GB2262505A - Tape cassettes: cleaning tape - Google Patents
Tape cassettes: cleaning tape Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2262505A GB2262505A GB9303745A GB9303745A GB2262505A GB 2262505 A GB2262505 A GB 2262505A GB 9303745 A GB9303745 A GB 9303745A GB 9303745 A GB9303745 A GB 9303745A GB 2262505 A GB2262505 A GB 2262505A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- tape
- cassette
- length
- head cleaning
- recording
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
- 238000004140 cleaning Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 68
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 8
- 238000003780 insertion Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 230000037431 insertion Effects 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000005520 cutting process Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000003466 welding Methods 0.000 abstract description 3
- 239000000853 adhesive Substances 0.000 abstract description 2
- 230000001070 adhesive effect Effects 0.000 abstract description 2
- 239000000284 extract Substances 0.000 abstract 1
- 238000005304 joining Methods 0.000 description 5
- 230000003749 cleanliness Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000004820 Pressure-sensitive adhesive Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000004075 alteration Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000001681 protective effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000000126 substance Substances 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
- G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
- G11B23/00—Record carriers not specific to the method of recording or reproducing; Accessories, e.g. containers, specially adapted for co-operation with the recording or reproducing apparatus ; Intermediate mediums; Apparatus or processes specially adapted for their manufacture
- G11B23/02—Containers; Storing means both adapted to cooperate with the recording or reproducing means
- G11B23/04—Magazines; Cassettes for webs or filaments
- G11B23/049—Cassettes for special applications not otherwise provided for
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
- G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
- G11B23/00—Record carriers not specific to the method of recording or reproducing; Accessories, e.g. containers, specially adapted for co-operation with the recording or reproducing apparatus ; Intermediate mediums; Apparatus or processes specially adapted for their manufacture
- G11B23/20—Record carriers not specific to the method of recording or reproducing; Accessories, e.g. containers, specially adapted for co-operation with the recording or reproducing apparatus ; Intermediate mediums; Apparatus or processes specially adapted for their manufacture with provision for splicing to provide permanent or temporary connections
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
- G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
- G11B5/00—Recording by magnetisation or demagnetisation of a record carrier; Reproducing by magnetic means; Record carriers therefor
- G11B5/41—Cleaning of heads
Landscapes
- Replacement Of Web Rolls (AREA)
Abstract
Magnetic recording tapes, both audio and video, are provided with a length of cleaning tape 24, for cleaning a recording/playback head, incorporated in the cassette 12 and in series with the recording tape 22, at one end thereof. The cleaning tape may be joined between the recording and leader tapes, or may be inserted in the leader tape, and may be provided at both ends of the recording tape. The tapes may be joined by adhesives, or by ultrasonic welding. Apparatus is described (Fig. 2, not shown) which extracts tape from a cassette and splices in a length of cleaning tape which may be new or may be a replacement for dirty cleaning tape which is cut out. <IMAGE>
Description
RECORDING TAPE CASSETTES
This invention relates to recording tape cassettes and applies equally to tapes on which audio, video or other data signals have been recorded. The invention applies to all cassette formats whatever their size/shape.
Recording tapes cassettes are played back and/or recorded using machines which read or write the signal on the recording tape through tape heads which are brought into operative contact with the tape when the cassette is inserted in the machine. Tape motion past the head is also controlled by various rollers and other tape transport components. It is well known that the heads and the tape transport component pick up foreign matter in use and become dirty, and that it is necessary to carry out cleaning from time to time.
It is known to provide a so called cleaning cassette which includes either a special tape which can be moved across the head and past the transport components or a pad which can be moistened and rubbed over the head.
According to the present invention there is provided a recording tape cassette in which a length of head cleaning tape is provided in series with a length of recording tape.
By providing a length of head cleaning tape in each cassette of recording tape, each time the tape is wound fully through the cassette, the head cleaning tape will move past the heads and will clean the heads. A head cleaning operation can thus take place each time that the cassette is used.
Tape cassettes generally comprise two tape reels between which the tape is wound backwards and forwards. The recording tape is generally attached to the tape reels by a length of "leader tape" which is non-magnetic. The length of head cleaning tape can be spliced in between the recording tape and the leader tape, or can be mounted between the ends of the leader tape, or can be provided in place of the leader tape.
Normally there would be a length of head cleaning tape at only one end of the recording tape, but it is within the scope of the invention for there to be a length of head cleaning tape at both ends of the recording tape.
A variety of different proprietary head cleaning tapes are known. The head cleaning tape chosen for use in connection with this invention should be capable of being passed many times across the tape heads. As use continues the cleaning tape will become loaded with foreign matter cleaned off the heads and it is important that this foreign matter should not subsequently itself damage the heads.
The head cleaning tape is preferably spliced into the tape length but may alternatively be mounted over a length of tape leader or recording tape ie in parallel with the leader or recording tape, so that the cleaning tape is, operatively, in series with the recording tape.
It may be possible to modify magnetic recording tape and/or leader tape (eg by impregnating the tape with a suitable substance) so that the recording and/or leader tape performs a head cleaning function.
For an audio compact cassette, a 1 metre length of cleaning tape may be suitable.
The recording tape in the cassette may be pre-recorded, or may be sold blank for the purchaser to record his own choice of material on the tape.
In many cases, a length of head cleaning tape can be provided in a recording tape cassette, at the time of manufacture of that cassette.
The invention however envisages that a length of head cleaning tape may be added to an existing tape cassette by using conventional splicing techniques to include the length of cleaning tape. Furthermore the length of cleaning tape may be replaced at suitable time intervals to ensure continued effective tape head cleaning. This may be particularly useful in respect of video tapes hired out by the day or other period, where the owner of the cassette has no control over the condition and cleanliness of the machines which will be used for replaying the tape.
According to a second aspect of the invention therefore, there is provided a method of maintaining the quality of magnetic recording tape cassettes, wherein a length of head cleaning tape is spliced into or at one end of the magnetic recording tape in the cassette.
In order to be able to carry out this method conveniently, particularly at video hire shops, a third aspect of the invention provides apparatus for splicing a length of head cleaning tape into the tape in a recording tape cassette, the apparatus comprising means for storing a supply of head cleaning tape, means for withdrawing a loop of tape from the cassette, means for cutting the tape and means for splicing a discreet length of head cleaning tape into the tape in the cassette.
The apparatus preferably operates automatically, in that a tape cassette is slotted into an opening in the apparatus (similar to the manner of insertion of a tape in a video cassette recorder) and the sequence of operations including the excision of the old head cleaning tape and the inclusion of the new head cleaning tape are carried out automatically without operator assistance, and one the operation is continued the cassette is ejected.
The replacement head cleaning tape may be stored in reel form or in the form of pre-cut discreet tape lengths.
The apparatus may include suction devices for holding the cut ends of the tape during the splicing operation. The head cleaning tape may be joined into the cassette tape using a wide variety of joining methods. For example adhesive joining tape can be used, or the head cleaning tape may be provided with pressure sensitive adhesive for joining the tape to the cassette tape, or an ultrasonic cold welding process can be used. The invention is not limited to any one of these joining methods.
The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a schematic view of an audio cassette tape
in accordance with the invention; and
Figure 2 is a schematic view showing apparatus for
splicing a length of head cleaning tape into a video
cassette tape.
Figure 1 shows an audio compact cassette which has a housing 12 and two tape reels 14, 16. In Figure 1 the reel 1t is full and the reel 16 is empty. A length of tape generally designated 18 is attached at one end to the reel 16 and at its other end to the reel 14.
In conventional cassette tape construction, the magnetic recording tape is connected to the reels through a length of tape leader 20 provided at either end of the recording tape.
When the recording tape is fully wound on the reel 14, it forms a coil 22 of multiple turns of tape.
The cassette shown in Figure 1 has a length 24 of head cleaning tape spliced into the length of tape and connected at 26 to the tape leader 20 and at 28 to the recording tape 22. At the end 28, the head cleaning tape may be connected either directly to the recording tape or through a further piece of leader tape.
The piece 20 of leader tape is preferably long enough to extend from the reel 16 and around both guide rollers 30 and 32, when the tape is fully wound on the reel 14 and the reel 16 is fully empty. When the tape is played, tape is wound onto the reel 16 from the reel 14 and as this happens the head cleaning tape 24 will be driven over the recording and playback heads of the machine, in a known manner, to clean the tape. As soon as the full length of head cleaning tape has been wound onto the reel 16, the recording tape will come into contact with the heads so that either a recording can be made on the tape, or a pre-recording can be played back, at the option of the user.
A tape cassette as shown here can be used in any existing tape machine and requires no alteration to the manner in which the cassette is used in the machine. It will however happen that each time the tape is wound fully to the position shown in Figure 1 and played, that the heads of the machine and the tape transport components incorporated in it will be cleaned.
Although the cassette shown in Figure 1 is an audio compact cassette, exactly the same principles can be used in connection with other cassette formats, and where the recorded information is audio and/or video information.
Because the head cleaning tape 24 in the embodiment shown in
Figure 1 is a permanent part of the cassette 12, it may be desirable under certain circumstances to be able to replace the tape. This is particularly the case for rented video tapes where it is important to be able to maintain the quality of the tape and of the recording thereon even though the tape is subject to very heavy use.
Figure 2 shows a machine generally designated 40 which has a housing 42 shown in dotted lines. The housing 42 has a slot 44 in one face into which a video cassette 46 is inserted in a manner similar to the insertion of the cassette 46 into a video cassette recorder. The machine lifts the protective tape guard 48 in the known way and then pulls out a loop 50 of tape, again in a manner already known in video cassette recorders. In this description, reference is made to a cassette 46 which already has a length of head cleaning tape (similar to the length 24 in Figure 1) included in the tape. Using a suitable sensor, the position of the end of the existing (dirty) head cleaning tape is ascertained and that part of the tape is then brought to lie on a bed 52 where the tape is cut as indicated by the dotted line 54. The free end 56 of the tape is held on the bed 52 by suction.
Tape continues to be withdrawn by the spool 58 until the other end of the dirty head cleaning tape is located, and this point is brought to lie on a bed 60, where the head cleaning tape is cut from the recording tape at the line 62.
The loop 50 of dirty head cleaning tape is now completely severed from the cassette and can be discarded. To replace the dirty head cleaning tape with clean head cleaning tape, a length 66 of pre-cut tape is supplied from a dispenser in the housing 42 and has its end secured to the cut ends of the tape on the beds 52 and 60. The new cleaning tape (which is folded to accommodate its length in a convenient package), then has its ends adhesively secured to the free tape ends and once this operation is complete, the tape is rewound into the cassette 46 and the cassette ejected from the housing 42, with its new, clean head cleaning tape in place.
In place of adhesively joining the new section of cleaning tape, an ultrasonic cold welding process may be used.
In place of pre-cut lengths 66 of cleaning tape, the fresh cleaning tape may be supplied on a reel which can be unwound to the length desired.
By incorporating a length of head cleaning tape onto every recording tape cassette, improved tape performance can be achieved because the level of cleanliness of tape heads generally will be vastly enhanced through the regular cleaning which will result.
Claims (15)
1. A recording tape cassette in which a length of head cleaning tape is provided in series with a length of magnetic recording tape.
2. A cassette as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the a length of recording tape is joined at each end to a spool by a length of leader tape, and wherein the length of head cleaning tape is spliced in between the recording tape and the leader tape.
3. A cassette as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the length of recording tape is joined at each end to a spool by a length of leader tape, and wherein the length of head cleaning tape is spliced between the ends of a leader tape.
4. A cassette as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a length of head cleaning tape is provided at both ends of the recording tape.
5. A cassette as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the head cleaning tape is spliced into the tape length.
6. A cassette as claimed in any preceding claim, and being an audio cassette.
7. A cassette as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 and being a video cassette.
8. A cassette as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 5 and being a data cassette.
9. A method of maintaining the quality of recording tape cassettes, wherein a length of head cleaning tape is spliced into or at one end of the magnetic recording tape in the cassette.
10. Apparatus for splicing a length of head cleaning tape into the tape in a recording tape cassette, the apparatus comprising means for storing a supply of head cleaning tape, means for withdrawing a loop of tape from the cassette, means for cutting the tape and means for splicing a discrete length of head cleaning tape into the tape in the cassette.
11. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 9, which operates automatically, in that a tape cassette is slotted into an opening in the apparatus (similar to the manner of insertion of a tape in a video cassette recorder) and the sequence of operations including the excision of the old head cleaning tape and the inclusion of the new head cleaning tape are carried out automatically without operator assistance.
12. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 9 or Claim 10, wherein once the operation is completed the cassette is ejected.
13. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 9 to 11, wherein the means for storing head cleaning tape is a mounting for receiving a tape spool.
14. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 9 to 12, wherein suction devices are provided for holding the cut ends of the tape during the splicing operation.
15. A recording tape cassette substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9303745A GB2262505A (en) | 1993-02-24 | 1993-02-24 | Tape cassettes: cleaning tape |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9303745A GB2262505A (en) | 1993-02-24 | 1993-02-24 | Tape cassettes: cleaning tape |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB9303745D0 GB9303745D0 (en) | 1993-04-14 |
| GB2262505A true GB2262505A (en) | 1993-06-23 |
Family
ID=10730978
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9303745A Withdrawn GB2262505A (en) | 1993-02-24 | 1993-02-24 | Tape cassettes: cleaning tape |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2262505A (en) |
Cited By (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP0892392A2 (en) * | 1997-07-17 | 1999-01-20 | Hewlett-Packard Company | Integrated cleaning and leader tape |
| GB2335301A (en) * | 1998-03-10 | 1999-09-15 | Hewlett Packard Co | Tape drive cleaning cartridge with data tape leader incorporating memory and communications circuitry |
| WO2003034432A1 (en) * | 2001-10-15 | 2003-04-24 | Quantum Corporation | Magnetic tape cartridge having a data storage medium connected to an integral cleaning tape section |
| US7163171B2 (en) | 2001-10-15 | 2007-01-16 | Quantum Corporation | Magnetic tape cartridge having a data storage medium connected to an integral cleaning tape section |
Citations (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE2365095A1 (en) * | 1973-12-24 | 1975-07-03 | Dieter Burmester | Magnetic tape for recorder - has firmly attached leader tape for cleaning magnetic head |
| SU777701A1 (en) * | 1979-02-20 | 1980-11-07 | Киевский Ордена Ленина Политехнический Институт Им. 50-Летия Великой Октябрьской Социалистической Революции | Unit for cleaning magnetic heads |
| DE3230156A1 (en) * | 1982-08-13 | 1984-02-16 | Günter 6050 Offenbach Wolfram | Magnetic tape or magnetic audio tape |
| EP0315624A2 (en) * | 1988-11-25 | 1989-05-10 | Gigatape Systeme Fuer Datensicherung Gmbh | Process for cleaning magnetic heads and device for carrying out the process |
| NL8902382A (en) * | 1989-09-25 | 1991-04-16 | Tjeerd Venema | Compact tape cassette with inbuilt head cleaning facility - uses short lengths of cleaning tape between magnetic tape and lead tapes |
-
1993
- 1993-02-24 GB GB9303745A patent/GB2262505A/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE2365095A1 (en) * | 1973-12-24 | 1975-07-03 | Dieter Burmester | Magnetic tape for recorder - has firmly attached leader tape for cleaning magnetic head |
| SU777701A1 (en) * | 1979-02-20 | 1980-11-07 | Киевский Ордена Ленина Политехнический Институт Им. 50-Летия Великой Октябрьской Социалистической Революции | Unit for cleaning magnetic heads |
| DE3230156A1 (en) * | 1982-08-13 | 1984-02-16 | Günter 6050 Offenbach Wolfram | Magnetic tape or magnetic audio tape |
| EP0315624A2 (en) * | 1988-11-25 | 1989-05-10 | Gigatape Systeme Fuer Datensicherung Gmbh | Process for cleaning magnetic heads and device for carrying out the process |
| NL8902382A (en) * | 1989-09-25 | 1991-04-16 | Tjeerd Venema | Compact tape cassette with inbuilt head cleaning facility - uses short lengths of cleaning tape between magnetic tape and lead tapes |
Cited By (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP0892392A2 (en) * | 1997-07-17 | 1999-01-20 | Hewlett-Packard Company | Integrated cleaning and leader tape |
| EP0892392A3 (en) * | 1997-07-17 | 1999-01-27 | Hewlett-Packard Company | Integrated cleaning and leader tape |
| GB2335301A (en) * | 1998-03-10 | 1999-09-15 | Hewlett Packard Co | Tape drive cleaning cartridge with data tape leader incorporating memory and communications circuitry |
| WO2003034432A1 (en) * | 2001-10-15 | 2003-04-24 | Quantum Corporation | Magnetic tape cartridge having a data storage medium connected to an integral cleaning tape section |
| US7163171B2 (en) | 2001-10-15 | 2007-01-16 | Quantum Corporation | Magnetic tape cartridge having a data storage medium connected to an integral cleaning tape section |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB9303745D0 (en) | 1993-04-14 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |