"Expandable loop" method of and apparatus for automatically threading a web material

Claim 2

In apparatus having a transducer station, and means for receiving a first, supply reel and a second, take-up reel which are cooperatively rotatable for moving an elongate strip of flexible web material from the supply reel to the take-up reel, wherein the improvement comprises: (a) a plurality of transport elements, arranged together with said transducer station external to said reel receiving means to confront an information-receptive surface of the web material, to guide the web material from the supply reel to the take-up reel along a predetermined operative path past said transducer station; and (b) evacuating means for establishing a negative air pressure gradient between said reel receiving means and said transport elements, to cause the spewing of web material, spanning the two reels, in the form of a loop expandable towards said transport elements, the loop conforming to the shape of the predetermined operative path when it expands to bring its information-receptive surface into operative facing relationship with said transport elements.

Claim 3

In apparatus having a transducer, means for receiving a cassette containing a first, supply reel and a second, take-up reel which are cooperatively rotatable for moving an elongate strip of flexible web material from the supply reel to the take-up reel, and means for controllably rotating one reel relative to the other reel to increase the length of web material linking the two reels, wherein the improvement comprises: (a) a pair of concave guides, arranged external to a received cassette in a material transport direction on opposing sides of said transducer to face together with said transducer an information-receptive surface of the web material, for guiding the latter from the supply reel to the take-up reel along a predetermined operative path past said transducer; and (b) evacuating means for establishing an air pressure gradient the effect of which is, in cooperation with said reel rotating means, to draw the excess web material linking the reels from the received cassette toward said concave guides in the form of an expandable loop which conforms to the shape of the predetermined operative path when the web material expands to bring its information-receptive surface into operative communication with said concave guides and said transducer.

Claim 4

In apparatus having a transducer, means for receiving a cassette containing a first, supply reel and a second, take-up reel which are cooperatively rotatable for moving an elongate strip of flexible web material from the supply reel to the take-up reel, and means for controllably rotating one reel relative to the other reel to increase the length of web material linking the two reels, wherein the improvement comprises: (a) a pair of concave guides, arranged external to a received cassette in a material transport direction on opposing sides of said transducer to face together with said transducer an information-receptive surface of the web material, for guiding the latter from the supply reel to the take-up reel along a predetermined operative path past said transducer; and (b) evacuating means for establishing an air pressure gradient the effect of which is, in cooperation with said reel rotating means, to draw the excess web material linking the reels from the received cassette toward said concave guides in the form of an expandable loop which conforms to the shape of the predetermined operative path when the web material expands to bring its information-receptive surface into operative communication with said concave guides and said transducer.

Claim 5

In apparatus having means for receiving a magnetic tape cassette containing a first, supply reel and a second, take-up reel which are cooperatively rotatable for moving magnetic tape from the supply reel to the take-up reel, means for controllably rotating at least one reel relative to the other reel to increase the length of tape spanning the two reels, and a transducer head displaced from the tape spanning the two reels, wherein the improvement comprises: (a) a pair of concave air-bearing guides disposed in a tape transport direction on opposing sides of said transducer head to face the information-bearing surface of the magnetic tape, to cooperatively guide the magnetic tape from the supply reel to the take-up reel along a predetermined operative path immediately adjacent said transducer head; and (b) evacuating means for establishing a negative air pressure gradient from said cassette receiving means in the direction of said concave guides, to cause, in cooperation with said reel rotating means, the disgorging of magnetic tape from the received cassette toward said concave guides in the form of an expandable loop which conforms to the shape of the predetermined operative path when the loop expands to bring the information-bearing surface of the tape into operative communication with said concave guides and said transducer head.

Claim 6

In apparatus having means for receiving a magnetic tape cassette containing a first, supply reel and a second, take-up reel which are cooperatively rotatable for moving magnetic tape from the supply reel to the take-up reel, means for controllably rotating at least one reel relative to the other reel to increase the length of tape spanning the two reels, and a transducer head displaced from the tape spanning the two reels, wherein the improvement comprises: (a) a pair of concave air-bearing guides disposed in a tape transport direction on opposing sides of said transducer head to face the information-bearing surface of the magnetic tape, to cooperatively guide the magnetic tape from the supply reel to the take-up reel along a predetermined operative path immediately adjacent said transducer head; and (b) evacuating means for establishing a negative air pressure gradient from said cassette receiving means in the direction of said concave guides, to cause, in cooperation with said reel rotating means, the disgorging of magnetic tape from the received cassette toward said concave guides in the form of an expandable loop which conforms to the shape of the predetermined operative path when the loop expands to bring the information-bearing surface of the tape into operative communication with said concave guides and said transducer head.

Claim 7

In transport apparatus having means for receiving a magnetic tape cassette containing a first, supply reel and a second, take-up reel which are cooperatively rotatable for moving magnetic tape from the supply reel to the take-up reel, motor drive means for controllably rotating one reel relative to the other reel to increase the quantity of magnetic tape linking the two reels, and a transducer head external to the tape spanning the two reels, wherein the improvement comprises: (a) a pair of tape guides arranged at respective stationary locations in a tape transport direction on opposing sides of said transducer head, each tape guide having a concave air-bearing surface, arranged to operatively engage the information-bearing surface of the magnetic tape, for cooperatively guiding the tape from the supply reel to the take-up reel along a predetermined operative path past said transducer head; and (b) evacuating means for establishing an air pressure gradient the effect of which is, in cooperation with said motor drive means, to suck tape from the received cassette toward said tape guides in the form of an expandable loop which conforms to the shape of the predetermined operative path when the tape loop expands to bring the information-bearing surface of the tape into facing relationship with said air-bearing surface of each tape guide.

Claim 8

In transport apparatus having means for receiving a magnetic tape cassette containing a first, supply reel and a second, take-up reel which are cooperatively rotatable for moving magnetic tape from the supply reel to the take-up reel, motor drive means for controllably rotating one reel relative to the other reel to increase the quantity of magnetic tape linking the two reels, and a transducer head external to the tape spanning the two reels, wherein the improvement comprises: (a) a pair of tape guides arranged at respective stationary locations in a tape transport direction on opposing sides of said transducer head, each tape guide having a concave air-bearing surface, arranged to operatively engage the information-bearing surface of the magnetic tape, for cooperatively guiding the tape from the supply reel to the take-up reel along a predetermined operative path past said transducer head; and (b) evacuating means for establishing an air pressure gradient the effect of which is, in cooperation with said motor drive means, to suck tape from the received cassette toward said tape guides in the form of an expandable loop which conforms to the shape of the predetermined operative path when the tape loop expands to bring the information-bearing surface of the tape into facing relationship with said air-bearing surface of each tape guide.

Claim 9

In apparatus having means for receiving a magnetic tape cassette containing a pair of spaced reels which are cooperatively rotatable for moving magnetic tape from one reel to the other reel, motor drive means for controllably rotating at least one reel relative to the other reel to increase the length of tape extending between the two reels, and a transducer head displaced from the tape normally extending between the two reels, wherein the improvement comprises: (a) a pair of concave air-bearing guides, arranged external to a received cassette to face an information-bearing surface of the tape, to cooperatively guide the magnetic tape from the supply reel to the take-up reel along a predetermined operative path past said transducer head; and (b) evacuating means for establishing a negative air pressure gradient between said cassette receiving means and said air-bearing guides, said evacuating means, in cooperation with said motor drive means, causing the pulling of magnetic tape, under the influence of air pressure, from the received cassette toward said guides in the form of an expandable loop which conforms to the shape of the predetermined operative path when the loop expands to bring the information-bearing surface of the tape into operative communication with each of said air-bearing guides.

Claim 10

In apparatus having means for receiving a magnetic tape cassette containing a pair of spaced reels which are cooperatively rotatable for moving magnetic tape from one reel to the other reel, motor drive means for controllably rotating at least one reel relative to the other reel to increase the length of tape extending between the two reels, and a transducer head displaced from the tape normally extending between the two reels, wherein the improvement comprises: (a) a pair of concave air-bearing guides, arranged external to a received cassette to face an information-bearing surface of the tape, to cooperatively guide the magnetic tape from the supply reel to the take-up reel along a predetermined operative path past said transducer head; and (b) evacuating means for establishing a negative air pressure gradient between said cassette receiving means and said air-bearing guides, said evacuating means, in cooperation with said motor drive means, causing the pulling of magnetic tape, under the influence of air pressure, from the received cassette toward said guides in the form of an expandable loop which conforms to the shape of the predetermined operative path when the loop expands to bring the information-bearing surface of the tape into operative communication with each of said air-bearing guides.

Claim 11

In apparatus having a rotary head scanner, means for receiving a magnetic tape cassette containing a pair of spaced reels which are cooperatively rotatable for moving magnetic tape from one reel to the other reel, and motor drive means for controlling rotating at least one reel relative to the other reel to increase the length of tape linking the two reels, wherein the improvement comprises: (a) a plurality of tape guides, arranged external to a received cassette at stationary locations to face the information-bearing surface of the magnetic tape, for cooperatively guiding the tape from one reel to the other reel along a predetermined operative path external to the cassette past said rotary head scanner; and (b) evacuating means for establishing an air pressure gradient directed at said plurality of tape guides, the air-pressure gradient, in cooperation with said motor drive means, controllably spewing excess tape linking the two reels from the received cassette toward said tape guides in the form of an expandable loop which conforms to the shape of the predetermined operative path when the loop expands to bring the information-bearing surface of the tape into operative engagement with said plurality of tape guides.

Claim 12

In apparatus having a rotary head scanner, means for receiving a magnetic tape cassette containing a pair of spaced reels which are cooperatively rotatable for moving magnetic tape from one reel to the other reel, and motor drive means for controlling rotating at least one reel relative to the other reel to increase the length of tape linking the two reels, wherein the improvement comprises: (a) a plurality of tape guides, arranged external to a received cassette at stationary locations to face the information-bearing surface of the magnetic tape, for cooperatively guiding the tape from one reel to the other reel along a predetermined operative path external to the cassette past said rotary head scanner; and (b) evacuating means for establishing an air pressure gradient directed at said plurality of tape guides, the air-pressure gradient, in cooperation with said motor drive means, controllably spewing excess tape linking the two reels from the received cassette toward said tape guides in the form of an expandable loop which conforms to the shape of the predetermined operative path when the loop expands to bring the information-bearing surface of the tape into operative engagement with said plurality of tape guides.

Claim 13

In apparatus having means for receiving a magnetic tape cassette containing a first, supply reel and a second, take-up reel which are cooperatively rotatable for moving magnetic tape from the supply reel to the take-up reel, motor drive means for controllably rotating one reel relative to the other reel to produce an additional amount of tape spanning the two reels, and a transducer head displaced from the tape initially spanning the two reels, wherein the improvement comprises: (a) a plurality of transport elements, arranged in a tape transport direction at stationary locations external to said cassette receiving means to face an information-receptive surface of magnetic tape, to cooperatively guide such magnetic tape from the supply reel to the take-up reel of a received cassette along a predetermined operative path external to the cassette past said transducer head; and (b) evacuating means, operatively associated with said cassette receiving means, for producing an air pressure gradient the effect of which is to disgorge from the cassette surplus tape spanning the two reels, the tape disgorged being in the form of an expandable loop which conforms to the shape of the predetermined operative path when the tape loop expands to bring its information-receptive surface into operative communication with said plurality of transport elements.

Claim 14

In apparatus having means for receiving a magnetic tape cassette containing a first, supply reel and a second, take-up reel which are cooperatively rotatable for moving magnetic tape from the supply reel to the take-up reel, motor drive means for controllably rotating one reel relative to the other reel to produce an additional amount of tape spanning the two reels, and a transducer head displaced from the tape initially spanning the two reels, wherein the improvement comprises: (a) a plurality of transport elements, arranged in a tape transport direction at stationary locations external to said cassette receiving means to face an information-receptive surface of magnetic tape, to cooperatively guide such magnetic tape from the supply reel to the take-up reel of a received cassette along a predetermined operative path external to the cassette past said transducer head; and (b) evacuating means, operatively associated with said cassette receiving means, for producing an air pressure gradient the effect of which is to disgorge from the cassette surplus tape spanning the two reels, the tape disgorged being in the form of an expandable loop which conforms to the shape of the predetermined operative path when the tape loop expands to bring its information-receptive surface into operative communication with said plurality of transport elements.