EP0286751A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cassette tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus and cassettes for use therein
Assignee: Sony Corp
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Filing: 1987-04-16
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2007-04-16
Abstract
Abstract A relatively large-sized tape cassette (1) has a width, measured in a transverse direction, larger than the similarly measured width of a standard, relatively small-sized tape cassette (2) and, for the purpose of being selectively loaded, in place of the standard cassette (2), into a tape cassette recording and/or reproducing, the large cassette (1) has a bottom surface (1a) with a plurality of grooves (5) therein extending at right angles to the transverse direction and spaced from each other by a distance equal to the width of the small cassette (2), and the apparatus includes a cassette holder (10) having a pair of parallel guide rails (23) spaced apart for slidable reception in the grooves (5) of the large cassette (1) or for slidable engagement of confronting surfaces (25) of the guide rails (23) with side surfaces of the small cassette (2).
Inventors
- 👤 Yuzo C/O Patents Division Ohtani
- 👤 Sachio C/O Patents Division Ueda
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-10 01:46
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B25/00; G11B25/06; G11B25/066; G11B15/00; G11B15/675; G11B15/67544; G11B15/67547
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
239 words
A cassette tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus comprising: a cassette holder (10) movable between a cassette receiving and discharging position and a cassette loading position; characterized in that: the apparatus is capable of selective operation with at least a relatively large cassette (1) and a relatively small cassette (2) having different respective widths each measured in a transverse direction, said large cassette (1) having a bottom surface (1a) with a plurality of grooves (5) therein spaced apart in the respective transverse direction and each extending at right angles to said transverse direction; said apparatus further comprising: a pair of parallel guide rails (23) on said cassette holder (W), said guide rails (23) being spaced apart laterally for slidable reception in the grooves (5) of said large cassette (1) so as to position it with respect to said holder (10) in said loading position, and so as to guide said large cassette (1) in and out of said holder (10) in said receiving and discharging position; and confronting surfaces (25) on two of said guide rails (23) which are spaced apart by the width of said small cassette (2) so that said confronting surfaces (25) are slidably engageable with opposed side surfaces of said small cassette (2) for positioning it with respect to said holder (10) in said loading position and for guiding said small cassette (2) in and out of said holder (10) in said receiving and discharging position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
239 words
A cassette tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus comprising: a cassette holder (10) movable between a cassette receiving and discharging position and a cassette loading position; characterized in that: the apparatus is capable of selective operation with at least a relatively large cassette (1) and a relatively small cassette (2) having different respective widths each measured in a transverse direction, said large cassette (1) having a bottom surface (1a) with a plurality of grooves (5) therein spaced apart in the respective transverse direction and each extending at right angles to said transverse direction; said apparatus further comprising: a pair of parallel guide rails (23) on said cassette holder (W), said guide rails (23) being spaced apart laterally for slidable reception in the grooves (5) of said large cassette (1) so as to position it with respect to said holder (10) in said loading position, and so as to guide said large cassette (1) in and out of said holder (10) in said receiving and discharging position; and confronting surfaces (25) on two of said guide rails (23) which are spaced apart by the width of said small cassette (2) so that said confronting surfaces (25) are slidably engageable with opposed side surfaces of said small cassette (2) for positioning it with respect to said holder (10) in said loading position and for guiding said small cassette (2) in and out of said holder (10) in said receiving and discharging position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
145 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a panel extending at right angles to said guide rails (23) in front of said holder (10) and having a port (16) through which a large or small cassette (1, 2) can travel parallel to said guide rails (23) when being inserted in, or discharged from said holder (10) in said cassette receiving and discharging position; and wherein said holder (10) includes a substantially horizontal support plate (10a) from which said guide rails (23) project upwardly and which is substantially at the level of the bottom of said port (16) in said cassette receiving and discharging position of said holder (10) so that a large or small cassette (1, 2) travelling through said port (16) is slidable at its respective bottom surface (1a, 1b) over said support plate (10a) while being laterally guided by said guide rails (23).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
134 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein each of said large and small cassettes (1, 2) has an opening (O1, O2) for access to tape within the respective cassette (1, 2) and said opening (O1, O2) is defined, at least in part, by an edge of said bottom surface (1a, 1b) of the cassette (1, 2) which is to be in leading relation during insertion of the cassette (1, 2) into said holder (10); and wherein said support plate (10a) has stop means (27) directed upwardly between said guide rails (23) from a back edge of said support plate (10a) for engagement by said edge of said large or small cassette (1, 2) inserted into said holder (10) for precisely locating said opening (O1, O2) relative to said holder (10) in said cassette loading position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said stop means (27) includes two upwardly directed tabs (27) extending from said back edge adjacent to said confronting surfaces (25) of said guide rails (23).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
102 words
Apparatus according to claim 3 in which said guide rails (23) have a length substantially smaller than the dimension of said large cassette measured parallel to said grooves (5) and said guide rails (23) extend forwardly from said back edge of said support plate (10a); and wherein said grooves (5) of said large cassette have a length approximately equal to said length of said guide rails (23) and extend from said edge of the bottom surface (1a) to permit insertion of said large cassette (1) into said holder (10) only with said edge of its bottom surface (1a) in said leading relation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
103 words
A relatively large-sized tape cassette (1) having a width measured in a transverse direction larger than the similarly measured width of a standard, relatively small-sized tape cassette (2); characterized in that: said large cassette (1) can be selectively loaded, in place of said small cassette (2), into a tape cassette recording and/or reproducing apparatus; said large cassette (1) comprising a bottom surface (1a) with a plurality of grooves (5) therein spaced apart in the respective transverse direction and each extending at right angles to said transverse direction, said grooves (5) having a distance therebetween equal to said width of said small cassette (2).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
103 words
A relatively large-sized tape cassette (1) having a width measured in a transverse direction larger than the similarly measured width of a standard, relatively small-sized tape cassette (2); characterized in that: said large cassette (1) can be selectively loaded, in place of said small cassette (2), into a tape cassette recording and/or reproducing apparatus; said large cassette (1) comprising a bottom surface (1a) with a plurality of grooves (5) therein spaced apart in the respective transverse direction and each extending at right angles to said transverse direction, said grooves (5) having a distance therebetween equal to said width of said small cassette (2).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
76 words
A cassette (1) according to claim 6 further comprising an opening (O1) for access to tape in the cassette (1) with said opening (O1) being defined, at least in part, by an edge (1b) of said bottom surface (1a) from which said grooves (5) extend, each of said grooves (5) having a length substantially smaller than the dimension of said large cassette (1) measured from said edge (1b) in the direction parallel to said grooves (5).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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