Patent ID: 8665301
Filing Date: 2014-03-04
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
1. A method of operation of a tape drive ( 10 ), including obtaining the circumferences of a pair of spools ( 30 , 32 ) of tape, the pair of spools ( 30 , 32 ) including a supply spool ( 30 ) upon which tape ( 34 ) is initially wound, and a take-up spool ( 32 ) for receiving tape ( 34 ) unwound from the supply spool ( 30 ), each spool being mounted upon a respective rotatable spool support ( 12 , 14 ) which is mounted in a housing ( 11 ), such that tape ( 34 ) extends along a tape path between the spools ( 30 , 32 ), there being provided a sensor assembly ( 16 ), the method including rotating the take-up spool support ( determining a length of tape ( monitoring the angle through which each of the spool supports ( regulating the length of the tape ( using knowledge of the length of tape (