DE3117508A1 - Mini cassette apparatus for combination operation with a car radio - Google Patents

Abstract

In a cassette changer, operating with mini cassettes (microcassettes) and possibly installed in a car radio, the individual cassettes are transported by a circulating mechanism (carousel), accommodated in a removable magazine, and an associated guide link one after the other to the drive, onto which they are placed in a swinging movement for the playback operation. <IMAGE>

Description

Small cassette device

for combined operation with a car radio The invention relates on a small cassette device according to the preamble of claim 1.

Cassette devices commonly used today for combination operation with car radios or corresponding cassette parts work in combined car radio cassette devices with so-called tape cassettes also known as CC or compact cassettes.

These cassettes have a standardized Eauart cassette housing Size with two tape reels lying next to each other for a tape with two in the longitudinal direction of the tape adjacent recording tracks.

The total playing time of such a cassette depends on the version and tape length at 60 or 90 minutes Autoreverse drives after playing a band tour at the end of the tape, it automatically switches to the other band tour toggle, you avoid the otherwise nobwenoige after half the total playing time Turn the cassette.

However, the limited playing time requires longer car journeys a manual change of a played cassette for a new cassette according to the guideline this change and the search for the new cassette becomes frequent while driving made by the driver himself and leads through the associated distraction from Traffic conditions increase the risk of accidents.

Through commitment. of cassette players with longer playing times without manual Changing the cassette could reduce this risk and the safety of the driver or the vehicle occupants are increased, starting from this, the invention lies the task underlying a simple and limited in terms of because of the Installation space in motor vehicles limited dimensions of car radio housings compact built-in cassette device or one for integrated installation in car radio housing To create gee-ignetzes cash register drive with a comparably small space requirement one compared to conventional cassette devices or drives for combination operation With Åutoradios, a significantly longer playing time is possible without having to change the cassette manually.

This object is achieved by the invention characterized in claim 1 solved. The subclaims contain advantageous configurations and developments the Erfit # ~ ino. The invention is based on the basic idea, instead of aer so far Usual compact cassettes now use small cassettes S, also known as so-called Micro or mini casjettes are known and to an increasing extent be used for dictation machines. Such small cassettes take on one opposite Compact cassettes each about halved edge length and one reduced by 1/3 The thickness or height of the cassette is only about 1/4 of the surface or about 1/5 of the volume of the room a compact cassette. Despite these small dimensions, these small cassettes with the corresponding tape speed of the also carrying two recording tracks Tapes have the same total playing time of 2 x 30 resp.

2 x 45 min. As achieved with compact cassettes. A multiplication the playing time without manual cassette change is according to the invention with the help a magazine with built-in changing device for a number of preferably four small cassettes realized. This changing device is preferably after Kind of a horizontally arranged, above the board level of the existing in the device Drive-reaching paternosters formed, the drive for the in the Magazine contained circulation guide of the cassettes on the outside of the in the device inserted magazine is coupled. For lowering the cassette from the Paternoster guide on the drive, the playback process and the moving back of the If the cassette is in the guide, the paternoster circulation is interrupted.

To drive the paternoster, for example, a gearwheel or worm gear, e.g. 8. Electromagnetic or electromechanical, to the flywheel or a ring gear of the flywheel of the drive can be coupled to the paternoster to drive during the time in which the drive is not required for the tape drive will. Since small cassettes designed for a centrally arranged Tonwelienantrieb are, the device according to the invention has a reverse drive for auto reverse operation with one in the middle Arranged, reversible capstan and two on sound heads arranged on opposite sides of the capstan, depending on the direction of travel of the tape for the playback process with the help of a head support plate through openings the cassette face can throw moving towards the tape.

uie use of two sound heads is particularly important in the case of a stereo recorder Distribute because it eliminates spawn angle errors and better crosstalk attenuation enables.

Basically, the structure corresponds to that used in the invention Drive is a drive already known for use in dictation machines, the for use in the invention with a reversible in the direction of rotation, especially is equipped with a smoothly running engine. To have good synchronization properties too can achieve the drive system according to the invention compared to known dictation machine drives for example with a larger flywheel, precision drive belts for the Power transmission, precision bearings for the rotating parts such as winding cores, intermediate gears etc. are equipped.

With such a modified drive, at a tape drive speed from Z. 8. 2.4 cm / s with one for four small cassettes, each with a playing time of 90 minutes a total playing time of 6 hours can be achieved before a program repeat takes place.

The playing time achieved with the invention is also sufficient for longer ones Trips off, a cassette change while driving and the associated safety risk to avoid. It is completely sufficient to use the changer magazine during a break in the journey to be exchanged or to be equipped with new cassettes.

cheerful advantages and features of the invention emerge from the following Description and the drawing, in which the invention is based on a preferred Exemplary embodiment is explained and shown. They show: Ti. 1 a simplified, diagrammatic view of a small tape cassette used according to the invention, rig. 2 shows a schematically greatly simplified, sectional side view of the cassette part a combined car radio cassette device to illustrate the assignment of cassette drive and magazine changer, FIG. 3 shows a front view of a device according to FIG. 2 to illustrate the arrangement of the controls, rlg. 4th in a again greatly simplified, partially broken away, sectioned view of a device according to FIGS. 2 and 3, a plan view of the assignment of foliage and magazine changer of the cassette part, Fig. 5 a broken away, left of that in Figs. 2 and 4 the back of the device, again greatly simplified and partially cut View of the assignment of drive and magazine changer and FIG. 6 partially sectioned, schematically simplified to 9 side and top views of essential parts of a changer magazine according to the invention corresponding to the overall arrangement shown in FIG.

r i9. 1 shows a housing 10 of a small audio tape cassette of the dictation machines Commercially available design with the housing openings that are of interest for the following description 12 cis 32.

With the two tape reels lying next to each other with axially parallel axes through openings 12 and 14 in alignment and perpendicular to the cassette base surface Drive hubs of the drive can dip into the inner pinions of the tape reels, between which the tape attached to it with its ends revolves depending on the drive direction.

The one located in the middle behind the cassette front wall, to the tape reels axially parallel through opening 16 is used to accommodate the capstan of the centrally arranged Leufwerk drive.

The others, distributed according to the drawing, to the cassette base vertical through openings 18 to 22 serve as so-called reference holes for If necessary, take up guide pins protruding from the top of the drive board.

In the cassette end wall there is a central opening 24 for receiving it left out of the movable rubber pressure roller of the capstan drive. Mirror symmetrical on both sides of this central opening 24 are end wall openings 26 and 28 zyr Recording of the tape heads that can be moved on the head support plates and to the side of them lying recesses 30 and 32, which in dictation machines for receiving an erase head to serve.

The views shown in Fig. 2 to 4 of a kouninierten car radio small cassette device 36 illustrates; one other room layout in the common Car radio case 38, in which a device designed according to the invention as a small cassette changer Cassette part 40 is essentially next to a space 42 for the radio part.

The cassette part consists essentially of a firm end in the rear part of the common housing 38; arranged essentially according to FIGS. 2, 4, 5 Autoreverse drive 44 and a cartridge changing device 4 #, which are in one housed in Fig. 2 by a dashed outline 4S indicated magazine and designed, for example, for four small cassettes numbered 1 to 4 in FIG. 2 is.

The changing magazine 46, 48 designed as a slide-in unit can pass through an opening 52 in the front of the device that can be closed with a flap 50, for example it is pushed into a slot of the cassette part 40 leading to the drive 44 and releasably locked by the closed flap 50 and / or a latching mechanism will.

In the flap 50 of the magazine well, see also Fig. 3, Controls, such as pushbuttons, toggle switches or the like, housed be. Ribbon cables can be used to make the necessary connections the flap hinge can be led to the drive or to its control circuit.

The box-like magazine housing 48 of the changing device essentially has two parallel, firmly connected side walls and a cutout on the underside at the front in the direction of insertion 56, see FIG. 2, with which the magazine housing, which is open at the bottom at least in this area when inserting the magazine into the magazine slot via the fixed position Drive board 58 is pushed.

As already mentioned, the drive 44 is an autoreverse drive with a motor 60 arranged to the side of the magazine insertion slot as shown in FIG. 4 Direction of rotation changeover. The motor 60 is connected via a conventional belt transmission 62 Capstan flywheel 64 coupled to the capstan drive of the drive, the according to the usual design of the small cassettes used here, one in the middle arranged sound or capstan shaft 66 and one for the tape drive pivotable Rubber pressure roller 68 has.

Separate tape heads 70 for the opposite directions of tape travel and 72 are arranged mirror-symmetrically to the capstan, so that they are depending on the tape running direction can dip into the cassette openings 26 and 28, respectively.

Similar to compact cassettes, there is a behind the on the cassette face along guided tape in the cassette case behind the windows 26 and 28 a spring seated pressure pad for the necessary tape pressure.

The audio heads 70, 72 each sit on a head support plate 74 or 76, which are used to execute the controlled depending on the direction of tape travel Sound head movement is guided displaceably in the barrel plate.

According to FIG. 4, the housings of the audio heads 70, 74 m-t one On the capstan side, tape guides protrude slightly above the face of the magnetic heads be trained.

On the opposite side of the head, l <orlen on the head support plates additional tape guides 82 and 84 may be attached, which are attached to the H-ranführan of the respective Head on the cassette tape in the window 30 or 32 of the cassette housing immerse.

A lever mechanism indicated by 86 for applying the rubber pressure roller 68 to the capstan 66 ensures that the rubber pressure roller depending on the direction of travel of the tape laterally slightly offset with the capstan is brought into contact to in both Direction of travel a sufficient belt wrap or belt contact with the capstan to reach.

Otherwise, the structure corresponds to the above in its essentials Parts of the explained autoreverse drive 44 about the one for compact cassette devices known drive constructions, so that an explanation of further details is dispensable.

In addition to FIGS. 2 and 4, for a more detailed explanation of the structure and the Function of the changing device 46, which forms the core of the invention, on the remaining Reference is made to the drawing figures which, in FIGS. 6 and 8, correspond to the representations in FIG. 2 and 4 corresponding, enlarged and supplemented sections of the invention Show changing device.

For the sake of simplicity, a section in FIG. 8 is broken away only one of the side walls indicated by an outline as in FIG. 2 also in FIG. 6 48 shown partially in section.

The two parallel opposite side walls 48 of the magazine can e.g. 8. at the corner points 86 to 92 indicated in FIG. 6 through perpendicular to the side wall surfaces 48 arranged connecting rods or the like be connected.

In the area of the solid sections of the outline in FIG the The magazine can also have side walls 48 by means of one lying on the right according to FIGS End wall, as well as an upper and a lower wall to form a box-shaped closed Magazine housing supplemented. In the area of the dash-dotted sections in FIG the outline of the side walls 48; H. so on the one on the left in the drawing End and underside of the cut-out that is close to the floor and can be slid over the drive 58 the magazine housing is open.

This opening or openings on the left side of the Eride and the adjoining The bottom section of the magazine can be used if necessary.

when removing the magazine from the magazine slot of the device by means of separate flaps, preferably for the opening on the end and the underside or blinds or

Blinds are covered.

A shutter of the lower opening can for example be arranged in this way be that it is automatically pushed back when the magazine is inserted into the magazine slot to reveal the lower opening at 58 above the drive board. The opening at the rear end indicated by 94 in FIG. 6 serves as access for loading the magazine, d. H. so for exchanging or inserting cassettes. The loading of the magazine can be made even easier with such a design that also an opening indicated for example by the line 96 in the top of the magazine box, which is then through an angled, the opening of the end aite 94 and the top 96 covering flap is covered or

can be released.

If necessary, the entire upper side of the magazine can also be made accessible and covered by a flap that is extended accordingly, although the route 96 is also extended will.

The changing device 46 accommodated in the magazine housing 48 has z. B. four cassette holders 100 to 106 for receiving a small cassette each 1-4, see FIG. 6 and in connection with FIGS. 2 and 4.

The circulation mechanism, the essential parts of which are in recesses of the opposite side walls of the magazine box 48 are housed, see in particular Fig. 8, consists essentially of two, preferably designed as toothed disks Deflection wheels 110 and 112, around which a drive belt, preferably designed as a toothed belt 114 is led around with horizontally parallel upper and lower reaches.

Another essential part of the diverting mechanism is a starting from the deflecting wheel 110 located at the rear in the installed position, through a recessed one Groove 116, see FIG. 8, link guide formed in the side wall of the magazine housing 48 with an aligned with the upper running plane of the drive belt 114 tangential of the pulley 110 starting section all, a rounded curved deflection section 120 and an adjoining, angled downwards, below the Section 118 lying section 122 and one at the lower end of a further arcuate section 124 tangential to the lower peripheral section of the belt pulley 110 returned, aligned with the lower run of the drive belt 114 #. I: Horizontal section 126. From the inclined section above the drive 122 of the guide curve shows a guide channel tapering downward in the shape of a circular arc 128 from, which is just above the horizontal boundary of the cutout 58 or the When the magazine is inserted, the top of the drive ends there.

One of the pivots 130 or 132 rotatable in the Side wall of the magazine housing 48 mounted pulleys 110, 112, can in the above already explained way with a drive arranged outside the magazine housing, for example the one not required during the transport of the cassette with the paternoster Runner drive can be coupled.

The same trained and in the same way with the circulation mechanism and cassette holders 100 to 106 coupled to the associated guide link exist in each case, as is explained using the example of the holder 100 in FIGS. 6 and 8, from an approximately pocket-shaped receiving part 120 for an insertable cassette and one preferably integrally connected to the bottom rear side of the receiving part 130 fork-like or bracket-like mounting part 132 with two side panels parallel to each other Fork arms 134 and 136, in the direction of insertion of the cassette and the back of the bath of the receiving part 130 protrude.

From the opposite, lateral outer walls of the receiving part 130 protruding guide pins 138 or 140 and at the free ends of the fork arm 134, 136 seated, also laterally protruding bearing bushes or eyes 142 or 144 are on the narrow sides of the respective brackets 100 to 108 in one to their main direction of movement or the direction of insertion of the cassettes pa: all level, .preferably halfway between the top and bottom of the brackets.

Eyes 142 and 144 are used to articulate the brackets 100 to 106 with the drive belt 114, in which for this purpose transverse to the running direction rstahends pins 146 sit, see Fig. 8 below, which are in the bearing eyes 142 or 144 immerse.

üle guide pins 138 and 140 are used when the paternoster rotates for guiding the pivotable about the connection axis with the drive belt 114 Part of the cassette holder and are for this purpose depending on the rotational position of the rotating paternoster with the toothed disk 110 or the ut 114 of the guide link 118 to 120 engaged. According to FIG. 3, the tensioning disk 110 has on the the aoazinehousing side has a slightly widened diameter in a step-like manner Toothed ring 110A with the same tooth pitch, the tooth gaps of which the guide pin 140 record his eo outside the guide curve. The slightly enlarged in diameter Toothed ring 11OA ensures perfect engagement with the guide pin 140 and also forms a safeguard against slipping of the toothed belt 114 from Sprocket 110. A slipping of the toothed belt on the opposite side of the Toothed rim 110 is formed by a radially protruding flange disk seated on the toothed rim 1108 prevented. The drive belt can be attached to the toothed pulley 112 by means of corresponding Bordach windows or the like are secured, see also FIG. 7.

Furthermore, in the embodiment shown, there are also measures for Securing the position of the small cassettes inserted in the brackets and for securing of the tape reels or tape laps are hit against the formation of loops, see FIG. 8.

For example, to secure the position of the cassette in the drive facing away top of the pocket-like cassette receiving part 130 a centrally arranged, one possibly with an integrally formed latching nose a little down into the cassette receiving space the holder protruding latching tongue or spring tab 148 is present, which when inserted automatically retreats into a cassette and into the rear reference hole 22 of the thus secured cassette falls.

A vertical play of the cassette in the holder can be achieved by spring tongues prevented something from at least one of the opposite, horizontal Inside walls of the receiving pocket 130 protrude and on an inserted cassette fed nd rest.

The thin, pliable band makes in particular with metal or. Pure iron strips equipped microcassettes are particularly susceptible to a Looping. To secure the winding, therefore, one according to FIGS. 7 and 8 at 150 securing flap pivotably hinged to the swivel bracket of the cassette holder 100 152 be attached, in the area of its leading edge perpendicular to the flap plane downwardly protruding, in the embodiment shown, parallel to the pivot axis 150 lying tabs 154, 156, which are used to secure the tape winding in the inner pinion of the reels immerse when the flap during the rotation of the paternoster is swiveled towards the bracket.

The tape reels or their inner pinions are in the holders 100 up to 106 freely accessible. The upper and lower horizontal walls of the receiving part 130 are cut out in an approximately C-shape for this purpose.

According to the above description, the drive and guide elements of the paternoster of the lilechal device 46 with the exception of the one on the outside of the magazine The motor to be coupled is mirrored in the same way in the one facing each other Inner surfaces of the side walls of the magazine 48 are provided.

In the case of a modified version, however, it is sufficient to be the clearest from Fig. 6 apparent arrangement only in one, z. 8. that shown in Fig. 8 below Provide side wall, while in the other, not shown in Fig. 8 side wall an arrangement that is essentially again mirror-symmetrical according to FIG. 9 simplified may be present.

In Fig. 9, the same or corresponding parts are the same Reference numerals as used in FIG. 6. Instead of the pulley 112 and drive belt 114 is an extension of the guide slot, which essentially corresponds to FIG. 6 118 to 126 provided. The guide sections 118 and 126 are lengthened and by a corresponding to the radius of the belt pulley 112 saved as a result arc section 160 guided around the axis of rotation 132 of this wheel to form a closed Guide curve connected.

A corresponding to the indexing disk IIOA, see FIG. 8, arranged and dimensioned rotatable about an axis 166 in this Maaazin side wall Toothed disk 168 forms with the respective radially opposite link sections further guide sections 168 to 174 for the guide elements immersed in this backdrop, d. H.

with reference to FIG. 8 for the guide pin 138 and the same Bearing bush 142 acting as a guide pin. 42.

The orbital movement of the changing device according to the invention with the paternoster 46 moving microcassettes 1 to 4 can be seen from FIGS. 2 and 6, in which also the drive direction of the Psternoster is indicated by arrows.

* 'Uie can be shown most clearly on the basis of FIG. 9, move the respective hinge points 142 and 144 are on the path through the guide sections 172, 162, 164, 160, 168 and 174 illustrated trajectory, namely according to FIG. 6 together with the drive belt 114 revolving on this trajectory. The guide pins 138 move on the through the guide sections 118 to 126, 17%, 170 unc 168 illustrated trajectory, specifically in the embodiments according to FIGS. / And 9 on sections 172, 170 and 168 in engagement with toothed lock washer 110A. The on the rest of their orbital path from the paternoster horizontally and parallel to themselves Cassettes are, as indicated in Fig. 2, inclined when the hinge point 144, 146 on the circumference of the pulley 110, 110A or the guide point 142 on the Path curve 174 is moved downwards, while the guide pins 138, 140 the deflection section 120 run through the guide curve.

In this inclined position, the holder with the cassette is then moved on, until the hinge point 142 or 144, 145 the position shown in Fig. 6 on the circumference the toothed disk 110 is reached. The respective cassette holder is then in this position with the help of a lever mechanism controlled by the drive, for example one previously proposed scissor lift with gripper arms in one through the in the curved guide channel 128 entering guide pins 138, 140 guided pivoting movement placed on the drive board and comes with the protruding from the board Drive parts and reference pins in engagement.

The flap 152, which is present for locking the winding, is thereby activated by means of one protruding from a magazine wall, fixed stop and / or through the the locking tabs 154 in #er in i. 6 shown, the winding rotation releasing pivot Igc retracted.

Subsequently, the creation of the for the #### urgent [3andlaufrichtunq responsible sound head and the rubber pressure roller by means of one for autoreverse drives known control device. After playing the cessette, the described Steps in reverse order to the holder with the cassette back into its inclined position in the guide section 122.

The paternoster drive is always in the manner described above Drive position of a bracket and can, if this to increase the Operational safety is desired with the help of one with one of the timing belt pulleys 110 or 112 cooperating ratchet mechanism of known type locked and released again for the approach of the next cassette holder. In addition, there is an identifier and display of the drive position in each case Cassette possible, whereby the detection, for example, with the help of grinding brushes, Optical elements or the like can be realized.

With automatic operation of the cassette changer explained above all cassettes are played one after the other. With a push of a button actuatable electrical control can be ensured that instead of a the next cassette is pulled into the playback position. In addition to the cassette number being played, the display panel of the device title page, tape running direction, tape position and the like are also displayed, where a timer circuit already known for autoreverse drives also performs the function a tape counter can take over.

When using known micro-cassettes with metal tape respectively. Pure iron tape and tinyatz eberifalls well-known stereo sound heads is also with Kleistkasseten the @@@@@@@@@@@@@ declining playback quality possible, like in the meantime be-Karit show now small boilers without change @ mechanismuss.

Blank page

Claims (8)

Claims @@@@@ lein cassette device for combination operation with one car radio, especially for installation integrated into a car radio, mic one Drive for sound shaft drive, characterized by an autoreverse drive (44) and a cartridge changing device (46) extending substantially from one of the eyes drivable, in a magazine housing (4 #) housed circulation mechanism for brackets (100 to 106) coupled therewith for receiving releasably locked inserted ones Small cassettes (1 to 4, 10). 2. Small cassette device according to claim 1, characterized in that the cassette holders (100 to 106) of the changing device (46) in the garage opposite Seitentjanden can be locked in a slot in the device housing (36, 38) Magazine housing out (116 to 126, 140) and with a to a drivable and a freely rotatable deflection wheel in parallel, horizontal upper Endless drive means (114) guided around undercuts are articulated are (142, 144, 146). 3. Small cassette device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that that the drive wheels as toothed disks (110, 112) and the drive means as toothed belts (114) is executed, of which in the same paragraph @@@@@ the transverse to the direction of rotation protruding pins (1L, j) in a bearing eyes (142, 144) at one end portion which consists of a receiving part (130) and a fork-like retaining bracket (132, 134, 136) existing brackets (100 to 102) are in pivoting engagement, and that in one Morizontal plane with distance and at the free ends of fork arms 134, 136 of the mounting part (132) seated, aligned bearing eyes guide pins 138, 140, likewise aligned from #, from the receiving part (130j the brackets protrude to the side and slide with agitation curves (116 to 126) are in engagement, which are aligned with the upper running plane of the toothed belt (114 tangential starting from a toothed disk (110) (11a) and over a rounded deflection section (120) and a subsequent, downwardly angled trim (122) as well as a further arcuate section (124) and a tangentially aligned, short end section to the lower running plane of the drive belt tangential to the pulley (110) are returned, and of which in the one above the drive (44) Inclined section (122) concentric to the hinge axis (142, 144, 146) of the holder (100 to 106) with the drive belt (114) pointing downwards in a circular arc Guide section (128) branches off, over which a cassette seated in the holder for playing by means of a lifting mechanism controllable from the drive in a pivoting movement can be lowered onto the drive parts of the drive. 4. Small cassette device according to claim 3, characterized in that the mirror-symmetrical opposite in the side walls of the magazine housing (48) Guide parts of the circulation mechanism of the changing device (46) in the same way are arranged and designed. 5. leinkssettsngerät according to claim 3, characterized in that in a side wall the guide means of the deflection mechanism of the changing device (46) in the other side wall is essentially mirror-symmetrical opposite, simplified guide means are present, the guide curve (116 to 126) through further curve sections (160 to 164) to a closed one Guide link are supplemented, the other by a rotatably mounted tooth lock washer (11OA) and opposite gate walls formed curve sections 168 to 174 having. 6. Small cassette device according to one or more of the preceding Claims, characterized in that the bracket-like bracket part (136) and a substantially C-shaped cut-out receiving part (130) essentially U-shaped slide-in profile existing brackets (1QO to 106) carry a swivel bracket (152) with locking tabs (154) which are in the playback position automatically withdraw from the inner pinions of the tape reels of a cassette. 7. Small cassette device according to one or more of the preceding Claims, characterized in that the cassette holders (100 to 106) a automatically resiliently engaging in the rear reference hole of an inserted cassette Has tongue or tab. 8. Small cassette device according to one or more of the preceding Claims, characterized in that the drawer-like in one by a flap lockable insertion shaft (40) of the device housing (36, 38) insertable, box-shaped magazine housing (48) in the area of its loading opening at the end (94) and its bottom opening (58) for the storage of the removed magazine through preferably separate flaps or blinds can be covered.