GB1593679A

GB1593679A - Method of and apparatus for handling tape in the rendition of a taped programme

Info

Publication number: GB1593679A
Application number: GB4450377A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: ELECTRO MAC SALES
Current assignee: ELECTRO MAC SALES
Priority date: 1976-10-27
Filing date: 1977-10-26
Publication date: 1981-07-22
Also published as: IT1116281B; NL7711840A; ES472948A1; JPS54112603A; DE2748244A1

Description

(54) METHOD OF, AND APPARATUS FOR, HANDLING TAPE IN THE RENDITION OF A TAPED PROGRAMME (71) We, ELECTRO MAC SALES, a corporation organised and existing under the laws of the State of Louisiana, United States of America of 573 Wellham Loop, La Place, Louisiana 70068, United States of America, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us and the method by which it is to be performed to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates generally to a method of, and apparatus for, handling tape in the rendition of a taped programme.

Heretofore, the tape of a taped programme of the length of a movie, television show, or musical show, has been loaded on a turntable by winding it from the center outward, thereby varying the length of tape per revolution of the turntable directly with the radius of the winding. The outer end of the tape is led through an associated apparatus for the rendition of the taped programme, and out to be rewound from center on a second turntable. When the programme ends, it can be replayed from the second turntable back onto the first turntable. The two turntables are required because they must turn at varying speeds to deliver and take up tape at a constant linear rate from turntable windings of varying radii.

Also, in the prior art, winding tape from the center of a reel through a cooperating apparatus for the rendition of the taped programme and peripherally re-winding it back on the same reel has necessarily been confined to very short lengths of tape loosely wound to allow for slippage and friction between windings due to the reel turning several times to ree off from the center the same lengths of tape that are peripherally reeled on in less than one revolution.

An object of the invention is to provide a method of, and apparatus for, loading and unloading the tape of a taped programme on a single turntable in equal amounts per revolution of the turntable.

From one aspect this invention provides a method of storing a tape on a turntable comprising the steps of: winding onto a turntable substantially equal lengths of tape per revoluation of the turntable beginning with the starting end of said tape and progressing to the finishing end thereof, the initial and following windings being sequentially wound near the periphery of the turntable with each winding displacing radially inward the preceding windings which become increasingly curved as the substantially equal lengths thereof are constricted by progressively decreasing distance from the axis of the turntable; and holding the tape on edge against the turntable along a plurality of radii of the turntable and permitting movement of the tape radially along each of the plurality of radii while restricting circumferential movement of the tape across each of the plurality of radii.

This invention further provides a method of storing a tape on a turntable for repetitive winding and unwinding comprising the steps of: winding onto a turntable substantially equal lengths of tape per revolution of the turntable beginning with the starting end of said tape and progressing to the finishing end thereof, the initial and following windings being sequentially wound near the periphery of the turntable with each winding displacing radially inward the preceding windings which become increasingly curved as the substantially equal lengths thereof are constricted by progressively decreasing distance from the axis of the turntable; holding the tape on edge against the turntable along a plurality of radii of the turntable and permitting movement of the tape radially along each of the plurality of radii while restricting circumferential movement of the tape across each of the plurality of radii; drawing the starting end from adjacent the center of the turntable; and joining the finishing and starting ends of said tape in an off turntable bight.

This invention also provides a method of repeating a taped programme for rendition by associated apparatus for any desired number of times comprising the steps of: winding onto a turntable substantially equal lengths of tape per revolution of the turntable beginning with the starting end of said tape and progressing to the finishing end thereof, the initial and following windings being sequentially wound near the periphery of the turntable with each winding displacing radially inward the preceding windings which become increasingly curved as the substantially equal lengths thereof are constricted by progressively decreasing distance from the axis of the turntable; drawing the starting end from adjacent the center of the turntable; joining the finishing and starting ends of said tape in an off turntable bight; passing the tape through associated apparatus for the rendition of the taped programme; and returning the tape to the turntable adjacent the periphery thereof in endless repetition for any desired number of renditions of the taped programme.

nits apparatus aspect, this invention provides tape handling apparatus comprising: a turntable rotatable about an axis; means for holding a tape wound on the turntable on edge against the turntable along a plurality of radii of the turntable and permitting movement of the tape radially along each of the plurality of radii while preventing circumferential movement of the tape across each of the plurality of radii; and means for winding substantially equal lengths of tape per revolution of the turntable remote from the axis of the turntable while progressively displacing preceding windings inwardly by succeeding windings.

Specific embodiments of both the method and apparatus aspects of this invention will now be described by way of example, and not by way of limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic side view of turntable apparatus in accordance with this invention in use in conjunction with rendition apparatus; Fig. 2 is a three-dimensional view from top and side of a turntable apparatus such as is shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary side view of the turntable apparatus with several parts shown in cross-section; Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a part of the turntable apparatus as shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of an energizing circuit common to the turntable apparatus in accordance with this invention and associated rendition apparatus; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of turntable apparatus in accordance with this invention depicting the tape handling system thereof; Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a drive means of tape handling system of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is an enlarged view of the means for holding the tape on edge against the turntable in the apparatus of Fig. 6; Fig. 9 is an enlarged view of the tape holding means and drive means for putting the tape onto the turntable in the apparatus of Fig. 6; and Fig. is an enlarged view of the means for applying the tape to the turntable in the apparatus of Fig. 6.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings, and first to Figs. 1 to 4, the turntable apparatus comprises a hollow stationary shaft 10 on which is mounted for rotation a turntable 12. A wide, flat belt 14 is mounted peripherally around turntable 12, and drives it in rotation. Belt 14 extends upwardly from turntable 12 to define a peripheral flange 16 around most of the circumference of turntable 12 leaving a space 18 defined between two spacing rollers 20 mounted adjacent to turntable 12 and spaced peripherally apart and on which belt 14 travels out and around drive rollers 22 to permit the feeding of tape 24 of a taped programme onto turntable 12 in equal windings 25 thereon as made against flange 16. A ring 26 is suspensively supported above turntable 12 by a number of radial arms 28 mounted for rotation around stationary shaft 10. The ring 26 carries a plurality of pressure pads 30 fixed to the side of the ring 26 to frictionally engage upper edges 31 of windings 25 with a spring biased lower part 32. Windings 25 curve equally inward on turntable 12 between pressure pads 30 to follow progressively more fluted or scalloped paths (see Figure 2). Lower part 32 of each pressure pad 30 is biased downwardly by springs 35 mounted between upperpart 33 and lower part 32. As shown in the drawing, the end of each pad 30 engages belt 14 along the peripheral flange 16, so that the pressure pads 30 and ring 26 are rotated in synchronism with the turntable 12.

Stationary shaft 10 defines holes 34 above and below radial arms 28 through which tape 24 is led off turntable 12 to be connected to the end 36 of tape 24 to form a closed loop, all of which, except for an off-turntable bight 37, is wound in turntable 12. The bight is left free for feeding through an associated taped programme apparatus 38 and back onto the turntable. The tape is directed through guides 39 for preventing slack and around rollers 43 mounted in said shaft respectively adjacent said holes 34 in said shaft.

By rotating the turntable, tape 24 is wound on table 12 under pads 30. At first, each winding 25 comprises a series of chords 40 between pressure pads 30. Each succeeding winding 25 pushes the preceding winding 25 into progressively more curved paths 41 as the equal lengths of tape per revolution of the turntable between radially oriented pressure pads 30 fits between progressively less space between pads 30 as the center of table 12 is approached.

Tape 24 is simultaneously fed on and off turntable 12 and through cooperative apparatus 38 for the rendition of taped programme in equal amounts of tape per revolu tion of turntable 12 and thus without slippage and friction between the windings 25 on table 12.

A motor 42 drives rollers 22 to rotate turntable 12 by means of belt 14 and feed the tape on table 12. Associated apparatus 38 draws tape 24 off the turntable at requisite speed. Motor 42 is controlled by a rheostate 44 operable by a swinging arm 46 pivoted thereto, and having a roller 48 engaging the free bight 37 of the tape 24 between associated apparatus 38 and turntable 12 regulating the speed of motor 42 to maintain a tension on the tape commensurate with the rate of withdrawal by associated apparatus 38.

Motor 42 and taped-programmeapparatus 38 can be scheduled to turn off after every completed passage of the taped programme there-around and through, or to finally cutoff after every third, or more, or less completed passages for a period of time until the next days' schedule of running the taped programme. Thus, the running of the taped programme after winding on turntable 12 is entirely automatic, to leave only monitoring for possible tape breakage and taped-programme-apparatus failure which can be accomplished from a single station for any desired number of performances in any desired number of performance places.

For purposes of the application "tape" includes motion picture film, video tape, and magnetic tape, and a "taped programme" includes any transcription thereon for rendition therefrom.

The turntable apparatus in cooperation with the associated rendition apparatus 38, can be automated by adding an off-on switch 50 to a common energizing circuit 52, therefor, that is operable by a time responsive element 54, whereby a schedule of daily renditions of the programme can be set on said time responsive element 54 for daily repetitions of said schedule for an indefinite period (see Figure 5).

A further embodiment of the turntable apparatus is shown in Figures 6 to 10. As shown in these figures, the improved system differs from the system of Figures 1 to 4 in: 1 The drive means for the turntable; 2 the means for holding the tape on edge against the turntable; 3) the drive means for the holding means; and 4) the means feeding the tape onto the turntable.

As shown in Figures 6 and 7, a turntable 112 is mounted for rotation around a stationary shaft 110 through a plurality of radial arms 109, attached between the under side of the turntable 112 and a bearing collar 108 around the shaft 110. The turntable 112 is mounted to rotate around an inner flanged plate 107, which is immovably attached to the shaft 110 to facilitate in the removal of the tape 124 from the inner winding on the turntable. The turntable 112 is suspended through the action of the shaft 110 and the radial arms 109 and collar 108 at a selected distance above the floor by the attachment of the shaft 110 to a carriage 106 through a plate 105.

The tape 124 to be wound on and off simultaneously from the turntable 112 in equal amounts per revolution of the turntable is advantageously held on edge against the turntable 112 by a tape holding means 60 consisting of a plurality of continuous loop belts 104 which frictionally engage the upper edges 131 of windings 125. Belts 104 are positioned above and in line with radius of the turntable 112 and cooperate with a pair of opposing continuous loop belts 103 which are positioned one on each side and contiguous to the radius and in fractional engagement with the lower edge 102 of the tape 124. The belts 104 engage the upper edge of the tape 124 each along a line that is parallel to the associated radius and that lies in a plane that is orthogonal to the surface of the turntable 112 with the plane including both the radius of the turntable and the line between the belt and the edge of the tape that engages the belt. In practice, the position of the pairs of belts and the single belt can be reversed to provide the means for holding the tape on edge against the turntable.

Each end of the belt 104 rotates around pulleys 101 held in place by opposing and cooperating plates 100 secured by an appropriate means to a ring 129 by way of a mounting block 99. Ring 129 is suspensively supported above turntable 112 by a plurality of radial arms 128 mounted for rotation around stationary shaft 110. The radial arms 128 are secured to a bearing collar 98 to which is attached a pulley 97 for rotatably driving the tape holding means. The belts 104, ring 126, arms 128, and collar 98 constitute the tape holding means 60.

Attached to plate 105 is a drive motor 96 which drives the turntable 112, the tape holding means 60, and a tape feed means 70 (see Fig. 10) through a gearbox 95 and cooperating pulleys on a shaft 94. The shaft 94 is mounted to the carriage 106 through plates 92, 93, and 63. The shaft is journalled by bearing blocks 91 and 90. Shaft 94 is coupled to the output of the gearbox 95 through a belt 89 and cooperating pulleys (not shown) around the shaft 94 and the output of the gearbox 95. The turntable 112 is driven from the shaft 94 by a pulley 88 attached to the shaft, a pulley 85 attached to the bearing collar 108, and a drive belt 84 therebetween.

The tape holding means 60 is driven by the combination of a pulley 82 attached to and driven by shaft 94, a belt 81 driven by pulley 82, and pulley 97 driven by belt 81. The tape holding means 60 and turntable 112 are dri ven at the same speed in synchronism so that there is zero relative velocity between the belts 104 and each point on the turntable along the associated radius immediately below each point on the belt. The belts are freely moveable along and adjacent to each associated radius and permit relatively free movement of the wound tape along each radius. At the same time, the belts 103 and 104 cooperate to prevent circumferential movement of the tape.

The means for applying the tape 124 to the turntable 112 i.e. the tape feed means 70 (Figure 10), is supported by a plate 64 attached to plate 93 and is driven as shown in Figures 7 and 9. Attached to the shaft 94 is a pulley 80 for driving the tape feed means 70.

The tape feed means 70 is driven through a belt 79 and a pulley 78 attached to shaft 77.

Also, attached to the shaft 77 is a gear 76 and a gear 75. Gear 75 engages a gear 74 for driving a sprocket 73, which is advantageously used when the tape is photographic film. Gear 76 drives gear 72 which rotates a drive wheel 71, which applies the tape to the turntable 112. The tape is pulled into the tape feed means 70 by the sprocket 73 and is pulled around a idler wheel 69 by the drive wheel 71. The speed of the sprocket 73 and the drive wheel 71 are related to the speed of the turntable 112 and the speed of removal of the inner winding from the center of the turntable 112 so that a length of winding equal to the length of winding removed from the center for each revolution of the turntable 112 is put on as an outer winding for each revolution of the turntable 112. The drive wheel 71 is advantageously driven at a slightly higher speed than that required to accommodate the tape supplied by the sprocket 73, so that the tape is effectually pulled through the sprocket 73 by the drive wheel 71. The drive wheel 71 is positioned relative to the outer periphery of the turntable 112, so that each new winding of the tape 124 is inserted between the belts 103 and 104 of the tape holding means 60. By driving the drive wheel at a slightly higher speed, the tape is also applied to the turntable 112 with essentially no drag or friction between windings on the turntable 112 and the new outer winding.

The tension of the tape off the turntable for the tape handling apparatus of Figures 6 through 10 may be maintained the same as the tension of the tape in the apparatus of Figures 1 through 5.

The tape removed from the apparatus is advantageously taken from the inner winding at a point that causes the least friction and slippage between the tape being removed and the winding left on the turntable.

As shown in Figure 6, the tape 124 is taken from the inner winding and is fed through a pair of rollers 67 and 68 mounted in an opening 66 of the flange of the flanged plate 107.

The tape 124 enters an opening (not shown) in the stationary shaft 110 above the turntable 112 and is removed from the top of the shaft 110 through an opening 65.

Advantageously, the tape is taken from the inner winding at a point slightly beyond the opening 66 in the direction of rotation.

This point may be adjusted by adjusting the off-turntable bight by movement of a roller 59, slidably moveable on rods 58 and 57, and clamped at the desired position on the rods 58 and 57.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A method of storing a tape on a turntable comprising the steps of: winding onto a turntable substantially equal lengths of tape per revolution of the turntable beginning with the starting end of said tape and progressing to the finishing end thereof, the initial and following windings being sequentially wound near the periphery of the turntable with each winding displacing radially inward the preceding windings which become increasingly curved as the substantially equal lengths thereof are constricted by progressively decreasing distance from the axis of the turntable; and holding the tape on edge against the turntable along a plurality of radii of the turntable and permitting movement of the tape radially along each of the plurality of radii while restricting circumferential movement of the tape across each of the plurality of radii.

2. A method of storing a tape on a turntable for repetitive winding and unwinding comprising the steps of: winding onto a turntable substantially equal lengths of tape per revolution of the turntable beginning with the starting end of said tape and progressing to the finishing end theredf, the lnitlal and following windings being sequentially wound near the periphery of the turntable with each winding displacing radially inward the preceding windings which become increasingly curved as the substantially equal lengths thereof are constricted by progressively decreasing distance from the axis of the turntable; holding the tape on edge against the turntable along a plurality of radii of the turntable and permitting movement of the tape radially along each of the plurality of radii while restricting circumferential movement of the tape across each of the plurality of radii; drawing the starting end from adjacent the center of the turntable; and joining the finishing and starting ends of said tape in an off turntable bight.

3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, comprising the further step of: rotating the turntable on a hollow stationary shaft.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. ven at the same speed in synchronism so that there is zero relative velocity between the belts 104 and each point on the turntable along the associated radius immediately below each point on the belt. The belts are freely moveable along and adjacent to each associated radius and permit relatively free movement of the wound tape along each radius. At the same time, the belts 103 and 104 cooperate to prevent circumferential movement of the tape. The means for applying the tape 124 to the turntable 112 i.e. the tape feed means 70 (Figure 10), is supported by a plate 64 attached to plate 93 and is driven as shown in Figures 7 and 9. Attached to the shaft 94 is a pulley 80 for driving the tape feed means 70. The tape feed means 70 is driven through a belt 79 and a pulley 78 attached to shaft 77. Also, attached to the shaft 77 is a gear 76 and a gear 75. Gear 75 engages a gear 74 for driving a sprocket 73, which is advantageously used when the tape is photographic film. Gear 76 drives gear 72 which rotates a drive wheel 71, which applies the tape to the turntable 112. The tape is pulled into the tape feed means 70 by the sprocket 73 and is pulled around a idler wheel 69 by the drive wheel 71. The speed of the sprocket 73 and the drive wheel 71 are related to the speed of the turntable 112 and the speed of removal of the inner winding from the center of the turntable 112 so that a length of winding equal to the length of winding removed from the center for each revolution of the turntable 112 is put on as an outer winding for each revolution of the turntable 112. The drive wheel 71 is advantageously driven at a slightly higher speed than that required to accommodate the tape supplied by the sprocket 73, so that the tape is effectually pulled through the sprocket 73 by the drive wheel 71. The drive wheel 71 is positioned relative to the outer periphery of the turntable 112, so that each new winding of the tape 124 is inserted between the belts 103 and 104 of the tape holding means 60. By driving the drive wheel at a slightly higher speed, the tape is also applied to the turntable 112 with essentially no drag or friction between windings on the turntable 112 and the new outer winding. The tension of the tape off the turntable for the tape handling apparatus of Figures 6 through 10 may be maintained the same as the tension of the tape in the apparatus of Figures 1 through 5. The tape removed from the apparatus is advantageously taken from the inner winding at a point that causes the least friction and slippage between the tape being removed and the winding left on the turntable. As shown in Figure 6, the tape 124 is taken from the inner winding and is fed through a pair of rollers 67 and 68 mounted in an opening 66 of the flange of the flanged plate 107. The tape 124 enters an opening (not shown) in the stationary shaft 110 above the turntable 112 and is removed from the top of the shaft 110 through an opening 65. Advantageously, the tape is taken from the inner winding at a point slightly beyond the opening 66 in the direction of rotation. This point may be adjusted by adjusting the off-turntable bight by movement of a roller 59, slidably moveable on rods 58 and 57, and clamped at the desired position on the rods 58 and 57. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A method of storing a tape on a turntable comprising the steps of: winding onto a turntable substantially equal lengths of tape per revolution of the turntable beginning with the starting end of said tape and progressing to the finishing end thereof, the initial and following windings being sequentially wound near the periphery of the turntable with each winding displacing radially inward the preceding windings which become increasingly curved as the substantially equal lengths thereof are constricted by progressively decreasing distance from the axis of the turntable; and holding the tape on edge against the turntable along a plurality of radii of the turntable and permitting movement of the tape radially along each of the plurality of radii while restricting circumferential movement of the tape across each of the plurality of radii.

4. A method of repeating a taped prog

ramme for rendition by associated apparatus for any desired number of times comprising the steps of: winding onto a turntable substantially equal lengths of tape per revolution of the turntable beginning with the starting end of said tape and progressing to the finishing end thereof, the initial and following windings being sequentially wound near the periphery of the turntable with each winding displaceing radially inward the preceding windings which become increasingly curved as the substantially equal lengths thereof are constricted by progressively decreasing distance from the axis of the turntable drawing the starting end from adjacent the center of the turntable; joining the finishing and starting ends of said tape in an off turnable bight; passing the tape through associated apparatus for the rendition of the taped programme; and returning the tape to the turntable adjacent the periphery thereof in endless repetition for any desired number of renditions of the taped programme.

5. Tape handling apparatus comprising: a turntable rotatable about an axis; means for holding a tape wound on the turntable on edge against the turntable along a plurality of radii of the turntable and permitting movement of the tape radilly along each of the plurality of radii while preventing circumferential movement of the tape across each of the plurality of radii; and means for winding substantially equal lengths of tape per revolution of the turntable remote from the axis of the turntable while progressively displacing preceding windings inwardly by succeeding windings.

6. Apparatus in accordance with Claim 5, wherein the holding means comprises: for each of the plurality of radii, a continuous loop belt for engaging one edge of the windings of the tape in a plane orthogonal to the surface of the turntable and passing through a radius; a pair of cooperating continuous loop belts for engaging the other edge of the windings of the tape on each side of an orthogonal plane; each belt being mounted for movement toward the axis of the turntable of the portion of the belt which touches the tape; and means for mounting either single belt or pairs of belts remote from the surface of the turntable for rotation about the axis of the turntable.

7. Apparatus in accordance with Claim 5, wherein the turntable is rotatably mounted on a hollow stationary shaft; and the holding means comprises a plurality of radial arms mounted for rotation with the turntable on the hollow stationary shaft, a ring supported at the outboard ends of the radial arms, and a plurality of radially extending elongated pressure pads mounted to and beneath the ring and spaced around and above the turntable one pad being in line with each of the plurality of radii of the turntable, the pressure pads having a rigid upper part for securing to the ring and a spring biased lower part for frictionally engaging the upper edges of the tape windings.

8. Apparatus in accordance with any one of Claims 5 to 7 further comprising means for rotating the turntable and the holding means in synchronism.

9. Apparatus in accordance with Claim 8, wherein the rotating means comprises a belt forming a flange around the periphery of the turntable frictionally engaging the turntable and the holding means, and means for driving the belt to rotate the turntable.

10. Apparatus in accordance with Claim 9, wherein the flanging belt provides peripheral backing of a tape wound on the turntable to prevent any outward movement of a tape as it is wound on the turntable.

11. Apparatus in accordance with Claim 10, further comprising spacing rollers adjacent the turntable for defining a tape lead-in space through the peripheral flange of the belt to peripherally wind a tape on the turntable.

12. Apparatus in accordance with any one of claims 5 to 7, further comprising means for rotating the turntable, including a pulley attached to the turntable, a drive motor, and a belt coupling the drive motor to the pulley.

13. Apparatus in accordance with any one of claims 5 to 7, further comprising means for rotating the holding means including a pulley attached to the drive means, a drive motor, and a belt coupling the drive motor to the pulley.

14. Apparatus in accordance with any one of claims 5 to 7, further comprising means for rotating the turntable, including a pulley attached to the turntable, a drive motor, and a belt coupling the drive motor to the pulley; and means for rotating the holding means, including a pulley attached to the holding means and a belt coupling the drive motor to the pulley for rotating the holding means in synchronism with the turntable.

15. Apparatus in accordance with any one of claims 7 to 14, wherein the turntable is rotatably mounted on a hollow stationary shaft and further comprising means for removing a tape wound on the turntable from the center of the turntable comprising a hole in the hollow stationary shaft above and near the surface of the turntable for leading a tape from adjacent the center of the turnt abate, a second hole in the hollow stationary shaft above the first hole for leading a tape clear of the turntable and rollers horizontally mounted respectively adjacent each hole for guiding a tape from the turntable and into and through the hollow stationary shaft.

16. Apparatus in accordance with any one of claims 5 to 15 for handling a tape having a taped programme thereon and further comprising means for leading the end of the inner winding of a tape off the turntable through associated rendition apparatus for the rendition of the taped programme thereof.

17. Apparatus in accordance with claim 16 for handling a tape the ends of which are connected in an off-turntable bight for peripheral rewinding of the tape on the turntable, the apparatus further comprising a variable speed motor for driving the turntable, and a variable speed motor control means mounted to engage a tape in an offturntable bight thereof for sensing the tape tension and varying the speed of the motor in response to the tension of the tape.

8. Apparatus in accordance with any one of claims 5 to 10 or 12 to 17, further comprising a means for applying substantially equal lengths of a tape per revolution of the turntable as the outer winding on the turntable; the applying means comprising a drive sprocket tor drawing a tape into the applying means; a drive wheel for pulling a tape through the sprocket and positioned to apply a tape on the turntable as the outer winding thereon while progressively displacing preceding windings inwardly.

1. Apparatus in accordance with Claim 18, wherein the turntable and the tape holding means are arranged to be rotated in synchronism from a common source, and further comprising means for driving the sprocket and drive wheel of the tape applying means from the common source at selected rotational speeds relative to the rotational speed of the turntable to apply substantially equal lengths of a tape for each revolution of the turntable while minimizing friction and slippage between the windings of a tape on the turntable and a tape being wound onto the turntable.

20. Apparatus in accordance with claim 15 and any one of claims 16 to 19, further including means for adjusting an offturntable bight of a tape to adjust the position of removal of the tape at the inner winding relative to the opening in the hollow stationary shaft.

21. A method of storing tape on a turntable substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.

22. A method of storing tape on a turntable substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 6 to 10 of the accompanting drawings.

23. A method of repeating a taped programme for rendition by associated apparatus for any desired number of times substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

24. Turntable apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, Figs. 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.

25. Turntable apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, Figs. 6 to 10 of the accompanying drawings.