Tape roll loading and centering device for tape transport

Claim 2

In a tape transport apparatus of a type having a length of tape wrapped to form supply and take-up rolls and a rotating drive capstan to engage and drive the tape from one roll to the other, and wherein one of the rolls includes an annular hub disposed within an envelope open at one side edge for passing tape to and from the hub, a support carriage movable between advanced and retracted positions relative to the capstan while carrying said one roll, said carriage including a rotatable turntable element having a registration surface disposed normal to the axis of rotation of said turntable element, a centering pin on said axis of rotation and carried to protrude above the registration surface to rotate therewith, said pin being movable between protruding and retracted positions, means yieldingly urging said pin to its protruding position, said pin having a periphery formed as a surface of revolution adapted to engage an opening of like conformation disposed at the center of the hub and serving to support the end of the hub in parallel closely spaced relation to said registration surface, and means for moving said hub into engagement with said registration surface while yieldingly moving said pin to its retracted position so as to center said hub on said pin and axis of rotation free of lateral movement between said pin and said hub.

Claim 3

In a tape transport apparatus having a rotatable annular drive body, a carriage assembly for supporting a roll of tape for rotaton and lateral translation relative to said body comprising a spindle for mounting the roll of tape thereon, an annular support member carried by said spindle and having a registration surface disposed to define a plane extending transversely of said spindle, said spindle having an axially outer end portion movable between advanced and retracted positions relative to said registration surface and formed as a surface of revolution adapted to snugly seat within an opening of like conformation formed axially in a hub of the roll of tape for centering the hub upon said end portion, means resiliently urging said end portion toward its said advanced position to support said roll and hub clear of said registration surface, and means for urging said hub in opposition to the urging of the last named means to center said hUb upon said end portion and to register an end of said hub with said surface to dispose said roll in a plane normal to said spindle and centered relative to its axis of rotation.

Claim 4

In a tape transport apparatus having a rotatable annular drive body, a carriage assembly for supporting a roll of tape for rotaton and lateral translation relative to said body comprising a spindle for mounting the roll of tape thereon, an annular support member carried by said spindle and having a registration surface disposed to define a plane extending transversely of said spindle, said spindle having an axially outer end portion movable between advanced and retracted positions relative to said registration surface and formed as a surface of revolution adapted to snugly seat within an opening of like conformation formed axially in a hub of the roll of tape for centering the hub upon said end portion, means resiliently urging said end portion toward its said advanced position to support said roll and hub clear of said registration surface, and means for urging said hub in opposition to the urging of the last named means to center said hUb upon said end portion and to register an end of said hub with said surface to dispose said roll in a plane normal to said spindle and centered relative to its axis of rotation.

Claim 5

In a tape transport apparatus according to claim 2 further comprising means securing the last named means to travel with said carriage assembly during said lateral translation thereof, means for withdrawing said carriage away from said body, and means serving to relieve the urging of said last named means in response to such withdrawal.

Claim 6

In a tape transport apparatus having a rotatable annular drive body, a carriage assembly including a turntable for supporting a roll of tape for rotation and to move between retracted and advanced positions relative to said body, a support pin protruding from said turntable and formed as a surface of revolution adapted to snugly seat within an opening of like conformation formed axially in a hub of the roll of tape with the end of the hub of said roll of tape disposed in spaced coplanar relation to said turntable, the height of said pin serving to provide a sufficient clearance between said turntable and the confronting end of the hub of said roll to permit said hub to be centrally aligned with said pin under application of compression thereto, means for moving said carriage between said advanced and retracted positions, means forming an envelope about said roll while exposing said hub end and said opening therein to respectively engage said turntable and pin, and retaining means movable between advanced and retracted positions relative to said turntable for engaging said envelope and drawing same toward said turntable under advancing movement of said turntable toward said body to urge said hub downwardly onto said pin and turntable.

Claim 7

In a tape transport apparatus having a rotatable annular drive body, a carriage assembly including a turntable for supporting a roll of tape for rotation and to move between retracted and advanced positions relative to said body, a support pin protruding from said turntable and formed as a surface of revolution adapted to snugly seat within an opening of like conformation formed axially in a hub of the roll of tape with the end of the hub of said roll of tape disposed in spaced coplanar relation to said turntable, the height of said pin serving to provide a sufficient clearance between said turntable and the confronting end of the hub of said roll to permit said hub to be centrally aligned with said pin under application of compression thereto, means for moving said carriage between said advanced and retracted positions, means forming an envelope about said roll while exposing said hub end and said opening therein to respectively engage said turntable and pin, and retaining means movable between advanced and retracted positions relative to said turntable for engaging said envelope and drawing same toward said turntable under advancing movement of said turntable toward said body to urge said hub downwardly onto said pin and turntable.

Claim 8

In a tape transport apparatus having a rotatable annular drive body, a carriage for supporting a roll of tape for rotation and lateral translation relative to said body, a rotatable turntable supported by said carriage and movable therewith, a roll of tape comprising an annular hub formed with an opening centrally thereof as a surface of revolution, a length of tape wrapped about said hub, an envelope of semi-rigid material enclosing said roll, and first spring means interposed between the inner wall of said envelope and the hub to urge the hub toward a wall opposite the first named wall, a mounting and roll-centering pin element protruding from said turntable and of like conformation to said opening to receive and seat said opening and hub thereon, said pin being movable axially between protruding and depressed positions to maintain said hub spaced from said turntable when said pin is in its protruding position, second spring means normally resiliently urging said pin toward its said protruding position, means for guiding said envelope laterally to align said opening with said pin element to seat said hub thereon, and means responsive to lateral translation of said carriage toward said body for engaging and urging said envelope and hub toward said turntable to first overcome the urging of said second spring means to snugly seat said pin in said opening with said hub clear of said turntable and then to overcome the urging of said first spring means to register said hub against the turntable to dispose said hub normal to the axis of rotation thereof.

Claim 9

In a tape transport apparatus having a rotatable annular drive body, a carriage for supporting a roll of tape for rotation and lateral translation relative to said body, a rotatable turntable supported by said carriage and movable therewith, a roll of tape comprising an annular hub formed with an opening centrally thereof as a surface of revolution, a length of tape wrapped about said hub, an envelope of semi-rigid material enclosing said roll, and first spring means interposed between the inner wall of said envelope and the hub to urge the hub toward a wall opposite the first named wall, a mounting and roll-centering pin element protruding from said turntable and of like conformation to said opening to receive and seat said opening and hub thereon, said pin being movable axially between protruding and depressed positions to maintain said hub spaced from said turntable when said pin is in its protruding position, second spring means normally resiliently urging said pin toward its said protruding position, means for guiding said envelope laterally to align said opening with said pin element to seat said hub thereon, and means responsive to lateral translation of said carriage toward said body for engaging and urging said envelope and hub toward said turntable to first overcome the urging of said second spring means to snugly seat said pin in said opening with said hub clear of said turntable and then to overcome the urging of said first spring means to register said hub against the turntable to dispose said hub normal to the axis of rotation thereof.

Claim 10

A cartridge assembly comprising a circular hub, a length of tape wrapped about said hub to form a roll thereof, means carried by the outermost convolution of tape serving to retain said convolution to the roll, means forming an envelope about said roll including spaced walls disposed respectively across the ends of said roll, one of said walls being formed with an opening centrally thereof and extending through same for receiving a mounting spindle therethrough, a central mounting opening formed in said hub on the axis of rotation thereof for receiving the spindle, the last named said opening including a bearing surface formed to extend transversely of the axis of rotation of the hub for engaging and seating said hub upon the spindle and serving in response to forces urging said spindle thereagainst to move the hub laterally so as to center the hub upon the spindle at its axis of rotation, spring means disposed between said hub and the other of said walls, and means disposed on the other side of said hub continuously engaging said spring means to continuously urge said hub toward said one wall.

Claim 11

A cartridge assembly comprising a circular hub, a length of tape wrapped about said hub to form a roll thereof, means carried by the outermost convolution of tape serving to retain said convolution to the roll, means forming an envelope about said roll including spaced walls disposed respectively across the ends of said roll, one of said walls being formed with an opening centrally thereof and extending through same for receiving a mounting spindle therethrough, a central mounting opening formed in said hub on the axis of rotation thereof for receiving the spindle, the last named said opening including a bearing surface formed to extend transversely of the axis of rotation of the hub for engaging and seating said hub upon the spindle and serving in response to forces urging said spindle thereagainst to move the hub laterally so as to center the hub upon the spindle at its axis of rotation, spring means disposed between said hub and the other of said walls, and means disposed on the other side of said hub continuously engaging said spring means to continuously urge said hub toward said one wall.

Claim 12

A cartridge assembly according to claim 6 wherein said bearing surface comprises a conically shaped opening axially of said hub.