Patent GB-1485594-A (GB)
Title: Automatic cassette loading machine
IPC: G11B23/113
Filed: 1975-11-27
Abstract: 1485594 Loading magnetic tape cassettes KING INSTRUMENT CORP 27 Nov 1975 [23 Dec 1974] 48800/75 Heading B8M An apparatus for loading magnetic tape cassettes 38, Figs. 1, 4C, is characterized by a tape leader extractor comprising a hollow member 108, means for applying suction to the hollow member so as to hold the tape leader 184 to it and means for reciprocating the hollow member. Preferably the whole loading procedure is automated. As shown the hollow member is finger 108 reciprocated on carriage 100 from a rest position, Fig. 4C, to a leader extractor position, Fig. 4B. A loop of leader is withdrawn from cassette 38. One length 184A is-deposited on a splicing block assembly comprised of block 40 having groove 46, Fig. 4A, and block 42 having grooves 52, 54. As carriage 100 is drawn back to its rest position groove 52 is parallel to and forms an extension of groove 46 and suction is applied to the base of all three grooves so that length 184A of the tape leader is deposited in grooves 46, 52. Groove 54 holds the free end of supply tape 22. A cutter blade (69, Fig. 3, not shown) in line with the gap between blocks 40, 42 is extended out from wall 6 to cut the leader. Block 42 is moved out from wall 6 until its groove 54 is aligned with groove 46 and thus tape 22 is aligned with tape leader 184. The two tapes are spliced by a length of pressure sensitive adhesive tape 84 supplied by the downward movement of plunger 95. A spindle 194, Fig. 4A, passes through a hole in wall 6, engages a spool in cassette 38, and rotates it to produce rapid wind-up of tape 22. The wind-up is stopped after a given number of rotations of wheel 24, Fig. 1, have been recorded by counter 232 and a control pulse is emitted to stop spindle 194. Alternatively, where pre-recorded tape is being loaded a cue signal is read by tape reading head 276, Fig. 4C, at the end of each recorded portion of tape, spindle 194 is stopped and then rotated slowly in the opposite direction to withdraw the tape until the cue signal portion emerges and is read by head 276. The tape is severed, block 42 returned to the position shown in Fig. 4C, and the cut end of tape 22 held in groove 46 is spliced to the cut end of tape leader 184B held in groove 52 and spindle 194 rotated slowly to complete the winding of tape 22 and leader 184B into the cassette 38. Leader extracting finger. As shown in Fig. 6 the bore 110 of hollow leader extracting finger 108 is connected to chamber 101 of carriage 100 by passage 108. Vacuum applied to chamber 101 sucks a loop of leader tape into bore 110 as far as concave rear surface 114. If the leader tape is completely removed from one cassette spool during movement of finger 108 to its rest position the leader tape will slip relative to the wall of the bore whilst maintaining a loop in the bore, so that the withdrawal can be completed by drawing leader tape exclusively from the remaining spool. Cassette changing; magazine. The cassette 38 being loaded is held in the loading position by spring clips 155 and supports an empty cassette situated above it between guide 36. When loading is completed actuator 162 pushes the empty cassette down into the loading position thereby ejecting the loaded cassette by pushing apart clips 155. Leaf spring 160, Fig. 4A, prevents the empty cassette from falling whilst clips 155 are displaced from their gripping position by the ejection of the loaded cassette. At the same time brake pads 167 on brake units 165, 166 are activated to grip the lowest cassette in curved magazine 8. The pressure of pads 167 is then released to allow the lowest cassette in the magazine to be pushed into the stand-by position between guides 36 by the weight of the remaining cassettes and of roller (45, Fig. 2, not shown). Automatic control. The motors and plungers of the apparatus are powered by compressed air. The compressed air and vacuum are controlled by switches activated by the rotation of cams (247A-247J on shaft 246 and 249A- 249H on shaft 248, Figs. 11, 12, respectively) or by a non-exemplified digital control means.