Cassette-type magnetic tape player

A magnetic tape player for use with a self-contained tape container, such as a cassette or cartridge, accommodating therein a reeled magnetic tape, which comprises in combination:

• a stationary chassis having guide means for defining a passage through which said container is inserted into the player;
• a movable chassis carrying projection means rigidly mounted thereon, a capstan rotatably mounted thereon and a drive motor operatively coupled to said capstan for rotating said capstan in one direction when said drive motor is energized;
• guide means for mounting said movable chassis on said stationary chassis for enabling said movable chassis to move between inoperative and operative positions in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of insertion of said container, the plane of said movable chassis during movement thereof between said inoperative and operative positions shifting close to and away from the plane of said stationary chassis, said movement of said movable chassis being effected in response to the insertion of said container into the player with the front of said container engaging to said projection means to cause said movable chassis to be moved from said inoperative position towards said operative position;
• a pinch roller carriage pivotally mounted on the stationary chassis for pivotal movement between engaged and disengaged positions and normally biased to said engaged position, said pinch roller carriage including a pinch roller rotatably carried thereby, said capstan when said movable chassis is moved to said operative position penetrating into an opening in said container and cooperating with said pinch roller to sandwich the magnetic tape within said container between it and said pinch roller for driving said magnetic tape in one direction;
• a slidable plate slidably mounted on said stationary chassis for movement between inoperative and operative positions and normally biased to said inoperative position, said slidable plate having rigidly mounted thereon a transducer head which, when said slidable plate is held in said inoperative position, aligns with the magnetic tape within the container in readiness for recording or playback of sound information to be recorded or recorded on said magnetic tape, said transducer head separating from said magnetic tape when said slidable plate is moved towards said inoperative position by the application of finger pressure thereto;
• means for locking said movable chassis in said operative position after said movable chassis has been moved to said operative position in response to the insertion of said container through said passage on said stationary chassis;
• means for locking said slidable plate in said operative position after said slidable plate has been moved to said operative position by the application of said finger pressure thereto, said slidable plate locking means releasing said slidable plate from said operative position by the next succeeding application of the finger pressure thereto;
• means for disengaging said movable chassis locking means to release said movable chassis from sad operative position by the application of finger pressure irrespective of the position of said slidable plate locking means;
• a reel mount rotatably carried by said movable chassis and operatively coupled to said drive motor, said reel mount having a hub portion engageable into a take-up reel within said container for winding the magnetic tape therearound;
• said container, which has been inserted into the player, being removable when said movable chassis is moved from said operative position back to said inoperative position of said movable chassis, with said projection means pushing said container along said passage while sliding in a direction perpendicular to the plane of said container;
• and means for forcing said pinch roller carriage to said disengaged position with said pinch roller separating away from said capstan in response to movement of said slidable plate from said inoperative position towards said operative position.