# US 4,017,902 A · Cassette ejector for tape recorder

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- Number: US 4,017,902 A
- Document ID: US4017902A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 05/619,292
- Filed: 1975-10-03
- Granted: 1977-04-12
- Earliest claimed: 1974-10-08
- Assignees: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Masaaki Sato
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4017902A

## CPC

- G11B 15/67573: {of the cassette without holder}
- G11B: INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER (recording measured values in a way that does not require playback through a transducer G01D9/00; recording or playback apparatus using mechanically marked tape, e.g. punched paper tape, or using unit records, e.g. punched or magnetically marked cards G06K; transferring data from one type of record carrier to another G06K1/18; circuits for coupling output of reproducer to radio receiver H04B1/20; gramophone pick-ups or like acoustic electromechanical transducers or circuits therefor H04R)

## Abstract

A cassette ejector for use in a tape recorder which uses a cassette utilizes a forward movement of a magnetic head and/or pinch roller into a window of a cassette when recording or playing back, to displace a cassette ejection member outside its operable region, thus making it incapable of an ejecting operation.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A cassette ejector for use with a cassette tape recorder having a slidable cassette cover movable from a closed to an open position, comprising:
a sliding plate which carries at least one member associated with a recording or play back operation of the tape recorder, the sliding plate being movable from an operative position wherein the at least one member associated with a recording or play back operation is in operative contact with the cassette to an inoperative position wherein the at least one member associated with a recording or play back operation is out of operative contact with the cassette, the sliding plate being movable into the operative position when the slidable cassette cover is moved into the closed position and movable into the inoperative position when the slidable cassette cover is moved into the open position;
an actuating roller mounted on the slidable cassette cover for movement with the slidable cassette cover;
an operating pawl and an eject lever pivotally mounted on the sliding plate about a single axis, the operating pawl being movable from a first position wherein the operating pawl is positioned in the path of movement of the activating roller to a second position wherein the operating pawl is removed from the path of movement of the activating roller;
means for causing the eject lever to rotate with the operating pawl and to cause an ejecting operation of the cassette when the operating pawl is engaged by the actuating roller when the slidable cassette cover is being moved from the closed to the open position;
means for removing the operating pawl from the path of movement of the actuating roller when the sliding plate is in the operative position, thereby preventing an ejecting operating when the sliding plate is in the operative position.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A cassette ejector in accordance with claim 1 wherein the means for causing the eject lever to rotate with the operating pawl comprises a detent formed on the eject lever which is engaged by the operating pawl when the operating pawl is caused to rotate by the action of the actuating roller.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A cassette ejector in accordance with claim 1 wherein the means for removing the operating pawl from the path of movement of the actuating roller comprises:
an extension in the sliding plate extending in a plane perpendicular to the path of movement of the cassette cover, the extension including a cam slot therein;
a rocking lever pivotally mounted at one end on the body of the tape recorder and at the other end on a shaft extending through the cam slot in the extension of the sliding plate, the operating pawl and eject lever being mounted on the shaft;
the cam slot including a pair of upper and lower regions which extend in a path parallel to the path of movement of the sliding plate which are interconnected by an intermediate inclined region.

### Claim 4

Apparatus for preventing erroneous ejection of a cassette in a cassette type tape recorder, said recorder having:
a recess for receiving a cassette;
first means movable between a first and second position for respectively uncovering and covering said recess;
second means responsive to movement of said first means from said first to said second position for ejecting a cassette;
a record/playback assembly;
third means movable between a first and second position for respectively moving said assembly into an engaged and a disengaged position with the cassette, said third means including means for displacing said second means out of the path of movement of said first means when said third means is in the first position to prevent the accidental occurrence of a cassette ejection operation.

### Claim 5

A cassette ejector for use with a cassette tape recorder, comprising a rocking lever which is pivotally mounted at one end on a body of the tape recorder; a rocking shaft carried by the other end of the rocking lever and extending in a direction perpendicular to the axis thereof; a cam slot formed in a sliding plate which carries at least one member associated with a recording or play back operation of the tape recorder, the rocking shaft freely extending through the cam slot; an eject lever pivotally mounted on the rocking shaft and having its one end located opposite to the bottom of a cassette which is loaded into the tape recorder, the eject lever including an engaging portion; and an actuating member mounted on the body of the tape recorder for urging the engaging portion of the eject lever, a movement of the sliding plate to its recording or play back position being effective to rock the rocking shaft, whereby the engaging portion of the eject lever is retracted from the path of movement of the actuating member, thus preventing an ejecting operation by the eject lever during a recording or play back operation of the tape recorder.