US3902193A

US3902193A - Cassette type tape recorder/reproducer with cassette moving carriage

Info

Publication number: US3902193A
Application number: US393224A
Authority: US
Inventors: Walter Hapke
Original assignee: Blaupunkt Werke GmbH
Current assignee: Blaupunkt Werke GmbH
Priority date: 1972-09-01
Filing date: 1973-08-30
Publication date: 1975-08-26
Anticipated expiration: 1992-08-26
Also published as: IT994172B; FR2198212A1; ATA757773A; CH556590A; JPS4968704A; GB1444131A; JPS5653815B2; FR2198212B3; AT335193B

Abstract

The carrier plate for the tape drive and magnetic heads is mounted on a scissors mount at each side. When a cassette is inserted all the way to an operating position in a guideway, the carrier plate is unlatched and descends on the scissors mount from a standby position to an operating position, while a catch prevents outward pressure against the cassette. In the meanwhile, the equipment has been switched on and an electromagnet holds a release lever in place. When the end of the tape is reached, or when the device is switched off, the electromagnet is deenergized, releasing a holding catch and setting in motion a mechanism that will raise the operating mechanism on its carrier and scissors mount and release the counter-pressure to eject the cassette, after which the standby position is restored. The various movements and latchings are powered by springs. Loading of the cassette provides energy to the spring system.

Description

United States Patent [191 Hapke 1 Aug. 26, 1975 1 CASSETTE TYPE TAPE 3,764,089 10/1973 Yoshida. 360/96 RECORDER/REPRODUCER WITH 3,764,757 10/1973 lnaga 360/95 CASSETTE MOVING CARRIAGE [75] Inventor: Walter l-lapke, Hildesheim, Germany [73] Assignee: Blaupunkt-Werke Gmbl-l,

Hildesheim, Germany [22] Filed: Aug. 30, 1973 [2]] Appl. No.: 393,224

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Sept. 1, 1972 Germany 2243184 Sept. 14, 1972 Germany.... 2245004 Sept. 20, 1972 Germany.... 2246019 Sept. 27, 1972 Germany t. 2247244 [52] US. Cl. 360/96 [Sl] Int.Cl. ..Gllb 23/10;G11b l5/18 [58] Field of Search 360/90-96; 274/4 DE [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,504,133 3/1970 Bcllis 360/93 3,758,122 9/1973 Kawaharasaki 360/92 Primary Examiner-Bernard Konick Assistant Examiner-Jay P. Lucas Attorney, Agent, or Firm-William R. Woodward [57] ABSTRACT The carrier plate for the tape drive and magnetic heads is mounted on a scissors mount at each side. When a cassette is inserted all the way to an operating position in a guideway, the carrier plate is unlatched and descends on the scissors mount from a standby position to an operating position, while a catch prevents outward pressure against the cassette. ln the meanwhile, the equipment has been switched on and an electromagnet holds a release lever in place. When the end of the tape is reached, or when the device is switched off, the electromagnet is de-energized, releasing a holding catch and setting in motion a mechanism that will raise the operating mechanism on its carrier and scissors mount and release the counterpressure to eject the cassette, after which the standby position is restored. The various movements and latchings are powered by springs. Loading of the cassette provides energy to the spring system.

24 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures PATENIEU maze ms v 3,902,193

SHEET 5 PATENTED Auszsmzs SHEET CASSETTE TYPE TAPE RECORDER/REPRODUCER WITH CASSETTE MOVING CARRIAGE The present invention relates to a cassette-loaded magnetic tape sound recorder and/or reproducer and more particularly to a tape recorder or reproducer for use in automotive installations, in which a cassette can be loaded by merely pushing the cassette into a slot. Reference to recorders herein include reproducers and combined recorder-reproducers, of course.

Cassette-type tape recorders for use in automotive vehicles require extreme simplicity for loading the cassette. The cassette must be insertable in a one-hand operation, in motions which are so simple that the attention of the driver is not distracted from traffic, Additionally, the mechanism must be small and lightweight, yet rugged and essentially immune to shock and vibration.

Customarily used cassette tape recorders utilize a fixed guide into which the cassette is inserted, the cassette being arrested in operating position by rollers, guide pins or the like. A carrier bar, or carrier plate which carries the operating mechanism for the tape is pivoted about a pivoting point so that, when the eassette is completely inserted, the tape therein can be operated. This requires a pivoting radius of fair size in order to prevent misalignment and jamming of the operating mechanism in the cassette itself by cassettes which are not in exactly aligned position. This pivoting radius then results in a comparatively long apparatus which is difficult to locate beneath or within the dashboard of an automotive vehicle since there is insuffcient room between the dashboard and the fire wall thereof.

Another type of Cassette tape recorder has been proposed in which the relatively large radius of movement of the apparatus itself is avoided. The cassette is inserted into a fixed cassette guide track, the cassette engaging a mechanism which lifts the operating plate carrying the drive mechanism for the cassette itself. The plate is lifted by means of a parallelogram arrangement, located on both sides of the cassette, and lifted from below (with respect to the cassette). This apparatus can be constructed to smaller dimensions and can be used in some automotive type cassette recorders having relatively large unobstructed room beneath the dashboard. The space available beneath the dashboard in automotive vehicles becomes less and less however and thus it is an object of the present invention to provide a cassette recorder which has an operating mechanism that can be located in a minimum amount of space, even in combination with a radio receiver, and which avoids tilting or swinging movement of the drive mechanism for the cassette itself during insertion thereof, yet permits one-hand operation which is simple.

SUBJECT MATTER OF THE PRESENT INVENTION Briefly, a scissors mount is provided on each side of the chassis for holding the carrier for the mechanism (i.e., the operating plate) above the chassis. At one end the scissors mount has a fixed pivot on the chassis, and at the other end of the chassis a stud-in-slot engagement is provided. Similarly, the scissors mount means has a fixed pivot on the carrier at one end and a stud-inslot engagement at the other end of the carrier. The

slots allow the carrier to be raised and lowered in the scissors mount relative to the chassis. Spring means are provided either for urging the scissors mount to fold up or else to urge the scissors mount to one or the other of its extreme positions by an over-center or flopping arrangement. Insertion of the cassette into the guideway charges additional spring means connected in a control mechanism. When the cassette is inserted all the way to its operating position, it engages a part of the control mechanism, as the result of which a latch is released allowing the carrier to move towards the eassette to engage the mechanism therewith, while at the same time the force of the additional spring means is blocked against pushing against the cassette or opposing the movement of the carrier into operating position. Another latch is provided which is released by a holding electromagnet, on any of a number of conditions for terminating operation of the recorder, and this latch releases the additional spring means so that they cause the carrier to be moved away from the cassette against the first-mentioned spring means directly associated with the scissors mount and also cause the cassette to be shifted or rejected out of its operating position. When the carrier reaches its standby position, it is held there by the first-mentioned latch.

Four illustrated embodiments of the invention show additional features useful in carrying out the invention. In a first embodiment, a tension plate is pivoted on each side of the chassis and the tension plate carries a spring coupling fixed on one end to a stud on an arm of the scissors mount, on the other end to a stud on the tension plate, and this spring is arranged so that it can flip as the mechanism moves between its standby position and its operating position. In this embodiment there is also a main spring which has one side affixed to the tension plate and the other side in engagement with a projection of a release lever which an electromagnet normally holds but releases under various conditions including reaching the end of a cassette. Another projection on the release lever engages a tab on the tension plate. A stop pawl is mounted on the tension plate and has a guide slot on which a slider in the cassette guideway engages, with a spring connecting the end of the slider stud projecting through the guide slot to the pivot on which the stop pawl is mounted on the tension plate. An angle lever is pivoted on the chassis on each side, with one arm latching the carrier in its standby position and with the other arm catching the slider when the cassette is inserted and the carrier unlatched, so that during playing the cassette there will be no pressure tending to push back the cassette. Deenergization of the electromagnet allows the main spring to move the release lever against the stop pawls, changing the position of their guide slots so that the tension plates then rotate and operate the scissors mount to move the carrier plate to the standby position. As it reaches that position, studs on the scissors mount, in latching on the right levers, first cause those levers to release the slider from their catches, thus at least partially ejecting the cassette.

In a second embodiment, the control mechanism, which is duplicated, as in all embodiments, on each side of the chassis, has a tension lever and a crossarm on a common pivot on the chassis and coupled together by a spring. In the standby position the carrier, with the scissors mount extended against a second spring which urges it to contract, rests on an edge of an angle lever,

which is also coupled by a third spring with the tension lever and engages one end of thecrossarm. The free end of the tension lever is coupled with a projecting stud of a slider in the cassette guideway. Insertion of a cassette moves the tension lever by means of the slider. The crossarm moves with it until-it is arrested by a latch held in position by an electromagnet. As the cassette reaches its operating position the glider grips the right angle lever and the scissors mount closes until the carrier is seated on both ends of the crossarm. At the same time the slider is latched so that there is no pressure against the cassette. When the electromagnet is re leased, the latch it was holding releases the crossarm, which then moves the carrier to its standby position by spring action overcoming the spring more directly connected to the scissors'mount. This movement of the carrier brings the stud against a camming edge of the right angle lever, causing the slider to be released and the cassette to be shifted or rejected. The release of the slider allows the tension lever to move under spring action, in the course of which movement it engages a stop on the crossarm causing the crossarm to be restored to the standby position, but only after the carrier is latched in its standby position by the right angle lever.

In a third embodiment of the invention, the control mechanism on each side ofthe chassis includes a control lever and a camming lever, mounted on a common pivot on the chassis, coupled by a spring. The control lever engages a slider in the cassette guideway, by which it is moved against the spring connected to the chassis when a cassette is inserted. As such movement proceeds, a stud of the carrier moves along a camming edge of the control lever and, when the cassette reaches its operating position, is released by movement of the carrier towards its operating position under influence of a spring that tends to close the scissors mount, until the aforesaid stud is arrested by the camming surface of the cam lever, which has been stationary by a release latch while the control lever moved. The position of the carrier stud, as arrested by the cam edge of the cam lever, is against a more or less radial edge of the control lever, which prevents the latter and the slider from exerting pressure on the cassette during operation. When the de-energization of a release magnet releases the release latch, the cam lever moves under spring action to move the carrier to its standby position, overcoming the spring tending to keep the scissors mount closed, until the cam lever reaches a stop on the control lever. At this point, the stud of the carrier no longer blocks the movement of the control lever, which then moves under spring action to eject the cassette and to return to its original position, defined by the projection at the end of its camming surface, where it can again be latched by the release latch.

In a fourth embodiment, the control mechanism on each side of the chassis includes a control plate arranged for rectilinear movement parallel to the direction of cassette insertion, on rollers mounted on the chassis, engaging slot edges of the control plate. Insertion of the cassette moves the control plate back by engagement of the cassette with a tab projecting into the guideway through a slot, and this movement of the control plate is against the force of a spring fastened between the control plate and an arm of the control lever that during operation is held in fixed position on the chassis by a latch held in place by an electromagnet. A stud of the carrier, which was previously engaged with a supporting edge of the control plate. may now move towards the guideway along a guiding edge of the control plate as the scissors mount is pulled together by a second spring to bring the carrier to its operating position. The engagement of the aforesaid stud with the guide edge of the control plate prevents the first spring from applying pressure through the control plate to the cassette. When the electromagnet is deenergized, the latch is released, allowing the control lever to move under pressure of the first-mentioned spring and, by a camming edge, to actuate a stud of the scissors mount so as to move the carrier to its standby position. When the carrier reaches that position, the control plate is no longer held by the stud on the carrier and returns to its original position, ejecting the cassette, at the same time putting its supporting surface under the stud of the carrier to keep the carrier in its standby position until the next operation. When the control plate reaches its forward position, the control lever can again be latched.

The invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the scissors mount and of the carrier plate for the mechanism supported by the scissors mount;

FIG. 2 is a schematic elevation view of the control mechanism for the scissors mount in a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the control mechanism shown in FIG. 2, when the tape recorder is in its standby condition;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the control mechanism shown in FIG. 2, when the tape recorder is in its operating position;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the control mechanism shown in FIG. 2,just after the latch means has been released by the electromagnet to initiate return to the standby position;

FIG. 6 is a schematic elevation view of a control mechanism in a scissors mount in a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating the operation of the scissors mount, with particular reference to a third embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a control mechanism for the scissors mount of the third embodiment of the invention in its standby position;

FIG. 9 is a diagram of the control mechanism of FIG. 8, shown in the operating position of the tape recorder;

FIG. 10 is a diagram of the control mechanism of FIG. 8, shown after the release of a latch initiating return to the standby condition;

FIG. 11 is a schematic elevation view of the control mechanism for the scissors mount of a fourth embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the control mechanism of FIG. 11, in the standby condition.

FIG. I shows a movable carrier plate 10 mounted in the scissors l1 and 12. The arm 13 of the scissors l1 and the arm 14 of the scissors l2 opposite to it are mounted to swing on coaxial main pivots P provided on a fixed Chassis not shown in this FIG. 0f the drawing. The two

scissors arms

13 and 14 are connected together by a tie bar 15 with sufficient rigidity to provide adequate synchronization of the movements of the two scissors l1 and I2 and thus to obtain a good parallel drive for the two sides of the carrier plate 10.

The other two

lower arms

16 and 17 of the scissors 11 and '12, respectively, are held in guide slots 18 provided in the fixed chassis. The

scissors arms

19 and 20 are pivoted on opposite sides of the. carrier plate 10, while the pivots providedfor the

arms

20 and 22 turn in guide slots 23 on flanges of the carrier plate 10.

The pivots for the

arms

19 and 20 extend to form studs 24, the function of which will be described in other FIGS. In the f rst embodiment, to be described shortly, the controlof the scissors 11 and. 12 is provided by operation of a control system acting on the control points P This control system and its function will now be described with reference to FIGS. 2 through 5.

The carrier plate 10 carries the drive for the tape, as well as the recording and reproducing heads of a magnetic tape sound recordingand reproducing equipment designed to operatewith tape cassettes, but the tape drive and the. magnetic heads and their associated equipment are not shown in the drawings in order to show more plainly the features pertaining to the invention.

The control mechanism which operates the scissors mount 11,12 and thecar'rier plate 10, in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention, is schematically shown in FIG. 2. Since the two sides of the equipment in which thescissors elements are located are of the, same construction, the showing of the drawings and the terms of the description refer to just one side.

A-cassette guideway 31 is located in the lower portion of a fixed chassis 30. The projecting stud 32 is part of a slider, otherwise not shown, movable in the guideway 31. A pivoted tension plate 33 is mounted to swing about a pivot P, near the upper forward corner of the chassis and is connected by a'coupling member, in this embodiment a wire spring 34, with the control stud P of the scissors mount 11. On a pivot at its forward lower corner, tension plate 33 carries a stop pawl 35 having a guide slot36, in which is engaged the stud 32 of the slider that is inside the cassette guideway 31. A first tension'spring 37 is stretched between the stop 32 and the connection pi'vot'o'f the tension plate 33 and the stop pawl 35; A'seco'rid tension spring 37' pulls the pawl 35 upward to trap the'stud 32.

An angle lever 38', swinging on a pivot P at the rear end of the guideway 31, has a horizontal arm in the shape of a catch 39 that can engage stud'32 of the slider and a vertical arm with an edgewise sawtooth latch projection 40 that has an upper'short cam profile 41 and a lower, and somewhat longer, cam profile 42. The cam profiles 41, 42 guide the stud 24 carried by the scissors 11. In additionto the parts described up to now, the control system comprises also a release lever 43 that can be swung abouta pivot P fixed onthe chassis 30.

The release lever 43 has an upper arm 44 that can en-.

gage a tab 45 of the tension plate 33 and a lower arm 46 that can displace the stop pawl 35. The release lever 43 is arranged to be held at a contact surface 47 by an electromagnet 48, when the" latter is energized.

A main spring 49, again a wire spring, has its forward arm fastened to the tension plate 33, whileits rear arm engages a bent tab 50 of the upper arm 44 of the release lever 43. I I

At lower right of FIG, 2, a,cassette 51 is shown as it might protrude from the, guideway 31 before being pushed into operating position or, after ejection from the operatingposition.

The operation sequence of the loading and unloading of a cassette in a magnetic tape recorder embodying the invention is explained below with reference to FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5. In this operation sequence, the following requirements are to be met:

1. It must be assured that when the cassette 51 is inserted, carrier plate 10 that carries the drive and magnetic heads, may be lowered only after the cassette reaches its operating position (FIG. 4).

2. The cassette 51 must be prevented from being inserted beyond its operating position (FIG. 4).

3. When the tape recorder is switched off, it must be assured that the carrier plate 10 returns to its standby position and that the cassette 51 is ejected.

4. The cassette 51 must not be ejected until the carrier plate 10 has freed itself fully from the cassette 51.

5. The tape recorder must be returned to its standby position whenever:

a. an OFF switch is actuated;

b. at the end of the tape;

0. upon interference with or blocking of the tape drive;

d. upon disconnection or failure of the supply voltage.

All of these requirements are fulfilled by the tape cassetterecorder/reproducer of this invention.

FIG. 3 shows the position of the control systemsand of the scissors mount 11 in the standby position of the unit. The cassette 51 is not pushed into the cassette guideway 31, the stop pawl 35 is in its forward latched position, and the tab 45 of the tension plate 33 holds the upper lever arm 44 of the release lever 43 so that its contact surface 47 is against the electromagnet 48. The carrier plate 10 is in its uppermost position, with the stud 24 resting on the upper and shorter cam surface 41 of the control lever 38.

If the cassette 51 is pushed into the guideway 31, it displaces a slider inside the guideway, of which the projecting stud 32 is visible in FIG. 3. When this stud moves with the slider and the cassette, it causes the.

pawl 35 and the corner of the tension plate 33, to which it is connected, to be displaced towards the rear of the guideway.

The electromagnet 48 is switched on, along with the rest of the electrical equipment of the tape recorder, by means not shown, and the electromagnet thereafter holds the release lever 43 firmly in the position shown in FIG. 3. The tension plate 33 swings about its pivot P as a result of the pull of the stud 32 and the pawl 35 just described, in consequence of which tab 45 is moved upwards, but the release lever 43 is not affected by the movement of the tab 45 because it is held by the electromagnet 48.

When the cassette 51 reaches the operating position, the slider stud 32 reaches the nose of the catch 39 of the control lever 38 and, acting on its slanting nose surface, swings the control lever 38 about its pivot P so that the stud 24 of the carrier 10 is released by the upper and shorter cam surface 41 of the vertical arm of the control lever 38. When the slider stud 32 lodges in the catch 39 of the control lever 38, the cassette 51 has reached the operating position FIG. 4. During the previous movement of the control lever 38, the carrier plate 10, as already mentioned, was set free. The tension plate 33, as a result of its upward swing, at the same time, causes the spring 34 to flip over, from the position shown in solid lines in FIG. 2 to the position 34' shown in dashed lines in FIG. 2, at the same time compressing the main spring 39. Since the wire spring 34, in the position 34, is now pressing downward on the stud P the scissors mount 11 folds up as the stud P moves to the position P,, of FIG. 2, and the carrier plate 10 moves doen to its lower position where the stud 24 rests on an edge of the chassis, as shown at 24' (FIG. 2 and FIG. 4). The corresponding forward studs of the scissors mount resting in the slot guide of the carrier plate move down from the position 23 to the position 23'. The position of the carrier plate so determined is the operating position of the tape recorder/repro ducer, as illustrated with particular reference to the control mechanism in FIG. 4.

If now, as the result of one of the four contingencies designated (a), (b), (c) and (d), with reference to operating requirement No. 5 set forth above, the tape recorder is switched off, the carrier plate will be brought back to the standby position and the cassette 51 ejected. This operation is described by reference to FIG. 5.

As a result of one of the events just mentioned, for example, reaching the end of the tape in the cassette 51, the current supply for the electromagnet 48 is disconnected by means not shown and the electromagnet releases the release lever 43. The force of the main spring 49, applied against the tab 50 of the projecting end 44 of release lever 43, causes the release lever 43 to swing on its pivot P and to press its lever arm 46 downwards on the stop pawl 35, which is likewise swung downwards. In so moving, the pawl 35 flips the guide slot 36, at the slider stud 32, through the crook in the slot, at which time the pawl 35 can move forward as the main spring 49 rides the tension plate forward, stretching the spring 37. This movement terminates when tension plate 33 has returned to its standby position, with its tab 45 pressing the release lever 43 so as to swing the contact surface 47 back against the electromagnet 48. The movement of the tension plate 33 causes the wire spring 34 to flip again (FIG. 1), in consequence of which the carrier plate 10 is raised. As the carrier plate rises, the guide stud 24 engages the second and longer camming edge 42 of the sawtooth catch 40 of the control lever 38. As a result, the control lever 38 is swung back on its pivot P and sets the catch 39 free of the slider stud 32. The tension spring 37 can now contract and pulls the stud 32 from the rear end of the slot 36 of the pawl 35 to the front end of the slot, pulling the slider on which the stud 32 is fastened and ejecting the cassette 51. The carrier plate 10 now lies with its stud 24 resting on the upper cam edge 41 of the sawtooth catch 40 of the control lever 38, hence, again, in the standby position shown in FIG. 2. The cassette tape recorder is now switched off, ready to be put again into operation.

FIG. 6 shows one side of the control system of another embodiment of the invention, using the scissors mount 11 to raise and lower the carrier 10, and diagrams the operation cycle of this embodiment. For simplicity, only one side of the cassette tape recorder and its control system is shown in FIG. 6 and described below. The other side is constructed in exactly the same manner.

A tension lever 35 and a crossarm 76 are pivoted on a common pivot P mounted on the fixed chassis 30 which, like the embodiment previously described, has a cassette guideway 31. The tension lever 75 and the crossarm 76 are coupled by a wire spring 77, the action of which is limited by the stop tab 93. At its extremity farthest from the pivot P the tension lever forks and has an end slot 78 with which the projecting stud of a slider stud 79 is engaged. The slider, as in the case of the previous embodiment, slides in the cassette guideway 31 and, of course, the fluctuating stud projects through a slot 80 in the side wall of the guideway 31. An angle lever 81, with a holding arm 82 and an operating arm 83, is pivoted on a bearing P provided on the fixed chassis 30. The holding arm 82 has a first camming edge 84 and the operating arm 83 has a second camming edge 85. The angle lever 81 and the tension lever are operatively coupled by the spring 86. A third principal element of the control system is provided by the release pawl 87, which is arranged to be held or released by the electromagnet 48. The release pawl 87 is provided with a shoulder 88 that serves as a stop for the crossarm 76. The release pawl 87 is also pivoted on a bearing provided on the chassis 30, in this case the pivot P The carrier plate 10 is mounted on the scissors mount 1 1 by means of actuating

studs

89 and 90. The scissors mount 11 is mounted on the chassis by means of a main pivot P and the slot guide 18. A spring 91 is stretched between the arms of the scissors mount, in such a way as to pull the arms together to bring the carrier plate towards the operating position. The carrier plate 10 carries an additional actuating stud which cooperates with the holding arm 82 of the angle lever 81.

The standby position of the-control elements of the tape recorder are shown in solid lines, whereas the various stages of operation are diagrammed with dashed lines and dash-dot lines.

The cassette 51 is pushed into the cassette g'uideway 31 against the slider 79 lying in the guideway. Electromagnet 48 is switched on, by means not shown, and holds the release pawl 87 fast. During the insertion of the cassette 51, the projecting stud of the slider 79 moves in the slot to the position 79' and carries along with it, by its engagement with slot 78, the tension lever 75, which swings about its pivot P and, by means of the spring 77, causes the crossarm 76, likewise to rotate. The crossarm 76 swings along with the tension lever 75 until it engages the shoulder 88 of the release pawl 87, pushing the latter to the right against the force of the electromagnet 48, which thus arrests the crossarm 76. In the meanwhile, the carrier plate 10 is held in position by the stud 92, resting on the holding arm 82 of the angle lever 81, The tension lever 75 continues to move after the crossarm is stopped, however, as a result of which the

springs

77 and 86 are stressed.

As sq n as the slider 79 engages the second camming edge of the operating arm 83, the angle lever 81 is swung out of position and, while the slider 79 is latched by the operating arm 83 so that it cannot be pulled back by the spring 86, the stud 92 is freed from the restraint of the holding arm 82 of the angle lever 81, so that the spring 91 then pulls down the carrier plate 10 to engage the mechanism (not shown) mounted thereon with the cassette 51 in the operating position of the device. The cassette 51 is relieved of counterpressure by the fact that the slider 79 is latched by the edge surface of the operating arm 83.

If now the tape recorder is switched off, for example, by operation of the off button, by reaching the end of the tape, by interference with the transport mechanism,

or by disappearance of the supply voltage. the electromagnet 48 is de-energized and the release pawl 87 is released and swings back so that the crossarm 76 is no longer held by the shoulder 88 and swings downward under the pull of the spring 77, until the stop tab 93 strikes the tension lever 75. As the result of this movement, the carrier plate 10 is raised out of engagement with the cassette 51, because the crossarm 76 engages and raises the actuating stud 89. As soon as the carrier plate 10 is fiJlly free of the cassette 51, the actuating stud 92 rising with the carrier plate 10 engages the cam edge 84 of the holding arm 82 and swings the angle lever 81 about its pivot P enough to release the slider 79 in the slot 80. The spring 86 then pulls back the slider 79 to its standby position, and with it brings back the tension lever 75 and the crossarm 76 to their standby positions. With the movement of the slider 79, the cassette 51 is ejected. When the carrier plate 10 goes into its standby position, after the release of the slider 79 by the arm 83 of the angle lever 81, the stud 92 passes beyond the end of the cam edge 84'and the angle lever 81 returns to its original position, while its holding arm 82 holds the actuating stud 92 and the carrier 10. The tape recorder is now again in its standby position.

In FIGS. 7 through 10, a third embodiment of the invention, illustrating a different mechanical system for controlling the scissors mount 11, is shown, again with reference to only one side of the chassis. The other side is provided with a control mechanism of the same construction.

As shown in FIG. 7, the movable carrier plate 10 is supported on one end by a guide stud 24 and on the other end by a slot guide 23 supporting the carrier plate 10 on the upper ends of the arms of the scissors mount 11, which itself is supported, as in previously described embodiments, at a main pivot P by a slot guide 18, both provided on the fixed chassis 30. A cassette guideway 31 is likewise provided at the bottom of the chassis 30 and a slider 100, of which only the end of the stud projecting through a slot in the guideway 31 is shown, is again provided in the guideway 31, for engagement with the cassette 51, when the latter is inserted into the guideway. The control mechanism, actuated by the stud of the slider 100, for control of the scissors mount 11 of the carrier 10, is shown diagrammatically in three of its positions in FIGS. 8, 9, and 10, respectively. As shown in FIG. 7, a spring 101 is stretched between the arms of the scissors mount 111 so as to close the scissors and to bring the carrier 10 to its lower position, after the cassette has been fully inserted into its operating position. The lower position of the scissors mount 11] is shown by dashed lines in FIG. 7. In this position the tape drive and magnetic heads (not shown), mounted on the carrier 10, are brought into engagement with the cassette In FIGS. 8, 9 and 10, the position of the carrier is shown symbolically by indicating only the position of the support stud 24. The control system shown in these figures includes a control lever 102, having a control edge 10 4, limited by a projection 103 at one end. The control lever 102 is also connected with a stud of a slider 100 provided in the cassette guideway, the stud projecting through a slot in the guideway and engaging with a slot of the control lever 102. Both the control lever 102 and another lever 105 that may be designated as a cam lever, are mounted on a common pivot P provided on the fixed chassis 30 in FIG. 7. The pivot P can, if desired, be made to coincide with the main pivot P of the scissors mount 11.

The cam lever 105, like the control lever 102 has a curved camming edge 106 that is terminated at one end by a projection 107. The cam lever 105 and the control lever 102 are operatively coupled by the wire spring 108. A stop pin 109 mounted on the control lever 102 limits the scope of swing of the cam lever 105 with respect to the control lever 102, so that the spring 108 provides a continuous bias force. A catch lever 110, pivoted on a bearing P provided on the fixed chassis 30, is arranged to be held or released by the electromagnet 48 and has a catch shoulder 111 for arresting the projection 107 of the cam lever 105, to maintain the position of the latter, both in the standby and in the operating condition of the equipment so long as the electromagnet 48 is energized. A restoring spring 112, connected to the control lever 102 at one end and to the fixed chassis 30 at the other, has the function of swinging control lever 102 back to its standby position during the switching off phase of the equipment and, at the same time, causing the slider to eject the eassette 51.

The operation of the control system just described will now be explained.

When the cassette 51 is pushed into the cassette guideway 31, the tape recorder is energized, by means not shown, and the electromagnet 48 is energized, to block motion of the cam lever by holding the catch lever 110 and keeping its shoulder 111 engaged with the projection 107 of the cam lever 105, while the slider 100 is pushed to the left by the cassette and causes the control lever 102 to swing about its pivot P (FIG. 8).

As the slider 100 moves and the control lever 102 swings, the tension spring 108 and the restoring spring 112 are stressed. During this operation the large stud 24 of the carrier plate 10 slides along the curved surface 104 of the control lever and remains in the standby position. As soon as the cassette 51 has reached its operating position, however, the control lever 102 has swung so far so that the guide stud 24 of the carrier plate 10 gives off the curved surface 104 and is set free, so that the spring 101 starts to fold up the scissors mount 11 (FIG. 7). This movement brings the equipment (not shown) mounted on the carrier plate 10 into engagement with the cassette 51 and also causes the stud 24 to block return of the control lever 102 (FIG. 9) so that the cassette 51 is relieved of counterpressure that would tend to push it out of the guideway 31. The tape recorder is now in operation.

If the tape recorder is not turned off, for example, by operation of the off button, by reaching the end of the tape, by interference with the transport mechanism, or by failure of the supply voltage, the electromagnet 48 is de-energized and the catch lever 110 released (FIG. 10). The cam lever 105 is then no longer held back by the projection 107 and swings on its pivot P driven by the tension spring 108, until it hits the stop pin 109. In the meanwhile, as the cam lever 105 swings, the guide stud 24 of the carrier plate 10 is raised above the level of the curved control edge 106 and is thus returned to the standby position. As soon as the stud 24 has been raised above the level of the curve 104, the blocking of the return of the lever 102 is disengaged and the re storing spring 12 swings both the control lever 102 and the cam lever 105 back into their standby positions (FIG. 8). This movement is, of course, transmitted to the slider 100, which ejects the cassette 51 out of the cassette guideway 31, while the carrier plate 10 remains held in its standby position as the guide stud 24 is transferred to .the control edge 104 of the control lever 102 and slides along it until it engages the projection 103 and arrests the motion of the control lever. After the control and

cam levers

102 and 105 have swung completely back, the catch lever 110 also falls back into place and is ready to hold the control lever 102 when the electromagnet 48 is re-energized. The standby condition of the tape recorder is then restored (P10. 8) and the device is ready to be switched on again.

A fourth embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. Again, the illustration and description is limited for reasons of simplicity to show the control mechanism on only one side of the chassis. Similar components are used to provide a corresponding construction on the other side.

The carrier plate 10, again, is carried in a scissors mount 11 which carries a guide stud 24 on one arm 19, while the arm carries a control stud 55 movable in a slot guide 18 which is provided in the fixed chassis 30. A cassette guideway 31 is connected with the fixed chassis 30 and serves to accept a cassette 51. Roller supports 56 and 57 are mounted on bearings provided on the chassis 30 and a control plate 58 is movably mounted on these rollers by means of slots 59. The fastening of the roller 56 is also the main pivot P for the scissors mount 11. The upper part of the control part 58 provides a horizontal holding edge 60, on which the guiding stud 24 of the scissors mount 11 is held in the standby position, and a vertical guiding edge 61, along which the guiding stud 24 may move when the carrier 10 is lowered or raised. A projection 62 extends from the rear lower edge of the control plate 58 through a slot in the guideway 31 to the interior of the guideway, where it may engage the carrier 51 as the latter is inserted, thus performing the function of the slider in the guidewaydescribed above in connection with other embodiments.

Control plate 58 is connected with a holding lever 66 by a spring 63 stretched between a tab 64 towards the rear of the control plate 58, and a tab 67 on the downwardly entending arm 65 of the holding lever 66. That downwardly extending lever arm 65 has its rear edge provided with a control cam curve 72, against which the control stud 55 of the scissors mount 11 rides. The holding lever 66 swings about a pivot P mounted on the chassis 30 and its upper arm 68 engages a locking I lever 69 that is pivoted on another bearing P provided on the chassis 30. The locking lever 69 has a bent locking tab 70 for arresting the movement of the holding lever 66 and can be actuated by an electromagnet 48. A spring 71 is stretched between the

scissors arms

13 and 19 of the scissors mount 11 and assures that the scissors will move towards a closed position as soon as the cassette 51 has reached its operating position.

The operation of the arrangemcntjust described can now be explained.

The solid lines in FIG. 11 show the standby position of the equipment, i.e., the cassette 51 is not pushed into place. The dashed lines indicate the operating position of the apparatus.

The electromagnet 48 is supplied with operating voltage and holds the locking lever 69 fast, in consequence of which the holding lever 66 is prevented from moving by the locking tab 70. When the cassette 51 is pushed into place, it pushes back the actuating tab 62 of the control plate 58, so that the control plate moves back on the

rollers

56 and 57 in the direction in which the cassette is inserted. The holding edge at the top of the control plate 58 slides back under the stud 24 and the spring 63 is stretched. As soon as the cassette 51 reaches its operating position, the guide stud 24 of the scissors mount 11 passes the end of the holding edge 60 and goes down along the guide edge 61, under the influence of the spring 71. The carrier plate 10 is thus lowered against the cassette 51 and its works are engaged with the cassette. The scissors mount then has the position shown in dashed lines. Since the guide stud 24 now lies at the lower end of the guiding surface 61, the control plate 58 is prevented from being pulled back to its standby position by the spring 53. As a result of this latching of the control plate 58, the cassette S1 is freed of counter-pressure. The tape recorder is then in operating condition.

If the apparatus is switched off, for example, by actuation of an OFF button, by reaching the end of the tape, by interference with the transport mechanism, or by failure of the supply voltage, the energizing voltage of the electromagnet 48 is disconnected and the locking lever 69 is set free. The holding lever 66 is thereby release, swings about its pivot P, and, driven by the spring 63, pushes the scissors 11 apart, applying pressure by its curved cam edge 72 against the control stud S5. The scissors mount opens up and lifts the carrier plate 10 out of engagement with cassette 51. In this movement the stud 24 slides upwards along the guiding edge 61 of the control plate 58, up to the intersection of the edge 61 and the holding edge 60. At that point, the carrier plate 10 reaches its standby position and the guide stud can ride along the holding edge 60 while the control plate is set free to roll back on the

rollers

56 and 57 under the influence of the spring 63. As shown in FIG. 12, which is a perspective representation of the control mechanism in its standby position, the forward movement of the carrier plate stops when its advancing edge meets the lower arm 65 of the holding lever 66 at 74, then fishes it back to the position where the locking lever 69 can hold it. As the control plate 58 moves forward, its inwardly projecting tab 62 engages the eassette 51 in the guideway 31 and ejects it from the guideway. When the control plate has pushed the holding lever 66 back into its latched position, the tape recorder is again in its standby condition.

Although it has been stated that when the electric power supplied to the tape recorder/reproducer is cut off, either by being switched off or by an accidental failure, the electromagnet releases a release lever that unlatches the drive mechanism carrier and allows the latter to be restored by spring action to its standby position and the cassette is then ejected, this of course does not mean that the electromagnet is released any time the drive is not running, because it may be desirable to provide automatic switching as part of the drive means, as for example a proximity switch to delay starting of the drive until the drive mechanism has descended fully or almost fully into engagement with the cassette. The electromagnet, on the other hand, should. generally, be energized as soon as the carrier starts its descent.

13 Hence, the critical power interruption is interruption of power to substantially the entire device, including interruption by means of a'manual on-off switch or an automatic end-of-play switch or a thermal overload switch or other safety switch and not every deenergization of the tape transport drive.

1 claim: v

1. A magnetic tape sound recorder and/or reproducer for operation with tape cassettes, comprising:

a chassis (30) provided with a substantially horizontal cassette guideway (31) into which a cassette (51) is insertable;

movable carrier means on which are mounted drive means for causing tape contained in a cassette that is inserted in said guideway to be moved from place to place in said cassette;

scissor mount means (11,12) at each side of said chassis and of said carrier means supporting said carrier means on said chassis;

first latch means (43,87,110,66) and electromagnet means (48) arranged for holding or releasing said first latch means;

control means responsive to insertion of a cassette into said guideway for moving said carrier means vertically downward toward said cassette to engage said operating mechanism therewith immediately after said cassette reaches its operating position in said guideway, and responsive to release of said first latch means for movingsaid carrier means vertically away from said cassette to disengage said drive means therefrom and'thereafter to at least partially eject saidcassette, said control means including, as a source of power for moving said carrier means, a system of springs arranged to be loaded by insertion of a cassette into operating position;

second latch means for latching said carrier means in a standby position, aftera predetermined movement of said carrier means away from said cassette, said second latch means being arranged so as not to bereleasable to release said carrier following latching thereof until the cassette is substantially fully ejected or removed from said guideway; and

means for controlling said electromagnet means to produce release of said first latch means in re sponse to interruption of the supply of electric power to the sound recorder/reproducer.

2. A magnetic tape recorder and/or reproducer as defined in claim 11 in which said control means includes third latch means (39,83,102,61) for preventing application of ejection pressure on said cassette after it has been pushed into its operating position and before disengagement of said operating mechanism from said cassette.

3. A magnetic tape recorder and/or reproducer as defined in claim 1 in which: a

said control means includes on each side of said chassis a tension plate (33) pivoted (P on said chassis;

each of said tension plates (33) is connected by a coupling member (34) to an arm (20,22) of one of said scissor mount means (11,12);

each of said tension plates (33) is coupled with a pawl (35) provided with a guide slot (36); and

a slider is provided in said guideway (31) and arranged to be displaced by insertion of a cassette, 5

said slider having studs (32) projecting respectively beyond each side of said guideway, each such stud (32) passing through the said guide slot (36) of the adjacent one of said pawls (35).

4. A magnetic tape recorder and/or reproducer as defined in claim 3 in which said coupling member (34) between each of said scissors mount means (1 1,12) and the adjacent tension plate (33) is a spring means arranged for flipping so as to urge said scissors mount away from an intermediate position (which need not be the same intermediate position for both directing of movement).

5. A magnetic tape recorder and/or reproducer as defined in claim 4 in which said control means includes also tension spring means (37) between each stud (32) of said slider and the connection point of the corresponding pawl (35) to its tension plate (33).

6. A magnetic tape recorder and/or reproducer as defined in claim 3 in which said second latch means is provided by a pivoted control lever (38) having two angularly disposed arms on the end of one of which a edge projection (40) is provided to engage a stud at a connection of said scissor mount means and said carrier means for holding said carrier means (10) in its standby position (FIG. 3) and at the end of the other of which arms a catch is provided which is engageable with one of said studs (32) of said slider.

7. A magnetic tape recorder and/or reproducer as defined in claim 6 in which said sawtooth projection edge (40) of each control lever (38) constituting said second latch means has a long cam profile (42) and in which, further, studs (24) on arms (13,14) of said scissors mount means (11,112) at or near connections of said arms to said carrier means (10) engage said long cam profiles (42), after release of said first latch means by said electromagnet means (48), to cause said control lever (38) to release said slider for ejection of said cassette.

8. A magnetic tape recorder and/or reproducer as defined in claim 6 in which said first latch means controlled by said electromagnetic means (48) includes a release lever (43) having a first operating arm (44) for operative engagement with a tab (45) of said tension plate (33), and a second operating arm (46) arranged to engage said pawl (35) upon being released by said electromagnetic means (48), and thereby to release said pawl.

9. A magnetic tape recorder and/or reproducer as defined in claim 8 in which said control means includes main spring means (49) connected at one side or end with a tab (50) of said first operating arm (44) of said release lever (43) of said first latch means.

10. A magnetic tape recorder and/or reproducer as defined in claim 1 in which said control means include:

a tension lever on each side of said chassis (30) coupled by a spring (77) with a cross arm (76) and pivoted on said chassis on a common fulcrum (P with said cross arm (76);

a slider (79) in said guideway (31) protruding through slots (78) in opposite walls of said guideway (31) for force-transmitting engagement with said tension levers (75); and an angle lever (81) on each side said chassis (30) pivoted thereon and having one arm (83) arranged to respond to engagement by said slider (79) and to latch said slider and a second arm (82) constituting said second latch means and arranged to hold a stud (92) provided on said slider (79);

and in which said first latch means comprises release pawls (87) pivoted (P,,) on each side of said chassis (30) arranged to be held or released by said electromagnet means (48) and arranged when so held to arrest movement of one end of said crossarm (76).

11. A magnetic tape recorder and/or reproducer as defined in claim 10 in which said carrier means (10) is provided at each side with actuating studs (89,90) which are disposed for moving said carrier means (10) on said scissors mount (11,12) vertically without substantial lateral or rotational deviation, said studs (89,90) being arranged for engagement, respectively, with opposite ends of said cross arm (76).

12. A magnetic tape recorder and/r reproducer as defined in claim 11, in which the respective ends of each of said angle levers (81) have cam edges (84,85), one of which (85) is adapted to move said angle lever by engagement with said slider (79), and the other of which (84) is adapted to move said angle lever by engagement of one of said first-mentioned studs (92) provided on said carrier means thereby to release said slider and eject said cassette.

13. A magnetic tape recorder and/or reproducer as defined in claim 12 in which said first latch means includes release levers (87) each having an edge (88) serving as a stop for one of said cross arms (76).

14. A magnetic tape recorder and/or reproducer as defined in claim 13 in which each cross arm (76) is provided with a holding tab (93) arranged for engagement with said tension lever (75).

15. A magnetic tape recorder and/or reproducer as defined in claim 14 in which said angle lever (81) and said tension lever (75) are coupled by a spring (86).

16. A magnetic tape recorder and/or reproducer as defined in claim 15 in which said control means includes a spring for each of said scissors mount means arranged with one end on each of the mutually pivoted members thereof.

17. A magnetic tape recorder and/or reproducer as defined in claim 1 in which said first latch means (1 10) is constituted by members pivoted (P on each side of said chassis (30) and respectively arranged to arrest movement of said cam levers (105) by engagement in each case with a projection (107) on the cam lever (105), and in which, further, said control means includes, on each side of said chassis:

a control lever (102) and a cam lever (105) pivoted on a common pivot (P,,) on said chassis (30) and coupled by a first spring means (108);

a slider (100) in said guideway (31) in engagement with said control lever (102); and

a second spring means (112) connected between an arm of said control lever (102) and said chassis (30) for urging said control lever and said cam lever in a direction to favor engagement thereof with said first latch means.

18. A magnetic tape recorder and/or reproducer as defined in claim 17 in which:

said control lever has a curved camming edge (104) limited by a projection (103), on which camming edge is supported a stud (24) of said carrier means (10) in the standby position of said carrier; and

said camming lever (105) has a curved camming edge (106) having said projection (107) of said camming lever at one end, on which edge said stud (24) of said carrier means (10) is supported in the operating position of said carrier means and also following the release of said first latching means (110) by said electromagnet means (48) said projection (107) being arranged to be held latched by said first latch means (110) both when said carrier means (10) is in its standby position and when it is in its operating position.

19. A magnetic tape recorder and/or reproducer as defined in claim 18 in which a stop stud (109) is provided on said control lever (102) to limit the path of movement of said camming lever (105).

20. A magnetic tape recorder and/or reproducer as defined in claim 19 in which third spring means are provided on each of said scissors mount means for urging relative displacement of the arms of said scissors mount means in the sense to urge displacement of said carrier means (10) towards its operating position.

21. A magnetic tape recorder and/or reproducer as defined in claim 1 in which said control means includes:

a control plate (58) on each side of said chassis linearly movable to front and rear on rollers (56,57) mounted on said chassis (30);

a projection (62) on each of said control plates (58) extending through a slot in the adjacent wall of said guideway (31) into said guideway for engagement with a cassette therein;

said control plates (58) each having a supporting edge (60) for supporting said carrier means (10) on a stud (24) thereofin its standby position except when a cassette is fully inserted in said guideway (31) and a guiding edge (61) forming a corner with said supporting edge (60) for guiding said carrier means to its operating position when a fully in serted cassette acting on said projection (62) of said control plate (58) has displaced said control plate rearwardly and for keeping said control plate from pressing said slider and ejecting said cassette until said carrier means has regained its standby position;

holding lever means (66) pivoted (P on said chassis (30) having a camming edge (72) for engagement with a stud (55) mounted on an arm of said scissors mount means (11,12), and

spring means (63) connected between each holding lever (66) and a point (64) on the adjacent control plate (58) for urging said camming surface (72) towards adjacent stud (55) of scissors mount means said first latch means including pawl means (70,69) pivoted (P on said chassis (30) for latching each holding lever (66) against the force of said spring means (63) and said electromagnet means (48) being arranged to hold said pawl means (69,70) to arrest said holding levers (66) and to release said pawl means (69,70) and thereby release said holding levers (66).

22. A magnetic tape recorder and/or reproducer as defined in claim 21 in which said holding levers (66), for the purpose of their engagement with said studs (55) of said scissors mount means (11,12) each have a curved camming edge (72).

23. A magnetic tape recorder and/or reproducer as defined in claim 22 in which said pawl means (69) has an angularly projecting latching tab (70) and has a link member (63) with connecting the pawl means on both sides of said chassis (30).

24. A magnetic tape recorder and/or reproducer as defined in claim 23 in which second spring means (71) are provided for urging relative movement of arms of said scissors mount means (11,12) so as to bring said carrier means (10) towards its operating position from its standby position.

Claims

1. A magnetic tape sound recorder and/or reproducer for operation with tape cassettes, comprising: a chassis (30) provided with a substantially horizontal cassette guideway (31) into which a cassette (51) is insertable; movable carrier means (10) on which are mounted drive means for causing tape contained in a cassette that is inserted in said guideway to be moved from place to place in said cassette; scissor mount means (11,12) at each side of said chassis and of said carrier means supporting said carrier means on said chassis; first latch means (43,87,110,66) and electromagnet means (48) arranged for holding or releasing said first latch means; control means responsive to insertion of a cassette into said guideway for moving said carrier means vertically downward toward said cassette to engage said operating mechanism therewith immediately after said cassette reaches its operating position in said guideway, and responsive to release of said first latch means for moving said carrier means vertically away from said cassette to disengage said drive means therefrom and thereafter to at least partially eject said cassette, said control means including, as a source of power for moving said carrier means, a system of springs arranged to be loaded by insertion of a cassette into operating position; second latch means for latching said carrier means in a standby position, after a predetermined movement of said carrier means away from said cassette, said second latch means being arranged so as not to be releasable to release said carrier following latching thereof until the cassette is substantially fully ejected or removed from said guideway; and means for controlling said electromagnet means to produce release of said first latch means in response to interruption of the supply of electric power to the sound recorder/reproducer.

2. A magnetic tape recorder and/or reproducer as defined in claim 1 in which said control means includes third latch means (39,83,102,61) for preventing application of ejection pressure on said cassette after it has been pushed into its operating position and before disengagement of said operating mechanism from said cassette.

3. A magnetic tape recorder and/or reproducer as defined in claim 1 in which: said control means includes on each side of said chassis a tension plate (33) pivoted (P1) on said chassis; each of said tension plates (33) is connected by a coupling member (34) to an arm (20,22) of one of said scissor mount means (11,12); each of said tension plates (33) is coupled with a pawl (35) provided with a guide slot (36); and a slider is provided in said guideway (31) and arranged to be displaced by insertion of a cassette, said slider having studs (32) projecting respectively beyond each side of said guideway, each such stud (32) passing through the said guide slot (36) of the adjacent one of said pawls (35).

4. A magnetic tape recorder and/or reproducer as defined in claim 3 in which said coupling member (34) between each of said scissors mount means (11,12) and the adjacent tension plate (33) is a spring means arranged for flipping so as to urge said scissors mount away from an intermediate position (which need not be the same intermediate position for both directing of movement).

6. A magnetic tape recorder and/or reproducer as defined in claim 3 in which said second latch means is provided by a pivoted control lever (38) having two angularly disposed arms on the end of one of which a edge projection (40) is provided to engage a stud at a connection of said scissor mount means and said carrier means for holding said carRier means (10) in its stand-by position (FIG. 3) and at the end of the other of which arms a catch is provided which is engageable with one of said studs (32) of said slider.

7. A magnetic tape recorder and/or reproducer as defined in claim 6 in which said sawtooth projection edge (40) of each control lever (38) constituting said second latch means has a long cam profile (42) and in which, further, studs (24) on arms (13,14) of said scissors mount means (11,12) at or near connections of said arms to said carrier means (10) engage said long cam profiles (42), after release of said first latch means by said electromagnet means (48), to cause said control lever (38) to release said slider for ejection of said cassette.

10. A magnetic tape recorder and/or reproducer as defined in claim 1 in which said control means include: a tension lever (75) on each side of said chassis (30) coupled by a spring (77) with a cross arm (76) and pivoted on said chassis on a common fulcrum (P6) with said cross arm (76); a slider (79) in said guideway (31) protruding through slots (78) in opposite walls of said guideway (31) for force-transmitting engagement with said tension levers (75); and an angle lever (81) on each side said chassis (30) pivoted thereon and having one arm (83) arranged to respond to engagement by said slider (79) and to latch said slider and a second arm (82) constituting said second latch means and arranged to hold a stud (92) provided on said slider (79); and in which said first latch means comprises release pawls (87) pivoted (P8) on each side of said chassis (30) arranged to be held or released by said electromagnet means (48) and arranged when so held to arrest movement of one end of said crossarm (76).

12. A magnetic tape recorder and/or reproducer as defined in claim 11, in which the respective ends of each of said angle levers (81) have cam edges (84,85), one of which (85) is adapted to move said angle lever by engagement with said slider (79), and the other of which (84) is adapted to move said angle lever by engagement of one of said first-mentioned studs (92) provided on said carrier means (10), thereby to release said slider and eject said cassette.

17. A magnetic tape recorder and/or reproducer as defined in claim 1 in which said first latch means (110) is constituted by members pivoted (P10) on each side of said chassis (30) and respectively arranged to arrest movement of said cam levers (105) by engagement in each case with a projection (107) on the cam lever (105), and in which, further, said control means includes, on each side of said chassis: a control lever (102) and a cam lever (105) pivoted on a common pivot (P9) on said chassis (30) and coupled by a first spring means (108); a slider (100) in said guideway (31) in engagement with said control lever (102); and a second spring means (112) connected between an arm of said control lever (102) and said chassis (30) for urging said control lever and said cam lever in a direction to favor engagement thereof with said first latch means.

18. A magnetic tape recorder and/or reproducer as defined in claim 17 in which: said control lever has a curved camming edge (104) limited by a projection (103), on which camming edge is supported a stud (24) of said carrier means (10) in the standby position of said carrier; and said camming lever (105) has a curved camming edge (106) having said projection (107) of said camming lever at one end, on which edge said stud (24) of said carrier means (10) is supported in the operating position of said carrier means and also following the release of said first latching means (110) by said electromagnet means (48) said projection (107) being arranged to be held latched by said first latch means (110) both when said carrier means (10) is in its standby position and when it is in its operating position.

21. A magnetic tape recorder and/or reproducer as defined in claim 1 in which said control means includes: a control plate (58) on each side of said chassis linearly movable to front and rear on rollers (56,57) mounted on said chassis (30); a projection (62) on each of said control plates (58) extending through a slot in the adjacent wall of said guideway (31) into said guideway for engagement with a cassette therein; said control plates (58) each having a supporting edge (60) for supporting said carrier means (10) on a stud (24) thereof in its standby position except when a cassette is fully inserted in said guideway (31) and a guiding edge (61) forming a corner with said supporting edge (60) for guiding said carrier means to its operating position when a fully inserted cassette acting on said projection (62) of said control plate (58) has displaced said control plate rearwardly and for keeping said control plate from pressing said slider and ejecting said cassette until said carrier means has regained its standby position; holding lever means (66) pivoted (P4) on said chassis (30) having a camming edge (72) for engagement with a stud (55) mounted on an arm of said scissors mount means (11,12), and spring means (63) connected between each holding lever (66) and a point (64) on the adjacent control plate (58) for urging said camming surface (72) towards adjacent stud (55) of scissors mount means (11,12); said first latch means including pawl means (70,69) pivoted (P5) on said chassis (30) for latching each holding lever (66) against the force of said spring means (63) and said electromagnet means (48) beinG arranged to hold said pawl means (69,70) to arrest said holding levers (66) and to release said pawl means (69,70) and thereby release said holding levers (66).