US 3,999,219 A · Tape cartridge player with cartridge pull-in mechanism

Abstract

A tape cartridge player includes a plurality of receptacles adapted to receive a plurality of cartridges of the endless loop variety wherein magnetic tape within the cartridge is passed around a pressure roller and across a plurality of openings at its forward end. The cartridges are of the type eaching having a detent notch intermediate their front and rear ends. A spring biased member is provided adjacent each of the receptacles and is engageable with its associated cartridge detent notch to displace the cartridge from a first position within the receptacle-- with the tape within the cartridges out of engagement with the player transducer assembly and capstan--to a second position where the tape is sandwiched between the cartridge pressure roller and the player capstan. In this second position, the tape contacts, and is propelled across, the transducer assembly. Each of the plurality of tape cartridges may be manipulated by a plurality of pawl mechanisms which cooperate with the detent notch of a different one of the plurality of tape cartridges. The pawl mechanisms are operated by a plurality of cooperating cams mounted on a rotatable shaft. The angular position of the shaft controls the position of each of the cams to position its corresponding pawl mechanism in one of at least three positions. In the first position, the pawl mechanism is disengaged from the cartridge detent notch. In the second and third positions, the pawl mechanism engages the detent notches, the second position maintaining the cartridge spaced apart from the player transducer assembly and capstan, and the third position maintaining the cartridge in engagement with the player transducer assembly and capstan.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A tape cartridge player comprising:

a plurality of receptacles each adapted to receive a tape cartridge of the type including a detent notch;
cartridge player tape operating means spaced apart from each of the tape cartridges when said cartridges are inserted into said receptacles in a first position;
means associated with each of said receptacles for engaging each respective tape cartridge notch when the cartridge is initially inserted in said first position in said receptacle to hold the tape cartridge in said first position and for moving the cartridge from said first position to a second position where the cartridge is in engagement with said cartridge player operating means;
and
means for automatically sequentially actuating each of said engaging means to move the tape cartridge in its associated receptacle from said first position to said second position.

2 more elements

A tape cartridge player comprising:

a plurality of receptacles each adapted to receive a tape cartridge of the endless loop variety wherein magnetic tape within the cartridge is passed around a pressure roller at the forward end of the cartridge and across cartridge openings in the front end, the cartridge including a detent notch intermediate the cartridge front and rear ends;
transducing means;
a capstan adapted to propel the magnetic tape within each of the tape cartridges when the magnetic tape is sandwiched between the cartridge pressure roller and the player capstan;
means associated with each of said receptacles adapted to engage each respective cartridge notch for displacing the tape cartridge from a first position corresponding to initial insertion within said receptacle wherein the magnetic tape within the cartridge is out of engagement with said player transducing means and capstan to a second position wherein the magnetic tape within the cartridge is sandwiched between the cartridge pressure roller and said player capstan such that the magnetic tape is adjacent to and propelled across said transducing means;
and
said means adapted to engage the cartridge notch holding the tape cartridge when in said first position and including a first bearing portion which nestles within said cartridge notch and a second spring portion anchored at an end remote from said first portion such that said first portion may be deflected towards said transducing means and capstan and away from said transducing means and capstan to return said cartridge to its first position when disengagment from said player transducing means is desired.

3 more elements

In a tape cartridge player adapted to play a plurality of endless loop tape cartridges, supported in a stacked array, and of the type wherein magnetic tape within the cartridge is passed around a pressure roller at the forward end of the cartridge and across cartridge openings in the front end and having a detent notch intermediate the cartridge front and rear ends, a mechanism comprising:

transducing means;
a capstan adapted to propel the magnetic tape within each of the tape cartridges when the magnetic tape is sandwiched between the cartridge pressure roller and said capstan;
a plurality of pawl means, each of said plurality of pawl means adapted to cooperate with the detent notch of a different one of said plurality of tape cartridges;
a plurality of cams mounted on a rotatable shaft, each of said plurality of cams engaging a different one of said plurality of pawl means and controlled by the angular position of said shaft to position its corresponding pawl means in one of a plurality of positions;
and
each of said pawl means disengaged from the detent notch of its corresponding tape cartridge when said shaft is in a first angular position, each of said pawl means engaging the detent notch of its corresponding tape cartridge to maintain said corresponding tape cartridge in a fixed position wherein the magnetic tape within said corresponding cartridge is out of engagement with said transducing means and said capstan when said shaft is in a second angular position, and said pawl means engaging the detent notches of corresponding tape cartridges in sequence to move said corresponding tape cartridges to respective fixed positions wherein the magnetic tape within said corresponding tape cartridges is in engagement with said transducing means and is sandwiched between said corresponding tape cartridge pressure roller and said capstan when said shaft is in a corresponding third angular position.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Tape cartridge player with cartridge pull-in mechanism

Life of this patent

Tape cartridge player with cartridge pull-in mechanism

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22