EP0215663A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tape cassette loading and unloading apparatus having a lock mechanism
Assignee: Victor Company of Japan Ltd
•
Filing: 1986-09-15
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2006-09-15
Abstract
Abstract A tape cassette loading and unloading apparatus comprises a holder (l5) which is inserted with a tape cassette (l2), a belt-driven transmitting mechanism (25) for moving the holder between a cassette receiving position and a predetermined loading position via an insertion completion position, a lock mechanism (26, 27) for locking the transmitting mechanism when the holder reaches the predetermined loading position so that the holder is immovably locked in the predetermined loading position, and a pushing member (34) for pushing a top surface of the tape cassette as the holder moves from the insertion completion position to the predetermined loading position so as to hold the tape cassette in a loaded position when the holder is in the predetermined loading position.
Inventors
- 👤 Manabu Sato
- 👤 Masaki Ikekawa
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 03:21
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B15/00; G11B15/675; G11B15/67544; G11B15/67547; G11B15/67549
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
273 words
A tape cassette loading and unloading apparatus comprising a frame (23); a holder (l5) movably provided within said frame for receiving and moving a tape cassette (l2) which is inserted into said holder, said holder being movable horizontally between a cassette receiving position where the tape cassette is received and an insertion completion position and being movable vertically between said insertion completion position and a predetermined loading position; and a motor (3l) which rotates in a first direction during a tape cassette loading mode and rotates in a second direction during a tape cassette unloading mode, said second direction being opposite to said first direction, characterized in that there are provided: a belt-driven transmitting mechanism (25) coupled to said motor (3l) by way of a belt (33) thereof for transmitting a rotational driving force of said motor to said holder (l5) so that said holder is moved to said predetermined loading position via said insertion completion position during the tape cassette loading mode and said holder is moved to said cassette receiving position via said insertion completion position during the tape cassette unloading mode; a lock mechanism (26, 27) for locking said transmitting mechanism in a locked state when said holder reaches said predetermined loading position in the tape cassette loading mode, so that said holder is immovably locked in said predetermined loading position; and a pushing member (34) for pushing a top surface of said tape cassette (l2) as said holder moves from said insertion completion position to said predetermined loading position so as to hold said tape cassette in a loaded position when said holder is in said predetermined loading position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
273 words
A tape cassette loading and unloading apparatus comprising a frame (23); a holder (l5) movably provided within said frame for receiving and moving a tape cassette (l2) which is inserted into said holder, said holder being movable horizontally between a cassette receiving position where the tape cassette is received and an insertion completion position and being movable vertically between said insertion completion position and a predetermined loading position; and a motor (3l) which rotates in a first direction during a tape cassette loading mode and rotates in a second direction during a tape cassette unloading mode, said second direction being opposite to said first direction, characterized in that there are provided: a belt-driven transmitting mechanism (25) coupled to said motor (3l) by way of a belt (33) thereof for transmitting a rotational driving force of said motor to said holder (l5) so that said holder is moved to said predetermined loading position via said insertion completion position during the tape cassette loading mode and said holder is moved to said cassette receiving position via said insertion completion position during the tape cassette unloading mode; a lock mechanism (26, 27) for locking said transmitting mechanism in a locked state when said holder reaches said predetermined loading position in the tape cassette loading mode, so that said holder is immovably locked in said predetermined loading position; and a pushing member (34) for pushing a top surface of said tape cassette (l2) as said holder moves from said insertion completion position to said predetermined loading position so as to hold said tape cassette in a loaded position when said holder is in said predetermined loading position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
156 words
A tape cassette loading and unloading apparatus as claimed in claim l, characterized in that said transmitting mechanism comprises a first gear (27) rotatably supported on said frame (23) and driven by said motor (3l) via at least said belt (33), and a second gear (26) rotatably supported on said frame for driving said holder (l5), said second gear having an untoothed part (26b), said first gear meshing with said second gear so as to transmit the rotational driving force of said motor to said holder and moving said pushing member (34) as said holder moves from said insertion completion position to said predetermined loading position, said lock mechanism being constituted by said first and second gears, said second gear stopping at a rotary position where said untoothed part confronts said first gear when said holder reaches said predetermined loading position and said first gear locking said second gear by rotating after said second gear stops.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
59 words
A tape cassette loading and unloading apparatus as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that said first gear (27) comprises an engaging groove (27c) and said second gear (26) comprises an engaging pin (26f), said engaging groove of said first gear engaging said engaging pin to lock said second gear when said holder (l5) reaches said predetermined loading position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
67 words
A tape cassette loading and unloading apparatus as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that said transmitting mechanism further comprises a first pulley (32) fixed to a rotary shaft of said motor (3l) and a second pulley (29) rotatably supported on said frame (23) and driven by said belt (33) provided between said first and second pulleys, said first gear (27) being driven by said second pulley.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
A tape cassette loading and unloading apparatus as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that said first gear (27) comprises a groove (27d) which engages said pushing member (37) when said holder (l5) moves from said insertion completion position to said predetermined loading position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
A tape cassette loading and unloading apparatus as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that said first gear (27) comprises a large diameter gear (27b) which is driven by said motor (3l) via at least said belt (33), and a small diameter gear (27a) which meshes with said second gear (26).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
107 words
A tape cassette loading and unloading apparatus as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that there is further provided a switch (47) for controlling a rotational state of said motor (3l), said second gear (26) comprising a first projection (26e) for activating said switch when said tape cassette (l2) is inserted into said holder (l5) which moves from said cassette receiving position to said predetermined loading position in the tape cassette loading mode and a second projection (26d) for activating said switch when said holder which accommodates said tape cassette moves from said predetermined loading position to said cassette receiving position in the tape cassette unloading mode.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
A tape cassette loading and unloading apparatus as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that said switch (47) stops said motor (3l) after a predetermined time from a time when said switch is activated.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
78 words
A tape cassette loading and unloading apparatus as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that there is further provided an inserting opening (l3b) through which said tape cassette (l2) is inserted into said holder (l5) in said cassette receiving position and a normally closed lid (35) provided at said inserting opening, said second gear (26) opening said lid when said holder moves toward said insertion completion position from said predetermined loading position in the tape cassette unloading mode.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.