04/720236

12/03/1974

04/10/1968

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Staar S. A. (Brussels, BE)

360/92.100

G11B15/68; G11B5/00; G11B23/04

274/4,11 353/15,19,120 214/16.4 179/100.2

3488058

MECHANISM FOR TAPE DECKS

January 1970

Staar

Haroian, Harry N.

Wolfe, Hubbard, Leydig, Voit & Osann, Ltd.

I claim as my invention

1. In a cassette player-recorder equipped with an automatic changer and having a magazine for storing a plurality of cassettes each having openings for introduction of tape transport elements within the cassette, said magazine being movable to locate a cassette stored therein for transfer in a downward direction to a playing position, the combination comprising, guide means for constraining the movement of a cassette received from said magazine to a single vertical plane to and from its playing position, a tape transport movably mounted adjacent said guide means for movement downward and toward said guide means by gravity and carrying tape and reel drive elements adapted upon such movement of said tape transport to be introduced into the openings of a cassette while said cassette is being lowered by gravity to operatively engage elements within the cassette, and means connected to said tape transport for supporting a cassette in said guide means and movable downward with said tape transport to lower said cassette by gravity along said guide means to its playing position.

2. A cassette player-recorder according to claim 1 including means for supporting said magazine for horizontal movement above said guide means, said magazine having an open bottom and said guide means extending vertically downward below said magazine, parallel stationary rails beneath said magazine interrupted by a transverse entrance slot to said guide means, the cassettes in said magazine being supported by said rails except for a single cassette above the slot, a retaining rod extending horizontally beneath said magazine parallel to said rails and across said entrance slot for holding that single cassette from dropping from said magazine through said entrance slot and means for retracting said retaining rod to drop the single cassette into said guide means.

3. A cassette player-recorder according to claim 2, said magazine having vertical side walls, and including means for supporting said retaining rod adjacent one end of said slot so that a single cassette above said slot and resting on said rod is tilted away from one side wall of said magazine adjacent said rod toward leaning engagement with the opposite side wall of said magazine and is free to drop into said slot when said retaining rod is retracted.

4. A cassette player-recorder according to claim 2 including motor operated means for retracting said retaining rod and for returning said retaining rod across said entrance slot immediately after retraction thereof to drop a cassette, to prevent accidental introduction of another cassette into said guide means from said magazine.

5. A cassette player-recorder according to claim 4 providing a complete playing cycle in which motor driven cassette carrying means returns the cassette from the playing position to the magazine to complete the cycle, said motor operated means being further operative to retract said retaining rod prior to the completion of the cycle to allow the cassette to return to the magazine.

6. A cassette player-recorder equipped with an automatic changer comprising: a tape transport including tape and reel drive elements, guide means for constraining the movement of a cassette to a vertical plane in moving to and from playing position wherein said tape transport elements operatively engage elements within a cassette, means for mounting said tape transport for movement downward and toward said guide means by gravity, a horizontally movable magazine for storing a plurality of cassettes and movable to locate a cassette above said guide means, cassette transferring means for receiving and lowering a cassette from said magazine into said guide means, means connected to said tape transport and movable downward with said tape transport for supporting and lowering a cassette received from said transferring means to the playing position and for registering the cassette openings with said tape and reel drive elements, the descent of the tape transport and cassette being by gravity and positively controlled during their lowering movement toward the playing position, and means for operating said cassette transferring means to elevate a cassette to the magazine from said supporting and lowering means in the event that the downward descent of the cassette and tape transport toward the playing position is blocked before the playing position is reached.

7. A player-recorder according to claim 6, including a rectangular open-bottomed magazine having transverse compartments for storing cassettes side by side in vertical position standing on their edges.

8. A player-recorder according to claim 6 including an annular open-bottomed magazine having radial compartments for storing cassettes side by side in vertical position standing on their edges.

9. A cassette player-recorder equipped with an automatic changer comprising: a tape transport including tape and reel drive elements, guide means for constraining the movement of a cassette to a vertical plane in moving to and from playing position wherein said tape transport elements operatively engage elements within a cassette, said guide means having a horizontal entrance slot for a cassette, a horizontally movable magazine for storing a plurality of cassettes side-by-side standing on edge and movable to locate a single cassette above said entrance slot, retaining means for holding cassettes in said magazine and operative to drop a single cassette from said magazine so that the lower edge of the cassette enters said slot, cassette transferring means for receiving and lowering the single cassette from said magazine into said guide means, and means associated with said tape transport for lowering the cassette from said transferring means to the playing position and for registering the cassette openings with said tape and reel drive elements, the descent of the cassette being by gravity and positively controlled during its lowering movement to the playing position.

10. A cassette player-recorder equipped with an automatic changer apparatus comprising: a frame, guide means on said frame for constraining the movement of a cassette to a vertical plane in moving to and from playing position, a tape transport on said frame including cassette tape and reel drive elements adapted to operatively engage elements within a cassette in the playing position, a horizontal magazine for storing a plurality of cassettes, means mounting said magazine for horizontal movement on said frame to locate a single cassette above said guide means, retaining means for holding cassettes in said magazine and operative to drop a single cassette into said guide means, a motor on said frame, cassette transferring means operated by said motor for receiving and lowering a single cassette dropped from said magazine into said guide means, and means for mounting said tape transport for movement downward and toward said guide means by gravity, means connected to said tape transport and movable downward therewith for supporting the cassette in said guide means and for lowering the cassette by gravity from said transferring means to the playing position, said tape and reel drive elements being adapted to be introduced into the openings of a cassette while said cassette and tape transport are being lowered by gravity to operatively engage elements within the cassette.

11. A cassette player-recorder according to claim 10 in which said transferring means includes an arm supported on said frame for vertical movement and operative independently of said tape transport to move downward without the cassette after lowering the cassette to said tape transport.

12. A cassette player-recorder according to claim 10 including means for operating said transferring means with said support means to lower a cassette from the magazine into playing position and independently of said support means to raise a cassette to the magazine from said support means upon malfunction thereof in lowering the cassette into playing position.

13. A cassette player-recorder according to claim 10 providing a complete playing cycle in which cam means driven by said motor operates said transferring and support means in one sequence during the first part of the cycle to lower the cassette to playing position, and in the reverse sequence to raise the cassette to the magazine to complete the cycle.

14. A cassette player-recorder according to claim 13 in which said cam means includes separate sets of driven elements for operating respectively, said retaining and transferring means, and said support means.

15. A cassette player-recorder according to claim 13 in which said cam means includes separate cams for operating respectively, said retaining and transferring means, and said support means.

16. A cassette player recorder according to claim 13, said magazine having compartments for separate storage of the cassettes, including means driven by said motor for shifting said magazine at the end of the playing cycle and after return of the cassette to one compartment to locate the next compartment above said guide means.

17. A cassette player-recorder according to claim 16 including switch controlled power means for energizing said motor, and means for automatically opening and closing said switch at the end of each playing cycle after shift of the magazine to provide consecutive playing cycles.

18. A cassette player-recorder according to claim 17 including means for holding said switch open to stop said motor and terminate the consecutive operation responsive to the return of a cassette from the playing position to the last compartment in said magazine.

19. A cassette player-recorder according to claim 17 including manually operable means for interrupting the opening and closing of said switch at the end of each playing cycle providing means for selection of single or consecutive playing cycles.

20. A cassette player-recorder according to claim 10 including an interlock operative to lock the magazine against movement after retraction of said retaining means to drop a cassette.

21. An automatic changer for a cassette player-recorder having a frame, and a tape transport including support means mounted to move substantially normal to and together with the movement of a cassette to a playing position so as to introduce tape and reel drive elements carried on said movable support means into the cassette with a linear motion substantially perpendicular relative to the face of the cassette, said automatic changer comprising: a horizontal magazine for storing a plurality of cassettes, means supporting said magazine for horizontal movement on said frame to locate a single cassette in an operative position, guide means on said frame below said magazine for constraining the downward movement of a single cassette from said operative position in said magazine to a vertical plane to its playing position, a motor on said frame, transferring means for receiving and lowering the single cassette from said magazine in said guide means, means mounting said movable support means on said frame for movement vertically downward simultaneously with movement toward said guide means, a member connected to said movable support means and extending into such guide means for lowering the cassette from said transferring means by gravity and for registering the cassette with said tape and reel drive elements, and means driven by said motor for operating said transferring means and for shifting said support means in timed sequence for carrying a cassette from said magazine in said guide means to the playing position.

22. An automatic changer according to claim 21 in which said transferring means includes an arm supported on said frame for vertical movement and operative independently of said movable support to move downward without the cassette after lowering the cassette to said movable support member, said member being operative to lower the cassette into playing position.

23. An automatic changer according to claim 21, in which a resiliently mounted pinch roller is engaged by the tape within the cassette as the cassette moves into playing position, and one of said movable support members is operative to gradually engage the cassette during the course of its movement and positively moves the cassette downward into playing position against resistance offered by said pinch roller.

24. An automatic changer according to claim 21 including a magazine interlock operated by said movable support means to lock the magazine against movement after retraction of said retaining means to drop a cassette.

25. An automatic changer according to claim 21, said magazine having separate compartments for the cassettes stored therein, including a magazine interlock comprising a rack on the magazine, a gear meshing with said rack, a shaft depending from said gear, a locking member rotated by said shaft and presenting a plurality of edges adapted to move successively through a locking position which registers one of said compartments in the magazine with said guide means, a detent shiftable between a released position and said locking position for engagement with one of said locking edges, in which locking position said detent prevents rotation of said locking member and movement of said magazine, and a linkage operated by said movable support means to shift said detent between said locking and said released positions.

26. An automatic changer according to claim 21 including means operating said transferring means for vertical downward movement with said support means to lower the cassette into playing position and to further vertical downward movement and return upward movement independently of said support means to raise a cassette to the magazine from said support means upon failure of said tape and reel drive elements to register with and enter the cassette during the course of its downward movement with said support means.

27. A cassette player-recorder according to claim 21 including spring means opposing at least the final stage of movement of said support means in lowering the cassette to playing position, said spring means being operative to initiate the return movement of said support means for raising the cassette to the magazine to complete the playing cycle.

28. A cassette player-recorder according to claim 27 including a pawl mounted on said frame and operative to latch said support means against the force of said spring means to hold the cassette in playing position.

29. A cassette player-recorder according to claim 28 having solenoid means operative with a cassette in playing position for actuating said retaining pawl to unlatch said support means responsive to the end of the tape being reached in the transport of the tape from reel to reel in the playing operation of the cassette.

30. A cassette player according to claim 29 including manually operable means for operating said solenoid to actuate said retaining pawl to unlatch said support means for interrupting the playing operation and returning the cassette to the magazine.

31. An automatic changer according to claim 21 providing a complete playing cycle in which said means driven by said motor operates said transferring and support means in one sequence during the first part of the cycle to lower the cassette to playing position, and in the reverse sequence to raise the cassette to the magazine to complete the cycle.

32. An automatic changer according to claim 31 including spring means opposing at least the final stage of operation of said support means in lowering the cassette to playing position, said spring means being operative to initiate the return operation of said support means for raising the cassette to the magazine to complete the playing cycle.

33. An automatic changer according to claim 32 including switch controlled power means for energizing said motor, means opening said switch and stopping said motor responsive to the cassette obtaining the playing position, and means closing said switch and starting said motor for raising the cassette to the magazine responsive to initial return operation of said support means by said spring means.

34. An automatic changer for a cassette player-recorder having a frame, and a tape transport including a movable support mounted to move substantially normal to and together with the movement of a cassette to a playing position so as to introduce tape and reel drive elements carried on said movable support into the cassette with a linear motion substantially perpendicular relative to the face of the cassette, said automatic changer comprising: a horizontal magazine for storing a plurality of cassettes, means supporting said magazine for horizontal movement on said frame to locate a single cassette in an operative position, retractable means beneath said magazine for retaining said cassettes in said magazine, guide means on said frame below said magazine for constraining the movement of a cassette from said operative position in said magazine to a vertical plane to its playing position, a motor on said frame, transferring means for lowering a cassette from said magazine in said guide means, means mounting said movable support on said frame for movement vertically downward simultaneously with movement toward said guide means, members connected to said movable support and extending into such guide means for lowering the cassette by gravity from said transferring means and for registering the cassette with said tape and reel drive elements, and cam means driven by said motor for sequentially retracting said retaining means to drop a cassette from said operative position in said magazine into said guide means and for operating said transferring means and movable support to lower a cassette in said guide means to the playing position, the descent of the cassette after the operation of said retaining means being by gravity and sequentially controlled by the lowering movement of said transferring means and said support members.

35. An automatic changer for a cassette player-recorder having a frame, and a tape transport including a movable support carried on said frame, said automatic changer comprising: a horizontal magazine for storing a plurality of cassettes supported for horizontal movement on said frame to locate a single cassette in an operative position, guide means on said frame below said magazine for guiding a single cassette in a vertical plane between said operative position in said magazine and a playing position, means for mounting said movable tape transport support on said frame adjacent said guide means for movement vertically downward by gravity simultaneously with movement toward said guide means, and means for carrying a cassette on said transport support for lowering the cassette by gravity along said guide means toward the playing position as said transport support moves downward by gravity, said transport support having tape and reel drive elements adapted to be introduced into openings in the cassette when in registration therewith as said cassette and transport support move downward by gravity toward the playing position.

36. An automatic changer as set forth in claim 35 further including an elevator operable independently of said transport support for lowering a cassette by gravity from the operative position in the magazine along said guide means to said cassette carrying means on said transport support.

37. An automatic changer for a cassette player-recorder having a frame, and a tape transport including a movable support carried on said frame, said automatic changer comprising: a horizontal magazine for storing a plurality of cassettes supported for horizontal movement on said frame to locate a single cassette in an operative position, guide means on said frame below said magazine for guiding a single cassette in a vertical plane between said operative position in said magazine and a playing position, means for mounting said movable tape transport support on said frame adjacent said guide means for movement vertically downward by gravity simultaneously with movement toward said guide means and for movement vertically upward simultaneously with movement away from said guide means and means for carrying a cassette on said transport support for lowering the cassette by gravity along said guide means toward the playing position as said transport support moves downward by gravity and for raising the cassette toward the magazine upon upward vertical movement of said transport support said transport support having tape and reel drive elements adapted to be introduced into openings in the cassette when in registration therewith as said cassette and transport support move downward by gravity toward the playing position, a drive source, a connecting linkage including cam means between said drive source and said transport support for controlling the downward movement of said transport support by gravity during a portion of the change cycle and for raising said transport support during a further portion of the change cycle, and means included in said linkage allowing said cam means to continue operating in the event downward movement of the cassette or the transport support or its tape and reel drive elements toward the cassette is blocked, whereby to continue the change cycle without substantial interruption to immediately raise the cassette toward the magazine and withdraw the tape and reel drive elements away from the cassette.

38. An automatic changer as set forth in claim 37 further including an elevator operated by said drive source independently of said transport support for lowering a cassette by gravity from the operative position in the magazine along said guide means to said cassette carrying means on said transport support during a portion of the change cycle and for raising a cassette from said cassette carrying means to the magazine during a later portion of the change cycle.

39. In a cassette player-recorder, the combination according to claim 1 in which said tape transport is mounted for movement upward and away from as well as downward and toward said guide means, and said cassette supporting means connected to said tape transport includes a member projecting into the plane of said guide means and movable upward and downward with said tape transport for raising and lowering a cassette in said guide means, said tape and reel drive elements being adapted upon movement of said tape transport upward and away from said guide means to be withdrawn from openings of a cassette while said cassette is being raised from the playing position, said combination further comprising means including an arm movable along said guide means for transferring a cassette from said magazine to said cassette supporting member during an early portion of the change cycle and from said member to return the cassette to the magazine during a later portion of the change cycle.

40. A cassette player-recorder according to claim 9 providing a complete playing cycle in which motor driven means operates said transferring means and positively controls the movement of the cassette in one sequence during the first part of the cycle to carry the cassette to playing position, and in the reverse sequence to return the cassette to the magazine to complete the cycle.

41. A cassette player-recorder according to claim 40, said magazine having compartments for separate storage of the cassettes, including motor driven means for shifting said magazine at the end of the playing cycle and after return of the cassette to one compartment to locate the next compartment above said guide means.

42. A cassette player-recorder according to claim 41 including switch controlled power means for controlling said motor driven means, and means for automatically opening and closing said switch at the end of each playing cycle after shift of the magazine to provide consecutive playing cycles.

43. A cassette player-recorder according to claim 42 including manually operable means for interrupting the opening and closing of said switch at the end of each playing cycle providing means for selection of single or consecutive playing cycles.

44. An automatic changer for a cassette player-recorder having a frame, and a tape transport including support means mounted to move substantially normal to and together with the movement of a cassette to a playing position so as to introduce tape and reel drive elements carried on said movable support means into the cassette with a linear motion substantially perpendicular relative to the face of the cassette, said automatic changer comprising: a horizontal magazine for storing a plurality of cassettes, means supporting said magazine for horizontal movement on said frame to locate a single cassette in an operative position, guide means on said frame below said magazine for constraining the downward movement of a single cassette from said operative position in said magazine to a vertical plane to its playing position, a motor on said frame, transferring means for receiving and lowering the single cassette from said magazine in said guide means, means mounting said movable support means on said frame for movement vertically downward simultaneously with movement toward said guide means, a member connected to said movable support means and extending into such guide means for lowering the cassette from said transferring means by gravity and for registering the cassette with said tape and reel drive elements, and means driven by said motor for operating said transferring means and for shifting said support means in timed sequence for carrying a cassette from said magazine in said guide means to the playing position and in a reverse sequence to raise the cassette to the magazine after operation in the playing position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a cassette player-recorder equipped with an automatic changer, and more particularly to a player-recorder apparatus having a magazine for storage of a plurality of cassettes, and a changer for transferring each cassette from the storage magazine to a tape transport and for returning the cassette to the storage magazine after the playing operation has been completed.

The term "cassette" is used herein to mean a tape cartridge of the type in which magnetic tape is carried on two reels enclosed in a flat, thin, plastic container, the tape being fed back and forth (reel-to-reel) for recording or playback. Each end of the tape is fastened to one of the reels and the tape may be provided with a pair of monaural tracks or two pair of stereo tracks for recording or playback of sound in either direction of movement of the tape within the cassette.

The terms "tape deck" or "tape transport" are used interchangeably herein to mean mechanism which provides powered capstans and reel hub spindles for drive of the tape reel-to-reel within a cassette, the cassette having openings in its faces for introduction of the capstans into the cassette on the inward side of the tape and the drive spindles into the reel hubs so that the tape may be unwound from one reel, moved past the recording or playback heads, and wound on the other reel. Recording and playback heads are included in the player-recorder and adapted to be connected to suitable electronic circuits, microphones or speakers, so as to be capable of recording sound on or playing sound from the tape.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an automatic changer which provides magazine storage of a plurality of cassettes and means for automatically transferring a cassette from the magazine to a tape transport playing the cassette, and thereafter returning the cassette to the magazine.

A related object is to provide a change which provides automatic, consecutive cycles in which the cassettes stored in the magazine are successively transferred from the magazine, played and returned, and the magazine is advanced one step to bring the next cassette into operative position.

Another important object of the invention is to provide an open, accessible storage magazine which may be easily and conveniently loaded and from which the other cassettes may be removed, replaced or have their order changed while a cassette is playing.

A further object of the invention is to provide an automatic changer which introduces the tape and reel drive elements into the cassette in such a manner as to avoid damage to the tape and other operative elements in the cassettes.

Another object of the invention is to provide an automatic changer which drops the cassette from a magazine into the tape transport and which utilizes power driven elements for lowering the cassette into playing position, the same power driven elements that lower the cassette into the tape transport mechanism being used to raise the cassette to return it to the magazine at the completion of the playing cycle.

Another object is to provide an automatic changer with safeguards to prevent damage to the changer mechanism and the tape transport mechanism by automatically causing rejection of cassettes dropped from the magazine into the tape transport mechanism in the wrong position, as for example, where cassettes have been placed in the magazine upside-down.

A further object of the invention is to provide sensing elements and controls for an automatic changer so that it proceeds through consecutive playing cycles until all the cassettes in the magazine have been played and thereafter automatically turns itself off.

A related object is to provide for moving a partly filled magazine past empty sections to play all the cassettes in the magazine consecutively.

Another object is to provide an automatic changer that is operable to proceed through consecutive playing cycles which may be interrupted at any time to return the cassette which is then being played to the magazine and either (1) automatically turn the apparatus off or (2) proceed through the playing cycle of the next cassette in the magazine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a playing cycle which involves dropping one cassette at a time from the storage magazine and feeding the cassette to the tape transport in such a manner as to insure precise, gradual engagement of the tape and reel drive elements of the tape transport with operative elements within the cassette.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a vertical section of a cassette player-recorder with automatic changer constructed according to this invention with portions of the changer mechanism drive means shown fragmentarily or omitted for clarity;

FIG. 1 a is a fragmentary horizontal section taken substantially in the offset planes of lines 1a - 1a in FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary vertical section taken through the magazine in substantially the plane of lines 2--2 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the player-recorder as shown in FIG. 1 with parts of the magazine broken away;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the player-recorder taken with the magazine removed to illustrate the entrance slot to the tape transport;

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-section of the player-recorder taken in substantially the plane of lines 5--5 in FIG. 3 and illustrates a cassette retained in operative position in the magazine over the entrance slot to the tape transport by the retaining rod;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary vertical cross-section taken substantially in the plane of lines 6--6 in FIG. 3 and illustrates one of the other cassettes in the magazine supported in the bottomless magazine by rails on the frame of the apparatus;

FIG. 7 is a vertical section of the player-recorder taken substantially in the plane of lines 7--7 in FIG. 3 and illustrates the subassemblies of the apparatus in the same position shown in FIG. 5 with a cassette in the magazine over the entrance slot to the tape transport.

FIG. 7a is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section illustrating principally the tape transport lowering and magazine advance subassemblies shown in the left hand portion of FIG. 7;

FIG. 7b is a fragmentary horizontal section illustrating elements of the magazine advance subassembly and is taken in substantially the plane of lines 7b-7b in FIG. 7a;

FIG. 7c is a fragmentary horizontal section similar to FIG. 7b and is taken substantially in the plane of lines 7c--7c in FIG. 7a;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary vertical section illustrating elements of the retaining means and is taken substantially in the plane of lines 8--8 in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section illustrating the automatic stop cam carried by the magazine and is taken substantially in the plane of lines 9--9 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 10 schematically illustrates the drive gears and cams of the apparatus;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary section illustrating elements of the magazine advance subassembly and is taken substantially in the plane of lines 11--11 in FIG. 7a;

FIG. 11a is a reduced fragmentary vertical section taken substantially in the offset planes of lines 11a--11a in FIG. 11;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section illustrating principally the cassette lowering and retaining subassemblies shown advanced from the position in the right hand portion of FIG. 7 partially through the change cycle and the cams A and B partly rotated to retract the retaining rod and release the cassette from magazine to the lowering elevator;

FIG. 13 is a vertical section like FIG. 7 with the changer subassemblies shown advanced from the position of FIG. 7 to the end of the first (cassette lowering) portion of the change cycle with the cassette and tape transport in playing position;

FIG. 13a is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section illustrating principally the tape transport lowering and magazine advance subassemblies in the left hand portion of FIG. 13;

FIG. 13b is a fragmentary vertical section illustrating the means for latching the tape transport in playing position not shown in FIG. 13;

FIG. 13c is a fragmentary vertical section illustrating the parts advanced from the position shown in FIG. 13b and the tape transport after unlatching at the beginning of the cassette return portion of the change cycle;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary vertical section like FIGS. 7 and 13, illustrating the subassemblies immediately after the beginning of the cassette return portion of the change cycle and with the tape transport unlatched and returning the cassette to the magazine.

FIG. 14a is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section like FIG. 13a and illustrating principally the position of the tape transport sub-assembly in the event of malfunction where the tape transport is blocked against lowering movement, and the position of the elevating means sub-assembly which operates independently of the lowering movement of the tape transport to immediately return the cassette to the magazine to safeguard against damage in such event;

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary vertical section of the magazine advance subassembly taken as it operates to advance the magazine during a later phase of the cassette return portion of the change cycle than shown in FIG. 14;

FIG. 15a is a fragmentary horizontal section taken substantially in the plane of line 15a in FIG. 15;

FIG. 15b is a fragmentary horizontal section taken substantially in the plane of line 15b in FIG. 15;

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary vertical section like FIG. 15 taken as the magazine advance subassembly returns at the end of the magazine advance function;

FIG. 16a is a fragmentary horizontal section taken substantially in the plane of line 16a in FIG. 16;

FIG. 16b is a fragmentary horizontal section taken substantially in the plane of line 16b in FIG. 16;

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary vertical section like FIG. 9 illustrating the automatic stop cam moved to the operative position to engage the associated linkage;

FIG. 18 is a vertical section taken like FIG. 7 but with the magazine moved to locate the last compartment above the entrance slot and the automatic stop cam in the operative position, and illustrating the position of the subassemblies particularly the stop linkage shifted by the stop cam;

FIG. 19 is a vertical section similar to FIG. 18 but with the tape transport and cassette lowered to the playing position;

FIGS. 18a and 19a are enlarged fragmentary vertical sections of the subassemblies shown in the left hand portions of FIGS. 18 and 19, respectively;

FIG. 18b is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken substantially in the plane of lines 18b--18b in FIG. 18a and illustrating the magazine advance linkage in its non-advance position as the result of movement thereto by the automatic stop cam which is operative as the last compartment in the magazine is moved above the tape transport;

FIG. 20 is a fragmentary vertical section taken substantially in the plane of lines 20--20 in FIG. 3 illustrating the arrangement of push buttons;

FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating the phases of a change cycle;

FIGS. 22-29 are schematic views of the control circuit for the player-recorder changer mechanism and illustrating the position of components thereof in different phases of a change cycle;

FIG. 30 is a horizontal plan view with portions broken away and shown in section of an alternative annular form of magazine;

FIG. 31 is a fragmentary vertical section taken substantially in the plane of lines 31--31 in FIG. 30 illustrating the construction of the annular magazine and with portions of the changer mechanism illustrated diagrammatically.

GENERAL CHANGER ORGANIZATION

Referring to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 3 taken together illustrate a cassette player-recorder with automatic changer constructed in accordance with the present invention. The unit includes a bottomless, horizontally movable magazine 10 for storing a plurality of cassettes each of which is adapted to be carried by the changer mechanism through a change cycle involving lowering the cassette to playing position in the tape transport 11, which is mounted below the magazine on a fixed frame 12, playing the sound from or recording sound on the cassette tape, and returning the cassette to the magazine. It will be understood that when the cassette is in the playing position, which is the position of the cassette shown in FIG. 13, the tape is moved by the transport mechanism past recording or playback heads, one head 13 only being shown for illustrative purposes.

For movement of the tape within the cassette for playing or recording functions, the tape transport 11 is herein shown as a transport mechanism of the type disclosed in my copending application Ser. No. 567,115, filed July 22, 1966 now U.S. Pat. No. 3,385,535, entitled "Tape Deck". Such transport mechanism is especially suited for self-contained tape cartridges of the type known as "cassettes" which provide reel-to-reel movement of the tape within the hollow cassette case, the opposite faces of which have reel hubs 18 for reel drive shafts 20 and also have openings 22 (FIGS. 5 and 6) accessible adjacent the forward edge 24 for introduction of tape drive capstans 26 (FIG. 1a). The cassettes are carried in the magazine 10 side by side each standing on the forward edge 24 of the cassette which edge has a plurality of openings for access to the tape, when the cassette is in the playing position, for the recording and playback heads 13 and pinch rollers 34. As shown in FIGS. 1a and 13, a pinch roller 34 cooperates with the drive capstan 26 of the tape transport 11 which enters the cassette on the inwardly facing side of the tape to engage its non-coated surface, the outwardly facing recording surface of the tape being moved past the heads 13 as the tape is transported from reel to reel within the cassette.

CASSETTE STORAGE MAGAZINE

By means of the changer mechanism each cassette may be lowered into playing position by being slid in its main plane, and the apparatus is preferably oriented such that this sliding movement of the cassette occurs vertically downwards between spaced vertical frame plates 36, 38 (FIG. 1a) from the magazine to the playing position. The bottomless magazine 10 (FIG. 3) is preferably rectangular and formed by longitudinal side walls 40, 42 and end walls 44 and is divided into transverse compartments by means herein shown as partition like elements 46 which project from the vertical side walls 40, 42 of the magazine. For support of the magazine 10 for horizontal sliding movement, as shown in FIG. 6, the side walls 40, 42 have tongues 48, 50 which slide in facing horizontal grooves 52, 54 provided in fixed supporting frame members 56, 58.

The magazine is thus movable to locate any one of its compartments (and a single cassette therein) in operative position above the space between the frame plates 36, 38. As shown in FIGS. 3-6, a horizontal frame plate 60 supports a pair of longitudinal rails 62, 64 on which the cassettes in the magazine rest except for the single cassette in the magazine compartment above the entrance slot 66, which entrance slot 66 is transversely located relative to the rails 62, 64 to interrupt the rails. That single cassette is held from falling through the entrance slot 66 by a longitudinal retaining rod 68, the upper edge of which lies slightly below the plane of the top surface of the supporting rails 62, 64 and beneath the cassette. The rod is adjacent one end of the slot so that the cassette starts to fall into the slot when it is brought into operative position above the slot 66 and is held by the rod in such a manner that it tilts away from the adjacent side wall 40 (FIG. 5) of the magazine and into leaning engagement with the opposite side wall 42 of the magazine, to insure that upon retraction of the rod 68 the cassette will not stick to the walls of the magazine and will readily drop through the entrance slot toward the tape transport. For mounting the rod 68 (FIG. 2) for swivelling retraction and return motion it is bent upwards near each end and the tips 72 of the rod are bent to extend parallel to the main section of the rod and seat in sockets 74 in the end walls 44 of the magazine. By swivelling the rod and retracting it from under the magazine (FIG. 12) the single cassette in the compartment disposed above the transverse entrance slot 66 is released to drop by gravity through the slot for lowering to the playing position (FIG. 13).

CASSETTE TAPE TRANSPORT

For guiding the cassette into engagement with the tape transport tape and reel drive elements, vertical guides or grooves 76 (FIG. 1a) adapted to be slidably engaged by the lateral edges of a cassette during its downward movement are mounted on the fixed plate 36 and constrain the cassette movement to a vertical plane. The tape transport includes a movable frame or support 78 (FIG. 1) which carries a drive motor 80 for the capstan 26 and reel drive shafts 20 which comprise the tape and reel drive elements of the tape transport. The support 78 is movable so that the drive elements enter into penetrating engagement with the cassette as the latter moves to playing position. For introducing the tape and reel drive elements into the cassette the movable support is carried on the fixed frame 12 by means herein shown as parallelogram links 88 so that the movable support and the elements carried thereby move simultaneously together with and toward the cassette as it moves vertically downward within the guides, and the drive elements enter the cassette (with a linear motion substantially perpendicular relative to the face of the cassette).

Means associated with the movable frame of the tape transport also serve to lower the cassette while maintaining it in registration with the tape and reel drive elements so that such elements properly enter the openings in the face of the cassette, said means in this case comprising a pair of pins 90 (FIGS. 1 and 1a) fixed to the movable plate 78 and projecting into the space between the stationary frame plates where they enter tubular members for lugs 92, 94 that project across the vertical path of the cassette and are carried in vertical slots 97, 98 (FIG. 5) in one of the frame plates 38 for vertical movement, the pins 90 being effective to raise and lower the lugs 92, 94 together with the raising and lowering movement of the movable support so that a cassette carried on the lugs 92, 94 is maintained in registration with the tape and reel drive elements. Each lug 92, 94 is provided with a flange 95, 96 at its base which fit in similar slots 97, 98 in the fixed frame plate 36 so that the lug has straight up and down motion and together the lugs 92, 94 carry the cassette both downward to the playing position and upward after the playing operation to return it to the magazine at the completion of the change cycle. One of the features of this particular type transport is that the tape and reel drive elements on the movable support 78 gradually act on and penetrate the face of the cassette during its lowering movement, and also gradually separate from the cassette during its return movement.

CASSETTE TRANSFER-CHANGE CYCLE

According to the present invention, after retraction of the retaining rod 68 so as to drop a cassette into the entrance slot 66 (FIG. 12) to the transport mechanism, the cassette initially falls solely by gravity onto an elevator arm 99 (FIG. 1) extending laterally from a vertically movable slider 100. The elevator arm 99 serves as a transfer means to lower the cassette until it rests on the two lugs 92, 94 (FIG. 7a ) connected to the transport mechanism movable frame, and the cassette follows the two lugs by gravity as they descend with the movement of the transport mechanism movable plate 78. The movable plate 78 moves downward and also approaches the plane of cassette movement. As a result of this movement, not only are the capstan 26 and drive shaft 20 introduced into the cassette, behind the tape and into the openings in the reel hubs, respectively, but also a force is applied directly to the cassette to hold it against the lugs 92, 94 and in the final stage of movement of the cassette to playing position, to locate and align the cassette relative to the recording and playback heads. In the present case the alignment means is shown as a clip 105 (FIGS. 1, 13) fastened to the movable plate 78 which comes to bear against the edge 106 of a raised projection which is on both main surfaces of the cassette. The alignment clip 105 is carried by the movable plate 78 and is thus gradually moved into engagement with the cassette during the course of its downward movement to the playing position. Once it moves into engagement with the cassette, it serves as a positive means for positioning the cassette in its final alignment with the tape stretched across the recording and playback heads and pressed against such head by a resilient pressure pad installed for this purpose inside the cassette, the final stage of movement of the cassette being against the opposing force of such resiliently mounted pad.

After the playing operation, the cassette is carried upward in the guides 76 by upward movement of the movable tape transport plate 78, and the elevator arm 99 is effective to carry the cassette from the tape transport 11 to the magazine 10, the retaining rod 68 being returned to retain the cassette in the magazine.

CHANGER OPERATING MECHANISM

In carrying out the invention, the power to move the components of the changer through the change cycle is provided by linkages operated by motor driven cams A, B and C. As shown in FIG. 1, a motor 101 is fixed to the frame 12. This motor 101 drives the three cams A, B and C (FIGS. 5, 7 and 10) and associated sets of linkages, to coordinately but independently operate (1) the cassette retaining means 68 which is effective to hold and release an individual cassette from the magazine, (2) the elevator arm 99 which is effective to transfer a released cassette from the magazine partially along the guide means to the transport movable frame, (3) the tape transport movable frame 78 which is effective to carry the tape and reel drive elements into penetrating relation with the cassette in the operating position, as well as (4) magazine advance, interlock, and switching functions which occur during the change cycle. As herein shown, two of such cams A, B are formed on opposite surfaces of a circular toothed gear member 102, such cams A B operating the cassette retaining means 68 and elevator arm 99, respectively. Cam C is formed on a similar toothed gear member 103 which is intermeshed with the gear member 102, and operates the tape transport frame 78.

MAGAZINE CASSETTE RETAINING ROD - OPERATED BY CAM A

Cam A is a positively acting face cam formed by a groove 107 in one surface of the member 102. Referring to FIGS. 7, 8, 12 and 13, for moving the retaining rod 68 through its retraction and return stroke a link 108 is provided having a slot 109 in its upper edge into which the retaining rod 68 fits, and pivoted at its lower end on the pin 110. The link 108 is oscillated to impart the desired motion to the retaining rod by a rocker arm 112 which is also pivoted about the fixed pin 110 and has a follower roller 113 at its lower end which rides in the groove 107 of the cam A. Thus, the retaining rod 68 is retracted to release the cassette to start the change cycle by motion of the rocker arm 112 produced by the cam A, the retaining rod 68 being returned to block the entrance slot 66 by the completion of 180° of cam A rotation.

To prevent damage to the linkage in the event that a partly lowered cassette or other obstruction blocks movement of the retaining rod 68, the link 108 is resiliently connected for movement by the rocker arm 112 by means herein shown in FIG. 8 as a hairspring 114. Said hairspring 114 is wound around a pin 111 and has two arms 114-1, 114-2, which pass through apertures in a flange 115 at the upper edge of the rocker arm 112 to straddle a pin 108' on the link 108, such that as the rocker arm 112 pivots in either direction, the link 108 moves with said arm 112 unless its motion is blocked. In such case the force transmitting arm of the spring 114 will bend while the rocker arm motion will continue.

CASSETTE TRANSFER MEANS - OPERATED BY CAM B

As the cassette is dropped from the magazine, it falls onto the cassette transfer means served by the elevator arm 99 (FIG. 12) which is driven by a plate cam B on the opposite surface of the toothed member 102. The elevator arm 99 is moved by a forked link 117 having a follower roller 118 fixed to the link 117 intermediate its ends so as to ride on the edge 120 of cam B and pivoted at its right hand end as viewd in FIG. 12 on a pivot 119. Cam B is thus effective following the start of the change cycle by means of its rotation to lower the elevator arm 99 and thereby the cassette downward to the tape transport and by rotation of the cam B through 180° during the first portion of the change cycle to move the arm to its lowermost position (FIG. 13).

TAPE TRANSPORT MOVABLE SUPPORT - OPERATED BY CAM C

In the present case the downward movement of the tape transport plate 78 to carry the cassette to playing position is provided by 180° of rotation of cam C which is coordinately driven with cams A and B. Cam C is formed on one surface of the toothed gear member 103 which, as illustrated in FIG. 10, meshes with the first gear member 102. It is driven by a spur gear 122 which is operated through a gear train 123 from the drive motor 101. To control and impart the required vertical motion to the movable plate 78 of the transport mechanism, one of the pins 90 (FIGS. 1, 7) that projects from the movable plate 78 and extends across the path of motion of the cassette and through the tubular lug 92, is fastened to a connecting link 124 which in turn is driven by a drive link 125 operated by the cam C. Cam C is a face cam formed by a groove 126 in the surface of the gear member 103 and operates a cam follower roller 127 fixed near the left end of the drive link 125 (FIG. 7) which rides in the groove of cam C, the drive link being pivotally mounted at its right hand end. As cam C rotates at the start of the change cycle, the dwell section provides delay while the cassette is falling from the magazine and being transferred by the elevating arm 99 to the tape transport lugs 92, 94. After the cam C rotates its dwell section past the follower 127, the drive link 125 is driven downwardly by the cam C. The tape transport movable plate 78 initially drops by gravity and accompanies the descent of the drive link 125, the top edge of a slot 128 in the connecting link 124 resting on a pin 129 which extends from the left end of the drive link 125. An interlocking link 130 becomes operative during this phase of the operation (the gravity descent of the cassette and movable tape transport plate) to prevent blocking and damage to the mechanism if, during this phase of the operation, the passages in the cassette do not register with the drive elements carried on the movable plate 78. Such may occur if the cassette is inadvertently placed in the magazine upside-down, or an obstruction may prevent the cassette from moving together with the movement of the tape transport by gravity. Non-registration of the passages in the cassette with the drive elements stops the approach movement of the moving plate 78 towards the plane of cassette movement upon the drive elements abutting the outside of the cassette. Since the approach movement of the movable plate 78 is linked with its descending movement the stoppage of one causes stoppage of the other.

The result of interrupting the descent of the movable plate 78 is that the connecting link 124 which is fastened to the movable plate 78 abruptly stops its descent. So that the drive link 125 under the action of cam C can continue its downward movement independently of the connecting link 124 in the event that the descent of the movable plate 78 is stopped, the slot 128 allows the pin 129 to slide downward in the slot clearing the interlocking link 130. The changer mechanism, therefore, will continue its cycle (FIG. 14a) without interruption and as a further feature of this aspect of the construction will orient itself to immediately return the cassette to the magazine by continuing the rotation of the cams A, B and C through the entire change cycle. In the second part of such cycle, the drive link 125 is raised by cam C which raises the pin 129 into abutment with the upper edge of slot 128 and thus raises the connecting link 124 to bring the movable plate 78 to its uppermost position freeing the cassette from any interference and allowing the elevator arm 99, responsive to continued rotation of cam B, to raise the cassette and return it to the magazine.

In the event that the cassette which is being carried into the tape transport is properly positioned and moves downwardly together with the movable plate 78 and in registration with the drive elements carried thereby, the connecting link 124 will descend with the drive link 125 without interruption. After the initial period of descent of the connecting link by gravity, the cam C is utilized to positively drive the connecting link downwardly and thereby the movable plate downwardly and into its final playing position with the cassette, assuming the interlock to prevent damage to the mechanism has not come into operation and the cassette is properly registered with the drive elements of the tape transport. In the present case this is achieved by utilizing the interlocking link 130 as a means to transmit force from the drive link 125 to positively urge the connecting link 124 and movable plate of the tape transport downward in unison. Thus, the interlocking link 130 is pivotally mounted on a pin 131 to the connecting link and is urged counterclockwise as shown in FIG. 7 about its pivot by a resilient spring 132. A pin 133 which projects from the interlocking link 130 into a recess 134 in the fixed vertical frame plate 38 acts as a follower on a cam surface provided by the left vertical edge of the recess. The shape of the edge as shown in FIG. 7a is such that the top section 134-1 of the edge is vertical so that the interlocking link 130 is maintained in its clockwise position as shown in FIG. 7a upon downward movement of said interlocking link with the connecting link 124 at the start of the cassette introduction and movable transport plate movement. As such movement proceeds, the pin 133 rides down the inclined section 134-2 of the recess allowing the link 130 to pivot counterclockwise so that its upper edge 135 is placed under the pin 129 which is carried by the drive link 125 as shown in FIG. 13. Further downward movement of the drive link 125 is effective to positively strike the pin 129 down against the upper edge 135 of the interlocking link 130 to urge the connecting link and movable plate downwardly for the remaining portion of the tape transport plate movement to the playing position, to positively drive the tape transport movable plate 78 downward during its final increment of motion.

As the movable plate 78 of the tape transport is driven down by the cam C to lower the cassette into playing position, the plate meets a spring 136 which opposes the final downward movement of the tape transport plate, and stores energy for starting the upward return movement of the plate during the second (cassette return) portion of the change cycle after the cassette has been played. The movable transport plate 78 is latched against the force of the spring 136 by a pawl 137 (FIG. 13b) which engages behind a stud 138 on the movable plate 78 and serves to hold the tape transport and the cassette in final playing position until released by the latching solenoid 140, the cam C having a wide groove section after the step in the groove 107 so as to temporarily release the follower roller 127 on the drive link 125 so that the plate may be held by the latching pawl.

Referring to FIGS. 13 and 25, for conditioning the control circuit to de-energize the cam drive motor 101 and stop the cams with the tape transport and cassette in the playing position, a switch 139 is engaged and opened by the drive link 125 as it is driven by the cam C to its lowermost position; how the control circuit operates will be described in detail below.

MAGAZINE INTERLOCK-OPERATED BY CAM C

In the course of lowering the tape transport plate 78 into playing position, cam C through the connecting link 124 is also effective to lock the magazine against movement. In the present case this is achieved by the connecting link lowering a flat, detent member 142 from a raised position (FIGS. 7, 11) into a lower, locking position (FIG. 13) relative to a magazine locking member 143. Such member 143 is triangular in form with rollers 144 at its corners and is effectively locked against rotation when one of its flat sides is engaged by the detent 142 in its lower, locking position. The locking member 143 is connected to move with the magazine 10 (FIGS. 3, 5 and 7b) by a shaft 145 fixed to a gear 146 meshing with a rack 147 formed along one sidewall of the magazine. The connecting link 124 for the purpose of raising and lowering the detent 142 has a finger 148 extending from the top of the link into engagement with the under edge of a projection 149 (FIG. 11) from the side of the detent 142. The magazine interlock is thus effective to hold the magazine against being moved manually while a cassette is playing. In the course of raising the tape transport plate 78 to its fully returned position, the connecting link 124 raises the magazine locking detent 142 to free the magazine. It may then be moved manually.

MAGAZINE ADVANCE - OPERATED BY CAM C

One of the features of the changer mechanism is that after the cassette has been returned to the magazine, the magazine is automatically advanced one step to complete the change cycle, except in that case where the cassette in the last compartment has already been played. At the operator's selection, by control means described more fully below, the mechanism will proceed through consecutive change cycles or stop at the end of a cycle with the magazine advanced and a new compartment over the entrance to the tape transport.

Magazine advance is produced by cam C rotating the triangular magazine locking member 143 through an angular distance 120° which is transmitted to the magazine by means of the shaft 145 and rack and pinion connections 146, 147. In the present arrangement, each successive magazine compartment is brought into accurate registry with the entrance slot 66 to the changer, by rotating the locking member 120° so that one of its sides is resiliently abutted by the flat surface of the flat spring leaf 152.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 7a-7c, 11, 11a, the rotation of the locking member 143 is accomplished by a drive link 150 which (as shown in FIGS. 15 and 15b) may be swung to strike one of three crank pins 151-1 - 151-3 extending from the underside of the locking member 143, which turns the locking member through the desired 120° angle. From FIG. 15a it will be noted that a flat spring 152 fixed at its lower end to the frame 12 is engaged by the roller 144 at the corner of the locking member 143 and urged away from its support upon rotation of the locking member 143 partly through the required 120° angle. Once the locking member 143 is carried by the drive link 150 past the dead center position of FIG. 15a, the spring 152 then exerts a force tending to complete the required rotation of the locking member 143. After this rotation is completed as shown in FIGS. 16 and 16a, the spring 152 by engaging the flat side of the locking member 143 positively fixes its angular position and thus determines the position of the magazine with a compartment in accurate registry over to the entrance slot to the changer mechanism.

For supporting the drive link 150 and for producing the required swinging motion of this drive link, it is carried behind a supporting link 154 which is pivotally mounted on the fixed frame 12. A spring 156 urges the supporting link clockwise (FIG. 7) against the stop 158, which is the position of the supporting link and drive link as shown in FIG. 13 with the tape transport and cassette in playing position.

The pivotal motion of the supporting link 154 and drive link 150 to strike the crank pin 151-1 projecting from the locking member 143, occurs during the final period of the change cycle. Thus, as shown in FIG. 11, the drive link 150 is supported on two pins, 159, 160, which project from the back of the supporting link 154 through vertical slots 162, 164 in the drive link so that the latter is movable vertically downwardly to its supporting link 154 from the position shown in FIG. 11a to disable its magazine advance function in that case where, at the end of the change cycle, the magazine is already at its terminal position and no advance motion is desired. In the upper position in which the drive link 150 is normally maintained by a spring 166 as shown in FIG. 11a, it will swing with the supporting link 154 counterclockwise to the position shown in FIGS. 15 and 15b to engage the crank pin 151-1 and start the required rotation of the locking member 143.

The swinging motion of the supporting link 154 together with the drive link 150 is produced by a stud 168 projecting from the rear surface of the gear member 103 which also carries cam C. Upon rotation of the gear member 103 through the final approximately 10° of its rotation at the end of the change cycle (as indicated in FIG. 21), the stud 168 engages the supporting link 154 as indicated in FIG. 15, pivots the supporting link 154 and with it the drive link 150 when the latter is in its raised position, and thereby moves a flange 170 extending from the top edge of the drive link 150 to strike one of the crank pins 151-1 as indicated in FIG. 15b. By beveling the flange 170 as shown in FIGS. 15b and 16b, the beveled edge 172 of the drive link 150 will wipe the next crank pin 151-2 on its return stroke as illustrated in FIG. 16b, forcing the drive link toward the supporting link 154, the drive link 150 being resiliently carried by a spring 174 on the support link 154 to allow the drive link to move completely past and to be positioned behind the next crank pin 151-2 at the end of the return stroke.

To disable the magazine advance function, the drive link 150 is forced downwardly from its normal position (FIG. 11a) so that it clears the crank pins 151-1 to 151-3 (FIG. 18b) on the locking member 143 when it is swung counterclockwise by the movement of the supporting link 154, by means responsive to the movement of the magazine 10 to its terminal position. Such means is herein shown in FIG. 17 as a camming projection 176 on the underside of the magazine 10 which engages and moves rod 178 resiliently supported by a spring clip 180 on the plate 60. Downward movement of the rod 178 by the camming projection 176 as the magazine moves to its terminal position, rotates a triangular lever 182 which is pivotally mounted on a shaft 184, which rotational movement of the triangular lever 182 from the position shown in FIG. 14 to the position in FIG. 18 produces downward movement of a force transmitting link 186 connected to the magazine advance drive link 150. Such connection (FIGS. 18a and 18b) is provided by projection 188 on the force transmitting link 186 which is brought into abutment with the top edge of the drive link 150 to produce the disabling downward movement against the bias of the spring 166. The force transmitting link 186 is also slidably mounted to the supporting link 154 by means of the pin 160 projecting from behind the supporting link through a slot 164 in the force transmitting link so that these links are able to articulate as shown in FIG. 15.

AUTOMATIC STOP - OPERATED BY CAM C

An automatic stop function is performed responsive to the magazine reaching its terminal position utilizing some of the linkage assembly operated by cam C and used to disable the magazine advance function. According to this aspect of the invention the control circuit of the apparatus automatically stops the changer mechanism after the last cassette has been played and returned to the magazine. Referring to FIGS. 14, 18a and 19a, it will be seen that a slotted automatic stop lever 192 carried by the connecting link 124 is engaged by a projection 194 from the triangular lever 182 when the latter is rotated clockwise responsive to the camming projection 176 as the magazine 10 moves into terminal position. This causes the stop lever 192 to move to the left from the position of FIG. 14 to the position of FIG. 18a and into association with the off push button PB-Off and its contacts 196. Thus, a lip 198 on the top of the stop lever 192 extends over an arm 200 extending from the stem 202 of the off push button PB-Off. As the cassette in the last compartment in the magazine is moved downward in the apparatus to the playing position and the gear member 103 and cam C rotate to the 180° position to move the tape transport plate 78 to its playing position, as shown in FIG. 19a the connecting link 124 is driven down with the transport plate 78 and through the slot and pin connection 204 to the stop lever 192, pulls it downward to lower the stem 202 of the push button PB-Off and thereby open the On-Off switch contacts 196. That conditions the control circuit for the automatic stop operation which occurs at the completion of the change cycle after the cassette is returned to the last compartment in the magazine following the playing operation.

CONTROLS

During the cassette return portion of the change cycle, further functions are performed in connection with the control of the changer mechanism to insure that the cassette is gently but quickly returned to the magazine 10 and the magazine is either advanced to ready the next cassette for playing or left in its final position after the cassette in the last compartment has been played. Thus, those components previously described in detail, including the tape transport and cassette transfer means 99, are effective to carry the cassette from its playing position (FIG. 13) by upward movement of the tape transport plate 78, and from the tape transport to the magazine 10 by means of the elevator arm 99.

To start the second portion of the change cycle, the latching pawl 137 is shifted (FIG. 13c) by a solenoid 140 to release the movable plate 78 of the tape transport. The spring 136 is effective to raise the tape transport plate 78 once it has been released, which raises the drive link 125 via the connecting link 124 to the position of FIG. 14 and closes the switch 139 which energizes the cam drive motor 101 (FIG. 27). The solenoid 140 may be actuated, in keeping with this invention, either manually by operation of the reject push button PB-R (FIG. 20) or automatically by circuit means detecting that the tape has been completely transferred from one reel to the other within the cassette and thus that the end of the tape has been reached, a preferred automatic detection means being disclosed in copending application of E. Schatteman, Ser. No. 590,613, entitled "Stop System For Tape Decks", now U.S. Pat. No. 3,433,420.

Raising the drive link 125 also introduces the follower 127 into the groove of cam C so that after the cam drive motor 101 resumes operating and begins the second 180° of cam rotation to complete the change cycle, the movable tape transport plate 78 continues to be raised by the rotation of cam C (FIG. 14). Cam C serves as a positively acting cam for this raising motion to directly lift the tape transport plate via the connecting link 124 to its fully returned position. After a period of approximately 90° dwell of the cam B, during which period the tape transport is fully raised due to the motion of cam C, cam B lifts the forked link 117 to raise the elevator arm 99 into contact with the cassette and to carry it from the tape transport lugs 92, 94 to the magazine (FIG. 12). While the tape transport plate 78 is being raised, cam A retracts the retaining rod 68 from over the entrance slot 66 below the magazine so as not to block the return of the cassette to the magazine. After the cassette has been raised completely to the magazine by the elevator arm 99, cam A returns the retaining rod 68 and cam B lowers the cassette onto the rod which holds it in the magazine (FIG. 7).

Referring to FIGS. 20 and 22-29, the control circuit to energize the cam drive motor 101 including the manual and automatic operating means therefor will now be detailed. As appears in FIG. 20, the apparatus is manually controlled by three push buttons. A Start or On push button PB-On and an Off push button PB-Off are interconnected by a link 205 so that pressing either one down raises the other. The third push button PB-R is for rejecting a cassette while it is playing. This reject push button PB-R has a normally raised position to which it is returned by the spring 231 unless it is being held down. A hairspring 207 serves as a latch to hold either the Start or Off push button (PB-On or PB-Off) down once pressed.

FIGS. 22-29 show how the push bottons and switches are connected in the control circuit which is used to energize the cam drive motor 101. Referring to FIG. 22, the control circuit is energized from a source of power applied to the buses 208, 210. The normally closed On-Off switch 212 is associated with the Off push button PB-Off so that this switch is opened by pressing down the Off push button PB-Off and allowed to close by pressing the On push button PB-On as shown in FIG. 23.

Three automatically operated switches are also included in the control circuit. One such switch 139, previously referred to, is normally closed as shown in FIGS. 22 and 23 and is opened by the drive link 125 responsive to rotation of cam C and movement of the tape transport movable plate 78 to its playing position (FIG. 25). The other two switches, 214, 216 are associated with the gear members 102 and 103 and are operated by pins 218, 220 carried by said gear members 102, 103, respectively. Both said switches 214, 216 are normally closed and are opened by rotation of the gear members to particular positions in the course of the change cycle as will now be described.

Referring to FIGS. 22 and 23, it will be seen that when the push button PB-On is pressed down as shown in FIG. 23, the switch 139 will be energized from one input bus 208 through the lines 222 and 223 leading from the closed On-Off switch 212, and the cam drive motor 101 will be connected to the input bus 208 by the switch 139, when the latter is closed, through the lines 224, 225; the cam drive motor 101 is directly energized by the other input bus 210.

As the gear members 102, 103 are rotated by the cam drive motor 101, said members reach the position of FIG. 24 just prior to the 180° rotation point of the cams, and obtain the condition of FIG. 25 at the 180° point when the cassette and the movable plate 78 have reached their playing positions and are latched therein. In moving the tape transport movable plate 78 to its playing position, the drive link 125 reaches its lowermost position as shown in FIG. 25, and opens the switch 139 which de-energizes the lines 224, 225 leading to the cam drive motor 101 but which is not effective to stop the cam drive motor 101. The cams continue to be driven through a few degrees by the drive motor 101 until the pin 218 on the gear member 102 opens the normally closed switch 214 which is in parallel with the drive link actuated switch 139, as shown in FIG. 26, and thus connects the motor 101 to the input bus 208 until opened; opening of the switch 214 occurs in a cam position where groove 126 of cam C clears cam follower 127, so as to allow free upwards vertical movement of drive link 125, of connecting link 124 and of the tape transport movable plate 78 when said plate will be released from its latched position.

FIG. 27 illustrates the closing of switch 139 which re-energizes the cam drive motor 101 after the tape transport movable plate 78 has been released at the conclusion of the playing operation. It will be recalled that to provide an automatic means for sensing that the end of the tape has been reached, it is preferred to utilize an automatic detection circuit as disclosed in the previously referred to copending application Ser. No. 590,613 of E. Schatteman, entitled "Stop System For Tape Decks", now U.S. Pat. No. 3,433,420. In keeping with this invention, such a circuit is utilited to energize the latching solenoid 140 automatically at the end of the tape to release the latching pawl 137 and thereby the movable plate 78 to start the return of the cassette to the magazine. The upward movement of the tape transport plate 78 carries with it the drive link 125 so that it is raised as shown in FIG. 27 to allow the normally closed switch 139 to close and thereby energize the cam drive motor 101 to start its operation. Once it has started operating, the switch 214 associated with the gear member 102 will also be closed (FIG. 22) during the remaining 180° rotation of the gear member 102 to complete the change cycle.

FIG. 28 illustrates the operation of the control circuit components with the push button PB-Off pressed down and the tape transport movable plate 78 and cassette in playing position. Once the tape transport plate 78 is released by actuation of the latching solenoid 140 at the end of the playing cycle, by automatic means such as the detection circuit previously referred to, or by pressing down the reject push button PB-R, as shown in FIG. 29 the cam drive motor 101 will be energized through the switch 216 associated with the gear member 103 and the switch 139 which connect the motor 101 and the input bus 208. The switch 216 is opened by the pin 220 on the gear member 103 as that gear member reaches its 360° position shown, for example, in FIG. 22, to thereby de-energize the cam drive motor 101 and cause the apparatus to come to a stop at the end of the change cycle.

OPERATING SEQUENCE

The operating sequence of the changer mechanism movement will now be summarized with particular reference to the phase diagram of FIG. 21.

Assuming that the magazine has been loaded with cassettes and positioned as shown in FIG. 1 so that the first cassette in the magazine is above the entrance slot 66, when the start push button PB-On is pressed, the normally closed On-Off switch 212 closes and the cam drive motor 101 is energized to start the rotation of the cams A, B and C by rotation of the gear members 102, 103.

PHASE A - RELEASE OF A CASSETTE FROM THE MAGAZINE

Referring to the control circuit diagrams FIGS. 22-24, and FIG. 12 after the cam drive motor 101 starts operating, the gear member 103 turns and the pin 220 carried thereby releases the switch 216 associated with said gear member 103, allowing its contacts to close. Cam A also via the rocker arm 112 and link 108 retracts the retaining rod 68 from beneath the first cassette. The cassette is dropped through the entrance slot 66 by gravity onto the top of the elevating arm 99 which serves to carry the cassette downward toward the tape transport.

PHASE B AND B-1 - DESCENT OF ELEVATOR ARM WITH AND WITHOUT CASSETTE

Towards the end of the retract movement of the rod 68 (FIG. 7a) the elevator arm 99 begins its downward movement produced by the cam B via the link 117, the link 117 being drawn downward by the spring 230 which maintains the follower 118 against the edge of the cam B. The cassette is thereby lowered by the elevating arm 99 downward onto the lugs 92, 94 carried by the movable tape transport plate 78, whereupon the elevating arm 99 continues its descending movement independently of the cassette.

PHASE C - DESCENT OF CASSETTE AND MOVEMENT THEREOF TO ITS PLAYING POSITION - MAGAZINE LOCKING

During this phase, the cassette is moved to the playing position and is gradually engaged by the clip 105 on the movable tape transport plate 78 which positively retains it in its final position in alignment with the recording and playback head 13 (FIG. 13).

The initial downward movement of the tape transport movable plate 78 is under gravity as the plate accompanies the connecting link 124 in its initial downward movement. After the interlocking link 130 is cammed to the left under the pin 129 carried by the drive link 125 as shown in FIG. 13a, the remaining portion of downward movement of the movable plate 78 in its descent, and the tape drive and reel drive elements carried by the movable plate 78 are moved toward the cassette to penetrate the openings therein and enter into drive engagement with the elements within the cassette. Assuming that the cassette is properly oriented in the changer mechanism and follows the movement of the movable plate downwardly in the changer mechanism, the drive elements will enter the cassette during the initial descent when the movable plate is under the action of gravity only, and after the cassette tape and reel drive elements have entered the cassette the final stage of movement downwardly of the cassette together with the movable plate will be produced positively by the cam C.

If the cassette was inadvertently placed in the magazine upside-down, or if there should be an obstruction preventing the downward movement of the cassette or the tape transport plate 78 under gravity, an interlock prevents damage of the mechanism. Non-registration of the passages in the cassette with the tape reel drive elements for any reason stops the approach movement of the movable plate 78 towards the plane of cassette descent. What occurs if the downward movement of the cassette and movable plate 78 is interrupted is shown in FIG. 14a, which illustrates that the interlocking lever 130 has failed to rotate counterclockwise as shown in FIG. 13a beneath the pin 129 on the drive link and, therefore, the drive link 125 has moved downward adjacent the interlocking link 130 without producing downward movement of the connecting link 124 and the movable transport plate 78. Since the movable tape transport plate has not been moved downwardly and latched in its playing position, the cams A, B and C are driven past the 180° mid-point in the change cycle to complete without interruption the second portion of the change cycle. In the course of such movement of cam B, the elevating arm 99 is carried vertically to raise the cassette which caused the malfunction from the tape transport and to return it to the magazine.

The magazine interlock function is also performed during this phase of operation involving lowering the tape transport movable plate to the playing position. At the start of the descending movement of the connecting lever 124, the arm 148 extending therefrom and supporting the magazine locking detent 142 is lowered, thereby lowering the detent 142 which is pulled down by a spring 240 (FIG. 11). The detent 142 in its lower position engages one flat side of the triangular locking member 143 to hold the same against rotation and prevent shifting of the magazine while the playing operation proceeds. Because of the relatively short distance between the lower edge of the locking detent 142 and the locking member 143, even in the case where a cassette is not carried throughout its normal change cycle and placed in the operating position and the movable transport plate stops in its downward movement before reaching its playing position, the lowering movement of the connecting link 124 is sufficient to lower the locking detent 142 into engagement with the locking member and therefore to interlock the magazine against movement.

The magazine interlock is effective until at the end of Phase G the connecting lever 124 raises the locking detent 142 free of the locking member 143 during the final increment of its upward movement. The same interlock operates whenever one or more magazine compartments are devoid of cassettes. In this case the mechanism performs an idle cycle so as to shift the magazine until a cassette is brought into operative position in the magazine and then lowered to the tape transport.

PHASE D (OVERLAPPING THE END OF PHASE C)- RE-ENGAGEMENT OF RETAINING ROD 68

Slightly before the end of the descending movement of the movable plate 78 of the tape transport with the cassette, the rocker arm 112 is pivoted by cam A to return the retaining rod 68 into its retaining position (FIG. 13) to prevent another cassette from being accidentally introduced through the entrance slot 66 to the tape transport mechanism.

PHASE E - RELEASE OF MOVING TAPE TRANSPORT PLATE AND THE PLAYING OPERATION

Shortly before the movable tape transport plate 78 reaches its bottom playing position but after the pin or stud 138 which is secured to the plate 78 has engaged behind to be held by the retaining pawl 137, which is urged into latching position by the spring 244, the drive link 125 opens the switch 139 (FIG. 25) to condition the control circuit for stopping the cam drive motor 101. Referring to FIGS. 25 and 26 it will be seen that shortly after the switch 139 is opened (FIG. 25), the switch 214 will be opened by the pin 218 on the gear member 102 (FIG. 26), which causes the cam drive motor 101 to be de-energized, preventing any further movement of the changer mechanism. It will be noted from FIG. 13a that the drive link 125 is maintained in its lowered position as shown in this FIG. because the movable tape transport plate 78 which is latched in its playing position, by means of the connecting link 124 will hold the drive link 125 so that its follower roller 127 is spaced from entering the groove 126' in the cam C. Thus, the drive link 125 is maintained against the force of its spring 246 not by the cam C but by the linkage assembly connecting the drive link 125 to the movable tape transport plate 78.

The cassette and the movable tape transport plate 78 are in the playing position. The tape drive motor is energized by means of the circuit which also energizes the playback components such as the pre-amplifier, amplifier, etc., such circuit being closed by a switch (not shown) when the switch 139 opens; the tape drive mechanism continues to operate until the end of the tape is reached.

PHASE E-1 - RESTARTING OF CAM DRIVE MOTOR TO PERFORM SECOND PORTION OF CHANGE CYCLE

When the end of the tape is reached in the playing operation which involves transfer of the tape from one reel to another within the cassette, the empty reel to which the tape is secured ceases to rotate so that the tape drive spindle 20 which rotates solidly with such reel also ceases to rotate. Preferably, a friction drive clutch is provided between the terminal section of the reel drive spindle engaging the reel and the drive portion of the spindle operated by the drive motor so that the sections of this spindle assembly may operate independently. Upon the reel spindle stopping, means are provided in keeping with this invention to energize the latch solenoid 140 to release the movable tape transport plate 78. As previously mentioned, it is preferred to utilize a rotation checking circuit of the type disclosed in copending application of E. Schatteman, Ser. No. 590,613, entitled "Stop System For Tape Decks", which is operative to close the circuit to the latching solenoid 140 (FIG. 20) causing the solenoid 140 to shift the pawl 137 to release the stud 138 and thereby release the movable tape transport plate 78. The release of the plate allows the spring 136 to raise the movable tape transport plate 78 and via the connecting lever 124 also raises the drive link 125. This is effective to close the switch 139 to energize the cam drive motor 101. It also causes the follower roller 127 carried by the drive link 125 to enter the groove 126' in cam C (FIG. 14) and subsequent rotation of cam C by the cam drive motor 101 positively raises the movable tape transport plate 78 and the cassette carried thereby upwards towards the magazine.

If during the initial part of the change cycle no cassette is carried downward into the playing position upon downward movement of the tape transport plate 78, the rotation checking circuit will be operative in the same manner as when the end of the tape is reached to cause energization of the latching solenoid 140 and release of the tape transport for return to its initial position. Similarly, if a cassette which has one empty reel and one full reel has been carried into the playing position so that the empty reel is engaged by the reel drive shaft 20 monitored by the rotation checking circuit, the system will cause release of the tape transport to return the cassette to the magazine. In both of these cases the mechanism does not dwell in the playing position and returns the cassette so that the changer mechanism will proceed through the change cycle for the next cassette in the magazine without undue delay.

PHASE F - RETRACTION OF RETAINING ROD

Restarting the cam drive motor 101 causes cam A to retract the retaining rod 68 from across the entrance slot 66 so as to avoid interference with the return of the cassette to the magazine.

PHASE G (PARTLY OVERLAPPING PHASE F) - RELEASE AND RAISING OF CASSETTE

Continued rotation of the cam drive motor 101 and rotation of cam C produces vertical upward movement of the transport movable plate 78 via the drive link 125 and the connecting link 124 which positively lifts the movable plate 78 so that the plate moves vertically and away from the plane of cassette movement to both lift the cassette and withdraw the tape drive and reel drive elements from penetrating relationship within the cassette.

The action of cam C to raise the connecting link 124 also raises the interlocking detent 142 from locking position relative to the magazine locking member 143 and frees the magazine for advance at the end of the change cycle.

PHASE H (PARTLY OVERLAPPING PHASE G) - RAISING OF CASSETTE INTO MAGAZINE

During the previously described Phase G, the elevating arm 99 is raised by the link 117 which in turn is driven by cam B. The elevating arm 99 is brought into engagement with the forward or bottom edge 24 of the cassette shortly after the movable tape transport plate 78 has come into its top position at the end of the previous Phase G. As the ascent of the elevating arm 99 continues, the same engages the cassette, which was resting freely on the lugs 92, 94 and raises the cassette along the guides 76 and carries it back through the entrance slot 66 into the magazine to a height slightly above the rod 68 (when the rod is in the position beneath the cassette).

PHASE I - RETENTION OF CASSETTE IN MAGAZINE

Cam A is effective to return the retaining rod 68 beneath the cassette and across the entrance slot 66.

PHASE J - DESCENT OF ELEVATING ARM 99 BELOW THE BOTTOM LEVEL OF THE MAGAZINE

Now that the retaining rod 68 is in position to retain cassettes in the magazine, the profile of cam B allows the link 117 to be drawn down by its spring 230 and the arm 99 which during the previous phase of operation was raised into the magazine, is now lowered to a level slightly below the level at which a cassette is disposed when retained by the rod 68 above the entrance slot 66 (FIGS. 5 and 7).

PHASE K - ADVANCE OF MAGAZINE

As the end of the change cycle is approached, the gear member 103 produces the advance motion of the magazine. As shown in FIG. 15, the pin 168 carried by the gear member 103 engages the supporting link 154 and causes the assembly of that link 154 and the force transmitting link 186 to articulate. The pivoting of the supporting link 154 counterclockwise away from its stop 158 as shown in FIG. 15 produces lateral movement of the drive link 150 to strike one of the crank pins 151-1 which extends below the magazine locking member 143. Turning the magazine locking member 143 past its dead center position of FIG. 15b allows the spring member 152 to complete the required 60° rotation of the locking member 143 to produce the one step movement of the magazine to shift the next magazine compartment into position over the entrance slot to the tape transport.

During the advance of the magazine, the cassette which has been previously returned to the magazine advances with the magazine and slides on beveled ends 252 (FIG. 4) of the rails 62, 64 to be raised and located in position on the rails as shown in FIG. 1.

PHASE L - RETURNING THE MAGAZINE ADVANCE LINKAGE TO ITS INOPERATIVE POSITION

As shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the pin 168 carried by the gear member 103 articulates the linkage assembly including the supporting link 154 and produces the required motion of the magazine advance drive link 150 to shift the magazine. Continued rotation of the gear member 103 causes the pin 168 to ride over the beveled top edge 254 of the supporting link 154 (FIG. 16) and once the gear member 103 rotates far enough clears the top edge of the supporting link and releases the link for its return stroke. The return stroke is produced by the spring 156 which is fixed to the supporting link and the frame 12. The crank pin 151-1 below the locking member has now been rotated by the spring action of the element 152 to the position of FIG. 16b and because of the beveled configuration of the edge 172 of the magazine advance drive link 150 said link is wiped past the next crank pin 151-2 and returned as shown in FIG. 16b past the crank pin and behind the pin 151-2 to its Start position. To bring a new cassette in the next compartment in the magazine into operative position, the apparatus will proceed without interruption through another change cycle unless the On-Off switch 212 has previously been opened. Said switch 212 may have been manually opened by means of the Off push button PB-Off or it may have been automatically opened as the magazine was shifted to its terminal position. Thus, if the On-Off contact 196 is open, at the completion of the change cycle as the gear member 103 reaches its initial position (FIGS. 19 and 22), the pin 220 extending therefrom opens the switch 216 so as to open the circuit to the cam drive motor 101. If the On-Off switch 212 is closed because the Start push button PB-On is pressed down as shown in FIG. 23, the opening of switch 216 by the final motion of the gear member 103 and its pin 220, has no effect on the energization of the cam drive motor 101 because said switch 216 is in parallel with the On-Off switch 212.

It will be clear, therefore, that the control aspect of this invention provides for the apparatus to be automatically stopped after the cassette in the last compartment of the magazine has been played and returned to the magazine, including the drive motors and other electrically powered components. For this purpose, as the magazine 10 is moved to its terminal position the cam 176 on the underside thereof is moved into operative position relative to the automatic stop linkage assembly. Such magazine movement may be produced manually, or it may be produced mechanically in accordance with the magazine advance function of the invention as the cassette in the last compartment is moved into operative position.

ALTERNATIVE MAGAZINE CONSTRUCTION

An alternative form of cassette storage magazine 300 is shown in FIGS. 30 and 31 as having an annular configuration, with radial dividers 302 providing radial compartments for the cassettes. As illustrated in FIG. 31, the vertical inner and outer walls 306, 308 of the magazine have tongues which slide in grooves 309 in a base 310 mounted on the fixed frame 12. Gear teeth 312 on the outer wall 308 are intermeshed with a gear 314 for advancing the magazine. A cassette retaining member 316 is horizontally mounted on the fixed frame 12 for movement between a retracted position clear of the entrance slot 318 to the tape transport below the magazine 300, and a retaining position across the slot 318. It will be understood that the same transport mechanism and cam drive and linkage mechanism for the cassette retention, cassette transfer, tape and reel drive, and magazine advance functions will be provided as previously described in connection with the preferred embodiment of the invention of FIGS. 1-29.