Patent GB-1477109-A (GB)
Title: Web handling machine
IPC: G11B15/67
Filed: 1975-10-31
Abstract: 1477109 Selecting tape reels for recording or playback INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORP 31 Oct 1975 [24 March 1975] 45272/75 Heading G5R A selected one of a plurality of magnetic tape reels 30 held in apertures 50 of a carousel 48, which is removably and rotatably mounted between spring loaded plungers 76, 78, can be positioned by rotation of the carousel in a space below the plungers where it can be engaged by a further plunger 104 and moved in the direction of its axis from the carousel on to a drive spindle 138 where it forms the supply reel of a record/playback arrangement. The tape reel spools 32 have a flange 36 at one end and a resilient insert 38 at the other. The flange has a central aperture 40 with inwardly directed teeth 42 which can be engaged by splines 142 on the drive spindle 138 and a chamfered edge 36a which mates with a complementary edge 50a when the reel is located in a carousel aperture. The resilient insert 38 has an inwardly extending rib 44 which can be engaged by fingers 116 of the plunger 104 and a series of resilient fingers 46 with chamfered ends 46a and shoulders 46b which engage behind a flange extension 62 formed in the base of each carousel aperture. A keyway is provided so that a carousel can be loaded only in one position relative to the machine 66 and the plunger 78 actuates a switch 84 when the carousel is loaded. A solenoid operated locking member and drive member are provided (Fig. 10 not shown) for moving the carousel to index a particular reel in the space below the plungers 76, 78. With the required reel in position, plunger 104 is driven by motor 126 via rack and pinion 136, 130 from a position in which switch plunger 122 is in notch 118 until it reaches a position in which the plunger is in notch 120. During this movement fingers 110 of a latch 106 at the end of the plunger engage behind rib 44 of the spool resilient insert and chamfered ends 46a of fingers 46 of the insert are engaged by the inwardly chamfered surface 106a of the latch to unlatch the fingers from behind the flange extension 62 of the carousel aperture. The reel is now free to be moved out of the carousel on to drive shaft 138, the plunger remaining in its extended position to provide support at bearing 110 for the end of the spool. The reel is now driven in the supply direction and electromagnet 182 is operated to move peeler bar tip 176a and rolls 180 into position for stipping tape from the reel and feeding it towards the gap between table 190 and member 200 and then over the table towards capstan 226. The tape then passes beneath spring fingers 242 to be fed on to rotating take up spool 210 by pressure arm 220 operated by solenoid 224. At this time electromagnet 182 is deenergized to retract the rolls 180 and peeler bar and the tape can be driven at high forward speed until the required position on the tape is reached. Electromagnet 238 is then operated to move pinch roller 234 to engage the tape with the capstan so that tape speed is reduced to transducing speed and arm 202 is pivoted so that holder 203 holds the tape in close proximity to magnetic heads rotating on disc 192. When tranducing is completed the tape is rewound on reel 30 and plunger 104, by means of its fingers engaged with rib 44 draws the reel back into the carousel until surface 36a of the flange engages surface 50a when the fingers of the plunger move over the rib 44 and fingers 46 of the reel re-engage flange extension 62.