Hewlett-Packard Company

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.p.

Mitsumi Electric Company Ltd.

Hugo William Maule

Ryoichi Annen

Keiichi Setsumasa

Naoki Ode

Stephen Bodiley

Peter J Steven

A tape deployment system for a digital data transfer apparatus includes a tape guide movable from a non-deployed position to a plurality of deployed positions and a cam arrangement for determining the deployed position to which the tape guide moves.

Tape deployment systems and methods of deploying tape in digital data transfer apparatus

Tape recording and playback apparatus (,) including tape head cleaning assembly (,) for intermittent cleaning of one or more tape head(s) mounted in the periphery (,) of a helical scanning drum (,) forming part of the apparatus (,). Loading of a cassette (,) carrying the tape, extension of the tape (,) by movable guides (,) into contact with the drum periphery (,), and movement of a pinch roller (,) are controlled by a motor-driven cam (,) as described in EP0782136-A1. Instead of also using the prior art cam to control tape tension, this is now done by dynamic braking of the motor (,) for the tape supply reel (,). In accordance with the invention, the fourth control function of the prior art cam is now utilised for selective mechanical actuation of a swinging arm (,) on which is mounted an abrasive cleaning wheel (,). Rotation of the control cam (,) to its &ldquo;fourth function&rdquo; position allows the arm (,) to pivot and thus brings the abrasive wheel (,) into temporary contact with the periphery (,) of the helical scanning drum (,) so as to remove debris clogging the tape head(s). High performance of the data recording/playback unit (,) is maintained by the inventive adaptation of existing hardware (,) to effect intermittent operation of a tape head cleaner (,) built-in to the unit (,).

Magnetic tape apparatus having a multi-function motor which drives a helical scanning drum cleaning assembly

A magnetic tape apparatus includes a head which reproduces data from or records data onto a magnetic tape, taken out from a cassette, when the tape is running. A supply reel shaft rotates a supply reel to supply the tape from the cassette to the head. A take-up reel shaft rotates a take-up reel to wind the tape from the head around the take-up reel. A back tension applying mechanism has a brake part which presses the supply reel shaft to produce a braking force on the supply reel shaft, the back tension applying mechanism applying a back tension to the tape when the braking force is produced. A pressing force varying mechanism controls a pressing force of the brake part on the supply reel shaft such that the pressing force is maintained at an appropriate level for a type of cassette.

Magnetic tape apparatus for controlling a back tension of a magnetic

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Chepstow, United Kingdom

Hugo William Maule