Jan; 22, 1957
`
`e. H. aAsn
`ENDLESS TAPE CARTRIDGE
`
`Filed July 13, 1954
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`2,778,636
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`ATTORNEY
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`SONY Exhibit 1017
`SONY Exhibit 1017
`SONY v. FUJI
`SONY V. FUJI
`
`

`

`limited States Patent Ofiice
`
`2,778,636
`
`ENDLESS TAPE CARTRIDGE
`George H. Eash, Toledo, Ohio, assignor to George H.
`Poulsen, Toledo, Ohio; The Toledo Trust Company
`and Charles I. Poulsen, executors of the estate or said
`George H. Poulsen, deceased
`\
`
`Application July 13, 1954, Serial No. 443,090
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`2 Claims.
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`(Cl. 271—118)
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`5
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`25
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`2,778,636
`Patented Jan. 22, 1957
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`2
`as shown, has a circular flange plate 15 and a central
`upwardly extending hub 16, the latter flaring upwardly
`and outwardly from the flange plate formingan angle
`therewith of the order of 50°. Encircling the hub with
`the lower edge contiguous to the flange plate is a spiral
`coil 17 of endless magnetic tape. A portion of the tape
`extends from the coil and is trained about a guide roller
`18 mounted at the front portion of the bottom wall 10
`with a portion projecting forwardly from the cartridge
`and also about a stationary guide cylinder 19, also mount—
`ed on the bottom wall 10, and disposed adjacent the op-
`posite side of the cartridge. This arrangement provides a
`front length or run of tape 20 in position to engage the
`usual transducer head, a pair of felt padded spring arms 21
`urging this portion of the tape outwardly to effect the
`desired contact with the transducer head.
`In this in-
`stance, the spring arms 21 are integral and are mounted
`on a suitable bracket 22 on the bottom plate of the
`cartridge. The tape is led from the innermost con-
`volution of the coil 17 over a guide 23 in the form of a
`length of wire disposed close to and directly above the
`coil adjacent its inner periphery. The wire 23 is formed
`with downturued ends engaging sockets in bosses 24 and
`25 respectively.
`In this manner,
`the tape leaving the
`coil
`is spaced from the upper edges thereof to afiord
`free and unrestricted travel thereof.
`it will be under-
`stood that the rotating driving capstan (not shown) snugly
`cooperates with the roller 18 to grip the tape therebe—
`tween and aflord the desired tape movement.
`The lower edge of the coil 17 rests upon relatively
`thin elongate pencil-like sticks of graphite 26 carried
`by the flange plate 15.
`In this instance, four graphite
`sticks are employed, arranged equi—distantly and positioned
`in radially disposed grooves 27 on the upper surface of
`the flange plate 15.
`When a sizable tape coil 17 containing several hundred
`feet of tape, for example, is employed, the relative move
`ment between the several convolutions creates charges of
`static electricity sufficient to prevent the free movement
`of the tape. This is of such magnitude as not
`infre-
`quently to bind the tape to render practically impossible
`any tape movement. This difficulty is obviated to a large
`extent by the use of the rod-like strips 26 of graphite
`which serve to dissipate accumulated static charges and
`‘tending to equalize them throughout the coil. This re-
`sults in reducing the static charges so that they do not
`interfere with each other during the tape movement.
`To assist in obviating the difficulty caused by the static
`electricity charges and to somewhat lubricate the tape,
`a graphite piece 28 is mounted within the casing in such
`position that the tape wipes over it during its travel. As
`shown,
`the graphite piece 28 is disposed betWeen the
`roller 18 and the reel so that the tape run 29 continuously
`wipes over the outer end of the graphite piece during its
`travel. Preferably the stick 28 should be of relatively
`soft graphite. By so coating the tape as it travels,
`the
`static electricity charges from layer to layer tend to be
`equalized. As shown, the graphite stick 28 is suitably
`mounted in a bracket 30 in which it may be frictionally
`held. By positioning the graphite stick 28 in the manner
`illustrated, it also has the usefulness of preventing tape
`from engaging the edge of the reel plate 15 and causing
`a binding action. This is particularly important in the
`event some tape may be free within the case, and unless
`provision is made comes into engagement and possible
`binding relation with the edge of the reel plate. Thus
`the graphite stick 28 cooperates with the radially dis-
`posed graphite sticks 26 in militating against
`the coil
`17 becoming so bound by various charges of static elec-
`tricity as to prevent
`free tape movement Within the
`cartridge.
`
`This invention relates to magazines or cartridges which 15
`contain a length of magnetically treated tape for use with
`a recording or play back machine, thereby to record on
`or reproduce sounds on the tape.
`-
`Difficulty is experienced in producing cartridges con—
`taining endless lengths of tapes which can be operated
`over an extended period of time because of the charges
`of static electricity generated in the relative movement
`of the tape convolutions of the coil. These become so
`great as to bind the coil and prevent the free rotation
`necessary in such operation. Consequently in cartridges
`of this character, the playing or operating time has been
`substantially reduced,
`rendering their use greatly re-
`stricted.
`It is a desideratum to overcome the above difficulty and
`an object is, therefore, to produce a simple and efficient
`magnetic tape cartridge in which the tape web is endless
`and in which greater lengths of tape are usable and which
`can operate freely Without the binding action set up by
`static electricity charges.
`It is found that in the handling of tape cartridges of
`the above character,
`the tape not infrequently unwinds
`from the reel, either fouling within the cartridge or mak-
`ing difficult the return of the excess or unwound tape
`to the coil. A further object is to obviate this objection
`and provide the cartridge with new and improved means
`for restraining the movement of the reel when the car-
`tridge is not in use but to render such restraining means in-
`effective when the cartridge is conditioned or ready for
`use.
`An embodiment of the invention is showu in the ac—
`companying drawings, by way of illustration but not of
`limitation, and in said drawings
`Figure l is a top plan View of a magazine or cartridge
`having an endless magnetic recording—reproducing tape
`mounted therein,
`the cover of the magazine being re-
`moved;
`Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view substantially
`on the line 2—2 of Figure 1;
`Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View
`on the line 3—3 of Figure 1; and
`»
`Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view showing
`the cartridge mounted on a recording-reproducing ma-
`chine, a portion of the cartridge being broken away to
`illustrate the device for rendering the reel restraining
`spring ineffective.
`The illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises
`a cartridge having a flat bottom wall it) and an integral
`upstanding side wall 11. Closing the open side is a
`cover 12 which may be snapped in place or secured by
`suitable fasteners.
`It will be observed that the front end
`13 of the cartridge is open to expose a portion of the
`magnetic tape to contact by the transducer and driving
`capstan, these latter not being shown. Mounted on the
`bottom wall 10 substantially midway of the side walls and 70
`spaced inwardly from the open end thereof is an upright
`post 14, on which is rotatably mounted a reel which,
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`2,778,636
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`3
`the cartridge is
`As particularly shown on Figure 4,
`adapted for use in a recording-reproducing instrument I
`which, as shown, has an exposed panel-like surface 31 on
`which-is a. pair of. laterally spaced. channel guides 32,. which
`guide. and hold. the cartridge in such. position that the
`transverse tape. run 29 is operatively associated with the
`transducer head and driving capstan.
`In the rear end of
`the cartridge is-a leaf spring 33 disposed between. the side
`wall 11 and a pain. 34 so that one arm of. the spring can
`frictionally engage the edge of the» reel plate 15. The op-
`positeend. of the spring is disposed between a pin. 35 and
`an inward projection on the side wall. This arrangement
`is. such that normally the spring. frictionally engages. the
`reel and holds it against accidental rotation. Manifestly
`it isimportant that when. the cartridge is. applied in- position
`of use, the. brake caused by the spring 33 should be re—
`leased and as. shown, between. the pins. 343. and 35 in the
`side and bottom: walls of the cartridge is. a slot 36 into
`which- may project an arm 37,, a portion of which extends
`through. a slot 38 in. the panel 3% of. the instrument I, a
`pivot. 39 being. provided for an intermediate portion of
`the arm. The lower end of the arm is suitably engaged by
`an off-set spring, 4%}. The arrangement is. such that when
`the cartridge is applied, the arm 3-7 will be flush with the
`surface 31 to permit passage thereof, but when the end‘ of
`the cartridge is reached, the arm37 will be swung manually
`upwardly, whereupon the spring 4% will cause the arm 37
`toenter the cartridge through the slot 35 and impose suffi-
`cient pressure against the spring, 33 to rock the opposite
`end portion thereof away from the. reel» so that the latter
`can rotate freely. Manifestly, the spring tension created
`by the spring. 46 is also effective in resiliently urging and
`holding the cartridge against the driving capstan and the
`transducer head. As soon as the cartridge is retracted and
`moved away from the influence of the arm 37,,the spring
`33 automatically applies friction against the reel to hold it
`against unwarranted rotating movements. Thus it will
`be evident that the reel can not rotate freely when it is
`not. in use but when it is applied in position of use, the
`braking pressure against the reel is automatically released.
`Alternatively, a closure cap may be employed. for the
`open front end. of the cartridge and carried by such cap is
`a springarm which, when the cap is applied, projects inside
`the cartridge and bears against the rim of the flange plate
`of the reel. The end of such» spring arm may be equipped
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`With a felt pad for hearing resiliently against the reel rim.
`In this manner, whenever the cap is applied to the car-
`tridge, a brake will automatically be imposed on the reel
`holding it against
`turning movements until
`the cap is
`removed when it is desired to put the cartridge into use.
`It is to be understood that numerous changes in details
`of construction, arrangement, operation and choice of
`materials may be effected without departing from the
`spirit of the invention especially as. defined in the appended
`claims.
`What I claim is:
`1. In an endless tape cartridge having a casing, a rotat—
`able reel within the casing, an endless coil of. magnetic
`tape wound upon said reel, and guide elements over which
`a portion of the tape passes to the outside of and from the
`center of the coil,
`the improvement which comprises a
`solid graphite block within the casing for automatically
`and continuously applying a thin coating of graphite to
`the tape. as. it travels thereby to lubricate same and assist
`in equalizing the charges of static electricity generated be-
`tween the tape convolutions on the reel, and graphite strips
`on the reel with which the edges of the tape convolutions
`engage for militating against the accumulation of charges
`of static electricity generated in. the relative movement of
`the convolutions.
`2. The combination of a. magnetic tape recorder or play
`back instrument, means on the instrument for receiving
`for operative use a tape containing cartridge having a ro-
`tatable reel for the tape, a leaf spring for restraining rota-
`tion of the reel, said spring: being fixedly mounted. at one
`end, free at the other end and engaged by a pivot interme-
`diate its ends, the free end normally engaging. the reel
`tangentially so that flexure of the portion of the spring
`between the. fixed end and the pivot results in. the pivoting
`of the said free end away from the reel, and means on the
`instrument engageable with said leaf spring for flexing the
`same away from the reel when the cartridge is applied
`in position of use.
`
`References Cited in the file of this patent
`UNITED. STATES PATENTS
`
`1,825,142
`2,206,032
`2,426,838
`
`Bruno _________________ Sept. 29, 193]
`Foster ___________________ July 2, 1940
`Miller __________________ Sept- 2, 1947
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`