GB2027973A - Receiving and ejecting a tape- recorder cassette in two steps - Google Patents

Abstract

When a cassette is fully inserted in the recorder actuation of the push-key actuator 72 actuates anti-clockwise movement of ejection lever 20c to push the cassette C past the tooth 84 of the braking lever 80 which is biassed against the edge of the cassette by spring 93. Ejection of cassette C is braked by its engagement with the tooth 83 so that complete ejection of the cassette C is prevented, only a small portion of the cassette extending out of the housing. Complete ejection of the cassette C is achieved by pushing it slightly inwardly, the motion causing bistable pin 94 to snap into its alternative stable position which frees lever 20 to continue to rotate under the bias of spring 90 and thus eject the cassette. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Device for receiving and ejecting the cassette in two steps and intended to be used in cassette tape recorders This invention refers to a device intended to be used in cassette tape recorders and, more particularly, in the recorders associated to car radio sets.

In use of such recorders it may happen that the playback of a cassette must be stopped and then started again, for instance for listening to the radio news, speaking to the passengers or any other reasons.

In most of the recorders of this type used at present, upon stopping the cassette playback either the cassette as a whole or a considerable part thereof is ejected from the device.

This is a drawback when either the ejection of the cassette is undesirable, as mentioned above, or the tuning range of the associated car radio set is concealed by the part of the cassette protruding outwardly from the device.

The device according to the invention, of complemtely new concept and construction, allows the cassette playback to be stopped causing the cassette to be disengaged from the mechanical and electronical means for the movement and playing back thereof and causing the cassette to be left inside the tape recorder with only a short part thereof protrud-.

ing from the introduction and ejection opening.

This device is loaded by the introduction of the cassette for the playback and it gives back the energy sostored for performing firstly a partial ejection and then a complete ejection of the cassette from the tape recorder.

Furthermore, the device comprises elastic braking means acting on the cassette to assure the stopping thereof in the desired position during the ejection step.

The invention will be now described in detail with reference to the annexed drawings, wherein: Figures lA- 10 show each a perspective top view or side view (when convenient) of the elements forming the device according to the invention; Figure 2 is a side elevation view of the device when assembled and it shows the respective positions of the elements of Figures lA-1Q.

Figure 3 is a top view of the device when assembled in the position for the introduction or complete ejection of the cassette (inoperative position); Figure 3A and 38 are views corresponding responding to Figure 3, some elements being omitted for purposes of illustration; Figure 4 is a similar view of the device when a cassette is being introduced thereinto; Figure Sis a similar view of the device with the cassette completely introduced; Figures 5A and 5B are details corresponding to the view shown in Figure 5, but with parts cutaway and elements omitted for purposes of illustration; Figures 6 and 6A are similar top views of the device when the cassette ejection is being started and when the cassette is stopped in the intermediate position, respectively;; Figures 6B and 6C are details corresponding to Figures 6 and 6A, with parts cut-away and elements omitted for purposes of illustration; Figure 7 is an exploded view of a further embodi ment of the cassette braking means; Figures 7A and 7B are top views of the braking means of Figure 7 in two different conditions.

Particularly with reference to Figures 1 A-1 Q, the device according to the invention substantially com prises: a basic housing 10 forming a part of the tape recorder body; a loading and ejection lever 20; a first pivoting member 30; a second pivoting member 40; an L-shaped member 50; a conditioning lever 60; a sliding push-key actuator 70; and, a braking lever 80.

The elements forming the device according to the invention will be now described in detail to simplify the description of the device and the operation thereof.

Housing 10, integral with the recorder body, essentially comprises a rear wall 1 OA, a front wall 10B, a bottom wall 10C (Figure 1A) and a sidewall 1 OD, the other side wall being omitted.

Rear wall 10A has integral therewith a first and second drilled ears 11 A and 11 B, respectively, a tab 12 provided with a bushing 13 and a short pin 14 and a third drilled ear 1 1C located at the right end of rear wall 10A.

Front wall 10B has a T-shaped slot 16, a drilled ear 16Aand an opening Al.

Bottom wall 10C has integral therewith a first pin 18 having an end groove 18A and a second pin 19 comprising a bottom embossing 19B and a groove 19A at the free end thereof.

Side wall 1 OD has an ear 11 D and an elongated window 11 E.

Loading and ejection lever 20 (Figures 1 B and 10) has an enlarged pivoted portion 20A, a lever arm having a first length 20B at the same level as portion 20A and a second length 20C raised in respect thereto having a crank provided with an arcuated end.

Enlarged portion 20A has an arcuated slot 21, a -radial slot 22 and a triangle-shaped extension 23 having a first and a second edges 23A and 23B.

Furthermore, enlarged portion 20A has integral therewith slower bushing 24 and a tab 25 downwardly bent at right angle and having a triangular notch 26. Finally, enlarged portion 20A has integral therewith an upper pin 27 located on one side of radial slot 22 and presenting a groove 27A.

First pivoting member 30 (Figures 1D and 1 E) is slightly hook-shaped and it comprises: a body 31, a notch 32, a slot 33, a downwardly directed bushing 34, a downwardly directed pin 35 and an upwardly directed pin 36 presenting a groove 36A.

Furthermore, member 30 has an edge 37 located between pins 35 and 36 and presenting a hook 37A.

A second pivoting member 40 (Figures 1F and 1 G) comprises a body having a substantially rectangular shape and comprising a roller 42 pivotally mounted on triangular portion 41 and a short pin 43 arranged on onesidethereof.

On its other side member 40 has a bushing 44, a first tab 45, a second tab 46 and a third longer tab 47.

L-shaped member 50 (Figures 1H and 1J) has a long arm 51 and a short arm 52. Long arm 51 has a circular opening 53 on one end, a circular opening 53 on the other end and a longitudinal slot 55 ending in circular opening 54. Furthermore, long arm 51 extends on two different planes since it has a ramp 56, as shown in Figure 1J. The inner edge of member 50 has a rounded notch 57 at the connection of long arm 51 and short arm 52.

Conditioning lever 60 Figures 1K and 1 L) comprises an elongated body 61, having a slightly arcuated extension 62 and a bent tab 63 at one end and a body 64 of a magnetic material at the other end.

Furthermore, body 61 comprises a pin 65 protruding on the same side as tab 63, a central circular opening 66 and a rounded notch 67 at the bottom of arcuated extension 62.

Sliding push-key actuator 70 (Figures 1 M qnd 1 N) comprises and elongated flat portion 71 having an operating head 72 at one end and an elongated slot 73 at the other end, formed in enlarged portion 74.

Enlarged portion 74 of sliding push-key actuator 70 is bent at right angle to form an upstanding tab 75 provided with an elongated slot 76 and a circular opening 77.

Furthermore, portion 74 has a first pin 78 protrud ing from the opposite side in respect of tab 75 and a second pin 79 having a groove 79Atherein protruding from the same side as tab 75.

Finally, braking lever 80 comprises a first drilled end 81, a second drilled end 82, a first tooth 83 and a second downwardly bent tooth 84.

The device also comprises a first coil spring 90, a second coil spring 91, a third coil spring 92, a fourth coil spring 93, a first wire spring 94 of the snap-over or bistable type having two arms 94A and 94B and a second wire spring 95 having two arms 95A and 95B.

Finally, an electromagnet EM is mounted on rear wall 10A of housing 10.

The components of the device are assembled as follows.

Lever 20 is mounted through bushing 24 being fitted over pin 18 of bottom wall 10C of housing 10 so as to rotate in respect thereto. Lever 20 is biassed by coil spring 90 acting between tab 25 and ear 11 B.

Sliding push-key actuator 70 is mounted on housing 10 to slide in respect thereto above lever 20 and portion 71 thereof is received within T-shaped slot 16 of wall 1 OB, while slot 76 of tab 75 is fitted over pin 14 of tab 12 integral with rear wall 10A of housing 10.

The sliding movement of push-key actuator 70 is also guided by pin 18 which is received within slot 73.

In the assembled device pin 78 of push-key actuator 70 is received in arcuated slot 21 of enlarged portion 20A of lever 20.

Sliding push-key actuator 70 is biassed by tension coil spring 91 in the direction of arrow F1 (Figure 4), which spring 91 acts between circular opening 77 of tab 75 and ear 16A of front wall 1 or.

First pivoting member 30 is pivotally mounted above push-key actuator 70 due to bushing 34 which is fitted over pin 19 of bottom wall 1 OC.

When member 30 is assembled and the device is in the inoperative position (ejection position), downwardly directed pin 35 of member 30 is received in radial groove 22 of lever 20 and pin 36 protrudes upwardly. Furthermore, the end of arm 94A of snapover spring 94 is anchored on groove 27A of pin 27 of lever 20, which pin 27 protrudes above the plane of body 20A of the latter, while the hookshaped end of arm 94B of spring 94 is received in slot 33 of pivoting member 30.

Second pivoting member 40 is pivotally mounted above pivoting member 30 due to bushing 44 being fitted over pin 18 above bushing 24 of lever 20.

The coils of wire spring 95, which is very strong, are fitted on the body of bushing 44 (Figure 1 G), arm 95A of spring 95 being engaged with notch 46A of tab 46 and arm 95B thereof being engaged with notch 47A of tab 47, thus resulting parallel to tab 45 and rather spaced therefrom (Figure iF).

In the inoperative position of the device the end of pin 36 of member 30 is received in the gap between arm 95B of wire spring 95 and tab 45 of member 40.

The "package" comprising all the device components described above is held together through L-shaped member 50, the edges of slot 55 being received in groove 18A of pin 18 and end circular opening 52 being fitted over pin 79 and locked in place through ring 79B received in groove 79A of pin 79.

Conditioning lever 60 is mounted adjacent to rear wall 10B of housing 10 and is connected to the latter through coil spring 92 anchored to drilled ear 11A on one side and central circular opening 66 on the other side.

Lever 60 is adapted to rotate horizontally owing to pin 65 being received in bushing 13 of tab 12.

In the position assumed by lever 60 when electromagnet EM is energized thus attracting body 64 and locking the respective end of lever 60, downwardly bent tab 63 prevents member 40 from rotating clockwise since step 48A on arcuated edge 48 engages therewith.

Extension 62 of lever 60 is above pivoting member 40 to allow pin 43 of member 40 to cooperate therewith (as described hereinafter).

Lever 60 is so mounted that magnetic body 64 is adjacent to pole pieces of electromagnet EM.

Braking lever 80 is mounted through its drilled end being pivoted on ear liD of wall 1 OD; accordingly, lever 80 runs along window 11E and tension coil spring 93 acts between drilled end 82 of lever 80 and drilled tab 1 1C of rear wall 10A of housing 10.

In operation, the complete introduction of cassette C into introduction slot A1, with the device in the position shown in Figure 3, will cause lever 20 to rotate clockwise towards rear wall 1 or, against the bias of traction spring 90 acting between ear 11 B of rear wall 1 OA and tab 25.

This clockwise rotation on pin 18 causes hook member 30 to rotate counterclockwise on pin 19 thus moving from the position of Figure 3 to the position of Figures 5 and 6. This rotation is due to the engagement of pin 35 with radial groove 22 of lever 20.

The counterclockwise rotation of member 30 will cause pin 36 to engage arm 95B of wire spring 95, thus causing arm 95B to rotate and load spring 95.

Furthermore, pin 35 will disengage from slot 22 to engage outer edge 23A exerting a pressure thereon and biassing lever 20 to rotate clockwise until the latter abuts against rear wall 1 0A under the bias of spring 95, which is strongly loaded, on pin 36.

It should be understood that the above is possible since member 40, on which spring 95 is mounted, is prevented from rotating clockwise by foot 63 of conditoning lever 60 which engages step 48A of member 40.

Rotation of lever 20 will also release pin 78 of sliding push-key actuator 70, from arcuated slot 21 wherein pin 78 is received and held when the device is in the position shownin Figure 3.

Releasing of pin 78 causes sliding member 70 to move rearward in the direction of arrow F1 under the bias of spring 91. Meanwhile, introduction of cassette C has also caused braking lever 80 to slightly rotate owing to the engagement of side edge BI firstly with tooth 83 and secondly with tooth or end extension 84, this rotation taking place against the action of spring 93, as shown in Figure 6. It should be noted that the complete introducton of cassette C will cause conventional mechanism of the tape recorder to be operated in order to bring the cassette in the operative position adjacent to bottom wall 10C of housing 10, in engagement with mechanical means adapted to perform the movement of the tape and electronical playback (and recording) means usually associated to cassette tape recorders.Such mechanical and electronical means are known in the art and accordingly they will not be furtherly de scribed. It is sufficient to say that such means are operated through the rearward movement of sliding member 70.

The device will now remain in this condition until either the tape is completely unwound or the playback (or recording) of the cassette is stopped for any reasons.

In both cases cassette C is either automatically or manually raised to the level of introduction opening Al in front wall 1 OB, in a way which is not a part of the invention, and electromagnet EM is de energized. De-energization of electromagnet EM will cause end 64 of conditioning lever 60 to be released and, accordingly, lever 60 will rotate counterclock wise owing to the action of pin 43 of member 40 against notch 67, This rotation in turn will cause tab 63 of lever 60 to disengage from tooth 48 of member 40 which is thus forced to rotate clockwise by wire spring 95, pre viously loaded as mentioned above.

Clockwise rotation of pivoting member 40 will pull rearward sliding member 70 in th direction of arrow F2, owing to the engagement of roller 42 with the inner edge of short arm 52 of L-shaped member 50.

This can take place since, as mentioned above, member 50 can slide in respect of pin 18 owing to long axial slot 55. Since member 50 is anchored to pin 79 of sliding member 70 through circular open ing 53, such member will cause member 70 to move together therewith.

It should be noted now that edge 57A of notch 57 is shaped according to a circumferential arc centered on pin 18, which shape allows roller 42 to disengage subsequently from notch 57.

When rotation of member 40 has been completed wire spring 95 is not loaded any longer since arms 95A and 95B thereof abut now against tabs 46 and 47, both provided on member 40, and accordingly pin 36 of member 30 cannot exert a clockwise pushing action against outer edge 23A of ejection lever 20. Accordingly, ejection lever 20 is now forced to rotate counterclockwise by coil spring 90, loaded upon introduction of the cassette, thus causing pivoting member 30 to rotate clockwise owing to pin 27 of ejection lever 20 acting against edge 37 of member 30.

It should be noted that snap-over or bistable wire spring 94, acting between slot 33 of pivoting mem ber 30 and the groove of pin 27, in this moment helds pin 27 engaged with edge 37 of pivoting member 30. This will cause pin 27 to be hooked by hook-portion 37A and the rotation of both elements to be stopped in the position of Figure 6B, wherein cassette C is shown only partially ejected by ejection lever 20. Accordingly, in this condition cassette C will protrude only slightly from slot Al of front wall 1 OB of housing 10.

To obtain the complete ejection of cassette C it will be sufficient to push cassette C slightly inwardly; this movement will cause bistable spring 94 to snap in the other stable position Figure 6C) wherein this spring moves pin 27 of lever 20 away from hook 37A and lever 20 can thus continue to rotate under the bias of spring 90.

It should be noted that this further rotation of lever 20 and pivoting member 30 causes the device to-be restored to the orginal position (Figure 3), as this rotation causes pin 78 of sliding member 70 to be again received in arcuated slot 21 of lever 20 thus remaining in the retracted position of Figure 3 against the action of spring 91. Simultaneously second pivoting member 40 rotates counterclock- wise owing to the clockwise rotation of first pivoting member 30 and then of pin 36 thereof which engages tab 45 of second member 40.

The operation of the braking means comprising braking lever 80 and coil spring 93 is very simple.

These means do not oppose the introduction of cassette C, side wall BL of which engages first tooth 83 and then tooth 84, causing lever 80 to effect two short successive counterclockwise rotations about pivoted end 81 against the bias of spring 93, lever 80 moving to the position of Figure 5.

On the contrary, during the cassette ejection movement, the braking effect of lever 80 is negligible only until cssette wall BL engages tooth 84 (Figure 5) since when the inner end of this wall is clear of tooth 84 (Figure 6) tooth 83 exerts its action against this wall due to coil spring 93. This action is very strong owing to the arm of force of the spring which is equal to the distance between tooth 83 and end 82 of lever 80 It should be noted that the downward extension of -tooth 84 (Figure 10) prevents lever 80 from rotating under the action of spring 93 when cassette C is lowered to the operative position adjacent to bottom wall 10C of housing 10.

It should-be noted that the braking means com prising lever 80 and spring 93 make it sure that the ejection of cassette C is stopped in any case by lever 20 even in case of either failure in that operation or breakage of snap-over or bistable wire spring 94.

More particularly, spring 94 and hook-shaped enlarged portion 37A of member 30, which engages pin 27 of ejection lever 20 to stop the rotation thereof, could be omitted in the less sophisticated tape recorders, owing to the provision of the abovedescribed braking means.

Finally, reference is now made to Figures 7, 7A and 7B that illustrate the structure and operation of a second embodiment of the braking device which is also mounted on portion 10D of housing 10.

In this embodiment the device comprises a lever 180 and a leaf spring 193 secured to the outer portion of the wall by rivets 194.

Spring 193 presents a rectangular window 195 and an open end portion 196.

Lever 180 comprises an arcuated end 181, a first tooth 183 and a second upwardly extending tooth 184 at opposite end 182. Furthermore, the end of tooth 183 preferably comprises an insert of a friction material, such as rubber, and lever 180 has a through hole 185 in correspondence with tooth 183.

Moreover, the front part of the upper extension belonging to tooth 184 has a downwardly and outwardly inclined ramp 184A.

Lever 180 is mounted outwardly of wall OD, so that open end portion 196 of spring 193 is fitted in through hole 185 of lever 180 and arcuated end 184 engages the outer face of wall 10D and thus teeth 183 and 184 protrude inwardly of wall 1 OD through window 1 OE.

The operation of the above-described braking device is substantially identical with that of the first embodiment, the only difference being that, in this case, the action keeping lever 180 in the outwardly rotated position when the cassette is in the operative position against bottom wall 10C is exerted by the lever members lowering the cassettte which engage upper ramp 184A of tooth 184.

Furthermore, lever 180 exerts a stronger braking action than lever 80 in this embodiment, owing to the nature of insert l83A.

It should be noted that both the above-described braking devices make use of the same principle, namely to utilize a same force in different application points along a lever to obtain a reduced action at one point of the lever and an extremely strong action at the other point of the lever.

With the use of these devices, the cassette will always be extracted manually from the cassette tape recorder by exerting such a traction as to overcome the friction force exerted by tooth 83 (or 183) on the cassette side wall.

From the foregoing it will be evident that the invention as described and illustrated fully attains the above-mentioned objects providing a reliable strong and effective device.

It will be understood that changes and modifications can be made to the device described and illustrated above without departing from the scope and concepts of the invention.

For instance, it will be possible to omit arcuated extension 62 of lever 60 which, in cooperation with pin 43 of pivoting member 40, prevents lever 60 from returning to the normal position where end 64 thereof is attracted by electromagnet EM until member 40 is rotated to the normal position upon ejection of the cassette. The same action can be obtained increasing the radial dimension of tooth 48A of member 40.

Claims (17)

1. A device for receiving and ejecting the cassette in two steps and intended to be used in cassette tape recorders, comprising: a housing including a rear wall, a front wall, a first and second side walls and a bottom wall; an electromagnet member within said tape recorder adapted to control the energized and de-energized condition thereof; and, means adapted to move said cassette from the introduction position to the operative position wherein said cassette is engaged with mechanical means adapted to move the tape and electronical playback and recording means, said device comprising means for receiving and ejecting the cassette in two steps and means for braking said cassette during the ejection movement.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said cassette introduction and ejection means comprise: a cassette loading and ejection lever member pivotally mounted on said housing at the level ofthe cassette introduction path within said tape recorder and having elastic means urging the same to rotate in the direction according to which said cassette is ejected; a sliding member slidingly mounted on said housing so as to move alternatively from an advanced position to a retracted position, said sliding member comprising elastic means biassing said member to the advanced position and engaging means adapted to cooperate with matching engaging means carried by said cassette loading and ejection lever member in order to hold said sliding member in the retracted position against the action of said elastic means;; spring elastic means mounted on said lever member and adapted to move thereon from a pre-loading inoperative position to a position wherein said elastic means are strongly loaded; a first pivoting member pivotally mounted on said housing having engaging means adapted to cooperate with matching means on said sliding member in order to force the same to the retracted position against the action of said elastic means for a given angular movement of said sliding member;; a second pivoting member pivotally mounted on said housing to rotate about an axis of rotation different from the axis of rotation of said cassette loading and ejection lever member, said second pivoting member comprising first engaging means adapted to cooperate with matching engaging means mounted on said loading and ejection lever member so that the two members are forced to rotate together in the opposite direction when said two means are engaged with each other, said second pivoting member further comprising second engaging means adapted to coperate with matching engaging means mounted on said first pivoting member in order to cause said means to rotate upon an angular movement in one direction, with said spring elastic means being supported by said first pivoting member to move said elastic means to the loading position upon an angular movement in the opposite direction; a conditioning lever member pivotally mounted on said housing, having a body of a magnetic material adapted to be attracted by said electromagnet when said electromagnet is energized; and, locking means adapted to cooperate with matching locking means mounted on said first pivoting member to prevent said member from rotating when said body of magnetic material is attracted by said electromagnet being engaged therewith.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein said second pivoting member comprises hooking means adapted to engage matching hooking means mounted on said lever member to stop the mutual rotation thereof after a given angular movement, said device also comprising a snap-over or bistable spring being received between said second pivoting member and said cassette loading and ejection lever member to force said matching hooking means into engagement in one of the stable positions of said spring and to force said two matching hooking means to disengage from each other in the other stable position of said spring.

4. The device according to claim 2, wherein said engaging means carried by said sliding member comprise a pin and said matching engaging means comprise an arcuated slot carried by said loading and ejection lever member, said slot being so shaped that said pin is engaged by said slot for a given angular position of said lever member and disengaged therefrom for another angular position of said lever member.

5. The device according to claim 2, wherein said elastic spring means mounted on said first pivoting member comprise a torsion wire spring having a plurality of coils on the pivoting axis of said pivoting member and two arms that, in said pre-loading position, exert a pressure on a first and second stopping tabs angularly spaced from each other and integral with said first pivoting member.

6. The device according to claim 2, wherein said engaging means carried by said first pivoting member comprise a roller and said matching engaging means carried by said sliding member comprise an arm integral with said sliding member, said roller acting against said arm during the angular movement thereof, which arm has a notch adapted to receive said roller and having at least an arcuated length according to a circumferential arc centered on the axis of rotation of said first pivoting member.

7. The device according to claim 2, wherein said first engaging means carried by said second pivoting member comprise a pin integral therewith and said matching engaging means carried by said lever member comprise a pin integral therewith and said matching engaging means carried by said lever member comprise a radial slot in such a position that said pin disengages from said slot after a certain rotation of said two members.

8. The device according to claims 2 nd 5, wherein said second engaging means of said second pivoting member comprise a pin integral therewith and said matching engaging means of said first pivoting member comprise a tab integral therewith and parallel to one of the arms of said bistable wire spring, said pin being placed between said tab and said arm of said spring so that rotation of said second pivoting member in one direction causes said arm of said spring to rotate and, accordingly, said spring to be loaded, while rotation in the other direction causes said first pivoting member to rotate.

9. The device according to claim 2, wherein said locking means carried by said conditioning lever member comprise a bent tab and the matching locking means carried by said first pivoting member comprise a stepped tooth at the periphery thereof.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein said means adapted to brake said cassette during the ejection movement comprise: a window formed in a side wall of said housing at the level of the cassette path during the introduction and ejection movement; lever means pivoted at one end on said side wall adjacent to said window so as to rotate within said window and outside thereof; and, spring elastic means acting on one point of said lever means to bias the latter to rotate inwardly of said housing against the narrow side wall of said cassette, said device being characterized in that said lever means comprise a first tooth protruding laterally within said window adjacent to the pivoting point and highly spaced from the action point of said spring elastic means, and a second tooth similarly protruding, but for a longer length thereof, adjacent to the free end of said lever means and slightly spaced from said action point of said spring elastic means.

11. The device according to claim 10, wherein said second more protruding tooth is provided with a downwardly directed extension abutting against the wall of said cassette when the latter is lowered.

12. The device according to claim 10, wherein said second tooth is provided with an upwardly directed and slightly inclined extension, said cassette moving means acting against said extension to prevent said cassette from rotating under the bias of said elastic means acting on said lever means.

13. The device according to claim 10, wherein said elastic means comprise a coil spring.

14. The device according to claim 10, wherein said spring means comprise a leaf spring.

15. The device according to claim 10, wherein said first tooth has an outer surface of a friction material.

16. An assembly for receiving and ejecting a cassette in a cassette tape recorder, comprising: a housing, means adapted to move said cassette from an introduction position within the housing to an operative position wherein said cassette is engaged with mechanical means adapted to move the tape and electronical playback and recording means, means whereby the insertion and ejection of the cassette into and from the introduction position within the housing takes place in two steps and means for braking the motion of said cassette during its ejection from the housing.

17. A device for receiving and ejecting a cassette in a cassette tape recorder substantially as herein described with reference to and as described in the accompanying drawings.