OPERATING PROCEDURES

The operator functions Keypad of the operator panel is used to accomplish the desired MTS operations. The common operating procedures are described below.

2.6.1 THREAD/LOAD

1. Power up the MTS, if necessary; the swing arms automatically extend and then retract.

2. Place the reel of tape on the file reel hub, then latch the file hub locKing lever. MaKe certain that the reel is secure.

Close both the machine reel cover and thread cover.

3. Press LOAD/REWIND.

sensors are enabled, on.

The vacuum blower motor turns on, the and power for the reel motors is turned The MTS initially assumes that the tape leader is positioned at the entrance of the tape threading path and rotates clocKwise to slip the tape leader into the path. If tape is not sensed at the EDT/BOT sensor within a given amount of t me, the file reel reverses and attempts to position the Lpe leader using the leader sensor. If the leader cannot be sensed, it is assumed that the leader is stucK to the tape reel with static and the file reel is rotated rapidly to try to breaK the static. When the leader is sensed, it is positioned at the entrance of the tape threading path.

Vacuum created by the blower motor pulls the tape up the tape threading path. The tape is sensed at the EDT/BOT sensor as Tape Present. When the tape has wrapped the machine reel hub, it is sensed as Tape Attached and the blower motor turns off.

I f any of these steps fails. to occur in the prescribed time, a marK is counted against the load. If three marKs are counted, the load has been unsuccessful and a fault code is posted in the display.

When Tape Attached is sensed, the tape is moved forward until the beginning-of-tape (BOT) marKer is found. Tape continues to move forward a few feet and stops. The swing arms are lowered into their normal operating area.

95521 EC 49529

Tape is rewound to BOT. When BOT is sensed and tape is stopped, the file reel is moved such that the MTS logic can determine file reel size. Tape then moves forward past BOT and a series of start/stop operations is run forward and then repeated backward. These start/stops allow the adaptive features of the capstan control algorithms to initialize for the current tape.

Tape is then brought back to BOT and stopped. The Ready indicator is illuminated and the MTS is ready for operation.

4. Pressing ON LINE after the Ready indicator is lit enables the MTS to accept commands from the user.

2.6.1.1 Semi-Automatic Threading

A semi-automatic threading procedure is provided. The semi-automatic sequence is initialized like the automatic procedure but is entered by pressing LOAD/REWIND a second time before actual tape leader positioning begins (approximately 4 seconds after the first press). The MTS pauses to allow manual positioning of the tape leader in the entrance of the tape

threading path. The blower remains on to facilitate positioning.

Once the leader has been positioned, pressing LOAD/REWIND a third time allows the sequence to resume. 30 seconds is allowed for manual tape positioning: If, at the end of this time, LOAD/REWIND is not pressed the third time and tape is sensed in the tape threading path, the sequence continues automatically; but if tape is not sensed, the blower turns off and the MTS returns to idle mode without posting a fault code.

In the case of a horizontal mount, the semi-automatic thread

p~ocedure is required on every load. Since pressing LOAD/REWIND may be cumbersome, a Horizontal Mount Option may be enabled

(Section 3.5.2). When enabled, the threading sequence pauses, without pressing LOAD/REWIND a second time, every time the MTS is

loaded.

2-10

EC 49529

Kit PN 94929-7 95521

2.6.1.2 Manua 1 Threading

If the event of a blower motor fai lure, the MTS cannot perform an automatic or semi-automatic threading sequence but it can perform read and write operations if the tape is threaded manually.

Power up the MTS; the swing arms automatically extend and then retract. With both the machine reel cover and the thread cover open and the fi Ie reel secured to the hub, slowly turn the file reel clockwise (CWI until the tape leader slips down into the thread path. With the palm turned upward, grasp the tape leader between the index and middle fingers and pull the tape through the thread path as shown in Figure 2-2 and onto the machine reel hub.

Use a finger to hold the tape leader against the machine reel hub and turn the hub clockwise (CW) until the tape catches itself.

Press LOAD/REWIND and the MTS performs an automatic search for BOT.

SWINGARM

SWINGAfiM

95521

TAPE PATH

FIXED ROLLERS

FIXED -\l~---;----""';"'- ROLLER

Figure 2-2. Tape Thread Path

EC 49529

Kit PN 94929-7 2-11

2.6.2 REWIND

1. If the MTS is in Online Status, press RESET.

2. Press LOAD/REWIND. Tape rewinds at high speed, passes BOT, stops, moves forward to the BOT marker, and stops in Ready Status.

2.6.3 UNLOAD

·1. If the MTS is in Online Status, press RESET.

2. Press REWIND/UNLOAD. If tape is positioned off BOT, it will rewind at high speed, pass BOT, stop, and move forward to the BOT marker. With tape at BOT, the swing arms retract, tape is unloaded onto the file reel, and power for the reel motors is turned off.