THREADING RING
The number two and three guides and the shuttle block assembly are mounted on a moveable threading ring. Both guides are spring loaded and are folded up under the ACE assembly when in the unloaded position. The shuttle block assembly, prior to loading, is parked beneath a protective plate and located so that when the cassette is moved into the ready position it fits into a small triangular pocket inside the cassette shell. After a tape is inserted into the cassette compartment it is pulled inside and down by the loader, click here to see the cassette loader. As it is lowered down it comes to rest upon two cone shaped bosses and two round flat bosses. Once the electronics "knows" that the cassette is in the down-and-ready position the threading procedure will be initiated. The threading ring is rotated in a clockwise direction by the loading/threading motor which causes the shuttle block assembly mounted upon it to pull the tape out of the shell, then around and up until in comes to rest in a locked position about 60% of the way around the video drum. At the same time the two guides spring up at predetermined points and come to rest in an upright locked position held rigid by two adjusting plates. To see the guides in position against the plates click on either guide in the picture. The tape is also withdrawn by the number nine guide and pinch roller assembly which lines up the tape with the capstan and ACE assembly. More on this later. To find out what is done to them during refurbishing click here. The process is reversed for unloading except that the supply reel runs in reverse in order to draw the video tape back into the cassette
The loading and unloading procedure takes about five seconds each way. To look at what is done to refurbish the shuttle block and to see it's location in the "at rest" position, click on it in the picture above
To see it in the loaded position click here
To continue on to the CAPSTAN page click here. To go back to TENSION ARM page click here. To close this panel and go back to the main page click here
The loading and unloading procedure takes about five seconds each way. To look at what is done to refurbish the shuttle block and to see it's location in the "at rest" position, click on it in the picture above To see it in the loaded position click here To continue on to the CAPSTAN page click here. To go back to TENSION ARM page click here. To close this panel and go back to the main page click here