Patent GB-1424561-A (GB)
Title: Cassette tape apparatus with automatic cassette changer
IPC: G11B15/68
Filed: 1973-05-09
Abstract: 1424561 Sequential-play cassette changer ING C OLIVETTI & C SpA 9 May 1973 [13 May 1972] 22079/73 Heading G5R A cassette changer feeds cassettes 34 in sequence from the bottom of a loading magazine 31 to a container 43 which can be lowered to position a cassette at a transducing station and then raised to permit ejection of that cassette to the bottom of a collecting magazine 32 as a further cassette is fed from the loading magazine 31. Cassette movements.-At least the base portion 47, 49 of the collecting magazine 32 is linked to the container 43 by levers 66, 67 mounted on shafts 69, 70, so that as the container is lowered the base portion is raised to lift the cassette stack thereon above the level of spring-loaded catches 61, which thereafter support the stack when the base portion is lowered to receive a cassette ejected from the raised container 43 by arms 96, 97. The cassette stack in the loading magazine 31 is supported on levers 117, 119 connected to a transfer plate 95, which can be moved beyond the magazine 31 (dotted lines, Fig. 1) to permit the stack to drop and the lowermost cassette to be fed on the return stroke by tongues 111, 112 on the plate 95. Sequence of operation.-Initially, a cassette in the transducing station is located on shouldered pins 21 and plates 19 by a downward-pressing spring 91 and a forward-pressing lever 221. Sensing levers 23 engage the cassette, and a plate 16 is actuated to engage a head 17 thereon with the tape and to engage a pinch roller (not illustrated) with one of capstans (13, 14), Fig. 7 (not shown). The change cycle is initiated normally or automatically by de-actuating the plate 16 and starting a motor 141, which drives a carriage 126 along a shaft 107 by means of a lead screw 135 and a nut 134 thereon connected to the carriage 126. A pin 147 on the carriage 126 initially disengages from a lever 202, which permits sensing levers 23 and lever 221 to be withdrawn from the cassette by a spring-loaded plate 216. A plate 142 on the carriage 126 then disengages from a roller 173 of a lever 174 keyed to the shaft 69, thereby permitting pivoting of the link levers 66, 67 by springs 74, 75 to lower the collecting magazine 32 and raise the container 43 until a stop 93 is abutted. The transfer plate 95 has two lugs 105, 106 also slidable on the shaft 107, but is initially latched in position by a lever 157 held in engagement with an end of a surface 160 by a tooth 145 on the carriage 126 (Fig. 6 also, not shown). The latch lever 157 is released by the tooth 145 when the carriage 126 engages the lug 106, to move the plate 95 and levers 117, 119 beyond the loading magazine 31 to allow the cassette stack therein to drop. The ejection arms 96, 97 are fixed to a shaft 101 which also carries an actuation member 176 pivoted on a pin 185 and having an appendage 175 in the path of a pin 144 on the carriage 126; during the above movement engagement of the pin 144 with the appendage 175 merely rotates the actuation member 176 about the pin 185 to permit passage of the pin 144, rotation of the shaft 101 and of the arms 96, 97 being prevented by a stop 191. The plate 142 of the carriage 126 now bears against a collar 163 of a slidable rod 164, to actuate a limit switch 172 and reverse the motor 141. The pin 144 re-engages the appendage 175 to rotate the shaft 101 so that the arms 96, 97 eject the used cassette from the raised container 43 into the lowered magazine 32; rotation of member 176 about the pin 185 now being prevented by a stop 187. The tooth 145 simultaneously engages the latch lever 157 to return the plate 95 and feed the lowermost cassette at a slower speed than the ejected cassette. Rotation of the shaft 101 continues until a tooth 199 of the appendage 175 is hooked on to a lug 197 of a lever 179, while movement of the plate 95 continuous until the latch lever 157 re-engages the end of the surface 160. The carriage plate 142 then re-engages the roller 173 of the lever 174 to lower the container 43 and raise the magazine 32; the carriage pin 144 thereafter engages an arm 177 of the lever 179, releasing the tooth 199 and permitting the ejection arms 96, 97 to be returned to their initial position by a spring 188. Finally the pin 147 re-engages the lever 202 to engage sensing levers 23 and lever 221 with the cassette 34, while carriage plate 142 also engages a second collar 162 on the slidable rod 164 to actuate a limit switch 171 and switch off the motor 141.