Information recording on elongate carriers with carrier presence and/or position determination

Claim 2

In a method of performing a function relative to an elongate information carrier having a first end connected to a first rotary carrier winding and storage device and having a second end connected to a second rotary carrier winding and storage device, the improvement comprising in combination the steps of: providing drive means for rotating said first and second rotary carrier winding and storage devices; providing means for sensing tension of said information carrier between said first and second carrier winding and storage devices; providing means for timing said tension sensing for a predetermined period of time; energizing said drive means to tension said information carrier between said first and second carrier winding and storage devices; sensing the tension of said information carrier with said tension sensing means; timing the tension sensing of said information carrier with said timing means to determine whether said drive means tension said information carrier within said predetermined period of time; and performing said function relative to said information arrier in response to a determination that said drive means have tensioned said information carrier within said predeetermined period of time.

Claim 3

A method as claimed in claim 1, including in combination the steps of: repeating said energizing of said drive means to tension the information carrier between the first and second carrier winding and storage devices; repeating said sensing of the tension of the information carrier with said tension sensing means; repeating said timing of the tension sensing of the information carrier with said timing means to determine whether said drive means tension the information carrier within said predetermined period of time while the energizing of said drive means is repeated; and deenergIzing said drive means if said drive means fail to tension the information carrier within said predetermined period of time.

Claim 4

A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the performance of said function includes the step of advancing said information carrier in response to a determination that said drive means have tensioned said information carrier within said predetermined period of time.

Claim 5

A method as claimed in claim 1, including in combination the steps of: providing said elongate information carrier with a first leader at said first end, a second leader at said second end, and an elongate information recording medium between said first and second leaders; effecting a carrier position sensing function in response to a determination that said drive means have tensioned said information carrier within said predetermined periof of time, said carrier position sensing function including the step of determining whether said information recording medium is present in a predetermined region; and rewinding said elongate information recording medium onto one of said rotary devices in response to a determination that said information recording medium is present in said predetermined region when said carrier position sensing function is effected.

Claim 6

A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein: said elongate information recording medium is rewound onto said secondary rotary device until said first leader is present in said predetermined region; said first leader is thereupon rewound onto said first rotary device until the beginning of said elongate information recording medium is present in said predetermined region; said elongate information carrier is stopped when the beginning of said elongate information recording medium is present in said predetermined region; and a predetermined information conveying function is thereupon initiated relative to said information recording medium.

Claim 7

A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein: said carrier position sensing function also includes the step of determining whether said second leader is present in said predetermined region; and said second leader and said elongate information recording medium are rewound onto said second rotary device in response to a determination that said second leader is present in said predetermined region.

Claim 8

A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein: said elongate information recording medium is rewound onto said second rotary device until said first leader is present in said predetermined region; said first leader is thereupon rewound onto said first rotary device until the beginning of said elongate information recording medium is present in said predetermined region; said elongate information carrier is stopped when the beginning of said elongate information recording medium is present in said predetermined region; and a predetermined information conveying function is thereupon initiated relative to said information recording medium.

Claim 9

A method as claimed in claim 1, including in combination the steps of: providing said elongate information carrier with a first leader at said first end, a second leader at said second end and an elongate information recording medium between said first and second leaders; effecting a carrier position sensing function in response to a determination that said drive means have tensioned said carrier within said predetermined period of time, said carrier position sensing function including the step of determining whether said first leader is present in a predetermined region; rewinding said first leader onto said first rotary device until the beginning of said elongate recording medium is present in said predetermined region; stopping said elongate information carrier when the beginning of said elongate information recording medium is present in said predetermined region; and initiating a predetermined information conveying function relative to said information recording medium.

Claim 10

A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein: said carrier position sensing function also includes the step of determining whether said second leader is present in said predetermined region; and said second leader and said elongate information recording medium are rewound onto said second rotary device in response to a determination that said second leader is present in said predetermined region.

Claim 11

A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein: said elongate information recording medium is rewound onto said second rotary device until said first leader is present in said predetermined region; said first leader is thereupon rewound onto said first rotary device until the beginning of said elongate information recording medium is present in said predetermined region; said elongate information carrier is stopped when the beginning of said elongate information recording medium is present in said predetermined region; and a predetermined information conveying function is thereupon initiated relative to said information recording medium.

Claim 12

A method as claimed in claim 1, including in combination the steps of: providing said elongate information carrier with a first leader at said first end, a second leader at said second end and an elongate information recording medium between said first and second leaders; effecting a carrier position sensing function in response to a determination that said drive means have tensioned said information carrier within said predetermined period of time, said carrier position sensing function including the step of determining whether said second leader is present in a predetermined region; rewinding said second leader and said elongate information recording medium onto said second rotary device in response to a determination that the second leader is present in said predetermined region.

Claim 13

A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein: said elongate information recording medium is rewound onto said second rotary device until said first leader is present in said predetermined region; said first leader is thereupon rewound onto said first rotary device until the beginning of said elongate information recording medium is present in said predetermined region; said elongate information carrier is stopped when the beginning of said elongate information recording medium is present in said predetermined region; and a predetermined information conveying function is thereupon initiated relative to said information recording medium.

Claim 14

A method as claimed in claim 1, including in combination the steps of: providing said elongate information carrier with a first leader at said first end, a second leader at said second end and an elongate information recording medium between said first and second leaders; providing a pair of spaced sensing devices for sensing said first and second leaders and said recording medium; effecting a carrier position sensing function in response to a determination that said drive means have tensioned said information carrier within said predetermined period of time, said carrier position sensing function including the step of determining whether said information recording medium is present at both of said spaced sensors; rewinding said information recording medium onto said second rotray device in response to a determination that said information recording medium is present at both of said spaced sensors; placing the beginning of said elongate information recording medium at said first leader into a predetermined position; and initiating a predetermined information conveying function relative to said information recording medium.

Claim 15

A method as claimed in claim 13, wherein: said carrier position sensing function includes the step of determining whether said second leader is at one of said sensors and said information carrier is at the other of said sensors; said information recording medium is rewound onto said sEcond rotary device in response to a determination that said second leader is at one of said sensors and said information carrier is at the other of said sensors; the beginning of said elongate information recording medium at said first leader is thereupon placed into a predetermined position; and a predetermined information conveying function is thereupon initiated relative to said information recording medium.

Claim 16

A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein: said carrier position sensing function includes the step of determining whether said first leader is present at said other sensor and said information carrier is present at said one sensor; said first leader is rewound onto said first rotary device in response to a determination that said first leader is present at said other sensor and said information carrier is present at said one sensor; and a predetermined information conveying function is thereupon initiated relative to said information recording medium.

Claim 17

A method as claimed in claim 15, wherein: said carrier position sensing function includes the step of determining whether either of said first and second leaders is present at both of said spaced sensors; said information carrier is driven in a forward direction in response to a determination that either of said first and second leaders is present at both of said spaced sensors; said driving of the information carrier in a forward direction is contained for a period of time sufficient to rewind said first leader onto said rotary device in each case in which the leader present at both spaced sensors is the first leader; a second carrier position sensing function is thereupon effected to determine whether said information recording medium is present at both of said spaced sensors; and a predetermined information conveying function relative to said information recording medium is initiated in response to a determination during said second sensing function that said information recording medium is present at both of said spaced sensors.

Claim 18

A method as claimed in claim 16, wherein: said second carrier position sensing function includes the step of determining whether the second leader is present at both of said spaced sensors upon expiration of said period of time; said second leader and said information recording medium are rewound onto said second rotary device in response to the last-mentioned determination; the beginning of the elongate information recording medium at said first leader is placed into a predetermined position; and a predetermined information conveying function is initiated relative to said information recording medium.

Claim 19

In a method of performing a function relative to an elongate information carrier having an elongate information reocrding medium, a first leader connected to a beginning of said information recording medium and connected to a first rotary carrier winding and storage device, and a second leader connected to an end of said information recording medium and connected to a second rotary carrier winding and storage device, the improvement comprising in combination the steps of: providing a pair of spaced sensing devices for sensing said first and second leaders and said information recording medium; effecting a carrier position sensing function with said first and second sensors, said carrier position sensing function including the step of determining whether said information recording medium is present at both of said spaced sensors; rewinding said information recording medium onto said secondary rotary device in response to a determination that said information recording medium is present at both of said spaced sensors; rendering said sensors sensitive to said beginning of the information recording medium; continuing said rewinding of the information reocrding medium until said sensors sense the arrival of said beginning of the information recording medium at said sensors; placiNg the beginning of said elongate information recording medium at said first leader into a predetermined position; and initiating a predetermined information conveying function relative to said information recording medium.

Claim 20

In a method of performing a function relative to an elongate information carrier having an elongate information reocrding medium, a first leader connected to a beginning of said information recording medium and connected to a first rotary carrier winding and storage device, and a second leader connected to an end of said information recording medium and connected to a second rotary carrier winding and storage device, the improvement comprising in combination the steps of: providing a pair of spaced sensing devices for sensing said first and second leaders and said information recording medium; effecting a carrier position sensing function with said first and second sensors, said carrier position sensing function including the step of determining whether said information recording medium is present at both of said spaced sensors; rewinding said information recording medium onto said secondary rotary device in response to a determination that said information recording medium is present at both of said spaced sensors; rendering said sensors sensitive to said beginning of the information recording medium; continuing said rewinding of the information reocrding medium until said sensors sense the arrival of said beginning of the information recording medium at said sensors; placiNg the beginning of said elongate information recording medium at said first leader into a predetermined position; and initiating a predetermined information conveying function relative to said information recording medium.

Claim 21

A method as claimed in claim 18, wherein: said carrier position sensing function includes the step of determining whether said second leader is at one of said sensors and said information carrier is at the other of said sensors; said information recording medium is rewound onto said second rotary device in response to a determination that said second leader is at one of said sensors and said information carrier is at the other of said sensors; the beginning of said elongate information recording medium at said first leader is thereupon placed into a predetermined position; and a predetermined information conveying function is thereupon initiated relative to said information recording medium.

Claim 22

A method as claimed in claim 19, wherein: said carrier position sensing function includes the step of determining whether said first leader is present at said other sensor and said information carrier is present at said one sensor; said first leader is rewound onto said first rotary device in response to a determination that said first leader is present at said other sensor and said information carrier is present at said one sensor; and a predetermined information conveying function is thereupon initiated relative to said information recording medium.

Claim 23

A method as claimed in claim 18, wherein: said carrier position sensing function includes the step of determining whether either of said first and second leaders is present at both of said spaced sensors; said information carrier is driven in a forward direction in response to a determination that either of said first and second leaders is present at both of said spaced sensors; said driving of the information carrier in a forward direction is continued for a period of time sufficient to rewind said first leader onto said first rotary device in each case in which the leader present at both spaced sensors is the first leader; a second carrier position sensing function is thereupon effected to determine whether said information recording medium is present at both of said spaced sensors; and a predetermined information conveying function relative to said information recording medium is initiated in response to a determination during said second sensing function that said information recording medium is present at both of said spaced sensors.

Claim 24

A method as claimed in claim 21, wherein: said second carrier position sensing function includes the step of determining whether the second leader is present at both of said spaced sensors upon expiration of said period of time; said second leader and said information recording medium are rewound onto said second rotary device in response to the last-mentioned determination; the beginning of the elongate information recording medium at said first leader is placed into a predetermined position; and a predetermined information conveying function is initiated relative to said information recording medium.

Claim 25

In apparatus for performing a function relative to an elongate information carrier having a first end connected to a first rotary carrier winding and storage device and having a second end connected to a second rotary carrier winding and storage device, the improvement comprising in combination: means for rotating said first and second rotary carrier winding and storage devices; means connected to said rotary devices for tensioning said elongate information carrier; means operatively associated with said elongate information carrier for sensing tension of said elongate information carrier; means for timing said tension sensing for a predetermined period of time; means operatively associated with said tension sensing means and said timing means foR determining whether said tensioning means have tensioned said information carrier within said predetermined period of time; means for performing a predetermined function relative to said information carrier; and means for activating said function performing means only after a determination that said tension means have tensioned said information carrier within said predetermined period of time.

Claim 26

In apparatus for performing a function relative to an elongate information carrier having a first end connected to a first rotary carrier winding and storage device and having a second end connected to a second rotary carrier winding and storage device, the improvement comprising in combination: means for rotating said first and second rotary carrier winding and storage devices; means connected to said rotary devices for tensioning said elongate information carrier; means operatively associated with said elongate information carrier for sensing tension of said elongate information carrier; means for timing said tension sensing for a predetermined period of time; means operatively associated with said tension sensing means and said timing means foR determining whether said tensioning means have tensioned said information carrier within said predetermined period of time; means for performing a predetermined function relative to said information carrier; and means for activating said function performing means only after a determination that said tension means have tensioned said information carrier within said predetermined period of time.

Claim 27

An apparatus as claimed in claim 23, including: means for deactivating said means for rotating said first and second rotary devices in response to a determination that said tensioning means have failed to tension said information carrier within said predetermined period of time.

Claim 28

An apparatus as claimed in claim 23, for performing a function relative to an elongate information carrier having a first leader at a first end, a second leader at a second end, and an elongate information recording medium between said first and second leaders, said apparatus including: means for sensing the position of said information carrier in response to a determination that said tensioning means have tensioned said information carrier within said predetermined period of time, said position sensing means including means for determining whether said first leader is present in a predetermined region, means for determining whether said recording medium is present in said predetermined region, and means for determining whether said second leader is present in said predetermined region; means for rewinding said first leader onto said first rotary device in response to a determination that said first leader is present in said predetermined region; and mean for rewinding said second leader and said recording medium onto said second rotary device in response to a determination that said second leader is present in said predetermined region, and for rewinding said recording medium onto said second rotary device in response to a determination that said recording medium is present in said predetermined region.

Claim 29

an apparatus as claimed in claim 23, for performing a function relative to an elongate information carrier having a first leader, a second leader, and an elongate information recording medium between said first and second leaders, said apparatus including: means for sensing the position of said information carrier in response to a determination that said tensioning means have tensioned said information carrier within said predetermined period of time, said position sensing means including a pair of spaced sensing devices for sensing said first and second leaders and said recording medium, means for determining whether said information recording medium is present at both of said spaced sensing devices, means for determining whether either of said first and second leaders is present at both of said spaced sensing devices, means for determining whether said first leader is present at one of said sensing devices and said recording medium is present at the other of said sensing devices, and means for determining whether said recording medium is present at said one sensing device and said second leader is present at the other sensing device; and means operatively associated with said sensing means for readying said recording medium for a function performing operation, said readying means including means for rewinding said recording medium onto said second rotary device in response to a determination that said recording medium is present at both of said spaced sensing devices, and for rewinding said second leaders and said recording medium onto said second rotary device in response to a determination that said second leader is present at said other sensing device, and that said recording medium is present at said one sensing devices, means for driving said recording medium in a forward direction in response to a determination that either of said first and second leaders is present at both of said first and second sensing devices, and means connected to said driving means for timing said driving in said forward direction for a period of time sufficient to rewind said first leader onto said first rotary device in each case in which the leader present at both spaced sensors is the first leader.

Claim 30

An apparatus as claimed in claim 26, wherein: said position sensing means include means for effecting a second carrier position sensing function, said means for effecting said second carrier position sensing function include means for determining whether said second leader remains at both of said first and second sensing devices throughout said period of time, and means for determining whether said recording medium arrives at both of said spaced sensors during said period of time; said readying means include means for rewinding said second leader and said recording medium onto said second rotary device in response to a determination that said second leader remains at both of said first and second sensing devices throughout said period of time; and said apparatus include means for initiating a predetermined information conveying function relative to said recording medium in response to a determination that said recording medium has arrived at both of said spaced sensors during said period of time.

Claim 31

An apparatus as claimed in claim 27, wherein: said readying means include means for advancing said recording medium in said forward direction in response to a determination that said first leader is present at said one sensing device and said receiving recording medium is present at said other sensing device.

Claim 32

In apparatus for performing a function relative to an elongate information carrier having a first leader, a second leader, and an elongate information recording medium between said first and second leaders, the improvement comprising in combination: means for sensing the position of said information carrier including a pair of spaced sensing devices for sensing and first and second leaders and said recording medium, means for determining whether said information recording medium is present at both of said spaced sensing devices, means for determining whether either of said first and second leaders is present at both of said spaced sensing devices, means for determining whether said first leader is present at one of said sensing devices and said recording medium is present at the other of said sensing devices, and means for determining whether said recording medium is present at said one sensing device and said second leader is present at the other sensing device; and means operatively associated with said sensing means for readying said recording medium for a function performing operation, said readying means including means for rewinding said recording medium onto said second rotary device in response to a determination that said recording medium is present at both of said spaced sensing devices, and for rewinding said second leader and said recording medium onto said second rotary device in response to a determination that said second leader is present at said other sensing device and that said recording medium is present at said one sensing device, means for driving said recording medium in a forward direction in response to a determination that either of said first and second leaders is present at both of said first and second sensing devices, and means connected to said driving means for timing said driving in said forward direction for a period of time sufficient to rewind said first leader onto said first rotary device in each case in which the leader present at both spaced sensors is the first leader.

Claim 33

In apparatus for performing a function relative to an elongate information carrier having a first leader, a second leader, and an elongate information recording medium between said first and second leaders, the improvement comprising in combination: means for sensing the position of said information carrier including a pair of spaced sensing devices for sensing and first and second leaders and said recording medium, means for determining whether said information recording medium is present at both of said spaced sensing devices, means for determining whether either of said first and second leaders is present at both of said spaced sensing devices, means for determining whether said first leader is present at one of said sensing devices and said recording medium is present at the other of said sensing devices, and means for determining whether said recording medium is present at said one sensing device and said second leader is present at the other sensing device; and means operatively associated with said sensing means for readying said recording medium for a function performing operation, said readying means including means for rewinding said recording medium onto said second rotary device in response to a determination that said recording medium is present at both of said spaced sensing devices, and for rewinding said second leader and said recording medium onto said second rotary device in response to a determination that said second leader is present at said other sensing device and that said recording medium is present at said one sensing device, means for driving said recording medium in a forward direction in response to a determination that either of said first and second leaders is present at both of said first and second sensing devices, and means connected to said driving means for timing said driving in said forward direction for a period of time sufficient to rewind said first leader onto said first rotary device in each case in which the leader present at both spaced sensors is the first leader.

Claim 34

An apparatus as claimed in claim 29, wherein: said position sensing means include means for effecting a second carrier position sensing function, said means for effecting said second carrier position sensing function include means for determining whether said second leader remains at both of said first and second sensing devices throughout said period of time, and means for determiniNg whether said recording medium arrives at both of said spaced sensors during said period of time; said readying means include means for rewinding said second leader and said recording medium onto said second rotary device in response to a determination that said second leader remains at both of said first and second sensing devices throughout said period of time; and said apparatus include means for initiating a predetermined information conveying function relative to said recording medium in response to a determination that said recording medium has arrived at both of said spaced sensors during said period of time.

Claim 35

An apparatus as claimed in claim 29, wherein: said readying means include means for advancing said recording medium in said forward direction in response to a determination that said first leader is present at said one sensing device and said recording medium is present at said other sensing device.