US3156423A

US3156423A - Tape loop control

Info

Publication number: US3156423A
Application number: US195709A
Authority: US
Inventors: John T Potter; Gabor Andrew
Original assignee: Potter Instrument Co Inc
Current assignee: Potter Instrument Co Inc
Priority date: 1962-05-18
Filing date: 1962-05-18
Publication date: 1964-11-10
Anticipated expiration: 1981-11-10
Also published as: DE1252740B; DE1252741B; GB1039465A

Description

1964 J. T. POTTER ETAL 3,156,423

TAPE LOOP CONTROL Filed May 18, 1962 Peer.

DEA/E I I .30 37 34 l An'uum (m/mu INV NToRs div/N T507752 ANDQEWG/LBO ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,156,423 TAPE L001 CONTROL John T. Potter, Locust Valley, and Andrew Gabor, Port Washington, N.Y., assignors to Potter Instrument Company, Inc., Plainview, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed MaylS, 1962, Ser. No. 195,709 12 Claims. (Cl. 242-5512) This invention, generally, relates to tape handler apparatus and, more particularly, to a tape loop control for such apparatus.

When it is desired to move tape at rapid rates for processing information, it is usually desirable to maintain intermediate tape storage facilities, such as in the form of one or more loops of tape, to provide increased flexibility of operation. The vacuum tank is uniquely fitted to provide the desired tape loop control because of its low inertia characteristics, but it still is desirable to develop and maintain accurate control over the tension in the loop of tape stored in the vacuum tank.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a new and improved control for a tape loop in a vacuum tank.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a tape loop control adapted to function with a vacuum receptacle.

Briefly, the invention contemplates the provision of a vacuum tank having a tape loop-receiving opening and at least a portion of one side of the tank being movable. A linkage is connected between the movable side portion and a reference point. A suitable control means is connected with the linkage at a point intermediate the vacuum tank and the reference point and responsive to move- "ment in the linkage to influence the operation of a predetermined external component, such as a vacuum source or a reel drive mechanism or both.

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred form thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating an arrangement in accordance with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view illustrating different lengths of linkages in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view of a valve controllable by the linkages of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 shows an electrical component variable in accordance with movement of a linkage such as shown in FIG. 1.

Referring nowto FIG. 1 of the drawings, a'tape storage means is provided in this instance by a reel supported rotatably as is well known, and at least two vacuum storage tanks indicated generally by the numerals Y11 and 12 are positioned appropriately relative to the reel 10 to receive a loop of tape 13 in each tank. A roller 14 is positioned between the two tanks 11 and 12, if desired, to guide the tape 13 as it leaves the first tank 11 on its way into the second tank 12.

The vacuum tank 11 is'formed of three vertical sides,

sides

15 and 16 being visible in FIG. 1, and these sides are fixed in position relative to each other. A bottom surface 17 closes the lower end of the tank 11 and provides a suitable connection 18 for receiving a conduit 19 to connect a vacuum source to the tank 11. Of course, the connection 18 located on the bottom surface 17 is merely illustrative, the invention being applicable also to structures which locate this connection otherwise than as shown.

While the fourth side 20 of the tank 11 is shown pivotable about an axis 21 adjacent the bottom 17 of the tank 11, the axis 21 may be at any desired location to provide a movable portion at the upper end thereof It is required only that the upper end 22 is movable toward and away from the side 15.

The second vacuum tank 12 is constructed in a similar manner to that just described above in connection with the first vacuum tank 11, and is provided with a movable side 23 pivotable about an axis 24 also similar to the vacuum tank 11. A conduit 25 provides means to connect a vacuum source to the tank 12.

Two linkages 26 and 27 are pinned at

points

28 and 29, respectively, adjacent the upper ends'of the

movable sides

20 and 23. The opposite ends of these two linkages 26 and 27 are pinned together as indicated generally by the numeral 30, and the arrows at the point 30 indicate the principal axes of movement of this connection point Therefore, the two levers 26 and 27 translate any movement of the

sides

20 and 23 into components of movement indicated by the arrows at the point 30. In other words, if the point 30 moves upwardly and to the right at some angle, say 45, this movement will be translated into a vertical component and a horizontal component in the direction of the arrows.

Movement of the

side

20 and 23 is developed by the vacuum drawn on the inside of each tank as related to the position of the tape loop within each tank. For example, as a loop gets shorter or closer to the top of a tank, a greater portion of the inside of the tank is at reduced pressure causing the movable side to be drawn inwardly. On the other hand, as a tape loop sinks lower in a tank, the volume of the tank above. the loop being at atmospheric pressure causes the movable side to be deflected outwardly under the action of a suitable bias, such as a spring in the hinges or by springs S and S, if desired.

The movement of the point 30 is useful in controlling selected components of a tape handler apparatus. While any desired component may be controlled, the degree of vacuum and the reel drive servo are selected for illustrative purposes.

The vacuum is controlled as illustrated in FIG. 3 of the drawings which shows a valve 31 having an inner valve head 32 pivotable about an axis 33 as indicated by the double-headed arrow 32' (FIG. 3) under the action of a link 34 which is movable in the direction of the arrow 35 (FIG. 1).

To illustrate the operation of this valve 31, assume that the loop of tape becomes short in the tank 11 and the vacuum is pulling the side 20 inwardly. This movement of the point 36 has an upward component which is translated through the linkage 34 to the inner valve head 32 in a direction tending to close the conduit 19 thereby reducing the amount of vacuum being pulled by a vacuum pump 36.

The operation of the valve 31 is similar for the tank 12 and attempts to maintain a balance in vacuum between the two tanks.

As mentioned previously, any movement in the two linkages 2s and 27 is translated through horizontal and vertical movements of the point 30, and the linkage 34, therefore, must be adapted to be nonresponsive to horizontal movement of the point 30, for the particular control illustrated. This is accomplished by forming the linkage 34 with a tubular portion 37, and a rod 38 is attached to slide within the tubular portion 37 in a horizontal manner. Therefore, any horizontal movement of the point so does not affect the position of the linkage 34. Of course, the vertical movement just described may be used to control the vacuum source, in a different manner such as by the means shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings. The vertical movement of the point 30 is shown attached to move a movable contact 38 of a potentiometer 39 to vary a vacuum control circuit 40. The movable contact 38 has a tubular portion 41 to receive a pin 42 so that horizontal motion of the point does not affect the position of the contact 38.

Referring again to FIG. 1 now, horizontal motion of the point 30 may be used to move a rod 43 in the direction of the arrows 44 for adjusting a potentiometer 45 to control a reel drive circuit 46. The rod 43 is slidaole in a fixed reference member 47, in the arrangement shown in the drawings.

So that vertical movement of the point 30 does not adversely affect the slidable rod 43, a universal joint 48, or any other flexible connection, couples the point 30 with the slidable rod 43.

Referring now to FIG. 2 of the drawings, the two vacuum tanks 11 and 12 are illustrated diagrammatically with the

movable sides

20 and 23 indicated as pivotable at the

points

21 and 24. In the solid lines, linkages St) and 51 are relatively short and are pinned together at a point 52. With this length of linkages, the point 52 has a smaller distance of movement for a given deflection of either

side

20 or 23, but with a greater force is developed in the movement of the point 52.

Comparing the length of the linkages and 51 with a length indicated by the dotted lines 53 and 54, such length of linkages may be pinned at a point 55 to achieve a larger degree of movement of the point 55. However, this larger movement of the point 55 is at a lower force than is developed at the point 52.

Therefore, the length of the connecting linkages may be selected by the designer in accordance with the operating characteristics desired and the component to be operated.

Other modifications will occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention pertains, and it is understood that the scope of the present invention is defined by the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

1. In tape handler apparatus, means to control tension in a tape, comprising:

first tape storage means adapted to provide a supply of tape for processing information in accordance with a predetermined schedule,

at least one temporary tape storage means including means to provide sufficient tension on a tape to absorb slack and including a movable portion adapted to be continuously urged to be moved by said ten sion means throughout a range of positions in response to and proportional to the position of the tape in the temponary tape storage means,

first means connected at a first point to the movable portion,

second means connected at a second different point,

and

third means interconnecting said first and second means whereby movement of the movable portion produces a movement of the third means in a manner different in magnitude but proportional to the movement of the movable portion to control tension in the tape.

2. In tape handler apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first tape storage means is in the form of a reel supported rotatably to pay out a supply of tape.

3. In tape handler apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said one temporary tape storage means is in the form of a vacuum chamber,

4. In tape handler apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including a second temporary tape storage means adapted to provide tension on a tape and including a movable portion similar to the first-mentioned movable portion, and

said second, different point is on the movable portion of the second temporary tape storage means.

5. A tape loop control comprising a vacuum tank having a tape loop-receiving opening and including means for providing a vacuum therein, at least a portion of one side of said vacuum tank being movable, said movable portion being adapted to be continuously urged to be moved by said vacuum throughout a range of positions in response to and proportional to the position of the tape in the vacuum tank,

linkage means connected at a point on said movable portion of said vacuum tank side and a reference point, and

means connected with said linkage means at a point intermediate the vacuum tank and the reference point to influence the operation of a predetermined external component in a manner different from but proportional to movement of said one side to control tension in the tape.

6. A tape loop control as set forth in claim 5 wherein said connection means is connected between said linkage means and a control for said means providing said vacuum.

7. A tape loop control as set forth in claim 5 wherein said connection means is connected betwen said linkage means and a control for a tape reel drive mechanism.

8. A tape loop control as set forth in claim 6 wherein said connection means include means responsive only to a predetermined component of movement in said linkage means.

9. A tape loop control as set forth in claim 7 wherein said connection means include means only to a predetermined component of movement in said linkage means.

10. A tape loop control as set forth in claim 5 wherein said connection means is connected between said linkage means and a control for said means providing the vacuum and said control including means responsive only to a predetermined component of movement in said linkage means, and said connection means also being connected with a control for a tape reel drive mechanism and said last-mentioned control including means responsive only to a component of movement in said linkage means different from said predetermined component.

11. A tape loop control as set forth in claim 10 wherein said different component of movement in said linkage means is substantially degrees from said predetermined component.

12. A tape loop control as set forth in claim 5 includmg a second vacuum tank having a tape loop-receiving opening,

at least a portion of one side of said second vacuum tank being movable, and

said reference point to which said linkage means is connected being on said movable side portion of said second vacuum tank.

References (Iited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent. No, 3, 156,423 November 10, 1964 John T., Potter et a1.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 4, line 18, for "at" read between Signed and sealed this 20th day of April 1965.

(SEAL) Attest: i ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J BRENNER ing Officer Commissioner of Patents

Claims

1. IN TAPE HANDLER APPARATUS, MEANS TO CONTROL TENSION IN A TAPE, COMPRISING: FIRST TAPE STORAGE MEANS ADAPTED TO PROVIDE A SUPPLY OF TAPE FOR PROCESSING INFORMATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH A PREDETERMINED SCHEDULE, AT LEAST ONE TEMPORARY TAPE STORAGE MEANS INCLUDING MEANS TO PROVIDE SUFFICIENT TENSION ON A TAPE TO ABSORB SLACK AND INCLUDING A MOVABLE PORTION ADAPTED TO BE CONTINUOUSLY URGED TO BE MOVED BY SAID TENSION MEANS THROUGHOUT A RANGE OF POSITIONS IN RESPONSE TO AND PROPORTIONAL TO THE POSITION OF THE TAPE IN THE TEMPORARY TAPE STORAGE MEANS, FIRST MEANS CONNECTED AT A FIRST POINT TO THE MOVABLE PORTION, SECOND MEANS CONNECTED AT A SECOND DIFFERENT POINT, AND THIRD MEANS INTERCONNECTING SAID FIRST AND SECOND MEANS WHEREBY MOVEMENT OF THE MOVABLE PORTION PRODUCES A MOVEMENT OF THE THIRD MEANS IN A MANNER DIFFERENT IN MAGNITUDE BUT PROPORTIONAL TO THE MOVEMENT OF THE MOVABLE PORTION TO CONTROL TENSION IN THE TAPE.