King Instrument Corporation

George M Woodley

Richard A McGrail

Stephen J Powers

William W Ross

James L King

Louis J Goguen

William S Bakes

Albert H Wilson

A splicing block assembly and a splicing tape dispenser applicator for a cassette-loading machine. The splicing block assembly comprises a first splicing block having a first tape guide located in a selected plane, a second splicing block having a second tape guide located in said selected plane in alignment with said first tape guide, said second block being mounted for reciprocal movement along a selected axis extending parallel to said first and second tape guides between a first position in which said second block is adjacent to said first block and a second position in which said second block is spaced from said first block, a third splicing block having a third tape guide that extends parallel to said selected axis, and said third splicing block being mounted for reciprocal movement between (1) a first position in which said third splicing block is spaced from said first and second splicing blocks and (2) a second position in which said third splicing block is located between said first and second splicing blocks and said third tape guide is located in said selected plane in alignment with at least one of said first and second tape guides. The dispenser-applicator is a transfer type device comprising a dispensing mechanism for dispensing and cutting a splicing tape into pieces of preselected lengths, and an applicator mechanism for transferring the pieces of splicing tape to a splicing block.

Tape loading machine

A new and improved splicing block assembly and a novel splicing tape dispenser applicator for a cassette-loading machine are disclosed. The improved splicing block assembly comprises a first splicing block having a first tape guide means located in a selected plane, a second splicing block having a second tape guide means located in said selected plane in alignment with said first tape guide means, means mounting said second block for reciprocal movement along a selected axis extending parallel to said first and second tape guide means between a first position in which said second block is adjacent to said first block and a second position in which said second block is spaced from said first block, a third splicing block having a third tape guide means that extends parallel to said selected axis, and means mounting said third splicing block for reciprocal movement between (1) a first position in which said third splicing block is spaced from said first and second splicing blocks and (2) a second position in which said third splicing block is located between said first and second splicing blocks and said third tape guide means is located in said selected plane in alignment with at least one of said first and second tape guide means. The new dispenser-applicator is a transfer type device comprising dispensing means for dispensing and cutting a splicing tape into pieces of preselected lengths, and applicator means for transferring the cut pieces of splicing tape to a splicing block assembly that is a substantial distance from the dispensing means.

Splicing head assembly for tape loading machines

Tape splicer

The invention relates to an improved form of shift block assembly for a cassette tape loading machine. The shift block assembly is of the type that comprises first, second and third shift blocks mounted for sliding and rotating motion on a common axis. Each of the shift blocks has a guideway for aligning tape to be spliced and also is provided with means for applying suction to hold a tape in position in the guideway. The three blocks are disposed in tandem along the common axis, and the first and second shift blocks are used to hold the two leaders, while the third shift block is used to hold the tape to be loaded. Means are provided for shifting each block axially along and additional means are provided for rotating each block relative to the other on the axis.

Apparatus for loading tape into a cassette

A novel shift block assembly is provided for a cassette tape loading machine. The shift block assembly essentially comprises first, second and third shift blocks that are mounted for sliding and rotating motion on a common axis. Each of the shift blocks has a guideway for aligning tape to be spliced and also is provided with means for applying suction to hold a tape in position in the guideway. The three blocks are disposed in tandem along the common axis, and the first and third shift blocks are used to hold the two leaders, while the second shift block is used to hold the tape to be loaded. Means are provided for shifting each block axially along the axis and additional means are provided for rotating each block relative to the other on the axis. Also associated with the shift block assembly is a cutter mechanism which includes a knife having a knife edge disposed in a given cutting plane extending at a right angle to the aforementioned axis. The cutter mechanism is adapted for reciprocal operation so as to cause its knife blade to move back and forth along a first line of separation between the first and second shift blocks or a second line of separation between the second and third shift blocks, whereby the knife edge will sever a tape that extends between a pair of blocks across a given line of separation.

Apparatus and method for loading tape into a cassette

An improved takeup spindle for automatic cassette loading machines is provided. The takeup spindle comprises a shaft having at least a pair of slots therein, a pair of dogs in the slots, means pivotally connecting the dogs to the shaft, and ring means establishing an outer limit position for the dogs.

Takeup spindle

There is disclosed in the present application an apparatus and method for initiating the winding of a magnetic tape cartridge or cassette which is largely closed except for a relatively small opening which is closed at the end of the winding operation by a leader block secured to the trailing end of the tape and snapped into the opening. The present apparatus includes a vertically reciprocable finger having two sets of perforations to which a vacuum source is connected for attracting the tape temporarily and holding a leading end of the tape to be wound. The upper set of perforations is switchable between a connection with a vacuum source and one with a source of pressurized air. The leading end of the tape is first adhered to the finger by vacuum and a small quantity of water, as small as a single drop, is deposited on the leading end portion of the tape while the finger lies outside the cassette. The finger is then raised so that the leading end of the tape is brought into close proximity to a reel contained within the cassette and the upper set of perforations of the finger is then switched to air under pressure causing the wet surface of the tape to be urged against the reel and the wet tape to be entrained upon the reel to start the winding operation. Devices are also included in the present disclosure for sensing the movement of the tape and for controlling the withdrawal of the finger from within the cassette to permit the winding operation to continue.

Apparatus and method for initiating a tape winding operation

There is disclosed in the present application an apparatus for staking to a leader block the trailing end of a length of magnetic tape wound on a reel of a substantially closed cartridge. The leader block is sized and shaped to fit into and close an opening in the wall of the cartridge and later when the cartridge is in use to provide a means by which the tape may be grasped to be withdrawn from the cartridge. The present apparatus is mounted on a movable platform which permits its withdrawal to a retracted loading position out of the way of a cartridge loading or winding operation. In its retracted position, the apparatus is provided with a short length of rod to be used later for securing the trailing end to the block by staking the rod length with the tape end into an appropriately sized slot in the leader block. In addition to a nest for receiving a rod length in position for a future staking operation, the present apparatus includes a staking punch and devices for advancing and retracting the movable platform. There is also included in the apparatus a series of apertures connected to a vacuum source for holding the tape temporarily at a location where it is to be cut after the cartridge is fully loaded and thereafter to cooperate in controlling the tape with other instrumentalities for initiating the next winding operation.

Tape staking and control apparatus

A novel winding or takeup mechanism is disclosed for use in a machine for automatically loading tape into empty cassettes containing leaders, i.e., C-zero cassettes. The novel winding or takeup mechanism, which provides extended machine life and faster machine operation, comprises an arrangement whereby an electric motor drive operates to rotate a takeup spindle adapted to drivingly engage a hub or spool of an empty cassette in loading position. The spindle is coupled to the output shaft of the takeup motor by a telescoping coupling arrangement whereby the spindle can be reciprocated axially into and out of driving engagement with a hub or spool of a cassette disposed in loading position without interfering with rotation of the spindle by the motor output shaft. A pneumatically operated yoke is employed to accomplish axial reciprocation of the spindle while a separate member transfers the rotational force of the electric motor output shaft to the spindle. The yoke is coupled to the spindle so as not to impede rotation of the spindle.

Automatic cassette loading machine with a reciprocating takeup spindle

A novel splicing tape dispenser-applicator comprises an actuator assembly, an applicator assembly, and a pawl assembly. The actuator assembly includes an operating member which is adapted to reciprocate along a selected path, and the applicator assembly is mounted to the operating member of the actuator assembly whereby it can reciprocate between a first retracted position and a second extended position. The applicator assembly comprises a rotatable pentagonal applicator wheel coupled to a rotatable pentagonal ratchet wheel. The pawl assembly includes two pawls arranged to engage the ratchet wheel so that when the applicator assembly moves from its first retracted position to its second extended position, the first pawl will cause the ratchet wheel to advance the applicator wheel one-half face in a predetermined direction, and when the applicator assembly moves from its second extended position to its first retracted position, the second pawl will cause the ratchet wheel to advance the applicator wheel another one-half face in the same predetermined direction. The applicator wheel in its first retracted position is disposed so that one of its corners is aligned with a reciprocating cutter blade, and the applicator assembly in its second extended position is disposed so that one of its faces is positioned so as to squarely engage a splicing block disposed directly beneath the dispenser-applicator. Additionally, means are provided so that suction is selectively applied to apertures in the several faces of the applicator wheel.

Splicing tape dispenser-applicator

A novel cassette storage and feeder mechanism for a tape winding machine, comprising (a) storage chute for storing a plurality of empty cassettes randomly disposed in one or the other of first and second predetermined orientations, (b) a gate for discharging cassettes one at a time from said storage chute, (c) cassette orienter for causing each discharged cassette disposed in said first orientation to be shifted to said second orientation, and (d) a feeder for carrying cassettes away from said cassette orienter and supplying them one at a time to a tape loading station on the tape winding machine with the uniform desired orientation.

Cassette storage and feeder mechanism

A machine for loading magnetic tape into cassettes is provided which comprises a splicing block assembly mounted on a pivotally mounted support and comprising two splicing blocks, one fixed to the support and the second pivotally mounted to the support, means for rotating the second block relative to the first block so that either of two tape-receiving tracks on the first block may be aligned with a single tape receiving track on the first block, means for rotating the support between a first tape winding position and a second tape splicing position, and a splicer for splicing abutting tape ends on the splicing block assembly when the support is in the second tape splicing position. The machine also includes first and second spindles movable into and out of engagement with the two hubs of a cassette in loading position, first and second motors for rotating said spindles so as to rotate said hubs, a selectively engagable clutch connecting the first spindle to said first motor, means for energizing said second motor while said clutch is disengaged so as to transfer leader from one hub to the other hub, selectively operable means for energizing said first motor, and means for engaging said clutch when said first motor is energized. The machine is arranged so that it may be easily adapted for loading two differenet types of video cassettes.

Machine for loading cassettes

An improved cassette loading machine is provided which has means for rotatably supporting two supply reels of magnetic tape, means for loading cassettes with tape from either supply reel, and means for automatically (1) terminating the loading of cassettes when the tape supply on a first supply reel is nearly exhausted, (2) splicing the tape from the second supply reel to the tape from the first supply reel, and (3) resuming the loading of cassettes with tape from the second supply reel.

An improved cassette storing, feeding and handling mechanism is provided for a machine for loading magnetic tape into C-Zero video tape cassettes. The machine is of the type having a tape loading cycle which includes cutting the cassette leader into two sections, splicing one leader section to the end of a supply of magnetic tape, winding the one leader section and a predetermined length of magnetic tape into the cassette, severing the magnetic tape, and splicing the trailing end of the tape wound into the cassette to the second leader section. The improved mechanism comprises a magazine adapted to store C-Zero cassettes, means for feeding cassettes one at a time from the magazine, a cassette carrier, guide means for guiding cassettes fed from said magazine to said carrier, means for reciprocating the cassette carrier from a first cassette receiving position to a preselected cassette loading position, means for holding a C-Zero cassette in said loading position for the duration of a loading cycle and then discharging the loaded cassette. The improved mechanism also may include means for assuring that a cassette is properly positioned on the carrier and means for accumulating a selected number of cassettes and discharging them as a group to a receiver or conveyor. The mechanism is arranged so that it may be easily adapted for handling two different types of video cassettes.

Cassette loading machine

An improved splicer for use with an automatic cassette loading machine. The splicer is characterized by a feed means which includes a reciprocating splicing tape feed block, and a feed block housing which slidably supports the feed block.

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Shrewsbury, MA, United States of America

George M Woodley