Patent GB-1145548-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to strip record media transport apparatus
IPC: G11B23/12
Filed: 1967-06-27
Abstract: 1,145,548. Driving strip-records; threading and loading. INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORP. 27 June, 1967 [11 July, 1966], No. 29495/67. Heading G5R. A tape (or film) transport includes two pressure rollers 121, 122 mounted at opposite ends of a beam 124 movable to three positions where one roller 121 co-operates with a first capstan 111 or the other roller 122 co-operates with a second 112 or third capstan 113, the capstans rotating to drive the tape either in opposite directions or at different speeds. As shown, the apparatus is mounted on a web 24 of a drawer arranged to slide on rollers 22 into a multicompartment cabinet and carrying a circuit panel 28. A reel 30 of tape or film 50 is loaded into the cabinet through a slot 29 and is automatically threaded by means of a relatively stiff, perforated leader 60 (Fig. 4) arranged, when the reel is fully wound, to enter slots 52, 53 in the reel cheeks 36, 37 to seal the tape in the reel. The reel hub has gripping posts 46, 47 to anchor a perforated trailer 40, and a flange 38 is formed on one cheek 37 to ensure correct orientation. The head unit 92 may consist of three groups of erase, recording and playback transducers arranged for multi-track working. Automatic threading and loading.-The rim of the reel 30 is engaged by a roller 74 associated with an electromagnetic lock 85, which may be interlocked with the control circuitry, to prevent unintentional loading or unloading. A drive roller 72<SP>1</SP>, having a rubber surface 80 to flex the leader 60 into the reel slots, rotates the reel, and a stripper 91 guides the leader 60 over nylon rollers in a casting 90, across pressure roller 122 and over snubbing posts 161, 162 adjacent the head assembly 92. When the leader 60 passes pressure roller 121, a photo-detector 106, 107 senses the leader perforations to disconnect reel motor 78 and energize a motor 110 which belt-drives all three capstans 111, 112, 113. Capstans 111, 112 rotate rapidly in opposite directions for searching, and capstan 113 relatively slowly for transducing. A solenoid 141 is energized simultaneously with motor 110 to rock a double bell-crank 130 about pivot 131 and thereby move the beam 124 to the right so that roller 121 co-operates with capstan 111 to unwind the tape 50 into a bin 100. When the perforations in the trailer 40 reach a second photo-detector 146, 147 adjacent another bin 101, the solenoid 141 is de-energized and the tape stops. The perforated sections may be replaced by transparent tape or leader sections. Operation.-Solenoid 142 is energized to move beam 132 to the left for reversing the tape and both solenoids 141, 142 are energized simultaneously to raise the beam to engage transducing drive, the beam being centred by springs 139. Pressure pads 63, 64 press the tape against the snubbing posts 161, 162 according as the tape is driven by capstan 111 or 112 respectively by means of portions 71, 72 of a lever 174 coupled by a linkage 176 to an arm 126 pivoted at 127 and which supports the beam 124. Both pads are raised by actuation of solenoid 180. A solenoid-operated locking device 136 releases the lever 132 for vertical movement. The bins 100, 101 are preferably of wire cloth 190 or perforated metal to reduce electrostatic charge and the tape may be compacted by air passed through a nozzle 210 and by an electromagnetic vibrator 202.