Apparatus for threading magnetic tape in a magnetic tape transport

Claim 1

A tape drive providing a tape path including a READ/WRITE transducer assembly for processing data on a tape comprising: a base member; a takeup reel supported for rotation on said base member at the end of said tape path, said takeup reel having a central hub including a slot extending through said takeup reel axis of rotation for receiving a leader block; a cover member enclosing said base member, said cover member having an opening for inserting along said base member a magnetic tape cartridge, said cartridge including along a leading edge thereof a frontal opening exposing a leader block; a curved cam track located on said cover member facing said base, said cam track beginning at a first end over said cartridge and substantially following said tape path to a second end over said takeup reel; first and second nests terminating respective ends of said cam track, said nests having track extension portions connected by hinge means to said track ends which permits said second nest to be angularly adjusted with respect to said takeup reel rotational axis to accurately position the leader block in the takeup reel slot, and permitting said first nest to be angularly adjusted with respect to said cartridge frontal opening, said nests including means for fixing each nest in a respective angular position; a longitudinal leader block engaging member having at one end a cam follower for riding in said cam track, and at the remaining end a tapered point for engaging a cutout in said leader block; an arm including first and second pivotally connected linkage members, the first of said linkage members connected to be rotated about an axis interior to said curved cam track, the second of said linkage members connected to said leader block engaging member; and a drive means for rotating said first linkage member in first and second opposite rotational directions; whereby rotation of said first arm linkage member in a first direction forces said cam follower into said first nest engaging said tapered point into said leader block cutout, and rotation of said first arm linkage member in a second direction threads said leader block over said tape path into said takeup reel slot in a position determined by said second nest.