Tape threading device

• US 4,742,407 A
• Filed: 06/11/1986
• Issued: 05/03/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Aspen Peripherals
• Original Assignee: Aspen Peripherals
• Inventors: Smith, David E., Fryberger, Joseph A., Olmsted, Dennis R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tupper, Robert S.
• Application Number:
  US06/872,931
• Time in Patent Office: 692 Days
• Field of Search: 360/95, 226/92, 242/195
• US Class Current: 242/332.4
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/67 by extracting end of record carrier from container or spool

Abstract

An automatic tape threading device transfers a tape leader and its associated tape from a supply reel, past a transducer head, to a take-up reel. It is comprised of a threader arm having a perpendicular threader pin which follows an arcuate path defined by an overhead cam. The overhead cam guides the threader pin from a first predetermined position, which relates to a leader block associated with the supply reel, to a second predetermined position, which relates to a receiver mechanism within the take-up reel.

Claims

1. An automatic tape threading device for transferring a tape leader block and its associated tape from a first predetermined position, over a generally arcuate path which passes a transducer head, to a second predetermined position, said threading device comprising:

a rotatable threader arm comprised of two pivotally connected parts, wherein a torque delivery means is attached to one part and a tape leader block engaging means including an enlarged member portion is attached to the other part, said tape leader block engaging means is oriented substantially normal to the plane of the threader arm and extends through the plane of an overhead cam to engage the enlarged member portion with the tape leader block;

an overhead cam located below a plane defined by the rotatable threader arm and having a generally arcuate contour which guides the tape leader block engaging means, at a point on tape leader block engaging means between the rotatable threader arm and the enlarged member portion of the tape leader block engaging means, from the first predetermined position, past the transducer head, to the second predetermined position; and

a take up reel having means for coupling with the tape leader block after it reaches the second predetermined position.

2. An automatic, magnetic tape threading device for transferring a tape leader block having a cylindrical receiver for engaging a threader pin, from a first predetermined position determined relative to the cylindrical receiver of the leader block, over a generally arcuate path whose angular measure is less than about 180 degrees and which passes a magnetic read/write head, to a second predetermined position determined relative to a take-up reel, said magnetic tape threading device comprising:

a rotatable threader arm comprised of two pivotally connected parts, wherein a first motor means is attached to one end of a first part and a leader block carrier arm is pivotally mounted to the other end of said first part, said leader block carrier arm further comprises a threader pin having a rod portion and an enlarged member extending normal to the plane of the leader block carrier arm, through the plane of an overhead arcuate cam to engage with a cylindrical receiver of the leader block;

an overhead cam having an overhead arcuate slot whose angular measure is less than about 180 degrees and which guides a rod portion of the threader pin from a first predetermined position, determined with respect to a leader block, to a second predetermined position determined with respect to a slot in the take-up reel which receives the leader block; and

a take-up reel driven by a second motor means, said take-up reel having a slot for receiving the leader block so adapted and arranged that the threader pin is located substantially at the axis of rotation of the take-up reel.

3. An automatic magnetic tape threading device for transferring a tape leader block having a cylindrical receiver for engaging a threader pin, from a first predetermined position determined relative to the cylindrical receiver of the leader block, over a generally arcuate path whose angular measure is less than about 180 degrees and which passes a magnetic read/write head, to a second predetermined position determined relative to a take-up reel, said magnetic tape threading device comprising:

a rotatable threader arm comprised of two pivotally connected parts, wherein a first motor means is attached to one end of a first part and a leader block carrier arm is pivotally mounted to the other end of said first part, said leader block carrier arm further comprises (1) a threader pin having a rod portion and an enlarged member extending normal to the plane of the leader block carrier arm, through the plane of an overhead arcuate cam to engage with a cylindrical receiver of the leader block and (2) a gear means for positioning the threader pin after it arrives in the first predetermined position;

an overhead cam having an overhead arcuate camming contour whose angular measure is less than about 180 degrees and which guides a rod portion of the threader pin from a first predetermined position, determined with respect to the leader block, to a second predetermined position determined with respect to the circumferential region of a slot in the take-up reel which receives the leader block; and

a take-up reel driven by a second motor means, said take-up reel having a slot for receiving the leader block so adapted and arranged that the threader pin is located substantially at the axis of rotation of the take-up reel.

4. An automatic, magnetic tape threading device for transferring a tape leader block having a cylindrical receiver for engaging a threader pin, from a first predetermined position determined relative to the cylindrical receiver of the leader block, over a generally arcuate path whose angular measure is less than about 180 degrees and which passes a magnetic read/write head, to a second predetermined position determined relative to a take-up reel, said magnetic tape threading device comprising:

a rotatable threader arm comprised of two pivotally connected parts, wherein a first motor means is attached to one end of a first part and a leader block carrier arm is pivotally mounted to the other end of said first part, said leader block carrier arm further comprises (1) a threader pin having a rod portion and an enlarged member extending normal to the plane of the leader block carrier arm, through the plane of an overhead arcuate cam to engage with a cylindrical cut out of the leader block; and

(2) a gear means for positioning the threader pin after it arrives in the first predetermined position;

an overhead cam having an overhead arcuate slot whose angular measure is less than about 180 degrees and which guides a rod portion of the threader pin from a first predetermined position, determined with respect to the leader block, to a second predetermined position determined with respect to the axis of rotation of the take-up reel which lies in a slot in the take-up reel which receives the leader block; and

a take-up reel driven by a second motor means, said take-up reel having a slot for receiving the leader block so adapted and arranged that the threader pin is located substantially at the axis of rotation of the take-up reel.

5. An automatic, magnetic tape threading device for transferring a tape leader block having a cylindrical receiver for engaging a threader pin, from a first predetermined position determined relative to the cylindrical receiver of the leader block, over a generally arcuate path whose angular measure is less than about 150 degrees and which passes a magnetic read/write head, to a second predetermined position determined relative to a take-up reel, said magnetic tape threading device comprising:

a rotatable threader arm comprised of two pivotally connected parts, wherein a first motor means is attached to one end of a first part and a leader block carrier arm is pivotally mounted to the other end of said first part, said leader block carrier arm further comprises (1) a threader pin having a rod portion and an enlarged member extending normal to the plane of the leader block carrier arm, through the plane of an overhead arcuate cam to engage with a cylindrical receiver of the leader block and (2) a tooth and detent for positioning the threader pin after it arrives in the first predetermined position;

an overhead cam having an overhead arcuate camming contour whose angular measure is less than about 150 degrees and which guides a rod portion of the threader pin from a first predetermined position, determined with respect to the cam'"'"'s action upon the rod portion of the threader pin and with respect to the leader block, to a second predetermined position determined with respect to the circumferential region of a slot in the take-up reel which receives the leader block; and

a take-up reel driven by a second motor means, said take-up reel having a slot for receiving the leader block so adapted and arranged that the threader pin is located substantially at the axis of rotation of the take-up reel.

6. An automatic, magnetic tape threading device for transferring a tape leader block having a cylindrical receiver for engaging a threader pin, from a first predetermined position determined relative to the cylindrical receiver of the leader block, over a generally arcuate path whose angular measure is less than about 150 degrees and which passes a magnetic read/write head, to a second predetermined position determined relative to a take-up reel, said magnetic tape threading device comprising:

a rotatable threader arm comprised of two pivotally connected parts, wherein a first motor means is attached to one end of a first part and a leader block carrier arm is pivotally mounted to the other end of said first part, said leader block carrier arm further comprises (1) a threader pin having a rod portion and an enlarged member extending normal to the plane of the leader block carrier arm, through the plane of an overhead arcuate cam to engage with a cylindrical receiver of the leader block and (2) a tooth and detent for positioning the threader pin after it arrives in the first predetermined position;

an overhead cam having an overhead arcuate camming contour whose angular measure is less than about 150 degrees and which guides a rod portion of the threader pin from a first predetermined position, determined with respect to the cam'"'"'s action upon the rod portion of the threader pin and with respect to the leader block, to a second predetermined position determined with respect to the axis of rotation of the take-up reel which lies in a slot in the take-up reel which receives the leader block; and

a take-up reel driven by a second motor means, said take-up reel having a slot for receiving the leader block so adapted and arranged that the threader pin is located substantially at the axis of rotation of the take-up reel.