Patent US3884430A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3884430A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tape cassette
Assignee: Arthur D Little Inc
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Filing: 1972-12-20
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Granted: 1975-05-20
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Expires: 1992-12-20
Abstract
Abstract A magnetic tape cassette suitable for high speed data recording and reproduction in which acceleration forces exerted on the tape can cause tape stretching and consequent inaccurate tape motion past a magnetic head. The cassette has at least one compressible elastic roller along the tape travel path between a capstan drive and the tape supply reel, this roller having compressive characteristics operative to effectively shorten the tape travel path and thereby substantially reduce the tensile stresses created in the tape during rapid acceleration. As a result, stretching of the tape is substantially reduced as are undesirable perturbations in the effective velocity of the tape past a tape head.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter G Martin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 21:44
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B23/00; G11B23/02; G11B23/04; G11B23/08; G11B23/087; G11B23/08707; G11B23/08757
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
404 words
A magnetic tape cassette comprising: a substantially enclosed generally rectangular housing having an open portion along one side thereof; first and second tape storage reels disposed in said housing for rotation about respective parallel axes thereof; means associated with at least one of said storage reels and adapted to be coupled to drive means external of said housing and operative to provide rotary motion of the reel serving as a take-up reel; a supply of magnetic recording tape carried by said storage reels; means supported by said housing for disposing the portion of said tape between said reels for motion in a predetermined travel path within said housing and along the open portion thereof; said tape being driven at the open portion of said housing by a capstan drive assembly external of said housing and cooperative with said tape, and a portion of said tape along the open portion of said housing being arranged for operative association with a magnetic head; said tape disposing means including at least one compressible elastic roller disposed at a fixed position within said housing at a corner portion thereof and along said travel path between said capstan drive assembly and said storage reel from which tape is drawn, said at least one compressible elastic roller always engaging said tape and over which said tape extends in said travel path; said at least one roller being bidirectionally rotatable and operative to rotate about its axis at said fixed position as said tape moves through said path, and being elastically compressible in response to a predetermined tensile stress in said tape caused by rapid tape acceleration, said elastic compression being operative to reduce the length of said tape travel path between said capstan drive assembly and said storage reel from which tape is drawn by an amount sufficient to at least partially compensate for the effects of tensile stress in said tape caused By acceleration forces; said at least one roller including: a cylindrical hub of rigid material supported for rotation about its axis by said housing; a pair of peripheral circular flanges on said hub and rotatable with said hub in fixed radial relationship therewith and defining an annular channel around said hub and between said flanges; and a ring of compressive elastic material disposed around said hub within said channel and operative for rotation with said hub and elastically compressible in relation to said fixed flanges and hub.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
404 words
A magnetic tape cassette comprising: a substantially enclosed generally rectangular housing having an open portion along one side thereof; first and second tape storage reels disposed in said housing for rotation about respective parallel axes thereof; means associated with at least one of said storage reels and adapted to be coupled to drive means external of said housing and operative to provide rotary motion of the reel serving as a take-up reel; a supply of magnetic recording tape carried by said storage reels; means supported by said housing for disposing the portion of said tape between said reels for motion in a predetermined travel path within said housing and along the open portion thereof; said tape being driven at the open portion of said housing by a capstan drive assembly external of said housing and cooperative with said tape, and a portion of said tape along the open portion of said housing being arranged for operative association with a magnetic head; said tape disposing means including at least one compressible elastic roller disposed at a fixed position within said housing at a corner portion thereof and along said travel path between said capstan drive assembly and said storage reel from which tape is drawn, said at least one compressible elastic roller always engaging said tape and over which said tape extends in said travel path; said at least one roller being bidirectionally rotatable and operative to rotate about its axis at said fixed position as said tape moves through said path, and being elastically compressible in response to a predetermined tensile stress in said tape caused by rapid tape acceleration, said elastic compression being operative to reduce the length of said tape travel path between said capstan drive assembly and said storage reel from which tape is drawn by an amount sufficient to at least partially compensate for the effects of tensile stress in said tape caused By acceleration forces; said at least one roller including: a cylindrical hub of rigid material supported for rotation about its axis by said housing; a pair of peripheral circular flanges on said hub and rotatable with said hub in fixed radial relationship therewith and defining an annular channel around said hub and between said flanges; and a ring of compressive elastic material disposed around said hub within said channel and operative for rotation with said hub and elastically compressible in relation to said fixed flanges and hub.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
A magnetic tape cassette according to claim 1 wherein said at least one roller is of a stiffness to not materially deform during constant velocity movement of said tape through said travel path.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
90 words
A magnetic tape cassette according to claim 1 wherein said at least one roller includes: first and second compressible elastic rollers each operative to elastically compress in response to tensile stress in said tape caused by acceleration forces; and means for mounting each of said rollers at a respective corner portion of said housing in a position to dispose a portion of the tape along said travel path near said open portion of said housing at which said tape is accessible to said magnetic head and said capstan drive assembly.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
A magnetic tape cassette according to claim 1 wherein said at least one roller includes a sleeve provided around said compressive elastic ring and of a material having good wear resistance to the passage of said tape thereover.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-05-19 | 1978-11-18 | 1979-05-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-19 | 1982-11-18 | 1983-05-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-19 | 1986-11-18 | 1987-05-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |