US3747940A

US3747940A - Tape cartridge ejection mechanism

Info

Publication number: US3747940A
Application number: US00124152A
Authority: US
Inventors: G Winkler
Original assignee: Motorola Inc
Current assignee: Motorola Solutions Inc
Priority date: 1971-03-15
Filing date: 1971-03-15
Publication date: 1973-07-24
Anticipated expiration: 1990-07-24
Also published as: GB1322887A; CA991308A; DE2211220A1; DE7208898U; IT948702B

Abstract

A housing for an electronic-type tape player device has two substantially perpendicular and intersecting outer walls, one of which includes an access opening to an internal cartridge receiving cavity and the other of which contains thereon an actuator member for a tape cartridge ejection mechanism. The actuator member is movable to an actuated position and is linked to an actuated member internal to the housing for correspondingly moving the actuated member. The actuated member is engageable with a bi-stable cartridge lock and release mechanism for moving the same from a first stable cartridge lock position to a second stable cartridge release position with movement of the actuator member to its actuated position thereby to permit an insertable tape cartridge to be removed from the cavity.

Description

United States Patent 1 Winkler July 24, 1973 TAPE CARTRIDGE EJECTION MECHANISM [75] Inventor: Gustav A, Winkler, Wheaton, Ill.

[73] Assignee: Motorola, Inc., Franklin Park, Ill.

[22] Filed:

[21] Appl. No.: 124,152

Mar. 15, 1971 Ketzer 274/4 E Primary ExaminerLouis R. Prince Assistant ExaminerDennis A. Dearing Attorney-Vincent Rauner and L. Arnold [57] ABSTRACT A housing for an electronic-type tape player device has two substantially perpendicular and intersecting outer walls, one of which includes an access opening to an internal cartridge receiving cavity and the other of which contains thereon an actuator member for a tape cartridge ejection mechanism. The actuator member is movable to an actuated position and is linked to an actuated member internal to the housing for correspondingly moving the actuated member. The actuated member is engageable with a bi-stable cartridge lock and release mechanism for moving the same from a first stable cartridge lock position to a second stable cartridge release position with movement of the actuator member to its actuated position thereby to permit an insertable tape cartridge to be removed from the cavity.

8 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PAIENIH] JUL24|973 3. 147, 940

SHEET 1 BF 2 h'iiiiniii 32 L za INVENTORI GUSTAV A. WINKLER BY: {elm 72 M ATTY.

Pmmmmw s". 747. 940

SHEEI 2 OF 2 INVENTORI GUSTAV A. WINKLER TAPE CARTRIDGE EJECTION MECHANISM BACKGROUND This invention relates generally to electronic-type tape player devices of the insertable tape cartridge variety wherein manually operable ejection mechanisms are employed to actuate internal cartridge lock and release mechanisms. More particularly, the invention relates to providing a manually operable ejection mechanism on a different housing wall of such a device from that housing wall providing an access opening to an internal cartridge receiving cavity.

In a popular configuration for under-dash mountable automobile tape players, front-loading electronic-type tape player devices have an internal cartridge receiving cavity for accepting insertable tape catridges for playing the tape thereof. Quite often such tape player devices employ a bi-stable cartridge lock and release mechanism for locking a grooved cartridge case within the cavity in a first stable position whereby the tape is made accessible to instrumentalities for playing the tape, and for releasing the cartridge to facilitate removal of the cartridge from the cavity in a second stable position. A tape player device having a similar cartridge lock and release mechanism and utilizing a grooved tape cartridge case similar to that described herein is setforth in US. Pat. No. 3,485,500, assigned to the assignee of the present invention and to which reference can be made for a greater detailed explanation of these features. Front-loading automobile tape players present a front protruding cartridge case with the cartridge in its tape playing position, which protruding portion presents a potentially hazardous obstacle to the body of the driver and/or an occupant of the automobile during emergency driving conditions.

It is accordingly desirable to provide entry of the tape cartridge to the internal cavity through a housing wall other than the front wall, thereby to remove the front protruding cartridge. Also, it is desirable to retain the ejection mechanism for actuating the cartridge lock and release mechanism on the front face of the tape unit along with othercontrol dials where it remains readily accessible for actuation with a minimum of attention.

SUMMARY It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an electronic-type tape player device having side-loading access to its internal cartridge receiving cavity.

It is another object of this invention to provide a front actuable ejection mechanism for facilitating the release and removal of the tape cartridge from the internal cavit lt is still another object to provide a bi-stable cartridge lock and release mechanism actuable by the ejection mechanism for movement in one direction from a cartridge lock position to a cartridge release position with movement of an actuator member of the ejection mechanism in another direction generally perpendicular to the one direction.

In a preferred embodiment, an electronictype tape player device includes a housing having at least two substantially perpendicular and intersecting outer walls defining a front wall and side wall for the player device. An opening in the side wall provides access to an internal cartridge receiving cavity including instrumentalities for playing the tape of an insertable tape cartridge. A bi-stable cartridge lock and release mechanism is operable between first and second stable positions by a snap-acting overcenter means for locking the cartridge within the cavity in the first stable position and releasing the cartridge for its subsequent removal from the cavity in the second stable position. An ejection mechanism comprises an actuator member, an actuated member and a motion converting means linking these members. The actuator member is accessible from the front wall of the player device and movable to an actuated position to correspondingly move the actuated member. The actuated member is engageable with the lock and release mechanism and moves it from its first stable position to cause the overcenter means to move the same to its second stable position.

THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a partialfront perspective of a tape player device of the present invention showing a housing having a side-loading access opening and a front actuator arm for an ejection mechanism;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the tape player of FIG. 1 with most of the housing removed and showing the ejection mechanism in its unactuated position;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan-view of the tape player generally taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2 and showing a cartridge lock and release mechanism in its cartridge release position;

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the tape player similar to FIG. 3 and showing the movement of the cartridge lock and release mechanism between the cartridge release position and its lock position;

FIG. 5 is an exploded view-of a portion of the ejection mechanism showing its assembly with the front wall of the housing;

FIG. 6 is a partial front view of the ejection mechanism of FIG. 5 in assembly and in its unactuated position with the front wall indicated in phantom view for purposes of clarity; and

FIG. 7 is a partial front view of the ejection mechanism similar to FIG. 6 but with the assembly thereof in its actuated position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to the drawing, FIG. 1 shows an electronictype tape player device 10 of the insertable tape cartridge variety that has a housing enclosure 11 including a top wall 12, a bottom wall and rear wall which are not shown, and a pair of side walls only one of which is shown at 13. Additionally, the enclosure 11 has a front wall 15 serving as the front face of the player device 10 and upon which various control and indicating dials can be mounted such as slide controls within grooves 16 and a channel indicator 17.

The side wall 13 defines a generally central elongated opening 18 therein for providing an access opening to an internal cartridge receiving cavity 21 as shown in FIG. 2. A suitable groove-like opening is provided in the front wall 15 of the player device 10 for permitting the protrusion therethrough of an actuator arm 23 useful for manually operating a tape cartridge ejection mechanism 25 as will be set forth with particularity hereinafter.

FIGS. 2-4 show the internal instrumentalities of the tape player 10 which enable the player device to receive and play an insertable tape cartridge 27, FIG. 3,

having an enclosing case for protecting a multi-track tape (a segment thereof being indicated at 26 in FIG. 2) contained therein. Typically, the case is made of a plastic-like material and has a V-shaped groove or notch 27a along one edge thereof by which the tape cartridge 27 is held into a playing position as is commonly done with tape cartridges. The internal cartridge receiving cavity 21 is defined by an interior structure having a pair of side plates 28 and a bottom plate 29 having an outwardly extending guide portion 30. With the tape cartridge 27 fully inserted within the cavity 21, the tape is positioned to be engaged by the capstan shaft 31 to drive the tape through the cartridge 27. An electric motor 33 responsive to a switch 32 drives a pulley 34 which is connected through a belt 35 to the capstan flywheel 36. The switch 32 is activated by the inserted cartridge 27.

A magnetic tape reproducing head 38 is positioned by cam follower 39 responsive to a rotatable cam means (not shown) which could be housed within enclosure 40. When a set of tape tracks is completed, a conductive strip on the tape bridges the contacts 41 to provide a means of electrically signalling the cam means to select another cam setting whereby the magnetic tape head 38 is re-positioned to play a different set of tape tracks or to turn the tape player off. Attached to the bottom plate 29 defining the cartridge receiving cavity 21 is a bi-stable tape cartridge lock and release mechanism 45. The separate parts and the operation of the lock and release mechanism can best be explained by referring to FIGS. 3 and 4 in conjunction with FIG. 2.

The cartridge lockand release mechanism 45 comprises a linkage including a first arm or slide 47 which is slidably mounted to the bottom plate 29 of the tape player 10 by rivets 48 movable within a groove or slot 48a. Extending from the slide 47 through an opening 49 in the plate 29 and into the cavity area 21 is a projecting tab or tine 50 which serves as an actuating member for the lock and release mechanism 45. The linkage includes a second arm 53 which is pivotally mounted to the bottom plate 29 by rivet 55. A snapacting overcenter means in a form of a spring 57 has one end thereof connected to a fixed spring post 58 and the other end thereof connected to spring post 59 of the arm 53. Further, the arm 53 has an extension arm 53a on its end adjacent the rivet 55 that is engageable with a cam edge 51 on the slide 47.

The overcenter spring 57 is used to bias with a snapacting movement the arm 53 between first and second stable positions. The first stable position is shown in solid lines in FIG. 4 and the second stable position is shown in FIG. 3. When the tape cartridge 27 is inserted into the cavity 21, an innermost or front piece of the cartridge case engages the tab 50 to force the slide 47 to move rearwardly (inwardly) of the cavity 21 as the rivets 48 guide movement of the slide 47 by means of the slot 480. The cam edge 51 engages the extension arm 53a to pivot the arm 53 about 55. With this arrangement, an inward movement of the cartridge 27 against the tab 50 serves to actuate the arm 53 to move to its first stable position.

It is apparent that as arm 53 pivots about 55, the end ofthe spring 57 on post 59 reaches a position where the spring tension on each end of the spring will become unbalanced and it will snap to the first stable position as shown in FIG. 4. The bottom plate 29 may be provided with raised

portions

29a and 29b for providing stop means for the arm 53 in moving to its first and second stable positions, respectively. In addition, as the arm 53 pivots, a roller 61 which is rotatably mounted to the arm 53 engages the groove 27a of the cartridge 27 and moves the cartridge to a cartridge lock position where the tape is made accessible to the various tape playing instrumentalities described above. A cut-away in the plate 29 at 63 permits the roller 61 to move inwardly of the cavity 21 in a generally arcuate path. In this position, a pinch or pressure roller (not shown) within the cartridge 27 will press against the capstan shaft 31 to capture the tape therebetwee n. Therefore, as the capstan shaft turns, it will rotate the pressure roller and drive the multi-track tape past the magnetic tape head 38 to reproduce the sound information thereon.

When the arm 53 is moved from its first stable cartridge lock position toward its second stable position as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the movement of the end of the spring 57 on post 59 will reach an unbalanced position again whereupon the spring will be actuated to bias the arm 53 to the second stable position with a snap-acting movement. Motion of arm 53 to the second stable position causes the extension arm 53a to move the slide 47 forwardly (outwardly) causing the tab to move against the cartridge case while simultaneously the roller 61 is being removed from the groove 27a in the cartridge along its arcuate path. The combined effect of the removal of the roller 61 and the movement of the slide 47 results in a positive movement of the cartridge 27 to its second stable position. Thereupon, the cartridge 27 is fully released from any engagement within the cavity 21 but complete removal therefrom requires that the cartridge be simply grasped and removed by the operator.

Alternatively, the operator may also remove the cartridge 27 while the lock and release mechanism 45 is in its first stable position with firm outwardly pull on the cartridge 27, causing the force thereof to be translated through the groove 27a to the roller 61. Movement of roller 61 causes the arm 53 to pivot about thereby actuating the overcenter spring 57 and biasing the linkage to its second stable position whereby the cartridge 27 is released for subsequent removal from the cavity 21.

The tape cartridge 27 is also expeditiously moved from its first stable cartridge lock position to its second stable cartridge release position by the tape cartridge ejection mechanism 25 in accordance with the present invention. In some mounting positions for the tape player 10 as under the dashboards of automobiles, it may not be desirable nor possible to apply the force required to remove the cartridge 27 unless the lock and release mechanism 45 is already in its second position. As previously explained, the tab 50 serves as the actuating member for the lock and release mechanism 45 upon cartridge insertion, and now it will be explained how the ejection mechanism 25 serves as the actuating means for releasing the cartridge 27 from the cartridge lock position.

The ejection mechanism 25 also comprises a linkage including a first or actuated member serving as an elongated pivotable cam means pivotally mounted to the bottom plate 29 by rivet 72 and having a free end 71 connected by linkage rod 74 to other linkage members of the ejection mechanism. The linkage includes a linearly actuable second or actuator member 75 best shown in FIG. 5 which is slidably mounted to the front wall 15 of the housing enclosure 11 by the rivets 76 being received .within an aligned one of a pair of

elongated slots

77 and 78 in the wall 15. When considering the orientation of the tape player shown in FIG. 1, the

slots

77 and 78 are generally vertical slots, and the rivets are conveniently oriented to pass through the vertical slot 77. The length of the slot 77 may be provided slightly longer than that of the slot 78 so that the slot 78 determines the extent of movement of the actuator 75. The actuator v75 includes the arm 23 thereon aligned to project through the slot 78in the front wall 15 as explained in connection with FIG. 1 for moving the actuator 75 from an unactuated position as shown in FIG. 6 to an actuated position as shown in FIG. 7.

The linkage furtherincludes a third'or bell crank member 80 serving as a motion converting means whereby motion of the actuator 75 to its actuated position is transmitted through the rod 74 into a pivotal movement of the actuated member 70 about 72 to the position indicated by the dashed lines of FIG. 4. The bell crank member 80 is pivotally mounted to the front wall 15 by a rivet 81,.has an offset end portion 82 suitably connected to the free end of the rod 74, and is mechanically coupled to the actuator 75 by rivet 83. Rivet 83 is received within an elongated slot 84 of actuator 75 so as to allow generally horizontal movement of the mechanical coupling between the

members

75 and 80 as the actuator 75 has generally vertical movement within the

slots

77 and 78. It is to be noted that the pivot axis at 81 is offset (to provide a lever arm) from the mechanical coupling between the

members

75 and 80 at 83 so that the bell crank 80 pivots about 81 with a generally vertical movement of the actuator 75. This pivotal movement of the crank 80 is .then converted into a generally horizontal movement of the rod 74 and transmitted directly to the actuated member 70. Also, it is apparent that with suitable'positioning of the

members

75 and 80 on the front wall 15 with respect to the member 70, the linkage rod 74 could be eliminated.

The actuator arm 23 has a stop surface 23a engageable with the bottom of the slot 78 to limit the downward movement of the actuator 75, and is provided with a protrusion 23b and an adjacent aperture 23c to permit a suitable exterior button (not shown) to be attached thereto. Further, the actuator 75 has opposite guide rails 85 thereon for engaging the rear of the front wall 15 to stabilize any irregular movement thereof as it is moved to its actuated position.

To facilitate the movement of the arm 53 of the lock and release mechanism 45 by the actuated member 70, the member 70 is provided with a cam edge 73 along one edge portion thereof adjacent the rivet 72 and positioned to be engaged by the extension arm 53a of the arm 53. With the lock and release mechanism in its first stable cartridge lock position, the extension arm 53a is in contact with the cam edge 73 as shown in FIG. 4 whereby the cam edge works against the extension arm 530 with a mechanical advantage to move the arm 53 from its first stable position a sufficient distance for the spring 57 to become unbalanced.

The spring 57 snaps the arm 53 to its second stable position, and in accordance with the cartridge movement described previously, the tab 50 and roller 61 of the lock and release mechanism 45 combine to move the cartridge 27 to the cartridge release position. The

actuated member is returned to its unactuated position by a return bias spring 87 connected between the movable free end 71 of the member 70 and a fixed connection 89 on the bottom plate 29. The return movement of the member 70 is effective to return the actuator member 75 and the bell crank member to their initial or unactuated positions.

It should be apparent that although the actuated member 70 is preferably provided as pivoted cam means, the forward movement necessary to react against the arm 53 to provide the movement thereof from its first position the predetermined distance to activate the spring 57, could as well be provided by a slide mechanism similar to the slide 47 which could be pulled forward against the return bias spring 87 by a direct connection with linkage means similar to the linkage rod 74. While the present invention has been shown and described with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, the invention is not limited to the precise forms set forth, and various modifications and changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

I claim:

1. An ejection mechanism for use with an electronictype tape player device including a housing having two substantially perpendicular and intersecting outer walls, a cartridge receiving cavity accessible through an opening in a first one of said walls, for holding an insertable tape cartridge, and an operable bi-stable cartridge lock and release mechanism movable in one direction to a first stable position for releasing said tape cartridge from said cavity, said ejection mechanism including in combination: a first, cam member mounted for movement in a first plane and engageable with said cartridge lock and release mechanism for moving the same to its first stable position whereby said cartridge is moved toward said access opening in said first wall of said housing for removal from said cavity, a second, actuator member extending outwardly from said second housing wall and movable linearly in a second plane generally perpendicular to said first plane, and a motion converting means coupled to said first and second members and being mounted for movement therebetween to translate the linear movement of said sec ond member in said second plane into a corresponding movement of said first member in said first plane, said motion converting means including a member mounted for pivotal movement and coupled at one end to said second, actuator member and link means coupled to and interposed between said pivotal member and said first member.

2. The ejection mechanism of claim 1 wherein said lock and release mechanism has a second stable position for locking said tape cartridge in said cavity, and said first member of said ejection mechanism comprises an elongated pivotable cam means including a free end thereof connected to said motion converting means and a pivoted end mounted adjacent said lock and release mechanism and having a first cam edge engageable therewith to move the same from said second stable position with movement of the free end of said cam means by said motion converting means.

3. The ejection mechanism of claim 1 wherein said pivotal member comprises a pivotal bell crank mechanically coupled to said second member and having a pivot axis removed from said mechanical coupling to provide movement of said first member in said one direction with movement of said second member in said other direction.

4. In an electronic-type tape player device including a housing having two substantially perpendicular and intersecting outer walls, an opening in one of said outer walls providing access to an internal cartridge receiving cavity, a bi-stable cartridge lock and release mechanism operable in a first plane between first and second stable positions by a snap-acting overcenter means for locking a tape cartridge within said cavity in said first position and for releasing said cartridge for removal from said cavity in said second position, an ejection mechanism including in combination: a linearly actuable slide member having an actuator arm extending outwardly of said player device from the other of said two outer walls, said actuator arm being movable in a second plane generally perpendicular to the plane of movement of said lock and release mechanism for providing movement of said slide member to an actuated position, a cam means internal to said housing and movable in said first plane, said cam means being engageable with said lock and release mechanism for moving the same from said first stable position to cause said overcenter means to move said lock and release mechanism to said second stable position with a snapacting movement whereby said tape cartridge is released, and a motion converting means including a member mounted on said housing for pivotal movement and coupled pivotally to said slide member and link means coupled to and interposed between said pivotally mounted member and said cam means for converting movement of said slide member in said second plane to a corresponding movement of said cam means in said first plane.

5. The ejection mechanism of claim 4 wherein said one wall containing said access opening is a side wall of said housing and said other wall providing access to said actuator arm is a front wall of said housing.

6. The ejection mechanism of claim 5 wherein said front wall includes an opening therein, and said slide member is slidably mounted on said front wall and has said actuator arm extending through said opening and movable therealong.

7. In an electronic-type tape player device including a housing having two substantially perpendicular and intersecting outer walls, an opening in one of said outer walls providing access to an internal cartridge receiving cavity extending horizontally within said housing, a bistable cartridge lock and release mechanism movable between first and second stable positions by a snapacting overcenter means, said lock and release mechanism locking an insertable tape cartridge within said cavity in said first position and releasing said cartridge for removal from said cavity in said second position, an ejection mechanism including in combination: an actuator member extending outwardly from the other of said two walls and movable vertically along said wall to an actuated position, an actuated member internal to said housing movable horizontally and engageable with said lock and release mechanism for moving the same from said first stable position in response to the movement of said actuator member to said actuated position whereby said tape cartridge is released, and motion converting means coupled between said actuator and actuated members to convert the vertical movement of said actuator member to horizontal movement of said actuated member, said motion converting means including a member mounted for pivotal movement on said housing and coupled pivotally to said actuator member and a link member interposed between and coupled to said pivotally mounted member and said actuated member, said pivotally mounted member being pivoted in response to the movement of said actuator member vertically to move said link member to drive said actuated member into engagement with said lock and release mechanism.

8. The ejection mechanism of claim 7 wherein said one wall containing said access opening is a side wall of said housing and said other wall providing access to said actuator member is a front wall of said housing.

* :k :r e

Claims

1. An ejection mechanism for use with an electronic-type tape player device including a housing having two substantially perpendicular and intersecting outer walls, a cartridge receiving cavity accessible through an opening in a first one of said walls, for holding an insertable tape cartridge, and an operable bi-stable cartridge lock and release mechanism movable in one direction to a first stable position For releasing said tape cartridge from said cavity, said ejection mechanism including in combination: a first, cam member mounted for movement in a first plane and engageable with said cartridge lock and release mechanism for moving the same to its first stable position whereby said cartridge is moved toward said access opening in said first wall of said housing for removal from said cavity, a second, actuator member extending outwardly from said second housing wall and movable linearly in a second plane generally perpendicular to said first plane, and a motion converting means coupled to said first and second members and being mounted for movement therebetween to translate the linear movement of said second member in said second plane into a corresponding movement of said first member in said first plane, said motion converting means including a member mounted for pivotal movement and coupled at one end to said second, actuator member and link means coupled to and interposed between said pivotal member and said first member.

4. In an electronic-type tape player device including a housing having two substantially perpendicular and intersecting outer walls, an opening in one of said outer walls providing access to an internal cartridge receiving cavity, a bi-stable cartridge lock and release mechanism operable in a first plane between first and second stable positions by a snap-acting overcenter means for locking a tape cartridge within said cavity in said first position and for releasing said cartridge for removal from said cavity in said second position, an ejection mechanism including in combination: a linearly actuable slide member having an actuator arm extending outwardly of said player device from the other of said two outer walls, said actuator arm being movable in a second plane generally perpendicular to the plane of movement of said lock and release mechanism for providing movement of said slide member to an actuated position, a cam means internal to said housing and movable in said first plane, said cam means being engageable with said lock and release mechanism for moving the same from said first stable position to cause said overcenter means to move said lock and release mechanism to said second stable position with a snap-acting movement whereby said tape cartridge is released, and a motion converting means including a member mounted on said housing for pivotal movement and coupled pivotally to said slide member and link means coupled to and interposed between said pivotally mounted member and said cam means for converting movement of said slide member in said second plane to a corresponding movement of said cam means in said first plane.

7. IN an electronic-type tape player device including a housing having two substantially perpendicular and intersecting outer walls, an opening in one of said outer walls providing access to an internal cartridge receiving cavity extending horizontally within said housing, a bi-stable cartridge lock and release mechanism movable between first and second stable positions by a snap-acting overcenter means, said lock and release mechanism locking an insertable tape cartridge within said cavity in said first position and releasing said cartridge for removal from said cavity in said second position, an ejection mechanism including in combination: an actuator member extending outwardly from the other of said two walls and movable vertically along said wall to an actuated position, an actuated member internal to said housing movable horizontally and engageable with said lock and release mechanism for moving the same from said first stable position in response to the movement of said actuator member to said actuated position whereby said tape cartridge is released, and motion converting means coupled between said actuator and actuated members to convert the vertical movement of said actuator member to horizontal movement of said actuated member, said motion converting means including a member mounted for pivotal movement on said housing and coupled pivotally to said actuator member and a link member interposed between and coupled to said pivotally mounted member and said actuated member, said pivotally mounted member being pivoted in response to the movement of said actuator member vertically to move said link member to drive said actuated member into engagement with said lock and release mechanism.