US3916443A — Magnetic tape drive apparatus

Claim 1

Independent Claim 218 words

In a transport for magnetic tape carried by a cartridge element which includes a case having an aperture along the edge thereof for exposing tape to contact with a read/write head, and tape reel means rotatable within the case, the combination comprising a. deck structure to removably support the cartridge element, b. a tape engaging magnetic head element c. a tape engaging pressure roller element, and tape edge guide chute structure adjacent the pressure roller element, d. a single tape driving rotary capstan element and means carried by the deck structure to rotate said capstan element alternatively clockwise and counterclockwise, e. displacement means carried by the deck structure and including a carrier for the head and pressure roller elements and also for the guide chute structure, for effecting displacement of said head and pressure roller elements relative to the capstan element to engage and disengage the pressure roller and head with the exposed tape, while the guide chute structure remains adjacent the pressure roller element, there being an actuator to displace the carrier toward the cartridge element, and f. means carried by the deck structure for applying torque to said reel means to tension the tape extent to be driven by the capstan elements when the head and pressure roller elements are displaced into engagement with the tape.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 218 words

In a transport for magnetic tape carried by a cartridge element which includes a case having an aperture along the edge thereof for exposing tape to contact with a read/write head, and tape reel means rotatable within the case, the combination comprising a. deck structure to removably support the cartridge element, b. a tape engaging magnetic head element c. a tape engaging pressure roller element, and tape edge guide chute structure adjacent the pressure roller element, d. a single tape driving rotary capstan element and means carried by the deck structure to rotate said capstan element alternatively clockwise and counterclockwise, e. displacement means carried by the deck structure and including a carrier for the head and pressure roller elements and also for the guide chute structure, for effecting displacement of said head and pressure roller elements relative to the capstan element to engage and disengage the pressure roller and head with the exposed tape, while the guide chute structure remains adjacent the pressure roller element, there being an actuator to displace the carrier toward the cartridge element, and f. means carried by the deck structure for applying torque to said reel means to tension the tape extent to be driven by the capstan elements when the head and pressure roller elements are displaced into engagement with the tape.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 22 words

The combination of claim 1 wherein said capstan element rotating means includes a servo-controlled drive operable to rotate the capstan element bi-directionally.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 41 words

The combination of claim 2 wherein said drive includes control circuitry to control increases and decreases in the capstan angular velocity to the linear ramp functions of time, and to control the capstan speed at selected level between said ramp functions.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 16 words

The combination of claim 1 including means adjustably mounting the head element on the deck structure.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 23 words

The combination of claim 1 including a spring positioned on the carrier to controllably and yieldably urge the pressure roller against the tape.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 48 words

The combination of claim 5 wherein the pressure roller is carried by an arm pivotably mounted on the carrier and urged toward the capstan by said spring, the guide chute structure also carried by said arm to remain adjacent the pressure roller during arm and pressure roller pivoting.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 53 words

The combination of claim 1 wherein the reel means includes a pair of tape reels rotatable within the case, and between which the tape is transported, said torque applying means including a pair of motors energizable to apply clockwise torque to one reel drive post, and counterclockwise torque to another reel drive post.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 39 words

The combination of claim 7 defined by a tape cassette supported by the deck structure, the cassette case having openings to receive said posts operatively connected with the reels to control rotation thereof so as to tension the tape.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 63 words

The combination of claim 8 wherein said cassette includes a pad normally urging the tape in a direction away from the interior of the cassette case, and there being pusher means carried by said displacement means for pushing the pad away from the tape in response to said relative displacement of the elements to engage the head and pinch roller with the tape.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 31 words

The combination of claim 8 including means on the deck structure to sense passage of reference indicia on the tape near the beginning and ending of tape transport between said reels.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 35 words

The combination of claim 1 including bearing means on the deck structure for guiding the carrier for said displacement, and through which force is transmitted acting to retain the carrier attached to the deck structure.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 61 words

The combination of claim 11 including attachment means yieldably retaining the carrier attached to the deck structure, and locating means for accurately locating the carrier relative to the deck structure characterized in that at least a portion of the carrier may undergo displacement relatively normal to the deck structure, as accommodated by said attachment means, during final displacement to advanced position.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 37 words

The combination of claim 11 wherein said bearing means includes ways extending in the direction of carrier displacement and there being balls on and guided by the ways to support and guide the carrier for said displacement.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 40 words

The combination of claim 13 wherein certain of said ways are formed as longitudinally extending grooves in the deck structure and in the carrier, said grooves having V-shaped cross sections in planes normal to the longitudinal direction of carrier displacement.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 211 words

In a transport for magnetic tape carried by a cartridge which includes a case having an aperture along the edge thereof for exposing tape to contact with a magnetic head, and the reel means rotatable within the case, the combination comprising a. deck structure to removably support the cartridge, b. a tape engaging magnetic head, c. a tape engaging pressure roller, d. a single tape driving rotary capstan and means to rotate said capstan alternately clockwise and counterclockwise, and e. displacement means carried by the deck for effecting longitudinal displacement of the head and pressure roller relative to the capstan to engage and disengage the pressure roller and head with the exposed tape, said means including a carrier plate carrying the head and pressure roller, linear bearings guiding the plate for said displacement between advanced and retracted positions, and tapered locating means on the deck structure and carrier plate and interengageable to limit plate advancement in said advanced position and simultaneously to block deflection of the plate normal to the direction of plate advancement in said advanced position, there being flexible means operatively connected between the plate and deck to yieldably resist said plate deflection, and the plate being deflected relatively away from the deck in advanced position of the plate.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 211 words

In a transport for magnetic tape carried by a cartridge which includes a case having an aperture along the edge thereof for exposing tape to contact with a magnetic head, and the reel means rotatable within the case, the combination comprising a. deck structure to removably support the cartridge, b. a tape engaging magnetic head, c. a tape engaging pressure roller, d. a single tape driving rotary capstan and means to rotate said capstan alternately clockwise and counterclockwise, and e. displacement means carried by the deck for effecting longitudinal displacement of the head and pressure roller relative to the capstan to engage and disengage the pressure roller and head with the exposed tape, said means including a carrier plate carrying the head and pressure roller, linear bearings guiding the plate for said displacement between advanced and retracted positions, and tapered locating means on the deck structure and carrier plate and interengageable to limit plate advancement in said advanced position and simultaneously to block deflection of the plate normal to the direction of plate advancement in said advanced position, there being flexible means operatively connected between the plate and deck to yieldably resist said plate deflection, and the plate being deflected relatively away from the deck in advanced position of the plate.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 213 words

In a transport for magnetic tape carried by a cartridge which includes a case having an aperture along the edge thereof for exposing tape to contact with a magnetic head, and tape reel means rotatable within the case, the combination comprising a. deck structure to removably support the cartridge, b. a tape engaging magnetic head, c. a tape engaging pressure roller, d. a single tape driving rotary capstan and means to rotate the capstan alternately clockwise and counterclockwise, e. a carrier carried by the deck for effecting longitudinal displacement of the head and pressure roller relative to the capstan to engage and disengage the pressure roller with the tape at the side thereof opposite the capstan, f. an arm pivotally mounted by the carrier and supporting the pressure roller for rotation, and a spring urging the arm in a direction carrying the pressure roller toward said capstan, g. there being linear bearings guiding the plate for said displacement, flexible means operatively connected between certain of said bearings and the plate to yieldably resist deflection of the plate relatively away from the deck during said displacement, and there being locating means on the deck and plate and interengaged to deflect the plate relatively away from the deck when the pressure roller engages the tape.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 213 words

In a transport for magnetic tape carried by a cartridge which includes a case having an aperture along the edge thereof for exposing tape to contact with a magnetic head, and tape reel means rotatable within the case, the combination comprising a. deck structure to removably support the cartridge, b. a tape engaging magnetic head, c. a tape engaging pressure roller, d. a single tape driving rotary capstan and means to rotate the capstan alternately clockwise and counterclockwise, e. a carrier carried by the deck for effecting longitudinal displacement of the head and pressure roller relative to the capstan to engage and disengage the pressure roller with the tape at the side thereof opposite the capstan, f. an arm pivotally mounted by the carrier and supporting the pressure roller for rotation, and a spring urging the arm in a direction carrying the pressure roller toward said capstan, g. there being linear bearings guiding the plate for said displacement, flexible means operatively connected between certain of said bearings and the plate to yieldably resist deflection of the plate relatively away from the deck during said displacement, and there being locating means on the deck and plate and interengaged to deflect the plate relatively away from the deck when the pressure roller engages the tape.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1978-10-27	1979-04-28	1979-10-28	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1982-10-27	1983-04-28	1983-10-28	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1986-10-27	1987-04-28	1987-10-28	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Magnetic tape drive apparatus

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