Patent · US Expired

Transport for tape cartridge with leader block

US4704645A · kind A · utility

23Cited by
13References
40Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 1, 1985
Grant dateNov 3, 1987
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 1, 2005

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG11B23/107
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A transport for a rectangular tape cartridge enclosing a supply reel having a web of magnetic tape wound thereabout terminating in a free end attached to a leader block. The illustrated embodiment of the transport is designed to fit within the computer industry standard 51/4-inch form factor and utilizes the 1/2-inch tape cartridge defined in Proposed American National Standard X3B5/85-075. An elongate rectangular housing has internal mechanisms for supporting the tape cartridge therein and referencing the cartridge off its side surfaces. The cartridge is manually inserted into the housing through a slot in a face panel extending across a transverse end of the housing. Electro-mechanical assemblies lock the cartridge in place and complete the loading sequence by engaging a drive chuck with the hub of the supply reel, extracting the leader block from the cartridge, and pulling the leader block to the take-up hub to thread the tape along a tape path. A gear driven articulated arm has an outer end which is guided along a hook-shaped track and carries the leader block into engagement with a receptacle in the take-up hub. Precision transverse movement of a magnetic head in the tape path…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.