Mfe Corporation

Memtec LLC

George H Manning

Pasquale R Riccio

An ultra-thin streaming tape cassette transport has its magnetic read/write head assembly mounted on a rigid transverse beam. The front wall of the transport through which a cassette is loaded is fixedly spaced in front of that beam and tracks exist between the front wall and the transverse beam for guiding the cassette to locating surfaces on that beam so that the cassette is positioned precisely vertically relative to the head assembly. A base plate which supports the drive spindles and cassette locating pins is hingedly mounted relative to the transverse beam and front wall so that it is movable between a position wherein the spindles and locating pins intercept the plane defined by the tracks to precisely position the cassette in the other two directions relative to the head assembly and a loading position wherein the spindles and pins are disposed below that plane permitting the cassette to be inserted into and withdrawn from the transport. This construction enables the transport to be unusually thin or short so that two such transports can be received in a receptacle that normally houses a single such transport or disk drive. A transport head assembly is also disclosed which enables the transport to operate on many cassette tape tracks without interference between tracks.

Ultra-thin tape cassette transport

In a magnetic tape cassette, the cassette housing is divided between the two roll cores by an elongated isolator extending from the working edge of the cassette to the opposite edge thereof to prevent tape loops formed in the housing adjacent one roll core due to a slack tape condition from propagating to the other core where they could become snagged by tape winding onto that other core thereby causing a tape jam or break. One end of the isolator is pivotally mounted to the housing so that the isolator can swing freely between the two roll cores as the amount of tape wound on the two cores varies and, during operation of the cassette, the isolator does not exert any appreciable drag on the rotating tape rolls.

Magnetic tape cassette isolator

A cassette tape transport has a base for supporting the transport's head assembly and drive motors which is tilted appreciably relative to the transport's front plate through which the cassette is loaded into the transport. The unit also includes a cassette holder with a retractable slider and which is swingable relative to the base between a loading position wherein it is aligned with the slot and defines, with the base and plate slot, a right triangle and an operating position wherein it lies adjacent the base so as to position the cassette therein accurately relative to the head assembly. The head assembly can be operated to move the head toward and away from the base against which the cassette is supported by the holder between fixed positions so that the transport can write on and read from a plurality of parallel tracks along the cassette tape. The entire unit can fit within the standard size opening of a small computer system designed to receive a standard 51/4 inches Winchester disk drive and be used as a back-up memory in lieu of that drive.

Streaming cassette tape transport

A chart recorder has all of its components mounted in a housing formed of a self-lubricating plastic material. The unit employs a single drive roller which is driven through a speed-reducing gear train by a low-torque motor and belt drive, which produces minimal noise. A special tilt plate is mounted behind the drive roller. The recorder has a swing-down front door which is movable between an open paper-roll-loading position, an intermediate paper-feed position and a closed operating position. When the door is in its paper-feed position, paper drawn from the roll can be fed manually between the roller and the tilt plate so that the recorder can be threaded up without power. When the door is closed, it resiliently biases the tilt plate against the paper trained around the drive roller so that, when the drive train is energized, the paper is advanced promptly and smoothly. A simple wire bail and cam surface locks the door in its intermediate and closed positions while simultaneously raising the recorder stylus.

Strip chart recorder

A front loading tape cassette holder comprises a support surface which supports a read/write head and a pair of abutments defining positioning surfaces and mounted to the support surface on each side of the read/write head. A door is hinged to the support surface adjacent the abutment positioning surfaces and the door is swingable between a closed position parallel to the support surface and an open position wherein it is oriented at an acute angle with respect to the support surface. Cantilevered leaf springs are mounted to the surface of the door opposite the abutments. When a cassette is placed on the door, the leaf springs guide the active edge of the cassette to the abutments and, when the door is swung toward its closed position, the springs urge that edge onto the positioning surface in a centered condition with respect to the read/write head. Also, when the door is fully closed, the springs bias the cassette against both the support surface and the abutments. A latch is also provided for releasably locking the door in its closed position and, when the latch is released, the same springs urge the door to its open position.

Growing community of inventors

Nashua, NH, United States of America

George H Manning