CHAPTER 2 TECHNICAL PRINCIPLES OF OPERATION

TM 11-7035-203-23

CHAPTER 2

TECHNICAL PRINCIPLES OF OPERATION

This chapter tells you how the tape cleaner works. This information will help you

during troubleshooting and maintenance.

2-2. FUNCTIONAL DESCRIPTION

The tape cleaner will clean any l/2-inch wide magnetic tape stored on reels up to

10 l/2-inch diameter. Both sides of the tape are wiped clean at the same time.

Particles imbedded in the oxide side of the tape are scraped off by a band blade

Figure 2-1 is a functional block diagram of the tape cleaner.

2-3. AC INPUT UNIT

The ac input unit contains a fuse and an autotransformer. The autotransformer

provides the proper drag (counter drive) for tension control. Depending on the

direction of travel, one reel will be driven by the ac primary power and the other

reel by the counter drive voltage.

2-4. SWITCH ASSEMBLY

The switch assembly contains the six switches which control tape cleaner

operation. The POWER switch applies primary power to the tape cleaner and

energizes a cooling fan. The LOAD switch energizes the reel brake solenoids to

provide free wheeling of the reels for ease of loading. The FORWARD switch starts

the actual cleaning operation. The tape is drawn by the takeup reel through the

tissue cleaning assemblies and the band blade assembly. The takeup reel is driven

by ac primary power and the autotransformer provides counter drive voltage to the

supply reel to maintain proper tension. The tape cleaner may be stopped at any

time by the STOP switch.

The HALF CYCLE/FULL CYCLE switch selects either a one pass cleaning operation or a

pass and reverse operation. During HALF CYCLE operation, end of tape (EOT)

photocell senses the EOT marker and stops the takeup reel. In FULL CYCLE

operation, the tape cleaner direction reverses when the EOT marker is sensed. In

this instance the supply reel is driven and the counter drive voltage is supplied

to the takeup reel. The REVERSE switch provides this feature in the event the HALF

CYCLE mode was selected.

2-5. BAND BLADE ASSEMBLY AND CLEANING STATION

The band blade assembly is driven by a slow speed motor during the tape cleaning

operation to provide a continuous new blade surface to the tape. The tissue clean-

ing rollers rotate in the same manner to provide a continuous clean tissue surface.

2-1