Apparatus and method for initiating a tape winding operation

Claim 1

An apparatus for initiating a tape winding operation upon a reel that forms part of a tape cartridge, said apparatus comprising: a tape presentation means for holding the leading end of a tape having a reel-engaging surface, said tape presentation means comprising a tape supporting surface; means for moving said tape presentation means from a first selected tape-holding position in which said tape supporting-surface is spaced from said reel and a second selected tape-presenting position in which said tape-supporting surface is adjacent said reel; said tape presentation means having at least one first aperture and at least one second aperture in said tape-supporting surface, with said at least one first aperture being located close to one end of said tape-supporting surface and said at least one second aperture being spaced from said at least one first aperture; first means for connecting said at least one first aperture to a source of vacuum when said tape presentation means is in said first position and to a source of pressurized air when said tape presentation means is in said second position, said at least one first aperture being located so that a stream of air exiting said at least one first aperture will urge the end of a tape engaged with said tape-supporting surface into contact with said reel; and second means for (a) connecting said at least one second aperture to a source of vacuum when said presentation means is in said first position or said second position, and (b) disconnecting said at least one second aperture from said source of vacuum after the leading end of said tape has been urged into contact with said reel by a stream of pressurized air exiting said at least one first aperture.

Claim 2

An apparatus for initiating a tape winding operation upon a reel that forms part of a tape cartridge, said apparatus comprising: a tape presentation means for holding the leading end of a tape having a reel-engaging surface, said tape presentation means comprising a tape supporting surface; means for moving said tape presentation means from a first selected tape-holding position in which said tape supporting-surface is spaced from said reel and a second selected tape-presenting position in which said tape-supporting surface is adjacent said reel; said tape presentation means having at least one first aperture and at least one second aperture in said tape-supporting surface, with said at least one first aperture being located close to one end of said tape-supporting surface and said at least one second aperture being spaced from said at least one first aperture; first means for connecting said at least one first aperture to a source of vacuum when said tape presentation means is in said first position and to a source of pressurized air when said tape presentation means is in said second position, said at least one first aperture being located so that a stream of air exiting said at least one first aperture will urge the end of a tape engaged with said tape-supporting surface into contact with said reel; and second means for (a) connecting said at least one second aperture to a source of vacuum when said presentation means is in said first position or said second position, and (b) disconnecting said at least one second aperture from said source of vacuum after the leading end of said tape has been urged into contact with said reel by a stream of pressurized air exiting said at least one first aperture.

Claim 9

An apparatus for initiating a tape winding operation upon a reel that forms part of a tape cartridge that is to be loaded with tape, said apparatus comprising: means for holding said tape cartridge in a selected tape-loading position; means for driving said reel so as to wind on said reel a selected length of a tape that is engaged with said reel; a tape presentation means for holding the leading end of a tape having a reel-engaging surface, said tape presentation means comprising an elongated member having a tape-supporting surface for supporting the leading end of a tape, a carriage supporting said elongated member, and means for reciprocating said carriage so as to move said elongated member from a first selected tape-holding position in which said tape-supporting surface is spaced from said reel and a second selected tape-presenting position in which said tape-supporting surface is adjacent said reel; said elongated member having at least one first aperture and at least one second aperture in said tape-supporting surface, with said at least one first aperture being located at the distal end of said elongated member and said at least one second aperture being spaced from said at least one first aperture; first means for connecting said at least one first aperture (1) to a source of vacuum when said elongated member is in said first tape-holding position so as to hold a first end portion of a leading end of a tape against said tape-supporting surface by suction, and (2) to a source of pressurized air when said elongated member is in said second tape-presenting position, said at least one first aperture being located so that a stream of air exiting said at least one first aperture will urge said first end portion of the leading end of a tape engaged with said tape-supporting surface into contact with said reel; and second means for (1) connecting said at least one second aperture to a source of vacuum when said presentation means is in said first position or said second position so as to hold a second portion of the leading end of a tape by suction against said tape-supporting surface, and (b) disconnecting said at least one second aperture from said source of vacuum after the first end portion of the leading end of said tape has been urged into contact with said reel by a stream of pressurized air exiting said at least one first aperture, whereby to fully release said tape from said tape-supporting surface.

Claim 10

An apparatus for initiating a tape winding operation upon a reel that forms part of a tape cartridge that is to be loaded with tape, said apparatus comprising: means for holding said tape cartridge in a selected tape-loading position; means for driving said reel so as to wind on said reel a selected length of a tape that is engaged with said reel; a tape presentation means for holding the leading end of a tape having a reel-engaging surface, said tape presentation means comprising an elongated member having a tape-supporting surface for supporting the leading end of a tape, a carriage supporting said elongated member, and means for reciprocating said carriage so as to move said elongated member from a first selected tape-holding position in which said tape-supporting surface is spaced from said reel and a second selected tape-presenting position in which said tape-supporting surface is adjacent said reel; said elongated member having at least one first aperture and at least one second aperture in said tape-supporting surface, with said at least one first aperture being located at the distal end of said elongated member and said at least one second aperture being spaced from said at least one first aperture; first means for connecting said at least one first aperture (1) to a source of vacuum when said elongated member is in said first tape-holding position so as to hold a first end portion of a leading end of a tape against said tape-supporting surface by suction, and (2) to a source of pressurized air when said elongated member is in said second tape-presenting position, said at least one first aperture being located so that a stream of air exiting said at least one first aperture will urge said first end portion of the leading end of a tape engaged with said tape-supporting surface into contact with said reel; and second means for (1) connecting said at least one second aperture to a source of vacuum when said presentation means is in said first position or said second position so as to hold a second portion of the leading end of a tape by suction against said tape-supporting surface, and (b) disconnecting said at least one second aperture from said source of vacuum after the first end portion of the leading end of said tape has been urged into contact with said reel by a stream of pressurized air exiting said at least one first aperture, whereby to fully release said tape from said tape-supporting surface.

Claim 12

An apparatus for initiating a tape winding operation upon a reel enclosed within and forming a part of a largely closed cartridge having a limited access opening in an exterior wall, said apparatus comprising: means for releasably holding said cartridge in a selected loading position; means for rotating the reel of said cartridge when said cartridge is in said selected loading position; tape presentation means for releasably holding the leading end of a tape having a reel-engaging surface and presenting said reel-engaging surface to a cartridge disposed in said selected loading position, said tape presentation means including a finger dimensioned to enter through said opening, means for moving said tape presentation means between a first position in which said finger is spaced from said cartridge and a second position in which said finger extends into said opening into close proximity with said reel, said finger having a tape-supporting surface and first and second apertures in said tape-supporting surface, means for selectively connecting said first aperture to (a) a source of vacuum when said tape presentation means is in said first position and (b) a source of pressurized air when said tape presentation means is in said second position, and means for selectively (a) connecting said second aperture to a source of vacuum when said tape presentation means is in said first or second positions and (b) disconnecting said second aperture means from said source of vacuum after said tape presentation means has moved into said second position and said pressurized air has caused a portion of said tape to engage said reel; and means for selectively wetting said reel-engaging surface of a tape held in said tape-supporting surface when said tape presentation means is in said first position.

Claim 13

An apparatus for initiating a tape winding operation upon a reel enclosed within and forming a part of a largely closed cartridge having a limited access opening in an exterior wall, said apparatus comprising: means for releasably holding said cartridge in a selected loading position; means for rotating the reel of said cartridge when said cartridge is in said selected loading position; tape presentation means for releasably holding the leading end of a tape having a reel-engaging surface and presenting said reel-engaging surface to a cartridge disposed in said selected loading position, said tape presentation means including a finger dimensioned to enter through said opening, means for moving said tape presentation means between a first position in which said finger is spaced from said cartridge and a second position in which said finger extends into said opening into close proximity with said reel, said finger having a tape-supporting surface and first and second apertures in said tape-supporting surface, means for selectively connecting said first aperture to (a) a source of vacuum when said tape presentation means is in said first position and (b) a source of pressurized air when said tape presentation means is in said second position, and means for selectively (a) connecting said second aperture to a source of vacuum when said tape presentation means is in said first or second positions and (b) disconnecting said second aperture means from said source of vacuum after said tape presentation means has moved into said second position and said pressurized air has caused a portion of said tape to engage said reel; and means for selectively wetting said reel-engaging surface of a tape held in said tape-supporting surface when said tape presentation means is in said first position.

Claim 14

A method of entraining a tape from a supply onto a reel of a cartridge disposed in a selected tape-loading position, said method comprising the steps of: retaining the leading end of said tape against a tape presentation means by vacuum so that a first surface of said tape is exposed; depositing a drop of water upon said first surface at the distal portion of the leading end of said tape; moving said tape presentation means so as to bring the distal portion of said leading end into close proximity to the reel; maintaining a second portion of said leading end against said tape presentation means by suction while directing a stream of air under pressure against said distal portion so as to urge the wet first surface of said distal portion into adhering contact with said reel; imparting a rotary motion to the reel so as to cause said tape to be wound onto said reel; and releasing the suction on said second portion of the leading end of said tape so as to free said tape for rapid winding on said reel.

Claim 15

A method of entraining a tape from a supply onto a reel of a cartridge disposed in a selected tape-loading position, said method comprising the steps of: retaining the leading end of said tape against a tape presentation means by vacuum so that a first surface of said tape is exposed; depositing a drop of water upon said first surface at the distal portion of the leading end of said tape; moving said tape presentation means so as to bring the distal portion of said leading end into close proximity to the reel; maintaining a second portion of said leading end against said tape presentation means by suction while directing a stream of air under pressure against said distal portion so as to urge the wet first surface of said distal portion into adhering contact with said reel; imparting a rotary motion to the reel so as to cause said tape to be wound onto said reel; and releasing the suction on said second portion of the leading end of said tape so as to free said tape for rapid winding on said reel.

Claim 16

A method of entraining a tape from a supply onto a reel mounted on the interior of a substantially closed cartridge having a limited access opening in an exterior wall, said method comprising the steps of: using suction to temporarily retain the leading end of the tape on an instrument sized to pass through the opening and carry the leading end of the tape into close proximity with the reel; wetting an exposed surface of the leading end of said leading tape end; moving said instrument into said cartridge via said opening so as to bring said leading end portion of said tape to a position adjacent said reel; imparting a rotary motion to said reel; using a stream of pressurized air to urge the distal portion of the leading end of said tape into contact with said rotating reel so as to cause the wet surface of said tape to adhere to said reel, and simultaneously using suction to maintain another portion of said leading end on said instrument; terminating said suction so as to release said another portion of said leading end from said instrument when said distal end portion has begun to be wound onto said reel; and withdrawing said instrument from said cartridge.

Claim 17

A method of entraining a tape from a supply onto a reel mounted on the interior of a substantially closed cartridge having a limited access opening in an exterior wall, said method comprising the steps of: using suction to temporarily retain the leading end of the tape on an instrument sized to pass through the opening and carry the leading end of the tape into close proximity with the reel; wetting an exposed surface of the leading end of said leading tape end; moving said instrument into said cartridge via said opening so as to bring said leading end portion of said tape to a position adjacent said reel; imparting a rotary motion to said reel; using a stream of pressurized air to urge the distal portion of the leading end of said tape into contact with said rotating reel so as to cause the wet surface of said tape to adhere to said reel, and simultaneously using suction to maintain another portion of said leading end on said instrument; terminating said suction so as to release said another portion of said leading end from said instrument when said distal end portion has begun to be wound onto said reel; and withdrawing said instrument from said cartridge.