US3704836A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic cartridge tape threading device
Assignee: Ricoh Co Ltd
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Filing: 1971-03-29
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Granted: 1972-12-05
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Expires: 1991-03-29
Abstract
Abstract A reel drive roller and a tap draw-out roller are rotatably mounted coaxially on a pivoted support arm and are driven by belt means. When the arm is swung toward the opening in a cartridge, the reel drive roller engages a flange of the tape reel to rotate the tape reel to expand the outer convulsions of the wound tape radially outwardly and the tape draw-out roller engages the outer convulsions under some pressure to feed the leading end of the tape to a capstan roller associated with a pinch roller. The capstan roller and the pinch roller feed the draw-out tape to a take-up reel having a hub provided with a friction surface.
Inventors
- 👤 Hiroshi Yamada
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 01:51
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B1/00; G03B1/56
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
218 words
An automatic tape threading device, for threading tape wound on a supply reel rotatable in a cartridge and having at least one flange, comprising, in combination, a reel drive roller arranged to be rotated in pressing engagement with the periphery of a flange of the reel to rotate the reel to cause outer convolutions of the tape wound thereon to move radially outwardly; a tape draw-out roller concentric with said reel drive roller and having a diameter greater than that of said reel drive roller, said tape draw-out roller being arranged to be rotated with its periphery radially inwardly of the periphery of the reel flange engaged by said reel drive roller to have pressing engagement of the leading end of the tape, when the outer tape convolutions are caused to move radially outwardly by rotation of the reel, to advance the tape from the cartridge; support means rotatably mounting said rollers and operable to move said rollers into their respective engaging positions; driving means for said rollers including a disengagable clutch; control means controlling engagement and disengagement of said clutch to control the tape draw-out operation; tape advance means operable to advance the drawn out tape along a predetermined path; and tape winding means receiving the thus advanced tape and winding the tape on a take-up reel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
218 words
An automatic tape threading device, for threading tape wound on a supply reel rotatable in a cartridge and having at least one flange, comprising, in combination, a reel drive roller arranged to be rotated in pressing engagement with the periphery of a flange of the reel to rotate the reel to cause outer convolutions of the tape wound thereon to move radially outwardly; a tape draw-out roller concentric with said reel drive roller and having a diameter greater than that of said reel drive roller, said tape draw-out roller being arranged to be rotated with its periphery radially inwardly of the periphery of the reel flange engaged by said reel drive roller to have pressing engagement of the leading end of the tape, when the outer tape convolutions are caused to move radially outwardly by rotation of the reel, to advance the tape from the cartridge; support means rotatably mounting said rollers and operable to move said rollers into their respective engaging positions; driving means for said rollers including a disengagable clutch; control means controlling engagement and disengagement of said clutch to control the tape draw-out operation; tape advance means operable to advance the drawn out tape along a predetermined path; and tape winding means receiving the thus advanced tape and winding the tape on a take-up reel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
An automatic tape threading device, as claimed in claim 1, in which said two rollers are secured to rotate with a single common shaft.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
An automatic tape threading device, as claimed in claim 1, in which said reel drive roller and said tape drawout roller are formed integrally with each other.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
147 words
An automatic tape threading device, as claimed in claim 1, in which said tape advance means comprises a capstan roller and a pinch roller biased to press against said capstan roller; a support for said pinch roller; the periphery of said capstan roller being formed with a circumferentially extending peripheral groove sufficiently wide in an axial direction to receive said pinch roller therein; the axial width of said pinch roller being less than the width of said peripheral groove and less than the width of the tape; the trailing end portion of the tape being formed with a slot having a width sufficient to permit said pinch roller to pass therethrough to be received in said peripheral groove when the slot is disposed between said pinch roller and said capstan roller, whereby, at such time, said capstan roller and said pinch roller cease to advance the tape.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
130 words
An automatic tape threading device, as claimed in claim 1, in which said tape advance means comprises a capstan roller and a pinch roller biased to press against said capstan roller; said capstan roller being formed with a peripheral groove having an axial width sufficient to permit said pinch roller to be received in said peripheral groove; a pivotal arm supporting said pinch roller; said control means including said pivotal arm and a switch opened by said pivotal arm upon movement of said pinch roller out of said peripheral groove of said capstan roller by the forward end of the tape introduced between said capstan and pinch roller; said switch, when opened, rendering said reel drive roller and said tape draw-out roller ineffective to draw-out the tape from the cartridge.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
An automatic tape threading device, as claimed in claim 1, in which said tape winding means comprises a take-up reel having a hub with a friction surface on its periphery; a pinch roller adapted to press against said friction surface of said hub; and an arm supporting said pinch roller.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
54 words
An automatic tape threading device, as claimed in claim 1, in which said support means comprises a pivotal arm; a drive shaft frictionally engagable with said pivotal arm; said clutch being operable to connect said drive shaft to said driving means to pivot said arm to move said rollers into their respective engaging positions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
70 words
An automatic tape threading device, as claimed in claim 7, including a first pulley secured to rotate with said drive shaft; a second pulley secured to rotate with said rollers; an endless belt interconnecting said first and second pulleys; a sleeve rotatable on said drive shaft and having a flange to which said pivotal arm is secured; and a friction surface disposed between said flange and said first drive pulley.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
113 words
An automatic tape threading device, as claimed in claim 6, in which said arm supporting said pinch roller is formed with an intercepting portion for guiding the forward end of the tape advanced by said tape advance means to move toward said hub of said take-up reel by preventing deflection of the forward end of the tape from this normal path of travel; said arm supporting said pinch roller being formed with a curved guide surface for guiding the forward end of the tape, introduced onto the take-up reel, to be pinched between the hub of the take-up reel and said pinch roller biased to press against the hub of said take-up reel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
An automatic tape threading device, as claimed in claim 9, In which said control means includes a switch; and a second arm movable with said pinch roller supporting arm and effective to operate said switch.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-12-05 | 1976-06-05 | 1976-12-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-12-05 | 1980-06-05 | 1980-12-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-12-05 | 1984-06-05 | 1984-12-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |