Endless tape transporting device

Claim 2

An endless tape transporting device for transporting a tape at a high rate of speed comprising: an endless tape reel adapted to coil an endless tape into a laminated coil so that the tape is delivered from the innermost of the laminated coil and wound on the outermost of the laminated coil; a capstan and a pinch roller between which the tape is driven at said high rate of speed; a loop buffer mechanism provided in a route in which the tape delivered from between the capstan and the pinch roller is wound on the reel, and having first, second and third guides; said first guide being adapted to guide the tape so delivered in a direction in which the pinch roller is rotated and to deflect said tape toward said second guide so as to partially form a loop thereby; said second guide being adapted to guide said tape from the first guide towards the reel in a curved manner; and said third guide being adapted to cause the tape so guided to be reversed back in the direction of the first guide so that substantially one freely standing loop is created, and then to smoothly and freely guide it towards the reel, whereby said smooth and free passage of said tape about said third guide means permits said loop to be adjustable in size so as to compensate for any variation in tension within said tape upon said reel and to maintain said tape properly tensioned.

Claim 3

An endless tape transporting device according to claim 1 in which the first guide comprises a guide plate located in the route of the tape delivered from between the capstan and the pinch roller, forming an acute angle to said route and extending towards said second guide.

Claim 4

An endless tape transporting device according to claim 2 in which said first guide further includes a guide pole disposed behind the guide plate and in contact therewith.

Claim 5

An endless tape transporting device according to claim 1 in which said second guide comprises a guide plate extending from the proximity of the pinch roller towards the proximity of the reel.

Claim 6

An endless tape transporting device according to claim 1 in which said third guide comprises a guide pole located in the neighborhood of said first guide and on the side of the reel.

Claim 7

An endless tape transporting device according to claim 5 in which said third guide further includes a guide plate located in the neighborhood of said guide pole so that the tape is travelled between said guide pole and said guide plate.

Claim 8

An endless tape transporting device according to claim 1 in which the tape is travelled at an angle of more then 30* which is defined between the direction in which it is moved through the guide plate of said first guide and the direction in which it is directly moved from the first guide towards the third guide without forming any buffer loop.

Claim 9

An endless tape transporting device used in an endless tape recording and reproducing apparatus which includes a driving mechanism for said transporting mechanism and a recording and reproducing electric unit for an endless tape, said endless tape transporting device comprising: an endless tape reel adapted to coil the endless tape into a laminated coil so that the tape is delivered from the innermost of the laminated coil and wound on the outermost of the laminated coil; a capstan and a pinch roller between which the tape is driven; a loop Buffer mechanism provided in a route in which the tape delivered from between the capstan and the pinch roller is wound on the reel, and having first, second and third guides; said first guide being adapted to guide the tape so delivered in a direction in which the pinch roller is rotated and to deflect said tape toward said second guide and partially form a loop thereby; said second guide being adapted to guide said tape from the first guide towards the reel in a curved path; and said third guide being adapted to cause the tape delivered from said second guide to be reversed back in the direction of said first guide so that substantially one freely standing loop is created, and then to smoothly and freely guide it towards the reel, whereby said smooth and free passage of said tape about said third guide means permits said loop to be adjustable in size so as to compensate for any variation in tension within said tape upon said reel and to maintain said tape properly tensioned.

Claim 10

An endless tape transporting device used in an endless tape recording and reproducing apparatus which includes a driving mechanism for said transporting mechanism and a recording and reproducing electric unit for an endless tape, said endless tape transporting device comprising: an endless tape reel adapted to coil the endless tape into a laminated coil so that the tape is delivered from the innermost of the laminated coil and wound on the outermost of the laminated coil; a capstan and a pinch roller between which the tape is driven; a loop Buffer mechanism provided in a route in which the tape delivered from between the capstan and the pinch roller is wound on the reel, and having first, second and third guides; said first guide being adapted to guide the tape so delivered in a direction in which the pinch roller is rotated and to deflect said tape toward said second guide and partially form a loop thereby; said second guide being adapted to guide said tape from the first guide towards the reel in a curved path; and said third guide being adapted to cause the tape delivered from said second guide to be reversed back in the direction of said first guide so that substantially one freely standing loop is created, and then to smoothly and freely guide it towards the reel, whereby said smooth and free passage of said tape about said third guide means permits said loop to be adjustable in size so as to compensate for any variation in tension within said tape upon said reel and to maintain said tape properly tensioned.

Claim 11

An endless tape transporting device comprising: an endless tape reel adapted to coil thereon an endless tape into a laminated coil so that the tape is drawn from the innermost layer of the laminated coil and delivered to the outermost layer of said reel; a capstan and a pinch roller between which the tape is driven for drawing said tape from said reel and delivering said tape to said reel; a loop buffer mechanism disposed within the route through which the tape passes as said tape is delivered from said capstan and the pinch roller to said reel so as to be wound upon said reel; first, second and third guide means included within said buffer mechanism, said first guide means guiding said tape from said capstan and pinch roller in the direction in which said pinch roller is rotated, said second guide means guiding the tape from said first guide means towards said reel, and said third guide causing the tape which has been guided by said second guide means, to be reversed in direction back toward said first guide means and said capstan and pinch roller and then guiding said tape towards said reel, said first guide means projecting close to the periphery of said capstan and forming an acute angle to said route of said tape as said tape is delivered to said guide means from said capstan and said pinch roller and extending towards said second guide means so as to deflect said tape towards said second guide means so as to partially form a loop thereby; said second guide means projecting close to the periphery of said pinch roller and extending gradually from said pinch roller in a gentle curved manner toward said reel, the portion of said second guide means, disposed near said first guide means, being disposed substantially parallel to said deflected flow path of said tape so as to smoothly receive the same; and said third guide is disposed near said first guide means upon the side of said first guide means disposed toward said reel.

Claim 12

An endless tape transporting device comprising: an endless tape reel adapted to coil thereon an endless tape into a laminated coil so that the tape is drawn from the innermost layer of the laminated coil and delivered to the outermost layer of said reel; a capstan and a pinch roller between which the tape is driven for drawing said tape from said reel and delivering said tape to said reel; a loop buffer mechanism disposed within the route through which the tape passes as said tape is delivered from said capstan and the pinch roller to said reel so as to be wound upon said reel; first, second and third guide means included within said buffer mechanism, said first guide means guiding said tape from said capstan and pinch roller in the direction in which said pinch roller is rotated, said second guide means guiding the tape from said first guide means towards said reel, and said third guide causing the tape which has been guided by said second guide means, to be reversed in direction back toward said first guide means and said capstan and pinch roller and then guiding said tape towards said reel, said first guide means projecting close to the periphery of said capstan and forming an acute angle to said route of said tape as said tape is delivered to said guide means from said capstan and said pinch roller and extending towards said second guide means so as to deflect said tape towards said second guide means so as to partially form a loop thereby; said second guide means projecting close to the periphery of said pinch roller and extending gradually from said pinch roller in a gentle curved manner toward said reel, the portion of said second guide means, disposed near said first guide means, being disposed substantially parallel to said deflected flow path of said tape so as to smoothly receive the same; and said third guide is disposed near said first guide means upon the side of said first guide means disposed toward said reel.

Claim 13

An endless tape transporting device according to claim 9 in which the tape is travelled at an angle of more than 30* which is defined between the direction in which it is moved through said first guide and the direction in which it is directly moved from the first guide towards the third guide without forming any buffer loop.