Imation Corporation

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

3m Innovative Properties Company

Leif O Erickson

Daniel Charles Egan

Durkee B Richards

Michael G Slagter

David D Madsen

Randy S Bay

Aboutorab S Fahimi

Jay J Iqnaszewski

William Joseph Vanderheyden

James F Pitzen

Douglas W Johnson

Armando Jesus Argumedo

G Phillip Rambosek

Kristin LaVelle Thunhorst

Donald L Pochardt

John W Louks

Scott M Rockwell

Christopher J Zwettler

Steven L Felde

James S Anderson

Arne Bengt Boberg

Jon E Stickrod

Kenneth R Shelley

Vurnen J Leonard

Leroy A Kuta

James J Evanoff

John D Willems

Jay J Ignaszewski

Methods and apparatus for applying a flying splicing tape to a roll of sheet material. A preferred embodiment of the invention provides methods and apparatus for lifting a portion of the outer-most layer of sheet material away from a roll of sheet material to form a lifted portion of the outer-most layer, applying a splicing tape to a wound portion of the roll, and applying pressure to the lifted portion of the outer-most layer to progressively place the lifted portion of the outer-most layer in contact with the remainder of the roll and the splicing tape.

Method and apparatus for applying a splicing tape to a roll of sheet material

A method and apparatus for automatically applying a flying splicing tape to a roll of sheet material. The roll of sheet material is defined by a width and includes an outer-most layer. With this in mind, the method includes lifting a portion of the outer-most layer away from a remainder of the roll. The lifted portion is then cut to form a leading edge that is otherwise spaced from a remainder of the wound roll. To this end, the cut is made at a defined spacial location along the outer-most layer such that the leading edge is radially aligned with a defined application line relative to a circumference on the wound portion of the roll. In other words, when the outer-most portion is subsequently wound back onto the roll, the leading edge will be aligned with the defined application line. The splicing tape is then applied to the wound portion of the roll at the defined application line, such that the splicing tape extends across at least a portion of the width of the roll. In one preferred embodiment, the splicing tape is applied in a straight fashion relative to an axis of the roll. Finally, the leading edge is adhered to an outer surface of the splicing tape. More particularly, the leading edge is positioned relative to the splicing tape such that the outer-most layer covers a first section of the splicing tape, whereas a second section of the splicing tape remains exposed. In another preferred embodiment, the applied splicing tape is cut to form a trailing end that is substantially aligned with a side of the roll.

Method and apparatus for automatically applying a flying splicing tape to a roll of sheet material

A tape applicator. A preferred embodiment of the invention provides a tape applicator that includes a tape head having a base, a tape roll holder attached to the base and a tape application roller for applying a tape to a surface attached to said base, where the tape applicator includes a tape path from the tape roll holder to the tape application roller, and includes a x-axis actuator operatively connected to the tape head for moving said tape applicator in the x-axis direction and a y-axis actuator operatively connected to the tape head for moving said tape applicator in the y-axis direction. The present invention also relates to methods of applying tape to surface.

Tape applicator and methods of applying tape to a surface

A method for making a laminate adapted for decorating a substrate including providing (1) a sheet of pre-mask material including a cover layer and a layer of removable adhesive on one surface of the cover layer having an exposed surface defining a first major surface for the sheet of pre-mask material; (2) a supply length of decorative film tape comprising a length of decorative film having opposite first and second major surfaces, and a layer of adhesive along its second major surface; (3) a sheet of release liner having a first major surface adapted to be releasably adhered to by the removable adhesive on the cover layer and by the adhesive on the decorative film; and (4) a tape applicator. One of the sheets is supported with its first major surface in an application plane, and the tape applicator is used to form display lengths of decorative film tape of different predetermined shapes and lengths from the supply length of decorative film tape and to apply those display lengths of decorative film tape to the first major surface of that one of the sheets in a predetermined pattern; after which the first major surface of the other of the sheets is positioned over the surfaces of the display lengths of decorative film tape opposite the first major surface of that one of the sheets. The method adheres the layers of adhesive on the display lengths of decorative film tape to the to the release liner, and adheres the layer of removable adhesive included in the layer of pre-mask material over the first major surfaces of the lengths of decorative film in the display lengths of decorative film tape adhered to the release liner and to the release liner around the display lengths of decorative film tape.

Method for applying designs to a substrate

Data recording tape is passed along guides and past a read/write head. Sensors detect the position of the tape and adjust the guides and the head as a function of the position. If the tape deviates from the target tape path, a controller moves a guide to steer the tape back to the target tape path, using the sensor signals. In cases of tape disturbance such as those involving rapid tape motion, an adaptive estimator uses the sensor signals to position the head to anticipate the expected position of the tape when the disturbance arrives at the head.

Dynamic tape path adjustment

A data storage cartridge includes a length of magnetic tape wound on a pair of tape reels within a housing to define a tape path. A tape guide disposed along a portion of the tape path includes a top and bottom flange. Each flange is resilient so that it acts to resiliently guide an edge of the tape. This minimizes violent crashes of a tape edge against the tape guide. Each flange may have a plurality of spaced resilient finger guides for directly contacting the edges of the tape. The finger guides serve to independently exert a force on the edges of the tape, thereby guiding the tape.

Two-sided compliant tape guide

A tape cartridge includes a first rotatable hub and a second rotatable hub. The first hub and the second hub are wound so that they are substantially full of the flexible recording tape. The flexible tape between the first and second hub crosses a centerline including the two hubs. Both the first rotatable hub and the second rotatable hub are removable from the cartridge. The hubs have a flange with a conical edge which nests into a first opening and a second opening in the tape cartridge with conical receiving surfaces. The conical edges have a plurality of reliefs therein to form conical teeth within each of the first and second hub. The conical teeth of one of the hubs engages the reliefs of the other hub to seal the cartridge and to support the tape between the hubs. The cartridge also includes a base, a latch for engaging the first rotatable hub and the second rotatable hub. A cartridge cover covers the latch and base. The tape cartridge is placed into a tape drive for reading and writing to tape media within a tape cartridge. The tape drive includes an apparatus for removing the first hub and second hub from the tape cartridge. The tape drive also includes a first spindle attached to a first arm and a second spindle attached to a second arm. The arms move the first spindle and the second spindle between a hub receiving position and a functional position. In the functional position, the first spindle and the second spindle position the tape near the transducer in a transducing relationship. Each of the spindles may include a hub flange extension or a tape packer.

Tape cartridge with remove to operate tape and hubs

A tape bearing surface for a tape that reduces tape surface contact near the edge, while minimizing variation in cross-web tension, and a method of making the same. The tape surface piece has a longitudinal axes defining a tape path and a lateral axis is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis along a top surface. The top surface defines a convex shape having at least one distinct radii extending along the lateral axis. In one embodiment, the convex shape is elliptical or parabolic. In one embodiment, two distinct radii are formed so that a first radius proximate a center of the lateral axis is greater then a second radius proximate edges of the lateral axis. The present invention is also directed to a tape guide and a tape cartridge containing the present tape bearing surface.

Tape bearing surface with reduce tape contact and method of making same

A compliant tape guide having a compliant member with optimized planar stiffness. The compliant tape guide includes a top support plate, a bottom support plate, a bearing piece, the compliant member and a biasing member. The bearing piece extends between the top and bottom support plate in a generally perpendicular fashion. The compliant member is associated with an inner surface of the bottom support plate and includes a base, opposing legs, an edge receiving surface and a planar stiffness body. The opposing legs extend from the base. The edge receiving surface is attached to the opposing legs opposite the base to define an opening. The planar stiffness body is disposed within the opening and is configured to increase an in-plane stiffness of the compliant member in a plane substantially parallel to a plane of the base. Finally, the biasing member is associated with the compliant member to bias the edge receiving surface into engagement with a storage tape during use.

Compliant tape guide with planar stiffness body for a data storage tape

A data storage tape cartridge having an insert for improved hub alignment. The data storage tape cartridge includes a housing defined by a first housing section and a second housing section, a hub pin extending from an interior surface of the first housing section, a tape reel assembly rotatably maintained by the hub pin and a storage tape wrapped about the tape reel assembly. The tape reel assembly includes a hub and an insert. The insert spaces the hub a predetermined distance from the interior surface of the first housing section, thus maintaining the hub in proper alignment. The insert is selected to compensate for inconsistencies in hub pin height, as well as other component variations.

Data storage tape cartridge with hub alignment insert

Tape bearing surface with reduced tape contact and method of making same

Housing for a dual reel tape cartridge

A high performance tape reel with an outwardly facing cylindrical tape winding surface parallel to a drive pin bore on a reel hub. The hub has a pair of hub reference surfaces adjacent to the winding surface for aligning tape flanges. Flanges are attached to the hub at a location remote from the winding surface and magnetic tape. A drive cap with a reel pin bearing surface is attached to the hub so that the reel pin bearing surface substantially covers one entrance to the drive pin bore.

High performance tape reel

A tape guide module for a reel-to-reel data cartridge containing a pair of tape guides configured to provide a tape guide adjacent to each side of a read/write zone in the data cartridge. The tape surface pieces are formed as a type of leaf spring that are loaded when it is assembled between top and bottom plates. The top and bottom plates form at least one flange to guide and align the tape to improve tape tracking.

Growing community of inventors

River Falls, WI, United States of America

Leif O Erickson