Reeled tape supply.

摘要

The invention disclosed herein provides a passive rolled tape supply system which supplies at least one tape under tension, preferably constant, to a drive system withdrawin the tape. The system includes a mechanism for tensioning the tape as it is withdrawn and a locking mechanism for locking a roll on which the tape is wound. These mechanisms cooperate to perform the following functions: (a) when the tension on the tape is below a predetermined tension, and the tension on the tape is increased, the reel is locked and the tensioning mechanism maintains the tension at the desired value; (b) after the tension mechanism reaches a predetermined point (near the end of its range of travel), the reel is unlocked and is permitted to rotate and dispense tape therefrom as long as the tension on the tape is maintained at the predetermined tension; (c) when the withdrawing tension on the tape falls below the predetermined tension, the reel is locked, and the tensioning mechanism maintains tape tension by retracting any tape returned to the tape supply. A roller is mounted on a lever. The tape withdrawn from the reel 150 or 151 passes over the roller 160 or 165. The lever 161 or 166 pivots about the axis of the reel on which the tape is wound and moves the roller in opposite directions transverse to the axis. A spring device 173 urges the lever in the first direction. The reel 150 or 151 is locked by a pawl and ratchet mechanism. A spring 206 urges the pawl 197 into engagement with the ratchet wheel 199 to lock the reel. The pawl is disengaged from the ratchet wheel when the lever is pivoted to a predetermined position.