Tape reel with self-generating negative pressure

1. A tape winding apparatus comprising:

a tape reel onto which a tape is adapted to be wound during a tape winding operation, the tape reel further comprising a hub around which the tape is wound during the tape winding operation, and first and second flanges attached to opposite ends of the hub for guiding the tape onto the hub; and

a negative air pressure generator for generating a negative air pressure in the vicinity of the tape as the tape is being wound onto the tape reel to facilitate the escape of air from between layers of the tape during the tape winding operation, wherein the negative air pressure generator comprises a plurality of generally radial slots in at least one of the first and second flanges.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of slots extends through the at least one flange from an inner surface to an outer surface thereof, and wherein each of the plurality of slots has a slanted cross-section.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of slots further includes a ridge extending from the outer surface of the at least one flange and along an edge of the slot facing a direction of rotation of the tape reel, the slanted cross-section of each of the plurality of slots in conjunction with the ridge extending along an edge of each of the plurality of slots creating a fan-like action for withdrawing air from between the first and second flanges for generating the negative air pressure in the vicinity of the tape as the tape is being wound onto the tape reel during a tape winding operation.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of slots comprises a curved slot.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of slots has a straight slanted cross-section.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of slots has a contoured slanted cross-section.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second flanges each include a plurality of generally radial slots.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the plurality of slots in the first flange and the plurality of slots in the second flange maintain a balanced negative air pressure around the tape being wound onto the tape reel.

9. The apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the plurality of slots in each of the first and second flanges comprises from about six to about eight slots.

10. A tape winding apparatus comprising:

a tape reel onto which a tape is adapted to be wound during at ape winding operation, the tape reel including a hub around which the tape is wound during the tape winding operation, and first and second flanges attached to opposite ends of the hub for guiding the tape onto the hub; and

a plurality of generally radial slots in each of the first and second flanges and extending through the first and second flanges from an inner surface to an outer surface thereof for generating a negative air pressure in the vicinity of a tape pack being formed around the hub as the tape is wound around the hub for facilitating the removal of air from between layers of the tape during the tape winding operation.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein each of the plurality of slots has a slanted cross-section and a ridge extending from an outer surface of the first and second flanges and along an edge of the slot facing the direction of rotation of the tape reel, the slanted cross-section of each of the plurality of slots, in conjunction with the ridge extending along an edge of each of the plurality of slots creating a fan-like action for withdrawing air from between the first and second flanges for generating the negative air pressure around the tape pack being formed around the hub during a tape winding operation.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of slots comprises a curved slot.

13. The apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of slots has a straight slanted cross-section.

14. The apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of slots has a contoured slanted cross-section.

15. The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the tape comprises a magnetic tape.

16. A method for winding a tape onto a tape reel, comprising:

providing a tape reel onto which a tape is adapted to be wound during a tape winding operation, wherein the tape reel includes first and second flanges for guiding the tape onto the tape reel; and

generating a negative air pressure in the vicinity of the tape as the tape is being wound onto the tape reel for facilitating the escape of air from between layers of the tape during the tape winding operation, and wherein generating a negative air pressure comprises providing a plurality of generally radial slots on at least one of the first and second flanges to create a fan-like action to withdraw air from the vicinity of the tape as the tape is being wound onto the tape reel during the tape winding operation.

17. The method according to claim 16 , wherein generating a negative air pressure comprises providing a plurality of generally radial slots on each of the first and second flanges.

18. The method according to claim 17 , wherein each of the plurality of slots in each of the first and second flanges has a slanted cross-section and a ridge extending from an outer surface of the flange and along an edge of the slot facing a direction of rotation of the tape reel, and wherein the method further includes adjusting at least one of a slang angle and a height of the ridges of the plurality of slots in one of the first and second flanges with respect to the plurality of slots in the other of the first and second flanges to achieve a balanced pressure around the tape being wound onto the tape reel.