Continuous loop tape cartridges
OwnerEdward A. Leshikinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A miniature tape module, in the form of a continuous-loop tape cartridge, is engageable with an adaptor so that the cartridge/adaptor composite may be received by a conventional type of cassette player for playing back a programme recorded on tape of the miniature cartridge. Whereas the cassette normally intended for this conventional player has a total playing time of some 45 minutes, and is thus equivalent to a long playing record disc, the miniature cartridge has a playing time of some 6 minutes and is thus equivalent to a singles record disc.
Claims14
An adaptor and miniature tape module assembly adapted for use with a tape recording and/or play-back apparatus of the cassette type having reference boss means (2) for locating a magnetic tape cassette on a support surface of the apparatus, parallel spaced capstan (6) and pinch wheel means (8) arranged normal to said support surface for transporting the cassette tape along a given path relative to said support surface, sensing head means (7) arranged adjacent said given tape path, and a pair of parallel spaced drive spindles (4) arranged parallel to said support surface, said adaptor and miniature tape module assembly comprising
- (a) an adaptor member having bottom, top, side and end wall surfaces, one of said side wall surfaces containing a recess (50);
- (b) a hollow tape module housing having bottom, side and end walls, means for removably mounting said tape module housing in said recess with one of its side walls coincident with the said one side wall of said adaptor member, thereby to define an adaptor member and tape module assembly, the bottom wall of said module housing containing first apertures (24a, 24b) for receiving the reference boss means of the apparatus, said adaptor member containing second apertures (56a, 56b) for freely receiving in concentrically spaced relation the drive spindles of the apparatus;
- and
- (c) a length of tape (11) mounted in said tape module housing, said tape module including guide means (14, 16) for guiding said tape along a path parallel with and adjacent the inner surface of said one housing side wall;
- (d) the bottom wall of said tape module housing containing a capstan aperture (22) on the side of said tape path remote from said one housing side wall, said aperture being adapted to receive the drive capstan of the apparatus;
- (e) the said one side wall of said housing containing a pinch wheel opening (20) adjacent said capstan opening, whereby the tape may be gripped between the pinch wheel and the drive capstan, the said one side wall of said housing also containing a sensing head opening (18) adjacent said tape path for receiving the sensing head during tape recording or play-back operation of the apparatus.
An adaptor and miniature tape module assembly adapted for use with a tape recording and/or play-back apparatus of the cassette type having reference boss means (2) for locating a magnetic tape cassette on a support surface of the apparatus, parallel spaced capstan (6) and pinch wheel means (8) arranged normal to said support surface for transporting the cassette tape along a given path relative to said support surface, sensing head means (7) arranged adjacent said given tape path, and a pair of parallel spaced drive spindles (4) arranged parallel to said support surface, said adaptor and miniature tape module assembly comprising
- (a) a generally flat rectangular adaptor member having bottom, top, side and end wall surfaces, one of said side wall surfaces containing a generally rectangular recess (50);
- (b) a generally rectangular hollow tape module housing having bottom, side and end walls, means for removably mounting said tape module housing in said recess with one of its side walls coincident with the said one side wall of said adaptor member, thereby to define an adaptor member and tape module assembly, the bottom wall of said module housing containing first apertures (24a, 24b) for receiving the reference boss means of the apparatus, said adaptor member containing second apertures (56a, 56b) for freely receiving in concentrically spaced relation the drive spindles of the apparatus;
- (c) the end walls of said tape module housing and the corresponding walls of said recess including complementary guide means for slidably guiding said housing for displacement relative to said adaptor member in a direction normal to said one housing side wall;
- and
- (d) a length of tape (11) mounted in said tape module housing, said tape module including guide means (14, 16) for guiding said tape along a path parallel with and adjacent the inner surface of said one housing side wall;
- (e) the bottom wall of said tape module housing containing a capstan aperture (22) on the side of said tape path remote from said one housing side wall, said aperture being adapted to receive the drive capstan of the apparatus;
- (f) the said one side wall of said housing containing a pinch wheel opening (20) adjacent said capstan opening whereby the tape may be gripped between the pinch wheel and the drive capstan, the said one side wall of said housing also containing a sensing head opening (18) adjacent said tape path for receiving the sensing head during tape recording or playback operation of the apparatus.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.