MAGNETIC TAPE DRIVE AND TRANSDUCING METHOD

• US 3,842,433 A
• Filed: 03/11/1974
• Issued: 10/15/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/1955
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Jerome H. Lemelson
• Original Assignee: Jerome H. Lemelson
• Inventors: Lemelson, Jerome H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Britton, Howard W.
• Application Number:
  US05/449,601
• Time in Patent Office: 218 Days
• Field of Search: 360/92,93,105
• US Class Current: 360/251.4
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 3/18 Devices or arrangements for indicating destination, e.g. by code marks applying data to information carriers G06K1/12
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/00 Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/084 sensing magnetic material by relative movement detecting flux changes without altering its magnetised state
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/257 electronically G07C9/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/1883 for record carriers inside containers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/24 Drive disengaging means
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/444 reversing arrangements G11B15/442 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/683 wherein the recorder or player is moved according to the location of a selected cassette G11B15/684 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/6875 wherein the recorder or player is moved towards a selected cassette in the magazine
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/6895 Automatic tape changing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/41 Flat as opposed to hierarchical combination, e.g. library of tapes or discs, CD changer, or groups of record carriers that together store one title
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/90 Tape-like record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/107 of operating tapes
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/28 by using information signals recorded by the same method as the main recording G11B27/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/54 with provision for moving the head into or out of its operative position or across tracks
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

A method is provided for operating a tape drive and a transducing means for transducing information relative to a magnetic recording tape wherein the tape drive and transducing means are simultaneously actuated to engage the tape and electromagnetically couple thereto. In one form, the tape is supported within a housing defining a cartridge and is driven past a transducer which is urged into engagement with the tape in the housing simultaneously as the drive wheel is urged to engage and drive the tape past the transducer.

Claims

1. A method of transducing information relative to a magnetic tape comprising:

guiding a length of elongated magnetic tape in a fixed path, which path is located closely adjacent to a first rotatable cylindrical member disposed on one side of said tape at a location whereby said cylindrical member is capable of engaging said tape, movably supporting a common mount for a transducer adjacent said fixed path, which transducer is operable for magnetically transducing signals relative to said tape when in engagement with said tape, and rotatably supporting a second cylindrical member on said common mount adjacent to said transducer and a fixed distance therefrom, first disposing said common mount for said transducer and said second cylindrical member at a first location to provide said transducer away from but in direct alignment with a free length of said tape disposed along said fixed path with said second cylindrical member located by said common mount in direct alignment with said first cylindrical member and just off said tape, moving said common mount for said transducer and said second cylindrical member a predetermined distance towards said tape to cause said transducer to engage and become operatively coupled to said tape and to simultaneously cause said second cylindrical member to engage and pinch said tape against said first cylindrical member, and power rotating one of said first and second cylindrical members while said tape is pinched therebetween and the other cylindrical member to drive said tape past said transducer so as to permit transducing operations to be performed relative to said tape.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 which includes relatively locating said common mount with respect to said first rotatable cylindrical member such that when said mount is disposed to provide said transducer away from said free length of said tape, said second cylindrical member will be disposed thereby just off said tape and in Direct alignment with said first rotatable cylindrical member substantially the same distance away from said tape as said transducer.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said magnetic tape is supported by and guided within a container therefor, said method further including removably supporting said container relative to said common mount for said transducer and said second cylindrical member on a further support with respect to which further support said common mount is movable.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said common mount for said transducer and said second cylindrical member is supported for lineal movement towards and away from said free length of said magnetic tape, said method including lineally moving said common support from a retracted position wherein said transducer and said second cylindrical member are each disposed on said mount substantially the same distance away from said tape to an advanced position wherein said transducer and said second cylindrical member each substantially simultaneously engage said tape.

5. A method in accordance with claim 3 wherein said tape is fed between a supply reel and a take-up reel which reels are rotatably supported within said container, said method further including coupling said take-up reel to a drive means therefor and activating said drive means substantially simultaneously as one of said first and second cylindrical members is power rotated so as to take up the tape driven between said first and second cylindrical members onto said take-up reel within said container.

6. A method in accordance with claim 5 wherein said coupling between said take-up reel and said drive means for said take-up reel is effected substantially simultaneously as said transducing means is caused to engage said tape.

7. A method in accordance with claim 5 wherein said coupling between said take-up reel and said drive means for said take-up reel is effected substantially simultaneously as both said transducing means and said second cylindrical member engage said tape.

8. A method of transducing information relative to a record tape comprising:

guiding a length of elongated record tape in a fixed path, which path is located closely adjacent to a first rotatable cylindrical member disposed on one side of said tape at a location whereby said cylindrical member is capable of engaging said tape, movably supporting a common mount for a transducer adjacent said fixed path, which transducer is operable for scanning said tape and transducing the information scanned to electrical signals as said tape is driven past said transducer, and rotatably supporting a second cylindrical member on said common mount adjacent to said transducer and a fixed distance therefrom, first disposing said common mount for said transducer and said second cylindrical member at a first location to provide said transducer away from but in direct alignment with a free length of said tape disposed along said fixed path with said second cylindrical member located by said common mount in direct alignment with said first cylindrical member and just off said tape, moving said common mount for said transducer and said second cylindrical member a predetermined distance towards said tape to cause said transducer to be operably positioned for scanning said tape and to simultaneously cause said second cylindrical member to engage said tape against said first cylindrical member, and power rotating one of said first and second cylindrical members while said tape is engaged therebetween and the other cylindrical member to drive said tape longitudinally past said transducer so as to permit transducing operations to be performed relative to said tape.