US3942743A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Information tape cassette
Assignee: Ricoh Co Ltd
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Filing: 1974-07-24
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Granted: 1976-03-09
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Expires: 1994-07-24
Abstract
Abstract A tape cassette which automatically brings the tape into direct engagement with the detection head and into indirect engagement with the drive wheel of a machine when the tape cassette is pushed in one direction into the machine. Disposed in the cassette is a rotary roller which is brought, at the flanges provided on its outer periphery, into engagement with the drive wheel and driven thereby. The rotary roller cooperates with other guide members to maintain at the appropriate tension an endless belt which backs up the inner side of a portion of the tape which is paid out from one of the cores and wound onto the other core.
Inventors
- 👤 Sei Jinsenji
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 20:45
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B23/00; G11B23/02; G11B23/04; G11B23/08; G11B23/087; G11B23/08707; G11B23/08778; G03; G03B; G03B21/00; G03B21/14; G03B21/32; G03B21/43
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
365 words
An information tape cassette for a machine having a tape head and a driving capstan, said cassette comprising a case formed therewith with a first, a second and a third opening, wherein when the cassette is positioned in the machine said first opening faces the tape head, said second opening faces the driving capstan, and said third opening faces a different possible location for a driving capstan, a pair of cores rotatably disposed in said case and each having means for securing thereto one end of a continuous length of a tape so that the tape can be wound on the cores in roll form and a paid-out portion of the tape can connect the rolls of tape wound on the cores, and an endless belt and means for confining the belt to move along a path in which the belt backs said paid-out portion of the tape and brings said paid-out tape portion into a position in which it faces said first opening of the case so as to be engaged by the head facing said first opening from outside the case when the cassette is positioned in the machine, said belt partially engaging under a predetermined tension a portion of the outer periphery of each of the rolls of said tape formed on said cores, said confining means comprising a plurality of guide members arranged such that the endless belt trained about said guide members can move along said path, said guide members comprising at least a first and a second rotary roller arranged such that the endless belt is trained over said rollers, with the paid-out portion of the tape being over the belt portions trained on the rollers, and said first and second rollers face and are adjacent to said second and third case openings respectively, said first roller engaging said driving capstan when the cassette is in position in the machine and said second roller being disposed to engage a driving capstan disposed at said different location, whereby the first rotary roller can be driven by said driving capstan and said second rotary roller can be engaged and driven by another driving capstan in the same or a different machine.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
365 words
An information tape cassette for a machine having a tape head and a driving capstan, said cassette comprising a case formed therewith with a first, a second and a third opening, wherein when the cassette is positioned in the machine said first opening faces the tape head, said second opening faces the driving capstan, and said third opening faces a different possible location for a driving capstan, a pair of cores rotatably disposed in said case and each having means for securing thereto one end of a continuous length of a tape so that the tape can be wound on the cores in roll form and a paid-out portion of the tape can connect the rolls of tape wound on the cores, and an endless belt and means for confining the belt to move along a path in which the belt backs said paid-out portion of the tape and brings said paid-out tape portion into a position in which it faces said first opening of the case so as to be engaged by the head facing said first opening from outside the case when the cassette is positioned in the machine, said belt partially engaging under a predetermined tension a portion of the outer periphery of each of the rolls of said tape formed on said cores, said confining means comprising a plurality of guide members arranged such that the endless belt trained about said guide members can move along said path, said guide members comprising at least a first and a second rotary roller arranged such that the endless belt is trained over said rollers, with the paid-out portion of the tape being over the belt portions trained on the rollers, and said first and second rollers face and are adjacent to said second and third case openings respectively, said first roller engaging said driving capstan when the cassette is in position in the machine and said second roller being disposed to engage a driving capstan disposed at said different location, whereby the first rotary roller can be driven by said driving capstan and said second rotary roller can be engaged and driven by another driving capstan in the same or a different machine.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
An information tape cassette as in claim 1 where all of the openings are at a single side of the case.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
59 words
An information tape cassette as in claim 1 wherein each of said rotary rollers is formed on its outer periphery with a pair of flanges extending radially outwardly of the belt and tape portions trained over the roller for frictional engagement of the flanges with a driving capstan, without engagement of the driving capstan with the tape or belt.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
An information tape cassette as in claim 1 wherein said endless belt is made of a resilient material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
233 words
A tape cassette for a tape machine having a tape head and tape driving means, said cassette comprising: a case having a plurality of side openings and a side aperture; a pair of spaced-apart cores rotatably mounted in the case, each core having means for securing thereto one end of a continuous length of tape which can be wound in roll form on each core so as to leave a paid-out tape portion connecting the rolls of tape wound on the cores; a plurality of guide rollers rotatably mounted in the case, each guide roller being adjacent to and facing a different one of said case openings; an endless belt trained on said guide rollers and engaging each of the rolls of tape on said cores at a predetermined tension, said endless belt further engaging the paid-out tape portion at a location adjacent to and facing said case aperture, with the paid-out tape portion being between the belt and each opening and between the belt and the aperture, whereby the paid-out tape portion can be accessed through said aperture by said head from outside the case and any of said guide rollers can be accessed by said tape driving means through any of said openings to thereby rotate the rolls of tape wound on the cores and to move the paid-out tape portion with respect to said case aperture and said tape head.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
233 words
A tape cassette for a tape machine having a tape head and tape driving means, said cassette comprising: a case having a plurality of side openings and a side aperture; a pair of spaced-apart cores rotatably mounted in the case, each core having means for securing thereto one end of a continuous length of tape which can be wound in roll form on each core so as to leave a paid-out tape portion connecting the rolls of tape wound on the cores; a plurality of guide rollers rotatably mounted in the case, each guide roller being adjacent to and facing a different one of said case openings; an endless belt trained on said guide rollers and engaging each of the rolls of tape on said cores at a predetermined tension, said endless belt further engaging the paid-out tape portion at a location adjacent to and facing said case aperture, with the paid-out tape portion being between the belt and each opening and between the belt and the aperture, whereby the paid-out tape portion can be accessed through said aperture by said head from outside the case and any of said guide rollers can be accessed by said tape driving means through any of said openings to thereby rotate the rolls of tape wound on the cores and to move the paid-out tape portion with respect to said case aperture and said tape head.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
58 words
A tape cassette as in claim 5 wherein each guide roller is rotatably mounted in the case and comprises a spool-like structure having a lesser diameter central portion and greater diameter axially-spaced flanges, said belt frictionally engaging said central portions of the rollers and the engaging portion of the belt being spaced radially inwardly from the flange periphery.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
A tape cassette as in claim 6 wherein said openings and said aperture in the case are located at opposite sides of the case.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
A tape cassette as in claim 6 wherein said openings and aperture are along the same side of the case.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-03-09 | 1979-09-08 | 1980-03-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-03-09 | 1983-09-08 | 1984-03-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-03-09 | 1987-09-08 | 1988-03-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |