Splicing and loading of tape into cassettes

Abstract: Apparatus for loading use tape (eg magnetic tape for video recording and playback) into leadered (eg V-zero) cas­ ettes comprises a stationary splicing head 3 having an under­ surface provided with a tape-receiving groove 4. A pair of vacuum shoes 5 and 6 serve to retain tape releasably in the groove and are connected to a vacuum source within the cas­ ing of the apparatus. A sitting head 7 operates from an in­ ternal pneumatic power source on shaft 9, the blade 8 of the head 7 running in a slot traversing the groove 4. In use, leader tape 20 is extracted from the cassette by leader extraction arm 18 and lift arm 19 and disposed in the groove 4. Slitting head 7 then operates to slit the tape into two lengths retained in groove 4. Use tape 26 previously placed in groove 4 and cut so that end 27 thereof is adjacent the groove for the blade 8 is sandwiched against the head 3 by the leader tape. Lift arm 19 and extract arm 18 then lower, the right hand end of the leader tape exposing the use tape in the groove. Splicing tape is then applied to the abutting ends of the use tape and leader tape and a winding cycle draws tape into the cassette until a pred­ etermined length of use tape has been drawn onto the hub of the cassette. A similar slitting and splicing operation then takes place to complete the operations to produce a loaded cassette.

Description: The invention relates to an apparatus and method for splicing and loading of tape into cassettes according to US-A-3,888,480 which is reflected in the preamble of claims 1 and 11. Magnetic tape cassettes (eg audio and video tape cassettes) are supplied commercially either as blank tape or as pre-recorded tape. In both cases, the cassette comprises two rotatable hubs, two lengths of leader tape one secured to each hub and a predetermined length of magnetic use tape having its ends spliced to the two leaders. In manufacture of a cassette tape, magnetic tape is loaded to a leadered cassette, ie a cassette containing a relatively short length of leader secured by one end to one hub and by the other end to the other hub. Such a leadered cassette for audio use is known as a "C-zero cassette" whilst such a cassette constructed for video use is known as a "V-zero cassette". The first step in loading is to cut the leader into two separate leader lengths. The magnetic tape to be loaded is then spliced to one length of leader and the hub to which that leader length is connected is rotated to wind a predetermined length of magnetic tape onto the same hub. The magnetic tape is then cut and its trailing end spliced to the leading end of the remaining leader length so that the two hubs are connected by a leader-magnetic-leader continuous tape sequence. The above sequence of operations can be carried out as hand work, but in modern practice the operation is mechanised to provide manufacturing speed and uniform product quality. A typical apparatus for performing these operations is disclosed in US Patent 3637153. This apparatus comprises means for holding a supply reel of magnetic tape, means for supporting a tape cassette (eg by its hubs), a splicing assembly comprising a stationary splicing head and first and second movable splicing heads which are alternately movable into contiguous relation with the stationary splicing head, means for releasably holding tape ends on the stationary and movable splicing heads, means for slitting tape supported by the splicing assembly, means for rotating the supply reel and one of the cassette hubs to cause magnetic tape spliced to a leader on the hub to be unwound from the supply reel and wound on the hub in question, and means for applying splicing tape to the abutting ends of leader and magnetic tapes supported by the splicing assembly. In operation, cassette loading commences with the leader ends (ie a cut hub-hub leader length) held on the contiguously disposed stationary head and first splicing head, respectively, and the end of the magnetic tape held on the second splicing head. The first movable splicing head is then moved away from the stationary splicing head and the second movable head with it held end of the magnetic tape is moved into contiguous relation with the stationary head. This brings the leader held on the stationary head into end-end abutment with the magnetic tape and the two are then spliced together. The spliced leader-magnetic tape is then wound onto the cassette hub to which the leader is secured and winding continued until a predetermined length of magnetic tape has been loaded onto the hub. The magnetic tape is then slit. The second moveable splicing head, which continues to hold the leading edge of the magnetic tape supply, is then removed away from the stationary head leaving a trailing end of magnetic tape from the newly loaded cassette held by the stationary head. Moving the first moveable splicing head back into continuous relation with respect to the stationary head juxtapose the leading end of the remaining cut leader length in abutment to the trailing end of magnetic tape held on the stationary head. These two ends are then spliced to complete the production of a loaded cassette. The apparatus described in US Patent 3 637 153 includes control means for selectively operating the components of the apparatus to perform the above-described operations in the sequence given. Specification GB-A-1 577 037 ("AEG") discloses a very complicated device intended to operate upon two cassettes simultaneously and the specification is obscure as to precisely how the device operates. The following makes certain assumptions as to such operation. As in the case of much of the other art known, AEG extracts leader tape 7 and disposes it upon a plate 22 where the tape is received in a groove 23 (Figure 14) in superimposition with respect to tape 15. Tape 15 overlaps into what appears to be recessed area shown in Figure 14 of AEG crossing the line of groove 23. A cutter 24 appears to move transversely of the tape along such recessed area (Figures 4 and 17). Such cutter displacement cuts the two tapes laterally. Presser plate 21 is then raised. Suction at the surface of plate 21 retains one cut portion of tape 7 so that the raising of the plate 21 removes the cut portion from the cutting and splicing area designated by reference numeral 17 in Figure 1 of the AEG drawings. The remaining leader tape and the use tape 15 are then left in abutting relationship as described at lines 91 to 96 on page 5 of AEG. A member in the recessed area previously referred to above presumably elevates to support the two tapes in abutment. The jointing device 25 then descends to perform a joining, or splicing, of the use tape 15 and leader tape 7 together. The cutter 24 operates by lateral movement along the recessed area adjacent an edge defined as part of plate 22 so that the cut is located at that position. Splicing therefore takes place across a join between a fixed surface and a (movable) surface which raises and lowers in the recessed area in which cutter 24 operates. According to the invention, there is provided a method of loading a leadered cassette with use tape using a tape loading machine which method comprises disposing a leading end of a terminal portion of a use tape upon a splicing surface defined by a splicing member of said tape loading machine; releasably retaining said end in such disposition; extracting a loop of leader tape from a leadered cassette, the cassette being supported so that its hubs may be rotated by drive means of said tape loading machine; disposing the extracted leader tape loop so that said leader tape is in alignment with said use tape terminal portion and is juxtaposed with respect to the use tape end, a first integral portion of the length of said extracted leader tape being releasably retained upon said splicing surface and secured to a first hub of said hubs of the cassette by its end and a second integral portion of the length of said extracted leader tape being secured to a second hub of said hubs of the cassette by its end; slitting the leader tape across its lateral dimension so that said leader tape loop is divided into said first and second portions at the location of said use tape leading end, the resulting trailing end of said first leader tape portion occupying a position in which it is essentially in abutment with the use tape end upon said splicing surface; retaining said second leader tape portion by means of tape retaining means at a location spaced from the essentially abutting ends of said use tape and said first leader tape portion; forming a first splice by applying splicing tape to the essentially abutting ends of said use tape and said first leader tape portion, the splicing tape application of said first splice taking place against the splicing surface and with said essentially abutting ends both supported upon said splicing surface to splice the first leader tape portion to the use tape rotating the first hub of the cassette to effect winding to draw said first leader tape portion and said use tape across the splicing surface and into the cassette; terminating rotation of said first hub when a predetermined length of said use tape has been drawn into the cassette; slitting the use tape across its lateral dimension whilst releasably retaining said use tape upon said splicing surface; whilst releasably retaining the trailing end of said use tape upon said splicing surface and whilst the leading end of said second leader tape portion is held by said tape retaining means essentially abutted with respect to the so-retained trailing end of said use tape, forming a second splice by applying splicing tape to the essentially abutting ends of said use tape and said second leader tape portion to splice the second leader tape portion to the use tape, the splicing tape application of said second splice taking place against the splicing surface and with said essentially abutting ends of said use tape and said second leader tape portion both supported upon said splicing surface; taking slack tape into the cassette; and removing the loaded cassette from its support; the first and second splices on formation being disposed as a link between portions of spliced use tape and leader tape both of which portions are received on the splicing surface so that the splicing surface underlies said splices during their formation, characterized in that extraction of said leader tape loop and its disposition in alignment with said use tape terminal portion and juxtaposition with respect to the use tape end is accomplished (i) by a leader extraction member acting on said first integral portion of the length of said leader tape and (ii) by said tape retaining means acting on said second integral portion of the length of said extracted tape. In an embodiment of the invention, leader extraction is effected by operation of leader extraction means comprising a first member for engaging the first leader tape portion and bringing said first portion into contact with said splicing surface and a second member for engaging the second leader tape portion and defining retaining means by which said leader tape is releasably retained. Preferably, the second leader tape portion is releasably retained by applying a vacuum through perforations in a surface of said retaining means. Advantageously, the leading end of said use tape, after slitting thereof, is releasably retained on said splicing surface so that a further cycle of operations can be commenced after removal of the loaded cassette from its support. It will be appreciated from the above that the two splicing operations are effected without the use of moveable splicing surfaces in addition to the stationary splicing surface in US Patent 3637153. The splicing of the first leader tape portion to the user tape is accomplished according to the invention by bringing the leader tape into close proximity or near contact with the use tape end, slitting the leader tape at the locality of the use tape end and then splicing the resulting two ends together whilst both are releasably retained on the stationary splicing surface. The two ends essentially abut one another (ie they confront one another in close proximity) so that accurate splice gapping within the specification applicable to recording/playback hardware can consistently be accomplished. In previous techniques, butting of the leader and user tape ends depended on accurate alignment of the fixed stationary splicing surface with respect to the moveable splicing surfaces and this lead to inaccuracy in splicing. Splicing pressure on a moveable splicing surface also led to yield and consequent uneven adhesion of splicing tape as between the butted end held on the stationary splicing surface and that held on a moveable surface. In a second aspect of the invention there is provided an apparatus for loading a cassette with use tape which apparatus comprises a splicing station comprising a splicing surface defined by a splicing member, tape passing across said splicing surface in operation of the apparatus, tape slitting means for traversing said surface between its upstream and downstream extremities to slit tape across its lateral dimension, vacuum means of the splicing surface to retain each so slit tape length releasably on said splicing surface, cassette support means for supporting a leadered cassette, means for rotating one of first and second hubs of the cassette to draw tape onto said hub, leader extraction means for extracting a loop of leader tape from said cassette, an extracted first integral portion of the length of said leader tape being releasably retained upon said splicing surface and secured to a first hub of said hubs of the cassette by its end and an extracted second integral portion of the length of said leader tape being secured to a second hub of said hubs of the cassette by its end, said leader extraction means being operable to bring the first integral portion of the length of said leader tape secured to said hub into contact with said splicing surface, tape retaining means having a first position in which a second portion of the length of said leader tape is retained by said retaining member in close proximity to said splicing surface and a second position in which said second portion is remote from said splicing surface, means operable against the splicing surface to apply splicing tape to essentially abutted tape ends retained at the splicing station, the splices on formation being disposed as a link between portions of spliced use tape and leader tape both of which portions are received on the splicing surface so that the splicing surface underlies said splices during their formation; and control means acting to conform operation of the appratus to the method regime defined in Claim 1; means for supplying tape to said splicing station; characterized in that the leader extraction means comprises (i) a leader extraction member for acting on said first integral portion of the length of said leader tape and (ii) said tape retaining means for acting on said second integral portion of the length of said leader tape. One particular embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which:- Figures 1 a and 1 b show the apparatus according to the present invention from two different positions, in both cases in part only; and Figures 2 a to 2 i show the splicing station of the apparatus at various stages of the operating sequence involved in a loading V-zero cassette. The apparatus shown in Figures 1 a and 1 b comprises a front plate 1 mounted to a chassis (now shown), the front plate 1 assisting to define a housing (not shown) in which control means, electrical motive power means, motive power transmission, a vacuum source and a pneumatic power source (all not shown) are housed. Securely mounted to front plate 1 is a splicing head 2 comprising a solid metallic block 3 grooved on its undersurface with a longitudinal tape-receiving inverted groove 4. Two sets of three perforations open at the groove surface to provide vacuum shoes 5 and 6 and are connected to the vacuum source within the housing. A tape slitting head 7 mounting a blade 8 cooperates with the grooved undersurface of block 3 and is mounted for reciprocatory movement across the groove 4 perpendicular to the plane of front plate 1 by means of fixed shaft 9 upon which slitting head 7 slides. Movement of slitting head 7 is accomplished by displacement of an attached piston (not shown) operated from the pneumatic power source. A cross-groove (not shown) in the block 3 intersects groove 4 perpendicular thereto and provides a path for blade 8 to pass across groove 4 in slitting, without contacting the material of the block 3, between vacuum shoes 5 and 6. A splicing arm 10 operates beneath the groove 4. Arm 10 has a retracted position in which it is withdrawn into the housing through the splicing arm orifice 31 in the front plate 1, and an operating position in which the arm is displaced from the housing to apply a short length of splicing tape cut from a supply within the housing to abutting tape ends disposed in groove 4. Splicing arm 10 is powered from the vacuum source referred to earlier and operates in conventional manner known in the art. Adjacent the base of front plate 1, a cassette holder 11 is mounted to a piston 12 for displacement under power from the pnuematic power source between a cassette-receiving position (Figures 1 a and 1 b ) in which the holder is relatively forward of plate 1 to facilitate charging of a V-zero cassette thereto, and a cassette-holding position (Figures 2 a to 2 i ) in which the cassette body is proximate the front plate 1 between inner and outer plates 13 and 14 and ready for a tape loading sequence to begin. Two driven hubs 15 and 16 engage the spool sockets (not shown) when the cassette holder is in the cassette-holding position just referred to, hub 15 penetrating opening 17 provided for the purpose in the inner plate 13 of the cassette holder 11. The two hubs 15 and 16 terminate driven shafts (not shown) disposed within the housing and powered from the electrical motive power means (ie a wind motor) in conventional manner. In the cassette holding position, leader extraction arm 18 and lift arm 19 are received adjacent the underside of cassette leader tape 20, as shown most clearly in Figure 2 a . Both leader extraction arm 18 and lift arm 19 are displaceable, from the positions just referred to, to withdraw leader tape 20 from the V-zero cassette and dispose it within groove 4 of the splicing head 2 (Figure 2 b ), both arms being powered for two-direction movement from the pneumatic power source referred to earlier in conventional manner, for example by using a pneumatic piston-and-cylinder assembly and a ball slide. Leader extraction arm 18 is equipped with a cylindrical tape-contacting guide 21 whilst lift arm 19 terminates in a vacuum shoe 22 by which tape is retained on its surface by suction. A slack arm 23 (not shown in Figures 2 a to 2 i in the interests of simplicity and clarity of depiction for the other parts) is mounted for reciprocatory movement parallel to the plane of front plate 1, slack arm 23 again being powered from the pneumatic power source. The slack arm 23 serves to engage extracted leader tape 20, drawing an excess thereof from the V-zero cassette and then slackening slightly so that it can be ensured that leader tape in groove 4 is not under tension during slitting and splicing. The slack arm 23 also controls the position of cut. Magnetic tape 26 for supply to the V-zero cassette is supplied from a supply reel and is transported to the splicing head 2 via a system of capstans and guides, as will be seen from Figure 1 b of the drawings, including a rubber capstan 25. A terminal or leading end 27 of magnetic tape 26 is disposed in the groove 4 of block 3 of the splicing head 2. In operation of the apparatus shown in the drawings, leading end 27 of magnetic tape 26 is first guided around the capstan and guide system to the splicing head 2 where it is held in position by means of vacuum supplied to each of vacuum shoes 5 and 6. Slitting head 7 then operates and the cut-off tape end is removed and discarded. A V-zero cassette is then loaded to cassette holder 11 and the holder 11 then displayed inwardly on piston 12. Leader extraction arm 18 and lift arm 19 are then energized and move to the top of their strokes. The effect of this is to extract leader tape 20 and dispose it in groove 4 so that the leading end 27 of magnetic tape 26 is spaced about 0.25mm from the surface of the leader tape (Figure 2 b ), the vacuum shoe 22 of lift arm 19 at the top of its stroke falling similarly short of the downwardly facing surface or ceiling of groove 4. Lift arm 19 activates a microswitch (not shown) at the top of its stroke, thus activating an air-controlled stop on the slide of the lift arm. The stop defines a position intermediate the lowest position of the stroke of arm 19 and the top of its stroke (as represented in Figures 2 d to 2 g ). With leader tape 20 disposed in the groove 4 of splicing head 2, the slack arm 23 conditions the cassette (ie the arm 23 is operated to take up leader tape 20 on one of the cassette spools). When the lift arm 19 has been energized and reaches the top of its stroke, a delay is started after which vacuum is applied to vacuum shoes 5 and 6 in the groove 4 of block 3 and vacuum shoe 22 of lift arm 19 is switched on. This stage in the operating sequence is, of course, also represented by Figure 2 b . After an additional delay, slitting head 7 is activated causing it to move from its rest position, in which it is clear of block 3, towards front plate 1 and then to reciprocate to its rest position (Figure 2 c ). This slits leader tape 10 at the location of magnetic tape leading end 27 into a first or forward length which can be wound by hub 15 and a second length secured to the other spool of the V-zero cassette. The lift arm 19 and leader extraction arm 18 are then deenergized causing them to drop under pneumatic force to their stops previously referred to. Vacuum shoe 22 is left switched on (Figure 2 d ) to retain the second length of leader tape 20, the first length of leader tape 20 being retained on the groove surface by vacuum shoe 6 and the use tape 26 being retained, with its leading end 27 butted to the trailing end of the first length of leader tape 20, in groove 4 by vacuum shoe 5. With the butting ends of the magnetic tape 26 and first or forward length of leader tape 20 retained in the above manner in groove 4, the splicing arm 10 is activated to adhere a short length of splicing tape over the butting ends and thereby splice the two lengths together (Figure 2 e ). Leader extraction arm 18 is then again raised into leader tape contact and, with splicing arm 10 retracted, a wind cycle is commenced, vacuum continuing to be applied to vacuum shoe 22 but vacuum shoes 5 and 6 being deprived of vacuum so as to release the now spliced tape, by activating the wind motors driving hub 15 (Figure 2 f ). When a predetermined length of magnetic tape has been spooled into the cassette, the wind cycle stops and vacuum shoes 5 and 6 are re-activated (Figure 2 f ). With a continuous length of magnetic tape 26 now retained in groove 4 by the vacuum shoes 5 and 6, a second slitting sequence is commenced to slit the use tape into two lengths (Figure 2 g ). Lift arm 19 is then activated to raise the leading end of the leader tape 20 (ie the second leader tape length referred to earlier) into close proximity (ie about 0.25mm away from the ceiling of groove 4) to the length of cut magnetic tape terminating in the leading end from the supply reel; leader extraction arm 18 is also de-energized (Figure 2 h ). In this condition, the leader tape positioned as described has its end essentially butted to the end of the magnetic tape 26 trailing from the hub 15 of the cassette. A second splicing operation is then effected by activating splicing arm 10 a second time to splice together the trailing end of magnetic tape 26 and the leading end of the leader tape 20 from the other spool of the cassette (Figure 2 i ). Further winding at hub 15 after retraction of splicing arm 10, de-activation of vacuum shoe 5 and de-activation of lift arm 19 to the lowest position of its stroke draws the slack loop of tape into the cassette leaving only leader tape exposed at the mouth of the cassette. Continued activation of vacuum shoe 6 retains the leading end of magnetic tape 26 from the supply reel within groove 4 in readiness for a further cycle of operations to be conducted with a fresh V-zero cassette. In past practice, butting of the leader tape to the magnetic tape depended on the accurate alignment of a fixed block to each of two moveable blocks (known as "shift blocks") both in terms of straightness and height from front plate 1. The apparatus of the invention described above with reference to the drawings relies only on the accurate alignment of the height of the lift arm 19 from the front plate 1. In addition, the right hand leader extract arm of previous equipment was by necessity thin in order for it to move up and down behind the cassette being wound. This led to problems of distortion making accurate alignment of the guide on the arm difficult to maintain. The lift arm 19 is rigidly attached to the slide, thus avoiding this problem. Splicing takes place in the apparatus of the invention on a solid fixed block (ie block 3); before the apparatus of the invention, splicing always took place partly on a fixed block and partly on a shift block which yielded under impact from the splicing arm so as to lead to differential adhesion of the splicing tape. Whilst in foregoing, a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described, it will be appreciated various modifications thereto may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Thus, for example, whilst leader extraction has been referred to as resulting in near contact of the extracted leader with the use tape end retained upon the splicing surface, it is envisaged that actual contact may occur.

Claims: A method of loading a leadered cassette with use tape (26) using a tape loading machine which method comprises disposing a leading end (27) of a terminal portion (26) of a use tape upon a splicing surface (4) defined by a splicing member (3) of said tape loading machine; releasably retaining said end (27) in such disposition; extracting a loop of leader tape (20) from a leadered cassette, the cassette being supported so that its hubs may be rotated by drive means (15, 16) of said tape loading machine; disposing the extracted leader tape loop (20) so that said leader tape (20) is in alignment with said use tape terminal portion (26) and is juxtaposed with respect to the use tape end (27), a first integral portion of the length of said extracted leader tape (20) being releasably retained upon said splicing surface (4) and secured to a first hub of said hubs of the cassette by its end and a second integral portion of the length of said extracted leader tape (20) being secured to a second hub of said hubs of the cassette by its end; slitting the leader tape (20) across its lateral dimension so that said leader tape loop (20) is divided into said first and second portions at the location of said use tape leading end (27), the resulting trailing end of said first leader tape portion occupying a position in which it is essentially in abutment with the use tape end (27) upon said splicing surface; retaining said second leader tape portion by means of tape retaining means (22) at a location spaced from the essentially abutting ends of said use tape (26) and said first leader tape portion (20); forming a first splice by applying splicing tape to the essentially abutting ends of said use tape (26) and said first leader tape portion (20), the splicing tape application of said first splice taking place against the splicing surface (4) and with said essentially abutting ends both supported upon said splicing surface (4) to splice the first leader tape portion (20) to the use tape (26); rotating the first hub of the cassette to effect winding to draw said first leader tape portion (20) and said use tape (26) across the splicing surface (4) and into the cassette; terminating rotation of said first hub when a predetermined length of said use tape (26) has been drawn into the cassette; slitting the use tape (26) across its lateral dimension whilst releasably retaining said use tape (26) upon said splicing surface (4); whilst releasably retaining the trailing end of said use tape (26) upon said splicing surface (4) and whilst the leading end of said second leader tape portion (20) is held by said tape retaining means (22) essentially abutted with respect to the so-retained trailing end of said use tape (26), forming a second splice by applying splicing tape to the essentially abutting ends of said use tape (26) and said second leader tape portion (20) to splice the second leader tape portion (20) to the use tape (26), the splicing tape application of said second splice taking place against the splicing surface (4) and with said essentially abutting ends of said use tape (26) and said second leader tape portion (20) both supported upon said splicing surface (4); taking slack tape (26) into the cassette; and removing the loaded cassette from its support (11); the first and second splices on formation being disposed as a link between portions of spliced use tape and leader tape both of which portions are received on the splicing surface (4) so that the splicing surface (4) underlies said splices during their formation, characterized in that extraction of said leader tape loop (20) and its disposition in alignment with said use tape terminal portion (26) and juxtaposition with respect to the use tape end (27) is accomplished (i) by a leader extraction member (21) acting on said first integral portion of the length of said leader tape (20) and (ii) by said tape retaining means (22) acting on said second integral portion of the length of said extracted tape (20). A method as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the end of the terminal portion of the use tape (26) is releasably retained on the splicing surface (4) by applying a vacuum through perforations (6) in said surface. A method as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the use tape terminal portion leading end (27) is disposed manually upon the splicing surface (4) in a first phase of a continuous operation by disposing the terminal portion on the splicing surface (4) with its end downstream of the position on the splicing surface (4) at which the leader tape is subsequently slit and then slitting the use tape terminal portion at such position and discarding the downstream tape remnant. A method as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the terminal portion leading end (27) is disposed on the splicing surface (4) by conducting a previous complete tape operation as defined in Claim 1 in such manner that the leading end of said use tape (26) produced by laterally slitting said use tape (26) following winding of the predetermined length thereof into said cassette is retained by an upstream portion of the splicing surface (4) having its downstream extremity at the line of the lateral slit. A method as claimed in any preceding claim which method comprises disposing a leading end (27) of a terminal portion (26) of a use tape upon a splicing surface (4) defined by a splicing member (3) of said tape loading machine; releasably retaining said end (27) in such disposition; extracting a loop of leader tape (2) from a leadered cassette by means of leader extraction means (19) of the machine, the cassette being supported with its mouth adjacent to said splicing surface (4) and opening in face-to-face relationship therewith to define a narrow space between the cassette mouth and the splicing surface (4) and so that its hubs may be rotated by drive means (15, 16) of said tape loading machine, said leader extraction means (19) being operable by displacement in the aforesaid space between the cassette mouth and the splicing surface (4); disposing the extracted leader tape loop (20) by means of said leader extraction means (19) so that said leader tape (20) is in alignment with said use tape terminal portion (26) and is juxtaposed with respect to the use tape end (27), an extracted first integral portion of the length of said leader tape (20) being releasably retained upon said splicing surface (4) and secured to a first hub of the hubs of the cassette by its end and an extracted second integral portion of the length of said extracted leader tape (20) being releasably retained by tape retaining means (22) of said leader extraction means (19) and secured to a second hub of the hubs of the cassette by its end; slitting the leader tape (20) across its lateral dimension to that said leader tape loop (20) is divided into said first and second portions at the location of said use tape leading end (27), the resulting trailing end of said first leader tape portion occupying a position in which it is essentially in abutment with the use tape end (26); and said second leader tape portion being retained by said tape retaining means (22) of said leader extraction means (19) at a location spaced from the essentially abutting end of said use tape (26) and said first leader tape portion (20); applying splicing tape to the essentially abutting ends of said use tape (26) and said first leader tape portion (20), the splicing tape application taking place against the splicing surface (4) and with said essentially abutting ends both supported upon said splicing surface (4) to splice the first leader tape portion (20) to the use tape (26) and being effected by splicing means (10) acting in the space between the cassette mouth and the splicing surface; rotating the first hub (15) of the cassette to draw said first leader tape portion (20) and said use tape (26) across the splicing surface (4) and into the cassette; terminating rotation of said first hub when a predetermined length of said use tape (26) has been drawn into the cassette; slitting the use tape (26) across its lateral dimension whilst releasably retaining said use tape (26) upon said splicing surface (4); whilst releasably retaining the trailing end of said use tape (26) upon said splicing surface (4) and whilst the leading end of said second leader tape portion (20) is held essentially abutted with respect to the so-retained trailing ends of said use tape (26) by said tape retaining means (22) of said leader extraction means (19), applying splicing tape to the essentially abutting ends of said use tape (26) and said second leader tape portion (20) to splice the second leader tape portion (20) to the use tape (26), the splicing tape application taking place against the fixed splicing surface (4) and with said essentially abutting ends of said use tape (26) and said second leader tape portion (20) both supported upon said fixed splicing surface (4); taking slack tape (26) into the cassette; and removing the loaded cassette from its support (11). A method as claimed in any preceding claim wherein leader extraction is effected by operation of leader extraction means (19) comprising a first member (18) for engaging the first leader tape portion (20) and bringing said first portion into contact with said splicing surface (4) and a second member (19) for engaging the second leader tape portion (20) and defining retaining means (22) by which said second leader tape portion (20) is releasably retained. A method as claimed in Claim 6 wherein the second leader tape portion (20) is releasably retained by applying a vacuum through perforations in a surface of said retaining means (22). A method as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the leading end of said use tape (26), after slitting thereof, is releasably retained on said splicing surface (4) so that a further cycle of operations can be commenced after removal of the loaded cassette from its support (11). A method as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said use tape terminal portion (26) is retained on a first portion of said splicing surface (4) and its end (27) is adjacent the junction of said first splicing surface (4) portion with a second splicing surface (4) portion and wherein said first portion of said extracted leader tape (20) is retained on said second splicing surface (4) portion and said leader tape (20) is slit at the said junction of the two surfaces. A method as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the splicing surface of said tape loading machine is fixed so as to be immobile under splicing forces without suffering de minimis displacement. An apparatus for loading a cassette with use tape (26) which apparatus comprises a splicing station (2) comprising a splicing surface (4) defined by a splicing member (3), tape passing across said splicing surface (4) in operation of the apparatus, tape slitting means (7) for traversing said surface between its upstream and downstream extremities to slit tape across its lateral dimension, vacuum means (5, 6) of the splicing surface (4) to retain each so slit tape length releasably on said splicing surface (4), cassette support means (11) for supporting a leadered cassette, means for rotating one of first and second hubs of the cassette to draw tape onto said hub, leader extraction means (19) for extracting a loop of leader tape (20) from said cassette, an extracted first integral portion of the length of said leader tape (20) being releasably retained upon said splicing surface (4) and secured to a first hub of said hubs of the cassette by its end and an extracted second integral portion of the length of said leader tape (20) being secured to a second hub of said hubs of the cassette by its end, said leader extraction means being operable to bring the first integral portion of the length of said leader tape secured to said hub (15) into contact with said splicing surface (4), tape retaining means (22) having a first position in which a second portion of the length of said leader tape (20) is retained by said retaining member in close proximity to said splicing surface (4) and a second position in which said second portion is remote from said splicing surface (4), means (10) operable against the splicing surface (4) to apply splicing tape to essentially abutted tape ends retained at the splicing station (2), the splices on formation being disposed as a link between portions of spliced use tape and leader tape both of which portions are received on the splicing surface (4) so that the splicing surface (4) underlies said splices during their formation; and control means acting to conform operation of the appratus to the method regime defined in Claim 1; means for supplying tape to said splicing station; characterized in that the leader extraction means comprises (i) a leader extraction member (21) for acting on said first integral portion of the length of said leader tape (20) and (ii) said tape retaining means (22) for acting on said second integral portion of the length of said leader tape (20). An apparatus as claimed in Claim 11 and including cassette support means (11) for supporting a leadered cassette and orienting said cassette with its mouth adjacent to said splicing surface (4) and opening in face-to-face relationship therewith to define a narrow space between the cassette mouth and the splicing surface (4), leader extraction means operable in the aforesaid space between the cassette mouth and the splicing surface to bring a first integral portion of the length of said leader tape secured to said hub into contact with said splicing surface (4) and tape splicing means (10) acting in the space between the cassette mouth and the splicing surface (4) to apply splicing tape to essentially abutted tape ends retained adjacent said splicing surface (4). An apparatus as claimed in Claim 11 or Claim 12 wherein said means to retain said tape releasably on said splicing surface (4) comprises a vacuum source opening through perforations (6) in the splicing surface (4). An apparatus as claimed in Claim 11 or Claim 12 wherein reciprocatory means (23) is provided to condition said leadered cassette, said means including a member (23) having a retracted position in which it has no influence on tape secured to hubs of the cassette and an advanced position in which it has been brought into contact with a leader tape loop (20) extracted from said cassette and retained on said splicing surface (4) so as to define a longer path of circuit for said leader tape. An apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 11 to 14 and comprising a splicing station (2) comprising a stationary splicing block (3) having a splicing surface (4), a blade (7) for traversing said surface to slit tape across its lateral dimension, vacuum openings (5, 6) to retain tape releasably on said splicing surface (4), means for supporting a leadered cassette and orienting said cassette with its mouth adjacent to said splicing surface (4) and opening in juxtaposed face-to-face relationship with the splicing surface (4), means for rotating a hub of the cassette to draw tape onto said hub, an extraction arm (19) for extracting leader tape (20) from said cassette, said arm being operable to bring a first integral portion of the length of said leader tape (20) secured to said hub into contact with said splicing surface (4), a lift arm (22) having a first position in which a second integral portion of the length of said leader tape (20) is disposed by said member in close proximity to said splicing surface (4) and a second position in which said second portion is remote from said splicing surface (4), a splicing arm (10) cooperative with said splicing surface (4) to apply splicing tape to essentially abutted leader (20) and use tape (26) ends retained at said splicing station (2) by said retaining means or by said lift arm (19); and means for supplying use tape (26) to said splicing station (2). An apparatus as claimed in Claim 15 wherein the splicing block (3) is provided with a tape transport groove (4) and a blade groove intersecting the tape transport groove, a blade (8) mounted for driven displacement in said groove so as to traverse the tape transport groove, a cassette holder (11) for holding a cassette in juxtaposed relation to the splicing surface (4), power means for driving the hubs of the cassette in rotation and splicing means (1) including a splice head mounted for displacement between a withdrawn position and a position in which it acts upon the splicing surface (4).

Inventors: GARDNER JOHN PHILLIP, GARDNER, JOHN PHILLIP
Applicants: SONY MAGNESCALE INC, SONY MAGNESCALE, INC.
Application year: 1986
Main classification: G11B23
IPC codes: G11B23