Abstract: A reel motor drive system using a first and a second signal for comparing an error signal derived from a tape tension sensing transducer with a respective polarity of separate positive and negative repetitive ramp signals. Each comparator produces an output signal as a series of constant frequency, duty cycle modulated pulses having a duration equal to the time that the error signal is greater than the ramp signal being compared thereto. These pulses are used as drive signals to a reel motor through a motor power amplifier and are used to develop mutually exclusive steering signals for selecting a motor drive direction by means of a steering logic circuit. The steering signals are also applied to the motor power amplifier to select a current path through the reel motor corresponding to the desired motor drive direction.

Abstract: A slack tape loader for a tape transport apparatus has a signal generator selectively energized by a tape loading control switch to produce an enabling signal for a reel motor control servo circuit. The enabling signal has a duration which will energize the reel motor control servo for a short period of time to load the slack tape on tape storage reels. Concurrently, the tape transport is operative to detect a tensioned state of the tape. The enabling signal is recurrently produced by the signal generator in response to the tape loading control switch until the desired tape tension is detected by a tape tension sensing means to produce an output signal for disabling the signal generator.