US3572723A

US3572723A - Tape cartridge system

Info

Publication number: US3572723A
Application number: US871787A
Authority: US
Inventors: Carlton G Jenkins; John Robert Peltz; Clayton Lewis Stoldt; Nikolaus Adalbert Szeverenyi
Original assignee: Sylvania Electric Products Inc
Current assignee: GTE Sylvania Inc
Priority date: 1969-10-31
Filing date: 1969-10-31
Publication date: 1971-03-30
Anticipated expiration: 1988-03-30

Abstract

A tape cartridge player for multichannel endless loop tape cartridges having an automatic tape cartridge lock-in mechanism including a contact arm with a detent pawl at one end thereof, a straight angle magnetic head positioning and channel changing mechanism including a cam and follower operable both manually and automatically, and an automatic shutoff switch mechanism but with an override which permits continuous play. When the cartridge is inserted in the player and the power is turned on, contact arm is moved by solenoid action so that the detent pawl contacts a detent in the cartridge and applies a fixed positive pressure thereto. Upon the completion of one channel of play, the cam is moved to the next channel position and the follower simultaneously moves the magnetic head to the next channel position. As an alternative, the channel changing mechanism may be manually actuated to switch from one channel to the next adjacent channel. After the last channel of recorded information has been played, as the channel changing mechanism is actuated, a wiper attached to the cam actuates a microswitch, which energizes a solenoid to thereby effect an automatic shutoff of the system which simultaneously acts to move the contact arm to its original position, releasing the pressure applied to the cartridge. The override switch when operative inhibits the activation of the shutoff solenoid to permit continuous operation.

Description

United States Patent Szeverenyi, Warren, Pa. {21] Appl. No. 871,787 [22] Filed Oct. 31, 1969 [45] Patented Mar. 30, 1971 [73] Assignee Sylvania Electric Products Inc.

Continuation of application Ser. No.

643,681, June 5, 1967, now abandoned.

[54] TAPE CARTRIDGE SYSTEM 2 Claims, 1 Drawing Fig.

[52] US. Cl 274/4, 179/ 100.2 {51] Int. Cl G1 1b 5/00 [50] Field of Search 274/4, 11; 179/100.2, (Z), (CA), (Ml); 242/198, 199, 200

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,485,500 12/1969 Loeschner 274/4(B)X 2,670,212 2/1954 Heller et a]. 274/46 3,257,515 6/1966 Nakamatsu 179/ 1 00.2 3,279,799 10/ l 966 Proctor 274/ l 1 3,385,534 5/1968 Staar 274/4(E) 3,437,762 4/1969 Lear et al... 274/4(B) 2,908,769 10/ 1959 Fonda 274/4(A) Primary Examiner-Leonard Forman Assistant Examiner-Dennis A. Dearing Attorneys-Norman J. OMalley, Robert E. Strausser and Cyril A. Krenzer ABSTRACT: A tape cartridge player for multichannel endless loop tape cartridges having an automatic tape cartridge lockin mechanism including a contact arm with a detent pawl at one end thereof, a straight angle magnetic head positioning and channel changing mechanism including a cam and follower operable both manually and automatically, and an auto matic shutoff switch mechanism, butwith an override which permits continuous play. When the cartridge is inserted in the player and the power is turned on, contact arm is moved by solenoid action so that the detent pawl contacts a detent in the cartridge and applies a fixed positive pressure thereto. Upon the completion of one channel of play, the cam is moved to the next channel position and the follower simultaneously moves the magnetic head to the next channel position. As an alternative, the channel changing mechanism may be manually actuated to switch from one channel to the next adjacent channel. After the last channel of recorded information has been played, as the channel changing mechanism is actuated, a wiper attached to the cam actuates a microswitch, which energizes a solenoid to thereby effect an automatic shutoff of the system which simultaneously acts to move the contact arm to its original position, releasing the pressure applied to the cartridge. The override switch when operative inhibits the activation of the shutoff solenoid to permit continuous operation.

TAPE CARTRIDGE SYSTEM CROSS-REFERNCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 643,681, filed Jun. 5, i967, and now abandoned.

Examples of mechanisms which could be utilized in the present invention are shown and described in the following copending patent applications filed concurrently herewith and assigned to the assignee of the present application: Drive System, Ser. No. 643,683 filed Jun. 5, 1967 and now aban cloned; Intermittent Drive Mechanism, Ser. No. 643,465 filed Jun. 5, 1967 now US. Pat. No. 3,446,086; Channel Selector Mechanism, Ser. No. 643,682 filed Jun. 5, 1967 and now abandoned; and Cartridge Lock-in, Release Mechanism, Ser. No. 643,733 filed Jun. 5, 1967 now U.S. Pat. No. 3,380,440.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to tape handling systems and more particularly to improved multichannel tape cartridge systems.

Tape recording and reproducing systems have found widespread acceptance in recent years. Especially significant has been the advent of the tape cartridge system which has many features and advantages not evident in the reel-to-reel systems which require a manual threading of the tape from the supply reel through the tape recording/reproducing mechanisms and to the takeup reel. The tape cartridge, whether of the reel-to-reel or endless loop type, obviates the need for any manual threading of the tape and furthermore is relatively compact and easy to store. Also, the cartridge protects the tape from many adverse environmental conditions, which tends to increase the life of the tape.

Most tape cartridges utilize tapes having a number of tracks thereon to provide a longer playing time per cartridge and thus a more economical cartridge. For example, there are presently in use two-track, four-track and eight-track tape cartridges and machines. Where stereophonic recording is desired, two tracks are required per stereo channel. Thus, for example, an eight-track system provides four stereo channels of recording.

While tape cartridge systems have many advantages over prior art tape systems, they encounter a number of difficulties which were not evident in the prior art systems, which difficulties at present tend to adversely affect the performance and thus the acceptability of the tape cartridge system. For example, using a multitrack, multichannel system it has been found more convenient and economical to move the magnetic sensor head when changing from one channel to another. In more prior art tape players, the head positioning has been achieved by attaching the head to a lever arm or a parallel piped mechanism and effecting the channel changing by pivoting the lever arm or parallel piped mechanism about a fixed point. The difficulty with these arrangements is that it is inherently impossible to maintain the magnetic head in a fixed plane with respect to the tape, since the head either moves in an are when the lever arm is pivoted, or remains parallel to the tape but moves toward or away from the tape as the parallel piped mechanism is moved from one channel to another. This results in an unbalance from one channel to another, an unbalance between the two tracks of the same channel or so-called crosstalk from adjacent channels.

Another difficulty encountered with the prior art cartridge system is the lack of a satisfactory method of inserting and holding the cartridge in position in the recording and/or reproducing machine. These systems generally use a manual lock-in mechanism which must of necessity have a degree of tolerance to accommodate the inherent variations encountered in cartridge fabrication. Therefore, as a result of human error or otherwise the cartridge may be poorly positioned in the machine so that improper pressure is exerted between the tape and head, or the tape is improperly aligned with the head, thereby adversely affecting the reproductive quality of the system. In addition, it is found that some of these manual lockin devices require an excessive force to seat the cartridge in the machine. In addition with the machines utilizing a manual lock-in with a shutoff mechanism, a further difiiculty is encountered if the cartridge is not immediately removed from the machine since the drive capstan continues to exert a pressure on a fixed point on the drive roller after the machine shuts off. If left in this position for any length of time this pressure may deform; the roller so that the next time the roller becomes activated a bumping or slipping motion may occur with respect to the tape resulting in a distortion in the reproduced sound.

Another feature not commonly provided on prior art tape cartridge machine, but which is considered desirable, is to have the machine automatically shut off after the last channel has been completed, but have the capability for a recycling of the machine for continuous play. That is, for example, to provide an override of the automatic machine shutoff.

It is further considered advantageous to have a machine which permits either automatic or manual channel changing with the provision of a visual device to indicate which of the channels is being played.

Accordingly, it'is an object of the present invention to provide an improved multichannel tape cartridge system which overcomes the foregoing difficulties and deficiencies of prior art systems.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved multichannel tape cartridge system wherein the magnetic head moves in a fixed plane parallel to the tape when changing from one channel to another.

Still another object of the invention is to provide for the automatic locking-in of the tape cartridge upon activation of the tape cartridge system and the automatic release of the tape cartridge when the system is deactivated.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved multichannel tape cartridge system which automatically shuts off after the last channel has been played, but which includes an automatic shutoff override capability to permit continuous play.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a tape cartridge system which provides both automatic and manual channel changing capabilities and includes a visual indication of the channel being operated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to one aspect of the invention, in a multichannel tape cartridge system upon activation of an on-off switch, power is supplied to an automatic locking mechanism operative to position the cartridge in proper alignment at a predetermined pressure in the unit. At the same time power is applied to the channel indicating mechanism and to a drive motor which is operative to rotate a drive capstan which moves the tape past the magnetic sensor head. Upon the completion of a channel of play, a metal strip affixed to the tape provides a short circuit across a pair of normally open contacts to thereby supply power to a stepping motor which rotates a cam one position. The stepping motor may also be activated by closing a normally open, manually operated switch. A follower positioned between the cam surface and the magnetic sensor head moves as the cam is rotated to impart linear motion to the magnetic head, which motion is restrained to a plane parallel to the plane of the tape and moves the head into position for the next channel of the tape.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The single FIGURE is a pictorial diagrammatic representation of one embodiment of a tape cartridge system according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT For a better understanding of the present invention, together with other and further objects, advantages and capabilities thereof, reference is made to the following disclosure and appended claims in connection with the above-described drawing.

Referring now to the drawing, a source of operating potential as represented by the terminal 11 is connected by means of a normally open, on-ofi' switch 13 to a plurality of distribution terminals, 15, 17, 19, 21 and 23. A drive motor 25 has its power leads connected between the distribution terminal 21 and ground, with the motor shaft 27 connected to a drive pulley 29. A drive belt 31 provides coupling between the pulley 29 and the drive capstan 33 of the system. The drive capstan is positioned near the drive roller 35 so that the tape 37 passes between the capstan and the roller.

The cartridge locking mechanism consists of a locking arm 41 secured to the bottom of a pivotable shaft 43. Positioned adjacent the locking arm is a trigger locking mechanism 45 which includes a trigger arm 47 and a trigger actuator 49. The trigger locking mechanism is pivotable about an axis x-x and a spring tensions means 51 secured to the mechanism tends to hold it in a predetermined position. Attached to the top portion of the pivotable shaft 43 is a contact arm 53 having a detent pawl, one end of which is formed to mate with a detent 55 in the tape cartridge 57. Secured to the pivotable shaft 43 above the locking arm 41 is a cartridge lock lever 61. A solenoid activation means 63 positioned adjacent to the lock lever 61 includes a movable member 65 adapted to provide locking motion to the cartridge lock lever 61. Tensioning means 67 connected to the lock lever tend to maintain the lock lever in contact with the movable member 65 of the solenoid activation means 63. One end of the solenoid winding is connected to power distribution terminal 17 and the other end of the winding is connected to ground through a normally closed switch 69 mounted on the end of the lock lever 61.

The automatic shutoff release mechanism 71 includes a lever arm 73 adapted to move about a pivot point 75. Attached to one end of the lever arm 71 are a trigger release arm 77 adapted to move the trigger 47 and an automatic shutoff arm 79 adapted to move the onoff switch 13 to the off position. A tension member 81 secured to the lever arm 73 operates to keep the lever arm in a disengaged position. Positioned adjacent the opposite end of the lever arm 73 is a solenoid operated release activation means 83 which includes a movable arm 85 adapted to provide the force to move the lever arm 73 against the force of the tension member 81. One end of the solenoid winding is connected through a normally closed switch 87 to power distribution point 19 and the other end of the solenoid winding is connected through a normally open microswitch 89 to ground.

The channel changing, channel indicator portion of the tape cartridge system includes a stepping motor 91 having one power lead connected to ground and another power lead connected through a normally open, manually operated switch 93 to power distribution terminal 23. Connected in parallel with the switch 93 are a pair of normally open contacts 95 which are positioned to be in contact with the tape 37 in the tape cartridge 57 so that a metal strip 99 affixed to the tape, when passing over the contacts 95, provides a short circuit therebetween. The shaft 101 of the motor 91 connects to a drive pulley 103. A drive belt 105 provides coupling between the pulley 103 and a second pulley 107 attached to one end of a drive shaft 109. Attached to the other end of the drive shaft is a rotatable cam 111 with a cammed circumferential surface 113 having indexed portions thereof corresponding to the four channel positions. A cam follower 115 is positioned between the cammed surface 113 and the magnetic sensor head 117, the follower being restrained to move in a vertical direction as indicated. Connected to the bottom of the cam is a pin 119 which operates to close the microswitch 89 as the cam rotates the pin past the microswitch.

Also attached to the bottom of the cam 111 is a wire member 121 adapted to be connected to the rotatable contact 123 of the indicator switch 125 (shown broken away at the upper right-hand corner of the drawing). A contact 127 of the switch 125 makes a permanent connection between the rotatable contact 123 and ground. The four

indicator lamps

131, 133, and 137 are connected respectively between four

fixed contacts

141, 143, and 147 and the power distribution terminal 15. A tip 149 on the rotatable contact 123 provides a connection to ground for one of the indicator lamps at a time, the respective indicator lamp corresponding to the tape channel being operated.

In operation the tape cartridge system functions in the following manner. Upon closure of the on-off switch 13 power is applied to the distribution terminals 15, 17, 19, 21 and 23. immediately, indicator light 131 turns on and at the same time the drive motor 25 is activated and operates to provide continuous rotation of the drive capstan. Simultaneously, power is provided to the solenoid actuation means 63 forcing the movable member 65 into contact with the cartridge lock lever 61 to thereby cause rotation of the pivotable shaft 43. This in turn rotates the detent pawl 53 into the detent 55 of the tape cartridge 57 to properly position the cartridge in the system andexerts a predetermined pressure on the cartridge which is transmitted to the drive roller 35' and drive capstan 33 to thereby provide the necessary constant driving pressure to move the tape between the roller and capstan. As the shaft 43 rotated a proper distance the trigger actuation 49 of the trigger locking mechanism 45 drops down to engage the locking arm 41 preventing any counterclockwise rotation of the shaft 43. Also, as the cartridge lock lever 61 is moved clockwise on the shaft 43, the normally closed switch 69 opens and deactivates the solenoid actuation means 63. This completes the lock-in activation of the tape cartridge system so that the system is now in the operating mode.

After the first channel on the tape 37 in the cartridge 57 is completed, the metal strip 99 on the tape shorts out the contacts 95 thereby supplying power to the stepping motor 91 which becomes operative to rotate the cam 111 approximately one-quarter turn clockwise as indicated. The rotation of the cam imparts the aforementioned vertical motion to the follower arm 1 15 which, in turn, brings the magnetic sensor head 117 into position for the second channel on the tape. Also, the rotation of the cam turns the movable contact 123 on the indicator switch 125 one-quarter turn so that the tip 149 provides a ground connection to the contact 147 turning on indicator light 137.

The system continues to operate in the foregoing manner, going through the second channel switching to the third channel and on to the fourth channel after completion of the third channel. However, upon completion of the fourth channel, as the contacts 95 short out providing power to the stepping motor 91 to rotate the cam 111 a quarter of a turn, the pin 119 comes into contact with the normally open switch 89 and closes the switch. This completes the path to ground for the solenoid operated release activation means 83, which becomes operative to force the movable arm 85 against the lever am 73 causing it to pivot about the point 75. This in turn brings the trigger release arm 77 into contact with the trigger 47 to pivot the trigger locking mechanism 45 upward which releases the locking arm 41 from the trigger actuator 49. The tensioned spring 67 applied force to the cartridge lock lever 61 then operates to rotate the pivot shaft 43 counterclockwise, thereby removing the detent pawl 53 from the detent 55 in the cartridge 57 so that the cartridge is automatically released. At the same time the automatic shutoff arm 79 is brought into contact with the on-off switch 13 moving t from the on position to the off position thereby removing all power from the system.

if it is desired to have continuous operation, rather than automatic shutoff, after completion of the last channel, the normally closed switch 87 is moved to the open position. This removes the power from the solenoid operated release activation means 83 so that the motion of the pin 119 against the microswitch 89 has no effect on the system. The cam 111 rotates the one-quarter turn, returning the magnetic sensor head 117 to the first channel position and the system continues to operate.

To manually change channels, the normally open switch 93 is closed, which provides power to the stepping motor 91. This causes a one-quarter rotation at the cam 111, to bring the head 117 into position for the next channel. The manual channel changing may beeffec ted at any time, even in the middle of a channel of play.

It will be readily apparent that many different types of mechanisms may be used to operate in place of the specific mechanisms described in the foregoing embodiment of the invention. Examplesof such mechanisms may be found in the above-mentioned cross-references to related applications. Still other variations and modifications will be recognized by those skilled in the art, some of which may be necessitated by particular system requirements or design preference.

It can therefore be appreciated that applicants have provided an improved tape cartridge system having significant advantages over prior art systems. The automatic cartridge lockin. release mechanisms assures proper seating of the cartridge and prevents damage to the cartridge and system. The vertical head movement, channel selector provide for improved hifidelity recording and reproduction by assuring proper alignment of the magnetic sensor head with the tape. Also, the manual channel changing and channel indicator permit rapid, easy selection of channels when desired.

While there has been shown and described what is at present considered the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. in a multichannel tape cartridge system including a movable magnetic head and a drive capstan operative to move the tape in a cartridge past the magnetic head, the combination comprising:

a power source;

a control circuit for said system;

a first switch operative to connect said power source to said circuit whereby said circuit is energized;

automatic cartridge lock-in means operative upon activation of said first switch for providing positive pressured placement of a cartridge which has been inserted in the system with respect to said magnetic head and said drive capstan, said lock-in means including a contact arm having a first position not contacting the cartridge when the circuit is not energized and having a second, positive pressure contact position with the cartridge when the circuit is energized;

a channel changing means formedto move said magnetic head from one channel position to the next channel position by moving said head in a fixed plane parallel to the plane of the tape in the region of the magnetic head;

second switching means operative to automatically energize said channel changing means at the end of each channel; and

third switching means connected to said channel changing means and operative to activate said first switch upon the completion of the last of said channels of play to deenergize said circuit by disconnecting said power source thereby effecting release of said automatic cartridge lockin means by returning said contact arm to the first position not contacting the cartridge.

2. The invention of claim 1 additionally comprising:

a wafer switch having a plurality of contacts, one for each channel of said multichannel cartridge;

a like plurality of indicator devices, each connected respectively to one of said plurality of wafer switch contacts; and

means connecting said wafer-switch to said channel changing means to thereby provide an indication of the channel being played.

Claims

1. In a multichannel tape cartridge system including a movable magnetic head and a drive capstan operative to move the tape in a cartridge past the magnetic head, the combination comprising: a power source; a control circuit for said system; a first switch operative to connect said power source to said circuit whereby said circuit is energized; automatic cartridge lock-in means operative upon activation of said first switch for providing positive pressured placement of a cartridge which has been inserted in the system with respect to said magnetic head and said drive capstan, said lock-in means including a contact arm having a first position not contacting the cartridge when the circuit is not energized and having a second, positive pressure contact position with the cartridge when the circuit is energized; a channel changing means formed to move said magnetic head from one channel position to the next channel position by moving said head in a fixed plane parallel to the plane of the tape in the region of the magnetic head; second switching means operative to automatically energize said channel changing means at the end of each channel; and third switching means connected to said channel changing means and operative to activate said first switch upon the completion of the last of said channels of play to deenergize said circuit by disconnecting said power source thereby effecting release of said automatic cartridge lock-in means by returning said contact arm to the first position not contacting the cartridge.

2. The invention of claim 1 additionally comprising: a wafer switch having a plurality of contacts, one for each channel of said multichannel cartridge; a like plurality of indicator devices, each connected respectively to one of said plurality of wafer switch contacts; and means connecting said wafer switch to said channel changing means to thereby provide an indication of the channel being played.