Basf Aktiengesellschaft

Roland Roos

Wulf Muenzner

Werner Balz

Heinz Berger

Klaus D Schomann

Horst Fitterer

Klaus Dieter

A tape guide system wherein a magnetic tape having different resistivities on its back and front travels in contact with guide elements, the members of these elements which are in contact with the tape being matched to the relevant face of the tape in respect of surface resistivity and/or of charge affinity. The members contacting the front of the magnetic tape accordingly consist of a conductive or low-insulation material and the members contacting the back of the tape consist of a high-insulation material. In alternative embodiments, the contact members can consist of a material of low conductivity, or of a plastic with an added conductive material. The novel guide system can be used in any type of high-speed magnetic tape transport mechanism. The invention also concerns the tape guide elements per se, and magnetic tape cassettes employing the tape guide system.

Tape guide system for magnetic tapes, especially video tapes

In a tape cassette, particularly a video tape cassette, equalization of electrostatic charges between the two faces of the tape is effected by a connector element or connector elements electrically connecting at least one of two electrically conducting guide elements contacting the front of the tape and provided on the two sides, respectively, of the cassette with at least the associated one of two electrically conducting tape deflecting elements provided in the two respective front corners of the tape cassette. In this manner sticking of the tape to the deflecting elements due to electrostatic attraction therebetween and also the build-up of electrostatic charges along the tape path parallel to the front of the cassette housing due to the transporting of such charges from the deflecting elements as a result of the tape travel, are counteracted.

Magnetic tape cassette with equalization of electrostatic charges

A tape guide system wherein a magnetic tape having different resistivites on its back and front travels in contact with guide elements, the members of these elements which are in contact with the tape being matched to the relevant face of the tape in respect of surface resistivity and/or of charge affinity. The members contacting the front of the magnetic tape accordingly consist of a conductive or low-insulation material and the members contacting the back of the tape consist of a high-insulation material. In alternative embodiments, the contact members can consist of a material of low conductivity, or of a plastic with an added conductive material. The novel guide system can be used in any type of high-speed magnetic tape transport mechanism. The invention also concerns the tape guide elements per se, and magnetic tape cassettes employing the tape guide system.

A tape guide system, especially a tape guide system for a magnetic tape cassette, comprising conductive connecting means between the tape guide elements and/or the front and back of the tape, prevents the tape from blocking, slipping from the tape reels, or folding over. In practical embodiments, pieces of flexible conductive plastics film are arranged in the vicinity of the guide elements. The novel tape guide system can be used in any type of magnetic tape transport mechanism in which increased friction occurs when the tape is transported, especially in video cassettes for all systems.

Guide system and magnetic tape cassette comprising such a system

A tape cassette, in particular a video cassette, comprises two flanged reels and, between the flanges of each reel, a spring member as a biassing means to prevent the tape from slipping off the roll or folding over. The spring members can be attached to the side walls or rear wall of the housing, and their free ends constantly bear against the peripheries of the tape rolls. In specific embodiment the spring member advantageously includes the braking spring for a reel-braking device. By using a conductive material on one or both sides of the spring member and appropriately arranging the spring member relative to a tape guide element or to an element grounded on the tape recorder, it is possible to directly prevent tape loop formation, which is a cause of tape slippage and folding-over. Moreover, tape winding and unwinding are improved.

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Ludwigshafen, Germany

Roland Roos