GB2246465A

GB2246465A - Endless tape transport apparatus.

Info

Publication number: GB2246465A
Application number: GB9113438A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Atsuhiro Kubo; Masata Yamamoto
Original assignee: Sony Magnescale Inc
Current assignee: Sony Magnescale Inc
Priority date: 1990-06-28
Filing date: 1991-06-21
Publication date: 1992-01-29
Anticipated expiration: 2011-06-21
Also published as: JP2929126B2; IT1248355B; DE4121288A1; GB2246465B; DE4121288C2; JPH0461657A; GB9113438D0; ITRM910467A1; ITRM910467A0

Description

1 --2-1.. e -9 G, E5 1 EULESS TAPE TRANSPORT APPARATUS This invention

relates to tape transport apparatus for endless tape.

Such apparatus is used, for example, in an announcing machine, in a commercial signal transmitting apparatus, in a master tape transport device of an audio or video tape dubbing apparatus, and generally for repeatedly transporting a magnetic tape on which a predetermined signal has been recorded.

Figure 1 shows a previously proposed endless tape transport apparatus of what might be called a loop bin type. The apparatus comprises a tape compartment 1 called a loop bin in which an endless tape 2 is housed, and a tape transport compartment 3 through which the tape 2 is transported. The tape transport compartment 3 includes therein one tape feeding mechanism 4 formed of a capstan 4a and a pinch roller 4b to draw the tape 2 from the tape compartment 1 through a tape exit la at a predetermined speed, and another tape feeding mechanism 5 formed of a capstan 5a and a pinch roller 5b to transport the tape 2 at a predetermined speed so as to feed it back into the tape compartment 1 through a tape entrance lb. A cue signal detecting head 6. a reproducing head 7 and a recording head 3 are all provided between the tape feeding mechanisms 4 and 5. The cue signal detecting head 6 detects a cue signal on the tape 2, so as to detect the start and finish and so on of an information signal recorded on the endless tape 2. The reproducing head 7 reproduces the information signal recorded on the tape 2, and the recording head 8 records the number of reproductions of the tape 2 at a predetermined position on the tape 2. Tape guides ga, qb. 9c and 9d guide the tape 2. The tape feeding mechanisms 4 and 5 form a closed loop to perform satisfactory reproduction and recording.

A tape stripping guide 10 is provided between the capstan 5a and the tape entrance lb of the tape compartment 1 to strip the tape 2 from the capstan 5a if it is stuck thereto. A tape wrapping prevention guide 11 is provided between the pinch roller 5b and the tape entrance lb, to prevent the tape 2 from becoming wrapped around the pinch roller 5b.

An impedance roller 22 generates a constant back tension for 1 2 the tape 2 and enables the tape feeding mechanism 4 to transport the tape 2 stably.

With the apparatus of Figure 1, when the tape feeding mechanisms 4 and 5 are driven. the tape 2 is transported through the tape transport compartment 3 and the tape compartment 1 in a loop fashion, whereby an information signal recorded on the tape 2 can be reproduced repeatedly.

In this apparatus, if the tape 2 is released from being held between the capstans 4a and 5a and the pinch rollers 4b and 5b, such as when the transport of the tape 2 is stopped and the power switch of the apparatus is turned off, then the tape 2 may fall from and become disengaged from the capstans 4a and 5a and the pinch rollers 4b and 5b. As a consequence. when transport of the tape 2 is started again, the tape 2 must be reset. However. if the tape 2 is continuously held between the capstans 4a and 5a and the pinch rollers 4b and 5b for a long period while stopped. there is then the risk that the pinch rollers 4b and 5b, which are made of resilient material, will be deformed. Furthermore, if the tape 2 is continuously held between the capstans 4a and 5a and the pinch rollers 4b and 5b for a long period, then the tape 2 also may be deformed or damaged.

According to the present invention there is provided an endless tape transport apparatus comprising.

a tape transport section having tape feeding means for transporting an endless tape; a tape compartment section in which said tape is housed, said tape being transported within said tape transport section and said tape compartment section in a loop fashion; and tape attracting means disposed adjacent to said tape feeding means to contact said tape; wherein said tape attracting means is caused to attract said tape when said tape stops. The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, throughout which like parts are referred to by like references. and in which: 35 Figure 1 is a view of a previously proposed endless tape transport apparatus; Figure 2 is a view of an embodiment of endless tape transport i 1 1 i i i 1 i 1 i i 1 i i i 1 i 1 1 1 3 apparatus according to the present invention; Figures 3, 4 and 5 are respective perspective views of examples of parts of the embodiment; and Figure 6 is a diagram of an example of a circuit for 5 controlling a stream of air used in the embodiment.

In the embodiment, as shown in Figure 2, the endless tape transport apparatus includes a tape compartment 1 in which an endless tape 2 is housed, and a tape transport compartment 3 through which the tape 2 is transported. The tape transport compartment 3 has therein one tape feeding mechanism 4 formed of a capstan 4a and a pinch roller 4b to draw the tape 2 from the tape compartment 1 through a tape exit la at a predetermined speed, and another tape feeding mechanism 5 formed of a capstan 5a and a pinch roller 5b to transport the tape 2 at a predetermined speed so as to feed it back into the tape compartment 1 through a tape entrance lb. As before, a cue signal detecting head 6, a reproducing head 7 and a recording head 8 are all provided between the tape feeding mechanisms 4 and 5, and have the functions described above.

A tape attracting member 12 serving as a tape guide is disposed within the tape transport compartment 3 to contact the tape 2 near the tape exit la. As shown in Figure 3, a tape contact surface 12a of the tape attracting member 12 has a predetermined area, which, by way of example, has a width equal to the tape width of the tape 2 and a length of several centimetres in the tape transport direction.

A plurality of air sucking apertures 12h, for example nine, are formed through the tape contact surface 12a for sucking air. The apertures 12h are arranged so as not to overlap each other in the tape transport direction. The tape attracting member 12 serves as a back tension applying means when the tape 2 is transported. so preventing it from being deformed or damaged during its transport.

A tape stripping guide 13 is disposed between the capstan 5a of the tape feeding mechanism 5 and the tape entrance lb so as to strip the tape 2 if it is stuck to the capstan 5a. As shown in Figure 4, the tape stripping guide 13 is disposed so as to coincide with a part of the outer periphery of the capstan 5a. A tape contact surface 13a of the tape stripping guide 13 has a predetermined area and a plurality of air sucking apertures 13h, for example seven, formed 4 through the tape contact surface 13a. The apertures 13h are randomly arranged so as not to overlap each other in the tape transport direction. The tape stripping guide 13 also serves to prevent the tape 2 from being deformed or damaged.

A circuit for developing and controlling a stream of air for supply to the tape attracting member 12 and the tape stripping guide 13 is represented in Figure 6.

Air from an air supply source 15 passes through an electromagnetic solenoid valve 16a, a flow adjusting valve 17a, an ejector 18a and a silencer 19. Air from a tube 12b coupled to the tape attracting member 12 is supplied through a check valve 20a to the ejector 18a. Air from the source 15 also passes through an electromagnetic solenoid valve 16b, a flow adjusting valve 17b, an ejector 18b and the silencer 19. Air from a tube 13b coupled to the tape stripping guide 13 is supplied through a check valve 20b to the ejector 18b.

The attractions of the tape attracting member 12 and the tape stripping guide 13 can be adjusted by the valves 17a and 17b, and attraction of the tape 2 by the tape attracting member 12 and the tape stripping guide 13 can be released by turning off the valves 16a and 16b.

Turning back to Figure 2, a tape wrapping preventing guide 14 is disposed between the pinch roller 5b and the tape entrance 1b to prevent the tape 2 from being unintentionally wrapped around the pinch roller 5b. As shown in Figure 5, a number of air flow apertures 14h are formed through the tape wrapping preventing guide 14 at its tape contact surface 14a opposing the tape contact surface 13a of the tape stripping guide 13.

In the embodiment of Figure 2, the other elements are the same as in Figure 1 and need not be described.

When the tape feeding mechanisms 4 and 5 are driven and the attraction of the tape 2 to the tape attracting member 12 and the tape stripping guide 13 are released, the tape 2 can be transported through the tape transport compartment 3 and the tape compartment 1 in a loop fashion. Thus, the information signal recorded on the tape 2 can be reproduced repeatedly. At this time a predetermined tension may be applied to the tape 2 by an attracting force developed by the tape 1 i 1 1 i 1 1 1 i i 1 t i 1 attracting member 12.

When transport of the tape 2 is stopped, the valves 16a and 16b are turned on. and air is supplied to the ejectors 18a and 18b. As a consequence, air is sucked through the apertures 12h and 13h of the tape attracting member 12 and the tape stripping guide 13, whereby the tape 2 is attracted by the tape attracting member 12 and the tape stripping guide 13. Moreover. air flows from the apertures 14h of the tape wrapping prevention guide 14 so that if the transport of the tape 2 stops with the tape 2 out of contact with the tape contact surface 13a of the tape stripping guide 13. the tape 2 can be attracted to the tape contact surface 13a satisfactorily. After the tape 2 has been attracted to. the tape attracting member 12 and the tape stripping guide 13, the tape 2 is released from being held between the capstans 4a and 5a and the pinch rollers 4b and 5b, and the flow of air from the tape wrapping preventing guide 14 is stopped.

At that time, since the tape 2 is attracted by the tape attracting member 12 and the tape stripping guide 13, the tape 2 can be prevented from becoming disengaged. Also, even when the tape 2 is continuously set in the stop mode for a long period, the resilient pinch rollers 4b and 5b are not deformed or damaged, and nor is the tape 2.

When transport of the tape 2 is to start again. it is held between the capstans 4a and 5a and the pinch rollers 4b and 5b, and then it is released from being attracted by the tape attracting member 12 and the tape stripping guide 13. Thereafter, the capstans 4a and 5a are rotated at a predetermined speed by a motor (not shown).

Since the tape contact surfaces 12a and 13a of the tape attracting means 12 and 13 have the predetermined areas and the apertures 12h and 13h do not overlap each other in the tape transport direction, the attracting force during tape transport is not one-sided and therefore the tape attracting means 12 and 13 do not deform or damage the tape 2.

6

Claims

1. An endless tape transport apparatus comprising: a tape transport section having tape feeding means for transporting an endless tape; a tape compartment section in which said tape is housed, said tape being transported within said tape transport section and said tape compartment section in a loop fashion; and tape attracting means disposed adjacent to said tape feeding means to contact said tape; wherein said tape attracting means is caused to attract said tape when said tape stops.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said tape attracting means has a tape contact surface of a predetermined area and said tape contact surface has a plurality of attracting apertures formed therethrough, said apertures not overlapping each other in the tape transport direction.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said tape attracting means serves as a tape guide.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3 further comprising tape stripping means and tape wrapping preventing means disposed in an opposing relation to said tape stripping means, wherein air flow is applied to said tape stripping means so that said tape is more effectively attracted by said tape wrapping preventing means.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said air flow is 30 stopped when transport of said tape is stopped.

6. An endless tape transport apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.

7. An endless tape transport apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 2 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.

Published 1992 at The Patent Office. Concept House. Cardiff Road. Newport. Gwent NP9 3 M Further copies. may be oblamed from Sales Branch. Unii 6. Nine Mile Point. Cumfelinfach. Cross Keys. Newport. NPI 7HZ. Printed by Multiplex xechnique, lid- St Man. C ray. Kent- 1 i j 1 i 1 1 T.

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