US3751604A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic control system for loading and unloading magnetic tapes in digital recorder equipments
Assignee: CO INT POUR L INF
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Filing: 1971-07-12
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Granted: 1973-08-07
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Expires: 1991-07-12
Abstract
Abstract An automatic control system for loading and unloading a magnetic tape receiver coil from and to a delivery coil in a digital recorder equipment having a tape driving capstan at an intermediate location between upstream and downstream depression wells having outlets connected to a main suction duct comprises means in such a connection for enabling selective applications of reduced depressions and/or outer atmosphere pressure to said wells and a hardwared programme arrangement which is monitored from the response of sensors detecting the presence or absence of the magnetic tape at a number of selected positions along its normal path between the delivery and receiver coils for ensuring, during a loading operation, an automatic formation of magnetic tape loops within said wells and, during an unloading operation, an automatic release of such loops from said wells, and for controlling the ends of both loading and unloading automatic operations.
Inventors
- 👤 F Calizzano
- 👤 M Chauvel
- 👤 J Malliere
- 👤 J Rybner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 18:33
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B15/00; G11B15/60; G11B15/66; G11B15/67; G11B15/671; G11B15/56; G11B15/58
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
260 words
In an automatic control system for loading and unloading a magnetic tape receiver spool in digital recording equipment of the type which includes a tape driving capstan, an upstream well between a tape delivery spool location of the equipment and said capstan, a downstream well between the capstan and the tape receiver spool location, linear response sensors to detect the positions of the tape within the wells, spool rotation servosystems responsive to said sensors for maintaining the magnetic tape at determined depths within the wells, each one of the servo-systems including at least one operational amplifier, a suction duct arrangement including a section in fluid communication with the respective outlets of the wells, and receiver spool load and unload sequence control electrical means, the improvement comprising: first individually electrically controllable means for controlling fluid communication of said outlets with said section of the duct arrangement; second electrically controllable means for controlling fluid communication of said section of the duct arrangement with the atmosphere; means in said load and unload sequence control means operable when activated to condition the said first controllable means to block communication to the outlet of the downstream well during the beginning of a load operation up to the sensing of the magnetic tape within the upstream well; and, means in said load and unload sequence control means operable when activated to condition the said second controllable means to establish fluid communication of said section of the duct with the atmosphere during an unloading operation prior to the release of the magnetic tape from the receiver spool.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
260 words
In an automatic control system for loading and unloading a magnetic tape receiver spool in digital recording equipment of the type which includes a tape driving capstan, an upstream well between a tape delivery spool location of the equipment and said capstan, a downstream well between the capstan and the tape receiver spool location, linear response sensors to detect the positions of the tape within the wells, spool rotation servosystems responsive to said sensors for maintaining the magnetic tape at determined depths within the wells, each one of the servo-systems including at least one operational amplifier, a suction duct arrangement including a section in fluid communication with the respective outlets of the wells, and receiver spool load and unload sequence control electrical means, the improvement comprising: first individually electrically controllable means for controlling fluid communication of said outlets with said section of the duct arrangement; second electrically controllable means for controlling fluid communication of said section of the duct arrangement with the atmosphere; means in said load and unload sequence control means operable when activated to condition the said first controllable means to block communication to the outlet of the downstream well during the beginning of a load operation up to the sensing of the magnetic tape within the upstream well; and, means in said load and unload sequence control means operable when activated to condition the said second controllable means to establish fluid communication of said section of the duct with the atmosphere during an unloading operation prior to the release of the magnetic tape from the receiver spool.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
System according to claim 1, wherein a magnetic head carrier is retractably mounted in the path of the tape together with retraction control means during at least an automatic tape loading operation of the receiver coil.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
141 words
System according to claim 1, wherein first magnetic tape presence and default sensor means is associated to the said upstream well and second magnetic tape presence and defult sensor means is associated to the said downstream well and wherein, during an automatic loading operation, means are activated from the said first means sensing the presence of the magnetic tape within the upstream well for temporarily activating the depression reduction control meaNs associated to the downstream well and means are activated from the said second means sensing the presence of the magnetic tape within the downstream well for controlling means stopping the said automatic loading operation, and wherein, during an automatic unloading operation, means are activated from the said second means when sensing the absence of the magnetic tape within the upstream well for controlling means stopping the said automatic unloading operation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
System according to claim 1, wherein each of said outlet communication control means comprises an electromechanically controlled obturator member having a minute hole therethrough and said communication control means to the atmosphere comprises an obturator member cooperating with a wall of said section.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
System according to claim 4, wherein the obturator member of the communication control means to the atmosphere is mechanically linked to the obturator member cooperating with the outlet of the upstream well.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
56 words
System according to claim 1, wherein the duct arrangement comprises a main suction duct having an outlet to an intermediate chamber connected to the section of the duct containing the outlets of the wells through slide-valve means controllable for separating said chamber from said section during an initiating period of loading operation of the receiver spool.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
60 words
System according to claim 6, wherein a further suction section from said intermediate chamber is connected to a suction hub for the receiver spool and said slide-valve means connects said further section to said main suction duct in reversed relation with the connection condition of the said intermediate chamber to the said duct section containing the outlets of the wells.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
71 words
System according to claim 6, wherein springbiased biased atmosphere responsive means is provided for regulation of the output from said main suction duct, said means having an obturator member closely facing the outlet of said duct and an obturator member cooperating with an aperture in the wall of said intermediate chamber, said spring bias being adjusted for atmosphere leakage into said chamber when suction conditions vary within the said intermediate chamber.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
System according to claim 1, wherein means responsive to an off-communication condition in at least one of the wells controls an increase of the amplification ratios of the said operational amplifiers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
69 words
System according to claim 9, wherein said means includes sensor means responsive to the passage at a mouth of a well, during an automatic unloading operation, of the start record mark on the tape and means responsive to the activation of said sensor means for simultaneously increasing the amplification ratios of the operational amplifiers and controlling to on-communication condition the communication means of the duct section to the atmosphere.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
System according to claim 10, wherein means are provided for increasing the amplification ratios of the operational amplifiers during an automatic unloading operation and means controlled from said sensor means for reducing back the said amplification ratios when said sensor means are activated.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
System according to claim 1, wherein means responsive to a default of magnetic tape within the wells inhibits the normal operation of said servo-systems and applies predetermined control voltages to said servo-systems.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
68 words
System according to claim 12, wherein said last mentioned means comprises threshold circuits respectively inserted between operational and power amplifiers in said servo-systems, means controlled from said default of magnetic tape within the wells for concomitantly raising the threshold values of said circuits and applying calibrated control voltages to said power amplifiers and means ensuring delayed cancellations of said raise of threshold values and of said control voltages.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
System according to claim 13, wherein said threshold raising means and said control voltage applying means are activated from the closure of An electro-mechanical contact actuated by the setting of the receiver spool in the equipment.
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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) | 1976-08-06 | 1977-02-05 | 1977-08-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-08-06 | 1981-02-05 | 1981-08-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-08-06 | 1985-02-05 | 1985-08-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |