Title: Tape transport system

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Abstract: A digital magnetic tape transport incorporates a pair of adjacent vacuum storage columns each with oppositely disposed closed and open ends, a magnetic head assembly defining a generally linear tape threading path along one side of the vacuum storage columns and substantially parallel to the vacuum columns lengthwise direction, a pair of tape storage reels mounted at a second side of the vacuum storage columns positioned along a line substantially parallel with the linear tape threading path, whereby a rear closed end of the vacuum column adjacent to a storage reel is tapered at an angle substantially tangent to the adjacent storage reel, allowing for: elimination of an idler roller; an improved take-up path, and; for easier manual threading of the tape. A similar tapered configuration is provided at the rear end of the second vacuum column also eliminating the necessity of an idler roller. The arrangement decreases the total number of idler rollers necessary for the overall tape path to in turn decrease the frictional contact of the tape encountered. At the same time, because of the V-shaped configurations at the rear walls where there are positioned relatively large apertures for supplying vacuum to the vacuum columns, the positioning of a central narrow common plenum is provided for thereby allowing for positioning adjacent elongated chambers with relatively small apertures for separately sensing vacuum in each vacuum column to determine a varying tape loop position.


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