Abstract: A stabilizer disc for a liquid that reduces or prevents the formation of a foam on an upper surface of the liquid. The stabilizer disc has a width and a height, wherein the width is greater than the height. The stabilizer disc further has a surface roughness within a disclosed range of surface roughness (i.e., surface finish) values. Further, a plurality of stabilizer discs may be used to cover a disclosed percentage of a surface area of the fluid. A method for reducing the formation of a foam on the liquid within a container during transport and/or storage is also described.

Abstract: An asymmetric curved-surface prismatic image display optical system includes a first prism and second and third prisms respectively arranged in front of and behind the first prism. The first prism includes a light-exiting planar surface that is at an eye-adjacent side and is opposite to a light-entering planar surface of the second prism with an air gap therebetween and may serve as a reference for inspection of a free-form curved surface. The second prism has a light-exiting planar surface at the eye-adjacent side and parallel to a side planar surface of the third prism to allow an external-world image to be seen more clearly. Light from an image displaying panel first enters the first prism and is subjected to total internal reflection by the light-exiting planar surface toward the reflective curved surface to be reflected and re-directed to transmit through the second prism for image formation on a retina.

Abstract: A tape cartridge includes a housing and a tape reel that is rotatable about an axis of rotation. The tape reel is adapted to cooperably engage a reel drive member of a data transfer apparatus that, in use, applies a drive torque to the tape reel to rotate the tape reel about the axis of rotation. The cooperable engagement of the tape reel and reel drive member is such as to secure the tape reel to the reel drive member to at least substantially prevent tipping of the tape reel with respect to the reel drive member.

Abstract: A magnetic tape guiding apparatus located in a position associated with a head element for guiding magnetic tape in a tape drive is provided. A body of the tape guiding apparatus has a first end and a second end and sides. There are at least two protrusions of the tape guiding apparatus associated with one side of the body. A magnetic tape medium passes between the at least two protrusions and the head element such that the at least two protrusions and the head element contact the magnetic tape medium. A first flange is associated with the first end of the body, and a second flange is associated with the second end of the body. Each flange projects beyond the at least two protrusions. Both flanges limit movement of the magnetic tape medium.

Abstract: A tape unit is provided comprising a flexible tape, a spool for unwinding unused tape and a spool for winding on used tape, wherein an intermediate section of tape which is located between the spools can be used by a user. The tape unit generally achieves a compact design by providing one of the spools in a receiving area defined within the other spool, and a deflection guide for guiding the tape from one spool to the other.

Abstract: A reel has: a hub which is cylindrical, which is molded of a resin material, and around which a recording tape is wound; and a flange provided at an end portion of the hub, and holding a transverse direction end portion of the recording tape. A ring-shaped member formed of metal is provided at the hub by insert molding. In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a reel in which can maintain a highly-accurate configuration of the hub, regardless of environmental changes.

Abstract: A drive chuck of a tape drive system for operatively engaging a tape reel of a data storage tape cartridge. The tape reel includes a circular ring of outwardly projecting reel teeth that defines inner and outer circumferential faces. The drive chuck includes a circular ring of drive chuck teeth and an alignment feature. The alignment feature is radially spaced from the drive chuck teeth and includes a radial contact surface. The radial contact surface is configured and positioned to contact one of the inner and outer circumferential faces upon operative engagement between the drive chuck and the tape reel. In one preferred embodiment, the alignment feature is a ring positioned to contact the outer circumferential face of the ring of reel teeth.

Abstract: A hand winch that includes a drum for carrying a strand wound thereon and including gear teeth, a drive gear having teeth thereon mounted in a driving relation to the gear teeth of the drum, and a handle assembly mounted on the drive gear for rotating the drive gear as the handle assembly is rotated. An engagement assembly 8 is positioned intermediate the drive gear and the handle assembly for winding the strand onto or off of the drum by the handle assembly when the strand is under tension and disengaging the handle assembly from the drive gear when tension on the strand is released to allow the drum to rotate while the handle assembly is stationary.

Abstract: A cartridge gear having an annular shape around its rotational center and secured to a reel of a tape cartridge loaded in a drive device has a tapered shape having a first inclination angle which is lower in height as the tooth tops thereof approach the innermost peripheral edge. A drive gear having an annular shape around its rotational center and connected to a reel motor of the drive device has a tapered shape having a second inclination angle which is lower in height as the tooth tops thereof approach the outermost peripheral edge, the second angle being smaller than the first angle. The tapered shape of the drive gear is formed in an area which extends outwardly from the radially-innermost position of the drive gear where lock pads abut against the drive gear when the drive gear and the cartridge gear are in proper engagement with each other.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a tape simulator of a cassette tape type digital audio/video device built in the cassette tape type digital audio/video device and capable of normally operating a cassette deck player by having the tape simulator recognized as a cassette tape as reproducing voice/video digital signals recorded in the device in use of the cassette deck player. The tape simulator of the cassette tape type digital audio/video device according to the present invention comprises left and right reel hubs inserted in both driving reels of the cassette deck player to be rotated; and a rotation speed attenuating unit for attenuating the rotation speeds of the left and right reel hubs to at a predetermined rate by providing resistance to the left and right reel hubs rotated by the driving reels.

Abstract: In a recording and/or reproducing apparatus (1) having a reel drive device (35) with a drive shaft (46A) and with a disc-shaped drive member (47) made of a plastic and with drive teeth (48), and with a second magnetic circuit element (49), and with a third magnetic circuit element (50), which is connected to the drive member (47) by insert-molding of the third magnetic circuit element (50), the drive shaft (46A) is connected directly to the third magnetic circuit element (50) in a rotationally interlocked manner and the third magnetic circuit element (50) is formed by an element which is finished by means of a turning operation, and the third magnetic circuit element (50) is dimensioned in such a manner with respect to the drive member (47) that the third magnetic circuit element (50) is not subjected to any deformation by the drive member (47) made by insert-molding.

Abstract: A tape cassette providing a case body and a couple of hubs set rotatably in the case body, around which a tape-like member is wound, and a combination structure of the tape cassette and a driving device. The hub members provide a through hole in which a rotative driving spindle of a driving device is to be inserted through an insertion opening and a plurality of spline projections formed at an interior of the through hole, and the spline projection widens toward the insertion opening gradually. When the hub members are rotatively driven under an engagement of the spline projection thereof with an engagement projection of the rotative driving spindle of the driving device, since the hub member is forced toward the insertion opening, the hub member is moved toward the insertion opening, and it is consequently rotated stably at the location where it is moved to.

Abstract: A data storage tape cartridge incorporating a belt-driven design with improved performance characteristics. The tape cartridge includes a housing, first and second tape hubs, a storage tape, a drive roller, first and second corner rollers, and a drive belt. The housing defines a head access window. The first and second tape hubs are rotatably mounted within the housing. The storage tape is wound about the first and second hubs to form first and second tape packs thereabout. The drive roller is also rotatably mounted within the housing. Similarly, the first and second corner rollers are rotatably mounted within the housing. The drive belt is stretched about the drive roller, the first and second tape packs, and the first and second corner rollers. Finally, the first and second hubs are symmetrically arranged relative to the head access window. This symmetrical arrangement optimizes cartridge performance.

Abstract: A tape reel for a tape cassette wherein a pair of such reels are contained, comprising an upper flange and a hub which consists of a drum formed integrally with (formed in one piece with, or solidly joined to) a lower flange. The drum comprises an outer cylindrical part on which a tape is wound and an inner cylindrical part which permits the insertion of a driving shaft of a recording-reproducing device for the tape cassette. The inner cylindrical part has projections adapted to engage with the driving shaft, each said projection having a groove formed on the back side for thickness reduction, and the inner cylindrical part and inner ends and both side walls of the projections all have the same thickness. A plurality of connecting ribs are provided joining the outer and inner cylindrical parts of the drum, and extensions are formed outwardly on the inner cylindrical part, on both shoulder portions close to each said connecting rib.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved reel support for rotating reels in a magnetic tape cassette inserted in a magnetic tape recording-and-playing apparatus. The reel support is a resin mold, and it comprises a support stage having a reel post and blades integrally connected to and standing upright from the support stage. The upright blades extend in the longitudinal slots made in the circumference of the upright reel post. Each upright blade has a nail formed on its tip end, partially appearing from the circumference of the upright reel post to the extent of being caught by a selected projection in the indented-aperture of either reel. Each longitudinal slot has a stepwise indent formed on one side facing the tail side of the nail of the blade, thus permitting the corner of the nail to be engaged with the stepwise indent of the one side of the longitudinal slot when the blade is yieldingly bent as a counter action to the pushing of the confronting projection.

Abstract: The surface of the base plate of the data cartridge is treated with chromate so as to coat the surface with a conductive film, with which the grounding means such as the elastic arms and cartridge positioning rollers provided on the chassis of the data cartridge drive come in contact when the data cartridge is loaded in a data cartridge drive.

Abstract: Ribs serving as reinforcing members of the hub pawls provided to the inner peripheral surface of a cylindrical hub around which a tape is wound can be formed in a simple shape using an electric discharge electrode. A hub comprises plural hub pawls projected from the inner peripheral surface of a hub hole of a tape winding hub, and ribs each of which has a slant surface and is provided to the base portions at both the sides in the hub rotational direction of the hub pawl, wherein the slant surface of the rib is formed in a convex three-dimensional shape (arcuate shape) which is inclined with respect to the cylindrical hub pawl.

Abstract: The data cartridge drive belt of this invention comprises a layer of a low stiffness belt material and a layer of a high stiffness belt material. By inserting the belt into the tape cartridge so that the high stiffness belt material is adjacent to the tape pack and the low stiffness material is away from the tape pack the neutral axis in the belt is shifted toward the tape pack.

Abstract: A tape cartridge, a cartridge-drive system, and a method of operation for aligning spools inside the tape cartridge with fixed center drives. The spools are allowed to slide relative to a baseplate allowing them to move in a direction normal to their axis of rotation to account for axial misalignment with the fixed center drives. Posts maintain the spools in close proximity to the baseplate. The fixed center drives have a flexible joint to account for angular misalignments of the spool and drive axes, and to account for spool-to-drive distance variations along the axis of rotation. Each spool and drive have a ring of triangular shaped teeth that self-align when engaged. Thrust bearings may be disposed between the spools and the baseplate to minimize friction. Each spool may include a normally engaged locking clutch mechanism to reduce the possibility of tape spillage during handling. The clutch is disengaged by engagement with an annular boss on the drive.

Abstract: For use in obtaining and maintaining evidentiary integrity as admissible evidence of audio and/or video recorded factual events on a recording tape, feed and a take-up reels each has two paired separate female bearing surfaces. For each of the feed reel and the take-up reel when utilized in paired or cassette arrangement, one of the paired two female bearing surfaces is of a differing shape and/or dimension than the remaining one. One of the paired female bearing surfaces is permanently detachably from the other. The other of the paired female bearing surfaces is inaccessible for the spindle-gear driving thereof by a drive spindle prior to removal or detachment of the initially utilizable drive or feed surface(s). The feed reel removable female bearing surface has a different size or shape or inner diameter of the female bearing surface than that of the female bearing surface of the drive reel.

Abstract: A tape cartridge including a base plate, first and second tape reels, a magnetic recording tape, a driving belt, and a roller. The magnetic recording tape winds around the first and second tape reels. The driving belt moves the magnetic recording tape. The roller is provided on the base plate rotatably around an axis of the roller and guides the driving belt. The roller includes an end surface slidable on the base plate. The end surface includes at least one groove and at least one sliding surface which contacts the base plate. The at least one sliding surface has a width of at least 0.1 mm along a radial direction of the roller.

Abstract: A high torsional stiffness, low axial, angular and radial deflection stiffness tape drive coupling apparatus is used for driving a cassette reel with a drive motor. The apparatus includes a base which is attached to the drive motor, a compression spring disposed against the base, and a flexure member positioned adjacent the base. The flexure member includes a plurality of orthogonally extending flexible arms, at least two of the arms having a distal end connected with the base. A driver is engageable with the cassette reel and is connected with at least two of the flexible arms. An apparatus is provided for limiting axial separation of the base and driver while allowing radial and angular misalignment therebetween. Accordingly, the driver is movable axially and angularly with respect to the base by compression of the spring between the driver and base. The driver is movable radially with respect to the drive axis by flexion of at least two of the plurality of flexible arms.

Abstract: A magnetic-tape-cassette apparatus includes a tape deck having winding mandrels (5) which are rotatably supported on bearing spindles (3), these winding mandrels being adapted to engage winding-mandrel holes in the magnetic-tape cassette (11), and each have at least one coupling fin (10a, 10b, 10c) arranged on its circumference. To facilitate lowering of the cassette (11) onto the winding mandrels (5) and to preclude any problems which could then arise, the winding mandrels (5) are mounted on the bearing spindles (3) so as to be axially movable in a range of axial movement and are each pre-loaded towards a preferred axial position by at least one spring (9).

Abstract: An elongated tape guide for magnetic tape transported in a data cartridge provides an elongated support wall to guide the tape. The elongated tape guide has a tape guide wall and at least one flange for supporting an edge of the tape as it moves across a transducer. The tape guide can be formed to a desired cross section and then bent to provide the desired path. Suitable hard surface materials and dry lubricants can be used on the surface and impregnated with a dry lubricant. The guide wall is provided with a light transmitting aperture for transmitting light when apertures in the tape indicating a tape end align with the aperture in the guide wall.

Abstract: A cartridge position fixing arrangement within a tape drive reduces vibration of the cartridge by fixing the vertical positioning of the tape reel axles between top mounted retaining springs pressing directly onto the cartridge above the reel axles in opposition to the tape drive motors engaging lower ends of the reel axles for rotating the axles. Each hub axle is journaled with a relatively high force at a bearing that may be formed in the upper wall of the cartridge. A reel axle locking arrangement is provided which, when the cartridge is unloaded from the tape drive, locks the position of each reel axle and centers each reel axle properly for future engagement with motor spindles of the tape drive. In one embodiment, a planar engagement between each motor spindle and each reel axle is provided.

Abstract: A combination of a tape cassette and a tape drive motor wherein a shaft is connected to a tape reel. A tape reel support is mounted to the housing of the cassette and a tape reel shaft extends through the support. Bearings are carried by the support for rotatably supporting the tape reel shaft and thereby the tape reel on the cassette housing. The motor has a rotor rotatable about an axis with the rotor being loosely mounted in the motor when a cassette is not in the tape drive. In one embodiment of the invention, the rotor carries a magnet which in combination with magnetically attractive material carried by the shaft, operates to connect the rotor to the shaft to effect a driving relationship between the rotor and shaft when the cassette is in the tape drive. The bearings on the cassette for the tape reel shaft served as the sole bearings for the rotor for rotational support when the rotor rotates and drives the shaft and thereby the tape reel.

Abstract: Using corner roller assemblies with different drag force profiles provides improved control in establishing tape tension characteristics of a belt-driven tape cartridge. The belt driven tape cartridge has a tape tension profile and is of the type comprising first and second corner roller assemblies defining a portion of a drive belt path of a cartridge. The first corner roller assembly has a first drag force profile and includes a first shaft and a first rotating member comprising a first bore. The first rotating member is rotatably mounted on the first shaft, such that the first shaft is disposed in the first bore. The second corner roller assembly has a second drag force profile and includes a second shaft and a second rotating member comprising a second bore. The second rotating member is rotatably mounted on the second shaft, such that the second shaft is disposed in the second bore.

Abstract: A tape cartridge is provided with a cartridge case constituted by installing a cover on an upper surface of a base plate, a magnetic tape runningly installed in the cartridge case, and a drive belt for running the magnetic tape.The base plate includes a hard protective coat layer at its upper and lower surface or either of upper and lower surfaces.The base plate is formed by punching a base plate material sheet covered with the protective coat layer into a predetermined shape.

Abstract: A corner roller for a belt-driven tape cartridge consists of an outer wall which contacts a drive belt in the cartridge and an inner wall attached to the outer wall. The inner wall includes a stepped axial bore which engages a shaft attached to a baseplate of the cartridge. A small diameter region of the axial bore forms a journal bearing surface for the shaft, and this surface preferably has a length and orientation with respect to the cartridge baseplate sufficient to symmetrically distribute on the journal bearing surface a load exerted on the corner roller by the cartridge belt.

Abstract: A data tape cartridge is formed on a baseplate of polymeric material which supports mounting pins and tape guides thereon for supporting tape components in rigid and dimensionally-stable manner using integrally formed bosses to support the mounting pins and guides. Additional stability against flexure is achieved using a matrix pattern of integrally-formed webs or ribs and sidewalls in the baseplate and by attaching a top plate substantially about the entire perimeter of the sidewalls. Lateral forces exerted against rotatable components on the mounting pins are transferred to the baseplate and top plate by the mounting pins that are supported in both plates. A midguide support is integrally formed in the baseplate to support a guide pin at critical location adjacent the location along the tape path in the cartridge at which a tape transducer interacts with tape.

Abstract: A belt-driven tape cartridge has tape spools rotatably mounted in the cartridge, and a belt drive assembly for driving the tape back and forth between the spools. The drive assembly includes three roller supporting pins, a driving roller rotatably mounted on one of the pins and a pair of guide rollers rotatably mounted on the other pins, and an endless drive belt extending around the rollers to contact tape on each spool. The cartridge has an opening for entry of a drive roller to engage and drive the belt driving roller so as to move the drive belt and drive tape back and forth between the spools. The drive roller mounting pin has a recess extending over at least a portion of the pin facing the drive opening for reducing the bearing surface area between the pin and driving roller so as to reduce the tangential drive force needed to rotate the driving roller.

Abstract: A reel table transferring mechanism including an adjusting device which enables tape cassettes of different sizes to be selectively loaded into the mechanism. The adjusting device includes guide rods for supporting two reel tables and a slide member for slidably moving the two reel tables to change the distance between the two reel tables.

Abstract: A belt-driven tape cartridge with reduced tape pack deformation and more spatially homogeneous tape tension. The belt driven tape cartridge has a supply side tape hub and a winding side tape hub both rotatably mounted on the base. The tape is wound around the hubs to form a tape pack about each hub. A drive roller is rotatably mounted on the base. First and second rollers are rotatably mounted on the base. The drive belt is engaged on the drive roller, the tape pack on the supply side tape hub, the first and second corner rollers, and the tape pack on the winding side tape hub. The pack belt is engaged between the first and second corner rollers and disposed on the inner side of the drive belt. The drive belt has a width less than a width of the pack belt such that tape pack deformation is reduced and the tape tension is more spatially homogeneous.

Abstract: A belt-driven tape cartridge has tape spools rotatably mounted in the cartridge, and a belt drive assembly for driving the tape back and forth between the spools. The drive assembly includes three roller supporting pins, a driving roller rotatably mounted on one of the pins and a pair of guide rollers rotatably mounted on the other pins, and an endless drive belt extending around the rollers to contact tape on each spool. The cartridge has an opening for entry of a drive roller to engage and drive the belt driving roller so as to move the drive belt and drive tape back and forth between the spools. The drive roller mounting pin has a recess extending over at least a portion of the pin facing the drive opening for reducing the bearing surface area between the pin and driving roller so as to reduce the tangential drive force needed to rotate the driving roller.

Abstract: The belt of a rectangular two-reel tape cartridge is stretchably entrained around the tape packs, a single belt-driving roller, and four idler rollers. Each idler roller is positioned near a corner of the cartridge so that the belt has an angle of wrap of at least 150 degrees at the periphery of each of the tape packs. Such angle of wrap permits the cartridge to employ magnetic recording tape that has a smoother backside and yet avoids read/write errors at high tape speeds.

Abstract: A magnetic tape cartridge incorporating a drive belt characterized by a pattern of recesses in the belt surface in contact with the magnetic tape which are used to provide traps for tape contaminants. Different types of patterns are used to eliminate tension variations which would otherwise occur as a consequence of tape contaminants during the projected life of the cartridge.

Abstract: A tape cartridge with minimal tape tension variation and a method of making the same. The tape cartridge includes a supply-side tape reel around which a tape is wound and a winding-side tape reel both rotatably mounted to a base. At least one pin having a first end is attached to the base. At least one roller having a through-hole is rotatably engaged with the pin. Grease is interposed between the at least one pin and the through-hole. A second end of the pin includes a recess opening in an axial direction of the pin. The recess has a volume greater than a volume of excess grease accumulated on an end portion of the pin during mounting the roller on the pin. The roller may be an idler or drive roller for a belt-driven tape cartridge or a tape reel.

Abstract: A data cartridge for use for example in an external memory unit for backing up a computer in which it is possible to secure a smooth surface quality of an upper surface of a base plate in base contact areas with which rotating parts and other mechanism parts of the data cartridge make base contact. In the upper surface 3b of an aluminum base plate 3, a plurality of base contact areas TA of rotating parts RP and other mechanism parts MP such as tape reels, a drive roller, a corner roller and a mirror for optical detection of tape ends are partially surface-pressed to form a plurality of recesses 3c having smooth surfaces free of scratches.

Abstract: A cover of a tape or data cartridge to be used as an external memory for a computer includes a number of temporary fixture pins integral with a main body of the cover. The pins function to temporarily fix the main body to a base plate of the tape cartridge. The pins are arranged to be engageable respectively with engaging sections formed in the base plate. Each pin includes a first engagement portion for causing the main body to be provisionally fixed to the base plate in a state where the main body is in contact with the base plate, and a second engagement portion for causing the main body to be temporarily fixed to the base plate in a .state where the main body is separate from the base plate.

Abstract: A pack belt or similar mechanism is provided in a two hub, belt-driven data cartridge to press against the tape pack on the take-up hub side of the cartridge when approximately half of the tape has wound onto that hub. The added load from this pressure reduces the speed of the tape-up hub, which in turn reduces the speed differential between the two hubs. Since the speed differential between the hubs causes a gradient in tape tension (bow-tie) as the tape is moved from BOT to EOT, this reduces or eliminates the bow-tie. Adjustment of the relative tensions between the drive belt and the pack belt allows adjustment of the bow-tie, ranging from the normal bow-tie, to near zero bow-tie, to a negative bow-tie. Coating one side each of the drive belt and the pack belt, then having the coated side of the drive belt contact the uncoated side of the pack belt further reduces bow-tie.

Abstract: A tape cartridge for housing magnetic tape includes first and second tape guide portions including upper and lower flanges provided thereon for guiding tape along a predetermined tape path according to rotation of supply and take-up reels of the tape cartridge. The tape is disposed such that an upper edge thereof contacts an inner side of an upper flange of the first tape guide and an inner side of the lower flange of the second tape guide. A width dimension between these two inner sides of the flanges being substantially equal to the width of the tape. This may be effected by mounting the first and second tape guide portions at different heights on a base plate of the cartridge. According to this, it is possible to substantially reduce `offtracking` of tape running in said cartridge.

Abstract: A data tape cartridge is formed on a baseplate of polymeric material which supports mounting pins and tape guides thereon for supporting tape components in rigid and dimensionally-stable manner using integrally formed bosses to support the mounting pins and guides. Additional stability against flexure is achieved using a matrix pattern of integrally-formed webs or ribs and sidewalls in the baseplate and by attaching a top plate substantially about the entire perimeter of the sidewalls. Lateral forces exerted against rotatable components on the mounting pins are transferred to the baseplate and top plate by the mounting pins that are supported in both plates. A midguide support is integrally formed in the baseplate to support a guide pin at critical location adjacent the location along the tape path in the cartridge at which a tape transducer interacts with tape.

Abstract: In a tape drive system, a cassette comprises a pair of spaced apart flangeless hubs and an access opening between the hubs. Each hub is provided with a cap of magnetically attractive material. Each hub receives a rotatable spindle which has a magnetic portion at its upper end. There are abutting surfaces on each hub and spindle which act as registration surfaces to provide a contiguous but non engaging relationship between the spindle magnetic portion and the hub cap of magnetically attractive material. The magnetic attraction between the magnetic portion of each spindle and its respective hub is the sole force urging each hub into engagement with its respective spindle. The abutting registration surfaces are located on each spindle relative to the bottom wall of the cassette so as to suspend its respective hub between the housing top and bottom walls.

Abstract: A high speed tape transport cassette comprises a pair of spaced apart flangeless hubs and an access space between the hubs. On each side of the access space, there is mounted a cylindrical guide member which has a stationary flange at each end and a stationary central grooved portion between the flanges. The grooved surface comprises concave grooves extending in a direction transverse to the axis of the guide and providing a surface roughness average between 20 and 40 microinches. The tape extends in a tape transport path from one hub directly to and engaging the grooved central portion of one guide member and across the access opening directly to and engaging the grooved central portion of the other guide member and directly to the other hub. The guide members are the sole members in the cassette engaged by the tape in the tape transport path between the hubs.

Abstract: A drive belt for a belt-driven recording tape cartridge, wherein the drive belt has inside and outside major surfaces which comprise a plurality of bubble burst discontinuities. Processes for making drive belts with bubble burst discontinuities are also described.

Abstract: A tape transport apparatus configuration with a mounting portion, a single moving base, a motor, a pulley, and an urging mechanism. The mounting portion mounts a cartridge having an externally driven roller, and an information recording tape that runs in accordance with a rotational force of the roller. The moving base that has the motor is provided to the side of the roller, in the cartridge mounted to the mounting portion. The pulley is provided to the moving base and is rotationally driven in accordance with rotation of the motor. The urging mechanism acts on the moving base so that the pulley is brought into contact with the roller in the cartridge mounted to the mounting portion, and is pressed against the roller.

Abstract: A cine camera employing interchangeable film magazines with displacement of the spindles of the film take-off and take-up reels, comprises an electric motor mounted on the body of the camera and of which the horizontal driven shaft is fast with a driving magnetic plate of a magnetic coupler which is housed in an opening in the body coaxial with the axis of the motor and of the shaft. The outer front face of the driving magnetic plate is substantially flush with the outer face of the body which is adjacent the outer face of the wall of the casing of the interchangeable magazine. The magnetic coupler comprises, in the magazine, a driven magnetic plate of which the axis merges with that of the driving magnetic plate. The driven magnetic plate is fast with a driving pinion and the driven magnetic plate and the driving pinion are mounted to rotate, in the magazine, about an axis which is merged with the axis of the drive motor.

Abstract: A corner belt guide roller for use in a belt driven tape cartridge is disclosed. The roller controls drag on the driving belt to maintain magnetic tape tension and reduce variability in the cartridge operation. The guide roller is mounted on a pivot pin through an inner cylindrical surface. The inner cylindrical surface has an oriented controlled texture including axial splines. This enables the guide roller to have controlled friction with its pivot pin, and provide a predetermined constant amount of drag to the driving belt to improve the consistency of the tape cartridge operation.

Abstract: A belt driven reel-to-reel tape cartridge includes two tape guides for guiding the tape to and from respective tape reels. The tape guides have a large radius of curvature and are flanged to form a long trough to guide and align the tape to improve tape tracking. This also provides hydrodynamic lift by creating an air film between the tape and the tape guide to reduce the friction between the tape backside and the tape guide. The radius of curvature can be constant or can vary from a larger radius at the ends to a smaller radius in the middle.