Vacuum buffer

Claim 1

In a magnetic tape handling system, including a tape deck, means to drive and control a file reel of tape and a machine reel, at least two vacuum columns and tape loop sensing means in said columns to control said reels, vacuum reservoir and vacuum control means, means to drive at least one capstan, and including head system means, the improvements in said tape deck comprising: a. said at least two vacuum columns arranged along the bottom edge of said tape deck facing each other, with one edge of each forming a wall along the full length of the bottom edge of said tape deck, and their bottoms along opposite edges of said tape deck, the top walls of said vacuum columns extending from each edge part way toward the center of the tape deck the inner ends of said top walls terminated in first and second free-running rollers; b. a Y-shaped wall centered along and above the bottom edge wall forming two short auxiliary vacuum columns in the two spaces between the bottom wall, the stem of the Y and the under surfaces of the two arms of the Y; c. two rotatable cylindrical elements positioned at the ends of the two arms of the Y; d. the head system means mounted to the tape deck within the arms of said Y with head gaps directed downwardly; e. sheet means mounted tO said Y-shaped wall and parallel to said back plate and extending over the area of the space bounded by said cylindrical elements, said tape, said head system and said wall; and f. perforation means through said back plate inside said area and controlled vacuum means applied to the back side of said perforation means; whereby with the application of vacuum to said space, said tape will be pressed down by atmospheric pressure on the top surface thereof, and will be held out of contact with said head gaps.