Tape recording transport control system

Claim 2

Recording tape transport control system having a pair of reels alternately capable of being pay-out and take-up reels; a capstan (25) engaging said tape, and a capstan drive motor therefore driving the capstan; a pair of reversible electric motors (1, 6), one each connected to and associated with each reel, each capable of being energized to operate in a driving mode to drive its associated reel when the associated reel is in take-up mode of operation and capable of being energized to operate in a braking mode to apply a drag force when the associated reel is in pay-out mode of operation, said system comprising tape motion sensing means (29) coupled to the tape to sense presence, or absence, and direction of tape movement and providing respective discrete electrical tape motion signals indicative respectively, of forward motion, reverse motion, and stopping of the tape; a pair of tension sensors (3, 4) located at opposite sides of the capstan in the path of the tape and coupled to the tape to sense tape tension between the capstan and the respective tape reel and providing respective electric tension sensing signals; motor control means (2, 5) controlling motor mode of operation; motor operation command means (CP) connected to said tape motion sensing means (29) and to the tension sensors (34), and responsive to the tape motion signals as well as to the tape tension sensing signals, said command means establishing circuits to said motor control means to control motor operation according to commanded mode of operation to control, selectively, the operation of the motors, in either direction, for record-playback, fast spooling, to decelerate and stop, as well as during change-over in direction of Tape motion, and to keep the forces acting on the tape constant during transient operating conditions, wherein for fast forward or fast re-wind mode of operation (FIG. 2), said command means (CP) effects connection of said motor control means (2, 5) to connect the pay-out motor to provide countertorque or drag by the motor, the counter-torque or drag being controlled by tension sensing signals derived from the respective tension sensor (3, 4) located between the take-up reel and the capstan (25), whereby the sensor between the takeup reel and the capstan will control the drag applied by the pay-out motor; and said command means (CP) effects connection of said motor control means (2, 5) to connect the take-up motor to a source of potential of sufficient level to cause fast mode of operation of the take-up motor, whereby the take-up motor will be operated at high speed, and tension on the tape adjacent the take-up reel will be controlled.

Claim 3

System according to claim 1, wherein sources of potential for high-speed operation and for braking, respectively, of the motors are provided; and wherein the motor command means (2, 5; CP) is responsive to characteristics of the tape motion signal from the tachometer generator and logically controls the application of said respective potential sources in accordance with the sensed direction of tape movement and the manual setting of the command means (CP), to the respective motors.

Claim 4

Recording tape transport control system having a pair of reels alternately capable of being pay-out and take-up reels; a capstan (25) engaging said tape, and a capstan drive motor therefore driving the capstan; a pair of reversible electric motors (1, 6), one each connected to and associated with each reel, each capable of being energized to operate in a driving mode to drive its associated reel when the associated reel is in take-up mode of operation and capable of being energized to operate in a braking mode to apply a drag force when the associated reel is in pay-out mode of operation, said system comprising tape motion sensing means (29) coupled to the tape to sense presence, or absence, and direction of tape movement and providing respective discrete electrical tape motion signals indicative respectively, of forward motion, reverse motion, and stopping of the tape, a pair of tension sensors (3, 4) located at opposite sides of the capstan in the path of the tape and coupled to the tape to sense tape tension between the capstan and the respective tape reel and providing respective electric tension sensing signals; motor control means (2, 5) controlling motor mode of operation; motor operation command means (CP) connected to said tape motion sensing means (29) and to the tension sensors (34), and responsive to the tape motion signals as well as to the tape tension sensing signals, said command means establishing circuits to said motor control means to control motor operation according to commanded mode of operation to control, selectively, the operation of the motors, in either direction, for record-playback, fast spooling, to decelerate and stop, as well as during change-over in direction of tape motion, and to keep the forces acting on the tape constant during transient operating conditions, wherein for change-over from running to stop, (FIG. 3) said command means (CP) effects connection of said motor control means (2, 5) to connect the pay-out motor to provide counter-torque or drag by the motor, the counter-torque or drag being controlled by tension sensing signals derived from the respective tension sensor (3, 4) located between the pay-out reel and the capstan (25), and said command means (CP) effects connection of said motor control means (2, 5) to connect the take-up motor to cause application of braking potential to the take-up motor.

Claim 5

Recording tape transport control system having a pair of reels alternately capable of being pay-out and take-up reels; a capstan (25) engaging said tape, and a capstan drive motor therefore driving the capstan; a pair of reversible electric motors (1, 6), one each connected to and associated with each reel, each capable of being energized to operate in a driving mode to drive its associated reel when the associated reel is in take-up mode of operation and capable of being energized to operate in a braking mode to apply a drag force when the associated reel is in pay-out mode of operation, said system comprising tape motion sensing means (29) coupled to the tape to sense presence, or absence, and direction of tape movement and providing respective discrete electrical tape motion signals indicative respectively, of forward motion, reverse motion, and stopping of the tape, a pair of tension sensors (3, 4) located at opposite sides of the capstan in the path of the tape and coupled to the tape to sense tape tension between the capstan and the respective tape reel and providing respective electric tension sensing signals; motor control means (2, 5) controlling motor mode of operation; motor operation command means (CP) connected to said tape motion sensing means (29) and to the tension sensors (34), and responsive to the tape motion signals as well as to the tape tension sensing signals, said command means establishing circuits to said motor control means to control motor operation according to commanded mode of operation to control, selectively, the operation of the motors, in either direction, for record-playback, fast spooling, to decelerate and stop, as well as during change-over in direction of tape motion, and to keep the forces acting on the tape constant during transient operating conditions, wherein for change-over from running to stop, (FIG. 3) said command means (CP) effects connection of said motor control means (2, 5) to connect the pay-out motor to provide counter-torque or drag by the motor, the counter-torque or drag being controlled by tension sensing signals derived from the respective tension sensor (3, 4) located between the pay-out reel and the capstan (25), and said command means (CP) effects connection of said motor control means (2, 5) to connect the take-up motor to cause application of braking potential to the take-up motor.

Claim 6

System according to claim 3, wherein sources of potential for high-speed operation and for braking, resPectively, of the motors are provided; and wherein the motor command means (2, 5; CP) is responsive to characteristics of the tape motion signal from the tachometer generator and logically controls the application of said respective potential sources in accordance with the sensed direction of tape movement and the manual setting of the command means (CP), to the respective motors.

Claim 7

Recording tape transport control system having a pair of reels alternatively capable of being pay-out and take-up reels; a capstan (25) engaging said tape, and a capstan drive motor therefore driving the capstan; a pair of reversible electric motors (1, 6), one each connected to and associated with each reel, each capable of being energized to operate in a driving mode to drive its associated reel when the associated reel is in take-up mode of operation and capable of being energized to operate in a braking mode to apply to drag force when the associated reel is in pay-out mode of operation, said system comprising tape motion sensing means (29) coupled to the tape to sense presence, or absence, and direction of tape movement and providing respective discrete electrical tape motion signals indicative respectively, of forward motion, reverse motion, and stopping of the tape; a pair of tension sensors (3, 4) located at opposite sides of the capstan in the path of the tape and coupled to the tape to sense tape tension between the capstan and the respective tape reel and providing respective electric tension sensing signals; motor control means (2, 5) controlling motor mode of operation; motor operation command means (CP) connected to said tape motion sensing means (29) and to the tension sensors (34), and responsive to the tape motion signals as well as to the tape tension sensing signals, said command means establishing circuits to said motor control means to control motor operation according to commanded mode of operation to control, selectively, the operation of the motors, in either direction, for record-playback, fast spooling, to decelerate and stop, as well as during change-over in direction of tape motion, and to keep the forces acting on the tape constant during transient operating conditions, and wherein said motor command means (CP) has manually settable means (S, R, P, FA, FR) to control speed and direction of tape motion; wherein said motor command means (CP), upon commanded change-over of direction of movement of the tape with respect to movement of the tape as sensed by said tape motion sensing means (29) and represented by said tape motion sensing signal, first commands a ''''stop'''' mode of operation, and effects connection of the motor control means of the pay-out motor to connect the pay-out motor to provide a counter-torque or drag by the motor the counter-torque or drag being controlled by tension sensing signals derived from the respective tension sensor (3, 4) located between the pay-out reel and the capstan (25), and further effecting connection of the motor control means of the take-up motor to connect the take-up motor to cause application of braking potential to the take-up motor, to cause the tape to stop; then, when the tape motion signal indicative of absence of tape motion as sensed by said tape motion sensing means (29), is sensed by said motor operation command means (CP), said motor command means connects the respective motor control means to said respective motors to control the mode of operation of the motors in the respective commanded mode under control of the respective tension sensor (3, 4), or sensors, as entered in the command means, whereby upon commanded change of direction of movement of tape, the tape is first brought to a stop under tension-controlled conditions and, only after having stopped as sensed by said tape motion signal, will force tending to move the tape in the commanded, reversed direction be imparted thereto to prevent application of a pulling force commanded by the reverSal of direction of tape motion on the tape counter the direction of instantaneous movement of the tape.

Claim 8

Recording tape transport control system having a pair of reels alternatively capable of being pay-out and take-up reels; a capstan (25) engaging said tape, and a capstan drive motor therefore driving the capstan; a pair of reversible electric motors (1, 6), one each connected to and associated with each reel, each capable of being energized to operate in a driving mode to drive its associated reel when the associated reel is in take-up mode of operation and capable of being energized to operate in a braking mode to apply to drag force when the associated reel is in pay-out mode of operation, said system comprising tape motion sensing means (29) coupled to the tape to sense presence, or absence, and direction of tape movement and providing respective discrete electrical tape motion signals indicative respectively, of forward motion, reverse motion, and stopping of the tape; a pair of tension sensors (3, 4) located at opposite sides of the capstan in the path of the tape and coupled to the tape to sense tape tension between the capstan and the respective tape reel and providing respective electric tension sensing signals; motor control means (2, 5) controlling motor mode of operation; motor operation command means (CP) connected to said tape motion sensing means (29) and to the tension sensors (34), and responsive to the tape motion signals as well as to the tape tension sensing signals, said command means establishing circuits to said motor control means to control motor operation according to commanded mode of operation to control, selectively, the operation of the motors, in either direction, for record-playback, fast spooling, to decelerate and stop, as well as during change-over in direction of tape motion, and to keep the forces acting on the tape constant during transient operating conditions, and wherein said motor command means (CP) has manually settable means (S, R, P, FA, FR) to control speed and direction of tape motion; wherein said motor command means (CP), upon commanded change-over of direction of movement of the tape with respect to movement of the tape as sensed by said tape motion sensing means (29) and represented by said tape motion sensing signal, first commands a ''''stop'''' mode of operation, and effects connection of the motor control means of the pay-out motor to connect the pay-out motor to provide a counter-torque or drag by the motor the counter-torque or drag being controlled by tension sensing signals derived from the respective tension sensor (3, 4) located between the pay-out reel and the capstan (25), and further effecting connection of the motor control means of the take-up motor to connect the take-up motor to cause application of braking potential to the take-up motor, to cause the tape to stop; then, when the tape motion signal indicative of absence of tape motion as sensed by said tape motion sensing means (29), is sensed by said motor operation command means (CP), said motor command means connects the respective motor control means to said respective motors to control the mode of operation of the motors in the respective commanded mode under control of the respective tension sensor (3, 4), or sensors, as entered in the command means, whereby upon commanded change of direction of movement of tape, the tape is first brought to a stop under tension-controlled conditions and, only after having stopped as sensed by said tape motion signal, will force tending to move the tape in the commanded, reversed direction be imparted thereto to prevent application of a pulling force commanded by the reverSal of direction of tape motion on the tape counter the direction of instantaneous movement of the tape.

Claim 9

System according to claim 5, wherein sources of potential for high-speed operation and for braking, respectively, of the motors are provided; and wherein the motor command means (2, 5; CP) is responsive to characteristics of the tape motion signal from the tachometer generator and logically controls the application of said respective potential sources in accordance with the sensed direction of tape movement and the manual setting of the command means (CP), to the respective motors.

Claim 10

System according to claim 5, wherein the tape motion sensing means provides pulse-type signals forming said tape motion signals; and said motor command means (CP) is responsive to the pulse signals to control the instant of change in connection of respective potential sources to said motors, and thus control the interlock intervals upon change-over of operating modes of said motors.