Tape recorders of the cassette type

The specification discloses a mechanism for controlling the introduction and braked ejection of a tape cassette for use in cassette tape recorders employing a plate having a central tongue integrally formed therewith to be slightly bent downwardly in an intermediate position, the plate also being provided with an abutment pin for cooperation with the introduction and ejection lever of the mechanism.

This invention refers to a mechanism for automatically controlling the 
introduction and "braked" ejection of the magnetic tape cassette to be 
used in cassette tape recorders and particularly in cassette tape 
recorders for car radio sets. 
In this field, the particular conditions in which the cassette tape 
recorders providing car radio sets are used by the vehicle driver, who 
must never put his mind off the drive, make it necessary to make all the 
operations relative to the cassette playback, i.e. introduction, fast 
forward and rewind and ejection thereof as automatic as possible. 
Particularly, the invention refers to a mechanism making the cassette 
introduction and braked ejection automatic, to be used in association with 
two mechanisms subject matter of relative patent applications filed in the 
name of the same applicant and, more particularly, the mechanism for 
moving the cassette subject matter of U.S. Pat. No. 4,184,182 matter of 
U.S. Ser. No. 222,794 filed Jan. 5, 1981. 
At present, it is possible to find on the market some recorders wherein the 
cassette introduction has been made automatic and other recorders provided 
with a braking action. However, these recorders are rather bulky and very 
complex as they comprise a considerable number of parts. 
The mechanism of the invention comprises a single piece obtained by simple 
operations of shearing and partial shearing and associated to a part of 
the mechanism subject matter of the above mentioned U.S. Ser. No. 222,794 
more specifically to the suitably modified control lever thereof. 
This single piece comprises a plate preferably made from steel, having a 
central tongue integrally formed therewith. This tongue is preformed in 
order to be slightly bent downwardly at an intermediate position thereof. 
The plate is also provided with an abutment pin adapted to cooperate with 
the introduction and ejection lever of the mechanism subject matter of the 
above mentioned U.S. Ser. No. 222,794. 
The plate is suitably supported on the control lever for sliding thereon 
from an advanced position to a retracted position and the tongue is 
adapted to cooperate with a means on the control lever for swinging in 
respect of the plate plane from a lowered position, where it is engaged 
with the cassette to a raised position where it is disengaged therefrom. 
Furthermore, between the advanced and retracted positions of the plate and 
then of the tongue there is an intermediate stop position wherein the 
tongue is still engaged with the cassette and the plate is close to the 
end of the stroke towards the advanced position.

As mentioned above, the mechanism of the invention is adapted to cooperate 
with the control lever of the mechanism for moving the cassette subject 
matter of U.S. Pat. No. 4,184,182 here referred to with reference 110 and 
with loading and ejection lever 120 of loading and ejection unit 4 subject 
matter of U.S. Ser. No. 222,794 which lever is shown in FIG. 1 together 
with the spring thereof, but without the remaining part of the mechanism. 
Furthermore, while control lever 110 has been suitably modified, lever 120 
has not been changed. 
Lever 110 comprises a base portion 11 suitably pivoted on tabs 12 of rear 
wall PP of the recorder through aligned pins 13, only one of these 
elements being shown in FIG. 1, so as to swing from the raised position of 
FIG. 8 to the lowered position of FIG. 9. 
A substantially square cassette engaging or pushing portion 14 (shown in 
more detail in the fragmentary views of FIGS. 3, 4 and 5) is integrally 
formed with base portion 11, which portion 14 comprises a wide opening 15 
substantially having the shape of an elongated horseshoe, outer straight 
side 16 of opening 15 being parallel to front edge 18 of pushing portion 
14. 
Pushing portion 14 comprises four tabs 19 bent at right angle and located 
at the corners of a rectangle having its sides in alignment with the sides 
of portion 14 and four teeth 20 located at the corners of a square 
internal to the rectangle, tabs 19 and teeth 20 being formed by partial 
shearing operations. 
Furthermore, a protruding tab 22 is formed at the end of both arcuated 
sides 21 of opening 15, adjacent to straight side 16. 
As clearly seen in the drawings, each tab 22 is upwardly inclined in 
respect of the plane of portion 14, the lower ends of tabs 22 being 
adjacent to straight side 16 of opening 15. 
Finally, in rear portion 23 of base 11 of lever 110 (see FIG. 1) a V-shaped 
notch 24 is formed, the apex of which lies on the longitudinal axis of 
opening 15. 
A substantially rectangular plate 25 is mounted on portion 14, this plate 
25 being as wide as the distance between the raised edges of the two 
opposite pairs of teeth 20, so as to be guided thereby, and having such a 
thickness as to be able to slide below tabs 19 on portion 14 without, 
however, raising in respect thereto. 
A tongue 26 is integrally formed with plate 25 due to a central round-ended 
opening 27 formed therein and embracing openings 28 joining with an 
arcuated portion beyond end 29 of tongue 26. 
Tongue 26 thus comprises two spaced "legs" 30 on both sides of opening 27 
and a head 31 having an edge 29 and two side tabs 32, as better shown in 
FIG. 2. 
Furthermore, as clearly seen in FIG. 4, tongue 26 is constantly bent 
downwardly at "legs" 30 thereof, so that its head 31 normally protrudes 
below the plane of plate 25. Thus, head 31 of tongue 26 is received within 
opening 15 of portion 14 when plate 25 is mounted in place on lever 110, 
thus protruding also below this portion 14. 
Finally, a downwardly directed pin 34 is integrally formed with rear 
portion 33 of plate 25, pin 34 having an enlarged head 35 which is 
received within V-shaped notch 24 when plate 25 is in the assembled 
condition, the parts being so arranged that pin 34 is located behind the 
body of lever 120 (FIGS. 6 to 8), i.e. on the right thereof in the 
figures. 
Furthermore, as better shown in FIGS 2 and 6 to 10, rear portion 33 of 
plate 25 is slightly bent downwardly for the purposes of the invention 
that will be set forth hereinafter. 
In operation, upon starting the introduction of a cassette into the tape 
recorder, lever 110 lever 120 and plate 25 will be in the position shown 
in FIGS. 1 and 6. As it is shown, in this position control lever 110 is in 
the horizontal raised position, loading and ejection lever 120 is located 
between front edge RA of cassette C and pin 34, spaced from both of them, 
and plate 25 is in its advanced position. 
Since when plate 25 is in this advanced position the position of tabs 22 of 
portion 14 relative to tabs 32 of head 31 of tongue 26 is important, which 
position is shown in FIG. 2, reference will be now made to this figure. 
A further introduction of the cassette will cause edge RA of the cassette 
to abut against lever 120 and this lever 120 to engage head 35 of pin 34. 
Accordingly, owing to this situation the continued movement of the 
cassette will be transmitted to plate 25 which will start to move 
backwards while tabs 32 of tongue 26 climb into tabs 22 due to the slope 
thereof and, accordingly, the situation will be as shown in FIGS. 3 and 7. 
In this position tongue 26 will be elastically loaded since, owing to the 
pre-bending of legs 30 thereof, this tongue would arcuate downwardly as 
the gripping action exerted thereon by straight edge 16 of opening 15 is 
released owing to the backward movement of tongue 26, while this downward 
movement is opposed by tabs 22 that are placed below tabs 32. 
However, as the inwardly directed movement of the cassette being introduced 
into the tape recorder, which movement is transmitted to plate 25 as 
mentioned above, has caused tabs 32 to climb onto tabs 22, tongue 26 being 
now free will snap downwardly into the position shown in FIGS. 4 and 8. 
However, since at this point of the stroke of cassette C lever 120 and 
plate 25 one of the two circular cavities for receiving the two tape 
winding up reels providing each cassette is now located below head 31 of 
tongue 26, head 31 will move below the upper edge of cavity 40. 
At this point, as described in the above mentioned patent application, 
since loading and ejection lever 120 has passed the dead point of the 
stroke wherein it is loaded, thus storing energy, this lever will be 
pulled towards rear wall PP of the tape recorder. The movement of this 
lever will be transmitted to plate 25 and from this plate to cassette C 
owing to the engagement of edge 29 of tongue 26 with the wall of cavity 40 
(FIG. 8). Accordingly, during the last length of the introduction stroke 
cassette C will be pulled into the tape recorder. At the end of this 
pulling stroke the cassette will be brought in the record and playback 
position, namely in its lowest position, owing to the action of the 
mechanism for controlling the cassette comprising lever 110 which snaps 
into the lowered position, thus creating the situation of FIG. 9. 
Upon the necessary ejection of the cassette, once the playback thereof is 
over, raising mechanism EC will move the cassette back to the raised 
position while lever 120, as it will be understood from the above 
mentioned patent application involved, which is biassed by spring MS (FIG. 
1) will cause cassette C to be ejected through introduction and ejection 
opening A1. This movement will be transmitted also to plate 25 owing to 
the abutting of the wall of cavity 40 against edge 29 of tongue 26. 
During this ejection stroke tongue 26 will be pushed to raise against the 
pre-bended shape thereof due to the camming action exerted thereon by edge 
16 of opening 15. This raising, however, is prevented by the force 
engagement of tabs 32 of head 31 below tabs 22 of opening 15 (FIG. 5). 
Since this forced engagement generates a dragging force exceeding the 
ejection force exerted by spring MS, the ejection stroke of the cassette 
and the stroke of cassette pushing lever 120 will stop at the position of 
FIGS. 5 and 10. 
At this point the complete ejection of the cassette will be performed 
manually by gripping with the fingers outer end EE of the cassette 
protruding outside of introduction and ejection opening AE and exerting a 
force sufficient to cause tabs 32 of tongue 26 to overcome elastically the 
constriction consisting in tabs 22, thus resuming the situation shown in 
FIGS. 2 and 6. 
Stop of cassette C in the position shown in FIGS. 5 and 10 is very 
important since, otherwise, cassette C would be thrown out of ejection 
opening AE and, accordingly, within the passanger compartment of the 
vehicle wherein the car radio set is mounted and this could dangerously 
put the mind of the driver off the drive. 
Finally, the downward bending of portion 33 causes edge 36 to engage groove 
37 of portion 10, thus blocking plate 25 against any backwards movements. 
The torque due to the pushing action of lever 120 on pin 34, deflecting 
upwardly portion 33, then causes edge 36 to disengage from groove 37. 
It should be understood that the slightly arcuated front edge 29 of tongue 
26, or even the whole head 31 thereof can be covered with a yielding 
rather high friction material in order to improve the engagement action 
with the wall of cavity 40 of the cassette. 
It is intended that the invention is not limited to the use thereof in 
combination with loading and ejection lever 120, as this invention resides 
in the construction of plate 25 and tongue 26 thereof which is adapted to 
perform the necessary movements for engaging, moving and blocking cassette 
C. Accordingly, the invention also comprises an embodiment, even if it is 
not shown, wherein plate 25 is slidingly mounted on cassette C and it 
comprises a suitable mechanism provided with an elastic means adapted to 
store energy during the first length of the cassette introduction stroke 
and then to release this energy in order to cause the cassette to 
mechanically perform, through the plate, both the last length of the 
introduction stroke and the whole ejection stroke up to the blocking 
position thereof.