The audio-visual apparatus comprises a single cassette which contains both the magnetic tape with the audio section recorded thereon and the photographic film with the video section consisting of a series of mono or stereo frames. The payoff spool and the takeup spool of the magnetic tape are coaxial respectively to the payoff spool and to the takeup spool of the photographic film, and there is provided a device for stopping the motion of the photographic film with respect to the motion of the magnetic tape, so as to allow the reproduction of the audio section during the projection of a photographic frame. The audio-visual apparatus comprises also a reproducing device which serves for the reproduction of both the audio and video section and which consists of a drive mechanism for driving into motion the spools of the magnetic tape so as to cause same to be explored by a reproduce head, and the spools of the photographic film so as to cause same to pass along a path on which there is arranged a source of illumination for the projection of the single frames. In the reproducing device there is also provided control element cooperable for actuating the above mentioned stopping device for the photographic film.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to an apparatus for audio-visual equipment, 
comprising a cartridge or cassette which contains a magnetic tape for the 
audio or sound section and a photographic film for the video section, and 
a cassette reproducing device which includes means for promoting the 
advancement in correct time relationship of the magnetic tape and of the 
photographic film. 
In the audio-visual apparatus of known type, the audio section is recorded 
on a magnetic tape stored in a suitable cassette which is inserted in an 
audio reproducing device, separately from the photographic film which 
contains frames (mono or stereo) to be projected by using another device. 
The separate use of the magnetic tape for the audio section and of the 
photographic film for the video section involves many problems, such as 
for instance the problem of having the audio and video sections started 
and changed in correct time relationship (synchronization of the audio and 
video), and the problem of storage, for each argument treated, of two 
separate elements (cassette and photographic film), which may lead to some 
difficulty whenever it is necessary to select for a particular argument 
the correct magnetic tape and the correct photographic film. 
In the audio-visual apparatus according to the invention, there is provided 
a single cartridge or cassette which contains both the magnetic tape with 
the audio section recorded thereon and the photographic film with the 
appropriate video section, consisting of a series of mono or stereo 
frames. Preferably the payoff spool and the takeup spool of the magnetic 
tape are coaxial respectively to the payoff spool and the takeup spool of 
the photographic film, so that the motion to both the said tape and the 
said film can be imparted by coaxially arranged driving shafts engaging 
with their respective ends the said coaxial spools, both for the 
reproduction and for the rewinding. In the cassette according to the 
invention there is also provided a stopping device for controlling the 
motion of the photographic film in such a manner that the said 
photographic film is maintained stopped, for its projection, during the 
whole period of time in which there is reproduced the audio section 
pertaining to the particular frame being projected, and is allowed to move 
so as to present another frame for projection when the pertaining audio 
section has terminated, and a particular signal or message has been picked 
up from the magnetic tape for promoting, through suitable control means, 
the release of the said photographic film. 
According to the invention, there is also provided for a playback or 
reproducing device, which serves for the reproduction, both for the audio 
and the video section, of the above mentioned cassette, and which 
comprises means for holding the said cassette in place, means for driving 
into motion the spools of the magnetic tape so as to cause same to be 
explored by a reproduce head, and the spools of the photographic film so 
as to cause same to pass along a path on which there is arranged a source 
of illumination for the projection of the single frames, and control means 
for actuating the above mentioned stopping device for the photographic 
film provided on the cassette. 
The above and other features and advantages of the invention will appear 
evident from the following description thereof, made with reference to the 
accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
With particular reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 and 7, the cartridge or cassette 
for audio-visual apparatus comprises a housing 1, preferably made of 
suitable plastics, and presenting a substantially rectangular 
parallelepiped shape, longitudinally subdivided by a partition wall 2 
which is parallel to the main plane of the cassette. In this manner there 
is formed a first compartment 3, defined by the partition wall 2 and by 
the side 4, while two transversal partition walls 6, 6' which are parallel 
between them and to the smaller faces of the cassette, define, together 
with the first partition wall 2 and the side 7, two other compartments 5, 
respectively 5'. The cassette 1 is assembled by means of screws, or in any 
other known manner. The compartment 3, which is intended to house the 
magnetic tape for the audio section of the cassette, presents a thickness 
which is inferior to the thickness of the compartments 5, 5' which are 
intended to house the photographic film for the visual section of the 
cassette. 
At the interior of compartment 3 there is housed, as above mentioned, the 
magnetic tape 9 which unwinds from a payoff spool 10, is guided by rollers 
12, 13 and by other suitable guide surfaces along a rectilinear length 
parallel to the longitudinal smaller side 14 of the cassette, and is wound 
onto a takeup spool 15. On the said longitudinal side 14, extending to 
adjacent portions of the contiguous side 4, there are provided apertures 
16, 16', through which conventional magnetic heads may provide for the 
recording or the reproducing of the magnetic tape 9. Another aperture 17 
is provided in order to permit the insertion of a conventional drive 
capstan and pressure roller for the movement of the tape. Also 
conventional felt pads 18, 18', supported by elastic means, are arranged 
in correspondence of each aperture 16, 16'. 
In an analogous manner, in the compartments 5 and 5' there is housed the 
photographic film 20 which unwinds from a payoff spool 21, is guided by 
rollers 22 and 23 along a rectilinear section which is parallel to the 
side 14, and is wound onto a takeup spool 24. The side 14 is provided with 
an aperture 25, through which the single frames of the photographic film 
are projected, being illuminated by a beam of light from a source S 
passing through an aperture 26 provided on the side of the cassette which 
is opposed to the said side 14, while a further aperture 27 is provided on 
side 7 of the cassette for permitting the air cooling of the film. 
From the above, it will be appreciated that partition walls 6 and 6' 
provide for the insulation of the photographic film from the heat of the 
light source. 
As it can be appreciated from FIG. 3 the spools 10 (and 15) of the magnetic 
tape, and the spools 21 (and 24) of the photographic film are mounted 
co-axial and freely rotatable in the respective compartments of the 
cassette. Said spools 10 (and 21) and 15 (and 24) can be driven into 
rotation by suitable co-axial winding spindles which penetrate through 
openings 31 on side 4 and through openings 32 on partition wall 2. 
The ends of the photographic film 20 and of the magnetic tape 9 are secured 
to the respective spools (see FIG. 2) by means of conventional locking 
pins 33, 34. 
The step-wise advancement of the frames of the photographic film 20 must 
take place in correct time relationship with the advancement of the 
magnetic tape 9. To this purpose, there has been provided a stopping or 
locking device of the advancement of said photographic film 20 (see 
particularly FIGS. 2, 8 and 9) which consists of a square lever 35, 
fulcrumed at 36 on the housing 1 and urged by a return spring 37 which 
acts so as to push a locking tooth 35' of said lever 35 into a suitable 
perforation or sprocket hole 38 obtained on the longitudinal side of the 
photographic film in correspondence of each frame. 
The locking tooth 35' of lever 35 is located in correspondence of an 
annular groove 22' provided in the guide roller 22, so as to be able to 
penetrate inside the perforations 38 of the photographic film 20, and to 
stop same. The said lever 35 presents suitably shaped portions, in 
correspondence of the locking tooth 35' provided on one end 135, and in 
correspondence of the other end 235, in order to permit the smooth 
advancement of the photographic film during its normal operation (see 
arrow A, FIGS. 8 and 9) and its rewinding in the contrary direction. The 
swinging movement of lever 35, for locking and releasing the photographic 
film, is controlled by suitable means acting on the end of said lever 
opposed to the end carrying the locking tooth 35', as it will be explained 
later in the course of the present description. 
In the case of the above described embodiment, the photographic film 20 
(FIG. 5) must be provided with particular perforations or sprocket holes 
38. In case that it is desired to use conventional photographic films 
presenting the usual disposition of sprocket holes, very near the one to 
the other, then it is necessary to use the particular locking device 
illustrated in FIG. 4. 
With reference to the above mentioned FIG. 4, the conventional photographic 
film 20 presenting the perforations 43 is passed on a freely rotatable 
sprocket wheel 44 presenting a coaxially mounted cam-shaped profile 45 
defining a radial step 46 which can be engaged by the locking tooth 35' of 
the square lever 35. In this latter case, the longitudinal development of 
the cam profile 45 is equal to the gauge between the subsequent frames in 
the photographic film 20. 
Making now reference to FIGS. 6 to 13, it will now be described the 
reproducing apparatus for reproducing the information on cassette 1 of the 
type above disclosed. With particular reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, the 
reproducing apparatus comprises a support plate 50, which is carried by 
the base plate 51 and which can be slidably moved towards the front side 
of cassette 1, through suitable guide members 52, 53 and 54. On said 
support plate 50 there are mounted a first magnetic head 55, intended to 
pick up the code informations on one track of the magnetic tape, for 
promoting the movement of the photographic film, a second magnetic 
reproduce head 56, intended to pick up the audio section of the cassette, 
recorded on the second track of the magnetic tape, and a pressure roller 
57 lined with rubber which, by cooperating with the drive capstan 58 
promotes the movement of the magnetic tape 9. The support plate 50 may be 
moved, suitably guided by guide members 52, 53, 54, to plate 51 and the 
cassette, through the action of a pin 59 which acts on a suitably shaped 
small plate secured to support plate 50, under the action of the manually 
operated lever 60. 
On the base plate 51 there are mounted the drives and transmissions for 
obtaining the operation of the apparatus (see particularly FIGS. 10 and 
11). On the said plate 51 there are mounted: a constant speed electric 
motor 61 which, through belt 62 drives into rotation the pulley 63 on the 
shaft 64 of which there are keyed the small pulley 65 and the drive 
capstan 58 (see FIG. 10) for entraining into movement, with the 
cooperation of the pressure roller 57, the magnetic tape 9. The small 
pulley 65, through belt 66, drives pulley 67 which on its turn through 
belt 68 drives into rotation the rubber-lined wheel 69 which is carried by 
the support plate 70 mounted capable of oscillating around pivot pin 170, 
said support plate 70 being caused to swing around said pin 170 under the 
action of the elastic end of lever 270, the movement of which is 
controlled through the tie rod 71, the other end of which is hinged to pin 
72 connected through a suitable slot to the support plate 50. 
The said rubber-lined wheel 69 drives into rotation the wheel 73, which on 
its turn drives the other rubber-lined wheel 74 which latter (see 
particularly FIG. 13) through a felt disc 75 drives into rotation the 
bushing 76 onto which there is keyed the cylindrical shaft 77 terminating 
at its upper end with a prismatic male member 78 acting as a driving 
spindle which is intended to engage the takeup spool 24 of the 
photographic film. The said felt disc 75, interposed between wheel 74 and 
bushing 76, presents a very low friction coefficient, so that the stopping 
of the photographic film does not interfere with the movement of the 
various drives. 
On the same shaft 64, on which there is keyed the drive capstan 58, there 
is also keyed the pulley 79 (FIG. 10) which, through the idle rollers 80 
and 81 and through belt 82, drives the rubber-lined wheel 83 which is 
carried by the support plate 70' mounted capable of oscillating around 
pivot pin 170, said support plate being caused to swing around said pin 
170 under the action of the elastic end of lever 270', the movement of 
which is controlled through the tie rod 71', the other end of which is 
hinged to pin 72 connected to the support plate 50. 
The above mentioned rubber-lined wheel 83 drives into rotation the wheel 84 
which, on its turn, drives the rubber-lined wheel 85; this latter is 
coupled, through a friction disc 86 to the driving spindle 88 which is 
intended to engage and drive into rotation the takeup spool of the 
magnetic tape. 
From the above, it appears that, whenever the support plate 50 is in the 
conditions as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 10, the takeup spool 15 of the 
magnetic tape and the takeup spool 24 of the photographic film are 
constantly urged into rotation. 
In order to avoid the uninterrupted movement of the photographic film 20 
through the projection aperture 25 of the cassette 1, the movement of the 
photographic film is normally interrupted, and it is released at the 
completion of the audio portion pertaining to the frame being projected, 
for a period of time which is sufficient to permit the movement of the 
said photographic film for a length corresponding to the gauge between two 
subsequent frames (or couple of frames, in the case of stereo 
diapositives). The control for the releasing of the photographic film is 
obtained through a message which has been pre-recorded in the magnetic 
tape. 
In the present case, let us assume (FIG. 5) that the photographic film to 
be projected comprises a series of stereo diapositives, and it consists 
more particularly of a film 20 provided with a longitudinal edge 120 on 
which there are obtained perforations 38 centered in correspondence of the 
line of separation of each pair of frames L-L', M-M', N-N' which are 
intended for the stereo projection. 
Referring particularly now to FIGS. 8 and 9 it appears evident that in 
order to release the photographic film it is necessary that the locking 
tooth 35' be disengaged from the perforation 38. This is obtained by 
causing the oscillation of lever 92 fulcrumed in 93, and terminating with 
its upper end 94 formed as a point and arranged at right angles with 
respect to the remaining portion of said lever, from the rest position 
indicated in FIGS. 6 and 8 to the position indicated in FIG. 9. The 
consequent operation of the said lever 92 acting on the square lever 35 
appears evident simply by looking at the mentioned FIG. 9. 
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention (see FIG. 11), the 
actuating lever 92 is caused to oscillate from its rest position to the 
position in which it acts on the arm 235 of square lever 35, thus 
releasing the photographic film, by the rotation of the small plate 96 
around the fixed pin 95, said small plate 96 acting with its free end 97 
against the lower end of the actuating lever 92. The rotation of plate 96 
around pin 95 is obtained by the energization of the electromagnet 99 
which draws the movable keeper 100 hinged on plate 96 towards the front 
face of the wheel 67. In this manner, keeper 100 is subjected to the 
action of the pin 101 provided on pulley 67 which pushes the said keeper 
100, thus promoting the swinging of plate 96 around pin 95, and the 
consequent oscillation of lever 92. 
The device according to the invention is provided with means for the 
re-winding of the magnetic tape and of the photographic film again onto 
the respective payoff spools. The rewinding is obtained by acting, through 
lever 60 and pin 59, so as to promote the shifting of the support plate 50 
towards the front section of the apparatus. 
In this manner, the tie rods 71, having their ends hinged on said support, 
cause the movement of the elastic levers 70 and the consequent shifting of 
the rubber-lined wheels 69 and 83, which transmit the rotation to the 
wheels 102 and 103 connected, through suitable friction discs 104 and 105 
(FIG. 12) respectively to the winding hubs of the payoff spools of the 
photographic film and of the magnetic tape. 
While in the course of the specification it has been said that one track of 
the magnetic tape carried the audio section, and the other track carried 
the message or signal for actuating the control means, it appears obvious 
to any person skilled in the art that both the audio section and the 
message or signal can be recorded on a single track, provided that use is 
made of suitable filters to separate the two different informations. 
It is believed that the invention will have been clearly understood from 
the foregoing detailed description of a preferred embodiment of same. 
Changes in the details of construction may be resorted to without 
departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is accordingly intended 
that no limitation be implied and that the hereto annexed claims be given 
the broadest interpretation to which the employed language fairly admits.