John Tuxworth Grant

6719238, Apr 13, 2004

Jun 15, 2001

09/882669

John P. Grant - Sacramento CA
William S. Oakley - Burlingame CA
Thomas P. Frangesh - Campbell CA

Imation Corp. - Oakdale MN

B65H 2304

2425484

Tapes ( ), such as magnetic, optic and other recording tapes, and many other kinds of tapes having opposite edges ( ), are wound into an increasing tape pack ( ) about an axis of rotation ( ) by floating substantially each newly arriving tape winding ( ) on a fluid film ( ) on the increasing tape pack. Opposite edges of substantially each new winding of the tape are continuously aligned for a number of turns ( ) with corresponding edges of substantially all preceding windings of tape in the increasing tape pack with the aid of that fluid film. Increments of that fluid film between the turns are gradually diminished to zero until each leading turn of such number of turns has become locked to a remainder of the tape pack. Resulting packs ( ) of wound tape are substantially fluid-free and co-planar along opposite radial planes ( ) of the tape pack.