Abstract: The printing apparatus includes a ribbon laid between spools, and DC motors for rotating these spools. A CPU drives the motor without tension, calculates the rotation velocity of the motor based on the rotation amount of the motor, applies the calculated rotation velocity and supplies current in driving the motor, by calculating a drive current for providing the DC motor with a same rotation velocity as a rotation velocity of a reference DC motor based on a difference between a rotation speed of the DC motor in driving the DC motor at a predetermined supply current in a state in which the ribbon is broken, or the ribbon is separated from the supply spool, and a rotational speed of the reference DC motor in driving the reference DC motor at the predetermined supply current, and controls the motor driver to supply the calculated drive current.

Abstract: A cable reel can improve transfer of power and data between a static frame and a cable wound around a rotatable element. The cable reel can use torsional springs to store mechanical energy and also to electrically couple the cable to a node within the static frame. This electrical coupling can be used to pass power. The cable reel can use a data transfer apparatus to transfer data between the frame and the cable. This apparatus may comprise two capacitive plates that together form a capacitor, one connected to the frame and one connected to the rotatable element. Alternatively, this apparatus may comprise an optically isolated zone in which an optical transmitter may communicate data to an optical receiver over free-space optical communications. The data can be transferred without physical contact between the frame and rotatable element, even while the rotatable element may rotate relative to the static frame.

Abstract: To provide a printing apparatus capable of preventing the image quality from deteriorating, the printing apparatus is provided with a ribbon 41 laid between spools 43, 44, DC motors Mr3, Mr1 for rotating these spools, driver for supplying driving power to the motors, encoders for detecting rotation amounts of the motors, and controller that controls the driver. A CPU drives the motor without the tension due to the ribbon 41 being applied, calculates the rotation velocity of the motor based on the rotation amount of the motor detected in the encoder, applies the calculated rotation velocity and the supply current in driving the motor to the relationship between the rotation velocity and the supply current in a reference motor, and calculates the supply current for providing the same rotation velocity as the rotation velocity in driving the reference motor with the supply current of the time the motor is driven.

Abstract: A method for avoiding tape stiction is provided with a tape drive with a pair of motors for driving a pair of tape reels for conveying data tape across one or more read/write heads. Tachometers measure rotation of the pair of tape reels. Motion of the tape is started and rotation of the tape reels is measured by the tachometers. The measurement of the rotation of the tape reels is compared to determine if there is enough slack associated with tape stiction. The location of tape stiction is stored and weighted. Another method stops motion of the tape at a location wherein excessive tape stiction has not been detected. A tape drive is provided for performing methods for avoiding tape stiction.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for reducing occurrences of tape stick conditions in magnetic tape, the method including stopping functional rotation of each of two bi-directionally rotatable reels of a reel-to-reel tape drive that includes a length of magnetic tape at least partially wound around each reel, a portion of the length of tape extending between the two moveable reels and contacting a head positioned between the two reels; wherein the stopping creates a stop condition in the tape drive, actuating a fractional rotation at least one of the two bi-directionally movable reels a fraction of a reel turn in a first direction during the stop condition, causing the portion of the length of tape to at least temporarily break contact with the head via the fractional rotation, and re-starting functional rotation of each of the reels, ending the stop condition via the re-starting.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for reducing occurrences of tape stick conditions in magnetic tape, the method including stopping functional rotation of each of two bi-directionally rotatable reels of a reel-to-reel tape drive that includes a length of magnetic tape at least partially wound around each reel, a portion of the length of tape extending between the two moveable reels and contacting a head positioned between the two reels; wherein the stopping creates a stop condition in the tape drive, actuating a fractional rotation at least one of the two bi-directionally movable reels a fraction of a reel turn in a first direction during the stop condition, causing the portion of the length of tape to at least temporarily break contact with the head via the fractional rotation, and re-starting functional rotation of each of the reels, ending the stop condition via the re-starting.

Abstract: An I/O interface cover assembly includes a panel, a bracket for accommodating an I/O interface element, a driving device, a locking device and a button. The panel defines an opening and a button hole adjacent the opening. The bracket is received in the opening, and includes one end pivotally connected to the panel and the other end defining an I/O slot and a locking hole therein. The driving device is disposed between the panel and the bracket for driving the bracket out from the opening of the panel. The locking device is movably arranged to the panel, and engagable with the locking hole of the bracket. The locking device is disposed with a resilient element. The button is disposed in the button hole of the panel, and is able to press the locking device to disengage from the locking hole of the bracket.

Abstract: In a magnetic tape apparatus for controlling a running of a magnetic tape to stop at a reference stop position, a control part controls the feed reel shaft and the take-up reel shaft to reel the magnetic tape and a stop position control part displaces a stop position of the magnetic tape from the reference position wherein the control part activates the stop position control part to displace the stop position when the control part stops running the magnetic tape.

Abstract: A tape end detector includes a first resistor connected between a positive power source and an analog input terminal, a second resistor connected between the analog input terminal and the ground, a first phototransistor the collector of which is connected to an output terminal and the emitter of which is connected to the analog input terminal, and a second phototransistor the collector of which is connected to the analog input terminal and the emitter of which is connected to the output terminal. In the tape end detector, it is determined based upon voltage applied to the analog input terminal when the output terminal is at a high level whether the first phototransistor is turned on or off and it is determined based upon voltage applied to the analog input terminal when the output terminal is at a low level whether the second phototransistor is turned on or off.

Abstract: In a reel sensor for a start/finish and detecting device in which a light from a light-emitting element is radiated into an incident light window formed in a video cassette and a start/finish end of a video tape is detected based on an intensity of a light radiated from an emergent light window formed in the video cassette, the reel sensor comprises: a light-distributing section for distributing the light radiated from the light-emitting element to a rotation indicator so as to correspond to the rotation of a reel stand, the rotation indicator serving to change an intensity of the light either transmitting therethrough or being reflected thereby; and a light-receiving section for receiving the ray of light having been distributed by the light-distributing section and either having transmitted through the rotation indicator or having been reflected by the rotation indicator.

Abstract: A paper winding device for winding up photographic paper after exposure on a take-up spool in a photographic printer. A loop forming portion for storing exposed portion of the photographic paper in the form of a loop is disposed before the take-up spool. The take-up spool is rotated by a DC motor which is activated or inactivated depending on the amount of the loop. A paper guide arm is provided to confine the outermost convolution of the paper roll wound on the take-up spool. An angle detector detects the inclination of the paper guide arm to determine the paper roll diameter. The DC motor is dynamically braked after inactivated, and resistance value or braking time for dynamic braking of the DC motor is changed in accordance with the paper roll diameter, to reduce variation in paper winding amount with paper roll diameter in the delay time from the inactivation to the actual stop of the DC motor.

Abstract: A film feeding device for a camera uses first and second electric motors associated with first and second planetary gearing mechanisms, respectively. In one embodiment, the first motor and first planetary gearing mechanism drive a spool shaft of a film cartridge to supply film to a winding spool. The winding spool is driven by the second motor and second planetary gearing mechanism to wind film onto the winding spool, at which time the first motor is stopped and the first planetary gearing mechanism is automatically disconnected from the spool shaft. For rewinding, the second motor is operated in reverse and the second planetary gearing mechanism is automatically disconnected from the winding spool and connected to the spool shaft of the film cartridge.

Abstract: A cam gear is provided with a camming groove including an inside camming face and an outside camming face. The inside camming face is divided into a stop mode inner-section of a first constant radius, a play mode inner-section of a second constant radius, the second constant radius being larger than the first radius, and a first transition section formed in a manner that an end of the stop mode inner-section is smoothly joined to a beginning of the play mode inner-section.

Abstract: A cassette tape transport mechanism is provided with a mechanism for quickly detecting the stoppage of a take-up reel, thereby causing a tape direction change cycle to be initiated before a significant amount of tape can form a jam during a tape eating condition. The number of tape direction changes within a predetermined time is also counted and compared to a reference limit to detect a tape eating malfunction. The tape may be automatically ejected and an error message sent to the taper player display, allowing the user to clean the cassette or the player mechanism to remove sticky substances that may be causing the tape eating condition.

Abstract: The detection period of detection unit for detecting a prescribed portion which is provided at at least an end of a tape is decreased in response to the detection of the prescribed portion by the detection unit so that the tape ends can be accurately detected on the basis of results of several detections, and the detection time can be reduced.

Abstract: An overload protection device for the film winding/rewinding motor of a camera to prevent breakage of the camera by detecting an overload of a winding motor controlled by a one comma switch. The overload detection device includes a driving part, a planetary gear part and an overload detection part.