Patent GB-1446579-A (GB)
Title: Tape cartridge player with cartridge pull-in mechanism
IPC: G11B15/68
Filed: 1973-11-12
Abstract: 1446579 Tape cartridge players RCA CORPORATION 12 Nov 1973 [14 Nov 1972] 52323/73 Addition to 1369479 Heading G5R A magnetic tape cartridge player of the type claimed in claim 1 of Specification 1,369,479 is operative to play a plurality of endless loop tape cartridges in a stacked array, the player having a cartridge pull-in mechanism comprising a plurality of pawl mechanisms, such as 202, Fig. 10, each adapted to engage the detent of a respective said cartridge, the pawl mechanisms being operated by cams 184, 188, 192, 194, 196 on a rotatable shaft 176, Fig. 6, whereby in a first position of the shaft the pawl mechanisms are all disengaged from the cartridge detents, in a second position of the shaft the pawl mechanisms are all engaged with the cartridge detents with the tapes out of engagement with the transducing means 165 and capstan 163, and during further rotation of the shaft 176 the pawl mechanisms operate to sequentially move the cartridges to engage each tape in turn with the transducing means 165 and capstan 163. The cartridges are located in a magazine (see Specification 1,446,578), having a front opening, a back, loading opening having a removable translucent cover, side slots giving access to the cartridge detents, and a front notch to allow sensing of cartridge notches indicating whether the tapes carry two or four-channel recordings. Cam-shaft 176 is driven by a motor 178 and makes one rotation to play all the cartridges in the magazine sequentially. Each pawl mechanism has a first pawl urged by spring 206, Fig. 6, to engage the cam and a second pawl 212 pivoted on the first pawl and acted on by a spring 216 controlling the force between the cartridge pinch roller and capstan 163. As a cartridge is moved by the corresponding pawl mechanism into the play position, the cartridge opens a switch 260 in circuit with motor 178 but the motor does not stop until a switch 262 operated by cam 186 opens, thereby giving a precise play position for the cartridge; the switch 260 is provided to continue energization of motor 178 in the event of there being an unoccupied cartridge position in the magazine whereby the motor only stops on opening of switch 262 following cartridge positioning at the next occupied position. A gear 281 drives means indicating which cartridge is in the play position. A switch 282 actuated by a further cam 190 on shaft 176 is operative to continue energization of the player until the last cartridge has been played in the event of a manual switch being switched off during a playing cycle. Shaft 176 may operate a rotary switch (not shown) to switch the appropriate one of tape transducer heads (300), (302), (304), (306), (308), Figs. 11, 12 (not shown), into operation. When a metal foil in any tape being played bridges metal strips 234, 236, Fig. 6, a solenoid 240 is energized to step a cam-wheel 250 via a ratchet 246 and thereby vertically shift a transducer head mounting plate 254 to effect track changing. When all the tracks of a cartridge have been played, cam 250 rotates so that a stud 256 closes a switch 258 to energize motor 178 to effect a cartridge-charging operation. The transducer heads (300) to (308) are mounted on plate 254 in a manner allowing individual head height and azimuth adjustment. A spring 296 causes plate 254, pivoted on a vertical shaft 288, to bear against a locating member 298 to precisely position the transducing heads.