US 4,514,775 AGranted

Streaming cassette tape transport

AssigneeMFE Corporation

InventorsGeorge H. Manning, Pasquale R. Riccio

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A cassette tape transport has a base for supporting the transport's head assembly and drive motors which is tilted appreciably relative to the transport's front plate through which the cassette is loaded into the transport. The unit also includes a cassette holder with a retractable slider and which is swingable relative to the base between a loading position wherein it is aligned with the slot and defines, with the base and plate slot, a right triangle and an operating position wherein it lies adjacent the base so as to position the cassette therein accurately relative to the head assembly. The head assembly can be operated to move the head toward and away from the base against which the cassette is supported by the holder between fixed positions so that the transport can write on and read from a plurality of parallel tracks along the cassette tape. The entire unit can fit within the standard size opening of a small computer system designed to receive a standard 51/4 inches Winchester disk drive and be used as a back-up memory in lieu of that drive.

Claims6

Dependent claims

A cassette tape transport for a standard cassette comprising

A. a base;
B. a generally vertical front plate, said plate
(1) defining a cassette-receiving slot, and
(2) being attached to the base so that it makes an acute angle with the base;
C. a magnetic read/write head assembly fixedly mounted to the base at a location thereon spaced generally opposite the slot;
D. cassette holding means
(1) pivotally connected to the base so that the holding means can swing between
(a) a loading position wherein they lie away from the base in a plane aligned generally with said slot and said head assembly and, along with the opposing surfaces of the front plate and base, define a right triangle, and
(b) an operating position wherein the holding means lie against the base in line with said head assembly, and
(2) including
(a) a holder swingably connected to the base so as to be swingable between said positions;
(b) a cassette-receiving slider slidably mounted to the holder, said slider being movable by pushing a cassette through the slot when the holder is in its said loading position between
(i) an extended position wherein it resides adjacent to and registers with said slot, and
(ii) a retracted position wherein it is disposed away from said slot nearer said head assembly so as to position the leading edge of the cassette against the head assembly;
(c) means for biasing the slider toward its extended position;
(d) means for releasably retaining the slider in its retracted position;
and
(e) means for releasing the retaining means so that the slider slides to its extended position when the holder is moved to said loading position;
and
E. means for releasably retaining the holding means in its two positions, said transport defining a spatial volume that is about 31/2 by 6 by 8 inches.

17 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 06/374,046Filed 3 May 1982
Granted: 30 Apr 1985
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

G11B 15/1883
Driving; Starting; Stopping; Arrangements for control or regulation thereof: for record carriers inside containers
G11B 5/48
Recording by magnetisation or demagnetisation of a record carrier; Reproducing by magnetic means; Record carriers therefor: disposition or…
G11B 5/5504
Track change, selection or acquisition by displacement of the head: across tape tracks
G11B 15/67592
With pivoting movement of the cassette holder: inside the apparatus