GB2232000A

GB2232000A - Cleaner for cassette player recorder machines

Info

Publication number: GB2232000A
Application number: GB9003429A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Powell
Original assignee: FLINTLOCK Ltd; GOLDRING PRODUCTS Ltd
Current assignee: FLINTLOCK Ltd; GOLDRING PRODUCTS Ltd
Priority date: 1989-02-18
Filing date: 1990-02-15
Publication date: 1990-11-28
Anticipated expiration: 2010-02-15
Also published as: GB9013929D0; GB2232000B; GB2232811B; GB8903742D0; GB2232811A; GB9003429D0

Abstract

There is disclosed a cleaner for a cassette player/recorder machine comprising a housing (11) shaped like that of a conventional tape cassette and adapted to fit into the tape cassette receptacle of the machine and containing a pad (27) which can be driven from a drive spindle of the machine to effect movement over the record/playback head of either a single or dual capstan machine characterised by a further pad also driven from a drive spindle of the machine to effect movement over the erase head of a single capstan machine, there being means to prevent operation of the cleaner if inserted incorrectly into a single capstan machine such that the further pad is remote from the erase head. <IMAGE>

Description

CLEANER FOR CASSETTE PLAYER RECORDER MACHINES This invention concerns a cleaner for a cassette player/recorder machine and of the kind (hereinafter termed a cleaner of the kind referred to) comprising a housing shaped like that of a conventional tape cassette adapted to fit into the tape cassette receptacle of the machine and containing at least one pad which can be driven from a drive spindle of the machine to effect movement over a part of the machine for the purpose of cleaning same.

Many cleaners of the kind referred to are known, but have certain disadvantages including the inability to clean effectively the erase head of a single capstan machine and difficulty in replacing worn or soiled cleaning pads.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved cleaner of the kind referred to.

According to one aspect of the invention a cleaner of the kind referred to has a first cleaning pad operative on the record/playback head of either a single or dual capstan machine and a second cleaning pad operative on the erase head of a single capstan machine, there being means to prevent operation of the cleaner if inserted incorrectly into a single capstan machine such that the pad intended to operate on the erase head is remote from such head.

According to another aspect of the invention the housing includes a replaceable cartridge containing all of the cleaning pads whereby they may all be replaced together by simply fitting a replacement cartridge.

Preferably the pad which operates on the record/playhack head of the machine effects reciprocating movement in an arcuate path corresponding with the profile of such head.

Advantageously the pad pauses at each end of each of its strokes.

The invention will be further apparent from the following description, with reference to the several figures of the accompanying drawings, which show, by way of example only, one form of cleaner embodying same.

Of the drawings: Figure 1 shows a plan view of the cleaner; Figure 2 shows a front elevation of the cleaner on an enlarged scale; Figure 3 shows an exploded perspective view of the cleaner; Figure 4 shows a plan view of the replaceable cartridge of the cleaner of Figure 1; Figure 5 shows a cross-section through the cartridge on the line V-V of Figure 4; and Figure 6 shows a cross-section through the cartridge on the line VI-VI of Figure 1.

The cleaner comprises a housing indicated at 10 and generally of the same shape and size as the housing for a conventional tape cassette, whereby the cleaner may be fitted into the recess of a tape cassette player/ recorder normally reserved for a tape cassette.

The housing 10 comprises a main part 11 having a socket 12 on its forward edge which receives a secondary part in the form of a replaceable cartridge 14 which may be secured in place by pins 15 insertable through aligned bores 16 and 17 in the parts 11 and 14 respectively. The main part 11 includes a base 18 and top 19.

The cartridge 14 contains a number of cleaning pads which when the cleaner is in use engage various parts of the cassette player/recorder. It will be understood that when the pads, through use, become worn or soiled, the cleaner may be refurbished by fitting a replacement cartridge 14, a simple task requiring no tools other than a pin or the like to push the pins 15 from within the bores 16 and 17 to enable removal of the old cartridge.

At the left hand end of the cartridge 14 (as seen in any of the Figures) is a pad 20 in the form of a leaf which when the cleaner is in use, engages the left hand pinch roller of a dual capstan player/recorder.

Next, to the right, is a wedge-shaped pad 21 mounted in a socket 22 in a holder 23 which is reciprocable in a direction parallel with the forward edge of the housing 10. A compression spring 24 is located in the socket 22 behind the pad 21 and serves to urge the pad 21 resiliently outwardly. Strips 25 on the upper and lower faces of the holder 23 locate in tracks 26 on the inner faces of the upper and lower walls of the cartridge 14 to constrain the holder to movement in the stated direction. When the cleaner is in use, the pad 21 engages the erase head of a single capstan player/recorder or the left hand capstan of a dual capstan machine. The holder 23 has an extension 23a which protudes from the rear edge of the cartridge 14.

Next, to the right, at the centre of the cartridge 14 is a pad 27 having a concave forward face which, when the cleaner is in use engages the arcuate face of the record/playback head of the cassette player/recorder. The pad 27 is located in a socket 28 of a holder 29 which is reciprocable in an arcuate path. A compression spring 30 is located within the socket 28 behind the pad 27 and serves to urge the pad 27 resiliently outwardly. Arcuate strips 31 on the upper and lower faces of the holder 29 locate in arcuate tracks 32 on the inner faces of the upper and lower walls of the cartridge 14 to constrain the holder 29 to move in an arcuate path spaced from the arcuate face of the record/playback head. The holder 29 has an extension 29a which protrudes from the rear edge of the cartridge 14.

Finally, at the right hand end of the cartridge 14 is a V-shaped pad 33 mounted in a holder 34 reciprocable in a direction perpendicular to the forward edge of the cartridge 14. The holder 34 has an extension 34a which protrudes from the rear edge of the cartridge 14. In use the pad 33 engages the pinch roller and capstan at the right hand side of either a single or dual capstan player/recorder and has a pulsating cleaning action thereon, which is highly efficient.

In use, the various pads are wetted with a cleaning fluid and the cleaner is fitted into a cassette player/recorder and the machine set to "PLAY" in a cassette player or to "RECORD AND PLAY" in a recorder.

The various pads effect reciprocating movements as discussed above under the influence of drive mechanism now to be described.

The main part of the housing 11 incorporates right and left hand pinions 40 and 41 respectively having internally toothed hollow centres 40a and 41a which engage the right and left hand drive spindles of the cassette player/ recorder. The right hand pinion 40 meshes with a further pinion 42 carrying an eccentric pin 43. A pinion 44 meshes with the pinions 40 and 41 whereby drive is transmitted to pinion 42 regardless of whether the right or left hand drive spindle supplies the drive when the machine is set to "PLAY" or "RECORD AND PLAY" as before.

However, pinion 44 is provided with a pawl 45 on its underside which cooperates with angularly spaced teeth 46 on the inner face of the base 18 of the housing part 11 whereby the pinion 44 is constrained against rotation in an anti-clockwise direction (when viewed from above). This renders the cleaner inoperative whenever it is incorrectly inserted into a single capstan machine such that the pad 21 is remote from the erase head. This will be apparent and its cleaner can be taken out and reinserted correctly. In a dual capstan machine the cleaner will operate no matter which way it is inserted.

A plate 47 covers the upper face of pinion 44.

A lever 50 having an elongated slot 51 at its right hand end is provided and the slot 51 is located over the pin 43. The left hand end of the lever 50 is hingedly connected at 52 to a bar 53 having recesses 54 and 55 which receive the extensions 23a and 29a of holders 23 and 29 respectively.

As pinion 42 rotates, the bar 53 is reciprocated in a direction parallel to the forward edge of the housing causing the holders 23 and 29 to effect their reciprocating movements. Because of the elongated slot 51, there is lost motion causing the pads 21 and 27 to pause at the ends of each stroke. This results in an effective cleaning action.

Also, as pinion 42 rotates, lever 50 rises and falls to repeatedly strike extension 34a to cause holder 34 to effect its reciprocating movement.

It will be appreciated that it is not intended to limit the invention to the above example only, many variations, such as might readily occur to one skilled in the art, being possible, without departing from the scope thereof.

Claims

1. A cleaner for a cassette player/recorder machine comprising a housing shaped like that of a conventional tape cassette and adapted to fit into the tape cassette receptacle of the machine and containing a pad which can be driven from a drive spindle of the machine to effect movement over the record/playback head of either a single or dual capstan machine characterised by a further pad also driven from a drive spindle of the machine to effect movement over the erase head of a single capstan machine, there being means to prevent operation of the cleaner if inserted incorrectly into a single capstan machine such that the further pad is remote from the erase head.

2. A cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the housing contains right and left hand pinions having internally toothed hollow centres which engage the right and left hand spindles of the machine, and a further pinion meshing with said right and left hand pinions and mechanical means to prevent said right and left hand pinions being drivable in one of the two possible rotational direction.

3. A cleaner according to claim 2, wherein said mechanical means comprises a pawl extending from said further pinion and cooperating with angularly spaced teeth connected with the housing.

4. A cleaner according to either claim 2 or claim 3, wherein a drive pinion meshes with one of said right and left hand pinions, an eccentric pin on said drive pinion, and a lever adapted to operate the pads engaging said pin to be driven thereby.

5. A cleaner according to claim 4, wherein said lever has an extended slot which engages said pin whereby the lever dwells at each end of each stroke.

6. A cleaner for a cassette player/recorder machine, comprising a housing shaped like that of a conventional tape cassette and adapted to fit into the tape cassette receptacle of the machine and containing a plurality of pads which can be driven from a drive spindle of the machine to effect movement over parts of the machine to be cleaned characterised in that said housing comprises a main part providing a socket which removably receives a secondary part in the form of a replaceable cartridge which carries all of said pads to enable replacement of same by replacement of the cartridge.

7. A cleaner according to claim 6, wherein said replaceable cartridge may be secured in place by pins passing through aligned bores in the main part of the housing and the cartridge.

8. A cleaner for a cassette player/recorder machine, comprising a housing shaped like that of a conventional tape cassette and adapted to fit into the tape cassette receptacle of the machine and containing a pad which can be driven from a drive spindle of the machine to effect movement over the record/playback head of the machine, characterised in that the pad executes reciprocatory movement in an arcuate path corresponding with the profile of said head.

9. A cleaner according to claim 8, wherein said pad has a concave face which engages with said head.

10. A cleaner according to claim 8 or claim 9, wherein said pad is mounted in a holder having arcuate strips protruding therefrom and engaging arcuate tracks to constrain said holder for movements in said arcuate path.