Magnetic tape transducer apparatus for use with multi-size cassettes

To permit only centered insertion of variously sized cassettes (SML) of a set of cassettes into an opening leading into an insertion well of a tape transducer housing (H), cover flaps (1,3,7) are located across the opening, the cover flaps being positioned symmetrically with respect to a central axis of symmetry (XX) of the insertion path. One of the flaps, corresponding in size to the smallest one of the cassettes, closes off the path for the smallest cassette. The next flap is subdivided into two flap portions located, symetrically, adjacent the center flap, and cross-connected by a cross-connecting shaft or strap (3c,63c). Adjacent thereto are outer flap portions (7a,7b). The respective flap portions are locked in position by releasable locks (4) engageable by the leading edge of the respective cassettes. The locks are located adjacent the outer edges of the respective flap portions. Only if both appropriately sized flap portions are released from the locks, can the openings be completely uncovered. Depressible guide ridges can be formed in the cassette well to guide the respective cassettes.

Reference to related patent, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated 
by reference: 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,379,313, Tsuchiya; U.S. Pat. No. 4,636,887, Kato et al. 
Reference to related publication: 
European patent application publication No. 0 133 822, Shiratori. 
Reference to related applications, assigned to the assignee of the present 
application, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference: 
U.S. Ser. No. 079,829, filed July 30, 1987, Rademacher. 
U.S. Ser. No. 079,820, filed July 30, 1987, Rademacher and Wolf. 
U.S. Ser. No. 079,832, filed July 30, 1987, Rademacher. 
The present invention relates to magnetic tape apparatus and more 
particularly to cartridge or cassette loaded tape apparatus in which a 
tape is introduced into a housing portion of the apparatus, which housing 
portion retains transducer heads, tape pulling apparatus and the like. 
BACKGROUND 
Tape transducing apparatus, and more particularly magnetic tape apparatus 
suitable for recording or reproduction of digitally coded television 
signals preferably used tape wound on winding reels located in cassettes. 
Different lengths of programs can be stored on reels, and in sets having 
different dimensions. The widths dimension of the tape is standardized, 
and thus the thickness of the cassette will be the same even though the 
length of the tape wound on reels may differ. Long tapes require large 
reels; shorter tapes can be wound on smaller reels. Thus, cassettes of 
different dimensions can be used and it has been proposed to provide three 
standard cassette sizes, small (S), medium (M) and large (L). In one 
proposal, the plan dimensions of the cassettes would be for the 
S-cassette, about 172.times.109 mm, for the M-cassette, 254.times.150 mm, 
and for the L-cassette, 360.times.206 mm. All three types of cassettes are 
formed with guide grooves at the bottom side of the cassette housing. The 
guide grooves have similar cross-sectional dimension, but are of different 
lengths. 
A cassette transducing system should be capable of accepting any of the 
differently dimensioned cassettes of the set of cassettes. Loading should 
be simple and, preferably automatic, by a cassette loading transport 
system which pulls the respective cassettes into the well of the housing 
provided for the reception of the cassette and retaining the transducing 
apparatus. The widths of the cassette well will, of course, be of 
sufficient size to accept the largest one of the cassettes of the set. 
When the user wishes to insert the largest one of the cassettes, it can 
readily be fitted into the cassette reception opening and properly place 
the cassette in the cassette receiving well. If, however, a smaller 
cassette, for example a M-, or S-cassette is to be inserted, the user must 
be guided regarding proper positioning so that the cassette will be 
introduced centrally within the opening, that is, along a longitudinal 
line of symmetry--with respect to the insertion opening--so that the tape 
will be properly positioned with respect to tape handling and/or 
transducing apparatus within the housing. The user, thus, must be guided 
for proper placement, which can be located with some practice. The guide 
groove for all three types of cassettes is enlarged at the entrance in 
order to facilitate the centering of the cassette. Frequently, however, 
and particularly if change of cassette has to be carried out rapidly, 
under time pressure, in the dark, or otherwise without being able to pay 
close attention to proper insertion, misalignment of the cassette with the 
transducing apparatus may occur. 
The cassettes may be used in studio application and/or combination with 
editing or reproduction of news reports, so that leisurely and careful 
insertion of cassettes into the transducer apparatus is not always 
possible. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,329,313 describes a tape cassette loading apparatus which, 
however, is suitable only for a single size of cassettes. Published 
European application EP No. 0 133 822 describes a drive arrangement for 
magnetic tape cassettes in which the spacing of the axes of rotation of 
the respective tape reels differs, so that magnetic tape cassettes of 
different sizes can be handled by the apparatus. This apparatus, however, 
requires careful placement of the respective cassettes so that they will 
be located in centered position, and no provision has been made to 
facilitate or guide the insertion of cassettes which are smaller than the 
largest cassette opening in precisely centered appropriate position. 
THE INVENTION 
It is an object to provide a tape transducing apparatus suitable with any 
one of differently dimensioned cassettes of a set of tape cassettes in 
which insertion of the different types of cassettes will be simple with 
automatically reliably centered placement of the cassettes in the 
apparatus. 
Briefly, the cassette well opening is closed by a cover flap which is 
subdivided into at least two flap portions. Each one of the portions is 
positioned symmetrically with respect to a central axis of symmetry along 
which the cassette is to be inserted. Some flap portions are coupled 
together to permit only conjoint movement of the flap portions. Individual 
locking means lock the flap portions, individually, in closed position 
across the well opening, and inhibit introduction of a cassette through 
the opening in the housing. The locking means, for example a 
spring-pressed element, can be engaged by the leading edge of the cassette 
as it is intended to be introduced in the housing to thereby unlock the 
locking arrangement, and thus unlock the flap portions. If an attempt is 
made to introduce a cassette off-center, or in unsymmetrical position with 
respect to the axis of symmetry, one of the locking means will not be 
engaged by the leading edge of the cassette, and thus hold the respective 
flap portion closed. Since this flap portion is, however, cross-coupled to 
the other flap portion at the other side, it, likewise, will remain closed 
and thus prevent opening movement of the other flap portion as well. 
Unsymmetrical, or off-center introduction of a cassette into the opening, 
thus, is reliably inhibited. 
The arrangement has the advantage that off-center position of a cassette of 
smaller dimension than that of the largest one is effectively impossible. 
Further, the use of such an apparatus substantially facilitates 
introduction of cassettes since cassettes can be introduced even under 
conditions of poor illumination, time pressure or the like; if a cassette 
is not perfectly centered, it cannot be introduced and merely by sliding 
it sideways, the centered position is readily found. 
It is a specific advantage for the user that no arrangement or selection 
steps need be carried out to place a respective cassette in properly 
aligned location within the cassette shaft or well. Regardless of the size 
of the cassette, placement will always be symmetrical. Additionally, the 
system is simple and reliable, and can be adapted to existing cassette 
structures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
The cassette well for introducing cassettes into a housing structure H 
(FIG. 1) is closed off by three cover flaps 1,3,7. The three cover flaps 
are rotatable about an axis of rotation of a shaft 2. The shaft 2 is 
retained above the clear opening of the housing H, that is, above a 
cassette insertion well thereof. The center flap 1, formed integrally of 
two flap portions 1a,1b and positioned symmetrically with respect to a 
central plane of symmetry X--X, is secured to the shaft 2, so that, upon 
rotation of the flap 1, that is, of both of its integral unitary portions 
1a,1b, the shaft 2 will rotate therewith. The dimension of the flap 1 is 
just slightly greater than the widths dimension of the smallest or 
S-cassette. One or two springs 24 bias the shaft 2 so that the flap 1 will 
close off the opening of the cassette well. The flap 1 engages, at both 
sides, against two flap portions 3a,3b of a flap 3. Flap 1 engages behind 
the flap portions 3a,3b. They are positioned on the shaft 2, but coupled 
together by a coupling rod 25 or the like and positioned above the clear 
opening of the cassette. Both flap portions 3 are retained in closed 
position by a locking arrangement 4, against which the edge portions of 
the flaps 3a,3b may engage. The outer limits of the flap portions 3 cover 
that cross-sectional surface which corresponds, with slight clearance, to 
the widths dimension of a M-cassette. 
Two further flap portions 7a,7b cover the final opening parts of the 
cassette well. These flap portions, likewise, are loosely retained on the 
shaft 2, and are held in closed position by an interengaging lock 
arrangement 4. They, may, but need not be connected together by a 
cross-connecting bar or rod. 
The holding arrangement for the respective flaps is best seen with 
reference to FIG. 2. The bottom wall 5 of the housing H carries a spring 
element 4a which has an inclined front and rear edge portion. The spring 
element can be resiliently depressed downwardly, into a reception groove 
5a formed in the housing H therebeneath. When a cassette 6 is intended to 
be introduced into the housing, the leading edge 6a of the cassette will 
engage the inclined surface 4b of the spring 4a and depress the spring. 
This causes a transverse groove 26, within which an edge portion of the 
respective flap portions 3a,3b or 7a,7b are retained to be released, so 
that the flap 3, or, rather, the respective portions 3a,3b will be freed. 
In FIG. 2, outer flaps 7a,7b have been omitted for clarity of the drawing. 
The interlocks 4 for the flaps 7a,7b are identical to those described in 
connection with FIG. 2. Limiting screws 28, screwed through the top plate 
of the housing, are provided to limit the deflection of the respective 
flaps. Instead of the coupling rod 257 the cross-connecting rod or strap 
3c, connecting the flap portions 3a,3b together, can be placed at any 
suitable location, for example as shown on a holding loop formed by the 
respective flaps about the shaft. The thicknesses of the flaps have been 
shown exaggerated, for clarity of the drawing; in actual practice, the 
flaps can be thin plastic or sheet metal elements. 
When a cassette is pulled out from the cassette well, first flap 1, then 3 
and/or 7 are released, so that they can fall downwardly, either by their 
own weight, or under the influence of the springs 24. Upon complete 
withdrawal of the cassette 6, spring snap locks 7 are released, for 
reliably holding the respective flap portions in the position shown in 
FIG. 2. 
The effect of centering the respective differently dimensioned cassettes of 
the set of cassettes is obtained by subdividing the flaps 3 and 7 into the 
flip portions 3a,3b, 7a,7b, in combination with the respective locking 
arrangements 4. For example, if it is attempted to insert a small 
S-cassette off-center or beyond the axis of symmetry X--X, through the 
opening closed by the flap 1, one of the locks 4 of one of the flap 
portions 3a or 3b, for example, may be unlocked. Since the two flaps, 
however, are connected together by the strap 3c, the flap portion 3, the 
lock of which has been released, will not open since the other flap 
portion will remain locked. The other flap portion, in the example 
selected flap portion 3b, would not be engaged by the smaller cassette S 
and thus retain all the flap portions in their closed or rest position. 
Lateral shifting of the cassette, however, will readily find the position 
at which the center flap 1 will open. 
Likewise, if it is attempted to insert a M-cassette off-center, one, for 
example the flap 7b, may be unlocked, but a cross-connection similar to 
the cross-connection 3c of the flaps 7a,7b will hold both flaps locked 
since the M-cassette is insufficiently wide to also unlock the interlock 4 
for the flap portion 7a. Even a small offset from centered position will 
not open the corresponding flap on the other side. The arrangement 
reliably prevents attempted introduction with small offsets of, for 
example, 15 mm and less. Flap portion 3a also will lock 
If all the cassettes of a set are placed into the housing in centered 
position, the smallest flap, that is flap 1 for the S-cassette, will be 
lifted and provides an entrance opening corresponding to the respective 
cassette, so that the cassette can be placed into the cassette well. Once 
the cassette has been introduced into the cassette well, a longitudinal 
guide arrangement, to be described below, will guide the cassette 
longitudinally into the cassette well. 
Centered insertion of a M-cassette releases the locks 4 which hold in 
position the flaps 3a,3b to permit ready insertion of the cassette into 
the cassette well. 
Insertion of a cassette of the largest size, that is, a L-cassette, in 
offset position is impossible, since the cross-sectional dimensions of the 
cassette and the cross-sectional dimensions of the housing structure--with 
some clearance--are matched. The respective locks of the flaps 3 and 7 are 
released by the leading edge 6a of the respective cassette. The bottom 
walls of all the cassettes are formed with a guide groove which guides the 
cassettes into the cassette well and which facilitates the insertion and 
introduction movement of the cassette. To provide for appropriate 
cooperation between the cassette and magnetic transducing apparatus in the 
cassette well, it is desirable to guide all cassettes of the set, 
reliably, from the beginning of the insertion movement towards the end of 
the tape placement within the apparatus, by reliably guiding the 
respective cassettes by means of the guide grooves. The bottom wall 5 of 
the housing H, is thus formed with guide arrangements which must be 
present over a length sufficient to accomomdate the length of the guide 
groove in the longest, that is, the L-cassette. All guide grooves are 
closed at the end, and it is thus necessary that the guide arrangements 
can be utilized initially, however become ineffective towards the end of 
the insertion movement, so that they can be overridden at the end portion. 
FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate the longitudinal guiding of the cassettes; details 
with respect to the insertion flaps have been omitted from these drawings 
for clarity. 
The guide arrangement is subdivided in a fixed portion 9 and to movable 
elements 10, both located at the bottom wall 5 of the housing H. The fixed 
portion 9 of the guide arrangement is equally effective and acting for all 
three cassette sizes, and has a length which corresponds to the length of 
the smallest one of the cassettes, that is, the S-cassette. The two 
movable parts 10 of the guide arrangement are so matched in their length 
that, together with the fixed part 9, they provide guidance for all sizes 
of the cassettes. However, upon insertion of the medium size and smallest 
cassettes, they can be lowered to the level 12 of the bottom wall 5 of the 
cassette well. As best seen in FIG. 4, the elements 10--illustrated 
vertically for ease of drawing convenience--are resiliently retained on 
leaf springs 11. They are formed with inclined wedge surfaces 13, facing 
the leading edge of the cassette 6. They can be lowered into the level of 
the bottom wall by the closing wall of the guide groove in the cassette, 
counter the spring force of the leaf springs 12. 
FIGS. 5 to 7 illustrate another embodiment of the invention which differs 
from the previously described embodiment primarily in that the respective 
flaps, closing off the cassette well in sections or subdivisions, are 
staggered longitudinally along the length of the cassette well, and are 
supported on individual rotatable shafts, to which they can be secured to 
rotate therewith. This arrangement permits better matching of the 
respective flap elements since closing forces by spiral springs can be 
individually adjusted or individually matched to the conditions in which 
the flaps must operate. Additionally, the locking mechanism which holds 
the respective flap portions in locked condition can be changed, and the 
embodiments of FIGS. 5 to 7 illustrate a modified locking mechanism which, 
however, can be equally used in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2. Likewise, 
the locking arrangement illustrated in connection with FIGS. 1 and 2 can 
be used in the embodiment of FIGS. 5 to 7. 
The flap elements illustrated in FIG. 5, 61, 63, 67 are so arranged that a 
unitary central flap 61 is provided, and two flaps with portions 63a,63b 
and 67a,67b. As in the embodiment of FIG. 1, the flaps are located 
symmetrically with respect to a central symmetrical plane of symmetry 
X--X. The central flap 61 corresponds, in cross-sectional dimension, to 
the outer dimension of the smallest S-cassette, with some clearance; the 
flap 63, together with the flap 61, corresponds to the cross-section of 
the medium M-cassette and the flaps 67, together with flaps 63 and 61 
correspond, in overall dimension, to the largest or L-cassette. Respective 
cassettes S-, M- and L- are shown in broken lines 6S, 6M, 6L in FIG. 6, 
which also illustrates the direction of insertion by arrow A. FIG. 6 
clearly shows that the respective axes of rotation of the flaps 61,63,67 
are staggered along the direction of insertion opening. To prevent entry 
of dust or other contaminants in to the cassette well, flaps 63 and 67 are 
formed with lateral flap extensions 63',67' at the respective sides facing 
the adjacent flaps. These lateral flap portions require an opening at the 
upper wall 85' of the cassette well. Longitudinally staggering the 
respective flaps substantially simplifies the loading of the cassette well 
with the respective cassettes 6. 
FIG. 6 also shows an automatic pull-in arrangement including pull-in 
rollers R which are motor-driven by a motor M. This arrangement is 
illustrated, described and claimed by the copending application Ser. No. 
079,829, filed July 30, 1987, by the inventor hereof. 
The modified locking arrangement is best seen in FIG. 7, where a section 
line shows the locking arrangement only for the flap 63. The bottom wall 
85 of the housing H' has a cup 86 fitted therein which defines a chamber. 
The cup, preferably, has circular cross-section and retains the locking 
slider 87, spring-pressed by a spring 91 towards an upper stop, for 
example formed by a portion of a guide ridge or the like. The slider 87, 
forming the actual lock arrangement or locking plug, has two inclined 
ramps 88,89. At the apex of the ramps, a groove 90 is formed to receive 
the lower edge of the flap 63. The plug or slider 87 is centrally guided 
by a cylindrical pin 92, passing through the bottom wall of the cup 86. A 
C-ring 93, fitted around pin 91 can also be used to retain the pin 
92--slider 87 combination in position. 
The inclined surfaces 88,89 are similar to ramps, and they extend over the 
level of the bottom surface 85 of the housing H. Upon introduction of a 
cassette, the leading of the cassette will press the ramps downwardly, 
counter the force of spring 94, thereby depressing the slider 87 and 
releasing the respective flap--in the illustration flap 63, so that the 
flap can then be lifted in clockwise direction, as schematically shown by 
the curved arrows in FIG. 7. 
The locking functions of the flaps 61,63,67, and the centering effect 
thereof, are the same as those described in connection with the embodiment 
of FIG. 1, and need not be described again. Since, however, the flap 
portions 63a,63b are coupled together by shaft 63c, attempted introduction 
of a S-cassette, for example off-center and in alignment with the flap 
63a, will not unlock the lock associated with the flap 63b. Attempted 
off-centered introduction of a S-cassette in a position where no lock of 
flap 63a,63b,67a,67b is unlocked, of course, also will prevent 
introduction of the cassette. The flap 69a,69b need not be connected 
together by a cross-coupling shaft since, if it is attempted to introduce 
either a S- or M-cassette with sufficient offset to unlock one of the flap 
portions of flap 69, the remote portion of flap 63 will not unlock, and 
thus prevent an attempted off-center loading of a cassette. 
Adjustment of the closing forces can be carried out individually, since 
symmetrically placed individual closing springs 68,69,70 (FIG. 6) can be 
provided, suitably secured in position. Holding brackets and the like have 
been omitted from the illustrations in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 since they can be 
of any standard and suitable construction; likewise, the spring force of 
the springs 68,69,70 can be made adjustable, for example by securing one 
end of the spring to a hex-nut, and placing the hex nut in suitably 
matching wells, in individually adjusted position. 
Various changes and modifications made be made and features described in 
connection with any one of the embodiments may be used with any of the 
other, within the scope of the inventive concept.