WO1985002051A1

WO1985002051A1 - Multiple cassette machines

Info

Publication number: WO1985002051A1
Application number: PCT/GB1984/000362
Authority: WO
Inventors: Terence Walter Daniel Murphy
Original assignee: Madsu Uk Limited
Priority date: 1983-10-24
Filing date: 1984-10-24
Publication date: 1985-05-09
Also published as: AU3557684A; EP0160065A1

Abstract

A tape cassette machine (10) for the playing of the pre-recorded audio cassettes (12) includes an array (14) of 30 of the cassettes and a carriage (16) carrying a play back head (18). The carriage (16) and thus the head (18) is movable to any selected one of the cassettes (12) in the array (14). A cassette engagement mechanism (20) on the carriage (16) then operates to pull the selected cassette in to the head (18) so that it may be read. An extended capstan (22) driven by motor (24) through flywheel (26) cooperates with a pinch wheel (28) in the selected cassette to drive the tape (30) past the head (18). The output from the head (18) can then be amplified and taken through earphones or other equipment, as desired.

Description

MULTIPLE CASSETTE MACHINES

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to tape cassette machines.

More particularly, but not exclusively, this invention relates both to tape cassette machines which can be used for playing of magnetically recorded audio or computer tapes, and also to tape cassette machines which can be used for recording and playing of such tapes.

BACKGROUND ART

Machines for driving a tape material past a tape head are well known, particularly those where the tape is housed in a cassette. The usual procedure is for a chosen cassette to be loaded in to the machine when required. The cassette then has to be unloaded after recording and/or playing, so that the next cassette can be loaded. This need for loading and unloading applies both to audio and to computer tapes, and more generally to other cassette-based systems including video cassettes. -

There have been many proposals for tape machines allowing multiple loading of tapes. Examples are to be found for instance in US Patents 2,481,398 (Danisch); 2,821,576 (Gaubert); 3,001,025 (Gaubert); 3.183.494 (Welsh); 3,431,367 (Nickl); 3.646,258 (Lemelson) ; 3,703,251 . (Suzuki); 3,809,827 (Oyaba); 3.821.814 (Gordon) and 3,935,595 (Kondo). To our knowledge, none of these or any other multiple tape machine has been successfully marketed and met with consumer acceptance. DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

There remains a need for a tape machine which avoids continuous loading and unloading of tapes.

According to the present invention there is provided a tape cassette machine comprising an array of cassettes, a movable carriage which carries a tape head assembly for movement of the tape head asssembly to any selected cassette in the array and which also carries a cassette engagement means for engagement of the selected cassette to bring the tape of the selected cassette in to operative association with the tape head assembly, and tape drive means which includes an extended capstan passing through one or more bearings on the carriage and extending the length of the array of cassettes, whereby the tape head assembly and cassettes are selectably movable relative to one another to bring together the tape head assembly and the tape of any selected one of the cassettes in the array, such that the tape head assembly can play back from and/or record on to the selected one of the cassettes.

A tape cassette machine of the present invention can be loaded with an array of chosen cassettes, and the tape head assembly brought in to operative conjunction with the selected cassettes in any desired sequence, thereby avoiding the need for repeated loading and unloading. It is readily arranged that the extended capstan engages the tape of the selected cassette to drive the tape past the tape head, either to give an output which can then be amplified or otherwise further processed, or to receive an input for recording on to the tape.

Suitably there will be at least 3 cassettes in the array, with the number of cassettes preferably being a multiple of 5_ More preferably the number of cassettes

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OMPI is between 10 and 200. In order to simplify the relative movement of the cassettes and tape head assembly, it is also preferred that the cassettes are arranged in a one-dimensional array forming a bank of ⁵ cassettes extending, for example, along the machine. A particularly preferred arrangement for the cassettes comprises a bank of the cassettes stacked side-by-side with their major faces adjacent.

Various designs of cassettes can be used in the tape ^'-⁰ cassette machines of this invention. The cassettes preferably house tape coated with magnetizable particles and suited for carrying audio and/or data signals.

_

The tape can for example be* arranged in a reel-to-reel configuration, but currently an endless-loop

¹⁵ configuration for capstan drive is preferred, with the loop of tape leading from the inner winding of wound tape, to a window for receipt of the tape head, there being a pressure surface positioned at the window inwardly of the tape, and the tape then returning to the

²⁰ outer winding after passing a drive window where the tape can be driven by engagement with the extended capstan. Such cassettes are also part of this invention and can readily be made of relatively small size. Without being restricted to such dimensions, typical

25 cassettes of this invention might be as small as about 1 inch (say 2.5 cm) long by about 0.5 inch (say 1.3 cm) tall by about 0.075 inch (say 0.2 cm) thick, thereby permitting a large number of the cassettes of this invention to be assembled as an array in a tape cassette

-⁵⁰ machine of this invention.

It is an exceptional advantage of the tape cassette machines of this invention that they can readily be designed to be easily carried. Preferred sizes for the machines of this invention, including the loaded array of cassettes, are a length and width each up to about 15 inches (say about 40 cm) and a depth up to 6 inches (say 15 cm), with a typical example being a machine which is about 6 inches (say 15 cm) long, about 4 inches (say 10 cm) wide and about 1.5 inches deep (say 4 cm).

The audio machines of the invention are preferably used with earphones, but one or more built-in loudspeakers is also possible. A self-sufficient power supply such as one or more batteries can also be included in the machine. For some applications, however, portability is not needed and indeed large stationary machines can provide for high capacity storage of data or a great number of audio cassettes.

The tape machines of this invention can be built with various kinds of tape head assembly. For example, a machine with a tape head arranged only for play back is particularly suited for the playing of music, while for more general use a play/record tape head is preferred, particularly an assembly comprising a play/record tape head with associated erase head for use when recording on to the tape.

The relative movement of the tape head assembly and selected cassette is a combination of movement of the tape head assembly on the movable carriage to a position adjacent the selected cassette, and local relative movement of the selected cassette to bring the tape of the selected cassette into operative contact with the tape head assembly.

The movement of the carriage and thus of the tape head assembly can be achieved for instance with drive means providing for indexed (notionally stepwise) movement of the tape head assembly relative to the cassettes.

OMPI For example, the tape head assembly can be mounted on a carriage movable along one or preferably two or more supports so as to traverse a bank of cassettes forming a one-dimensional cassette array. There can be one or more electrical contacts on the carriage and correspondingly one or more associated trackways alongside the path of the carriage for maintaining electrical contact between on the one hand the tape head assembly as it moves with the carriage and on the other hand the remaining circuitry not carried on the carriage. The trackways can then be conveniently carried on one of the supports. The contacts can take the form of simple sprung metal blades bearing on a respective trackway.

It can be arranged that the arrival of the head at the selected cassette leads to local relative movement of the selected cassette using, for example, a cassette engagement means.

The carriage can be driven by a motor carried on the carriage, but it is greatly preferred to use a remote drive mechanism. Examples of preferred drive mechanisms include a lead screw cooperating with an internally threaded surface of the carriage, a drive cord extending from a driven drum, and other arrangements including those currently used for indexed movement of printing heads and like movable objects.

It can readily be arranged that upon selection of a particular cassette, movement of the carriage ensues and the carriage is then stopped at the position of the selected cassette. For instance, upon selection of a particular cassette, a stop can be moved in to the path of the carriage at the position of the selected cassete: on reaching the selected cassette the stop acts to prevent further travelling of the carriage. The arrival of the carriage can be detected for example by an over-run device, and the carriage motor stopped and the next stage automatically begun. Furthermore, the machine can be constructed to allow multiple selections such that the carriage moves in turn to each of a series of selected cassettes.

In one preferred construction, a lead screw drives the carriage and is held in position longitudinally at each end by biased end mountings, such as leaf-springs, which resist inertia in the carriage when it starts moving or friction when it is being driven. When the carriage is physically stopped by an appropriate stop positioned at the selected cassette, the lead screw continues rotating to deflect the biased end mounting at one end. This deflection can then be utilised to trip a switch or otherwise indicate arrival of the carriage at the selected cassette. with the subsequent functions arranged to disconnect power to the carriage drive motor.

Another preferred construction for a drive arrangement for the carriage is a drive cord. For example, the drive cord feed drum can be attached to one member of a differential gear assembly, and a second member of the differential directly connected to the drive motor. Restriction of motion of the third member of the differential causes the cord drum to rotate and thus move the carriage. When movement of the carriage is impeded by the appropriate stop the third gear member is forced to rotate against whatever device is restricting its rotation. For instance, a spring centred arm directly attached to the shaft can be used to actuate the next operation. By this arrangement therefore the same drive motor can be used to power both the carriage drive and other mechanisms. Alternatively, the secondary motion of the third gear member need be used only to trip by a switch a separate motor drive.

^<&UR-_ oun The carriage includes a cassette engagement mechanism which for example can be actuated by the over-run detector or in some other way when the selected cassette is reached. A preferred cassette engagement mechanism operates to engage with the selected cassette and pull the cassette in to the carriage or otherwise ensure that the tape is presented to the tape head. To this end, the cassette engagement mechanism is preferably movable between an operative position where a selected cassette 0 is presented to the tape head, and a null position where the cassette is returned to a position which is remote from the tape head and which allows the carriage to traverse along the array of cassettes. The cassettes themselves are preferably biased to the null position.

⁵ The cassette engagement mechanism can comprise a pair of opposed engagement members arranged to engage the selected cassette at its sides. In this respect, the cassettes of this invention can include cooperating surfaces dimensioned and arranged to cooperate with the ^t-^* engagement members of the cassette engagement mechanism. For instance, the cassette cooperating members can include an abutment face providing a bearing surface on. which the engagement members can bear when pulling in the selected cassette. In particular, the 5 cooperating members can be notches or other forms of recess at the sides of each cassette. In the array of cassettes, such recesses can be aligned, thereby forming continuous pathways along which the engagement members can travel while the engagement mechanism is in the advanced position.

Actuation of the cassette engagement mechanism can be achieved using a driven actuator provided locally adjacent the tape head assembly, but it is preferred to use a remote drive. The cassette engagement mechanism is suitably actuated mechanically by an actuator shaft.

OMPI extending parallel to the direction of travel of the carriage and passing through the carriage. For instance, a non-symmetrical shaft such as a square or hexagonal shaft, can be used. In this general way, the need for mechanism to be present on the carriage is reduced and the possibility of sharing motor power with other mechanisms functioning in sequence is made available.

The machine also includes an extended capstan for engagement with the tape at the drive window of cassettes when selected. The drive motor for the capstan can be carried on the carriage, but it is greatly preferred not to carry the capstan drive motor on the carriage.

Thus with an extended capstan, the drive motor capstan can be mounted separately with a flywheel, and the capstan bearings on the carriage can be placed close to the tape head assembly and adequately supported.

The provision of one or more capstan support bearings incorporated into the moving carriage maintains a condition of concentric rotation at the point of interface with the tape cassette, thus minimising wow and flutter and also minimising side loading on the end suport bearings. Furthermore, the casette need be moved only a short distance away from the capstan to disengage the tape drive and permit the tape head assembly to traverse across the face of a series of cassettes constituting the array.

An array of selection devices or other selection means is preferably provided for use by the user to indicate the selected cassette and initiate the appropriate relative movement of the head and cassettes. The selection means typically includes a bank of selection

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OMPI devices based either on one switch for each cassette or a reduced number of selection devices for use in combination to indicate selection of a given cassette.

The use of a reduced number of switches enables reduction in size of the machine. To this end, the present patent application further provides as a separate invention a matrix of switches comprising:

(a) first switch means operable to select a given one of a series of possible rotational positions for a shaft rotatable about its axis;

(b) second switch means comprising two or more switches each individually operable;

(c) for each switch of the second switch means, a set of switch contacts associated with the switch, spaced from and spaced along the shaft and movable as a set upon actuation of the respective switch between a null position and a contactable position;

(d) for each switch of the second switch means, a set of shaft contacts axially and peripherally arranged on the shaft, such that each shaft contact can be brought in to and moved out of a contactable position where it can be contacted by a respective one of the switch contacts; whereby

(e) operation of the first switch means moves to a contactable position a shaft contact in each set of such contacts and operation of a given switch effects contact between a switch contact of the said switch and a contactable shaft contact.

Thus, the first switch means rotates the shaft until a selected contact in each set of shaft contacts is in a contactable position, and a given switch of the second switch means moves its contacts in a mutually contactable position, the result being that one of the shaft contacts is operably contacted by one of the switch contacts.

The switch matrix can be electrical and/or mechanical in operation. For an electrical matrix of switches, electrical isolation of each shaft contact and/or each switch contact will usually be needed. For a mechanical switch, the movement upon making contact can be utilized to effect switching: for example, the engagement between contacts can be used to move a given one of an array of pins from an inactive to an active position or vice versa.

More generally, the tape cassette machines of this invention preferably include actuating means which upon selection of a cassette actuate any necessary relative movement of the tape head assembly and selected cassette and actuate the tape drive means. At the end of play of the selected cassette, it can then be arranged that the sequence is repeated for other selected cassettes.

For ease of operation, an end of tape detector can be provided at or near the tape head. A suitable detector comprises a pair of spaced contacts positioned to touch the tape when the tape head is in use. Normally the circuit across the contacts remains broken, but inclusion of a length of conducting tape at the end of the tape results in the circuit being completed. In this way the automatic operation of the machine can be facilitated. other methods for detecting the end of tape condition can be used.

1f0TC

OMPI V lPO DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

An embodiment of the tape cassette machine and the cassettes of this invention will now be described by way of non-limiting example with reference to the following figuresof the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic perspective of a tape cassette machine according to the present invention, with part of the cassette selection means removed as an aid to clarity;

Figure 2 is a schematic side elevation of the machine of Figure 1, but with a cassette pulled down for play;

Figure 3, 4, 5 and 6 form a series of schematic views of a carriage of the machine of the previous figures;

Figure 7 is a schematic front elevation of the machine of the previous figures and including the cassette selection means removed in Figure 1; and

Figure 8 is a schematic detail of part of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a schematic part circuit diagram for the machine of the previous figures; and

Figure 10 is a schematic side view of a cassette according to this invention and suited for use in the machine of the previous figures.

BEST MODE

Referring initially to Figures l and 2 of the drawings, a tape cassette machine 10 of the present invention for the playing of pre-recorded audio cassettes 12 includes an array 14 of 30 of the cassettes and a carriage 16 carrying a play back head 18. The carriage 16 and thus the head 18 is movable to any selected one of the cassettes 12 in the array 14. A cassette engagement

^' mechanism 20 on the carriage 16 then operates to pull the selected cassette in to the head 18 so that it may be read. An extended capstan 22 driven by motor 24 through flywheel 26 cooperates with a pinch wheel 28 in the selected cassette to drive the tape 30 past the head 18. The output from the head 18 can then be amplified and taken through earphones or other equipment, as desired.

Considering the machine 10 in more detail, the carriage 16 is supported by two parallel guide rails 32 which extend between end plates 34 of a chassis 36. Although not fully shown in the general views of Figure 1 and 2, a selection means 38 is provided on the machines and includes a set of stop pins 48 mounted in a rack 49 positioned beneath the guide rails 32 and beneath the path of travel of the carriage 16.

The selection means is shown in Figures 7 and 8 and extends the length of the chassis. It comprises a set of six push buttons which can be operated to cause any one of the series of stop pins 48 to move into an extended position beneath the carriage 16.

From Figure 7 and 8 of the drawings it can be seen that the selection means has an encoding shaft 39 which is hexagonal in cross section. Its functional length is selected with regard to the total length of the array of thirty cassettes and their individual select pins 48. The encoder shaft 39 is mounted in trunnions to allow it to rotate and at one end is positioned a ratchet mechanism 41 actuated by the first 43 of the six buttons. This ratchet/push button arrangement holds the encoder shaft and permits it to rotate one sixth of a revolution or 60° for a single actuation of the button. Repeated actuation of the button 43 causes the shaft 39 to rotate in a succession of 60° increments. The encoder shaft is divided into five equal sections each the length of six of the cassettes in the array. At a position directly opposite the first cassette there is a projection 45 from the shaft, its width being the same as a single cassette thickness. Typically, it has a cross-section of an equilateral triangle with its base dimension equal to the width of the flat of the hexagon of the encoder shaft. At the other 29 positions along the shaft 39 related to the position of the remaining cassettes and their relative carriage stop pins 48 are identical projections 45 attached to or an integral part of the encoder shaft, except that the second projection is located on the next flat surface of the hexagonal shaft, that is it is displaced by 60° relative to the first one. the third projection is displaced from the second by 60° on the next flat of the shaft, and so on for each of the total of thirty projections. The result is that the first, seventh, thirteenth, nineteenth and twenty-fifth projections are spaced along the same flat of the hexagonal shaft as are the second. eighth, fourteenth, twentieth and twenty-sixth spaced along the next flat of the shaft 60° away. And so on similarly for the rest of the projections.

Mounted above each set of six projections is a push button 47 of similar configuration to that employed to actuate the ratchet. Projecting downward from each button stem is a set of six spring pin actuating leafs 53 with angled end contact points 55 positioned in close proximity to the projections 45 of the encoder shaft. The actuation of one of the buttons 47 in a direction toward the shaft results in deflection of one of the six leafs, in particular the one which happens to coincide with the projection in closest juxtaposition. In this instance the leaf is deflected toward the respective pin 48 thus moving it into the active position. The other five projections, relative to the leaf of each button are at least 60° away and thus do not move the other leafs. To make a selection therefore requires that the first button 43 be repeatedly depressed until the hexagonal face of the encoder shaft presents the appropriate projections towards the buttons leafs, such that subsequent depression of one of the five buttons 47 causes the required leaf to deflect and move the appropriate pin.

To facilitate selection, a list of selections can be displayed with the list arranged in six horizontal rows each of five selections. Each of the six rows would relate to one of the flats of the encoder shaft and each of the five columns relates to one of the five other buttons. By arranging each of the hexagon flats of the encoder shaft to switch an indicator LED light through a respective electrical contact 51. the row selected can be displayed alongside each row of selections. Depression of the ratchet button 43 results in LED indication of the row selected and subsequent depression of a second button 47 related to a column results in the appropriate individual pin being selected.

It will be appreciated that the encoder shaft need not be hexagonal in order to carry the sets of shaft contacts. Such sets can be arranged on shaft of other cross-section in greater or lesser numbers.

Furthermore. instead of a make-and-break arrangement shown, the buttons can be held in the make position until depressed again.

Turning now also to Figures 3. 4 and 5, the carriage 16 includes a main body 50 which has guide recesses 52 engaging with the guide rails 32. A casing 54 forminc

_o_._p__ part of the cassette engagement mechanism 20 is vertically movable on the body 50 of the carriage 16 and is constrained by pins 56 on the body 50 cooperating with slots 58 in the casing.

Within the main body 50 is a gear 60 carried on a square shaft 62 extending between the end plates 34. The gear 60 meshes with a gear 64 which carries a lift pin 66 passing through an aperture 68 formed in the casing 54. Rotation of the gear 64 by rotation of the shaft 62 results in reaction of the lift pin 66 against the part of the casing defining the aperture and thus movement of the casing against the action of a spring 67 from an advanced position to a retracted position, relative to the body 50.

The carriage body 50 has on its bottom face as shown in Figure 5 a pivot arm 70 horizontally pivotable between abutments 72 about pivot post 74. The pivot arm 70 carries a depending pin 76 positioned to engage with a selected stop pin 48 in its extended position.

The bottom face of the carriage body 50 carries a sprung pivotable quadrant 78. while the bottom of the casing 54 includes a latch 80 of resilient material. In Figure 3, the latch 80 is shown in its disengaged position. When the casing retreats on rotation of the shaft 64, the latch 80 rides over the exposed corner 82 of the quadrant 78 to gain the engaged position of Figure 4. Thereafter, when the casing 54 is moved upwards to return to the advanced position, the latch pivots the quadrant clockwise in the sense of Figure 4, such that the other corner 84 of the quadrant moves generally to the right. In so doing, this other quadrant corner 84 returns the extended stop pin 48 to its initial or inoperative position. Return of the stop pin 48 is achieved regardless of which of the two abutments 72 serves to restrain the pivot arm 70.

Also extending between the end plates 34 of the chassis 36 is a threaded lead screw 86 which extends through and cooperates with an internally threaded aperture 88 in the carriage 16. The lead screw 86 is held in position at each end by a leaf spring 90 mounted on a pillar 92 affixed to the respective end plate. Switch contacts are then associated with each end of the lead screw and are opened or closed when the lead screw moves longitudinally against the bias of a leaf spring. One of the end-of-lead-screw switches is indicated as switch 94 in the circuit diagram of Figure 9, though another is included in the supply line to the drive motor for the lead screw. The arrangement is such that when the movement of the carriage 16 is arrested and while the lead screw 86 is still turning, the lead screw screws itself forwards through the aperture 88 in the carriage, against the leaf spring 90 at the end of the lead screw. Eventually the movement is such that the end-of lead-screw switches are actuated.

Mounted on the square shaft 62 are two cams 96, 98 at one end which cooperate with sprung switch contacts, see Figure 9. The cams are each generally circular except for a notch profiled to be able to accept a sprung contact of the switch. When the sprung contact is received in the cam notch, the relevant switch is open, while when the sprung contact rests on the remainder of the cam surface the switch is closed.

The two cams are mounted in opposed relationship such that the notches are 180" offset relative to the square shaft. Hence rotation of the shaft by 180° opens one switch and closes the second switch, and further rotation by 180° closes the said one switch and opens the said second switch. The shaft 62 also carries a gear driven through a gear train from a motor (not shown). The arrangement of the switches is as shown in Figure 9, where a normally open end of tape indicator 100 associated with the play back head is in parallel with one cam switch and a normally open end-of-lead-screw switch 94 is in parallel with the second cam switch. When the carriage casing 54 is in the advanced position, the notch of the first cam is 180° from the contact of the first switch and the first switch is closed, while the notch of the second cam is at the contact of the second switch and the second switch is open. The circuit is thus broken. When the end-of-lead-screw switch is closed after the carriage being stopped and the end of the lead screw moves against the leaf spring, the circuit is temporarily completed and the shaft begins to rotate.

Rotation continues for 180°, until the notch of the first cam arrives at the sprung contact of the first switch to open the circuit. Rotation thus ceases, either until the end-of-tape switch is closed or a parallel end-of-play switch is closed by the user. Rotation about 180° will then occur until the second switch is opened.

The shaft 62 also carries a third cam-operated switch which controls the lead screw motor and which disconnects this motor once the shaft begins to rotate upon arrival of the carriage at the selected cassette.

The tape head 18 includes transducer heads between the arms 108 of the mechanism 120 providing for reading of stereo tracks on the cassette. As such there are two output leads from the transducers, along with a common earth. To maintain the electrical connection between the transducers on the movable carriage 16 and the rest of the circuitry housed in the machine 10, the carria carries three sprung contacts 63 as shown in Figure 6 which bear on three electrically isolated trackways 65 on the rail 67. The contacts 63 are connected to the transducers, and the trackways 65 are connected to the rest of the circuitry through connections at one end of the trackway.

Figure 10 shows in more detail a cassette of the invention, with an endless loop of tape 30 from a single spool 102 passing a guide post 104, pressure pad 106 and pinch wheel 28. The cassette body is open at the pinch wheel for abutment with the capstan 22 and is also open at the pad for abutment with the head 18. Notches 109 are formed at either side for eventual engagement with the fingers 108 of the casing 54. Each cassette in the array 14 is biased to the position shown in Figure 1 but movable to the position shown in Figure 3. Such biasing is readily achieved using sprung holders or eqivalent devices and is not shown in the drawings.

In- operation of the machine 10, the following steps are carried out:

(a) The user indicates the cassette to be played by selecting the appropriate buttons of the selection means 38. As a result, the appropriate stop pin 48 is extended and also the lead screw motor is switched on.

(b) The lead screw 86 rotates in the aperture in the carriage, causing the carriage 16 to move along the guide rails 32 with the engagement fingers 108 of the casing travelling in the pathways 110 formed by the aligned notches of the cassettes. The carriage continues to move until it reaches the extended pin 48 or until it reaches a reversing trip switch at the limit of travel and then reaches the extended stop pin. (c) The carriage is halted at the extended stop pin by abutment with the depending pin 76 on the carriage.

(d) The lead screw continues to rotate and drives itself through the aperture 88 in the carriage until the end-of-lead-screw switches are actuated.

(e) One end-of-lead-screw switch turns off the lead srew motor, thereby discontinuing rotation of the lead screw. The carriage is thus effectively stalled in position, having driven itself against the leaf spring 90. Another end-of-lead-screw switch at the leaf-spring turns on the motor for the square shaft 62 of the cassette engagement mechanism 20.

(f) The rotation of the square shaft causes the casing 54 on the carriage to be pulled in to the main body, thereby pulling in to the head 18 the selected cassette. Consequential upon the movement of the casing, the latch 80 engages with the exposed corner 82 of the quadrant 78 at the under face of the carriage main body.

(g) After the shaft 62 has rotated through 180°, the sprung contact of the second switch moves in to the notch of the second cam, thereby breaking the circuit supplying power to the square shaft and thus stopping the casing in the retracted position.

(h) The motor 24 drives the extended capstan 22 and thus the tape 30 by cooperation with the pinch wheel 28 of the selected cassette.

(i) The end-of-tape or end-of-play switch is closed to restore power to the motor for the square shaft. (j) With rotation of the square shaft, the casing is returned to the advanced position. In so doing the latch 80 trips the quadrant to push the extended stop pin 48 back to its non-operative position.

(k) The shaft eventually completes its rotation through 360°. with restoration of the original cam switch positions.

(1) The machine 10 is then ready for playing of the next cassette.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

A multiple cassette machine of the kind shown in the drawings has been constructed and successfully used to play recorded music and to store a program for a micro-computer. Self-evidently, the invention is thus capable of extensive commercialization.

Claims

1. A tape cassette machine comprising an array of cassettes, a movable carriage which carries a tape head assembly for movement of the tape head asssembly to any selected cassette in the array and which also carries a cassette engagement means for engagement of the selected cassette to bring the tape of the selected cassette in to operative association with the tape head assembly, and tape drive means which includes an extended capstan passing through one or more bearings on the carriage and extending the length of the array of cassettes, whereby the tape head assembly and cassettes are selectably ^"movable relative to one another to bring together the tape head assembly and the tape of any selected one of the cassettes in the array, such that the tape head assembly can play back from and/or record on to the selected one of the cassettes.

2. A tape cassette machine according to claim 1, with selection means for the user to select the said selected one of the cassettes.

3. A tape cassette machine according to claim l, wherein the carriage is driven by a remote drive motor not carried on the carriage.

4. A tape cassette machine according to claim 1, wherein the tape drive means is driven by a remote drive motor not carried on the carriage.

5. A tape cassette machine according to claim l, with between 10 and 200 cassettes in the array of cassettes, and the cassettes are arranged in a one-dimensional array stacked with their major faces adjacent.

6. A tape cassette machine according to claim 1, wherein the tape head assembly comprises a play-only head.

7. A tape cassette machine according to claim 1, wherein the tape head assembly comprises a play/record head.

8. A tape cassette machine according to claim 7, wherein the tape head assembly comprises an erase head associated with the play/record head.

9. A tape cassette machine according to claim l which is a portable tape cassette machine.

10. A tape cassette machine according to claim l, wherein the cassette engagement means comprise a pair of opposed engagement members arranged to engage the selected cassette at its sides.