GB1386148A - Drive unit for magnetic tape - Google Patents

Abstract

1386148 Feeding record tapes STORAGE TECHNOLOGY CORP 3 May 1972 [3 May 1971] 20667/72 Heading G5R During normal operation magnetic tape 15 is fed from a reel 11 to a reel 12 by way of a pair of vacuum buffer columns 13, 14, a capstan 16, a magnetic head 17, and a guide 24 mounted on a back plate 30 which is offset above the guide 24 so that the offset portion forms one side of a tape-threading guide which is wider than the guide 24. A glass plate 34 in a door of a cabinet containing the apparatus, Fig. 3 (not shown), forms the other side of the tape-threading guide when the door is closed, also forming the front panels of the vacuum columns and carrying a trough (35) which guides the tape 15 past the head 17 and erase head 17a. Two further vacuum buffer columns 37, 38, tapered and asymmetrical as disclosed in Specification 1,386,149, are provided, together with air bearings 18 to 22, a solenoid-operated foot 48 which pushes the tape 15 away from the heads during fast rewind, and a tape-cleaner 41 comprising a blade 43 and a perforated plate 44 to which suction is applied, Fig. 4c. The guide 24 is curved to deflect the tape through a wrap angle greater than 20 degrees and is fed with lubricating air through a hole 47, Fig. 2. Tape threading is effected pneumatically as described in U.S.A. Specification 3,393,878.