Information storage and retrieval system including a tape cartridge having a slidable cover

An information storage and retrieval system including an information containing cartridge, specifically a tape cartridge, and an apparatus for retrieving information therefrom is disclosed herein. The cartridge contains its information on magnetic tape within the housing and the latter has an opening for gaining access to the magnetic tape by the retrieval apparatus. At the same time, the cartridge housing carries a cover movable between a first position for covering the opening in order to protect its interior, especially the magnetic tape, from dust and other elements in the ambient surroundings and a second position for uncovering the opening in order to gain access to the tape.

The present invention relates generally to information storage and 
retrieval systems of the general type which utilize information containing 
cartridges and more particularly to a technique for protecting the 
information storage mechanism within a magnetic tape type cartridge when 
the cartridge is not in use. 
There are presently many different types of storage and information 
retrieval systems which utilize information containing cartridges (or 
cassettes). For example, dictating equipment using magnetic tape in 
cartridges fall within that category as does video cassette recording 
equipment. More recently, there has been a desire to place digital 
information on magnetic tape which is stored within a cartridge or 
cassette. For purposes herein, the term "cartridge" is used to encompass 
both cartridges and cassettes. 
The typical cartridge of the general type to which the present invention is 
directed utilizes specific means including magnetic tape for storing 
retrievable information and a cartridge housing. The latter has an inner 
compartment which contains the tape and also an opening into the 
compartment for gaining access to the tape by cooperating information 
retrieving apparatus, for example, the previously mentioned dictating 
machine, a video cassette recorder or the like. While information 
containing cartridges which are presently available are quite convenient 
and generally satisfactory in use, applicant has found one particular 
failing in their design. Specifically, in each of the cartridges presently 
available, the housing contains an opening for gaining access to its 
information bearing by the cooperating information retrieving apparatus. 
However, this opening is present in most constructions whether or not the 
cartridge is in use. As a result the magnetic tape stored within the 
cartridge housing and its support components are always exposed to the 
dust and other elements in the ambient surroundings. 
As will be discussed in more detail hereinafter, the cartridge disclosed 
herein is one which utilizes means including magnetic or like tape for 
storing certain information in a particular mode, for example 
magnetically, and a cartridge housing. The housing has an inner 
compartment including the information storing means and an opening therein 
for gaining access to the storing means by cooperating information 
retrieving apparatus. In accordance with the present invention, the 
cartridge also includes cover means connected with the housing for camming 
movement between a first position covering the opening and a second 
position uncovering the opening and thereby allowing the cooperating 
information retrieving apparatus to gain access to the tape. In a 
preferred embodiment of the present invention, the cartridge disclosed 
herein and its information retrieving apparatus include cooperating 
camming means for automatically uncovering the opening in the cartridge 
when the latter is combined with the apparatus and for automatically 
closing the opening when the cartridge is separated from the apparatus.

Turning now to the drawings, where like components are designated by like 
reference numerals throughout the various figures, attention is first 
directed to FIG. 1 which illustrates an overall information storage and 
retrieval system generally designated by the reference numeral 10. System 
10 includes a magnetic tape type of cartridge generally indicated at 12 
for storing information and an apparatus or "player" 14 for retrieving the 
information stored by cartridge 12. A player may be, for example, a 
dictating machine, a video cassette recorder, part of a computer or the 
like. As will be discussed in more detail below, cartridge 12 is a 
separate entity from the player. By placing the cartridge in its loaded 
position within player 14, the information stored thereby is automatically 
made available to the player. On the other hand, when the cartridge is 
removed from the player, its internal information and specifically the 
magnetic tape containing that information and cooperating components are 
automatically protected from the ambient surroundings in accordance with 
the present invention. 
Referring specifically to FIGS. 2 and 3, cartridge 12 is illustrated apart 
from player 14. This cartridge includes an outermost, generally 
rectangular housing 15 having a horizontally extending top side 16 and 
opposite bottom side 18 which are joined together by opposing vertical 
front and back walls 20, 22 and opposing vertical side walls 24, 26. The 
housing defines an inner compartment 28 (see FIG. 3) which contains an 
information storage mechanism including magnetic tape 30 and cooperating 
components (not shown). These cooperating components include, for example, 
a drive arrangement for operatively connecting the tape with player 14 in 
order to retrieve the information stored thereon when the cartridge is 
loaded into the player as illustrated in FIG. 1. 
In order for player 14 to gain access to information stored on tape 30, 
cartridge housing 15 includes a series of adjacent openings 32 which 
extend along a section of front wall 20. In accordance with the present 
invention, cartridge 12 includes means for covering openings 32 when the 
cassette is not in use and for uncovering these openings when it is in 
use, specifically when it is in its loaded position within player 14. In 
the particular embodiment illustrated, a generally U-shaped cover 34 
serves as the covering means. This cover includes a front segment 36 and 
rearwardly extending top and bottom back segments 38 and 40 respectively 
disposed in confronting relationship with a section of front wall 20 and 
top and bottom sides 16 and 18 of housing 15. The cover is interconnected 
with the housing by cooperating ribs and grooves 46, 48 for sliding 
movement along the cartridge body between the solid and dotted line 
positions illustrated in FIG. 2. 
With cover 34 in its solid line position, it is located to one side of 
openings 32 in order to uncover these openings and thereby allow player 14 
to gain access to tape 30 and its cooperating components. When the cover 
is slid to its dotted line position, it completely covers openings 32 in 
order to protect tape 30 and its cooperating components. As illustrated in 
FIGS. 2 and 3, the inner surface of front segment 36 forming part of cover 
34 includes a rearwardly directed, relatively small projection or dimple 
50. At the same time, front side 20 of housing 15 includes a cooperating 
recess 52. The recess is positioned to receive the dimple when cover 34 is 
in its dotted line position over openings 32. The cover is designed to 
have a degree of flexibility so that the dimple snaps into the recess when 
the cover is in its dotted line position over openings 32, thereby holding 
the cover in this position and preventing it from being inadvertently 
moved back towards its solid line position with minimal force. 
As stated above, cover 34 includes front segment 36 and top and bottom back 
segments 38 and 40. As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 (and also FIG. 5) top 
segment 38 includes opposite vertically extending end shoulders 54 and 56 
(FIG. 2) and bottom segment 40 includes opposite vertically extending end 
segments 58 and 65 (also see FIG. 5). As will be seen hereinafter, these 
shoulders cooperate with certain components forming part of player 14 so 
that cover 34 is automatically moved by camming action from its dotted 
line position to its solid line position for exposing openings 32 as the 
cartridge is loaded into player 14 and is automatically moved back by 
camming action to its dotted line position for covering the opening as the 
cartridge is removed from the player. 
Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5 in conjunction with FIG. 1, attention is now 
directed to player 14 which is shown including a main housing 58 having 
horizontally extending top and bottom sides 60 and 62 joined by vertically 
extending front and back walls 64, 66 and side walls 68, 70. The housing 
includes an inner chamber 72 and a generally rectangular opening 74 into 
the chamber from its front wall 64. For reasons to become apparent below, 
opening 74 includes an enlarged central section 74A. In addition to 
housing 58 having this opening and a window 76 in top side 60, player 14 
includes the necessary and readily providable components for retrieving 
information stored on tape 30 of cartridge 12 when the latter is loaded 
into chamber 72 in the intended manner. These additional components 
include, for example, a magnetic head and a capstan (not shown). 
With reference to FIGS. 4 and 5 specifically, player 14 is shown including 
a pair of horizontal, confronting top and bottom surfaces 78 and 80 
located within chamber 72 and extending rearwardly from opening 74. These 
confronting surfaces include vertically aligned recesses 82 and 84 which 
extend rearwardly from opening 74 (accounting for enlarged portion 74A) at 
an angle to the left as viewed in FIGS. 4 and 5. Recess 82 defines 
vertical shoulders 86 and 88 extending in a similar direction and recess 
84 defines vertical shoulders 90 and 92 respectively vertically aligned 
with shoulders 86 and 88. Referring specifically to FIG. 5, as cartridge 
12 is inserted into player 44 through opening 74 with cover 34 initially 
in its dotted line position (see FIG. 2), the forwardmost edges of cover 
shoulders 56 and 58 engage player shoulders 86 and 90 respectively. As a 
result, as the cartridge is moved further into the player and ultimately 
into its loaded position, cover 34 is forced by camming action to the left 
(as viewed in FIG. 5) and ultimately to its solid line position (FIG. 2) 
in order to expose openings 32. On the other hand, when the cartridge is 
removed, the rearward edges of cover shoulders 54 and 60 engage player 
shoulders 88 and 92 for automatically camming the cover to its dotted line 
position covering openings 32.