Tape loading machine

An automatic cassette loading machine of the type that loads C-0 cassettes having a pivoted door which conceals recording tape when the cassette is not in use, and which is capable of loading C-0 cassettes with leaders of varying lengths and widths, and in particular leaders of short lengths, comprising in combination:

• a mounting panel having a front side and a rear side;
• a supply reel spindle for supporting a reel of magnetic tape;
• first motor drive means for rotating said supply reel spindle on command so as to cause magnetic tape to be unwound from said reel;
• a takeup spindle for engaging and rotating a selected hub of a cassette to be loaded;
• second motor drive means for rotating said takeup spindle on command, whereby if magnetic tape from said supply reel is connected to said selected hub of the cassette to be loaded, operation of said first and second motor drive means will cause tape to be unwound from said supply reel and wound onto said selected hub;
• a splicing block assembly mounted on the front side of said mounting panel, said splicing block assembly comprising first, second and third splicing blocks having first, second and third tape guides, said first and second tape guides being aligned with one another in a common plane, said first block being fixed to said mounting panel, said second block being movable relative to said first block along an axis extending parallel to said common plane between a first position in which said first and second splicing blocks are adjacent one another and a relatively small gap exists between said first and second tape guides and a second position in which a relatively large gap exists between said first and second tape guides, said third tape guide extending parallel to said axis, and said third splicing block being movable along a second axis that is at a right angle to said first axis between a first retracted position in which said third tape guide is out of alignment with said first and second tape guides and a second extended position in which said third splicing block is disposed between said first and second splicing blocks and said third tape guide is aligned with said first and second tape guides in said common plane with a relatively small gap existing between said first and third tape guides;
• first shift means for moving said second splicing block on command from one to the other of its said first and second positions;
• second shift means for moving said third splicing block on command from one to the other of said first retracted position and said second extended position;
• cutter means for cutting a tape extending across the relatively small gap between said first and second tape guides or said first and third tape guides;
• splicing tape dispenser-applicator means for cutting and applying a piece of splicing tape to the adjacent ends of tapes supported by said first and second guides or said first and third guides;
• and
• control means for operating said foregoing means in a predetermined sequence so as to (1) operate said cutter means when said first and second tape guides are adjacent one another and a leader tape is supported by said first and second tape guides, whereby said cutter means will cut said leader tape into first and second leaders supported by said first and second tape guides respectively, (2) operate said first and second shift means so as to shift said second block to its second position and said third block to its said second extended position, whereby said first leader will be aligned with the leading end of a magnetic tape supported by said third tape guide, (3) operate said splicing tape dispenser-applicator so as to splice said first leader supported by said first tape guide to the said leading end of the magnetic tape supported by said third tape guide, (4) operate said first and second motor drive means so as cause a predetermined length of magnetic tape to be unwound from said supply reel and wound onto said predetermined cassette hub, (5) operate said cutter means so as to cut said magnetic tape into a first magnetic tape having a trailing end supported by said first tape guide and a second magnetic tape having a leading end supported by said third tape guide, (6) operate said first and second shift means so as to shift said third block to its first retracted position and said second block to its said first position, whereby said second leader will be aligned with said trailing end of said first magnetic tape supported by said first tape guide, and (7) operate said splicing tape dispenser-applicator so as to splice said second leader supported by said second tape guide to the trailing end of said first magnetic tape supported by said first tape guide.