US3852819A

US3852819A - Automatic changer for cassette player-recorder

Info

Publication number: US3852819A
Application number: US00720236A
Authority: US
Inventors: T Staar
Original assignee: Staar SA
Current assignee: Staar SA
Priority date: 1967-06-15
Filing date: 1968-04-10
Publication date: 1974-12-03
Anticipated expiration: 1991-12-03
Also published as: AT306394B; DE1549075B2; FR1578053A; DE1549075A1; BE699960A; CH497764A; GB1181423A; ES354534A1

Abstract

A cassette player recorder with automatic changer is disclosed. A bottomless magazine provides for storage of a plurality of cassettes. The changer mechanism provides for consecutive play of the cassettes in the magazine, utilizing a change cycle for transferring each cassette to a tape transport, automatically returning the cassette to the magazine after the playing operation is completed, and advancing the magazine one step to locate the next cassette for the next change cycle.

Description

United States Patent [191 1111 Staar 1 Dec. 3, 1974 [5 AUTOMATIC CHANGER FOR CASSETTE 3,353,443 11/1967 H811 353/15 PLAYER RECORDER 3,359,665 12/1967 Gerry 274 11 c 3,408,139 /1968 'Schwartz ct al. 353/15 In ntor: Theo hiel Clement Jozef L d j 3,477,785 1-1/1969 Gould et al. 353/111 Staar, Kraainem, Belgium 3,488,058 1/ 1970 Staar 274/4 E [73] Ass1gnee: S. A, Staar, Brussels, Belgium Primary Examiner Harry N. Haroian [22] Filed: Apr. 10, 1968 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-W0lfe, Hubbard, Leydig, 21 Appl. No.: 720,236 Osam" [57] ABSTRACT 1 1 Foreign pp a Priority Data A cassette player recorder with automatic changer is June 15, 1967 Belgium 44973 disclosed. A bottomless magazine provides for storage of a plurality of cassettes. The changer mechanism [52] US. Cl. 360/92, 360/ provides for consecutive play of the cassettes in the [51] Int. Cl. Gllb 5/00, Gllb 23/04 magazine, utilizing a change cycle for transferring [58] Field of Search 274/4, 1 1; 353/15, 19, each cassette to a tape transport, automatically return- 353/; 2l4/16.4; 179/1002 ing the cassette to the magazine after the playing operation is completed, and advancing the magazine one [56] References Cited I step to locate the next cassette for the next change cy- UNITED STATES PATENTS cle.

3,146,666 9/1964 Misuraca 353/111 44 Claims, 49 Drawing Figures TF1 F11 .4 l- UU 11 rrarmr PATENTE. 553 31974 sum as nr14 PAIENTELBEE 3M4 3.852.819

' sum as as 14 fivaewnr PATENTELUEE 3W4 3.852.819

Awzwmr PATENIELBEB sum I yrroA /vfxr AUTOMATIC CHANGER FOR CASSETTE PLAYER-RECORDER DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a cassette playerrecorder equipped with an automatic changer, and more particularly to a player-recorder apparatus having a magazine for storage of a plurality of cassettes, and a changer for transferring each cassette from the storage magazine to a tape transport and for returning the cassette to the storage magazine after the playing operation has been completed.

The term cassette is used herein to mean a tape cartridge of the type in which magnetic tape is carried on two reels enclosed in a flat, thin, plastic container, the tape being fed back and forth (reel-to-reel) for recording or playback. Each end of the tape is fastened to one of the reels and the tape may be provided with a pair of monaural-tracks or two pair of stereo tracks for recording or playback of sound in either direction of movement of the tape within the cassette.

The terms tape deck or tape transport are used interchangeably herein to mean mechanism which provides powered capstans and reel hub spindles for drive of the tape reel-to-reel within a cassette, the cassette having openings in its faces for introduction of the capstans into the cassette on the inward side of the tape and the drive spindles into the reel hubs so that the tape may be unwound from one reel, moved past the recording or playback heads, and wound on the other reel. Recording and playback heads are included in the player-recorder and adapted to be connected to suitable electronic circuits, microphones or speakers, so as to be capable of recording sound on or playing sound from the tape.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an automatic changer which provides magazine storage of a plurality of cassettes and means for automatically transferring a cassettefrom the magazine to a tape transport playing the cassette, and thereafter returning the cassette to the magazine.

A related object is to provide a change which pro-- vides automatic, consecutive cycles in which the cassettes stored in the magazine are successively transferred from the magazine, played and returned, and the magazine is advanced one step to bring the next cassette into operative position.

Another important object of the invention is to provide an open, accessible storage magazine which may be easily and conveniently loaded and from which the othercassettes may be rem oved,'replaced or havetheir order changed while a cassette is playing.

A further object of the invention is to provide an automatic changer which introduces the tape and reel drive elements into the cassette in such a manner as to avoid damage to the tape and other operative elements in the cassettes.

Another object of the invention is to provide an automatic changer which drops the cassette from a magazine into the'tape transport and which utilizes power driven elements for lowering the cassette into playing position, the same power driven elements that lower the cassette into the tape transport mechanism being used to raise the cassette to return it to the magazine at the completion of the playing cycle.

Another object is to provide an automatic changer with safeguards to prevent damage to the changer mechanism and the tape transport mechanism by automatically causing rejection of cassettes dropped from the magazine into the tape transport mechanism in the wrong position, as for example, where cassettes have been placed in the magazine upside-down.

A further object of the invention is to provide sensing elements andcontrols for an automatic changer so that it proceeds through consecutive playing cycles until all the cassettes in the magazine have been played and thereafter automatically turns itself off.

A related object is to provide for moving a partly filled magazine past empty sections to play all the cassettes in the magazine consecutively.

Another object is to provide an automatic changer that is operable to proceed through consecutive playing cycles which may be interrupted at any time to return the cassette which is then being played to the magazine and either (I) automatically turn the apparatus off or (2) proceed through the playing cycle of the next cassette in the magazine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a playing cycle which involves dropping one cassette at a time from the storage magazine and feeding the cassette to the tape transport in such a manner as to insure precise, gradual engagement of the tape and reel drive elements of the tape transport with operative elements within the cassette.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings, in

which:

FIG. 1' is a vertical section of a cassette playerrecorder with automatic changer constructed according to this invention with portions of the changer mechanism drive means shown fragmentarily or omitted for clarity;

FIG. 1a is a fragmentary horizontal section taken substantially in the offset planes of lines la la in FIG.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary vertical section taken through i the magazine in substantially the plane of lines 2-2 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the player-recorder as shown inFIG. l with parts of the magazine broken away;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the player-recorder takenwith the magazine removed to illustrate the entrance slot to the tape transport;

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-section of the playerrecorder taken in substantially the plane of lines 5-5 in FIG. 3 and illustrates a cassette retained in operative position in the magazine over theentrance slot to the tape transport by the retaining rod;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary vertical cross-section taken substantially in the plane of lines 6-6 in FIG. 3 and illustrates one of the other cassettes in the magazine supported in the bottomless magazine by rails on the frame of the apparatus;

FIG. 7 is a vertical section of the player-recorder taken substantially in the plane of lines 7-7 in FIG. 3 and illustrates the subassemblies of the apparatus in the same position shown in FIG. 5 with a cassette in the magazine over the entrance slot to the tape transport.

FIG. 7a is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section illustrating principally the tape transport lowering and magazine advance subassemblies shown in the left hand portion of FIG. 7;

FIG. 7b is a fragmentary horizontal section illustrating elements of the magazine advance subassembly and is taken in substantially the plane of lines 7b7b in FIG. 7a;

FIG. 70 is a fragmentary horizontal section similar to FIG. 7b and is taken substantially in the plane of lines 7c7c in FIG. 7a;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary vertical section illustrating elements of the retaining means and is taken substantially in the plane of lines 88 in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section illustrating the automatic stop cam carried by the magazine and is taken substantially in the plane of lines 99 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 10 schematically illustrates the drive gears and cams of the apparatus; I

FIG. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary section illustrating elements of the magazine advance subassembly and is taken substantially in the plane of lines 11-11 in FIG. 7a;

FIG. 11a is a reduced fragmentary vertical section taken substantially in the offset planes of lines lla-lla in FIG. 11;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section illustrating principally the cassette lowering and retainin'g subassemblies shown advanced from the position in the right hand portion of FIG. 7 partially through the change cycle and the cams A and B partly rotated to retract the retaining rod and release the cassette from magazine to the lowering elevator;

FIG. 13 is a vertical section like FIG. 7 with the I changer subassemblies shownadvanced from the position of FIG. 7 to the end of the first (cassette lowering) portion of the change cycle with the cassette and tape transport. in playing position;

FIG. 13a is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section illustr'atingprincipally the tape transport lowering and magazine advance subassemblies in the left hand portion of FIG. 13;

FIG. 13b is a fragmentary vertical section illustrating the means for latching the tape transport in playing position not shown in FIG. 13;

FIG. 130 is a fragmentary vertical section illustrating the parts advanced from the position shown in FIG. 13b

' I and the tape transport after unlatching at the beginning of the cassette return portion of the change cycle;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary vertical section like FIGS. 7 and 13, illustrating the subassemblies immediately after the beginning of the cassette return portion of the change cycle and with the tape transport unlatched and returning the cassette to the magazine.

FIG. 14a is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section like FIG. 13a and illustrating principally the position of the tape transport sub-assembly in the event of malfunction where the tape transport is blocked against lowering movement, and the position of the elevating means sub-assembly which operates independently of the lowering movement of the tape transport to imme- V I diately return the cassette to the magazine to safeguard against damage in such event;

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary vertical section of the magazine advance subassembly taken as it operates to advance the magazine during a later phase of the cassette return portion FIG. 15a is a fragmentary horizontal section taken substantially in the plane of line 15a in FIG. 15;

FIG. 15b is a fragmentary horizontal section taken substantially in the plane of line 15b in FIG. 15;

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary vertical section like FIG. 15 taken as the magazine advance subassembly returns at the end of the magazine advance function;

FIG. 16a is a fragmentary horizontal section taken substantially in the plane of line 16a in FIG. 16;

FIG. 16b is a fragmentary horizontal section taken substantially in the plane of line 16b in FIG. 16;

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary vertical section like FIG. 9 illustrating the automatic stop cam moved to the operative position to engage the associated linkage;

FIG. 18 is a vertical section taken like FIG. 7 but with the magazine moved to locate the last compartment above the entrance slot and the automatic stop cam in the operative position, and illustrating the position of the subassemblies particularly the stop linkage shifted by the stop cam;

FIG. 19 is a vertical section similar to FIG. 18 but with the tape transport and cassette lowered to the playing position;

FIGS. 18a and 19a are enlarged fragmentary vertical sections of the subassemblies shown in the left hand portions of FIGS. 18 and 19, respectively;

FIG. 18b is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken substantially in the planeof lines l8bl8b in FIG. 18a and illustrating the magazine advance linkage in its non-advance'position as the result of movement thereto by the automatic stop cam which is operative as the last compartment in the magazine is moved above the tape transport;

FIG. 20 is a fragmentary vertical section taken substantially in the plane of lines 20-20 in FIG. 3 illustrating the arrangement of push buttons;

FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating the phases of a change cycle;

FIGS. 22-29 are schematic views of the control circuit for the player-recorder changer mechanism and illustrating the position of components thereof in different phases of a change cycle;

FIG. 30 is a horizontal plan view with portions broken away and shown in section of an alternative annular form of magazine;

FIG. 31 is a fragmentary vertical section taken substantially in the plane of lines 3l'3l in FIG. 30 illustrating the construction of the annular magazine and withv portions of the changer mechanism illustrated diagrammatically.

GENERAL CHANGER ORGANIZATION Referring to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 3 taken together illustrate, a cassette player-recorder with automatic changer constructed in accordance with the present invention. The unit includes a bottomless, horizontally movable magazine 10 for storing a plurality of cassettes each of which is adapted to be carried by the changer mechanism through a change cycle involving lowering the cassette to playing position in the tape transport 1 l, which is mounted below the magazine on a fixed frame 12, playing the sound from or recording sound on the cassette tape, and returning the cassette to the magazine. It will be understood that when the cassette is in the playing position, which is the position of the cassette shown in FIG. 13, the tape is moved by the transport mechanism past recording or playback type known as cassettes which provide reel-to-reel movement of the tape within the hollow cassette case, the opposite faces of which have reel hubs 18 for reel drive shafts 20 and also have openings 22 (FIGS. 5 and 6) accessible adjacent the forward edge 24 for introduction of tape drive capstans 26 (FIG. la). The cassettes are carried in the magazine 10 side by side each' standing on the forward edge 24 of the cassette which edge has a plurality of openings for access to the tape,

when the cassette is in the playing position, for the recording and playback heads 13 and pinch rollers 34. As

shown in FIGS. la and 13, a pinch roller 34 cooperates 1 with the drive capstan 26 of the tape transport 11 which enters the cassette on the inwardly facing side of the tape to engage its non-coated surface, the outw wardly facing recording surface of the tape being moved past the heads 13 as the tape is transported from reel to reel within the cassette.

CASSETTE STORAGE MAGAZINE By means of the changer mechanism each cassette may be lowered into playing position by being slid in its main plane, and the apparatus is preferably oriented such that this sliding movement of the cassette occurs vertically downwards between spaced vertical frame plates 36, 38 (FIG. la) from the magazine to the playing position. The bottomless magazine 10 (FIG. 3) is preferably rectangular and formed by longitudinal side walls 40, 42 and end walls 44 and is divided into transverse compartments by means herein shown as partition like elements 46 which project from the vertical side walls 40, 42 of the magazine. For support of the magazine 10 for horizontal sliding movement, as shown in FIG. 6, the side walls 40, 42 have

tongues

48, 50

which slide in facing

horizontal grooves

52, 54 provided in fixed supporting

frame members

56, 58.

The magazine is thus movable to locate any one of its compartments (and a single cassette therein) in operative position above the space between the

frame plates

36, 38. As shown in FIGS. 3-6, a horizontal frame plate 60 supports a pair of

longitudinal rails

62, 64 on which the cassettes in the magazine restexcept for the single cassette in the magazine compartment above the entrance slot 66, which entrance slot 66 is transversely located relative to the

rails

62, 64 to interrupt the rails. That single cassette is held from falling through the entrance slot 66 by a longitudinal retaining rod 68, the

upper edge of which lies slightly below the plane of the top surface of the supporting

rails

62, 64 and beneath the cassette. The rod is adjacent one end of the slot so that the cassette starts to fall into the slot when it is brought into operative position above the slot 66 and is held by the rod in such a manner that it tilts away from the adjacent side wall 40 (FIG. 5) ofthe magazine and into leaning engagement with the opposite side wall 42 of the magazine, to insure that upon retraction of the rod 68-the cassette will not stick to the walls of the magazine andwill readily drop through the en trance slot toward the tape transport. For mounting the rod 68 (FIG. 2) for swivelling retraction and return motion it is bent upwards near each end and the tips 72 of the rod are bent to extend parallel to the main section of the rod and seat in sockets 74 in the end walls 44 of the magazine. By swivelling the rod and retracting it from under the magazine (FIG. 12) the single cassette in the compartment disposed above the transverse entrance slot 66 is released to drop by gravity through the slot for lowering to the playing position (FIG. 13).

CASSETTE TAPE TRANSPORT For guiding the cassette into engagement with the tape transport tape and reel drive elements, vertical guides or grooves 76 (FIG. 1a) adapted to be slidably engaged by the lateral edges of a cassette during its downward movement are mounted on the fixed plate 36 and constrain the cassette movement to a vertical plane. The tape transport includes a movable frame or support 78 (FIG. 1) which carries a drive motor 80 for the capstan 26 and reel drive shafts 20 which comprise the tape and reel drive elements of the tape transport. The support 78 is movable so that the drive elements enter into penetrating engagement with the cassette as the latter moves to playing position. For introducing the tape and reel drive elements into the cassette the movable support is carried on the fixed frame 12 by means herein shown as parallelogram links 88 so that the movable support and the elements carried thereby move simultaneously together with and toward the cassette as it moves vertically downward within the guides, and the drive elements enter the cassette (with a linear motion substantially perpendicular relative to the face of the cassette).

Means associated with the movable frame of the tape transport also serve to lower the cassette while maintaining it in registration with thetape and reel drive elements so that such elements properly enter the openings in the face of the cassette, said means in this case comprising a pair of pins 90 (FIGS. 1 and 1a) fixed to the movable plate 78 and projecting into the space between the stationary frame plates where they enter tubular members for

lugs

92, 94 that project across the vertical path of the cassette and are carried in vertical slots 97, 98 (FIG. 5) in one of the frame plates 38 for vertical movement, the pins 90 being effective to raise and lower the

lugs

92, 94 together with the raising and lowering movement of the movable support so that a cassette carried on the

lugs

92, 94 is maintained in registration with the tape and reel drive elements. Each

lug

92, 94 is provided with a

flange

95, 96 at its base which fit in similar slots 97, 98 in the fixed frame plate 36 so that the lug has straight up and down motion and together the

lugs

92, 94 carry the cassette both downward to'the playing position and upward after the playing operation to return it to the magazine at the completion of the change cycle. One of the features of this particular type transport is that the tape and reel drive elements on the movable support 78 gradually act on and penetrate the face of the cassette during its lowering movement, and also gradually separate from the cassette during its return movement.

CASSETTE TRANSFER-CHANGE CYCLE According to the present invention, after retraction of the retaining rod 68 so as to drop a cassette into the entrance slot 66 (FIG. 12) to the transport mechanism,

a transfer means to lower the cassette until it rests on v the two lugs 92, 94 (FIG. 7a) connected to the transport mechanism movable frame, and the cassette follows the two lugs by gravity as they descend with the movement of the transport mechanism movable plate 78. The movable plate 78 moves downward and also approaches the plane of cassette movement. As a result of this movement, not only are the capstan 26 and drive shaft introduced into the cassette,,behind the tape and into the openings in the reel hubs, respectively, but also a force is applied directly to the cassette to hold it against the

lugs

92, 94 and in the final stage of movement of the cassette to playing position, to locate and align the cassette relative to the recording and playback heads. In the present case the alignment means is shown as a clip 105 (FIGS. 1, l3) fastenedto the movable plate 78 which comes to bear against the edge 106 of a raised projection which is on both main surfaces of the cassette. The alignment clip 105 is carried by the movable plate 78 and is thus gradually moved into engagement with the cassette during the course of its downward movement to the playing position.' Once it moves into engagement with the cassette, it serves as a positive means for positioning the cassette in its final alignment with the tape stretched across the recording and playback heads and pressed against such head by a resilient pressure pad installed for this purpose inside the cassette, the final stage of movement of the cassette being against the opposing force of such resiliently mounted pad.

After the playing operation, the cassette is carried .upward in the guides 76 by upward movement of the movable tape transport plate 78, and the elevator arm 99 is effective to carry the cassette from the tape transport 11 to the magazine 10, the retaining rod 68 being returned to retain the cassette in the magazine.

CHANGER OPERATING MECHANISM In carrying'out the invention, the power to move the components of the changer through the change cycle is provided by linkages operated by motor driven cams A, B and C..As shown in FIG. 1, a motor 101 is fixed to the frame 12. This motor. 101 drives the three cams A, B and C (FIGS. 5,7 and 10) and associated sets of linkages, to coordinatelybut independently operate (1) the cassette retaining means 68 which is effective to hold and release. an individual cassette from the magazine, (2) the elevator arm 99 which-is effective to transfer a released cassette from the magazine partially along the guide means to the transport movable frame, (3) the tape transport movable frame 78 which is effective to carry the tape and reel drive elements into penetrating relation with the cassette in the operating position, as well as (4) magazine advance, interlock, and

. switching functions which occur during the change cycle. As herein shown, two of such carns A, B are formed on opposite surfaces of a circular toothed gearmember 102, such cams A B operating the cassette retaining means 68 and elevator arm 99, respectively. Cam C is formed on a similar toothed gear member 103 which is intermeshed with the gear member 102, and operates the tape transport frame 78.

MAGAZINE CASSETTE RETAINING ROD OPERATED BY CAM A Cam A is a positively acting face cam formed by a 5 groove 107 in one surface of the member 102. Referring to FIGS. 7, 8, 12 and 13, for moving the retaining rod 68 through its retraction and return stroke a link 108 is provided having a slot 109 in its upper edge into which the retaining rod 68 fits, and pivoted at its lower 10 end on the pin 110. The link 108 is oscillated to impart the desired motion to the retaining rod by a rocker arm 112 which is also pivoted about the fixed pin and has a follower roller 113 at its lower end which rides in the groove l07 of the cam A. Thus, the retaining rod 15 68 is retracted to release the cassette to start the change cycle by motion of the rocker arm 112 produced by the cam A, the retaining rod 68 being returned to block the entrance slot 66 by the completion of 180 of cam A rotation.

To prevent damage to the linkage in the event that a partly lowered cassette or other obstruction blocks movement of the retaining rod 68, the link 108 is resiliently connected for movement by the rocker arm 112 by means herein shown in FIG. 8 as a hairspring 114. Said hairspring 114 is wound around a pin 111 and has two arms 114-1, 114-2, which pass through apertures in a flange 115 at the upper edge of the rocker arm 112 CASSETTE TRANSFER MEANS OPERATED BY CAM B As the cassette is dropped from the magazine, it falls onto the cassette transfer means served by the elevator arm 99 (FIG. 12) which is driven by a plate cam B on the opposite surface of the toothed member 102. The elevator arm 99 is moved by a forked link 117 having a follower roller 118 fixed to the link 1'17 intermediate its ends so as to ride on the edge 120 of cam Band pivoted at its right hand end as viewd in FIG. 12 on a pivot 119. Cam B is thus effective followingthe start of the change cycle by means of its rotation to lower the elevator arm 99 and thereby the cassette downward to the tape transport and by rotation of the cam B through during the first portion of the change cycle to move the arm to. its lowermost position (FIG. 13).

TAPE TRANSPORT MOVABLE SUPPORT OPERATED BY CAM C In the present case the downward movement of the tape transport plate 78 to carry the cassette to playing position is provided by 180 of rotation of cam C which is coordinately driven with cams A and B. Cam C is formed on one surface of the toothed gear member 103 which, as illustrated in FIG. 10, meshes with the first gear member 102. It is driven by a spur gear 122 which is operated through a gear train 123 from the drive motor 101. To control and impart the required vertical motion to the movable plate 78 of the transport mechanism, one of the pins 90 (FIGS. 1, 7) that projects from the movable plate 78 and extends across the path of motion of the cassette and through. the tubular lug 92, is fastened to a connecting link 124 which in turn is driven by a drive link 125 operated by the cam C. Cam C is a'face cam formed by a groove 126 in the surface of the gear member 103 and operates a cam follower roller 127 fixed near the left end of the drive link 125 (FIG. 7) which rides in the groove of cam C, the drive link being pivotally mountedat its right hand end. As cam C rotates at the start of the change cycle, the dwell section provides delay while the cassette is falling from the magazine and being transferred by the elevating arm 99 to the tape transport lugs 92, 94. After the cam C rotates its dwell section past the follower 127, the drive link 125 is driven downwardly by the cam C. The tape transport movable plate 78 initially drops by gravity and accompanies the descent of the drive link 125, the top edge of a slot 128 in the connecting link 124 resting on a pin 129 which extends from the left end of the drive link 125. An interlocking link 130 becomes operative during this phase of the operation (the gravity descent of the cassette and movable tape transport plate) to prevent blocking and damage to the mechanism if, during this phase of the operation, the passages in the cassette do not register with the drive elements carried on the movable plate 78. Such may occur if the cassette is inadvertently placed in the magazine upsidedown, or an obstruction may prevent the cassette from moving together with the movement of the tape trans port by gravity. Non-registration of the passages in the cassette with the drive elements stops the approach movement of the moving plate 78 towards the plane of cassette movement upon the drive elements abutting the outside of the cassette. Since the approach movement of the movable plate 78 is linked with its descending movement the stoppage of one causes stoppage of the other.

The result of interrupting the descent of the movable plate 78 is that the connecting link 124 which is fastened to the movableplate 78 abruptly stops its descent. So that the drive link 125 under the action of cam C can continue its downward movement independently of the connecting link 124 in the event that the descent of the movable plate 78 is stopped, the slot 128 allows the pin 129 to slide downward in the slot clearing the interlocking link 130. The changer mechanism, therefore, will continue its cycle (FIG. 14a) without interruption and as a further feature of this aspect of the construction will orient itself to immediately return the cassette to the magazine by continuing the rotation of the cams A, B and C through the entire change cycle. In the second part of such cycle, the drive link 125 is raised by cam C which raises the pin 129 into abutment with the upper edge of slot 128 and thus raises the connecting link 124 to bring the movable plate 78 to its uppermost position freeing the cassette from any interfer ence and allowing the elevator arm 99, responsive to continued rotation of cam B, to raise the cassette and return it to the magazine.

In the event that the cassette which is being carried into the tape transport is properly positioned and moves downwardly together with the movable plate 78 and in registration with the drive elements carried thereby, the connecting link 124 will descend with the drive link 125 without interruption. After the initial period of descent of the connecting link by gravity, the cam C is utilized to positively drive the connecting link downwardly and thereby the movable plate downwardly and into its final playing position with the cassette, assuming the interlock to prevent damage to the mechanism has not come into operation and the cassette is properly registered with the drive elements of the tape transport. In the present case this is achieved by utilizing the interlocking link 130 as a means to transmit force from the drive link to positively urge the connecting link 124 and movable plate of the tape transport downward in unison. Thus, the interlocking link is pivotally mounted on a pin 131 to the connecting link and is urged counterclockwise as shown in FIG. 7 about its pivot by a resilient spring 132. A pin 133 which projects from the interlocking link 130 into a recess 134 in the fixed vertical frame plate 38 acts as a follower on a cam surface provided by the left vertical edge of the recess. The shape of the edge as shown in FIG. 7a is such that the top section 134-1 of the edge is vertical so that the interlocking link 130 is maintained in its clockwise position as shown in FIG. 7a upon downward movement of said interlocking link with the connecting link 124 at the start of the cassette introduction and movable transport plate movement. As such movement proceeds, the pin 133 rides down the inclined section 134-2 of the recess allowing the link 130 to pivot counterclockwise so that its upper edge 135 is placed under the pin 129 which is carried by the drive link 125 as shown in FIG; 13. Further downward movement of the drive link 125 is effective to positively strike the pin 129 down against the upper edge 135 of the interlocking link 130 to urge the connecting link and movable plate downwardly for the remaining portion of the tape transport plate movement to the. playing position, to positively drive the tape transport movable plate 78 downward during its final increment of motion.

As the movable plate 78 of the tape transport is driven down by the cam C to lower the cassette into playing position, the plate meets a spring 136 which opposes the final downward movement of the tape transport plate, and stores energy for starting the upward return movement of the plate during the second (cassette return) portion of the change cycle after the cassette has been played. The movable transport plate 78 is latched against the force of the spring 136 by a pawl 137 (FIG. 13b) which engages behind a stud 138 on the movable plate 78 and serves to hold the tape transport and the cassette in final playing position until released by the latching solenoid 140, the cam C having a wide groove section after the step in the groove 107 so as to temporarily release the follower roller 127 on the drive link 125 so that the plate may be held by the latching pawl.

Referring to FIGS. 13 and 25, for conditioning the control circuit to de-energize the cam drive motor 101 and stop the cams with the tape transport and cassette in the playing position, a switch 139 is engaged and opened by the drive link 125 as it is driven by the cam C to its lowermost position; how the control circuit operates will be described in detail below.

into playing position, cam C through the connecting link 124 is also effective to lock the magazine against movement. In the present case this is achieved by the connecting link lowering a flat, detent member 142 from a raised position (FIGS. 7, 11) into a lower, locking position (FIG. 13) relative to a magazine locking

Claims

1. In a cassette player-recorder equipped with an automatic changer and having a magazine for storing a plurality of cassettes each having openings for introduction of tape transport elements within the cassette, said magazine being movable to locate a cassette stored therein for transfer in a downward direction to a playing position, the combination comprising, guide means for constraining the movement of a cassette received from said magazine to a single vertical plane to and from its playing position, a tape transport movably mounted adjacEnt said guide means for movement downward and toward said guide means by gravity and carrying tape and reel drive elements adapted upon such movement of said tape transport to be introduced into the openings of a cassette while said cassette is being lowered by gravity to operatively engage elements within the cassette, and means connected to said tape transport for supporting a cassette in said guide means and movable downward with said tape transport to lower said cassette by gravity along said guide means to its playing position.

2. A cassette player-recorder according to claim 1 including means for supporting said magazine for horizontal movement above said guide means, said magazine having an open bottom and said guide means extending vertically downward below said magazine, parallel stationary rails beneath said magazine interrupted by a transverse entrance slot to said guide means, the cassettes in said magazine being supported by said rails except for a single cassette above the slot, a retaining rod extending horizontally beneath said magazine parallel to said rails and across said entrance slot for holding that single cassette from dropping from said magazine through said entrance slot and means for retracting said retaining rod to drop the single cassette into said guide means.

3. A cassette player-recorder according to claim 2, said magazine having vertical side walls, and including means for supporting said retaining rod adjacent one end of said slot so that a single cassette above said slot and resting on said rod is tilted away from one side wall of said magazine adjacent said rod toward leaning engagement with the opposite side wall of said magazine and is free to drop into said slot when said retaining rod is retracted.

4. A cassette player-recorder according to claim 2 including motor operated means for retracting said retaining rod and for returning said retaining rod across said entrance slot immediately after retraction thereof to drop a cassette, to prevent accidental introduction of another cassette into said guide means from said magazine.

5. A cassette player-recorder according to claim 4 providing a complete playing cycle in which motor driven cassette carrying means returns the cassette from the playing position to the magazine to complete the cycle, said motor operated means being further operative to retract said retaining rod prior to the completion of the cycle to allow the cassette to return to the magazine.

6. A cassette player-recorder equipped with an automatic changer comprising: a tape transport including tape and reel drive elements, guide means for constraining the movement of a cassette to a vertical plane in moving to and from playing position wherein said tape transport elements operatively engage elements within a cassette, means for mounting said tape transport for movement downward and toward said guide means by gravity, a horizontally movable magazine for storing a plurality of cassettes and movable to locate a cassette above said guide means, cassette transferring means for receiving and lowering a cassette from said magazine into said guide means, means connected to said tape transport and movable downward with said tape transport for supporting and lowering a cassette received from said transferring means to the playing position and for registering the cassette openings with said tape and reel drive elements, the descent of the tape transport and cassette being by gravity and positively controlled during their lowering movement toward the playing position, and means for operating said cassette transferring means to elevate a cassette to the magazine from said supporting and lowering means in the event that the downward descent of the cassette and tape transport toward the playing position is blocked before the playing position is reached.

7. A player-recorder according to claim 6, including a rectangular open-bottomed magazine having transverse compartments for storing cassettes side by side in verticAl position standing on their edges.

8. A player-recorder according to claim 6 including an annular open-bottomed magazine having radial compartments for storing cassettes side by side in vertical position standing on their edges.

9. A cassette player-recorder equipped with an automatic changer comprising: a tape transport including tape and reel drive elements, guide means for constraining the movement of a cassette to a vertical plane in moving to and from playing position wherein said tape transport elements operatively engage elements within a cassette, said guide means having a horizontal entrance slot for a cassette, a horizontally movable magazine for storing a plurality of cassettes side-by-side standing on edge and movable to locate a single cassette above said entrance slot, retaining means for holding cassettes in said magazine and operative to drop a single cassette from said magazine so that the lower edge of the cassette enters said slot, cassette transferring means for receiving and lowering the single cassette from said magazine into said guide means, and means associated with said tape transport for lowering the cassette from said transferring means to the playing position and for registering the cassette openings with said tape and reel drive elements, the descent of the cassette being by gravity and positively controlled during its lowering movement to the playing position.

10. A cassette player-recorder equipped with an automatic changer apparatus comprising: a frame, guide means on said frame for constraining the movement of a cassette to a vertical plane in moving to and from playing position, a tape transport on said frame including cassette tape and reel drive elements adapted to operatively engage elements within a cassette in the playing position, a horizontal magazine for storing a plurality of cassettes, means mounting said magazine for horizontal movement on said frame to locate a single cassette above said guide means, retaining means for holding cassettes in said magazine and operative to drop a single cassette into said guide means, a motor on said frame, cassette transferring means operated by said motor for receiving and lowering a single cassette dropped from said magazine into said guide means, and means for mounting said tape transport for movement downward and toward said guide means by gravity, means connected to said tape transport and movable downward therewith for supporting the cassette in said guide means and for lowering the cassette by gravity from said transferring means to the playing position, said tape and reel drive elements being adapted to be introduced into the openings of a cassette while said cassette and tape transport are being lowered by gravity to operatively engage elements within the cassette.

11. A cassette player-recorder according to claim 10 in which said transferring means includes an arm supported on said frame for vertical movement and operative independently of said tape transport to move downward without the cassette after lowering the cassette to said tape transport.

12. A cassette player-recorder according to claim 10 including means for operating said transferring means with said support means to lower a cassette from the magazine into playing position and independently of said support means to raise a cassette to the magazine from said support means upon malfunction thereof in lowering the cassette into playing position.

13. A cassette player-recorder according to claim 10 providing a complete playing cycle in which cam means driven by said motor operates said transferring and support means in one sequence during the first part of the cycle to lower the cassette to playing position, and in the reverse sequence to raise the cassette to the magazine to complete the cycle.

14. A cassette player-recorder according to claim 13 in which said cam means includes separate sets of driven elements for operating respectively, said retaining and transferring means, and said support means.

15. A cassette player-recorder according to claim 13 in which said cam means includes separate cams for operating respectively, said retaining and transferring means, and said support means.

16. A cassette player recorder according to claim 13, said magazine having compartments for separate storage of the cassettes, including means driven by said motor for shifting said magazine at the end of the playing cycle and after return of the cassette to one compartment to locate the next compartment above said guide means.

17. A cassette player-recorder according to claim 16 including switch controlled power means for energizing said motor, and means for automatically opening and closing said switch at the end of each playing cycle after shift of the magazine to provide consecutive playing cycles.

18. A cassette player-recorder according to claim 17 including means for holding said switch open to stop said motor and terminate the consecutive operation responsive to the return of a cassette from the playing position to the last compartment in said magazine.

19. A cassette player-recorder according to claim 17 including manually operable means for interrupting the opening and closing of said switch at the end of each playing cycle providing means for selection of single or consecutive playing cycles.

20. A cassette player-recorder according to claim 10 including an interlock operative to lock the magazine against movement after retraction of said retaining means to drop a cassette.

21. An automatic changer for a cassette player-recorder having a frame, and a tape transport including support means mounted to move substantially normal to and together with the movement of a cassette to a playing position so as to introduce tape and reel drive elements carried on said movable support means into the cassette with a linear motion substantially perpendicular relative to the face of the cassette, said automatic changer comprising: a horizontal magazine for storing a plurality of cassettes, means supporting said magazine for horizontal movement on said frame to locate a single cassette in an operative position, guide means on said frame below said magazine for constraining the downward movement of a single cassette from said operative position in said magazine to a vertical plane to its playing position, a motor on said frame, transferring means for receiving and lowering the single cassette from said magazine in said guide means, means mounting said movable support means on said frame for movement vertically downward simultaneously with movement toward said guide means, a member connected to said movable support means and extending into such guide means for lowering the cassette from said transferring means by gravity and for registering the cassette with said tape and reel drive elements, and means driven by said motor for operating said transferring means and for shifting said support means in timed sequence for carrying a cassette from said magazine in said guide means to the playing position.

22. An automatic changer according to claim 21 in which said transferring means includes an arm supported on said frame for vertical movement and operative independently of said movable support to move downward without the cassette after lowering the cassette to said movable support member, said member being operative to lower the cassette into playing position.

23. An automatic changer according to claim 21, in which a resiliently mounted pinch roller is engaged by the tape within the cassette as the cassette moves into playing position, and one of said movable support members is operative to gradually engage the cassette during the course of its movement and positively moves the cassette downward into playing position against resistance offered by said pinch roller.

24. An automatic changer according to claim 21 including a magazine interlock operated by said movable support means to lock the magazine against movement after retraction of said retaining means To drop a cassette.

25. An automatic changer according to claim 21, said magazine having separate compartments for the cassettes stored therein, including a magazine interlock comprising a rack on the magazine, a gear meshing with said rack, a shaft depending from said gear, a locking member rotated by said shaft and presenting a plurality of edges adapted to move successively through a locking position which registers one of said compartments in the magazine with said guide means, a detent shiftable between a released position and said locking position for engagement with one of said locking edges, in which locking position said detent prevents rotation of said locking member and movement of said magazine, and a linkage operated by said movable support means to shift said detent between said locking and said released positions.

26. An automatic changer according to claim 21 including means operating said transferring means for vertical downward movement with said support means to lower the cassette into playing position and to further vertical downward movement and return upward movement independently of said support means to raise a cassette to the magazine from said support means upon failure of said tape and reel drive elements to register with and enter the cassette during the course of its downward movement with said support means.

27. A cassette player-recorder according to claim 21 including spring means opposing at least the final stage of movement of said support means in lowering the cassette to playing position, said spring means being operative to initiate the return movement of said support means for raising the cassette to the magazine to complete the playing cycle.

28. A cassette player-recorder according to claim 27 including a pawl mounted on said frame and operative to latch said support means against the force of said spring means to hold the cassette in playing position.

29. A cassette player-recorder according to claim 28 having solenoid means operative with a cassette in playing position for actuating said retaining pawl to unlatch said support means responsive to the end of the tape being reached in the transport of the tape from reel to reel in the playing operation of the cassette.

30. A cassette player according to claim 29 including manually operable means for operating said solenoid to actuate said retaining pawl to unlatch said support means for interrupting the playing operation and returning the cassette to the magazine.

31. An automatic changer according to claim 21 providing a complete playing cycle in which said means driven by said motor operates said transferring and support means in one sequence during the first part of the cycle to lower the cassette to playing position, and in the reverse sequence to raise the cassette to the magazine to complete the cycle.

32. An automatic changer according to claim 31 including spring means opposing at least the final stage of operation of said support means in lowering the cassette to playing position, said spring means being operative to initiate the return operation of said support means for raising the cassette to the magazine to complete the playing cycle.

33. An automatic changer according to claim 32 including switch controlled power means for energizing said motor, means opening said switch and stopping said motor responsive to the cassette obtaining the playing position, and means closing said switch and starting said motor for raising the cassette to the magazine responsive to initial return operation of said support means by said spring means.

34. An automatic changer for a cassette player-recorder having a frame, and a tape transport including a movable support mounted to move substantially normal to and together with the movement of a cassette to a playing position so as to introduce tape and reel drive elements carried on said movable support into the cassette with a linear motion substantially perpendicular relative to the face of the Cassette, said automatic changer comprising: a horizontal magazine for storing a plurality of cassettes, means supporting said magazine for horizontal movement on said frame to locate a single cassette in an operative position, retractable means beneath said magazine for retaining said cassettes in said magazine, guide means on said frame below said magazine for constraining the movement of a cassette from said operative position in said magazine to a vertical plane to its playing position, a motor on said frame, transferring means for lowering a cassette from said magazine in said guide means, means mounting said movable support on said frame for movement vertically downward simultaneously with movement toward said guide means, members connected to said movable support and extending into such guide means for lowering the cassette by gravity from said transferring means and for registering the cassette with said tape and reel drive elements, and cam means driven by said motor for sequentially retracting said retaining means to drop a cassette from said operative position in said magazine into said guide means and for operating said transferring means and movable support to lower a cassette in said guide means to the playing position, the descent of the cassette after the operation of said retaining means being by gravity and sequentially controlled by the lowering movement of said transferring means and said support members.

35. An automatic changer for a cassette player-recorder having a frame, and a tape transport including a movable support carried on said frame, said automatic changer comprising: a horizontal magazine for storing a plurality of cassettes supported for horizontal movement on said frame to locate a single cassette in an operative position, guide means on said frame below said magazine for guiding a single cassette in a vertical plane between said operative position in said magazine and a playing position, means for mounting said movable tape transport support on said frame adjacent said guide means for movement vertically downward by gravity simultaneously with movement toward said guide means, and means for carrying a cassette on said transport support for lowering the cassette by gravity along said guide means toward the playing position as said transport support moves downward by gravity, said transport support having tape and reel drive elements adapted to be introduced into openings in the cassette when in registration therewith as said cassette and transport support move downward by gravity toward the playing position.

36. An automatic changer as set forth in claim 35 further including an elevator operable independently of said transport support for lowering a cassette by gravity from the operative position in the magazine along said guide means to said cassette carrying means on said transport support.

37. An automatic changer for a cassette player-recorder having a frame, and a tape transport including a movable support carried on said frame, said automatic changer comprising: a horizontal magazine for storing a plurality of cassettes supported for horizontal movement on said frame to locate a single cassette in an operative position, guide means on said frame below said magazine for guiding a single cassette in a vertical plane between said operative position in said magazine and a playing position, means for mounting said movable tape transport support on said frame adjacent said guide means for movement vertically downward by gravity simultaneously with movement toward said guide means and for movement vertically upward simultaneously with movement away from said guide means and means for carrying a cassette on said transport support for lowering the cassette by gravity along said guide means toward the playing position as said transport support moves downward by gravity and for raising the cassette toward the magazine upon upward vertical movement of said transport support said transport support having tape and reel drive elements adapted to Be introduced into openings in the cassette when in registration therewith as said cassette and transport support move downward by gravity toward the playing position, a drive source, a connecting linkage including cam means between said drive source and said transport support for controlling the downward movement of said transport support by gravity during a portion of the change cycle and for raising said transport support during a further portion of the change cycle, and means included in said linkage allowing said cam means to continue operating in the event downward movement of the cassette or the transport support or its tape and reel drive elements toward the cassette is blocked, whereby to continue the change cycle without substantial interruption to immediately raise the cassette toward the magazine and withdraw the tape and reel drive elements away from the cassette.

38. An automatic changer as set forth in claim 37 further including an elevator operated by said drive source independently of said transport support for lowering a cassette by gravity from the operative position in the magazine along said guide means to said cassette carrying means on said transport support during a portion of the change cycle and for raising a cassette from said cassette carrying means to the magazine during a later portion of the change cycle.

39. In a cassette player-recorder, the combination according to claim 1 in which said tape transport is mounted for movement upward and away from as well as downward and toward said guide means, and said cassette supporting means connected to said tape transport includes a member projecting into the plane of said guide means and movable upward and downward with said tape transport for raising and lowering a cassette in said guide means, said tape and reel drive elements being adapted upon movement of said tape transport upward and away from said guide means to be withdrawn from openings of a cassette while said cassette is being raised from the playing position, said combination further comprising means including an arm movable along said guide means for transferring a cassette from said magazine to said cassette supporting member during an early portion of the change cycle and from said member to return the cassette to the magazine during a later portion of the change cycle.

40. A cassette player-recorder according to claim 9 providing a complete playing cycle in which motor driven means operates said transferring means and positively controls the movement of the cassette in one sequence during the first part of the cycle to carry the cassette to playing position, and in the reverse sequence to return the cassette to the magazine to complete the cycle.

41. A cassette player-recorder according to claim 40, said magazine having compartments for separate storage of the cassettes, including motor driven means for shifting said magazine at the end of the playing cycle and after return of the cassette to one compartment to locate the next compartment above said guide means.

42. A cassette player-recorder according to claim 41 including switch controlled power means for controlling said motor driven means, and means for automatically opening and closing said switch at the end of each playing cycle after shift of the magazine to provide consecutive playing cycles.

43. A cassette player-recorder according to claim 42 including manually operable means for interrupting the opening and closing of said switch at the end of each playing cycle providing means for selection of single or consecutive playing cycles.

44. An automatic changer for a cassette player-recorder having a frame, and a tape transport including support means mounted to move substantially normal to and together with the movement of a cassette to a playing position so as to introduce tape and reel drive elements carried on said movable support means into the cassette with a linear motion substantially perpendicular relative to the face of the cassette, saId automatic changer comprising: a horizontal magazine for storing a plurality of cassettes, means supporting said magazine for horizontal movement on said frame to locate a single cassette in an operative position, guide means on said frame below said magazine for constraining the downward movement of a single cassette from said operative position in said magazine to a vertical plane to its playing position, a motor on said frame, transferring means for receiving and lowering the single cassette from said magazine in said guide means, means mounting said movable support means on said frame for movement vertically downward simultaneously with movement toward said guide means, a member connected to said movable support means and extending into such guide means for lowering the cassette from said transferring means by gravity and for registering the cassette with said tape and reel drive elements, and means driven by said motor for operating said transferring means and for shifting said support means in timed sequence for carrying a cassette from said magazine in said guide means to the playing position and in a reverse sequence to raise the cassette to the magazine after operation in the playing position.