US4065044A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Capstan
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1975-12-29
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Granted: 1977-12-27
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Expires: 1995-12-29
Abstract
Abstract The present invention is an improved capstan which is used in a magnetic tape transport system, to accelerate a length of magnetic tape. The capstan includes a cylindrical post, adapted to be connected to a drive shaft of a capstan motor in a magnetic tape transport system, a pair of discs, each of which has a set of outer holes disposed adjacent to and distributed about its periphery and a set of inner holes disposed adjacent to and distributed about its central axis, coupled together by the cylindrical post disposed about their central axes. The capstan also includes a first set of cylindrical posts, coupling the inner holes of one disc to the inner holes of the other disc, and a second set of cylindrical posts, coupling some of the outer holes of one disc to some of the outer holes of the other disc. The capstan further includes a cylindrical tape band, which has a set of grooves running concentrically with the discs and the other edges of which are joined to the peripheries of the discs. The capstan is formed by a two step process of plating a platen in the shape of the capstan with a metal, such as nickel, and then dissolving or etching away the platen in a selected solution. The resulting capstan not only has a relatively large diameter with a low moment of inertia, but also a low mass without sacrificing its structural strength.
Inventors
- 👤 Alan Painter
- 👤 Daniel R. O'Neill
- 👤 George L. Glaeser, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 18:21
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B15/00; G11B15/18; G11B15/26; G11B15/28; G11B15/285
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
159 words
In a magnetic tape transport system, a capstan, driven by a capstan motor having a drive shaft, for accelerating a length of magnetic tape, comprising: a. a monolithic member having a pair of disc-shaped sidewalls and a cylinder-shaped sidewall coupling the peripheries of said disc-shaped sidewalls so that they are parallel to each other, said monolithic member being formed from a metallic material which is substantially thin wherein said capstan is adapted to be coupled to the drive shaft of the capstan motor and each of said disc-shaped sidewalls has a plurality of outer holes, each of said holes being substantially adjacent to the periphery of said disc-shaped sidewall and aligned with one of said outer holes in the other of said disc-shaped sidewalls; and b. a plurality of hollow, cylindrical posts, disposed perpendicular to the plane of said disc-shaped sidewalls in some of said outer holes and coupling said disc-shaped sidewalls together in order to reinforce said capstan.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
159 words
In a magnetic tape transport system, a capstan, driven by a capstan motor having a drive shaft, for accelerating a length of magnetic tape, comprising: a. a monolithic member having a pair of disc-shaped sidewalls and a cylinder-shaped sidewall coupling the peripheries of said disc-shaped sidewalls so that they are parallel to each other, said monolithic member being formed from a metallic material which is substantially thin wherein said capstan is adapted to be coupled to the drive shaft of the capstan motor and each of said disc-shaped sidewalls has a plurality of outer holes, each of said holes being substantially adjacent to the periphery of said disc-shaped sidewall and aligned with one of said outer holes in the other of said disc-shaped sidewalls; and b. a plurality of hollow, cylindrical posts, disposed perpendicular to the plane of said disc-shaped sidewalls in some of said outer holes and coupling said disc-shaped sidewalls together in order to reinforce said capstan.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
103 words
In a magnetic tape transport system, a capstan, driven by a capstan motor having a drive shaft, for accelerating a length of magnetic tape, according to claim 1 wherein each of said disc-shaped sidewalls has a plurality of inner holes disposed substantially adjacent to and distributed about its center axis and aligned with one of said inner holes of the other of said disc-shaped sidewalls and said capstan also comprises a plurality of hollow, cylindrical posts, each post disposed perpendicular to the plane of said disc-shaped sidewalls in said inner holes and coupling said disc-shaped sidewalls together in order to reinforce said capstan.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
In a magnetic tape transport system, a capstan according to claim 1 wherein said cylinder shaped sidewall has a plurality of grooves which run concentrically with each of said disc-shaped sidewalls.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
In a magnetic tape transport system, a capstan according to claim 1 wherein said cylinder-shaped sidewall has a plurality of air holes disposed thereon.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
158 words
In a magnetic tape transport system, a capstan, driven by a capstan motor having a drive shaft, for accelerating a length of magnetic tape, comprising: a. a monolithic member having a pair of disc-shaped sidewalls and a cylinder-shaped sidewall coupling the peripheries of said disc-shaped sidewalls so that they are parallel to each other, said monolithic member being formed from a metallic material which is substantially thin wherein said capstan is adapted to be coupled to the drive shaft of a capstan motor and each of said disc-shaped sidewalls has a plurality of inner holes, each of said inner holes being substantially adjacent to the center of said disc-shaped sidewalls and aligned with one of said inner holes in the other of said disc-shaped sidewalls; and b. a plurality of hollow, cylindrical posts, disposed perpendicular to the plane of said disc-shaped sidewalls in said inner holes and coupling said disc-shaped sidewalls together in order to reinforce said capstan.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
158 words
In a magnetic tape transport system, a capstan, driven by a capstan motor having a drive shaft, for accelerating a length of magnetic tape, comprising: a. a monolithic member having a pair of disc-shaped sidewalls and a cylinder-shaped sidewall coupling the peripheries of said disc-shaped sidewalls so that they are parallel to each other, said monolithic member being formed from a metallic material which is substantially thin wherein said capstan is adapted to be coupled to the drive shaft of a capstan motor and each of said disc-shaped sidewalls has a plurality of inner holes, each of said inner holes being substantially adjacent to the center of said disc-shaped sidewalls and aligned with one of said inner holes in the other of said disc-shaped sidewalls; and b. a plurality of hollow, cylindrical posts, disposed perpendicular to the plane of said disc-shaped sidewalls in said inner holes and coupling said disc-shaped sidewalls together in order to reinforce said capstan.
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) | 1980-12-26 | 1981-06-27 | 1981-12-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-12-26 | 1985-06-27 | 1985-12-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-12-26 | 1989-06-27 | 1989-12-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |