Pneumatic Threading and Take Up Spool

Publishing Venue

IBM

Related People

Arseneault, PJ: AUTHOR [+2][-]

Kollar, EP: AUTHOR

Abstract

Shown are alternative assemblies for automatically threading a media strip, such as magnetic tape, from a supply spool, around a guided helical path and onto a take-up spool.

Pneumatic Threading and Take Up Spool

Shown are alternative assemblies for automatically threading a media strip, such as magnetic tape, from a supply spool, around a guided helical path and onto a take-up spool.

In Fig. 1, the media 10 is moved off the supply reel 13 initially by rotating the reel, until the media enters the air stream provided by air jets 22 from tube guide
26. The air jets 22 acting on the media 10 pull the media off of the supply reel 13 and direct the media around porous, air bearing mandrel 14. Fixed guides 16 mounted on mandrel 14 conduct the media 10 in a helical path around the mandrel. Air jets 22 on the media side of tube guide 26 conform the media 10 to the mandrel 14, push the media against fixed guides 16, and direct the media toward take-up spool 18.

Low-level vacuum is applied inside the hollow take-up spool 18 until the media 10 has completed several revolutions. A drive motor, not shown, spins spool 18 causing the media 10 to properly align itself relative to the spool and the transport path. As the media 10 is aligned, higher vacuum is applied inside spool 18 to ensure a positive grip of the media to the spool. As several layers of media 10 build up on the spool 18, the vacuum level can be reduced -- perhaps to zero. When the media 10 has become attached to the spool 18, read/write operations begin.

In Fig. 3, like components carry like numerals. Vacuum is applied inside hollow take-up spool 18, and ambient air flows through op...