GB2204986A

GB2204986A - Cassette tape loading device

Info

Publication number: GB2204986A
Application number: GB08724660A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kunio Kido
Original assignee: Tanashin Denki Co Ltd
Current assignee: Tanashin Denki Co Ltd
Priority date: 1987-05-18
Filing date: 1987-10-21
Publication date: 1988-11-23
Anticipated expiration: 2007-10-21
Also published as: GB8724660D0; JPS63184440U; CN1012541B; CN88102887A; GB2204986B

Abstract

A cassette tape loading device which can prevent another tape cassette from being inserted when a cassette holder is in its operative position with a previously inserted cassette. The device includes a double insertion preventing element (10); which, when the cassette holder (4) is in its operative position, blocks the passage of any further tape cassette inserted through opening (2) of a casing (1). The double insertion preventing element may be a lug or projection (10) on the cassette holder (4) or may be a movable pivoted element mounted on the cassette holder (4) or the casing 1. <IMAGE>

Description

CASSETTE TAPE DRIVING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1) Field of the Invention This invention relates to a cassette tape driving device having means for preventing double insertion of tape cassettes.

2) Description of the Prior Art Conventionally, some of cassette tape driving devices, for example, of the car-carried type are constituted such that, after a tape cassette is inserted in a direction perpendicular to an axis of a reel hub and is then received into a cassette holder, the cassette holder is moved in a direction of the axis of the reel hub to set the tape cassette to an operative position.

In such a cassette tape driving device as described above, after a cassette holder has moved from a tape cassette receiving position to an operative position, a spacing appears which allows another tape cassette to be inserted to the tape cassette receiving position. Accordingly, if another tape cassette is inserted in error through a cassette insertion opening, it will be received into the spacing. Consequently, there is the possibility that neither the second tape cassette inserted in error nor the first cassette already in the operative position can be taken out from within the cassette tape driving device.

Besides, if such double insertion of tape cassettes occurs, there is also the possibility that the tape cassette inserted later may contact with various operating parts of the.device and may damage, if it is forced in, such parts or the tape cassette itself.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to provide a cassette tape driving device which can prevent another tape cassette from being inserted into the cassette tape driving device when a cassette holder is in its operative position.

In order to resolve the problems described above, according to the present invention, there is provided a cassette tape driving device which comprises a casing in which a reel hub is mounted for rotation, the casing having a cassette insertion opening formed therein for allowing a tape cassette to be inserted therethrough in a direction perpendicular to an axis of the reel hub into the casing, a cassette holder mounted for movement in a direction parallel to the axis of the reel hub within the casing between a first position in which the cassette holder can receive therein a tape cassette inserted into the casing through the cassette insertion opening and a second position, and a double insertion preventing means operable when the cassette holder is in the second position for interrupting a passage of a tape cassette from the cassette insertion opening of the casing.

With the cassette tape driving device described above, if a tape cassette is inserted into the casing through the cassette insertion opening and received by the cassette holder, then the cassette holder is moved in the direction parallel to the axis of the reel hub from the first to the second position thereof to set the tape cassette to its operative position. As the cassette holder is moved in this manner, the double insertion preventing means is positioned in the passage of a tape cassette from the cassette insertion opening of the casing. Accordingly, if it is tried to insert another tape cassette in error through the cassette insertion opening, then a leading end of the cassette will be contacted with and stopped by the double insertion preventing means. Consequently, double insertion of tape cassettes can be prevented.

Accordingly, protection of tape cassettes and the cassette tape driving device can be attained readily.

A specific embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional side elevational view of a cassette tape driving device taken along a cassette inserting direction showing a first embodiment of the present invention before insertion of a tape cassette, FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional front elevational view, in a somewhat enlarged scale, of the cassette tape driving device of FIG. 1 taken along a direction perpendicular to the cassette inserting direction after insertion of a tape cassette; FIGS. 3 and 4 are a vertical sectional side elevational view and an enlarged vertical sectional front elevational view similar to FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively, but showing a second embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional side elevational view similar to FIG. 1 but showing a third embodiment of the present invention;; FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional front elevational view of a cassette tape driving device taken along a direction perpendicular to a cassette inserting direction showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention while a tape cassette is being inserted; and FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional side elevational view similar to FIG. 2 but showing a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS Now, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. The first embodiment shown is a tape recorder of the carcarried type in which a cassette tape driving device according to the present invention is incorporated. The tape recorder shown includes a casing 1 having a cassette insertion opening 2 formed in a front wall thereof.

A chassis 100 is secured in position in the casing 1, and a cassette holder 4 is supported for up and down movement on the chassis 100 by means of a support plate 6. The cassette holder 4 has a cassette receiving portion 5 formed thereon, and the cassette receiving portion 5 is opened at a same vertical position with the cassette insertion opening 2 of the casing 1 so that a cassette 3 inserted into the casing 1 through the cassette insertion opening 2 may be received into the cassette holder 4. The support plate 6 is mounted at a rear end portion thereof for pivotal motion on the chassis 100 by means of a pin 101 and is associated with the cassette holder 4 such that pivotal motion thereof will cause upward or downward bodily movement of the cassette holder 4.A pack slider 8 is mounted on the support plate 6 for reciprocal motion in a cassette inserting direction in which a tape cassette is to be inserted while a pivotal plate i03 is mounted for pivotal motion around a pin 102 on the support plate 6. A torsion toggle spring 9 is connected between the pack slider 8 and a free end portion of the pivotal plate 103 such that it urges the pack slider 8 leftwardly in FIG. 1 when a tape cassette 3 is not inserted in the cassette holder 4, but if a tape cassette 3 is inserted into the casing 1 and presses against a rear end piece 8a of the pack slider 8 to move the pack slider 8 rightwardly in FIG. 1, the torsion toggle spring 9 is first pivoted around the pivotal plate 103 while being deformed to accumulate an urging force therein by the pack slider 8 and then when the pack slider 8 is moved beyond a neutral position of the torsion toggle spring 9, the torsion toggle spring 9 now urges to draw the pack slider 8 toward the interior of the casing 1 by the urging force accumulated therein.

In this instance, since a hooked portion 8b at a forward end of the pack slider 8 is engaged with one of tape reel holes 3a of the tape cassette 3, the spring 9 acts to draw the tape cassette 3 quickly to the interior of the casing 1. As the pack slider 8 and the tape cassette 3 are drawn in in this manner, either the tape cassette 3 or the rear end piece 8a of the pack slider 8 is abutted with an arresting member (not shown) so that an arrested condition of the support plate 6 by the arresting member is canceled. As a result, the support plate 6 is pivoted in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 1 around the pin 101 by a spring not shown, and as the support plate 6 is pivoted in this manner, the cassette holder 4 is moved downwardly to an operative position as shown in chain line in FIG. 1 or as shown in solid line in FIG. 2.

The cassette holder 4 has an integral double insertion preventing element 10 thereon. In the present embodiment, the double insertion preventing element 10 is in the form of an uprightly bent lug or projection which is formed by slitting, that is, by cutting and bending part of a top wall 4a of the cassette holder 4 upwardly. The double insertion preventing element 10 extends upwardly from the top wall 4a of the cassette holder 4 to a substantially same vertical position or level with the center of the cassette insertion opening 2 or the casing 1 and acts to interrupt a passage along which a tape cassette 3 is to be inserted when the cassette holder 4 is at its operative position below the vertical level of the cassette insertion opening 2.

A pair of reel receivers 11 and a capstan 12 are mounted on the chassis 100 below the cassette holder 4 in the cassette receiving position above the vertical level of the cassette insertion opening 2 of the casing 1. The reel receivers 11 and the capstan 12 are fitted in tape reel holes and a capstan hole, respectively, of a tape cassette 3 when the cassette holder 4 assumes its operative position, Further, a head mounting plate 14 is mounted at a position sidewardly of the cassette holder 4 for back and forth movement. When the cassette holder 4 is moved to its operative position, the head mounting plate 14 is simultaneously advanced in a direction to approach the tape cassette 3, thereby bringing the cassette tape driving device into its operating condition.

Now, general operation of the cassette tape driving device having such a construction as described above will be described.

If a tape cassette 3 is inserted through the cassette insertion opening 2 into the casing 1 of the cassette tape driving device which is in such a condition as shown in FIG. 1, it is received into the cassette holder 4 via the cassette receiving portion 5 of the cassette holder 4. As the tape cassette 3 is inserted to some extent into the cassette holder 4, a leading end portion of the tape cassette 3 is contacted with the rear end piece 8a of the pack slider 8. At this instant, the hooked portion 8b of the pack slider 8 is engaged with a leading one of the tape reel holes 3a of the tape cassette 3. Then, as the tape cassette 3 is inserted further, the pack slider 8 on the support plate 6 is moved forwardly against the urging force of the torsion toggle spring 9.In this instance, as the pack slider 8 is moved forwardly, the torsion toggle spring 9 is deformed gradually while accumulating an urging force therein, and then when the pack slider 8 is moved beyond the neutral position provided by the torsion toggle spring 9, the torsion toggle spring 11 now urges the pack slider 8 in the same direction so that the pack slider 8 is quickly drawn in by the urging force of the torsion toggle spring 8 and also the tape cassette 3 which engages with the hooked portion 8a of the pack slider 8 is drawn in to an extreme end of its forward stroke. As the tape cassette reaches the extreme end of its forward stroke, the arrested condition of the support plate 6 by the arresting member not shown is canceled.As the arrested condition is canceled, the support plate 6 is pivoted in the counterclockwise direction to a position shown in chain line in FIG. 1 by the spring not shown. As the support plate 6 is pivoted in this manner, the cassette holder 4 is moved in a direction parallel to the axes of the reel receivers, that is, in the downward direction from its tape cassette receiving position to its operative position.

At the same time, the head mounting plate 14 is advanced toward the tape cassette 3 in order to allow subsequent reproduction or the like of a tape within the tape cassette 3. Meanwhile, by the downward movement of the cassette holder 4, the double insertion preventing element 10 on the top wall 4a of the cassette holder 4 is also moved until it is positioned to a substantially same vertical level with the center of the cassette insertion opening 2 of the casing 1. Accordingly, the double insertion preventing element 10 projects into the passage along which a tape cassette 3 is to be inserted.

With the cassette tape driving device having such a construction as described above, following effects can be attained.

In particular, when the cassette holder 4 is in its operative position, the double insertion preventing element 10 is positioned at a substantially same vertical level with the center of the cassette insertion opening 2 of the casing 1. In this condition, if another tape cassette 3 is inserted through the cassette insertion opening 2 into the casing 1, the thus inserted second tape cassette 3 will be abutted with the double insertion preventing element 10 so that its further insertion will be prevented by the latter.

Consequently, double insertion of the tape cassettes 3 is prevented effectively.

It is to be noted that the double insertion preventing element 10 need not be an integral portion of the cassette holder 4 but may be a separate member of a similar profile secured in position to the top wall 4a of the cassette holder 4 by a suitable means such as screwing, adhesion or welding or else a separate member in the form of a post secured to the top wall 4a by riveting or some other suitable means.

Now, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. Also the second embodiment is a tape recorder of the carcarried type in which a cassette tape driving device according to the present invention is incorporated. It is to be noted that since the tape recorder of FIGS. 3 and 4 has a basically similar construction to that of FIGS. 1 and 2, like parts or components are denoted like reference numerals to those of FIGS. 1 and 2 and overlapping description thereof will be omitted herein.

This also applies to following embodiments described hereinbelow.

The cassette tape driving device of the second embodiment is only different from that of the first embodiment in that a double insertion preventing element 20 on a top wall 4a of a cassette holder 4 is a separate member in the form of a plate mounted for pivotal motion around an axis of a shaft 15 thereof which extends in parallel to a cassette inserting direction in which a tape cassette 3 is to be inserted, and besides a tension coil spring 13 is connected between the top wall 4a of the cassette holder 4 and the double insertion preventing element 20 so as to exert a biasing force to pivot the double insertion preventing element 20 to normally contact an end 20a of the double insertion preventing element 20 with an inner face of a casing 1 opposing to the top wall 4a of the cassette holder 4.

Basic operations of the cassette tape driving device of the present embodiment are substantially similar to those of the first embodiment, but in the present embodiment, when the cassette holder 4 is in its operative position, it is positioned below the vertical level of the cassette insertion opening 2, and the shaft 15 of the double insertion preventing element 20 on the top wall 4a of the cassette holder 4 is also positioned below the level of the cassette insertion opening 2.

Meanwhile, since a biasing force to pivot the double insertion preventing element 20 to normally contact the end 20a thereof with the inner face of the casing 2 is provided by the spring 13, the double insertion preventing element 20 is set in a position in which it extends obliquely relative to a passage along which a tape cassette 3 is to be inserted.

On the other hand, as a cassette taking out mechanism not shown is rendered operative, the cassette holder 4 is moved to a position at the same vertical level with the cassette insertion opening 2 of the casing 1. In this instance, the end 20a of the double insertion preventing element 20 slides on the inner face of the casing 1 while extending the spring 13 and is pivoted in the clockwise direction in FIG. 4 to approach the top wall 4a of the cassette holder 4.In this instance, the torsion toggle spring 9 is pivoted toward an extreme end of returning movement thereof first by the cassette taking out mechanism not shown and then by the urging force thereof so that the pack slider 8 is urged to push the tape cassette 3 to move a tape cassette taking out position in which an end portion of the tape cassette 3 is partially projected outwardly from the cassette insertion opening 2 of the casing 1.

With the second embodiment described above, following effects can be anticipated in addition to the effects of the first embodiment listed hereinabove.

In particular, since it has such a structure that the double insertion preventing element 20 is mounted for pivotal motion on the top wall oa of the cassette holder 4 and has the end 20a thereof normally held in sliding contact with the inner face of the casing 1, production of noises caused by collision of the parts can be prevented, and even if the position of the top wall 4a of the cassette holder 4 is much lower than the vertical level of the cassette insertion opening 2 when a first tape cassette is in its operative position, insertion of the second tape cassette 3 can be prevented assuredly.

It is to be noted that the shaft 15 of the double insertion preventing element 20 is provided by a pair of lateral tabs or extensions of the double insertion preventing element 20 which extend in opposite directions from opposite ends of an edge of the double insertion preventing element 20, and the shaft 15 is received for rotation on the top wall 4a of the cassette holder 4 by a suitable means such as a pair of bridgelike bearing portions 4b formed by stamping on the top wall 4a of the cassette holder 4. However, it is also possible to form the shaft 15 as a separate shaft member from and secure it along an edge of the double insertion preventing element 20 in the form of a plate.

Now, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 5. Also the third embodiment is a tape recorder of the car-carried type in which a cassette tape driving device according to the present invention is incorporated. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, a double insertion preventing element is generally denoted at 30.

The difference of the cassette tape driving device of the third embodiment from that of the second embodiment described above is that a pivotal shaft 15 for the double insertion preventing element 30 extends in a perpendicular relationship to a direction in which tape cassette 3 is to be inserted.

Operations of the cassette tape driving device of the third embodiment are basically similar to those of the second embodiment described above.

With the third embodiment, it is a matter of course that similar effects to those of the second embodiment can be attained. In addition, since the width of the double insertion preventing element 30 can be relatively great, a contacting area thereof with a second tape cassette 3 can be increased. Accordingly, both of the second tape cassette 3 and the tape driving device can be protected without causing a damage or the like to the second tape cassette 3.

Referring now to FIG. 6, a fourth embodiment of the present invention is shown. Also the fourth embodiment is a tape recorder of the car-carried type in which a cassette tape driving device according to the present invention is incorporated. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, a double insertion preventing element is generally denoted at 40.

The difference of the cassette tape driving device of the fourth embodiment from that of the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 resides in that the double insertion preventing element 40 is mounted for pivotal motion not on a cassette holder 4 but on a casing 1, and besides the double insertion preventing element 40 is normally urged to contact a free end thereof with an upper face of a top wall 4a of the cassette holder 4 by the weight of the double insertion preventing element 40 itself instead of using a spring as in the second embodiment. In particular, a pivotal shaft 15 of the double insertion preventing element 40 is received for pivotal motion on a lower face of a top wall la of the casing 1 by means of bearing portions lb of the top wall la similar to the bearing portions 4b in the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

With the cassette tape driving device of the present embodiment, when the cassette holder 4 is in its operative position, the double insertion preventing element 40 assumes, due to its own weight, a downwardly pivoted position in which it extends obliquely downwardly with the free end thereof contacted with the upper face of the top wall 4a of the cassette holder 4 so as to cross a passage along which a tape cassette 3 is to be inserted.

Accordingly, with the fourth embodiment, a double insertion preventing mechanism can be constructed without complicating the profile of the cassette holder 4 which is a movable part of the tape driving device, and besides similar effects to those of the second embodiment can be attained.

FIG. 7 illustrates a cassette tape recorder according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. Also the fifth embodiment is a tape recorder of the car-carried type in which a cassette tape driving device according to the present invention is incorporated. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, a double insertion preventing element is generally denoted at 50.

The difference of the cassette tape recorder of the fifth embodiment from that of the fourth embodiment is that a pivotal shaft 15 for the double insertion preventing element 50 extends in a perpendicular relationship to a direction in which a tape cassette 3 is to be inserted and the double insertion preventing element 50 is contacted at a free end thereof with an upper face of a top wall 4a of a cassette holder 4 at a location nearer to a cassette insertion opening not shown of a casing 1 than the pivotal shaft 15 of the double insertion preventing element 50.

With the fifth embodiment just described, it is a matter of course that similar effects to those of the fourth embodiment can be attained. In addition, the width of the double insertion preventing element 50 can be relatively great similarly as in the third embodiment, and since a second tape cassette 3 can be stopped with a relatively large area thereof by the double insertion preventing element 50, both of the second tape cassette 3 and the tape driving device can be protected.

It is to be noted that, while in the fourth and fifth embodiments the double insertion preventing element 40 or 50 is constructed such that it may be pivoted by its own weight, it is not limited to the specific construction, and it is a matter of course that a spring may additionally be provided in order Lo provide a biasing force to the double inserting preventing element 40 or 50.

Claims

CLAIMS.

1. A cassette tape driving device, comprising a casing in which a reel hub is mounted for rotation, said casing having a cassette insertion opening formed therein for allowing a tape cassette to be inserted therethrough in a direction perpendicular to an axis of said reel hub into said casing, a cassette holder mounted for movement in a direction parallel to the axis of said reel hub within said casing between a first position in which said cassette holder can receive therein a tape cassette inserted into said casing through said cassette insertion opening and a second position, and a double insertion preventing means operable when said cassette holder is in the second position for interrupting a passage of a tape cassette from said cassette insertion opening of said casing.

2. A cassette tape driving device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said double insertion preventing means is fixed with respect to said cassette holder such that when said cassette holder is in the second position, said fixed element projects from said cassette holder into said passage of a tape cassette.

3. A cassette tape driving device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said double insertion preventing means is constituted from a lug or a like formation formed by slitting a wall of said cassette holder.

4. A cassette tape driving device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said double insertion preventing means is a member separate from and secured to said cassette holder.

5. A cassette tape driving device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said double insertion preventing means includes a pivotal element mounted for pivotal motion around an axis on a wall of said cassette holder, and a spring connected between said wall of said cassette holder and said pivotal element for biasing said pivotal element to contact an end of said pivotal element with a wall of said casing opposing to said wall of said cassette holder.

6. A cassette tape driving device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said double insertion preventing means includes a pivotal element mounted for pivotal motion around an axis on a wall of said casing, and a spring connected between said wall of said casing and said pivotal element for biasing said pivotal element to contact an end of said pivotal element with a wall of said cassette holder opposing to said wall of said casing.

7. A cassette tape driving device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said double insertion preventing means includes a pivotal element mounted for pivotal motion around an axis on a wall of said casing opposing to a top wall of said cassette holder, said pivotal element being biased by its own weight to contact an end thereof with said top wall of said cassette holder.

8. A cassette tape driving device as set forth in any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein said axis of said pivotal element extends in a parallel relationship to the direction in which a tape cassette is inserted into said casing.

9. A cassette tape driving device as set forth in any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein said axis of said pivotal element extends in a perpendicular relationship to the direction in which a tape cassette is inserted into said casing.

10. A cassette tape driving device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in the accompanying drawings.