a cartridge for movement, within the cartridge, in forward and reverse directions, along a path that extends across an access opening in the cartridge, the tape having a series of longitudinally equally spaced sprocket holes, comprising: support means for supporting a tape cartridge in a given operational position; spindle means, comprising at least one spindle projecting outwardly of said support means and engaging a tape cartridge supported in said operational position, for driving the tape across said access opening in at least one direction; a transducer, positioned in predetermined spaced relation to the access opening in a tape cartridge located in said operational position; incremental drive means, comprising a sprocket positioned adjacent said transducer in spaced relation thereto and in predetermined spaced relation to said access opening, for positively engaging the sprocket holes in the tape and driving the tape across said access opening in a given forward direction in incremental steps of equal predetermined length; tape guide means for displacing a limited portion of tape outwardly of said access opening and into engagement with said transducer and said incremental drive means, said tape guide means comprising a slide movable between a retracted position and an engagement position, said slide having a plurality of tape guide members mounted thereon that project into said access opening in the tape cartridge when the slide is in its retracted position and that hold the tape in engagement with said transducer and said sprocket of said incremental drive means when the slide is in its engagement position; a cartridge holddown member movable between a released position clear of said tape cartridge operational position and an engagement position engaging a tape cartridge located in said operational position; and actuating means for actuating said cartridge holddown member and said slide conjointly between their respective released and engagement positions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
62 words
An incremental data-processing tape deck according to claim 1 in which said guide members are at least three in number, one guide member aligned with the central portion of the access opening in the tape cartridge and with the space between the transducer and the incremental drive means, the other guide members being aligned with the opposite ends of said access opening.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
An incremental data-processing tape deck according to claim 1, and further comprising release means, in said incremental drive means, for releasing said sprocket for free wheeling movement whenever said spindle means is operated to drive the tape across said access opening in either direction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
An incremental data-processing tape deck according to claim 1, further comprising a shoe of relatively soft plastic, mounted on said slide, and having a configuration complementary to the configuraTion of said sprocket, for assuring positive engagement between the tape and the sprocket.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
55 words
An incremental data-processing tape deck according to claim 1 and further comprising a tape tensioner and positioner means, including a roller aligned with the outside guide member adjacent said transducer, for continuously maintaining a light rolling pressure against the tape at said outside guide member when said tape guide slide is in its engagement position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
64 words
An incremental data-processing tape deck according to claim 1, for use with a tape cartridge having two coaxially stacked storage hubs, in which said spindle means comprises two coaxial spindles, forward drive means for driving one spindle to move the tape rapidly in a forward direction, and reverse drive means for driving the other spindle to move the tape rapidly in a reverse direction.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
An incremental data-processing tape deck according to claim 6 in which the forward drive means comprises a positive forward drive for moving the tape at a high speed, and a forward takeup drive, for taking up slack in the tape when the tape is advanced by said sprocket.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
An incremental data-processing tape deck according to claim 7, in which said forward takeup drive includes a slip clutch to permit continuous actuation of the takeup drive without undue stress on the magnetic tape.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
120 words
An incremental data-processing tape deck according to claim 6 in which the forward drive means, the reverse drive means, and the incremental drive means each includes a drive gear, a driven gear, and a connecting gear, the connecting gear of each drive means being mounted upon a crank that is pivotally movable, about an axis concentric with the axis of the associated drive gear, between a released position in which the connecting gear is disengaged from the associated driven gear and a driving position in which the connecting gear is engaged with the driven gear, bias means for biasing said crank toward one of said positions, and electrically actuated means for actuating the crank to the other of said positions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
An incremental data-processing tape deck according to claim 9 in which the crank of said incremental drive means is biased toward its driving potion and in which the cranks of the forward and reverse drive means are each biased toward their released positions.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
44 words
An incremental data-processing tape deck according to claim 6, in which said incremental drive means includes an electrically actuated fixed-cycle clutch for actuating said sprocket to rotate in increments each equal in length to an arc equal to the spacing between adjacent sprocket teeth.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
75 words
An incremental data-processing tape deck according to Claim 11, in which said incremental drive means further comprises a rotatable disc, incorporated in the drive means on the sprocket side of said fixed-cycle clutch, a pivotally mounted stop crank having a pair of stop elements engaging opposed surfaces at the rim of the disc, and biasing means biasing said stop crank into engagement with said disc to preclude excessive overtravel and backlash in said incremental drive.
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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) | 1975-08-29 | 1976-02-28 | 1976-08-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-08-29 | 1980-02-28 | 1980-08-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-08-29 | 1984-02-28 | 1984-08-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |