An endless master tape container for use with a video tape duplicator comprises a vibration plate having spaced side walls between which a tape accumulating passage is defined. The vibration plate has at one portion a tape inlet part through which an endless master tape is inserted into the tape accumulating passage. A fixed plate is arranged downstream of the vibration plate. The fixed plate has a tape outlet part through which the endless master tape is discharged to the outside from the tape accumulating passage. A vibrator is used for vibrating the vibration plate thereby to convey the endless master tape downstream from the tape inlet part toward the fixed plate. In the present invention, the width of the tape accumulating passage is gradually increased with increase of distance from the tape inlet part.

A loop bin (14) for use in a tape transport arrangement, particularly for use in contact printing tape transport arrangements, to store and transport a portion of an endless tape (2) disposed in a zigzag fashion, comprising a tape inlet (92) from which the endless tape can be fed in, a tape outlet (93) from which the endless tape can be drawn out, and at least one substantially horizontal tape transport mechanism (63,64,65) disposed so as to divide the inside of the loop bin into cascading levels and to continuously transport the zigzag endless tape on each level from the tape inlet to the tape outlet.

A tape transport device (1) for driving a continuous master tape (2) and a copy tape (11) through a tape contact printing station at a very high speed. The master tape (2) has a prerecorded signal the reverse image of which is transferred onto the copy tape (11) by the tape contact printing station. The tape transport means comprises at least first, second and third means (9,10,13) for detecting tension of the tapes (2,11) and corresponding means (7,8,15) for controlling tape tension and the device enables the master and copy tape to maintain contact and registration with the required degree of accuracy to produce an acceptable signal transfer which generates a video signal for use e.g. in home video cassette recorders and viewing equipment.

An apparatus (1) is intended for the storage and transport of an elongate endless tape (2). For this purpose the apparatus comprises a storage bin (3) in which at least a part of the tape is stored as a package of tape loops (2a). The bin (3) comprises main walls (4), an entrance wall (5) and an exit wall (9), the walls (5, 9) being formed with an entrance slot (6) and an exit slot (10) respectively, and outlet openings of first and second pneumatic means (15, 20) being provided near both slots to assist in the feed-in and feed-out of the tape. The main walls (4) of the bin (3) are disposed vertically or substantially vertically, the entrance slot (6) being situated near the upper side and the exit slot (9) near the lower side of the bin. At least one of the main walls (4) of the bin comprises discharge means (16) allowing fluid to escape from the bin, which discharge means (16) are spaced from the entrance wall (5) and from the exit wall (9). Near the bottom of the bin wall portions of the exit wall (9) extend in a V-shape towards the exit slot (10) and at their upper sides they are provided with outlets of pneumatic means (19) to form a fluid cushion inside the bin (3) by means of fluid jets which converge to each other in an upward direction, the upper side of the cushion being situated at a distance above the exit slot (10) and the package of tape loops (2) floating on said cushion.

Apparatus for preparing magnetic tape duplicates by the contact transfer method includes a feeding reel frame (16) for feeding copy tape (15), a winding reel frame (20) for winding the copy tape fed from the feeding reel frame, a backup roller (5) for supporting the copy tape close to an endless loop master tape (4) and means for transporting the endless loop master tape including a horizontal storage bin (8) for supporting a portion of the master tape in zigzag configuration on its edge on an endless belt (72) serving to transport the master tape in said zigzag configuration from tape inlet means (98) to tape outlet means (102) of the bin. First and second directional switch means (6,11) are provided for switching the plane of transport of the master tape between the vertically disposed reel frames and backup roller and the horizontally disposed storage bin.

The invention relates to a tape feed system comprises

   a loop box for storing tape in interleaving folds, said loop box having an inlet and an outlet;

   a capstan disposed adjacent said inlet; and

   means for creating suction on one side of the tape as the tape enters said loop box through said inlet and causing the tape to curl within a portion downstream of said capstan and upstream of said suction.

The invention relates to a tape feed system comprises

   a loop box for storing tape in interleaving folds, said loop box having an inlet and an outlet;

   a capstan disposed adjacent said inlet; and

   means for creating suction on one side of the tape as the tape enters said loop box through said inlet and causing the tape to curl within a portion downstream of said capstan and upstream of said suction.

A loop bin (14) for use in a tape transport arrangement, particularly for use in contact printing tape transport arrangements, to store and transport a portion of an endless tape (2) disposed in a zigzag fashion, comprising a tape inlet (92) from which the endless tape can be fed in, a tape outlet (93) from which the endless tape can be drawn out, and at least one substantially horizontal tape transport mechanism (63,64,65) disposed so as to divide the inside of the loop bin into cascading levels and to continuously transport the zigzag endless tape on each level from the tape inlet to the tape outlet.

Cartouche de ruban en vrac comportant des moyens permettant l'extraction du ruban sans bourrages. La paroi latérale (78) de la chambre d'emmagasinage de la cartouche présente une fente incurvée (80) au travers de laquelle passe le ruban qui sort de la cartouche. Lors de son passage dans la fente (80) le ruban est incurvé ce qui provoque le repoussement des boucles qui s'approchent de la fente (80) évitant ainsi les risques de bourrage. Cartouche utilisable notamment pour emmagasiner des rubans encreurs pour machines imprimantes.