Imation Corporation

3m Innovative Properties Company

Hewlett-packard Company

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

Pollution Control Auto Parts, Inc.

Leroy A Kuta

Sten R Gerfast

Robert W Tapani

Robert J Youngquist

Leif O Erickson

Fred O Stephens

Devin A Bloom

John T Gianfagna

James J Evanoff

Michael Kelly

Marlin W Peickert

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 method for providing information about the characteristics of a length of magnetic tape to a tape drive without the use of a separate sensor. The drive has a scanning read/write head that is capable of reading/writing on data tracks on the tape which span at least a portion of the width of the tape. A pattern of magnetically polarized stripes is provided on the tape. The stripes extend along the length of a portion of the tape and are polarized substantially transversely to their length. As the tape is driven past a read/write head, the head reads the pattern on the tape, and decodes the information in the pattern. The drive can then respond as appropriate to the information to facilitate the reading/writing of data on the tape.

Method of identifying magnetic tape characteristics

An alignment and latching apparatus for a drive mechanism for data tape mini-cartridges. The alignment and latching apparatus enables the drive to use a new mini-cartridge while retaining backward compatibility with older smaller mini-cartridges. The mini-cartridges have a plastic top cover and a rigid metal baseplate. For some embodiments, an alignment datum is defined by three reference points on the bottom of the mini-cartridge baseplate. In other embodiments, the alignment datum is split with two reference points on the top of the baseplate and one reference point on bottom of the baseplate. Alignment and latching forces are applied on both the plastic cover and onto the baseplate. In some embodiments, alignment force on the top cover is provided by flat springs. In alternative embodiments, alignment force on the top cover is provided by spring loaded rollers. Alignment force on the baseplate is provided by rollers or cam surfaces, pushing upward if a split datum is required and downward if a bottom surface datum is required.

Alignment and latching mechanism in a drive for magnetic data tape

Tape cartridge

The clamp serves to position the mouth of an air duct against the surface of the exhaust manifold of an automotive engine so that hot air may be drawn into the duct. The clamp is a spring steel strap of U shape with shoulders at midlength of the limbs. Endwise of the shoulders the arms converge in a vee to accommodate various shapes of manifold pipes. The U neck of the clamp fits within the throat of the air duct, holding it by expansion, while the arms hold the exhaust manifold by contraction. The complete kit includes the clamp, an air duct, and a cover to enhance the collection of hot air. The kit serves to restore the hot air collection function in older vehicles which have lost original parts.

Spring clamp and kit to supply hot air to carburetor

Growing community of inventors

Mahtomedi, MN, United States of America

Leroy A Kuta