Information carrier magazine handling apparatus

Claim 2

In apparatus for selectively performing a function at a function-performing station relative to a web-like information carrier having opposite ends, respectively, on two different reels located in an information carrier magazine, the improvement comprising in combination: means for supporting said magazine and said reels with said information carrier, including a movable carriage for said magazine with said reels and said information carrier, said movable carriage being constructed to have a first position in which a portion of said information carrier is located at said function-performing station, and a second position in which all portions Of said information carrier are spaced from said function-performing station; and means at least in part supported by said carriage and operatively associated with said reels for selectively winding said information carrier onto one of said reels and alternatively onto the other of said reels.

Claim 3

An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said reels are stacked and coaxial; and said winding means include two coaxial drive spindles rotatably mounted on said carriage and engageable with said reels.

Claim 4

An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, including: means for advancing said information carrier at said function-performing station.

Claim 5

An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, including: means for pulling said information carrier from one of said reels when said information carrier is advanced at said function-performing station and is being wound onto the other of said reels.

Claim 6

An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein: said means for pulling said information carrier include rotatable means for engaging and advancing said information carrier, means for mounting said rotatable means inside said magazine, and means for rotating said rotatable means.

Claim 7

An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein: said means for pulling said information carrier include rotatable means for advancing said information carrier, means for sensing the tension of said information carrier, means coupled to said tension-sensing means for placing said information carrier into engagement with said rotatable means as a function of sensed tension, means for mounting said rotatable means, said tension-sensing means and said means coupled to said tension-sensing means inside said magazine, and means for rotating said rotatable means.

Claim 8

An apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein: said means for rotating said rotatable means include means for rotating said rotatable means at an essentially constant speed.

Claim 9

In apparatus for selectively performing a function at a function-performing station relative to a web-like information carrier having opposite ends, respectively, on two different reels located in an information carrier magazine, the improvement comprising in combination: means for mounting said reels in stacked and coaxial relationship inside said magazine; means including a rotatable drive spindle engageable with either of said reels for selectively winding said information carrier onto one of said reels and alternatively onto the other of said reels; means for mounting said drive spindle for movement in a direction toward said function-performing station for placement of a portion of said information carrier at said functionperforming station, and alternatively for movement in a direction away from said function-performing station for placement of all portions of the information carrier in spaced relationship to said function performing station; and means for alternatively placing said drive spindle into forcetransmitting engagement with one of said reels and into forcetransmitting engagement with the other of said reels.

Claim 10

In apparatus for selectively performing a function at a function-performing station relative to a web-like information carrier having opposite ends, respectively, on two different reels located in an information carrier magazine, the improvement comprising in combination: means for mounting said reels in stacked and coaxial relationship inside said magazine; means including a rotatable drive spindle engageable with either of said reels for selectively winding said information carrier onto one of said reels and alternatively onto the other of said reels; means for mounting said drive spindle for movement in a direction toward said function-performing station for placement of a portion of said information carrier at said functionperforming station, and alternatively for movement in a direction away from said function-performing station for placement of all portions of the information carrier in spaced relationship to said function performing station; and means for alternatively placing said drive spindle into forcetransmitting engagement with one of said reels and into forcetransmitting engagement with the other of said reels.

Claim 11

An apparatus as claimed in claim 8, including: means for engaging said magazine; and means for actuating said engaging means to withdraw said magazine from said function-performing station.

Claim 12

An apparatus as claimed in claim 8, including: means for advancing said information carrier at said function-performing station.

Claim 13

An apparatus as claimed in claim 10, including: means for pulling said information carrier from one of said reels when said information carrier is advanced at said function-performing station and is being wound onto the other of said reels.

Claim 14

An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein: said means for pulling said information carrier include rotatable means for engaging and advancing said information carrier, means for mounting said rotatable means inside said magazine, and means for rotating said rotatable means.

Claim 15

An apparatus as clAimed in claim 11, wherein: said means for pulling said information carrier include rotatable means for advancing said information carrier, means for sensing the tension of said information carrier, means coupled to said tension-sensing means for placing said information carrier into engagement with said rotatable means as a function of sensed tension, means for mounting said rotatable means, said tension-sensing means and said means coupled to said tension-sensing means inside said magazine, and means for rotating said rotatable means.

Claim 16

An apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein: said means for rotating said rotatable means include means for rotating said rotatable means at an essentially constant speed.

Claim 17

An apparatus as claimed in claim 8, including: means for supporting the weight of said magazine and said reels with said information carrier, said means for mounting said drive spindle including means for mounting said drive spindle for movement relative to said supporting means.

Claim 18

An apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein; said means for mounting said drive spindle include a carriage for said drive spindle.

Claim 19

In apparatus for selectively performing a function at a function-performing station relative to a web-like information carrier having opposite ends, respectively, on two different reels located in an information carrier magazine, the improvement comprising in combination: means for supporting said magazine and said reels with said information carrier; a drive spindle at said supporting means, said drive spindle having force transmission means constructed and positioned for engagement by one of said reels when said magazine occupies a first position on said supporting means and for engagement by the other of said reels when said magazine occupies a second position on said supporting means; and means coupled to said drive spindle for rotating said drive spindle to effect winding of the information carrier onto said one reel when said magazine occupies said first position and to effect winding of the information carrier onto said other reel when said magazine occupies said second position.

Claim 20

In apparatus for selectively performing a function at a function-performing station relative to a web-like information carrier having opposite ends, respectively, on two different reels located in an information carrier magazine, the improvement comprising in combination: means for supporting said magazine and said reels with said information carrier; a drive spindle at said supporting means, said drive spindle having force transmission means constructed and positioned for engagement by one of said reels when said magazine occupies a first position on said supporting means and for engagement by the other of said reels when said magazine occupies a second position on said supporting means; and means coupled to said drive spindle for rotating said drive spindle to effect winding of the information carrier onto said one reel when said magazine occupies said first position and to effect winding of the information carrier onto said other reel when said magazine occupies said second position.

Claim 21

An apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein: said magazine has a first side and a second side opposite said first side; and said force transmission means on said drive spindle are constructed and positioned for engagement by said one reel when said magazine is positioned with one of said first and second sides on said supporting means, and for engagement by said other reel when said magazine is positioned with the other of said first and second sides on said supporting means.

Claim 22

An apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein: said magazine has a first side and a second side opposite said first side; said reels are stacked and coaxial; said one reel has a first hub adjacent said first maagazine side for engagement by said force transmission means when said magazine is positioned with one of said first and second sides on said supporting means; and said other reel has a second hub adjacent said second magazine side for engagement by said force transmission means when said magazine is positioned with the other of said first and second sides on said supporting means.

Claim 23

An apparatus as claimed in claim 19, including: selectively actuable means for withdrawing said drive spindle into said supporting means.

Claim 24

An apparatus as claimed in claim 19, including: means operatively associated with said rotating means for inhibiting winding of the information carrier onto one of said reels unless said magazine is located with a predetermined side on said supporting means.

Claim 25

An apparatus as claimed in claim 19, including: means for advancing said information carrier at said function-performing station.

Claim 26

An apparatus as claimed in claim 22, including: means for pulling said information carrier from one of said reels when said information carrier is advancEd at said function-performing station and is being wound onto the other of said reels.

Claim 27

An apparatus as claimed in claim 23, wherein: said means for pulling said information carrier include rotatable means for engaging and advancing said information carrier, means for mounting said rotatable means inside said magazine, and means for rotating said rotatable means.

Claim 28

An apparatus as claimed in claim 23, wherein: said means for pulling said information carrier include rotatable means for advancing said information carrier, means for sensing the tension of said information carrier, means coupled to said tension-sensing means for placing said information carrier into engagement with said rotatable means as a function of sensed tension, means for mounting said rotatable means, said tension-sensing means and said means coupled to said tension-sensing means inside said magazine, and means for rotating said rotatable means.

Claim 29

An apparatus as claimed in claim 25, wherein: said means for rotating said rotatable means include means for rotating said rotatable means at an essentially constant speed.

Claim 30

In apparatus for selectively performing a function at a function-performing station relative to a web-like information carrier having opposite ends, respectively, on two different reels located in an information carrier magazine, the improvement comprising in combination: means operatively associated with said reels and including at least one drive spindle for selectively winding said information carrier onto one of said reels and alternatively onto the other of said reels; and means for displacing said magazine and said reels with said information carrier, including a carriage having means for engaging said magazine, and means for mounting said carriage for movement in a direction at right angles to said drive spindle, between a first position in which a portion of said information carrier is located at said function-performing station, and a second position in which all portions of said information carrier are spaced from said function-performing station.

Claim 31

In apparatus for selectively performing a function at a function-performing station relative to a web-like information carrier having opposite ends, respectively, on two different reels located in an information carrier magazine, the improvement comprising in combination: means operatively associated with said reels and including at least one drive spindle for selectively winding said information carrier onto one of said reels and alternatively onto the other of said reels; and means for displacing said magazine and said reels with said information carrier, including a carriage having means for engaging said magazine, and means for mounting said carriage for movement in a direction at right angles to said drive spindle, between a first position in which a portion of said information carrier is located at said function-performing station, and a second position in which all portions of said information carrier are spaced from said function-performing station.

Claim 32

An apparatus as claimed in claim 27, wherein: said winding means include bearing means for said drive spindle attached to said carriage.

Claim 33

An apparatus as claimed in claim 27, including: means for mounting said winding means on said carriage for movement therewith in said direction.