CA1197616A - Multi-purpose cartridge recording tape adapter and repair tool - Google Patents
Multi-purpose cartridge recording tape adapter and repair toolInfo
- Publication number
- CA1197616A CA1197616A CA000395734A CA395734A CA1197616A CA 1197616 A CA1197616 A CA 1197616A CA 000395734 A CA000395734 A CA 000395734A CA 395734 A CA395734 A CA 395734A CA 1197616 A CA1197616 A CA 1197616A
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- tape
- reel
- cartridge
- circuit
- take
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Abstract
MULTI-PURPOSE CARTRIDGE RECORDING
TAPE ADAPTER AND REPAIR TOOL
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A self-contained stereo component which serves as an adapter for converting a cartridge tape recorder to open reel operation which also serves as a tool for repairing damaged tape and for rewinding tape.
In a preferred embodiment, the invention of the present design includes separately controllable DC motors driving turntables upon which supply and take-up reels of magnetic tape may be positioned. The tape passes through cartridge means having a configuration adapted to be inserted in the usual magnetic cartridge tape player in lieu of a cartridge, in order to permit the tape to be recorded or played by the cartridge tape recorder/player.
Different drive currents may be supplied to the motors to reduce or increase torque requirements and insure proper winding and rewinding of the tape. Reels of tape may be positioned on any of the cartridge means or turntable means for rewinding or to position the recording surface of the tape in a particular orientation.
Tape cartridges that have become damaged by the recorder/player unit, or wrapped too tightly, through normal usage, around the reel inside the cartridge may be repaired through various means of wrapping and unwrapping tape on appropriate reels and making the necessary splicings.
Consequently, the present invention may simultaneously perform the functions of open reel-to-cartridge adaption and cartridge module tape repair.
TAPE ADAPTER AND REPAIR TOOL
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A self-contained stereo component which serves as an adapter for converting a cartridge tape recorder to open reel operation which also serves as a tool for repairing damaged tape and for rewinding tape.
In a preferred embodiment, the invention of the present design includes separately controllable DC motors driving turntables upon which supply and take-up reels of magnetic tape may be positioned. The tape passes through cartridge means having a configuration adapted to be inserted in the usual magnetic cartridge tape player in lieu of a cartridge, in order to permit the tape to be recorded or played by the cartridge tape recorder/player.
Different drive currents may be supplied to the motors to reduce or increase torque requirements and insure proper winding and rewinding of the tape. Reels of tape may be positioned on any of the cartridge means or turntable means for rewinding or to position the recording surface of the tape in a particular orientation.
Tape cartridges that have become damaged by the recorder/player unit, or wrapped too tightly, through normal usage, around the reel inside the cartridge may be repaired through various means of wrapping and unwrapping tape on appropriate reels and making the necessary splicings.
Consequently, the present invention may simultaneously perform the functions of open reel-to-cartridge adaption and cartridge module tape repair.
Description
MUI.TI-PURPOSE CARTRIDGE RECORDING
TAPE ADAPTER AND REPAIR TOOL
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention design is directed generally to apparatus for use with magnetic recording tape and recording equipment, serving in the dual capacity as a tool, which may be used for repairing damaged tape cartridges and the like which also serves as an adapter for converting the usual cartridge tape recorder/player units to open reel operation incorporated into one stereo equipment component structure.
Previous workers in the art have suggested mono-purpose units which only serve as basic adapter structures for enabling open reel magnetic tapes to be recorded and played on conventional tape recorder/player units. Such units lack a dual design construction, and none serve, or could be made to serve in the capacity of a multi-purpose tool. For example, U.S. Patent No.
4,031,555 issued June 21, 1977 to T. R. Hughes et al.
illustrates a mechanism where the tape take-up reel is driven directly from the host tape recorder/player drive mechanism. While such an arrangement could result in satisfactory operation as an adapter unit, due to the absence of a slippage clutch structure, it has been founA
that under various operating conditions, excessive load forces may be applied to the player drive, and/or the unit mechanism itself, causing damage to the units themselves or to the magnetic recording tape while in operational use.
Another such device with similar disadvantages is illustrated in U.S. Patent No. 4,169,227 issued September 25, 1979 to H. Tomoser. With this device, structural means is provided so as to improve upon the Hughes i~97~
invention described hereinabove by providing means by which the entire adapter unit itself including the tare '-reels must be inverted in order to permit operation of the tape in a reverse direction. Also, no slippage clutch system is provided, and the motor employed by the Tomoser adapter unit does not revolve in a reverse direction of the usual forward mode. Furthermore, no structural means are provided for achieving a fast forward capability. In fact, neither of the above adapter units can or could be modified to provide means for achieving fast forward or reverse modes of operation without a great deal of complicated mechanical structure.
The present invention is designed explicitly for the dual purpose of providing apparatus means by which cartridge tape recorder/player units, and broken or damaged tape in càrtridge tape modules, may be better u~lized to their fullest extent. No flipping of the unit mechanism or the tape reels is required, and means is provided such that the user may select any of the channels during the playback.
Likewise, in addition to the need or a simple, reliable open reel to cartridge tape adapter, the need also exists for means to repair magnetic tape cartridges in which the tape has become broken or otherwise damaged.
While devices for splicing magnetic tape and the like are known in the art, no repair tool of this sort exists for the repairing of broken or damaged tape cartridge modules.
Consequently, cartridge tape users have been forced to discard damaged cartridges in which the tape has been broken, wrapped too tightly about the cartridge reel, or otherwise damaged.
The present invention provides apparatus for handling magnetic recording tape and the like which not only provides means for adapting open reel tape operation to a cartridge tape player, but also means for reparing magnetic tape and magnetic -tape cartridges.
More specifically, the invention provides apparatus for handling and repairing magnetic recording tape and the like com-prising first and second spaced turntables for suppor-ting, respec-tively, supply and take-up reels of magnetic recording tape, a reversible drive motor rotating each of said turntables in a desired direction, an adapter Eor adapting open reel tapes to a cartridge tape recorder/player and configured to be inserted in the usual magnetic tape recorder/player in lieu of a cartridge for enabling the tape supplied from the supply reel to be played by the recorder/player, and a reel support for rotatably supporti.ng a reel of magnetic tape to permit the tape to be wound on a take-up reel position on either of the turntables to facilitate repair of damaged tapes.
In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus of the present inventive design includes a rectangular prism-shaped housing having a generally planar upper mounting surface to which first and second horizontally spaced reversible DC drive motors are mounted. Friction clutch means are positioned adjacent each of the mo-tors, each of the clutch means including a generally cylin-drical vertically oriented clutch member having smooth outer surface positioned beneath and rotatably secured to the mounting surface, an annular shell member having smooth inner and outer surfaces, pressure pad means comprising a layer of felt or a felt-like material positioned between and frictionally engaging the outer surface of the clutch member and the inner surface of the shell member, and a continuous straplike belt having a full twist drivingly joinlng the motor shaft with the shell member. A disc-f.
like -turntable is nonrotatably secured to the clutch member over-lying the mounting surface, and is adapted to suppor-t a magnetic tape take-up or supply reel.
Alternately, a flat disc type clutch arrangement may be utilized. This arrangement includes a generally cylindrical vertically oriented clutch member having a smooth upper end slidingly mounting a felt-like pressure member. The turntable is rotatably secured -to the cylindrical member, and is frictionally driven by the cylindrical member by means of the fel-t-like pad.
Alternatively, the upper end of the cylindrical member may be enlarged to provide greater frictional surface area between the felt-like pad and the lower surface of the turntable.
A removable cartridge means positioned between and in the plane of the turntables extends outwardly from the housing.
The cartridge means comprises a generally rec-tangular prism-shaped housing having a configuration ~9~
adapted to be inserted in the usual magnetic car-tridsLe tape player in lieu of a cartridge. The cartridge housing includes two openings in its rear edge so that tape traveling from left to right, when the unit is serving as an open reel-to-cartridge tape adapter, enters the left opening from the reel positioned on the left turntable, travels across the frontmost magnetic tape player engaging edge through the use of guide means located inside the cartridge, and leaves the cartridge through the remaining right-hand opening to permit the tape to be wrapped onto the remaining reel positioned on the right turntable. As will be described in more detail hereinafter, this construction permits the present invention to be used simultaneously as a tape adapter unit and a cartridge repair tool. The cartridge means further includes an upwardly extending shaft positioned forwardly of the rear opening and configured to rotatably secure a tape reel such that a magnetic tape may pass from the reel through either of the openings in the rear edge of the cartridge when the unit is serving only as a cartridge tape repair tool. A lid is also removably secured to the cartridge housing for accessing the interior of the cartridge for positioning the magnetic tape therein.
The apparatus of the present invention design further includes means for controlling the drive motors which comprises forward driving means for moving the tape in a forward record/play direction at a constant speed, means for driving the tape in a reverse direction at a constant speed where the drive motor connected to the reverse take-up reel is driven with a greater current than the drive motor associated with the reverse supply reel, and means for driving the tape in a fast forward direction at a constant speed where the drive motor associated with the orward take-up reel is driven with a greater current than the drive motor associated with the forward supply reel.
As will ye explained in more detail hereinafter, this arrangement permits constant tension to be applied to the tape, and reduces the torque requirements o the motors.
The apparatus of the present invention design may be used as an adapter by positioning a supply and take-up reel on the turntables, feeding the tape through the guide means on the cartridge, threading the tape through the take-up reel, turning the unit "on" and selecting the proper function setting, and inserting the cartridge into 10 a standard cartridge tape recorder/player unit. The apparatus of the present design also serves as a repair fixture tool where magnetic tape may be wound and/or rewound from a reel of tape positioned on the cartridge means onto a tape reel positioned on either of the 15 turntables, and thus repairing of damaged tape cartridge modules may likewise be performed simultaneously in conjunct,ion with the recording or playing of tape. As will be described hereinafter, this arrangement permits tape contained within cartridges which have been broken or 20 otherwise damaged to be repaired and/or placed onto open reels, thus permitting the needed editing of the damaged tape by utilizing the open reel-to-cartridge tape adaption process to jointly assest in the salvaging of the tape and the information recorded thereon.
Further features of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description which follows.
- BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF TIE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the apparatus of the present invention with the dust cover removed from the cartridge.
Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view taken along section line 2-2 of Fig. 1 with the cartridge cover and dust cover in place Fig. 3 is a cut-away cross sectional view taken along section line 3-3 of Fig. 1 with the cartridge cover and dust cover in place.
Fig. is a bottom view of the apparatus of the present invention with the bottom cover removed. I-` Fig. 4A is an enlarged exploded front perspective view ox the drive mechanism of the present inventiondesign.
Fig. 4B is an exploded front perspective view of an alternate clutch arrangement of the present invention design.
Fig. 4C is an enlarged exploded front perspective view of another alternate clutch arrangement of the present invention design.
Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of the motor drive means of the present invention design.
Fig. 5A is a partial schematic diagram of an alternative arrangement for the circuit illustrated in Fig. 5.
Fig. 6 - Fig. 7 are schematic diagrams of alternate electronic embodiments of the motor drive means of the present invention design.
Fig. is a diagrammatic view of the apparatus of the present invention design in use as an open reel-to-cartridge tape adapter.
Fig. 9 - Fig. 11 are diagrammatic views illustrating the modes of use of the present invention design as a magnetic tape repair fixture.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The apparatus of the present design illustrated generally at 1 in Fig. 1, has a rectangular prism-shaped housing 2 including longitudinally extending front and rear walls 3 and I, respectively, and transversely extending end walls 5. The upper portion of this rectangular prism-shaped housing 2 forms a generally planar upper mounting surface 6. If desired, a flat bottom plate 7 may be provided. The exterior of housing 2 may be Jo provided with a pleasing wood-grained or other decorative surface inish. I.
A generally U-shaped mounting brackst 8 having an elongated horizontal web portion extending in spaced parallel relationship with the undersurface of upper mounting plate 6 is mounted thereto by means of vertically depending spacer elements 9. Web portion 9 mounts first and second horizontally spaced reversible DC drive motors 11 and 12, respectively.. Each motor includes an upwardly extending shaft 13 bearing a sheave 14. Electronically controlled currents are supplied in the present invention design to motors 11 and 12 by means of electrical conductors (wires I5-1~ as will be described in more detail hereinafter. Furthermore, it will be understood that motors 11 and 12 may be fastened to their respective web portions by various mounting means.
Each of motors 11 and 12 has associated therewith friction clutch means, designated generally at 19 which is rotatably secured to web portion 9 of shaped mounting - bracket 8 by means of vertically extending shaft 20 positioned outwardly from the associated drive motor. As best shown ln Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, friction clutch means 19 includes an annular shell member 21 having smooth inner and outer surfaces 22 and 23, respectively. A generally square end plate 24 nonrotatably abuts the lower edge of shell member 21, and may be secured thereto by gluing or the like. A bearing surface may be provided by one or more annular spacers and/or washers 25 positioned on shaft 20 between plate 2~ and the upper surface of web portion 9.
A generally cylindrical vertically oriented clutch member 26 having a smooth outer surface 27 is positioned between the lower surface of upper mounting plate 6 and the upper surface of web portion 9, and is rotatably secured to vertically extending shaft 20 by means of a '7~;~L6 cooperating central bore 2~ extending through clutch member 26. The upper end of clutch member 26 is provided with an annular connecting member 29 which extends through a suitably dimensioned opening 30 in mounting plate 6.
S The upper surface o connecting member 29 is nonrotatably secured to the underside of disc-like turntables 31 and 31', which are rotatably secured to shaft 20 as at 32 so that the upper end of shaft 20 forms a hub portion 33.
The upper surface of turntables 31 and 31' may also be provided with a foam-like mat 34 to provide a resil-ient support for a conventional magnetic tape reel positioned on the turntables and centered on hub 33.
Pressure pad means shown generally at 35 comprising a layer 36 of welt or felt-like material is wrapped about the outer surface 27 of clutch member 26 so as to be positioned in a slightly compressed condition between clutch member 26 and annular shell member 21. Inasmuch as the surface of the felt layer 36 is slightly roughened, a frictional force will be produced to transfer rotational movement from annular shell member 21 to clutch member 26.
It will be understood that the friction clutch means 19 described provides transfer of torque, from annular shell member 21 to cause rotation of turntables 31 and 31' while permitting slippage between these members to prevent destructive overloads to drive motors 11 and 12 while in normal operational use, or in the event the tape associated with the reels positioned on the turntables binds. In any event, pressure pad means 35 is not fixedly attached to either the inner surface 22 of annular shell member 21 or the smooth outer surface 27 of clutch member 26. It will be observed that this method of construction provides a smoother and improved operation, and facilitates assembly of the clutch means using inexpensive plastic or metallic parts, while avoiding critically close manufacturing tolerances.
. `` ~lg'7616 While for puxposes ox an exemplary showing, the present invention has been described and illustrated ln connection with a cylinder type clutch, it will be understood that other types of clutch mechanisms such as flat or disc types may be used as well. For example, as illustrated in Fig.4B, the clutch means may be provided with a generally cylindrical vertically oriented clutch member 123 having a smooth upper end or face 124 which non-rotatably mounts a vertically extending cylindrical shaft or axle 125. Clutch member 123 is rotated by means of a drive belt 37 in the manner described in connection with the embodiment of Fig. 4A.
A disc-like pad or layer 136 of felt or other felt-like material having a centxal opening 137 is rotatably secured over shaft 125 such that the lower surface of pad 136 frictionally engages the upper end or face of clutch member 124. Turntable 134 similar to turntable 34 described hereinbefore in connection with the embodiment of Fig. 4A is rotatably mounted to shaft 125, such that the lower surface of the turntable, designated 138 frictionally engages the upper surface of felt or felt-like pad 136. Consequently, when clutch member 123 is rotated, a rotational force is also transmitted to turntable 134 to cause rotation thereof through pad 136.
In an alternate arrangement illustrated in Fig. 4C, where elements similar to those described in connection with the embodiment of Fig. 4B have been similarly designated, the upper end or face of clutch member 123 may be enlarged as at 124a. Likewise, felt or felt-like pad 136a may be enlarged and the frictionally engaging lower surface 138a of turntable 134 may also be enlarged. This arrangement provides greater surface area for insuring positive drive of the turntable from clutch member 123.
It will be understood in both embodiments described that felt pad 136 is not connected to either the turntable i_ ~9~
nor the clutch member.
It will be understood that motors 11 and 12 may also comprise alternating cuxrent-motors. In this case, the clutch means may be eliminated, if desired.
S A continuous strap-like resilient drive belt 37 is provided with a full twist and is secured around sheave 14 and the outer surface 23 of annular shell member 21 in order to impart rotational motion to turntables 31 and 31' by the appropriate drive motor. It will be observed that 10 the direction of rotation of the turntables will be the same as the direction of rotation of the associated motor shaft 13. In addition, bar-like belt guides 38 may ye provided between the underside of mounting plate 6 and drive belts 37, respectively, as required.
Cartriage means, shown generally at 39, extends outwardly fxom the ùpper edge of rear wall 4 of rectangular prism-shaped housing 2. In general, cartridge means 39 will be positioned between and approximately in the plane of turntables 31 and 31'. For purposes of an 20 exemplary showing, cartridge means 39 comprises a generally rectangular prism-shaped housing 40 having a configuration adapted to be inserted in the usual magnetic cartridge tape player in lieu of a cartridge. Housing 40 includes a vertically extending rear wall 41 including a 25 vertically extending opening 42 dimensioned to permit magnetic tape to be threaded from a reel of tape positioned on the left-hand turntables 31, as viewed in Fig. 1. Rear wall 41 also includes another vertically extending opening 43, spaced to the right of opening 42, 30 for guiding magnetic tape to a tape reel positioned on the other turntables 31'.
Guide means, illustrated generally at 44, are positioned adjacent the front edge of cartridge housing 44. Guide mean 44 include a vertically extending guide 35 post 45 positioned at one front corner of cartridge 9~ G
housing 40 generally in line with entrance opening 42, and a rotatably mounted resilient pinch roller 46 mounted on vertically extending support shaft 47 positioned at the opposite front corner of cartridge housing 40. A
resilient pressure pad member 48 extends partially between guide post 45 and roller 46 to provide a back-up for the magnetic tape when cartridge means 39 is inserted in a conventional cartridge tape recorder/player as illustrated in Fig. 8. It will be observed that pressure pad member 10 ~8 positions the magnetic tape against the record/play tape head 49 of the cartridge tape player when cartridge means 39 is inserted into the cooperating cartridge slot 50 in the recorder/player housing shown generally at 51.
Furthermore, roller 46 urges the magnetic tape against the r 15 drive capstan 52 of the tape recorder/playex unit.
However, as described hereinabove, the magnetic tape is moved during fast forward and reverse operation solely by means of electric drive motors 11 and 12, rather than by means of the tape recorder/player drive capstan 52, as is 20 normally accomplished with the record/play or fast forward functions associated with the cartridge tape recorder/p}ayer unit itself.
As best shown in Fig. 2, cartridge housing 40 may be furnished with a removable overlying lid or cover 53 for 25 accessing the interior of the cartridge means 39 to position the magnetic tape therein.
Cartridge housing 40 also mounts a centrally located upwardly extending generally cylindrical shaft 54 which rotatably mounts a removable tape reel 55. As will he 30 described in more detail hereinafter, tape reel S5 may be of the type commonly found in a conventional tape cartridge, or may be of the type uaed in open reel applications. In any event, tape reel 55 is positioned within cartridge housing 40 so that magnetic tape may be 35 fed to or from the reel through either of opening 42 or 43.
Fig. S illustrates a schematic diagram showing means for electronically controllàng the operation of first and second drive motors 11 and 12, respectively. Primary power is supplied through main disconnecting switch Sl, which may be of the illuminated variety, to the primary winding of transformer Tl. The secondary winding of the transformer is connected through a full wave bridge rectifier consisting of diodes Dl-D4 to filter capacitor Cl to produce a stable DC voltage on line 56 to provide a source of DC current.
hree ganged multiple pole switches S2A, S2B, and S2C
control the operation of drive motors 11 and 12 in the REV
(reverse), R/P (record/play), FF (fast forward) and OFF
modes. The stationary pole of switch S2A is connected to conductor 15 of first motor 11, while the stationary pole of switch S2B is connected to conductor 17 of second motor 12. Return conductors 16 and 18 of motors 11 and 12, respectively, are connected to the stationary pole of switch S2C.
Switch S2A, which controls the operation of motor 11, includes the FF pole connected to DC supply line 56, the R/P pole connected through current limiting resistors Rl and R6 to the DC supply line, and the REV pole connected through variable resistor R2 and fixed current limiting resistor R3 to ground. Capacitor C2 provides filtering and functions as a simple capacitive discharge system to boost the initial current flow when motor 11 is turned on to power the supply reel during reverse operation.
Similarly, the REV pole of switch S2B is connected to round, while the FF pole is connected through variable resistor R~ and fixed current limiting resistor R5 to DC
supply line 56. Capacitor C3 also provides filtering and functions as a simple capacitive discharge system to boost the initial current flow when motor 12 is turned on to ~i97~i:16 power the supply reel during fast forward operation.
Finally, the REV pole of switch S2C is connected to the DC supply line, while the poles designated R/P ana FF
are connected to ground.
It will be observed from Fig. 5 that with the switches in the OFF position, no current flow is permitted to either of the motors. With the switches in the R/P
position, a current determined by resistors Rl and R6 is supplied to motor 11 to cause this motor to operate in the forward direction, while no current is supplied to motor lo. In this mode of operation with cartridge housing 44 engaged in the tape cartridge recorder/player unit, for example, the magnetic tape will be caused to pass in a forward direction at a relatively constant speed from a supply reel positioned on turntable 31 to a take-up reel powered by motor if positioned on turntable 31'. In this mode of operation, the magnetic tape may be played or recorded by the conventional cartridge tape record/player unit. It will be observed that inasmuch as the tape is driven in a single direction in the record/play mode of operation, the user may easily select any of the channels associated wit'n the tape by means of an appropriate selection switch located on the tape player (not shown) thus increasing the user's listening potential during play back.
In the REV mode of operation, the drive motors are driven in clockwise directions as viewed from above at constant speeds to cause the magnetic tape to pass from one reel to the other reel in a direction opposite to the forward mode of operation. With switches S2A-S2C in this position, a reverse current is supplied to first drive motor ll determined by the value of current limiting resistor R3 and the setting ox variable resistor R2.
Similarly, a reverse current of treater magnitude is supplied to second drive motor 12. Consequently, both '7~i~6 motors will be driven in the reverse direction; however, more current and consequently~more torque will be supplied to drive motor 12 associated with the magnetic tape -take-up real. This mode o operation decreases the torque drag associated with motor 12 coupled to the supply tape reel in order to "push" the tape through the cartridge guarding against tape stretching or breaking, while applying a relatively constant force to the tape to insure a loose uniform winding - Similarly, in the FF mode of operation, the drive motors are driven at relatively constant speeds in a counterclockwise direction to causs the magnetic tape to pass from the supply reel to the take-up reel at a rate greater than the rate in the R/P forward mode. Full DC
current is suplied to drive motor 11 from supply line 56, while attenuated forward current is supplied through resistors ~4 and R5 to drive motor 12. Depending on the setting of variable resistor R4, the current and consequently the torque supplied to second drive motor 12 will be less than that supplied to drive motor 11.
Consequently, the back torque associated with motor 11 will be reduced to guard against tape stretching or breaking, while at the same time permitting a relqtively constant force to be applied to the magnetic tape as it is "pushed" through the cartridge.
A modification may also be made to the circuit illustrated in Fig. 5 by removing resistors Rl and R6, disconnecting the R/P pole of switch S2C from ground, and returning this pole of the switch to the lowermost node of the full wave bridge rectifier as illustrated by dashed line lOO. This permits a lower voltage to be supplied to the motors, and is particularly advantageous in connection with the clutch designs of Fig. 4B and Fig. 4C. As a further modification, a diode D5 may be connected between the uppermost node of the full wave rectifier and the pole designated R/P of switch S2A. Furthermore, a capacitor C4 may be connected between the poles R/P of switch sections S2A and S2C. Again, this c~nfi~uration permits a lower voltage to be provided to the motors As illustrated in Fig. 5A, a reversing switch comprising switch sections S3A and S3B may also be provided in connection with the embodiment of Fig. 5 to cause the turntables to revolve in a direction opposite to the usual forward direction. In this arrangement, the circuit will operate in the manner described hereinbefore when ganged switches S3A and S3B are in the upper position. However, when the switches art in the lower position, the voltages apply to the R/P poles of switch sections S2A and S2C will be reversed, thereby reversing the direction of rotation of the turntables.
An alternate embodiment for the control means of the present invention is illustrated in the schematic diagram of Fig. 6. Voltage from the secondary winding of transformer Tl is applied to a voltage doubler circuit formed by diodes D5 and D6, and capacitors C4 and C5. It will be understood that the voltage appearing on the cathode of diode D5 forming high DC voltage line 57, will be approximately twice the voltage appearing on low DC
voltage line 58 at the junction of capacitors C4 and C5.
In the REV mode of operation, attenuated reverse current is supplied to motor 11 through a current path established through resistors R6-R8. It will be observed that the voltage applied to this current path will be approximately one half the voltage appearing on DC supply line 57. At the same time, a reverse current established by resistor R6 and the full DC voltage appearing on line 57 is applied to second drive motor 12. Consequently, as in the preceding embodiment, more current and torque will be supplied to drive motor 12 than to drive motor 11.
In the R/P mode of operation, the current supplied to motor 11 is established by the difference in the voltages appearing on lines 57 and 58, and the value of resistor R~. No current is supplied to motor 12. Consequent I, the apparatus operates to drivë the magnetic tape in a forward -direction for playing or recording by the associatedcartridge tape player/xecorder.
Ih the FF moda of operation, a current is supplied to drive motor 11 corresponding to the value of resistor R6 and the voltage on supply line 57. A corresponding current is supplied to drive motor 12 depending on the voltage on supply line 58 and the value ox resistors R9 and R10. Again, in this mode of operation, drive motor 11 will be supplied with a greater current and consequently more torque than drive motor 12.
Fig. 7 illustrates a third embodiment of the control means of the present invention where similar components have been given similar designations. It will be observed that this embodiment also includes a voltage doubler and also makes use of a center tap transformer secondary winding. In the REV mode of operation, the reverse current supplied to first motor 11 is established by the value of resistor Rll and the difference between the voltage appearing on center tap transformer secondary line 59 and supply line 57. Similarly, the reverse current supplied to motor 12 is established by the voltage on supply line 57. Inasmuch as the voltage supplied to motor 12 is greater than the voltage applied to motor 11, motor 12 will produce more torque than motor 11.
In the R/P mode of operation, the current supplied to motor 11 is established by the value of resistor ~11 and the voltage difference between supply lines 57 and 58. No current is supplied to motor 12.
In the FF mode of operation, the forward current supplied to motor 11 is determined by the value of resistor Rll and the voltage on supply line 57, while a 7~
lesser current supplied to motor 12 is determined by the lowsr voltage appearing on supply line 59. Consequently, less torque will be suppliea to motor 12 than to motor 11 in a manner similar to that described hereinabove.
The use of the apparatus of the present invention design-as a tape handling and repair tool is illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 9-Fig. 11. For example, in Fig.
9 apparatus 1 is used to wind magnetic tape from a conventional cartridge reel 60 positioned on shaft 54 of cartridge means 39 onto a take-up reel 61 positioned on turntable 31' driven by motor 11. It will be observed that with switch S2 in the R/P mode, the right-hand turntable 31' viewed in Fig. 9 will be driven in a counterclockwise direction to wind the magnetic tape onto reel 61 with the magnetic surface facing inwardly.
Consequently, the apparatus serves to reverse the direction of wrap of the tape while using the unit as an open reel to cartridge adapter or in those situations where a conventional open reel with an inwardly facing magnetic tape surface is desired. It will be further understood that cartridge means 39 may be removed and replaced by any conventional tape cartridge, including those containing damaged or broken tape that are designated for the repair process, or the tape reel inside the cartridge itself may be removed from the cartridge, placed into a cartridge (not shown, and wound on reel 61 as is illustrated with cartridge 39. This process facilitates repair of the cartridge tape and may be used in connection with a conventional splicing mechanism, not shown.
Fig. 10 illustrates the use of apparatus 1 where magnetic tape is wound from a conventional eight track or other type of cartridge reel 60 positioned on the left-hand turntable 31 onto a take-up reel 61 positioned on the right-hand turntable 31', with switch S2 in the R/P
1~1l9'7~
mode. It will be observed that in this mode of operation, tha magnetic tape is wound on take-up reel 61 with the magnetic surface acing outwardly.
Finally, in Fig. 11, a take-up reel 61 having the tape wrapped in such a manner that the magnetic surface faces outwardly is positioned on shaft 54 of cartridge means 3~. With switch S2 in the REV mode, the left-hand turntable 31 bearing a large take-up reel 62 will rotate in the direction shown to wrap the magnetic tape on the reel with the magnetic surface facing inwardly.
From the foregoing, it will be seen that the magnetic tape may be handled independently of the tape recorder/player unit to facilitate splicing and editing of the tape. Furthermore, the tape may be wound from one reel to another at a fast speed in order to insure proper winding tightness to reduce wow and flutter, and other forms of distortion. The tape may also be wound from one reel to another with the magnetic surface of the tape facing in a desired direction.
Furthermore, it might be noted that tape from a damaged cartridge reel may be wound onto an open reel as seen in Fig. 9. The tape will end up being wrapped with the magnetic surface facing outwardly, and will be ready to be spliced together and mounted back inside what was once a damaged cartridge. Likewise, using the procedure of a change in Fig. 11, the smaller reel may be placed inside the cartridge, and cartridge reel may be positioned on the turntable 31.
It will be understood that various changes and/or modifications in the details, materials, steps and arrangement of parts which have been herein described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of the invention may be made by those skilled in the art within the principle and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims. For example, although for purposes 76~6 of an exemplary showing, the apparatus has been described and illustrated in connection with magnetic tape, it will be understood that the device is similarly usable with movie film and the like. Furthermore, it will also be understood that cartridge means 39 may be replaced by any other conventional type of cartridge or cassette unit to permit other types of cartridge to open reel operation.
In addition, while the invention has been shown in connection with electronic drive means, it will be understood that mechanical drive means may be utilized as well.
The concept of the multi-purpose tool of the present - invention is founded on the need for special apparatus capble of serving in the capacity of handling a wide variety and multitude of problems confronting toe average user of magnetic tape recording/playing equipment. The unit is capable of serving independently or in conjunction with the basic stereo system by means of which the usual cartridge recorder/player unit may perforrn in the usual manner of recording on, or playing tape that has been subjected to the adaption process, or by which damaged partridge module means once repaired through the use of the present invention's features, may be played as usual.
Similarly, both processes may be jointly performed in conjunction with the usual cartridge recorder/player stereo type system allowing for programming to be recorded on the tape, or editing, splicing or ordinary listening to the tape channels for personal enjoyment as the damaged cartridge is simultaneously being repaired.
The unit of the present invention design minimizes excessive bulk of component equipment usually associated with mono-purpose stereo electronic equipment, and serves as the first means of its kind capable of salvaging defective cartridge tape modules.
Overlooked by previous art, the conceptual design of the present invention as described hereinabove is indispensable and enables users of the invention to employ the process of repairing damaged cartridge tape moduPas, thus making it no longer necessary for panic at the possibly distruction of defective or damaged tape cartridge modules. In fact, the invented unit as presently configured is capable ox salvaging much of those tapes usually presumed totally destroyed by utiliæing various means of wrapping and unwrapping of tape according to the designed process of alignment of the magnetic surface and backing process of orientation, while also being made to serve in the dual capacity of an improved open reel-to-cartridge adapter component.
The versatile design of the structure of the present invention permits users to repair damage tape cartridge modules, record and/or play open reel tapes in conjunction with the usual cartridge recorder/player tape system, or perform both of the above at the same time in conjunction with the other. A direct correlation and relationship exists between the two processes since proper editing of the tape requires that the user hear that which is being repaired. Consequently, the present unit encompasses apparatus serving in the dual capacity of a tool as well as an electronic stereo tape recorder/player adapter component.
TAPE ADAPTER AND REPAIR TOOL
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention design is directed generally to apparatus for use with magnetic recording tape and recording equipment, serving in the dual capacity as a tool, which may be used for repairing damaged tape cartridges and the like which also serves as an adapter for converting the usual cartridge tape recorder/player units to open reel operation incorporated into one stereo equipment component structure.
Previous workers in the art have suggested mono-purpose units which only serve as basic adapter structures for enabling open reel magnetic tapes to be recorded and played on conventional tape recorder/player units. Such units lack a dual design construction, and none serve, or could be made to serve in the capacity of a multi-purpose tool. For example, U.S. Patent No.
4,031,555 issued June 21, 1977 to T. R. Hughes et al.
illustrates a mechanism where the tape take-up reel is driven directly from the host tape recorder/player drive mechanism. While such an arrangement could result in satisfactory operation as an adapter unit, due to the absence of a slippage clutch structure, it has been founA
that under various operating conditions, excessive load forces may be applied to the player drive, and/or the unit mechanism itself, causing damage to the units themselves or to the magnetic recording tape while in operational use.
Another such device with similar disadvantages is illustrated in U.S. Patent No. 4,169,227 issued September 25, 1979 to H. Tomoser. With this device, structural means is provided so as to improve upon the Hughes i~97~
invention described hereinabove by providing means by which the entire adapter unit itself including the tare '-reels must be inverted in order to permit operation of the tape in a reverse direction. Also, no slippage clutch system is provided, and the motor employed by the Tomoser adapter unit does not revolve in a reverse direction of the usual forward mode. Furthermore, no structural means are provided for achieving a fast forward capability. In fact, neither of the above adapter units can or could be modified to provide means for achieving fast forward or reverse modes of operation without a great deal of complicated mechanical structure.
The present invention is designed explicitly for the dual purpose of providing apparatus means by which cartridge tape recorder/player units, and broken or damaged tape in càrtridge tape modules, may be better u~lized to their fullest extent. No flipping of the unit mechanism or the tape reels is required, and means is provided such that the user may select any of the channels during the playback.
Likewise, in addition to the need or a simple, reliable open reel to cartridge tape adapter, the need also exists for means to repair magnetic tape cartridges in which the tape has become broken or otherwise damaged.
While devices for splicing magnetic tape and the like are known in the art, no repair tool of this sort exists for the repairing of broken or damaged tape cartridge modules.
Consequently, cartridge tape users have been forced to discard damaged cartridges in which the tape has been broken, wrapped too tightly about the cartridge reel, or otherwise damaged.
The present invention provides apparatus for handling magnetic recording tape and the like which not only provides means for adapting open reel tape operation to a cartridge tape player, but also means for reparing magnetic tape and magnetic -tape cartridges.
More specifically, the invention provides apparatus for handling and repairing magnetic recording tape and the like com-prising first and second spaced turntables for suppor-ting, respec-tively, supply and take-up reels of magnetic recording tape, a reversible drive motor rotating each of said turntables in a desired direction, an adapter Eor adapting open reel tapes to a cartridge tape recorder/player and configured to be inserted in the usual magnetic tape recorder/player in lieu of a cartridge for enabling the tape supplied from the supply reel to be played by the recorder/player, and a reel support for rotatably supporti.ng a reel of magnetic tape to permit the tape to be wound on a take-up reel position on either of the turntables to facilitate repair of damaged tapes.
In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus of the present inventive design includes a rectangular prism-shaped housing having a generally planar upper mounting surface to which first and second horizontally spaced reversible DC drive motors are mounted. Friction clutch means are positioned adjacent each of the mo-tors, each of the clutch means including a generally cylin-drical vertically oriented clutch member having smooth outer surface positioned beneath and rotatably secured to the mounting surface, an annular shell member having smooth inner and outer surfaces, pressure pad means comprising a layer of felt or a felt-like material positioned between and frictionally engaging the outer surface of the clutch member and the inner surface of the shell member, and a continuous straplike belt having a full twist drivingly joinlng the motor shaft with the shell member. A disc-f.
like -turntable is nonrotatably secured to the clutch member over-lying the mounting surface, and is adapted to suppor-t a magnetic tape take-up or supply reel.
Alternately, a flat disc type clutch arrangement may be utilized. This arrangement includes a generally cylindrical vertically oriented clutch member having a smooth upper end slidingly mounting a felt-like pressure member. The turntable is rotatably secured -to the cylindrical member, and is frictionally driven by the cylindrical member by means of the fel-t-like pad.
Alternatively, the upper end of the cylindrical member may be enlarged to provide greater frictional surface area between the felt-like pad and the lower surface of the turntable.
A removable cartridge means positioned between and in the plane of the turntables extends outwardly from the housing.
The cartridge means comprises a generally rec-tangular prism-shaped housing having a configuration ~9~
adapted to be inserted in the usual magnetic car-tridsLe tape player in lieu of a cartridge. The cartridge housing includes two openings in its rear edge so that tape traveling from left to right, when the unit is serving as an open reel-to-cartridge tape adapter, enters the left opening from the reel positioned on the left turntable, travels across the frontmost magnetic tape player engaging edge through the use of guide means located inside the cartridge, and leaves the cartridge through the remaining right-hand opening to permit the tape to be wrapped onto the remaining reel positioned on the right turntable. As will be described in more detail hereinafter, this construction permits the present invention to be used simultaneously as a tape adapter unit and a cartridge repair tool. The cartridge means further includes an upwardly extending shaft positioned forwardly of the rear opening and configured to rotatably secure a tape reel such that a magnetic tape may pass from the reel through either of the openings in the rear edge of the cartridge when the unit is serving only as a cartridge tape repair tool. A lid is also removably secured to the cartridge housing for accessing the interior of the cartridge for positioning the magnetic tape therein.
The apparatus of the present invention design further includes means for controlling the drive motors which comprises forward driving means for moving the tape in a forward record/play direction at a constant speed, means for driving the tape in a reverse direction at a constant speed where the drive motor connected to the reverse take-up reel is driven with a greater current than the drive motor associated with the reverse supply reel, and means for driving the tape in a fast forward direction at a constant speed where the drive motor associated with the orward take-up reel is driven with a greater current than the drive motor associated with the forward supply reel.
As will ye explained in more detail hereinafter, this arrangement permits constant tension to be applied to the tape, and reduces the torque requirements o the motors.
The apparatus of the present invention design may be used as an adapter by positioning a supply and take-up reel on the turntables, feeding the tape through the guide means on the cartridge, threading the tape through the take-up reel, turning the unit "on" and selecting the proper function setting, and inserting the cartridge into 10 a standard cartridge tape recorder/player unit. The apparatus of the present design also serves as a repair fixture tool where magnetic tape may be wound and/or rewound from a reel of tape positioned on the cartridge means onto a tape reel positioned on either of the 15 turntables, and thus repairing of damaged tape cartridge modules may likewise be performed simultaneously in conjunct,ion with the recording or playing of tape. As will be described hereinafter, this arrangement permits tape contained within cartridges which have been broken or 20 otherwise damaged to be repaired and/or placed onto open reels, thus permitting the needed editing of the damaged tape by utilizing the open reel-to-cartridge tape adaption process to jointly assest in the salvaging of the tape and the information recorded thereon.
Further features of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description which follows.
- BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF TIE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the apparatus of the present invention with the dust cover removed from the cartridge.
Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view taken along section line 2-2 of Fig. 1 with the cartridge cover and dust cover in place Fig. 3 is a cut-away cross sectional view taken along section line 3-3 of Fig. 1 with the cartridge cover and dust cover in place.
Fig. is a bottom view of the apparatus of the present invention with the bottom cover removed. I-` Fig. 4A is an enlarged exploded front perspective view ox the drive mechanism of the present inventiondesign.
Fig. 4B is an exploded front perspective view of an alternate clutch arrangement of the present invention design.
Fig. 4C is an enlarged exploded front perspective view of another alternate clutch arrangement of the present invention design.
Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of the motor drive means of the present invention design.
Fig. 5A is a partial schematic diagram of an alternative arrangement for the circuit illustrated in Fig. 5.
Fig. 6 - Fig. 7 are schematic diagrams of alternate electronic embodiments of the motor drive means of the present invention design.
Fig. is a diagrammatic view of the apparatus of the present invention design in use as an open reel-to-cartridge tape adapter.
Fig. 9 - Fig. 11 are diagrammatic views illustrating the modes of use of the present invention design as a magnetic tape repair fixture.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The apparatus of the present design illustrated generally at 1 in Fig. 1, has a rectangular prism-shaped housing 2 including longitudinally extending front and rear walls 3 and I, respectively, and transversely extending end walls 5. The upper portion of this rectangular prism-shaped housing 2 forms a generally planar upper mounting surface 6. If desired, a flat bottom plate 7 may be provided. The exterior of housing 2 may be Jo provided with a pleasing wood-grained or other decorative surface inish. I.
A generally U-shaped mounting brackst 8 having an elongated horizontal web portion extending in spaced parallel relationship with the undersurface of upper mounting plate 6 is mounted thereto by means of vertically depending spacer elements 9. Web portion 9 mounts first and second horizontally spaced reversible DC drive motors 11 and 12, respectively.. Each motor includes an upwardly extending shaft 13 bearing a sheave 14. Electronically controlled currents are supplied in the present invention design to motors 11 and 12 by means of electrical conductors (wires I5-1~ as will be described in more detail hereinafter. Furthermore, it will be understood that motors 11 and 12 may be fastened to their respective web portions by various mounting means.
Each of motors 11 and 12 has associated therewith friction clutch means, designated generally at 19 which is rotatably secured to web portion 9 of shaped mounting - bracket 8 by means of vertically extending shaft 20 positioned outwardly from the associated drive motor. As best shown ln Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, friction clutch means 19 includes an annular shell member 21 having smooth inner and outer surfaces 22 and 23, respectively. A generally square end plate 24 nonrotatably abuts the lower edge of shell member 21, and may be secured thereto by gluing or the like. A bearing surface may be provided by one or more annular spacers and/or washers 25 positioned on shaft 20 between plate 2~ and the upper surface of web portion 9.
A generally cylindrical vertically oriented clutch member 26 having a smooth outer surface 27 is positioned between the lower surface of upper mounting plate 6 and the upper surface of web portion 9, and is rotatably secured to vertically extending shaft 20 by means of a '7~;~L6 cooperating central bore 2~ extending through clutch member 26. The upper end of clutch member 26 is provided with an annular connecting member 29 which extends through a suitably dimensioned opening 30 in mounting plate 6.
S The upper surface o connecting member 29 is nonrotatably secured to the underside of disc-like turntables 31 and 31', which are rotatably secured to shaft 20 as at 32 so that the upper end of shaft 20 forms a hub portion 33.
The upper surface of turntables 31 and 31' may also be provided with a foam-like mat 34 to provide a resil-ient support for a conventional magnetic tape reel positioned on the turntables and centered on hub 33.
Pressure pad means shown generally at 35 comprising a layer 36 of welt or felt-like material is wrapped about the outer surface 27 of clutch member 26 so as to be positioned in a slightly compressed condition between clutch member 26 and annular shell member 21. Inasmuch as the surface of the felt layer 36 is slightly roughened, a frictional force will be produced to transfer rotational movement from annular shell member 21 to clutch member 26.
It will be understood that the friction clutch means 19 described provides transfer of torque, from annular shell member 21 to cause rotation of turntables 31 and 31' while permitting slippage between these members to prevent destructive overloads to drive motors 11 and 12 while in normal operational use, or in the event the tape associated with the reels positioned on the turntables binds. In any event, pressure pad means 35 is not fixedly attached to either the inner surface 22 of annular shell member 21 or the smooth outer surface 27 of clutch member 26. It will be observed that this method of construction provides a smoother and improved operation, and facilitates assembly of the clutch means using inexpensive plastic or metallic parts, while avoiding critically close manufacturing tolerances.
. `` ~lg'7616 While for puxposes ox an exemplary showing, the present invention has been described and illustrated ln connection with a cylinder type clutch, it will be understood that other types of clutch mechanisms such as flat or disc types may be used as well. For example, as illustrated in Fig.4B, the clutch means may be provided with a generally cylindrical vertically oriented clutch member 123 having a smooth upper end or face 124 which non-rotatably mounts a vertically extending cylindrical shaft or axle 125. Clutch member 123 is rotated by means of a drive belt 37 in the manner described in connection with the embodiment of Fig. 4A.
A disc-like pad or layer 136 of felt or other felt-like material having a centxal opening 137 is rotatably secured over shaft 125 such that the lower surface of pad 136 frictionally engages the upper end or face of clutch member 124. Turntable 134 similar to turntable 34 described hereinbefore in connection with the embodiment of Fig. 4A is rotatably mounted to shaft 125, such that the lower surface of the turntable, designated 138 frictionally engages the upper surface of felt or felt-like pad 136. Consequently, when clutch member 123 is rotated, a rotational force is also transmitted to turntable 134 to cause rotation thereof through pad 136.
In an alternate arrangement illustrated in Fig. 4C, where elements similar to those described in connection with the embodiment of Fig. 4B have been similarly designated, the upper end or face of clutch member 123 may be enlarged as at 124a. Likewise, felt or felt-like pad 136a may be enlarged and the frictionally engaging lower surface 138a of turntable 134 may also be enlarged. This arrangement provides greater surface area for insuring positive drive of the turntable from clutch member 123.
It will be understood in both embodiments described that felt pad 136 is not connected to either the turntable i_ ~9~
nor the clutch member.
It will be understood that motors 11 and 12 may also comprise alternating cuxrent-motors. In this case, the clutch means may be eliminated, if desired.
S A continuous strap-like resilient drive belt 37 is provided with a full twist and is secured around sheave 14 and the outer surface 23 of annular shell member 21 in order to impart rotational motion to turntables 31 and 31' by the appropriate drive motor. It will be observed that 10 the direction of rotation of the turntables will be the same as the direction of rotation of the associated motor shaft 13. In addition, bar-like belt guides 38 may ye provided between the underside of mounting plate 6 and drive belts 37, respectively, as required.
Cartriage means, shown generally at 39, extends outwardly fxom the ùpper edge of rear wall 4 of rectangular prism-shaped housing 2. In general, cartridge means 39 will be positioned between and approximately in the plane of turntables 31 and 31'. For purposes of an 20 exemplary showing, cartridge means 39 comprises a generally rectangular prism-shaped housing 40 having a configuration adapted to be inserted in the usual magnetic cartridge tape player in lieu of a cartridge. Housing 40 includes a vertically extending rear wall 41 including a 25 vertically extending opening 42 dimensioned to permit magnetic tape to be threaded from a reel of tape positioned on the left-hand turntables 31, as viewed in Fig. 1. Rear wall 41 also includes another vertically extending opening 43, spaced to the right of opening 42, 30 for guiding magnetic tape to a tape reel positioned on the other turntables 31'.
Guide means, illustrated generally at 44, are positioned adjacent the front edge of cartridge housing 44. Guide mean 44 include a vertically extending guide 35 post 45 positioned at one front corner of cartridge 9~ G
housing 40 generally in line with entrance opening 42, and a rotatably mounted resilient pinch roller 46 mounted on vertically extending support shaft 47 positioned at the opposite front corner of cartridge housing 40. A
resilient pressure pad member 48 extends partially between guide post 45 and roller 46 to provide a back-up for the magnetic tape when cartridge means 39 is inserted in a conventional cartridge tape recorder/player as illustrated in Fig. 8. It will be observed that pressure pad member 10 ~8 positions the magnetic tape against the record/play tape head 49 of the cartridge tape player when cartridge means 39 is inserted into the cooperating cartridge slot 50 in the recorder/player housing shown generally at 51.
Furthermore, roller 46 urges the magnetic tape against the r 15 drive capstan 52 of the tape recorder/playex unit.
However, as described hereinabove, the magnetic tape is moved during fast forward and reverse operation solely by means of electric drive motors 11 and 12, rather than by means of the tape recorder/player drive capstan 52, as is 20 normally accomplished with the record/play or fast forward functions associated with the cartridge tape recorder/p}ayer unit itself.
As best shown in Fig. 2, cartridge housing 40 may be furnished with a removable overlying lid or cover 53 for 25 accessing the interior of the cartridge means 39 to position the magnetic tape therein.
Cartridge housing 40 also mounts a centrally located upwardly extending generally cylindrical shaft 54 which rotatably mounts a removable tape reel 55. As will he 30 described in more detail hereinafter, tape reel S5 may be of the type commonly found in a conventional tape cartridge, or may be of the type uaed in open reel applications. In any event, tape reel 55 is positioned within cartridge housing 40 so that magnetic tape may be 35 fed to or from the reel through either of opening 42 or 43.
Fig. S illustrates a schematic diagram showing means for electronically controllàng the operation of first and second drive motors 11 and 12, respectively. Primary power is supplied through main disconnecting switch Sl, which may be of the illuminated variety, to the primary winding of transformer Tl. The secondary winding of the transformer is connected through a full wave bridge rectifier consisting of diodes Dl-D4 to filter capacitor Cl to produce a stable DC voltage on line 56 to provide a source of DC current.
hree ganged multiple pole switches S2A, S2B, and S2C
control the operation of drive motors 11 and 12 in the REV
(reverse), R/P (record/play), FF (fast forward) and OFF
modes. The stationary pole of switch S2A is connected to conductor 15 of first motor 11, while the stationary pole of switch S2B is connected to conductor 17 of second motor 12. Return conductors 16 and 18 of motors 11 and 12, respectively, are connected to the stationary pole of switch S2C.
Switch S2A, which controls the operation of motor 11, includes the FF pole connected to DC supply line 56, the R/P pole connected through current limiting resistors Rl and R6 to the DC supply line, and the REV pole connected through variable resistor R2 and fixed current limiting resistor R3 to ground. Capacitor C2 provides filtering and functions as a simple capacitive discharge system to boost the initial current flow when motor 11 is turned on to power the supply reel during reverse operation.
Similarly, the REV pole of switch S2B is connected to round, while the FF pole is connected through variable resistor R~ and fixed current limiting resistor R5 to DC
supply line 56. Capacitor C3 also provides filtering and functions as a simple capacitive discharge system to boost the initial current flow when motor 12 is turned on to ~i97~i:16 power the supply reel during fast forward operation.
Finally, the REV pole of switch S2C is connected to the DC supply line, while the poles designated R/P ana FF
are connected to ground.
It will be observed from Fig. 5 that with the switches in the OFF position, no current flow is permitted to either of the motors. With the switches in the R/P
position, a current determined by resistors Rl and R6 is supplied to motor 11 to cause this motor to operate in the forward direction, while no current is supplied to motor lo. In this mode of operation with cartridge housing 44 engaged in the tape cartridge recorder/player unit, for example, the magnetic tape will be caused to pass in a forward direction at a relatively constant speed from a supply reel positioned on turntable 31 to a take-up reel powered by motor if positioned on turntable 31'. In this mode of operation, the magnetic tape may be played or recorded by the conventional cartridge tape record/player unit. It will be observed that inasmuch as the tape is driven in a single direction in the record/play mode of operation, the user may easily select any of the channels associated wit'n the tape by means of an appropriate selection switch located on the tape player (not shown) thus increasing the user's listening potential during play back.
In the REV mode of operation, the drive motors are driven in clockwise directions as viewed from above at constant speeds to cause the magnetic tape to pass from one reel to the other reel in a direction opposite to the forward mode of operation. With switches S2A-S2C in this position, a reverse current is supplied to first drive motor ll determined by the value of current limiting resistor R3 and the setting ox variable resistor R2.
Similarly, a reverse current of treater magnitude is supplied to second drive motor 12. Consequently, both '7~i~6 motors will be driven in the reverse direction; however, more current and consequently~more torque will be supplied to drive motor 12 associated with the magnetic tape -take-up real. This mode o operation decreases the torque drag associated with motor 12 coupled to the supply tape reel in order to "push" the tape through the cartridge guarding against tape stretching or breaking, while applying a relatively constant force to the tape to insure a loose uniform winding - Similarly, in the FF mode of operation, the drive motors are driven at relatively constant speeds in a counterclockwise direction to causs the magnetic tape to pass from the supply reel to the take-up reel at a rate greater than the rate in the R/P forward mode. Full DC
current is suplied to drive motor 11 from supply line 56, while attenuated forward current is supplied through resistors ~4 and R5 to drive motor 12. Depending on the setting of variable resistor R4, the current and consequently the torque supplied to second drive motor 12 will be less than that supplied to drive motor 11.
Consequently, the back torque associated with motor 11 will be reduced to guard against tape stretching or breaking, while at the same time permitting a relqtively constant force to be applied to the magnetic tape as it is "pushed" through the cartridge.
A modification may also be made to the circuit illustrated in Fig. 5 by removing resistors Rl and R6, disconnecting the R/P pole of switch S2C from ground, and returning this pole of the switch to the lowermost node of the full wave bridge rectifier as illustrated by dashed line lOO. This permits a lower voltage to be supplied to the motors, and is particularly advantageous in connection with the clutch designs of Fig. 4B and Fig. 4C. As a further modification, a diode D5 may be connected between the uppermost node of the full wave rectifier and the pole designated R/P of switch S2A. Furthermore, a capacitor C4 may be connected between the poles R/P of switch sections S2A and S2C. Again, this c~nfi~uration permits a lower voltage to be provided to the motors As illustrated in Fig. 5A, a reversing switch comprising switch sections S3A and S3B may also be provided in connection with the embodiment of Fig. 5 to cause the turntables to revolve in a direction opposite to the usual forward direction. In this arrangement, the circuit will operate in the manner described hereinbefore when ganged switches S3A and S3B are in the upper position. However, when the switches art in the lower position, the voltages apply to the R/P poles of switch sections S2A and S2C will be reversed, thereby reversing the direction of rotation of the turntables.
An alternate embodiment for the control means of the present invention is illustrated in the schematic diagram of Fig. 6. Voltage from the secondary winding of transformer Tl is applied to a voltage doubler circuit formed by diodes D5 and D6, and capacitors C4 and C5. It will be understood that the voltage appearing on the cathode of diode D5 forming high DC voltage line 57, will be approximately twice the voltage appearing on low DC
voltage line 58 at the junction of capacitors C4 and C5.
In the REV mode of operation, attenuated reverse current is supplied to motor 11 through a current path established through resistors R6-R8. It will be observed that the voltage applied to this current path will be approximately one half the voltage appearing on DC supply line 57. At the same time, a reverse current established by resistor R6 and the full DC voltage appearing on line 57 is applied to second drive motor 12. Consequently, as in the preceding embodiment, more current and torque will be supplied to drive motor 12 than to drive motor 11.
In the R/P mode of operation, the current supplied to motor 11 is established by the difference in the voltages appearing on lines 57 and 58, and the value of resistor R~. No current is supplied to motor 12. Consequent I, the apparatus operates to drivë the magnetic tape in a forward -direction for playing or recording by the associatedcartridge tape player/xecorder.
Ih the FF moda of operation, a current is supplied to drive motor 11 corresponding to the value of resistor R6 and the voltage on supply line 57. A corresponding current is supplied to drive motor 12 depending on the voltage on supply line 58 and the value ox resistors R9 and R10. Again, in this mode of operation, drive motor 11 will be supplied with a greater current and consequently more torque than drive motor 12.
Fig. 7 illustrates a third embodiment of the control means of the present invention where similar components have been given similar designations. It will be observed that this embodiment also includes a voltage doubler and also makes use of a center tap transformer secondary winding. In the REV mode of operation, the reverse current supplied to first motor 11 is established by the value of resistor Rll and the difference between the voltage appearing on center tap transformer secondary line 59 and supply line 57. Similarly, the reverse current supplied to motor 12 is established by the voltage on supply line 57. Inasmuch as the voltage supplied to motor 12 is greater than the voltage applied to motor 11, motor 12 will produce more torque than motor 11.
In the R/P mode of operation, the current supplied to motor 11 is established by the value of resistor ~11 and the voltage difference between supply lines 57 and 58. No current is supplied to motor 12.
In the FF mode of operation, the forward current supplied to motor 11 is determined by the value of resistor Rll and the voltage on supply line 57, while a 7~
lesser current supplied to motor 12 is determined by the lowsr voltage appearing on supply line 59. Consequently, less torque will be suppliea to motor 12 than to motor 11 in a manner similar to that described hereinabove.
The use of the apparatus of the present invention design-as a tape handling and repair tool is illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 9-Fig. 11. For example, in Fig.
9 apparatus 1 is used to wind magnetic tape from a conventional cartridge reel 60 positioned on shaft 54 of cartridge means 39 onto a take-up reel 61 positioned on turntable 31' driven by motor 11. It will be observed that with switch S2 in the R/P mode, the right-hand turntable 31' viewed in Fig. 9 will be driven in a counterclockwise direction to wind the magnetic tape onto reel 61 with the magnetic surface facing inwardly.
Consequently, the apparatus serves to reverse the direction of wrap of the tape while using the unit as an open reel to cartridge adapter or in those situations where a conventional open reel with an inwardly facing magnetic tape surface is desired. It will be further understood that cartridge means 39 may be removed and replaced by any conventional tape cartridge, including those containing damaged or broken tape that are designated for the repair process, or the tape reel inside the cartridge itself may be removed from the cartridge, placed into a cartridge (not shown, and wound on reel 61 as is illustrated with cartridge 39. This process facilitates repair of the cartridge tape and may be used in connection with a conventional splicing mechanism, not shown.
Fig. 10 illustrates the use of apparatus 1 where magnetic tape is wound from a conventional eight track or other type of cartridge reel 60 positioned on the left-hand turntable 31 onto a take-up reel 61 positioned on the right-hand turntable 31', with switch S2 in the R/P
1~1l9'7~
mode. It will be observed that in this mode of operation, tha magnetic tape is wound on take-up reel 61 with the magnetic surface acing outwardly.
Finally, in Fig. 11, a take-up reel 61 having the tape wrapped in such a manner that the magnetic surface faces outwardly is positioned on shaft 54 of cartridge means 3~. With switch S2 in the REV mode, the left-hand turntable 31 bearing a large take-up reel 62 will rotate in the direction shown to wrap the magnetic tape on the reel with the magnetic surface facing inwardly.
From the foregoing, it will be seen that the magnetic tape may be handled independently of the tape recorder/player unit to facilitate splicing and editing of the tape. Furthermore, the tape may be wound from one reel to another at a fast speed in order to insure proper winding tightness to reduce wow and flutter, and other forms of distortion. The tape may also be wound from one reel to another with the magnetic surface of the tape facing in a desired direction.
Furthermore, it might be noted that tape from a damaged cartridge reel may be wound onto an open reel as seen in Fig. 9. The tape will end up being wrapped with the magnetic surface facing outwardly, and will be ready to be spliced together and mounted back inside what was once a damaged cartridge. Likewise, using the procedure of a change in Fig. 11, the smaller reel may be placed inside the cartridge, and cartridge reel may be positioned on the turntable 31.
It will be understood that various changes and/or modifications in the details, materials, steps and arrangement of parts which have been herein described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of the invention may be made by those skilled in the art within the principle and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims. For example, although for purposes 76~6 of an exemplary showing, the apparatus has been described and illustrated in connection with magnetic tape, it will be understood that the device is similarly usable with movie film and the like. Furthermore, it will also be understood that cartridge means 39 may be replaced by any other conventional type of cartridge or cassette unit to permit other types of cartridge to open reel operation.
In addition, while the invention has been shown in connection with electronic drive means, it will be understood that mechanical drive means may be utilized as well.
The concept of the multi-purpose tool of the present - invention is founded on the need for special apparatus capble of serving in the capacity of handling a wide variety and multitude of problems confronting toe average user of magnetic tape recording/playing equipment. The unit is capable of serving independently or in conjunction with the basic stereo system by means of which the usual cartridge recorder/player unit may perforrn in the usual manner of recording on, or playing tape that has been subjected to the adaption process, or by which damaged partridge module means once repaired through the use of the present invention's features, may be played as usual.
Similarly, both processes may be jointly performed in conjunction with the usual cartridge recorder/player stereo type system allowing for programming to be recorded on the tape, or editing, splicing or ordinary listening to the tape channels for personal enjoyment as the damaged cartridge is simultaneously being repaired.
The unit of the present invention design minimizes excessive bulk of component equipment usually associated with mono-purpose stereo electronic equipment, and serves as the first means of its kind capable of salvaging defective cartridge tape modules.
Overlooked by previous art, the conceptual design of the present invention as described hereinabove is indispensable and enables users of the invention to employ the process of repairing damaged cartridge tape moduPas, thus making it no longer necessary for panic at the possibly distruction of defective or damaged tape cartridge modules. In fact, the invented unit as presently configured is capable ox salvaging much of those tapes usually presumed totally destroyed by utiliæing various means of wrapping and unwrapping of tape according to the designed process of alignment of the magnetic surface and backing process of orientation, while also being made to serve in the dual capacity of an improved open reel-to-cartridge adapter component.
The versatile design of the structure of the present invention permits users to repair damage tape cartridge modules, record and/or play open reel tapes in conjunction with the usual cartridge recorder/player tape system, or perform both of the above at the same time in conjunction with the other. A direct correlation and relationship exists between the two processes since proper editing of the tape requires that the user hear that which is being repaired. Consequently, the present unit encompasses apparatus serving in the dual capacity of a tool as well as an electronic stereo tape recorder/player adapter component.
Claims (26)
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. Apparatus for handling and repairing magnetic recording tape and the like comprising first and second spaced turntables for supporting, respectively, supply and take-up reels of magnetic recording tape, a reversible drive motor rotating each of said turntables in a desired direction, an adapter for adapting open reel tapes to a cartridge tape recorder/player and configured to be inserted in the usual magnetic tape recorder/player in lieu of a cartridge for enabling the tape supplied from the supply reel to be played by the recorder/player, and a reel support for rotatably supporting a reel of magnetic tape to permit the tape to be wound on a take-up reel position on either of the turntables to facili-tate repair of damaged tapes.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1 including a housing having a generally planar upper mounting surface, said turntables overlying said mounting surface, said adapter extending outwardly from said housing and being positioned between and generally in the plane of said turntables, said adapter comprising a generally rectangular prism-shaped housing having a configuration adapted to be inserted in the usual magnetic cartridge tape recorder/player in lieu of a cartridge, said housing having an entrance opening adjacent the rear edge for accepting magnetic tape from a reel of tape positioned on one of said turntables, a guide for guiding the tape across the frontmost magnetic tape player engaging edge of said cartridge, and an exit opening positioned in the rear edge of said cartridge housing and spaced from said entrance opening for guiding tape to a tape reel positioned on the other one of said turntables.
3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said motors comprise first and second horizontally spaced reversible drive motors positioned beneath said mounting surface, an electronic circuit for controlling the operation of said drive motors, and a friction clutch coupling each of said motors to an associated one of said turntables.
4. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said friction clutches comprise an annular shell member having inner and outer surfaces, a generally cylindrical vertically oriented clutch member positioned beneath and rotatably secured to said mounting surface, and pressure pads positioned between and frictionally engaging the outer surface of said clutch member and the inner surface of said shell member.
5. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said pressure pad means comprises a layer of partially compressed felt-like material.
6. The apparatus according to claim 5 including a continuous strap-like belt having a full twist drivingly joining said motor to said shell member.
7. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said adapter is removably attached to said apparatus housing.
8. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said guide includes a vertically extending guide post positioned at one front corner of said cartridge housing generally in line with said entrance opening, a rotatably mounted roller positioned at the opposite front corner of said cartridge housing, and a resilient pressure pad extending partially between said guide post and said roller for providing a back-up surface to the magnetic tape.
9. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said reel support comprises an upwardly extending shaft positioned within said cartridge housing forwarding of said openings, said shaft being configured to rotatably secure a tape reel to said cartridge housing such that a magnetic tape may pass from said reel to one at least of said entrance and exit openings.
10. The apparatus according to claim 3 including a lid removably secured to said cartridge housing for accessing the interior of said adapter for positioning the magnetic tape therein.
11. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said elec-tronic circuit comprises a circuit for driving said drive motors in a forward direction at a constant speed to cause the tape to pass from a supply reel positioned on one of said turn tables to a take-up reel positioned on the other of said turn tables in a forward direction suitable for recording or playing the tape with an associated magnetic cartridge tape recorder/player into which said adapter is inserted.
12. The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said motor drive circuit comprises a circuit for applying a first current to the motor drive associated with the turntable supporting the take-up reel.
13. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said motor drive circuit includes a reverse drive circuit for driving said drive motors in a reverse direction at a constant speed to cause the tape to pass from the take-up reel to the supply reel in a direction opposite to said forward tape direction.
14. The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said reverse driving circuit includes a circuit for reducing the pulling force applied to the tape.
15. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said reverse driving circuit comprises a circuit for applying a second current to the drive motor associated with the turntable supporting the take-up reel of opposite direction to said first current and a circuit for applying a third current to the other of said drive motors of the same polarity and greater magnitude.
16. The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said motor drive circuit includes a circuit or driving said drive motors in a fast forward direction at a constant speed to cause the tape to pass from the supply reel to the take-up reel at a rate greater than the rate in the forward direction.
17. The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said fast forward driving circuit includes a circuit for reducing the pulling force supplied to the tape.
18. The apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said fast forward driving circuit comprises a circuit for supplying a fourth current to the motor associated with the take-up turntable of greater magnitude than and of the same polarity as said first current and a circuit for supplying a current to the other of said drive motors of the same polarity and lesser magnitude than said fourth current.
19. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said motor control circuit comprises a circuit for driving said drive motors in a forward direction at a constant speed to cause the tape to pass from a supply reel positioned on one of said turntables to a take-up reel positioned on the other of said turntables in a forward direction suitable for recording or playing the tape with an associated magnetic cartridge tape player/recorder into which said adapter is inserted, a circuit for driving said drive motors in a reverse direction at a constant speed to cause the tape to pass from the take-up reel to the supply reel in a direction opposite the said forward tape direction, and a circuit for driving said drive motors in a fast forward direction at a constant speed to cause the tape to pass from the supply reel to the take-up reel at a rate greater than the rate in the forward direction.
20. The apparatus according to claim 19 wherein at least one of said reverse driving and said fast forward driving circuits includes a circuit for supplying a greater current to the motor associated with the take-up reel than to the motor associated with the supply reel.
21. The apparatus according to claim 20 wherein said current supplying circuit includes a voltage doubler for supplying a first voltage to the motor associated with the supply reel and a second voltage of greater magnitude than said first voltage to the motor associated with the take-up reel.
22. The apparatus according to claim 20 including a circuit for adjusting the current supplied to at least one of said first and second drive motors.
23. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said friction clutch comprises a generally cylindrical vertically oriented clutch member having an upper end face positioned beneath and rotatably secured to said mounting surface and pressure pads positioned between and frictionally engaging the upper end face of said clutch member and the lower surface of -the associated one of said turntables.
24. The apparatus according to claim 21 wherein said voltage doubler includes a transformer having a center tap secondary wind-ing for producing said first and second voltages.
25. The apparatus according to claim 23 wherein said upper end face and said pad are enlarged to provide more frictional surface area between said pad and said face and said pad and the lower surface of said turntable.
26. The apparatus according to claim 23 wherein said pad is unattached to said clutch member and said turntable.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000395734A CA1197616A (en) | 1982-02-08 | 1982-02-08 | Multi-purpose cartridge recording tape adapter and repair tool |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000395734A CA1197616A (en) | 1982-02-08 | 1982-02-08 | Multi-purpose cartridge recording tape adapter and repair tool |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1197616A true CA1197616A (en) | 1985-12-03 |
Family
ID=4121997
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000395734A Expired CA1197616A (en) | 1982-02-08 | 1982-02-08 | Multi-purpose cartridge recording tape adapter and repair tool |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1197616A (en) |
-
1982
- 1982-02-08 CA CA000395734A patent/CA1197616A/en not_active Expired
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |