CH664640A5 - CHANGER APPARATUS FOR RECORDING MEDIA. - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a changer apparatus as described in the preamble of claim 1.

In the dictation field, central installations comprising for example a central recorder selectively coupled to one of several dictation stations by a link such as a reserved communication link (for example a connection by wires) or by a link have become common. In one type of central dictation installation, messages such as letters, reports, memoirs or the like are recorded on discontinuous recording media such as magnetic tape cassettes. Depending on the parameters set beforehand by the users of the installation, a cassette carrying one or more recorded messages is automatically replaced by a new cassette so as to allow the recording of other messages. The messages which have been recorded on the cassette used are then transcribed using, for example, a conventional table transcription machine. A similar central facility has been used for the transcription of messages from cassettes, in which a cassette is replaced when the transcription of the messages recorded on this cassette is finished.

By placing the recorder in a central position, it is accessible to several people who dictate and who are equipped with corresponding dictation stations or so-called telephone dictation modules, from which messages can be transmitted and which operate to control the usual dictation functions such as recording, playback, rewind, fast forward and the like. When a dictator has finished using the central recorder, the recorder is made available to another person who wants to dictate. Typically, the recording medium or cassette on which the user dictated his messages can be replaced or ejected when a predetermined length of tape has been used or when a predetermined number of messages has been used. recorded or when a determined number of different people have recorded messages on this medium or when a certain amount of time has passed since the recording of the first message. Examples of central dictation installations using cassette changers are described, for example, in U.S. Patents Nos. 4071857, 4,092,679, 4,092,685 and 4,099,209.

In central dictation installations with cassette changer, of the type described in the aforementioned patents, a cassette is transported by means of a device for transporting a reserve or input stack to a recording deck. The plate is mounted on a mobile support which places this plate in a working position relative to the cassette which has been transported to the plate. Then, after the use of a determined length of tape or after the recording of a selected number of messages or after the use of the cassette by a selected number of people having dictated or after the expiration of a duration determined to be non-functioning, the turntable is moved and the transport device continues to transport the used cassette to an output stack. Concurrently with the ejection of the cassette from the recording deck, a new cassette is transported by the transport device from the input stack to this deck. As also described in the aforementioned patents, if a cassette has been designated as a priority cassette, that is to say if the message or messages recorded on this cassette must be transcribed promptly and as a priority, the cassette used is priority to a special unloading device. From there, the priority cassette can be provided immediately to a transcriber. The transcription of such priority cassettes need not be deferred until all the other cassettes used, which precede this priority cassette,

have been transcribed.

The cassette changer of the aforementioned type has been provided with a motor for driving the cassette transport mechanism, with another motor for bringing the recording deck into its working position relative to the cassette and yet another motor to lift the cassette used on the output stack. The operation of all three motors is coordinated by a logic electronic circuit which, in one embodiment, has been produced in the form of discrete components and, in another form

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of execution, in the form of a specially programmed microprocessor.

Other cassette changer devices are known. For example, a shuttle cart has been proposed for transporting or making a return movement of a cassette from a horizontal input stack to a recording deck, then, after recording one or more messages, from this board to a horizontal output stack. Another example of such a device, similar to a slide projector, removes a cassette from an input magazine, lowers this cassette on a recording deck, returns the used cassette from the deck to the store, then advance the magazine to access the next cassette in it. Another example is provided with a vertical cassette input stack from which the lowest cassette is lowered onto a recording deck and then, after recording one or more messages, this cassette is lifted of the stage and removed.

A problem that many of the aforementioned cassette changers present is the coordination of the removal of a used cassette from the recording deck and the replacement of this cassette with a new cassette from an input reserve . Typically, separate drive motors are used to transport a new cassette to the recording deck, to load this cassette onto the deck and to eject a used cassette from the deck to an exit port. It is clear that such coordination can be carried out via an electronic control circuit or microprocessors, as mentioned above, or by a relatively complex mechanical synchronization arrangement. The use of multiple drive motors, electronic control circuits, and mechanical timing arrangements is relatively expensive and, moreover, can cause difficulties when maintenance or repairs become necessary.

The present invention relies on the use of a relatively simple drive arrangement which inherently provides proper coordination of the various functions related to changing cassettes, namely transporting a new cassette to the deck recording, placing this cassette in an operating relationship with the deck, and ejecting a used cassette from the deck to an appropriate outlet opening. In addition, the operating principles of the present invention make it easy to adapt it to its use as a cassette changer using standard size cassettes, mini-cassettes, micro-cassettes or new extremely small cassettes, described for example in U.S. Patent No. 4,443,827.

The present invention thus aims to provide an improved changer apparatus, usable for recording media such as recording media contained in cartridges or cassettes.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved changer apparatus of the aforementioned type, which is of relatively simple construction while operating precisely, and which is relatively simple and inexpensive to maintain and / or repair.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a changer of the above-mentioned type in which a single motor is used to transport a cassette from an input stack to a recording deck, then to eject a used cassette from the recording deck up to an output battery.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a changer of the aforementioned type which makes it possible to transport a cassette designated as priority to a suitable priority location from which it can be recovered and transcribed on a priority basis.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a changer of the aforementioned type comprising a recording plate which provides easy and rapid access for relatively simple repairs or maintenance, without requiring disassembly or disassembly of large parts of the device. 'apparatus.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a cassette guide apparatus which guides a cassette precisely to the correct working position and produces correct alignment on a recording and reproducing stage, in the context of 'a changer of the aforementioned type.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus usable with the changer apparatus of the above-mentioned type, by means of which an inscription is printed concerning the identification of a cassette, the messages which have been recorded and of other information relating to the recording of such messages.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a changer which can be used with different types of recording media such as standard size cassettes, mid-cassettes, micro-cassettes, size cassettes even smaller and other types of recording media preferably contained in cartridges.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a changer apparatus of the above-mentioned type in which a cam is driven by a single drive motor and operates to coordinate the individual steps which constitute a recording medium change operation such as than changing a cassette.

Various other objects, advantages and characteristics of the present invention will emerge clearly from the detailed description which follows, and the new characteristics will be indicated more particularly in the appended claims.

To achieve the objects mentioned above, an apparatus described above comprises, in accordance with the present invention, the characteristics described in claim 1.

A movable removal member has the function of removing a cassette from the inlet reservoir and supplying this cassette to a receiving device which in turn places this cassette on the recording deck. The receiving device can also be used to transport a cassette from the recording deck to the outlet tank before receiving the removed cassette. A rotary cam is coupled, from a drive point of view, to the withdrawal member and also has a cam surface coupled to the receiving device, so that the receiving device is driven to transport a cassette from the recording deck to the outlet tank and to replace it with the next cassette.

According to a characteristic of the present invention, the withdrawal member comprises a pusher arm coupled to the cam by a pin connection, so as to perform a reciprocating movement between opposite extreme positions when the cam performs a complete rotation. According to one embodiment, the pusher arm is provided with a groove in which the connection pin moves, the pusher arm being pushed towards the connection pin and having an angle such that, when the connection pin moves in the groove, the pusher arm is driven in a direction essentially normal to its direction of reciprocating movement, thus effecting a withdrawal movement in a given plane and a return movement in another plane.

In accordance with another particular characteristic of the present invention, the receiving device comprises an elevator provided with a plate for supporting a cassette and a cam follower which cooperates with the cam surface to raise this plate from the recording stage up to to the outlet tank which, advantageously, has the shape of a vertical stack placed above the recording plate, then to return the tray of the outlet tank to an intermediate position to receive the removed cassette and then lower this cassette on the recording deck. According to one embodiment, the elevator comprises at least one holding arm for holding a cassette on the tray, the holding arm being able to tilt out of the area where it could hinder the cassette when the tray is raised, thus allowing the placement of this cassette at the bottom of the outlet tank.

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According to yet another characteristic of the present invention, a priority unloading device is provided for selectively removing a determined cassette from the outlet tank, in the event that this cassette has been designated as a priority cassette. More particularly, if the last cassette which has been ejected from the recording deck towards the outlet tank has been designated as a priority cassette, the priority unloading device is actuated to transport this cassette from the outlet tank to a priority tank. According to one embodiment, the priority unloading device comprises a movable finger for coming into contact with the lowest cassette in the outlet tank, this finger being coupled, via a lead screw follower, to a mother screw. The lead screw is driven in a certain direction to advance the finger so as to eject a cassette from the outlet tank, and in the opposite direction after the ejected cassette has been transported to the priority tank, so as to return finger to a rest position.

According to another characteristic of the present invention, the recording deck is supported at a location below the transport path followed by the cassette when it is removed from the input tank. Advantageously, the recording deck is supported on a pivot at one end thereof and is releasably supported at the other end, so as to allow the recording deck to pivot in a non-functional position. operation and thus allow access to the board by an operator. According to one embodiment, the recording plate is supported in a chassis having two flexible spaced ears which are armed to tend to approach each other, the recording plate being mounted on a support plate which is supported by these spaced ears.

Yet another feature of the present invention is to provide a cassette guide device "leading to the recording deck, for placing the cassette in the correct matching and alignment position on the deck. The cassette guide device can have a unitary structure and comprise two laterally spaced angular guide ramps which come into contact with one or the other or the two lateral edges of the cassette which is lowered, thus aligning this cassette with the usual operating elements such as the drive axes, the capstan and the transducer which are normally located on the stage. The cassette guide device also comprises a front stop to come into contact with the front edge of the cassette and at least one rear guide element to come into contact with the rear edge of the cassette. The rear guide element is preferably elastic, so as to push the cassette against the front stop. In addition, protruding guide pins are part of the cassette guide device for engaging in guide openings in the cassette.

According to yet another characteristic of the present invention, the changer device is part of a dictation installation comprising several dictation stations and a printer which prints a recording of the information relating to the messages recorded on the different cassettes by means of the turntable. 'recording. According to one embodiment, each cassette is provided with indications marked on this cassette, these indications being able to be read by an appropriate reader such as an optical reader, when the cassette is transported from the inlet tank to the receiving device. . The recording provided by the printer includes an identification of the cassette on which messages were dictated, the number of messages which were dictated, the total length of the messages dictated and the time of day on which the cassette was ejected from the recording deck. According to another aspect of this feature, if the dictation station used by a person to record messages is provided with an appropriate means for identifying the dictating person, the printed recording also includes the identity of the dictating person. Advantageously, the recording can indicate whether the message which has been recorded on the cassette is a priority message and the type of message which has been recorded. In addition, an indication of the type of message, for example letter, memory, report, etc., can be printed.

The following detailed description, given by way of example, and which is not intended to limit the present invention solely to it, will be best understood in relation to the drawings which are also intended not to limit the present invention. only to these illustrations, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view, in perspective, of an embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a top view, along line 2-2 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the removal member used in the context of the present invention, along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the pusher arm used as a removal member, along line 4-4 of FIG. 3,

FIG. 5 is a sectional view along line 5-5 of FIG. 2,

FIG. 6 is a view of the rear of the changer apparatus along line 6-6 of FIG. 2,

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the rear of the apparatus shown in FIG. 6,

FIG. 8 is a sectional view along line 8-8 of FIG. 2, showing the initial positions or rest positions of the pusher arm and of the elevator used in the preferred embodiment of the present invention,

Figure 9 is a view similar to that of Figure 8 showing the elevator in its highest position and the push arm in the position in which the lowest cassette is being removed from the inlet tank of the changer,

FIG. 10 is a view similar to that of FIG. 8 showing the elevator in its intermediate position allowing it to receive the cassette which has been removed by the push arm of the inlet tank,

Figures 11A, 11B and 11C are side views along lines 11A-11A, 11B-11B and 11C-11C of the corresponding figures 8, 9 and 10, showing the respective positions of the elevator, of the cassette support pawls and a locking member, all described in more detail below,

FIG. 12 is a view from the right of the changer apparatus, along line 12-12 of FIG. 2,

FIG. 13 is a side sectional view of the priority ejection mechanism used in the present invention,

FIG. 14 is a front view, in section, along the line 14-14 of FIG. 13, illustrating the manner in which a priority cassette is ejected from the outlet tank,

FIG. 15 is a sectional view showing the transport of the priority cassette by the priority ejection mechanism towards the priority tank,

FIG. 16 is a sectional view showing the way in which the priority cassette is transported entirely in the priority tank,

FIG. 17 is a sectional view showing the final position of the priority cassette in the priority tank,

FIG. 18 is a schematic perspective view showing the manner in which the recording plate is supported so that it can be released in the changer apparatus,

FIG. 19 is a plan view, from above, of the recording and reproducing stage and of the cassette guide device of the present invention,

FIG. 20 is a sectional view, along the line 20-20 of FIG. 1.9,

Figure 21 is a front view of the cassette guide device, and Figure 22 is a partially schematic representation, partially in the form of a block diagram, of a printing apparatus which can be used with the changer apparatus in a central dictation facility.

In the interest of simplification, the recording medium, with which the changer apparatus of the present invention is described

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here, is assumed to be a magnetic tape cassette. It is clear, however, that other isolated recording media can be used such as magnetic discs, magnetic tape cartridges, and other discontinuous recording media. The term "cassette" used herein is intended to refer to conventional magnetic tape cassettes, but also to such other discontinuous recording media. On the other hand, it is clear that the cassettes which can be used with the changer apparatus of the present invention can be standard size cassettes, mini-cassettes, micro-cassettes or even even smaller cassettes, described in the patent. No. 4443 827 of the United States of America. The term "cassette" is intended to refer to each or all of these magnetic tape cassettes and to each and all discontinuous recording media.

Referring to the figures, in which the same reference numerals have been used everywhere, the cassette changer apparatus of the present invention is indicated as a whole by the reference numeral 20 and is intended to be used either with a station single dictation, from which a person can record one or more messages on a cassette, as will be described, or as part of a central dictation installation in which the cassette changer 20 is electrically connected to a station dictation chosen from several stations, such as for example by means of a wire connection or by telephone, so that one person among several can individually record messages on a cassette. The cassette changer 20 has a base 22, opposite side supports 24 and 26 (shown in Figures 1, 2, 6 and 7) and a U-shaped rear panel 30 which extends between and beyond the supports side 24, 26. A branch 32 of the U-shaped rear panel, 30, cooperates with a side wall 40 and a portion of the rear panel to form an inlet reservoir 28 which is arranged to receive a stack of cassettes designated here as TQ input cassettes. As best shown in Figures 1 and 8-10, an outlet tank 42 is formed by a pair of side walls 44 and 46 which are supported by and extend in front of the rear panel 30. The outlet tank 42 is arranged to store a stack of used cassettes, that is to say cassettes which have been ejected from the recording deck described below, and on which one or more messages have been recorded. The cassettes which have been stored in the outlet tank 42 are designated in this description as outlet cassettes TC0. Finally, and optionally, a priority reservoir 48 is formed by the remaining branch 34 of the U-shaped rear panel, 30 (Figure 1), which forms a side wall 52, in combination with another side wall 50, which is illustrated in Figures 8 to 10. The priority tank 48 is therefore formed of two side walls 50 and 52, in combination with a portion of the rear panel 30. Preferably but not necessarily, the space between the inlet tank 28 and the outlet tank 42 is protected by a front panel 54 which extends between the side walls 40 and 44, and, similarly, the space between the outlet tank 42 and the priority tank 48 is protected by a front panel 56 which extends between the side walls 46 and 50.

The input cassettes TC, are kept in good position in the input reservoir 28 and a flange portion 36, which projects from the branch 32 of the U-shaped rear panel, 30, and a similar portion of the front panel 54, preventing accidental misalignment or exit of the cassettes, these projecting portions serving to partially block the front wall of each cassette in the inlet tank. Similarly, projecting portions of the front panels 54 and 56 serve to prevent accidental misalignment or the exit of the cassettes into the outlet tank, and similar projecting portions are formed by the flange 38 of the branch 34 and a projecting part of the front panel 56, preventing accidental misalignment or an exit of cassettes from the priority tank 48. As can be seen, the front panel 56 ends with a lower edge 57 (FIG. 1) and this front panel can be produced in one piece with the front panel 54 and the rear panel 30. The particular machining, manufacture and construction of these elements is not critical. Suffice it to say that an inlet tank, an outlet tank and a priority tank are formed. The manner in which the cassettes are transported between these tanks will be described later.

A cassette support tray 58 is arranged inside, and more precisely below, the inlet tank 28, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The stack of TQ input cassettes is supported by the tray cassette support 58. A slot 59, best visible in Figure 2, is formed in the cassette support plate to allow the passage through this slot of a projecting finger 62 of a push arm 60. Thus as will be described in more detail below, the pusher arm 60 is driven by a reciprocating movement such that the protruding finger 62 of this arm comes into contact with a side wall of the lowest cassette inside the tank 28, to remove or push this cassette out of the inlet tank and onto a receiving plate which operates so as to place this cassette on the recording deck. As will be described, the pusher arm 60 is driven around a pivot axis 274 (FIG. 2) in the direction from left to right to remove the lowest cassette from the inlet tank 28, then this arm -pusher is driven to pivot in the direction from right to left around the pivot axis 274 to return to the position in which it is placed to remove the next cassette from the input tank. That is to say that, as best shown in FIG. 2, the pusher arm 60 is driven so as to reciprocate between the position shown in dotted lines until that shown in solid lines, then return to the position shown in dotted lines. As will be described, when the push arm 60 returns from its extreme right position to its extreme left position, it is moved to a lower horizontal plane, so as to return to its extreme left position without colliding with the stack of cassettes stored in the inlet tank 28.

As shown in Figure 2, when the pusher arm 60 is in its extreme left position, it exceeds the branch 32. As shown in Figure 1, this branch is provided with an opening 64 to prevent the end of the push-arm 60 and, more particularly, the finger 62 of the latter to exit from and then to return to the inlet reservoir 28.

As best shown in Figure 1, the side wall 40 of the inlet tank is provided with an outlet slot 66 through which the lowest cassette (designated "TCn cassette") is removed from the inlet tank and transported to an elevator which is arranged below the outlet tank 42. As mentioned above, the function of the elevator consists in receiving the cassette which has been removed from the inlet tank 28 to lower this cassette onto the recording deck for recording messages on this cassette, then ejecting this cassette from the recording deck and placing it at the bottom of the stack of output cassettes TC0 which are stored in the output tank 42. This vertical back and forth movement of the elevator is carried out by the elevator device indicated as a whole in FIG. 2 by the reference number 70.

As shown in FIG. 2 and also FIGS. 6 and 7, the elevator 70 comprises a chassis 72 to which is coupled an L-shaped arm 74, this arm being provided with a sleeve 76 to allow the arm and the chassis to slide along a guide shaft 78. This guide shaft is placed between a projecting part which extends rearward from the rear panel 30, and the base 22. The frame 72 is also provided with a tab guide 80 which, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, projects from a lateral edge of the frame 72, this tab moving in a guide notch 82 formed in the lateral support part 26.

As shown in Figures 2 and 6 and as best seen in Figure 8, a roller 84 is mounted on the L-shaped arm, 74, this roller working as a cam follower. It suffices to note that the roller 84 moves along an irregular surface 242 of the cam 240 to transmit the vertical movement to the elevator

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70. As will be explained, when the roller 84 moves along the surface 242 to the top thereof, the elevator 70 is driven upwards to place a cassette which it carries, at the bottom of the stack of TC0 output cassettes. When the roller 84 moves from the top of the cam surface 242 to an intermediate position, the elevator is driven downward to a receiving position in alignment with the cassette support plate 58, so as to receive a cassette pushed onto the elevator by the push arm 60. Then, when the roller moves along the cam surface 242 from the intermediate portion to the bottom, the elevator 70 brings the cassette which it carries in a working position relative to the recording deck.

Figures 2 and 8 to 11, it appears that the elevator 70 is provided with a cassette receiving plate 90 which is mounted on the frame 72 by means of a tongue 88. Thus, when the frame 72 is driven towards the up and down, the tongue 88 and the plate 86 are also driven with this chassis. It is clear that the tray 86 is arranged to receive and support a cassette.

The elevator 70 further comprises two holding arms 90 and 92 which, as shown in FIG. 2, have an L shape and end with respective feet in the shape of claws, 94 and 96. The purpose of these arms maintaining and more particularly of the claws 94 and 96 is to maintain a cassette on the plate 86 when the elevator 70 lowers this cassette on the recording plate and to ensure that the cassette is placed correctly on or in good position relative to the deck during recording or playback. Advantageously, the claws 94 and 96 are mounted so as to pivot or move apart by tilting when the elevator 70 rises to place the cassette on the tray 86 at the bottom of the stack of output cassettes TC0. Consequently, the holding arms 90 and 92 extend respectively from pivoting rods 98 and 100, these rods being connected to the chassis 72 so as to be able to pivot, as shown in FIG. 2.

Advantageously, spring elements 102 and 104 act on the rods 98 and 100 to push the retaining arms 90 and 92 to the position shown in FIG. 2. As best illustrated in FIG. 8, the claws 94 and 96 are provided with respective inclined surfaces 95 and 97, these surfaces being arranged essentially on the upper part of the claws. The inclined surfaces 95 and 97 are arranged to come into contact respectively with cam surfaces 106 and 108 of a vertical wall in the outlet tank, the inclined surfaces of the claws being brought into contact with the cam surfaces of the vertical wall when the elevator 70 is driven upwards. Note that the forces exerted on the claws 94 and 96, when the inclined surfaces of these come into contact with the cam surfaces 106 and 108, serve to rotate the rods 98 and 100 so as to move the holding arms to positions in which they do not interfere. This in turn allows the cassette supported on the tray 86 to be lifted to the bottom of the stack of output cassettes 42. As best shown in Figure 8, the aforementioned vertical wall, on which the cam surfaces are arranged 106 and 108, is provided with guide notches 110 and 112 for receiving the claws 94 and 96 when the holding arms pivot to the above-mentioned position in which they do not interfere. The arrangement of the claws 94 and 96 inside the notches 110 and 112 is best visible in FIG. 9.

The elevator 70 also comprises a blocking member 134 shown partially in FIG. 1 and visible more clearly in FIG. 11, a member which is arranged under the cassette output stack TC0 and has the function of preventing the accidental movement of a cassette, such as the lowest cassette in the outlet tank 42, which could interfere with the lifting plate 86 or a cassette which is already placed on this plate. As will be described, the recording deck is disposed below and in alignment with the outlet tank 42 and the locking member 134 prevents a cassette from falling into a lower position in which it would interfere with the recording deck.

As best seen in FIG. 11 and as is also visible in FIGS. 2, 6 and 7, the locking member 134 comprises a finger-shaped stop member 136, the stop member and the blocking member preferably forming a constructive unit. The stop member 136 is mounted on the frame 72 of the elevator 70 so that it can pivot. More particularly, the frame 72 is provided with two protruding ears, 138 and 140, and the stop member 136 is provided with pivoting lugs 142 and 144 which pivot respectively in the ears 138 and 140. Thus, the locking member 134 proves to be mounted relative to the lugs 138 and 140 so as to be able to pivot and, as a result, the locking member is rotatably mounted relative to the elevator frame 72. The member d the stop limits the rotation, in the anticlockwise direction, of the locking member 134, a rotational force being provided by a spring 141.

The rear panel 30 is provided with a contact member 146 attached to this panel and best visible in FIGS. 8 to 11. It is noted that, when the elevator 70 is driven upwards, the contact member 146 is arranged to intercept the locking member 134. As a result of this interception, a force is exerted downward on the locking member 134 by the contact member 146. Consequently, the locking member pivots in the downward direction, shown in Figure IIB, when the frame 72 of the elevator rises. In this way, the blocking member rocks out of its blocking position, so as to allow the cassette placed on the plate 86 to be lifted to the bottom of the outlet tank 42.

The stack of outlet cassettes TC0 is supported in the outlet tank 42 by means of two rear pawls 120 and 122 and a front pawl 124. The designation "rear" used here is similar to elements in alignment with or acting on the rear wall of a cassette, this rear wall being contiguous to the rear panel 30. The designation "front" refers to elements which are in contact or cooperate with the front wall of the cassette. Thus the rear pawls 120 and 122 are arranged to support the lowest cassette in the outlet tank 42 in the vicinity of the rear wall thereof, and the front pawl 124 is arranged to support this cassette in the vicinity of its front wall . In the embodiment described here, the pawls 120 and 122 are arranged to support the rear corners of the bottom wall of a cassette, and the pawl 124 is arranged to support the bottom wall of a cassette along the front edge thereof. As shown in FIGS. 6 to 11, the rear pawls 120 and 122 constitute the respective free ends of a U-shaped frame 114, this frame being mounted so as to be able to pivot on a support 115 which is fixed to the rear surface of the rear panel 20 (Figures 2 and 7). As shown in Figures 2 and 11, the frame 114 is provided with pivoting means 116 and 118 by which the frame is mounted on the support 115 so as to be able to pivot. Preferably, one or both of the pivoting means 116 and 118 are provided with a winding spring arranged so as to keep the frame and the rear pawls 120 and 122 in the support position illustrated in the Figures 1, 2 and IIA.

The front pawl 124 is mounted so as to be able to pivot on the ears 126 and 128 which are oriented towards the outside from the respective front panels 56 and 58, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The front pawl is provided with pins 130 and 132 which are housed so as to pivot respectively in the ears 126 and 128,

as shown in Figures 1 and 2. Preferably, one or both of these pivoting means is or are provided with a winding spring so as to push the front pawl 124 into the position shown in Figures 1, 2 and IIA.

As will be described in more detail below, when the elevator 70 mounts a cassette from the recording stage to the outlet tank 42, the front and rear edges of the top wall of this cassette come contact with the inclined surfaces, shown, of the front pawl 124 and the rear pawls 120 and 122, so as to pivot these pawls in a direction opposite to that of the forces of the winding springs acting on them, as indicated in lines dotted in Figure 11B. In this way, the pawls tip out of the area where they would interfere with the

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cassette which is lifted towards the bottom of the outlet tank 42. Once this cassette has been lifted enough to release the pawls 120, 122 and 124, the spring loading forces exerted on them tend to return these pawls in the position which is best visible in FIGS. IIA and 11C, in which these pawls are placed so as to support the lowest cassette in the output stack TC0. Consequently, the outlet stack of cassettes TC0 is supported in the outlet tank 42 by the pawls 120, 122 and 124.

As mentioned above, the recording deck designated here as the recording and reproducing deck is arranged below the outlet tank 42 and arranged to record and / or reproduce messages on a cassette which is loaded on this deck. The recording and reproducing stage, designated as a whole by the reference numeral 150, can comprise the usual drive and axes, the capstan, the clamping roller, the recording and reproducing head and the d head. '' erasure normally provided on current recording devices. It is clear that when the recording and reproducing stage is used to record messages, for example on mini-cassettes, the capstan and the clamping roller may be missing. Generally expressed, the recording and reproducing stage is provided with the usual means for transporting the magnetic medium (for example the magnetic tape) and for recording or reproducing the information on this medium.

The recording and reproducing stage 150 is supported by a platinum support plate 152 (FIGS. 1, 12 and 18), this support plate being in turn supported by a piatine support chassis 154. Preferably, the plate support frame is formed by a flexible material such as ABS, the rear part of the frame being provided with two protrusions 156 and 158 (Figures 2, 6 and 7) to support suspension elements 160 and 162 (Figures 2 , 6, 7 and 18) which are oriented upwards from the rear of the stage support plate 152. It is noted that the rear part of the recording and reproducing stage 150 is mounted so as to be able to pivot on the platinum support chassis 154 due to the cooperation between the suspension elements 160 and 162 and the respective protrusions 156 and 158. The front part of the platinum support chassis 154 is provided with two flexible ears oriented upwards 164 and 166 (figures 1 and 18) which respectively have notches 168 and 170 for receiving and supporting the front part of the platinum support plate 152. As will be explained, to allow access to the recording and reproducing platen 150 for repairs simple or for maintenance or to remedy a tape blockage, the ears 164 and 166 can be moved manually in the respective direction, directed outwards, as shown in FIG. 18, so as to release the front part of the platinum support plate 152 and to allow the tilting of the recording and reproducing platen 150 relative to the chassis 154 downwards. The suspension elements 160 and 162 can then be separated from the protrusions 156 and 158 to allow the removal of the plate 150 from the chassis and the repair or maintenance of this plate.

The above generally describes the structure of the cassette changer apparatus, by which the cassette in the lowest position in the inlet tank 28 is transported from this tank to the plate 86 of the elevator 70 to be lowered onto the recording and reproducing stage 150 for recording messages, then, once the recording process is complete, the elevator 70 lifts this cassette to the bottom of the outlet tank 42, and brings the tray 86 back to a position in which it receives a new cassette. As mentioned above, a particular feature of the present invention consists in removing from the outlet tank 42 a cassette which has been designated as a priority cassette. Such a priority unloading device comprises a priority ejection finger 198 (FIGS. 2 and 14 to 17), a lead screw 206 and an articulated valve 178 (FIGS. 2, 8 to 10 and 14 to 17) arranged in the vicinity of the tank. priority 148. Priority ejection finger

198 is provided with a tab 200 and is integral with a follower 202 cooperating with the lead screw. Advantageously, the tab 200 and the follower 202 form a constructive unit. A winding spring 204, disposed inside the bore of the follower 202, serves to reinforce the contact between this follower and the lead screw 206. As will be described below, due to this stress, the priority ejection finger 198 tends to rotate at the same time as the lead screw 206. In other words, if the lead screw rotates clockwise, the ejection finger 198 also rotates in this direction needle-io of a watch, so as to rotate the tab 200. Conversely, if the lead screw 206 rotates anti-clockwise, the ejection finger 198 also rotates in the direction reverses the hands of a watch and drives the tab 200.

The opposite ends of the lead screw 206 are housed in bearings 108 and 210 (Figure 2) which, in turn, are supported by lead screw support pieces 212 and 214, respectively fixed to the front panel 54 and to branch 34. The drive shaft of a priority drive motor 216 is coupled with a pulley 218 which is connected by a drive belt 220 with a pulley of 2o lead screw 222. As shown in the Figures 2 and 12, the lead screw pulley 222 is coupled to one end, for example to the right end of the lead screw 206 to drive the latter in rotation in the direction determined by the direction of rotation of the motor drive 216. Two stop members 224 and 226 are arranged in the vicinity of the opposite ends of the lead screw 206 and serve to prevent over-travel of the ejection finger 198 in the event that the supply of the drive motor priority 216 is not accidentally cut off, as will be described. Motor switches 228 and 230 are also arranged in the vicinity of the opposite ends of the mother screw 206 and are arranged to come into contact with the ejection finger 198 when the latter has been driven respectively to its extreme position from the left or starting position, and up to its extreme right position or final position.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a protection 232 covers the lead screw 206, this protection being provided with an elongated slot 234. The slot 234 has at its left end a vertical notch 236 and at its right end a larger notch 238. As can be seen in FIG. 13, the ejection finger 198 is provided with a heel 201 which projects outwards from the elongated slot 404. When the ejection finger is in its starting or resting position (Figure 2), the heel 201 is aligned with the vertical notch 236. Consequently, when the lead screw 206 rotates clockwise, the finger d ejection 198 also rotates, due to the action of spring 204, and the heel 201 passes through 45 through the vertical notch 236 to allow the ejection finger to rotate to the position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 13 In this configuration, the tab 200 is arranged to come into contact with the side wall. the left of the cassette being in the lowest position in the outlet tank 42. When 50 the lead screw 206 continues to rotate, the lower edge of the front panel 54 (Figure 13) prevents further rotation of the ejection finger 198 and thus allows the lead screw follower 202 to "follow" the rotation thereof. It follows that the cassette which has come into contact with the tab 200 is removed from the outlet tank 42 and is driven 55 into the priority tank 148.

As will be described in more detail below, this priority cassette remains inside the priority tank when the priority drive motor 216 is inverted to drive the lead screw 206 in the opposite direction. The inversion of the priority drive motor is triggered when the ejection finger 198 reaches its final position and comes into contact with a limit switch 230 to ensure that the power to the drive motor priority is reversed. When the ejection finger 198 is in its final position, this finger is in the vicinity of 65 the enlarged notch 238 and rotates with the lead screw 206 once again due to the action of the spring 204, to place the heel 201 against the upper edge of the elongated slot 234. A rotation of the ejection finger 198 beyond this position is thus prevented and the

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lead screw follower 202 "follows" now the rotation, in the opposite direction of the hands of a watch, of the lead screw 206 to return the ejection finger to its starting position or rest position. It is clear that the protection 232 thus has the function of limiting the rotation of the ejection finger 198 during the rotation of the lead screw 206, so as to allow the correct positioning of the ejection finger when the latter is driven along the lead screw.

As best shown in Figures 2, 3, 4 and 7, the push arm 60 has an angle at location 61 and one of these ends is coupled to the pivot axis 274 so as to allow it to swing. The finger 62 is disposed at the free end of the pusher arm 60 by projecting. The pivot axis 274 is coupled to a pivot column 276 fixed to the base 22 of the changer apparatus. A support piece 278 is mounted at the upper end of the pivot column 276 and supports a spring 280 serving to urge the push arm 60. In addition, a spring locking washer 282 fixes the support piece 278 on the upper part of the column 276 and also serves to exert a downward force on the pusher arm 60.

As seen from the bottom (Figure 4), a groove 284 is formed on the lower surface of the pusher arm 60. This groove has a relatively deep section 286 and is arranged to drive a connection pin 270 by which the arm pusher is mechanically coupled to the rotary cam 240.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 5 and 7, the cam 240 has an irregular cam surface 242 on which the cam follower roller 84 of the elevator 70 moves, as will be described. The cam 240 is rotated about the axis of rotation fixed to the base 22, as shown in FIGS. 3, 5 and 6. A cam drive motor 252 is fixed to the base 22 by means of motor support 254, this motor having a drive shaft coupled with a pulley 256, as shown in FIGS. 2, 6 and 7. The pulley 256 is, in turn, coupled with a screw drive pulley -mother 260 by a drive belt 258. The lead screw drive pulley is coupled with a worm screw 262 so that, when the cam drive motor 262 is powered, the worm screw 262 is driven. The toothing of the worm 262 is engaged with the toothing 264 disposed on the periphery of the lower part of the cam 240. Thus, the supply of the cam drive motor 252 causes the rotation of the cam 240. the needs of the present invention, it will be assumed that the cam 240 rotates anti-clockwise in the representation of FIG. 2.

The cam 240 has an upper surface 266 (FIGS. 2 and 5) on which a support member 268 is arranged. This support member serves to support a pin assembly 272 which ends in the connection pin 270. As mentioned above and as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the connecting pin is driven by and rotates in the groove 284 on the lower surface of the pusher arm 60.

A cam drive motor switch 290 is disposed in the vicinity of the bottom part of the cam 240, this switch comprising a pair of contacts which are closed or open when they come into contact with a projection on the cylindrical wall of drug. Closing or opening the contacts of the switch 290 cuts off the power to the cam drive motor 252 to stop the rotation of the cam 240.

Let us assume that the pin 270 moves in the groove 284 in the direction indicated by the arrows in FIG. 4. When the pin 270 is in the position shown by the solid lines in FIG. 4 (which corresponds to the position shown in the FIG. 2), the pusher arm 60 is driven from right to left towards the position represented by the dotted lines in FIG. 2. For convenience, this position, that is to say the position represented by the dotted lines, is designated as committed position. The position of the pusher arm 60, represented by the solid lines in FIG. 2, is designated as the original position. From the original position to the engaged position, the pin moves in the deep portion 286 of the groove 284, and the spring force exerted downward on the pusher arm is then used to place the finger 62 below of the cassette support plate 58. This is shown more particularly in FIG. 8. The continuation of the rotation of the cam 240 places the pin 268 in a relatively shallow part 285 of the groove 284.

This in turn tends to raise or raise the pusher arm 60 so as to place the finger 62 in a position in which it comes into contact with the left side wall of the lowest cassette in the inlet tank 28, as shown in Figure 9. The subsequent rotation of the cam 240 drives the pin 270 in the groove 284 to the location 287 thereof, this location serving to rotate the pusher arm 60 to its position extreme shown in FIG. 10. When the cam 240 continues to rotate, the pin 270 moves from position 287 passing through the deeper part of the groove 286 so as to lower the push-arm, that is, to return it to the original position shown in FIG. 8, then to bring the push-arm back to the engaged position represented by the dotted lines in FIG. 2.

It can thus be seen that, when the cam 240 performs a complete rotation, the pusher arm 60 is driven from its original position (FIG. 8) to its engaged position in which the pusher arm rises to bring the finger 62 in contact with the lowest cassette in the inlet reservoir 28 and to drive this cassette towards the plate 86 of the elevator 70 (FIG. 10). Consequently, the push-arm 60 not only performs a back-and-forth movement in the direction from left to right (FIGS. 2 and 8 to 10) but also performs a vertical movement allowing the finger 62 to be withdrawn to the engaged position (Figure 9) as it passes under the stack of TQ input cassettes. Note that the push-arm drives the lowest cassette TQ while it moves in a horizontal plane, then returns to a lower horizontal plane to come into contact with the next cassette in the inlet tank.

In addition to the reciprocating movement of the push arm 60 caused by the rotation of the cam 240, the cam also has the function of driving the elevator 70 in the vertical direction. As mentioned above, the roller 84 which projects from the L-shaped arm, 74, from the elevator 70 moves on the cam surface 242. As can be seen from Figures 3, 5 and 7, the cam surface 242 is provided with a top 244, a bottom 246 and an intermediate portion 248. When the roller 84 moves from the bottom 246 towards the top 244, the elevator 70 rises to raise the plate 86 so as to bring the cassette, which is then placed on this tray, from the recording and reproducing stage 150 to the bottom of the stack of output cassettes TC0. When the cam 240 continues to rotate, the roller 84 moves from the top 244 to the intermediate portion 248, by lowering the plate 86 to the position in which the latter receives a new cassette which is brought to it from the reservoir. input 28 by the push arm 60. It should be noted that the intermediate portion 248 has a circumferential extent sufficient to maintain the plate in the position in which it receives a new cassette, as long as is necessary for the arm -pusher 60 removes this cassette from the inlet tank. Then, the roller 84 moves from the intermediate portion 248 to the bottom 246, so as to lower the plate 86 and bring the cassette located on this plate onto the recording and reproducing stage 150. A guide member for cassettes 176, which may have the general configuration of a conical guide, is indicated by dotted lines in FIGS. 8 to 10 and is arranged above the recording and reproducing stage 150 to guide a cassette lowered by the tray 86 in a position aligned correctly with the plate.

The way in which the movement of the push arm 60 and the movement of the elevator 70 are coordinated will now be described with reference to FIGS. 8 to 10 and 11 to 11C. Let us assume that the cam 240 has rotated so that the roller 84 has moved to the bottom 246 while the pin 270 is at the location shown in FIG. 4. It is recalled that this position of the cam of the arm -pusher and elevator is designated as the home position and is shown at the

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Figure 8. Here, the finger 62 has been lowered below the cassette support plate 58 thus allowing the return of the pusher arm to its engaged position without it interfering with the cassettes stacked inside the inlet tank 28. In addition, since the roller 84 is placed on the bottom 246 of the cam surface 242, the elevator 70 is in its lowest position, then the plate 86 has lowered the cassette placed on this plate on the recording and reproducing stage 150. In order to facilitate understanding of the coordinated operation between the push-arm 60 and the elevator 70, it is assumed here that the cassette now loaded on the tray 86 is designated by TC01 and that the cassette la lower to be the next cassette to be removed from the inlet reservoir 28 is designated by TQ.

FIG. 8 shows that the holding arms 90 and 92 are in a position in which they hold the cassette TC0i on the plate 86 and, in fact, these holding arms have worked so as to ensure that this cassette has been loaded and held correctly on the recording and reproducing deck for a recording or reproducing operation.

It is assumed that the cam drive motor 252 is not supplied when the push arm 60 and the elevator 70 are in the position illustrated in FIG. 8. Let us now suppose that the operation of changing the cassette must be carried out . Therefore, the cam drive motor 252 is powered to begin rotation of the cam 240. When the cam is rotated, the pin 270 moves in the groove 284 in the direction indicated by the arrows 284. Thus, when the cam rotates, the pin 270 drives the pusher arm 60 so that it pivots clockwise around the pivot axis 274. The pin now moves in the relatively deeper portion 286 of the groove 284 and thus maintains the finger 62 under the cassette support plate 58 when the pusher arm is driven towards its engaged position shown in FIG. 9.

When the cam 240 rotates, the roller 84 moves from the bottom 246 to the top 244 of the cam surface 242, as shown in FIG. 9. Thus, when the pusher arm 60 is driven towards its engaged position, the elevator 70 is driven upwards. Consequently, the lifting plate 86 shows the cassette TC0] which is on it up to the bottom of the stack of output cassettes TC0. It will be recalled that, when the elevator 70 is mounted, the pivoting rods 98 and 100 of the retaining arms 90 and 92 turn outwards as a result of the contact between the cam surfaces 106 and 108 and the inclined surfaces 95 and 97 of the respective claws 94 and 96. As shown in FIG. 9, the holding arms 90 and 92, pivoting in this way, slide inside the guide slots 110 and 112. Thus, the holding arms tilt out of the area where they could interfere with the TCoi cassette, thus allowing the placement of this cassette at the bottom of the stack of cassettes in the outlet tank 42.

As shown in FIG. IIB, when the plate 86 rises, the upper wall of the cassette TCoi comes into contact with the inclined surfaces of the rear pawls 120 and 122, and the inclined surface of the front pawl 124. The continuation of the upward movement of the lifting plate 86, tends to rotate these pawls, as shown by the dotted lines in Figure IIB. Thus, the support surfaces of these pawls are spaced apart by pivoting, so as to allow the drive of the cassette TC01 above and without contact with these front and rear pawls. It is clear that, when the plate 86 is driven towards the position shown in FIG. 11B, the stack of output cassettes TC0 is lifted as a result of the force exerted on it by the cassette TC0i driven upwards.

As shown in FIG. 9, the finger 62 comes into contact with the lowest cassette, TCn, in the inlet reservoir 28, to remove this cassette from the stack of input cassettes TQ. Figure 9 shows the partial removal of this TCM cassette. When the cam 240 continues to rotate, the pusher arm 60 is driven further to the right (FIG. 9) and the roller 84 now moves from the top 244 of the cam surface 242 to an intermediate portion 248 thereof. Therefore, the elevator 70 is now driven downward. When the tray 86 is lowered, the cassette TC0i on this tray as well as the stack of cassettes TC0 above it, is also lowered. However, since the rear pawls 120 and 122 and the front pawl 124 have returned to the position shown in solid lines in FIG. 11B, they retain and support the bottom wall of the cassette TC0i when this cassette descends and comes into contact with the surfaces to support these pawls. It appears from Figure 2 that the size of the plate 86 is such that it does not interfere and does not come into contact with any of the rear or front pawls. On the contrary, these pawls simply come into contact with and retain the cassette TC0i when the output stack of cassettes TC0 is lowered on it.

The subsequent rotation of the cam 240 continues to drive the pusher arm 60 towards its extreme cassette removal position, shown in FIG. 10. At the same time, the roller 84 moves from the top 244 towards the intermediate portion 248 of the cam surface 242, thereby lowering the tray 86 into the plane in which the cassette support tray 58 is placed. Therefore, the finger 62 is capable of pushing the removed cassette TCn onto the tray 86, as shown in the Figures 10 and 11C. When the cam 240 continues to rotate, the rollers 84 move from the intermediate portion 248 to the bottom 246 of the cam surface 242, thereby lowering the cassette TQ, onto the recording and reproducing stage 150 for recording messages on this tape. At the same time, the push arm 60 is lowered and returns to the original position shown in Figure 8. This completes a complete revolution of the cam 240, following which the cam drive switch 290 is actuated to cut power to the cam drive motor 252. Therefore, the elevator 70 remains in its lowest position and the pusher arm 60 remains in its original position, until the motor cam drive is subsequently activated.

FIG. 10 also shows a cassette TC0i previously ejected, at the bottom of the outlet tank 42, this cassette being supported by the rear pawls 120 and 122 and by the front pawl 124. As appears from FIGS. 6 to 10, an optical drive 288 , such as a bar code reader, is arranged near the transport path followed by the TQ cassette, when it is removed from the inlet reservoir 28 and loaded on the tray 86. As can be seen the better in FIG. 7, the optical reader 288 is mounted on the rear panel 30 and has the function of entering or "reading" a bar identification code which can be applied to the rear wall of each cassette. Thus, the identity of each cassette, which is removed from the inlet reservoir 28 and loaded on the recording and reproducing stage 150, is read by the optical reader 288. These identification data are used for a described purpose below.

Although not specifically mentioned above, it is clear that when the lowest cassette TQ is removed from the tank 28, the stack of cassettes placed above it falls to fill the space freed up by this cassette TCn .

As shown in Figures 11A to 11C, the locking member 134 pivots to a position in which it does not interfere, position shown more particularly in Figure IIB, when the elevator 70 is raised. As mentioned above, a contact member 146, which is integral with a vertical wall, comes into contact with the blocking member 134 to pivot the blocking member around pivoting pins 142 and 144 when the chassis 72 rises. In this way, the locking member 134 is pivoted apart so as not to hinder the installation of used cassettes TC01 at the bottom of the stack of cassettes in the outlet tank 42.

As mentioned above, the priority unloading device, mainly comprising a lead screw 206 and a priority ejection finger 198, is driven by a priority drive motor 216. This priority drive motor is shown as independent of the cam drive motor 252 and a suitable electronic device (not shown) can be provided to selectively supply the priority drive motor. If a cassette on which messages are recorded is designated as a priority cassette, the electronic device men5

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tioned is used to power the priority drive motor 216, once the priority cassette has been ejected from the recording and reproducing stage 150 towards the outlet tank 42. For example, when the cam 240 has made a complete rotation and that the switch of the cam drive motor 290 has been closed or opened, a corresponding indication may be provided to the aforementioned electronic device, after which the priority drive motor 216 is supplied.

Originally, the priority ejection finger 198 occupies the rest position illustrated in solid lines in FIG. 13. In particular, the heel 201 of the tab 200 is placed inside the vertical notch 236, illustrated at the left end of the elongated slot 234 in the protection 232 (Figure 1).

When energized, the priority drive motor 216 drives the lead screw in a clockwise direction. Consequently, the lead screw follower 202 of the ejection finger 198 also rotates clockwise, due to the spring force which pushes the spring 204. inside the bore of the follower of the mother screw against this screw. Consequently, the ejection finger 198 rotates clockwise and its heel 201 is rotated away from the vertical notch 236. The ejection finger thus occupies the position shown in dotted lines in the figure 13. In this position, the tab 200 comes into contact with the left side wall of the cassette TC0i, which is the lowest cassette in the outlet tank 42. This contact of the tab 200 with the cassette TC0I is illustrated more particularly in Figure 14.

When the lead screw 206 continues to rotate, the subsequent rotation of the ejection finger 198 is prevented by contact between the lower edge of the front panel 54 and the ejection finger 198, as shown in FIG. 13. Thus prevented from continue to rotate, the lead screw follower 202, and therefore the ejector finger 198, are driven by the rotation of the lead screw in the direction of the arrow shown in Figure 14. As a result, the cassette la lower TC01 is discharged from the outlet tank 42 and routed to the priority tank 48. When the ejection finger 198 is driven, the contacts of the limit switch 228 can open.

When the cassette TC0i is discharged by the ejection finger 198, the anterior edge of this cassette comes into contact with the pivoting valve 178. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 15, the valve 178 is mounted by means of a coupling with pivots 180 on a support 182 which, as shown in FIG. 2, forms an integral part with the side wall 46. The free end of the valve 178 is normally placed inside the opening 186 of the unloading tray 184. However, when the cassette TC0i passes through the inlet opening 68 of the side wall 46, it comes into contact with the valve 178 to rotate it anticlockwise, around the pivot coupling 180, as shown in FIG. 15. In the case where other cassettes are supported on the tray of the priority tank 188 at the bottom of the priority tank 48, this pivoting of the valve 178 serves to lift the left side of such cassettes, to allow the edge of the TC0i cassette go under. Following the rotation of the lead screw 206 moves the cassette TC0i entirely on the tray of the priority tank 188 and below the stack of cassettes which can be stored in the priority tank.

As shown in FIG. 16, the ejection finger 198 serves to completely unload the cassette TC0i from the unloading tray 184 and through an overtravel slot 192 provided in the side wall 52. A spring-loaded return finger 194 is arranged in the overtravel slot 192, this finger being coupled with a spring 196 which, as shown in FIG. 12, is mounted on the exterior surface of the side wall 52. The spring force, which is exerted on the return finger 194 by the spring 196, is overcome by the driving force exerted on the cassette TC01 by the ejection finger 198.

The lead screw 206 continues to rotate so as to drive the ejection finger 198 until the latter closes the contacts of the limit switch 230. As shown in FIG. 16, the contacts of the limit switch are closed by the contact between them and, for example, the lead screw follower 202. It is clear that the contacts of the limit switch 230 are closed when the ejection finger 198 has driven the TC0i cassette enough for it to pass beyond the free end of the valve 178, thus allowing the valve to return to its normal position illustrated in FIG. 17.

The electronic device for controlling the priority unloading (not shown) is controlled by closing the contacts of the limit switch 230 to reverse the supply of the priority drive motor 216. As a result of this reversal, the screw- mother 206 is driven anti-clockwise and the mother screw follower 202, which is pushed by the spring against the mother screw, rotates with the latter so as to rotate the finger of ejection 198, so that the heel 201 thereof passes through the enlarged notch 238. Further rotation of the ejection finger is prevented when the heel 201 comes into contact with the upper edge of the elongated slot 234 in protection 232.

When the lead screw 206 continues at this time to rotate counterclockwise, the follower 202 is moved so as to return to its rest position, that is to say towards the limit switch 228. The cassette TC0i is driven by the return finger 194 so as to move in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 17. It can be seen that a drop 190 is provided between the unloading tray 184 and the priority tank plate 188, so as to prevent further movement to the left of the cassette TC0i. This difference in level is used to position the TC0i cassette in the priority tank 48.

The ejection finger 198 can then be driven until it closes the contacts of the limit switch 228, after which the electronic priority control device cuts the power to the drive motor priority 216. The priority unloading device is then in a condition allowing the next priority cassette to be unloaded, which can be ejected towards the outlet tank 42 in the manner described above.

As best shown in Figures 6, 7 and 18, the recording and reproducing stage 150 is supported by a platinum support plate 152 which, in turn, is supported by a platinum support frame 154, which the latter preferably being made of a flexible material such as ABS plastic or the like. The rear end of the chassis 154 is provided with two protrusions 156 and 158 for supporting suspension elements 160 and 162 which are mounted on the rear part of the plate support plate 152. Thus, the rear part of the plate recording and reproduction is supported so that it can switch to chassis 154.

The front part of the frame 154 ends in a pair of straight ears 164 and 166 which are provided with respective notches 164 and 170. These notches receive the front part of the platinum support plate 152 to support the front part of the recording and reproducing stage 150. As shown in FIG. 18, the ears 164 and 166 can be moved apart manually to release the support plate 152 thus making it possible to lower the recording and reproducing stage, as is illustrated. Generally speaking, this way of lowering the recording and reproducing stage gives access to a cassette which can be locked inside or allows the user to carry out relatively simple maintenance or repairs. of the deck. In the event that a greater overhaul of the plate is necessary, the suspension elements 160 and 162 can be moved away from the protrusions 156 and 158, to allow the plate to be completely removed and removed from the chassis 154.

Although not shown here, it is clear that a flexible connection device suitable for the electronic device, such as a ribbon connector or the like, can be coupled to the rear of the recording and recording deck. reproduction 150, to provide this plate with the power supply and the necessary control and communication signals. This relative electrical connection5

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flexible allows the plate to be removed without damaging the electrical connection to it. From the description given above in relation to the elevator 70, it appears that a cassette is lowered on the recording and reproducing stage 150 by the plate 86 of the elevator 70. For correct functioning of the cassette, in other words to facilitate recording and / or reproduction of messages, it is important that the cassette is correctly placed on the turntable. This means that the cassette must have a correct positioning with respect to the usual drive axes, that is to say to the unwinding and rewinding axes, and with respect to the capstans that the plate typically comprises, and also in relation to the different guide elements, such as guide pins, which may also be present. When using different small cassettes such as micro cassettes or the cassettes described in US Patent No. 4,443,827, the tolerances for placing the cassette in a correct position on the turntable 150 recording and reproduction are very low. Advantageously, a cassette guide is provided on the recording and reproducing deck 150 to facilitate the correct loading and positioning of a cassette on the deck.

FIG. 19 shows a plan view, from above, of a recording and reproducing stage 150 which comprises the axes for driving the usual unwinding and rewinding 350 and 352, which are normally provided on a stage cassettes. A cassette guide device 172 is also shown in FIG. 19, this device being formed of two angular guide ramps, spaced laterally, 354 and 356, a front stop 358 and two rear guide elements 364 and 368. As seen in Figure 20, which is a sectional view along line 20-20 of Figure 19, and also in Figure 21, which is a front view of a cassette guide device 172, this this is preferably in the form of a frame made in one piece and formed in an ABS plastic material, or in another material which can be easily molded. As can be seen in FIG. 21, a guide ramp 354 is provided at the upper part of a branch 355, the latter extending upwards from the base 380 of the cassette guide device. Similarly, a ramp 356 is arranged on a branch 359 which also extends upwards from the base 380 of the cassette guide device. As illustrated in FIG. 20, the branch 359 is provided with a notch 357 for receiving the claw 94 of the holding arm 90 when the elevator 70 lowers a cassette from the deck 86 onto the recording and reproduction deck 150 .

Two guide pins 360 and 362 are oriented upwards from the base 380 and are arranged to be inserted into corresponding holes or openings normally provided, for example, on standard cassettes or micro-cassettes. Matching the guide pins 360 and 362 and the corresponding openings in such cassettes provides proper alignment of the cassette on the recording and reproducing stage. These guide pins are juxtaposed with the axes 350 and 352 and the capstans normally provided on typical recording and reproducing stages.

By making the cassette guide device 172 as a molded unit, that is to say by molding the guide rails 354 and 356, the guide pins 360 and 362 and the base 380, tolerances and appropriate positioning of these members relative to each other are insured. Then, by placing the guide pins 360 and 362 in the places normally provided for such guide pins on typical cassette decks, the whole of the cassette guide 72 is correctly placed or fixed with respect to the axes and the capstans, respecting appropriate tolerances.

As shown in FIG. 19, two rear guide elements 364 and 368 are fixed to the base 380, by means, for example, of screws. In one embodiment, the rear guide elements 364 and 368 are formed from a flexible material, such as spring metal. These rear guide elements are of essentially similar structure and, as shown in FIG. 20, the guide element 364 is represented as an inclined ramp which constitutes the end of an L-shaped member projecting upwards. A bridge-shaped portion 370 can extend between the rear guide elements 364 and 368, as shown in FIG. 19, thus simplifying the stamping and the shaping of the rear guide elements. Of course, if desired, a single rear guide member can be used. Similarly, the guide elements can be made of another flexible material and are not necessarily limited to only spring metal.

During operation, when the stage of the elevator 86 lowers a cassette towards the recording stage 150, one or the other or the two lateral edges of the cassette come into contact with the guide ramps 354 and 356 cassette guide device 172. These guide ramps are used to adjust the position of the cassette on the plate 86, as necessary to align the hubs of the usual reel and reel reels with the reel axes and d rewinding of the turntable.

When the plate continues to lower the cassette onto the plate, the holding arm 90 moves inside the notch 357 of the rising branch 356. The guide openings normally provided in the bottom wall of the cassette receive the guide pins 360 and 362 and thus position the cassette correctly with respect to the drive axes, the capstan and the heads normally provided on the plate.

When the cassette is lowered further, the rear guide members 364 and 368 come into contact with the lower rear edge of the cassette, so as to continue to provide guidance thereto. It is clear that the holding arms 90 and 92 push the cassette in a direction such that it overcomes the spring force exerted on its rear edge by the guide elements 364 and 368. The spring force exerted by these guide elements tends to push the cassette forward so that the front edge thereof comes into contact with the front stop 358. Thus the cassette is loaded in the correct position on the recording and reproducing stage 150 and, from more, the cassette is pushed forward by the spring force exerted on it by the rear guide elements 364 and 368 so as to position the cassette correctly to receive the usual head and the clamping roller in the normal operation d 'recording and reproduction.

As mentioned above, the cassette changing device 20 can be used either in a so-called "device only" configuration or it can be connected in a central dictation installation. When used in a central dictation facility, it may be desirable to record data in the form of a printed recording representing the various messages which have been recorded on the cassettes used by the changer. Typically, multiple dictation stations are selectively connected, that is, only one at a time, to the cassette changer 20 to allow a dictator who is placed at one of these dictation stations. record messages on a tape. As discussed above and as more particularly described in U.S. Patent No. 4,092,679, after a number of different messages have been recorded on a tape or after a number of people have dictated messages on the tape or after a specific length of tape has been used or after a specified period of non-use, after a message has been recorded, the tape will be ejected from the recording deck and reproducing 150 towards the outlet tank 42. As also described above, the cassette which has been ejected into the outlet tank 42 can be conveyed to a priority tank 48, in the case where such a cassette has been designated as priority cassette.

FIG. 22 gives a schematic representation of a dictation station 292 which can be connected to a cassette changer device 20. This dictation station typically comprises a hand-held device 294 comprising a microphone and appropriate dictation controls. The dictation station also includes a console 296 with function selection keys 298, such as

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contact sensitive keys, pushbuttons or the like and also includes station selection keys 300. In case more than one recording device is provided in the central dictation installation, the station selection keys 300 can be operated by the person who dictates to the dictation station 292 to choose a particular recorder to which it is electrically connected. For example, if a recorder is in use, another recorder can be selected for suitable work by means of the station selection keys 300.

By way of example, a dictation station 292 can be similar to the “DICTEL” work station manufactured by Dictaphone Corporation and described for example in US patent application No. 495,796 filed May 18, 1983 The dictation station may include an end of message switch placed either on the hand-held device 294 or as a function selection key 298, and which can be actuated to record on the cassette a signal representing the end of a message. such as the end of a letter. Dictation station 292 may also include a priority selection key which, when pressed, designates the cassette on which messages have been recorded as the priority cassette. Of course, other suitable means can be used to designate a cassette as a priority cassette, such as a monitoring switch which can be actuated only by a supervisor of the central dictation installation so as to differentiate among the different designations of priority cassettes. Other suitable function control keys can be provided, such as keys of the type described in the patent application mentioned above, as well as other keys known to those skilled in the art of dictation.

FIG. 22 also represents, in the form of a block diagram, the electronic device used for controlling a printer 318 for the purpose of producing a recording on paper 320 of data associated with a dictated cassette. Preferably, the electronic device comprises electronic circuits 302 normally contained in the cassette changer and which can take the form of a microcomputer controlled by a microprocessor or the like, the electronic part of the printer 322 also being able to have the form of a microprocessor. In one embodiment, the electronic part 302 of the cassette changer comprises a cassette identification memory 304, a tape counter 308, a dictation person identification memory and a priority memory 314. It is It is clear that these memories can be suitable memory or storage devices such as RAM memories, registers or the like.

The cassette identification memory 304 is arranged to temporarily store signals in digital form, representing the identification of a cassette which has been transported from the input reservoir 28 to the recording and reproducing stage 150 It is recalled that an optical reader 288 is arranged to read the bar identification code, applied to the rear wall of a transported cassette. The optical reader is connected to an electronic circuit to generate a digital signal representing the identity of the transported cassette. This identity is temporarily stored in the cassette identification memory 304, then transmitted to the electronic circuit of the printer 322 to edit a record 320, as will be described.

The tape length counter 308 can be an electronic tape length counter of a type known to those skilled in the art and it is not necessary to describe it further to allow a satisfactory understanding of the embodiment shown in the Figure 22. The tape length counter is arranged to provide a count representing the total tape length that has been used during the dictation of a recorded message. An example of such a tape length counter is described in U.S. Patent No. 4,092,680.

The identification memory of the dictating person is arranged to temporarily store a digital signal representing the identity of the person who records messages on the cassette placed on the recording and reproducing stage 150 of the cassette changer device 20. Such identification can be provided to memory 312 following manual actuation of the function selection keys 298 by the dictating person. According to an alternative embodiment, each time the dictation station 292 addresses the cassette changer device, an identification of the particular dictation station can be automatically transmitted to the identification memory of the person who dictates 312.

The priority memory 314 is arranged to store a signal representing the fact that a cassette, which was lastly ejected from the recording and reproducing deck 150 towards the output magazine 42, is a priority cassette. It is recalled that, according to the preceding description, when a priority cassette has been ejected towards the outlet tank 42, it is then transferred from the outlet tank to the priority tank 48.

The electronic part 322 of the printer, which may include a microprocessor, as mentioned above, is arranged to periodically interrogate the electronic part 322 of the cassette changer to find out whether new data has been entered into the identification memory. tapes or identification of the dictating person or priority memory, or if a used cassette has been replaced by a new cassette. By way of example, the electronic circuit of the cassette changer 302 can be interrogated once every 5 seconds. It is clear that the microprocessor included in the electronic part 322 and the printer can be appropriately programmed to interrogate the electronic part of the cassette changer as mentioned above.

The electronic part of the printer also includes a clock which can be a usual clock giving the time of the day and which produces a digital signal representing the actual time of the day. This clock can for example provide a digital representation of the hours and minutes and, if desired, the date. Alternatively, the microprocessor included in the electronic part of the printer can be programmed to provide or improve clock functions.

The electronic part of the printer 322, and more particularly the microprocessor which forms part thereof, is arranged to arrange the data which have been transmitted to it by the electronic part of the cassette changer 302, according to a determined format. This formatting of the data allows the printing mechanism 324 of the printer 318 to print on paper 320 indications representing the information relating to the messages recorded on a cassette, as will be described. In addition, the electronic part of the printer includes a character generator which is usual in printing devices, printing alpha-numeric characters and the like, a head drive for driving the print head forming part of the mechanism of printer 324 and a paper feed to advance the paper on which the record is printed by the printer mechanism. As an example, the print head can be an ink dot printer, a matrix printer or the like. The paper advancing in the printer 324 may be in the form of a strip of paper with a width of, for example, 50.8 to 76.2 mm and preferably 57.15 mm.

The printer 318 also includes an electronic totalization part 326 which can be produced in the form of a microprocessor and can even be included in the microprocessor program used for the electronic part of the printer 322. The electronic totalization device is arranged to receive from the electronic part of the printer an indication relating to the end of a dictation message, such as an indication produced by the actuation of the end of message switch at the dictation station or at the following the hanging up of the manual device 294. The electronic totalizing device is also adapted to receive the result of the counting of tape lengths produced by the tape counter 308 representing the length of each message. The totalizing device 326 is used to accumulate or add the end of

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message to provide an indication of the number of messages that have been recorded on a given tape. The electronic totalizer also serves to accumulate or add up the total length of tape that has been used in the cassette (for example by summing the individual tape lengths provided for each message by the tape counter 308) and, further, serves to accumulate the total tape length on which priority messages have been recorded. The cumulative number of messages, the tape length and the priority tape length are printed on the paper strip 320 as a summary of the active part of a cassette and these totals are printed when the cassette is ejected from the turntable. 'recording and reproduction.

The operating mode of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 22 will now be described briefly. Suppose that a new cassette is loaded on the recording and reproducing deck 150. When this cassette is transported passing by the optical drive 288, its identity code is read and stored in the cassette identification memory 304. On the next interrogation of the electronic device 302 of the cassette changer, the new cassette identification is transferred to the electronic device of the printer 322, then the mechanism of the printer 324 is actuated to print on the strip of paper 320 the date, the moment when this cassette was loaded (for example the effective time of day) and the identity of this cassette.

When the cassette changer 20 is input by a dictation station 292, the identification of the dictating person, such as a digital identification, is transmitted from the dictation station, for example by pressing the keys 298, to the dictation person identification memory 312. While that person is dictating their message, the tape counter keeps track of the length of that message. If this message consists in conferring a priority status (for example by pressing the priority selection key), a corresponding indication is stored in the priority memory 314. When the message is finished, for example when the end key message was activated at the dictation station 192, or when the handheld device 294 returned to an on-hook state, the identification of the person who dictated, the length of the message that was recorded (e.g. the tape counting), and the priority indication are transferred to the electronic device of the printer 322, in response to the next interrogation of the electronic device of the cassette changer, then this information is printed on the paper strip 320 with the time of day. If desired, the keys 298 can be operated by the dictating person to indicate in digital form the type of message they have recorded (e.g. letter, report, memorandum, etc.) and this indication can be stored in the memory 312 and printed on the paper strip 320 with the above-mentioned data. Likewise, the keys 298 can be actuated to indicate other relevant information relating to the dictated message, such as the subject of a report, the person to whom this message is addressed, etc. For example, in health applications, where the cassette changer is used in a hospital, this information can be the patient identification. This additional information can also be temporarily stored in memory 312 and printed on the paper strip 320 in response to an interrogation following an end of message.

When the dictator at dictation station 292 dictates his next message, the previous data, relating to message length and priority, is stored in the tape counter 308 and in the priority memory 314, as shown below. -above. Since the dictator has not hung up, a new dictator identification code does not need to be sent to the corresponding ID 312. However, information about the type of dictation message and other relevant information mentioned above can be provided by the operating keys 298 and this additional information can be stored in memory 312. When this next message is finished by pressing the end of message key or by on-hook, the length of this message, a priority indication and the end time of this message are printed, as well as the additional information stored in memory 312.

The previous sequence is repeated for each entry of the cassette changer and / or for each new message which is recorded. Thus, a recording is printed which identifies each person who has dictated a message on the cassette, the length of each message, the fact that this message has been given priority, the type of message which has been recorded and the subject ( e.g. patient identification) of this message. When the selected amount of tape has been used (which can be determined by an appropriate counter in the cassette changer) or a determined number of messages has been recorded or the cassette changer entered a determined number of times (also determined by a counter) or that the cassette changer has been out of operation for a specified period of time following the recording of a message (which can be determined by an appropriate timer), the cassette is ejected in the manner described above. This ejection is detected in response to the next interrogation of the electronic device of the cassette changer 302, after which the totalizer 326 actuates the printing mechanism 324 to print a summary of the operation of the ejected cassette, for example the total number of messages that were recorded on this tape, the total tape length that was used, the tape length on which priority messages were recorded and the time of day when this tape was ejected. The printing mechanism 324 is also controlled so as to print the information according to fixed headings such as the dictating person, length, hour, type, total number of messages, total length and priority total length headings. Other headings can be printed if desired and also headings which invite further information, such as who transcribes the tape, when the transcription was made. 'is complete and other relevant information can be printed. Likewise, an identification of the particular cassette changer which was used to record the messages can also be printed.

It is clear that the preceding description of the electronic devices 302 and 308 was simply given by way of example. Other information can be stored, generated or detected by these electronic devices. Likewise, the particular locations where electronic devices and their functional components are located are not limited to the cassette changer and the printer as described above. On the other hand, the printer 318 can be used to print all or part of the information or even information different from that which has been described. The foregoing discussion is intended to simply describe an example of the type of information that is recorded and printed and is not intended to limit this aspect of the present invention only to what has been mentioned.

If the present invention has been shown and described more particularly in connection with a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be quite clear to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made to it. For example, a respective inlet tank, outlet tank and priori-60 tank have been illustrated as vertical tanks for storing vertical stacks of cassettes. Alternatively, such tanks can take the form of horizontal tanks and modifications can be made to accommodate the horizontal movement of a cassette in the apparatus which has been described above. In addition, the use of a locking member 134 can be omitted, even if it seems desirable. In fact, this blocking member advantageously prevents accidental movement of a cassette from the outlet tank, so as to be able to hinder the plate.

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150. Furthermore, it is also clear that modifications and changes in the construction details can be made, if desired.

Advantageously, a single cam 240 is used to coordinate the operations of the pusher arm 60 and the elevator 70, without requiring a separate electronic engine control to perform such coordination.

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The appended claims are to be interpreted as encompassing the preferred embodiment described above, as well as variants and modifications which will be within the reach of those skilled in the art. The terms of the claims are therefore not to be construed as limiting the present invention to only those terms, but are intended to cover equivalents of the disclosed configuration.

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Claims (16)

664640 2 1. A changer apparatus of the type comprising an inlet tank for storing several recording media, an outlet tank for storing recording media on which messages have been recorded by means of a recording deck, a member movable thrust device for removing a recording medium from the input tank, and a receiving device for receiving the recording medium removed from said input tank and placing it on the recording plate to record a message on this medium, said receiving device being operable further to move the recording medium from the recording deck to the outlet tank, characterized by a rotary drive member (240, 252, 262, 268, 270, 272) coupled to the pushing member (60) to drive the latter so as to move a recording medium from said input reservoir to said receiving device, the driving member rotary having a portion (242, 244, 246, 248) which cooperates with a driven member (84) of the receiving device (70, 72, 72, 86, 90, 92) to drive the receiving device so as to move a support d recording from said recording deck to said outlet tank and then for receiving the next recording medium through said pushing member and for placing this recording medium on said recording deck. 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the pushing member is a pusher arm (60) arranged to pivot around a fixed pivot axis (274) and having a groove (284), this arm- pusher being coupled by a pin connection device (270) to said rotary drive member, the pin connection device moving in said groove to drive said pusher arm essentially in a plane corresponding to the withdrawal movement between an initial position in which said pusher arm comes into contact with a recording medium in said inlet tank, and a withdrawal position in which said pusher arm brought the recording medium with which it was in contact to said device receiver and then to return to the initial position during a complete rotation of said rotary drive member, the pusher arm having an angle and being pushed towards said connection device to g orpushes so that, during the return of the pusher arm to said initial position, the pusher arm is placed outside the plane of the withdrawal movement so as not to interfere with said inlet reservoir or the recording medium stored therein -this. 3. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the receiving device is driven by a back-and-forth movement between said recording plate and said outlet tank when said rotary drive member performs a complete rotation, the receiving device being in the form of an elevator (70) comprising a tray (86) for supporting a recording medium, and in that the driven member (84) is coupled to said elevator and arranged to cooperate with said member rotary drive for raising said tray from said recording deck to said outlet tank to move said recording medium from said recording deck to said outlet tank, for lowering said deck to a receiving position to receive the recording medium which has been removed from said inlet tank by said pushing member, and to lower said stage from said receiving position to u to said recording deck. 4. Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the rotary drive member has the shape of a drum (240) and has an irregular surface (242) with a top (244), a bottom part (246 ) and an intermediate part (248), the driven member (84) being a follower element which moves along said irregular surface to raise said plate when said follower element rises towards said summit to lower said plate towards said plate d recording when said follower element descends towards said bottom part, and for placing said plate in said receiving position when said follower element moves towards said intermediate part. 5. Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the elevator comprises at least one holding arm (90, 92) for holding a recording medium on said tray, the holding arm pivoting about an axis (98,100 ) parallel to the direction of movement of said plate and having an inclined surface (95, 97) on a part of the arm which comes into contact with a contact member (106, 108) fixedly disposed on the path of movement of said arm holding when said elevator mounts said tray from said recording deck to said outlet tank, the holding arm thereby pivoting about said axis (98,100). 6. Apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by a motor-driven ejection member (198, 206, 216) movable to transport the last recording medium stored in the output stack to a place spaced from this output stack. 7. Apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that the motor-driven ejection member is formed by a lead screw (206), a lead screw follower (202) for coupling a finger (198) to said lead screw, a bidirectional drive device (216) for driving said lead screw in first and second opposite directions, and a limit switch device (228, 230) for detecting the position of said finger, said bidirectional driving device being controlled to drive said lead screw in said first direction to cause said finger to slide a recording medium with which it comes into contact, out of said output stack and said end switch device stroke (230) detecting when said finger has moved said recording medium to said spaced location to reverse the supply of said bidirectional drive device to drive said lead screw in said second direction so as to bring said finger t to return to said output stack. 8. Apparatus according to one of claims 6 or 7, characterized by a lifting member (178, 198) disposed near the output stack (48) in contact with the recording medium which is transported laterally to this output stack for lifting the recording media then stored in said output stack, after which said laterally transported recording medium is placed as the lowest support in said output stack. 9. Apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that the lifting member comprises a pivoting valve (178) and the outlet stack (48) comprises an inlet (68) through which a recording medium transported laterally passes, said pivoting flap being placed in the vicinity of said inlet and able to pivot from a first position (FIG. 8) which blocks said inlet, towards a second position (FIG. 15) in which the recording media then stored in said outlet stack are lifted , the laterally transported recording medium being inserted far enough into said outlet stack to allow said flap to return to its first position (FIG. 17), the laterally transported recording medium being pushed by a spring (194) into the stack output to a determined location to form the lowest recording medium in said output stack. 10. Apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized by a plate support (152, 154) for supporting said recording plate in an operating position located below said transport path by comprising a pivoting support (156 , 158, 160, 162) to support one end of said recording deck and a releasable support (164, 166, 168, 170) to support the opposite end of said recording deck and capable of being released to allow said record deck to rotate to a non-operating position and thereby allow the operator to access it. 11. Apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that the pivoting support comprises a frame (154), two protrusions (156, 158) on this frame, and two suspension elements (160, 162) on said plate, each of the elements of suspension being supported 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 3 664,640 by a corresponding protuberance of said protuberances, and in that the releasable support comprises two spaced flexible ears (164,166) on said chassis, biased towards each other, and a support plate (152) on which the recording plate is mounted, this support plate being supported by said spaced apart ears and being released from these ears when the latter are separated in opposite directions. 12. Apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized by two angular guide ramps spaced laterally (354, 358) to come into contact respectively with one or the other or both of the side edges spaced from said cartridge when the latter is lowered on said plate, a front stop (358) to come into contact with a front edge of said cartridge, and at least one rear guide element (364, 368) to come into contact with a rear edge of said cartridge, this cartridge thus being guided to a position of alignment with the operating members of said plate. 13. Apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that said spaced angular guide ramps and said front stop form a unitary structure, and in that two projecting guide pins (360, 362), forming a unitary structure with said ramps guide, and said front stop are arranged to correspond to guide openings provided in said cartridge. 14. Apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized by an optical reader (288) for reading the identification indications on the recording medium which is transported from the input stack to said recording deck, an identification memory (304) receiving the identification indications read by said optical reader to memorize the identity of the recording medium which is transported to said recording deck from said input stack, a message counter ( 326) to count the number of dictated messages which are recorded on the recording medium transported to said recording deck, a register of message lengths (308, 326) to record the total length of the dictated messages which are recorded on the recording medium mentioned last, a clock (322) for supplying the time of day information, and a printer (318, 324) controlled by the transport of said recording medium last mentioned from said recording deck to said output stack to provide a printed record of the identity of the last mentioned recording medium, the number and total length of dictated messages which are recorded on this medium recording time and the time of day when the last mentioned recording medium was transported from said recording deck to said output stack. 15. Apparatus according to claim 14, characterized by a priority indicator (314) for indicating that a particular message is a priority message, the printer being controlled by the priority indicator to provide on said printed record an indication relating to the priority designation of said message. 16. Apparatus according to claim 14, characterized by a memory concerning the identity of the person who dictates (312) for receiving the identification information representing the identity of the person who dictates a message on the recording medium, and by an end of message indicator (294, 322), to indicate the end of the recording of a message, the printer being activated when a message has ended to print the identity of the person who dictated this message and the length of this message.