Patent GB-1482179-A (GB)
Title: Cassette tape loading apparatus
IPC: G11B15/665
Filed: 1974-11-08
Abstract: 1482179 Cassette tape apparatus SONY CORP 8 Nov 1974 [20 Nov 1973] 48541/74 Heading G5R [Also in Division B8] Loading apparatus for a cassette magnetic tape recording and/or playback machine has a cassette holder 45, Fig. 1, for holding a magnetic tape cassette 22 in an operative position 21, a tape loading device 2, 10, 12, 13 for automatically withdrawing part of the tape from a side opening 28 of an operatively positioned cassette and wrapping said tape portion around a rotary magnetic head drum 1 of the machine, and tape reel driving means 46, 47 including portions engageable in openings in tape reel hubs 23a, 24a of an operatively positioned cassette 22, and to facilitate insertion and withdrawal of the cassette into and from the holder 45 means are provided for moving at least part of the tape loading device relative to the holder 45 and means are also provided for moving at least part of the reel driving means relative to the holder 45 for engaging and disengaging the reel hubs 23a, 24a. The loading device comprises a ring 2 rotatable through about 250 degrees from a starting position, in which tape engaging pins 10, 12, 13 and a pinch roller 11 project through a bottom opening 29 of the cassette 22, to a loaded position in which the tape is wrapped around drum 1 and engages heads 16, 17 and capstan 15. The ring 2 is formed by a part 3a, carrying pins 10, 12, 13 and roller 11, pivoted at 4 to a part 3b. In the starting position part 3a is supported by a roller 6a on a pivoted arm 34, Fig. 2, which may be lowered under control of a cam 37 on a slider 35 so that part 3a swings downwards to remove pins 10, 12, 13 and roller 11 from the path of a cassette being horizontally inserted to its operative position 21. A further can 38 on slider 35 is operable to lower a bar 56 whereby spring-biased reel drive bosses 46, 47, Fig. 4 (not shown), and Fig. 1 are lowered to an inoperative position in which heads (52a), (52b) thereof, engageable in the cassette reel hubs are removed from the cassette insertion path. Bosses 46, 47 have a hexagonal periphery and are axially slidable in and rotatable with hollow member (49), (50) having a hexagonal inner surface, member (49) being rotatable by a drive roller (57) to rotate take-up reel (23). Slider 35 may be moved against spring 39 bias to raise bar 56 and part 3a manually, or by a solenoid 42 energized either by a microswitch responsive to cassette insertion or by a button depressable to start loading operation of ring 2. Alternatively depressing the loading start button may move slider 35 via mechanical means without solenoid 42. Cassette loading. Fig. 10, by horizontal sliding of the cassette engages grooves 69 on either side of the cassette casing with pins 73b on pivoted arms 72 and engages grooves 70, on a cassette lid 63, with pins 73a on arms 71 pivoted at 71a and linked by springs 74 to arms 72. During insertion of cassette 22 into holder 45 arms 71 act to pivot lid 63 open about pivots 64 thereof to expose front opening 28, Fig. 1, of the cassette after a spring-biased lid-locking catch (65), (66), (68), Fig. 9 (not shown), in the cassette has been released by a roller 77 on a leaf spring 78 fixed to the cassette holder 45.