US 5,157,565 A · Tape cassette loading mechanism

Abstract

A cassette loader for a DAT cassette drive includes a specially-constructed, multi-chamber magazine which rides in an elevator to bring selected ones of a plurality of cassettes in the magazine into operative alignment with the inlet of the DAT cassette drive. A push-pull mechanism is positioned at a distance from the DAT cassette drive inlet so that the magazine is transported between the mechanism and the inlet. The mechanism includes a motor-driven scissors mechanism whose output arm extends into a selected one of the plurality of chambers in the magazine, thereby pushing the cassette out of the chamber and into the DAT drive. A latching means, carried on, and extending beyond, the end of the scissors output arm, is inserted between the cassette and the floor of the chamber containing it, through a slot which runs front-to-back along the floor, and hooks into a recess which is characteristic of DAT cassettes. When a cassette is ejected from the DAT drive into the selected chamber of the magazine, the scissors output arm is retracted, and the hook rides up a ramp at the end of the slot in the floor of the magazine chamber, into engagement with the cassette recess, thereby hooking into the cassette and drawing it out as the scissors arm retracts.

Claims38

Dependent claims

A tape cassette loading/withdrawal apparatus for loading into the inlet of a tape cassette drive, a tape cassette having an exterior recess along one of its walls, and for withdrawing said tape cassette from said drive inlet, said loading/withdrawal apparatus comprising:

a magazine having at least one chamber for holding a tape cassette comprising:
front and rear openings;
a floor and ceiling;
and
a slot running the length of said floor;
means for positioning said magazine with its chamber opposite said drive inlet;
latching means adapted to engage the exterior recess of a cassette held in said chamber, and to disengage the exterior recess when the cassette is in the tape cassette drive inlet wherein said latching means rides in said slot when in engagement with the exterior recess of the cassette,
means for pushing said cassette out of said chamber through its rear opening, with the latching means in engagement with the exterior recess, and into said drive inlet, whereupon the latching means disengages the exterior recess;
and
means external to said magazine for driving said pushing means and said latching means from a resting position outside of said chamber into said chamber through its front opening and, within said chamber, toward and away from said tape cassette drive so that said pushing means is operative to move said cassette into said cassette drive and so that said latching means is operative to engage the exterior recess and to pull said cassette from said cassette drive into said chamber through its rear opening.

7 more elements

A loading/withdrawal apparatus for loading into an inlet of a tape cassette drive, a tape cassette having an exterior recess along one of its walls, and for withdrawing said tape cassette from said drive inlet, a loading mechanism comprising:

a magazine comprising at least one chamber for holding a tape cassette, said chamber comprising:
front and rear openings;
means for positioning said magazine with the rear opening of said chamber opposite said drive inlet;
a floor and a ceiling, one of which is faced by said cassette recess when said cassette is inserted in said chamber;
and
a slot, for accommodating a latching means, running the length of that one of said floor or ceiling;
and
a cassette transport mechanism comprising:
latching means adapted to engage the exterior recess of a cassette held in said tape drive inlet;
means for pushing said cassette out of said chamber through its rear opening and into said drive inlet, the latching means disengaging the exterior recess when the cassette is in the tape drive inlet;
and
means external to said magazine adjacent the front opening of said chamber for driving said pushing means and said latching means from a resting position outside of said chamber into said chamber through its front opening and, within said chamber, toward and away from said tape cassette drive so that said pushing means is operative to move said cassette into said cassette drive and so that said latching means is operative to engage the exterior recess and to pull said cassette from said cassette drive into said chamber through its rear opening.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Tape cassette loading mechanism

Life of this patent

Tape cassette loading mechanism

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims38