US 4,071,857 AGranted

Cassette changer apparatus

AssigneeDictaphone Corporation

InventorsJames C. Whitney, Willy M. Sander, Andre T. Debaudringhien

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Abstract

A cassette changer apparatus for use in a multiple cassette record and/or playback system. An input magazine stores a stack of cassettes, preferably in a vertical stack, each cassette housing magnetic tape therein. An output magazine is spaced from the input magazine and stores a stack of cassettes; and a record/playback station is disposed intermediate the input and output magazines. A fresh cassette is conveyed by an endless conveyor from the input magazine to the record/playback station, and thence to the output magazine whereat an elevator loads the cassette into the stack in the output magazine. A record/playback deck is pivotally driven at the record/playback station from a first position that is spaced from a cassette conveyed to the station to a second position that is in operative relation with respect to such a cassette so that a record and/or playback operation can be performed. Thereafter, the deck is pivoted back to its first position to permit the cassette to be unloaded and conveyed to the output magazine.

Claims20

Dependent claims

Cassette changer apparatus for use in a multiple cassette record and/or playback device, comprising:

an input magazine for storing a stack of cassettes disposed therein one atop the other, each cassette including a housing for magnetic tape and respective apertures through which said tape is accessed for a recording or playback operation;
an output magazine spaced from said input magazine for storing a stack of cassettes disposed therein one atop the other;
a record/playback station disposed intermediate said input and output magazines;
endless conveyor means for conveying a cassette from said input magazine to said record/playback station and then from said record/playback station to said output magazine;
loading means at said output magazine for receiving said cassette conveyed thereto and for loading same into said stack therein;
a record/playback deck at said record/playback station movable between a first position spaced from a cassette conveyed to said record/playback station and a second position in operative relation with respect to said cassette, said record/playback deck including tape drive means for bi-directionally driving said tape housed within said cassette and a magnetic transducer for recording information on and/or reproducing information from said tape;
and
deck drive means for moving said record/playback deck between said first and second positions.

5 more elements

In a multiple cassette record/playback system, cassette changer apparatus, comprising:

an input magazine having a plurality of walls for storing a stack of cassettes arranged one atop the other, each cassette including a housing for magnetic tape therein and having top and bottom walls provided with apertures to receive tape drive spindles and a side wall provided with apertures to receive a magnetic transducer;
an output magazine having a plurality of walls for storing a stack of cassettes arranged one atop the other;
an endless conveyor member for conveying the bottom-most cassette in said input magazine toward said output magazine, said conveyor member including at least one cassette contacting member for pushing said bottom-most cassette out of said input magazine and along a path parallel to said cassette side wall that is provided with said apertures;
a support platform extending between said input and output magazines for supporting cassettes conveyed by said conveyor member;
a record/playback deck disposed intermediate said input and output magazines and pivotally mounted to pivot between first and second positions, said first position permitting a cassette to be conveyed thereto from said input magazine and also to be conveyed therefrom to said output magazine, and said second position being an operating position to record information on and/or reproduce information from tape in a cassette;
said record/playback deck having drive spindles and a magnetic transducer depending therefrom;
an elevator platform pivotally coupled to said output magazine at a pivot axis that is above the plane of said support platform to pivot between an inclined position for receiving a cassette conveyed thereto from said record/playback deck by said conveyor member and a loaded position whereat said received cassette is added as the bottom-most cassette to the stack in said output magazine;
and
drive means for driving said conveyor member to convey the bottom-most cassette from said input magazine to said record/playback deck and thence, after information is recorded on or reproduced from the tape in said cassette, to convey said cassette to said elevator platform.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.