GB1181423A - Apparatus for the Consecutive or Selective Playback of Tapes containing Data Stored in a Number of Cassettes - Google Patents

Abstract

1,181,423. Feeding record tapes. STAAR S.A. 18 Sept., 1967 [15 June, 1967], No. 42393/67. Heading G5R. A plurality of tapes contained in cassettes 10 may be consecutively or selectively played back by apparatus 2 located below a horizontally movable bottomless magazine 6 divided into compartments 9 each of which may contain a cassette 10 standing on edge, horizontal movement of the magazine 6 being effective to bring each compartment in turn into alignment with vertical guides 170 so that the associated cassette may be released from the magazine 6 and descend, at first under gravity and subsequently under the action of elements which gradually become operative during the gravity-assisted descent, to an operative playback position in the apparatus 2. As shown, the magazine 6 moves in grooves 5 in a horizontal frame 3 while the cassettes 10 slide on rails 11 mounted on a base-plate 4. Withdrawal of a retaining rod (13) pivoted on the magazine 6 allows that cassette which is located above a slot 12 to fall into the guides 170, carrying with it in its descent first a slider 18 and then two tubes 178 in which are slidable two rods 177 secured to a movable plate 102 which, by virtue of parallel links 128, moves towards the cassette as it descends and inserts a capstan 112<SP>1</SP> and spindles 123, 194 into the cassette which comes to rest with the tape in engagement with a playback head 188, the cassette being latched in the operative position by a spring member 106. The sequence of operations is controlled by push-buttons (209, 210, 215), by gear-wheels (22 to 26) and cams driven by an electric motor 20, by a device which detects as described in Specification 1,122,041, the cessation of rotation of spindle 194 when all the tape has been wound off the supply reel of the operative cassette and initiates the raising of this cassette into the magazine and the stepping-on of the magazine to the next position under the control of a triangular latching member (91), and by a linkage (205) operated by the magazine 6 in its extreme position. If, due to misalignment, a descending cassette 10 is not penetrated by the drive mechanism carried by the moving plate 102, the operating cycle is modified so that the cassette is immediately raised into the magazine. This retraction of the operative cassette may be initiated also at any time by means of a push-button. In a modified construction (Figs. 31 and 32), the magazine is circular and rotatable, with the cassettes arranged radially and the retractable retaining rod (13) replaced by a slidable member (13<SP>1</SP>) disposed on the frame instead of on the magazine.