DR. WILLIAM A BARTON, D.D.S.
Dentist at Governor Dr, San Diego, CA

4184180, Jan 15, 1980

Sep 18, 1978

5/943059

William M. Barton - San Diego CA
Martin D. Gray - La Jolla CA

Cipher Data Products, Incorporated - San Diego CA

G11B 1504, G11B 1518

360 60

The disclosed apparatus includes a cylindrical shaped surface that synchronously rotates with a tape reel. Reflective material is patterned on this surface to form first, second and third tracks of bits running parallel to each other around the surface. A pair of light beams are aligned with the first and second tracks when a file protect reel is inserted in the tape reel, whereas the same pair of light beams are aligned with the second and third tracks when the tape reel does not have a file protect ring inserted therein. A light sensing circuit converts the portion of the light beams that is reflected from the aligned tracks into a pair of logic signals representative thereof. When the tape is moving in a predetermined direction, another circuit sets a bit in response to the logic signals as an indicator of which tracks are aligned with the light beams. Subsequently, the logic signals and the bit are used to indicate the amount of tape that is unwound from or wound onto the tape reel.

4206890, Jun 10, 1980

Aug 31, 1978

5/938380

William M. Barton - San Diego CA
Martin D. Gray - La Jolla CA

Cipher Data Products, Incorporated - San Diego CA

G11B 1558

242184

The disclosed apparatus includes a hollow column for receiving a loop of magnetic tape. A slot runs along the length of this column. A rigid conductive strip lies spaced apart from and parallel to the slot; and a flexible conductive strip lies between the rigid conductive strip and the slot. The two conductive strips form the plates of a variable capacitor. A vacuum is generated in the portion of the column lying beneath the magnetic tape loop to force a corresponding portion of the flexible conductive strip against the perimeter of the slot. Further, a partial vacuum is generated at the outside of the column near the conductive strips to force the portion of the flexible conductive strip lying above the tape loop against the rigid conductive strip. Air escape passages are included in the rigid conductive strip. As the two strips are forced together, any air lying therebetween instantaneously escapes through the passages.

RE31250, May 24, 1983

Nov 13, 1981

6/320852

William M. Barton - San Diego CA

Cipher Data Products, Inc. - San Diego CA

G03B 104, G11B 1532

242198

A magnetic tape drive unit constructed in a horizontal configuration to fit in a drawer or similar low profile installation, the tape being loaded and unloaded through a front slot without the need for access to the mechanism. A supply reel is inserted in the slot and placed on a supply hub, the free end of the tape being applied to a take-up reel which has a vacuum action to retain the tape. The take-up reel is mounted on an arm which swings back in the enclosure and pulls the tape over a guide and head array, the supply reel being simultaneously retracted so that the tape and reels are fully enclosed. After rewinding, the arm swings back and the supply hub is extended to the slot for removal of the tape.

4236682, Dec 2, 1980

Aug 15, 1979

6/066792

William M. Barton - San Diego CA

Cipher Data Products Incorporated - San Diego CA

G03B 104, G11B 1532

242198

A magnetic tape drive unit constructed in a horizontal configuration to fit in a drawer or similar low profile installation, the tape being loaded and unloaded through a front slot without the need for access to the mechanism. A supply reel is inserted in the slot and placed on a supply hub, the free end of the tape being applied to a take-up reel which has a vacuum action to retain the tape. The take-up reel is mounted on an arm which swings back in the enclosure and pulls the tape over a guide and head array, the supply reel being simultaneously retracted so that the tape and reels are fully enclosed. After rewinding, the arm swings back and the supply hub is extended to the slot for removal of the tape.

4183068, Jan 8, 1980

Aug 31, 1978

5/938429

William M. Barton - San Diego CA

Cipher Data Products, Incorporated - San Diego CA

G11B 1558

360 90

The disclosed tape transport mechanism includes within a cabinet, a pair of tape reels, a read/write head, a capstan, a first vacuum column, and a second vacuum column. Each of the vacuum columns have an elongated body, an open end for receiving magnetic tape from a respective one of the tape reels, and a closed end. The first vacuum column is positioned substantially perpendicular to the second vacuum column; and the open end of the second vacuum column is positioned spaced apart from the closed end of the first vacuum column. Further, the capstan is positioned at the open end of the first vacumm column; and the read/write head is positioned along the body portion of the first vacuum column. Each of the vacuum columns lie along a respective one of the cabinet's sides, and no direction changing tape rollers lie anywhere between the vacuum columns.