Loading device for directing a tape-like element from a supply reel to a ...

[54] LOADING DEVICE FOR DIRECTING A TAPE-LIKE ELEMENT FROM A SUPPLY REEL TO A TAKE-UP REEL AND ABOUT A GUIDE DRUM THEREBETWEEN

[75] Inventors: Jiro Fujiwara; Yoshiaki Sugiyama;

Hisayoshi Chino, all of Kanagawa;
Hiroaki Ohishi, Tokyo, all of Japan

[73] Assignee: Sony Corporation, Tokyo, Japan

[21] Appl. No.: 134,876

[22] Filed: Dec. 18,1987

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data

Dec. 26, 1986 [JP] Japan 61-310266

Dec. 26, 1986 [JP] Japan 61-310268

Jan. 24, 1987 [JP] Japan 62-008895[U]

[51] Int. CI." G11B 15/32; G11B 5/027

[52] U.S. CI 242/195; 360/84;

360/130.21; 360/130.24

[58] Field of Search 242/195, 57, 201-203;

360/128, 129, 84, 130.21, 130.24, 90, 93, 96.1;

226/91, 97

[56] References Cited

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

3,911,490 10/1975 Kostin et al 360/129

4,520,970 6/1985 Rasmussen et al 242/195

4,571,654 2/1986 Oishi 360/130.21

4,620,678 11/1986 Kumakura et al 242/195

4,726,542 2/1988 Nakayama et al 242/57 X

Primary Examiner—David Werner
Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Alvin Sinderbrand

[57] ABSTRACT

In a device for loading a tape-like element, such as, a magnetic tape, film or the like, in an apparatus having supply and take-up reels which are disposed side-byside with their axes substantially horizontal in a normal operating position of the apparatus, and a guide drum located under the supply reel in such normal operating position; a generally zig-zag path for the tape-like element is provided with an inlet adjacent the supply reel for receiving the tape-like element paid out from the latter and an outlet arranged near to the take-up reel, such path includes a supply side path portion extending from the inlet to a peripheral path portion around at least a part of the periphery of the guide drum and a take-up side path portion extending from the peripheral path portion to the outlet, the supply side, peripheral and take-up path portions have respective lower wall sections facing upwardly in the normal operating position of the apparatus, and air under pressure is introduced into the path of the tape-like element along such upwardly facing lower wall sections for readily conveying the tape-like element along the described path.

15 Claims, 13 Drawing Sheets