Patent GB-1319340-A (GB)
Title: Cassette lowering and release mechanism
IPC: G11B15/68
Filed: 1970-10-23
Abstract: 1319340 Cassette changers AMPEX CORP 23 Oct 1970 [10 Nov 1969] 50430/70 Heading G5R In a cassette changer, a magazine places cassettes successively at a transfer position from where they are carried by a cam-driven chassis to a play position, forward and reverse capstans and reel spindles being engaged with the cassettes during transfer, the cassettes being returned to the magazine by the chassis after reverse tape transportation. The changer has fast wind and rewind, pause and repeat facilities and may play one or both tracks of each cassette. Cassette transfer (Fig. 5).-A start button energizes a motor 25 to drive via gear-wheels a cam 65 acting through linkage 79 to displace a magazine bail 59 to release the cassette over opening 19, a cam 27 acting through lever 101 to lower a bracket 95 supporting the cassette, and a cam (28, Fig. 6, not shown) acting through lever 31 to engage the chassis 117, which is mounted on parallelogram links 131 (Fig. 3), with the cassette. The lever 31 then operates switch 153 to de-energize the motor 25. Tape transport (Figs. 12, 24).-A pin 225 on the chassis 117 engages the top of a nib 227 on a lever 229 to shift a slide having cams 216, 217 engaging pins 213 on pinch roller mounting brackets thereby disengaging reverse pinch roller 161 and engaging forward pinch roller 159. The capstans 23 are belt-driven in opposite senses and transmit slipping drive to the reel turntables via idlers 495 in spring-connected spiders 499. At the end of forward play, stopping of the supply reel is electromechanically sensed (Fig. 20A, not shown) to energize a solenoid (197, Fig. 10, not shown) retracting the lever 229 and allowing the slide to move under spring force 251 to engage reverse tape feed via the pinch rollers. The pinch roller mounting brackets operate switches controlling tape direction indicating lamps and are mounted on a retractable plate 165 (Fig. 3) a'so carrying the head 155. At the end of reverse play, the solenoid (197) is re-energized to restart the motor 25 and return the played cassette to the magazine. Magazine stepping (Fig. 15).-A pin on one of the gear-wheels engages bracket 331 to pivot it about axis 325 to cause a pawl 333 to rotate a triangular plate 295 coupled 294 to a pinion 293 meshing with a rack 292 on the magazine. Auto stop (Figs. 18, 19, not shown).-When the last magazine compartment is located above the opening 19, a pin (341) cams lever 347 (Fig. 15) downwards to depress the pawl 333 below the plate 295 so that when the gear-wheel pin engages the bracket 331 the magazine is not advanced but a projection (351) on the lever 347 releases a latching lever (353) holding down play button (42F) which is thereby released and which acts through an interlock lever (395) to release any other operated button. Ancillary facilities-Repeat (Fig. 15).-Rotation of control 39 causes the pawl 333 to be lowered as for auto-stop so that although the change-cycle may operate the magazine is not stepped and the same cassette is repeatedly transferred between magazine and playing station until the control 39 is reset. Pause (Fig. 20, not shown).-Depression of pause button (42A) acts through rod 541 (also Fig. 12) and lever 543 to retract the plate 165 carrying the pinch rollers and head, the plate having side flanges 511 (Fig. 24) to retract the idlers 495. The button (42A) is interlocked with the play button (42D) so that the pause position of the mechanism is also the rest position. Fastwind and rewind (Figs. 21, 22, not shown).-The various buttons (42B, 42C) are so interlocked that only one can be operated and only when the play button is operated. The buttons raise or lower a lever 443 (Fig. 12) operating a fork receiving a pin 457 (Fig. 24) on a self-centering lever 449 carrying an idler 447 to drive turntable 486 directly for fastwind or turntable 488 through idler 490 for rewind.