Apparatus and method for unloading tape cartridges

Abstract

An apparatus for automatically removing tape from a wound tape cartridge of the type having a hub around which a length of tape is wound, a protective housing surrounding the hub having a door for providing access to the tape during use, and locking members for preventing the hub from unintentionally rotating and the door from unintentionally opening. The apparatus comprises a cartridge conveyor adapted to convey a plurality of wound tape cartridges. A cartridge processing station operatively associated with the cartridge conveyor for receiving the wound tape cartridges from the cartridge conveyor in a sequential manner and holding the cartridges in an operational position to allow for automatic removal of the tape from the cartridges. An unwinding assembly is operatively associated with the processing station for engaging the tape in a cartridge being held in the operational position at the processing station and stripping the tape from the cartridge.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An apparatus for automatically removing tape from a wound tape cartridge of the type having a hub around which a length of tape is wound, a protective housing surrounding said hub having a door for providing access to the tape during use, and locking members for preventing the hub from unintentionally rotating and the door from unintentionally opening, said apparatus comprising: 
 a cartridge conveyor for conveying a plurality of wound tape cartridges;    a cartridge processing station for receiving said wound tape cartridges from said cartridge conveyor and holding the cartridges in an operational position for tape removal;    a cartridge opening member disposed at said cartridge processing station for opening said door of a tape cartridge to expose a tape leader carried by the tape within the cartridge;    a hub unlocking mechanism disposed at said cartridge processing station for unlocking said hub on which the tape is wound so that said hub can spin freely to facilitate removal of the tape from the cartridge;    an unwinding assembly disposed adjacent said processing station for engaging said tape leader and withdrawing the tape from the cartridge; said unwinding assembly including: 
 a stripping mechanism for receiving the tape from the cartridge and stripping the tape from the hub to empty the cartridge; and,  
 a movable feed arm having an engagement member for grabbing said tape leader and feeding said tape leader into said stripping mechanism.  
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said cartridge conveyor has a holding position for holding said plurality of wound tape cartridges prior to delivery to said cartridge processing station, and a loading position for receiving cartridges from said holding position; said cartridge conveyor transferring said wound tape cartridges from said loading position to said cartridge processing station in a sequential manner.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said cartridge conveyor includes a loading mechanism disposed adjacent said cartridge processing station; said loading mechanism having a cartridge engaging member adapted for engaging said wound tape cartridges at said loading position and transferring said cartridges from said loading position to said cartridge processing station; and said cartridge engaging member withdrawing unwound tape cartridge from said cartridge processing station so that another wound tape cartridge can be inserted into said cartridge processing station.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein said cartridge conveyor has a return position adjacent said loading position for holding said unwound tape cartridges; said loading mechanism withdrawing unwound tape cartridges from said cartridge processing station and transferring said unwound tape cartridges to said return position.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein said cartridge conveyor transfers said wound tape cartridges in a first direction from said holding position to said loading position, and said loading mechanism transfers said wound tape cartridges in a second direction transverse to said first direction from said loading position to said cartridge processing station and from said cartridge processing station to said return position.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein said cartridge conveyor has at least one conveyor belt adapted for conveying said wound tape cartridges from said holding position to said loading position.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein said cartridge conveyor includes a cartridge lift mechanism disposed at said loading position operatively associated with said loading mechanism; said lift mechanism having a lowered position in which a wound tape cartridge on said conveyor belt at said holding position can be delivered onto said lift mechanism at said loading position, and a raised position wherein said wound tape cartridge at said loading position is lifted off said conveyor belt so that said loading mechanism can slide said wound tape cartridge into said cartridge processing station.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  including a cartridge sensor carried by said cartridge conveyor for detecting an absence of cartridges on said cartridge conveyor; a control unit in electronic communication with said cartridge sensor for stopping said cartridge conveyor upon depletion of wound tape cartridges.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said cartridge processing station includes an upper guide track and a lower guide track in a spaced arrangement adapted to receive a cartridge between said upper and lower guide tracks to direct the cartridge into said operational position from said cartridge conveyor.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein said cartridge opening member is carried by said lower guide track for engaging said cartridge when received between said upper and lower guide tracks to open said door to provide access to the cartridge tape.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein said hub unlocking mechanism includes a first hub key carried by said upper guide track, and a second hub key disposed at said lower guide track for engaging said cartridge hub to unlock said hub to allow for tape removal.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said stripping mechanism includes a drive roller and a primary idler roller; said drive roller and primary idler roller cooperating to provide a primary nip for engaging said tape from said cartridge; said drive roller rotating to draw the tape from the cartridge at said primary nip until the tape is stripped from said hub.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein said stripping mechanism includes a secondary idler roller cooperating with said primary idler roller to provide a secondary nip for engaging said tape leader and directing said tape leader to said primary nip.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein said movable feed arm delivers said tape leader to said secondary nip for stripping said tape from said cartridge.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1  including a tape sensor disposed at said unwinding assembly for monitoring the passage of tape through said unwinding assembly; said tape sensor operatively associated with a control unit for stopping operation of the apparatus upon detecting an absence of tape passing through the unwinding assembly after a predetermined period of time.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1  including a disposal chute carried adjacent said unwinding assembly; said disposal chute including a vacuum orifice disposed beneath said unwinding assembly having a suction force for pulling tape stripped from said cartridge into the disposal chute and forcing the tape through said disposal chute and into a collection bin.  
     
     
         17 . An apparatus for automatically removing tape from a wound tape cartridge of the type having a hub around which a length of tape is wound, a protective housing surrounding said hub having a door for providing access to the tape during use, and locking members for preventing the hub from unintentionally rotating and the door from unintentionally opening, said apparatus comprising: 
 a cartridge conveyor adapted to convey a plurality of wound tape cartridges;    a cartridge processing station for receiving said wound tape cartridges from said cartridge conveyor in a sequential manner and holding the cartridges in an operational position to allow for automatic removal of the tape from the cartridges; and    an unwinding assembly operatively associated with said processing station for engaging the tape in a cartridge being held in said operational position at said processing station and stripping the tape from said cartridge;    whereby an automated apparatus is provided for quickly and efficiently removing tape from a plurality of wound tape cartridges.    
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17  including a cartridge opening member disposed at said cartridge processing station for opening said tape cartridges to expose a tape leader carried by the tape within the cartridge so that said tape leader can be fed into said unwinding assembly.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 17  including a hub unlocking mechanism disposed at said cartridge processing station for unlocking said hub on which the tape is wound so that said hub can spin freely to facilitate removal of the tape from the cartridge.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 17  wherein said unwinding assembly includes a stripping mechanism for receiving the tape from the cartridge and stripping the tape from the hub to empty the cartridge.  
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 20  wherein said unwinding assembly includes a movable feed arm having an engagement member for grabbing said tape and feeding said tape into said stripping mechanism.  
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 17  including a disposal chute carried adjacent said unwinding assembly; said disposal chute including a vacuum orifice disposed beneath said unwinding assembly having a suction force for pulling tape stripped from said cartridge into the disposal chute and forcing the tape through said disposal chute and into a collection bin.  
     
     
         23 . A method for automatically removing tape from a wound tape cartridge of the type having a hub around which a length of tape is wound, a protective housing surrounding said hub having a door for providing access to the tape during use, and locking members for preventing the hub from unintentionally rotating and the door from unintentionally opening, said method comprising the steps of: 
 conveying a plurality of wound tape cartridges to a cartridge processing station in a consecutive manner;    holding a cartridge in an operational position at said cartridge processing station;    opening the cartridge to expose a tape leader carried by the tape within said cartridge;    unlocking said hub carrying said tape to facilitate removal of the tape from said cartridge;    engaging said tape leader with a movable feed arm;    feeding said tape leader into a stripping mechanism; and    stripping the tape from said hub until the cartridge is empty.    
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  including the step of conveying a wound tape cartridge from a holding position to a loading position adjacent said cartridge processing station.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24  including the step of lifting said tape cartridge at said loading position off of said conveyor.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25  including the step of sliding the lifted tape cartridge into said cartridge processing station clear of said conveyor.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26  including the step of withdrawing an unwound tape cartridge from said cartridge processing station after stripping and transferring said unwound tape cartridge to a return position so that another wound tape cartridge can be placed in said cartridge processing station.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 23  including the step of suctioning the tape stripped from the cartridge into a disposal chute and depositing the tape into a collection bin.