US3888480A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for loading a magnetic tape into a cassette
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-12-13
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Granted: 1975-06-10
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Expires: 1993-12-13
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for automatically cutting, splicing and winding a magnetic tape into a cassette including a tape supply spool, a support for positioning the cassette opposite and proximate to an opening of a work chamber into which the leader of the cassette is sucked and cut and one end of the leader is spliced to one end of the magnetic tape by means of a punch entering the chamber and cutting off a strip of a splicing tape. The apparatus further comprises means for maintaining constant the drawing speed and the tension of the tape during winding and a control for automatically controlling the operation of the apparatus.
Inventors
- 👤 Ottaviano Clerici Bagozzi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 07:36
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B15/00; G11B15/18; G11B15/46; G11B15/54; G11B15/56; G11B15/58; G11B23/00; G11B23/02; G11B23/113
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
329 words
An apparatus for cutting, splicing and winding a magnetic tape into a cassette, comprising a support for positioning the cassette, means for extracting the leader of the tape already contained within the cassette through an opening of the cassette, positioning means for said leader and said magnetic tape including pivotable members having suction holes for holding said leader and said magnetic tape, means for cutting said leader and said magnetic tape held by said positioning means, means for splicing a free end of said leader respectively to a free end of said magnetic tape, after cutting, means for advancing and winding the magnetic tape into said cassette after splicing, means for controlling the winding speed and tension of said magnetic tape and means for removing said cassette from said positioning support, wherein, according to the improvement, said means for extracting the leader of the tape already contained within the cassette comprise a chamber having a height substantially equal to the height of said magnetic tape and of said leader and lateral walls defining a contour of length substantially equal to the length of said leader, an opening in said chamber opposite and proximate to said opening of the cassette positioned on said support, the height of said opening being substantially equal to the height of said tape leader, at least one hole in said chamber, and means for creating a vacuum within said chamber through said hole for the extraction of said leader from said cassette, and wherein said positioning means comprise pivotable members arranged within said chamber proximate to a portion of said lateral walls of said chamber and means for moving said pivotable members between a rest position spaced from said portion and an operative position contacting therewith, and suction holes arranged in said portion and means for creating a suction through said suction holes for holding said leader and said magnetic tape during cutting and splicing thereof when said pivotable members are in said operative position.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
329 words
An apparatus for cutting, splicing and winding a magnetic tape into a cassette, comprising a support for positioning the cassette, means for extracting the leader of the tape already contained within the cassette through an opening of the cassette, positioning means for said leader and said magnetic tape including pivotable members having suction holes for holding said leader and said magnetic tape, means for cutting said leader and said magnetic tape held by said positioning means, means for splicing a free end of said leader respectively to a free end of said magnetic tape, after cutting, means for advancing and winding the magnetic tape into said cassette after splicing, means for controlling the winding speed and tension of said magnetic tape and means for removing said cassette from said positioning support, wherein, according to the improvement, said means for extracting the leader of the tape already contained within the cassette comprise a chamber having a height substantially equal to the height of said magnetic tape and of said leader and lateral walls defining a contour of length substantially equal to the length of said leader, an opening in said chamber opposite and proximate to said opening of the cassette positioned on said support, the height of said opening being substantially equal to the height of said tape leader, at least one hole in said chamber, and means for creating a vacuum within said chamber through said hole for the extraction of said leader from said cassette, and wherein said positioning means comprise pivotable members arranged within said chamber proximate to a portion of said lateral walls of said chamber and means for moving said pivotable members between a rest position spaced from said portion and an operative position contacting therewith, and suction holes arranged in said portion and means for creating a suction through said suction holes for holding said leader and said magnetic tape during cutting and splicing thereof when said pivotable members are in said operative position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said chamber has a bottom provided with a recess for receiving said pivotable members in said rest position in which said pivotable members are withdrawn from the path of the said leader sucked within said chamber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
93 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said chamber has a bottom proviDed with a recess for receiving said pivotable members in said rest position and wherein said means for moving said pivotable members comprise a control shaft for each of said pivotable members, the shafts being arranged axially displaceable within said recess and rotatable about their axis for bringing said pivotable members independently from each other from said rest position to said operative position in which said pivotable members are held against said portion of said lateral walls of said chamber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said portion of said lateral walls of said chamber has two independent groups of suction holes, each group being associated with one of said pivotable members.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
152 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for splicing comprises a punch movable inside said chamber in a substantially inclined position compared to the plane defined by the bottom of said chamber, said punch having a front surface lying in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of said tape and said leader within said chamber and further having at least one suction channel leading into said front surface, a matrix defining a passage for said punch and having an opening essentially equal in cross-section to the cross section of said punch, and means supplying a strip of adhesive tape to be sheared by said punch penetrating into said matrix for effecting the splicing of said leader with said tape and stop means defined by a section of said portion of said lateral walls of said chamber, said counter means holding the tape and stopping the punch during splicing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the cross section of said punch and said opening of said matrix have a substantially rectangular shape with rounded corners.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
85 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein said adhesive tape has a width greater than that of said magnetic tape and than the height of said opening of said matrix, and wherein said means supplying said adhesive tape include a supply reel from which said adhesive tape is unreeled and a take-up reel on which said adhesive tape is reeled after having been sheared by said punch and apertures corresponding to the cross section of said punch have been made in said adhesive tape.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
73 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a slide member arranged in proximity to said matrix and slidable substantially parallel to said punch, means on said slide member for engaging and removing the adhesive tape from said matrix at the end of the splicing operation, and spring-like return means provided for causing said slide member to return to a non-operative position during the shearing and splicing operation of the adhesive tape.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said opening of said chamber is provided on a portion of said chamber projecting to the outside and has a height substantially equal to the transverse dimension of the tape and less than the height of said opening of said cassette.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-06-09 | 1978-12-09 | 1979-06-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-06-09 | 1982-12-09 | 1983-06-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-06-09 | 1986-12-09 | 1987-06-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |