Automatic playing apparatus utilizing plurality of endless tape cartridges

Claim 2

An automatic playing apparatus for use with a plurality of endless tape cartridges, comprising a rotatable planar housing provided with means to hold a plurality of endless tape cartridges horizontally and radially arranged in a manner that each forward end thereof is outwardly oriented, housing driving means for rotating said housing in one direction, at least one normally raised pushbutton rod slidably disposed in said housing associated with each tape cartridge and adapted to index the tape stored within each associated cartridge when an associated raised rod is depressed, the rods being slidable independently of each other, a stop member mounted below said housing and positioned to engage a depressed pushbutton rod and thereby arrest the rotation of said housing when the cartridge associated with the depressed rod is rotated to the play position, a pivotally movable deck having a capstan adapted to be in abutment with a pinch roller of the cartridge in the play position and capstan driving means and including a magnetic head for engaging the endless tape of said cartridge, spring means normally urging said deck against the cartridge in the play position, means for sensing an end mark on said tape, deck driving means responsive to said sensing means for retracting said deck from the cartridge when said end mark is sensed, pushbutton rod return means coupled to and movable with said deck in response to actuation of said deck driving means to move a depressed pushbutton rod engaging said stop member out of engagement therewith and to return said depressed rod to its normal raised position, said housing driving means being operable independent of said pushbutton rod return means, and deck retaining means for maintaining the deck in the position where said deck is away from the cartridge at least until a depressed pushbutton rod is engaged by the stop member, whereby the housing rotates each indexed tape, sequentially, to the play position to permit one or more tapes to be played for a single actuation of said housing driving means.

Claim 3

An automatic playing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprising a plurality of said pushbutton rods slidably mounted in the housing associated with each cartridge for indexing the cartridge and the sound track of the tape, and sound track switching-over means operable by means of the pushbutton rod when the depressed pushbutton rod is engaged by the stop member.

Claim 4

An automatic playing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said housing driving means comprises a cylindrical hollow shaft securely embracing the downwardly extending rotatably supported rotary shaft of the housing, and a coil spring having one end thereof wound on said rotary shaft and the other end wound on said hollow shaft, whereby said housing is automatically rotated in one direction by said spring in which energy is stored after said housing is manually rotated in the opposite direction.

Claim 5

An automatic playing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein two pairs of tape cartridges are diametrically and horizontally arranged in the plane of said housing, the forward end of each of said cartridgEs outwardly projecting from the periphery of said housing.

Claim 6

An automatic playing apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein each of said endless tape cartridges is cut away at its four corners to be a hexagonal cartridge.

Claim 7

An automatic playing apparatus for use with a plurality of endless tape cartridges comprising a first planar housing provided to receive two pairs of endless tape cartridges horizontally and diametrically to allow the forward ends thereof to be outwardly oriented; a second planar housing provided to receive a second two pairs of endless tape cartridges horizontally and diametrically to allow the forward ends thereof to be outwardly oriented; said first housing being arranged over said second housing at a certain interval between the two and being diagonally crossed with the latter; a cylindrical hollow shaft securely mounted to said first and second housings at the center thereof; a rotary shaft inserted within said hollow shaft and supported to cooperate with the latter; a planar rotary disc secured to said rotary shaft at the center thereof and positioned adjacent to said second housing; normally raised pushbutton rods for indexing the cartridge to play the tape and slidably mounted on said disc adjacent to and associated with each of said cartridges the rods being slidable independently of each other; rotary disc driving means integrally rotating the rotary disc and said rotary shaft; a stop member for arresting rotation of said rotary disc when said stop member is engaged by a depressed pushbutton rod to bring the cartridge as indexed in the play position; a pivotally movable deck including a capstan adapted to be in abutment with a pinch roller of the cartridge received within said first and second housing when the cartridge is in the play position, capstan driving means, a magnetic head adapted to be in engagement with the endless tape of the cartridge received by the first and second housing when the cartridge is in the play position, and a cartridge guide supporting the forward end of the cartridge in the play position; spring means normally urging said deck against the cartridge in the play position; means for sensing an end mark on said tape and deck driving means responsive to said sensing means for retracting said deck from the cartridge; pushbutton rod return means coupled to and movable with said deck movable in response to actuation of said deck driving means to move a depressed pushbutton rod engaging said stop member out of engagement therewith and to return said depressed rod to its normal raised position, said rotary disc driving means being operatively independent of said pushbutton rod return means; and deck retaining means maintaining the deck in the position where said deck is away from the cartridge at least until the depressed pushbutton rod is engaged with the stop member.

Claim 8

An automatic playing apparatus for use with a plurality of endless tape cartridges comprising a first planar housing provided to receive two pairs of endless tape cartridges horizontally and diametrically to allow the forward ends thereof to be outwardly oriented; a second planar housing provided to receive a second two pairs of endless tape cartridges horizontally and diametrically to allow the forward ends thereof to be outwardly oriented; said first housing being arranged over said second housing at a certain interval between the two and being diagonally crossed with the latter; a cylindrical hollow shaft securely mounted to said first and second housings at the center thereof; a rotary shaft inserted within said hollow shaft and supported to cooperate with the latter; a planar rotary disc secured to said rotary shaft at the center thereof and positioned adjacent to said second housing; normally raised pushbutton rods for indexing the cartridge to play the tape and slidably mounted on said disc adjacent to and associated with each of said cartridges the rods being slidable independently of each other; rotary disc driving means integrally rotating the rotary disc and said rotary shaft; a stop member for arresting rotation of said rotary disc when said stop member is engaged by a depressed pushbutton rod to bring the cartridge as indexed in the play position; a pivotally movable deck including a capstan adapted to be in abutment with a pinch roller of the cartridge received within said first and second housing when the cartridge is in the play position, capstan driving means, a magnetic head adapted to be in engagement with the endless tape of the cartridge received by the first and second housing when the cartridge is in the play position, and a cartridge guide supporting the forward end of the cartridge in the play position; spring means normally urging said deck against the cartridge in the play position; means for sensing an end mark on said tape and deck driving means responsive to said sensing means for retracting said deck from the cartridge; pushbutton rod return means coupled to and movable with said deck movable in response to actuation of said deck driving means to move a depressed pushbutton rod engaging said stop member out of engagement therewith and to return said depressed rod to its normal raised position, said rotary disc driving means being operatively independent of said pushbutton rod return means; and deck retaining means maintaining the deck in the position where said deck is away from the cartridge at least until the depressed pushbutton rod is engaged with the stop member.

Claim 9

An automatic playing apparatus as claimed in claim 6 comprising a plurality of pushbutton rods slidably mounted in the rotary disc to correspondingly face each cartridge provided at the first and second housing for indexing the cartridge and the sound track thereof, and sound track switching-over means operable by means of the pushrod when the depressed pushbutton rod is engaged with the stop member.

Claim 10

An automatic playing apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said rotary disc driving means comprises a cylindrical hollow rotatable shaft embracing the downwardly extending rotary shaft of the rotary disc, a coil spring having one end thereof wound on said rotary shaft and the other end wound on said hollow shaft, and a pulley connected to said hollow shaft, a roller in abutment with the capstan, and a belt operatively connecting the pulley and the roller when the deck is away from the cartridge, said rotary disc being rotated when the deck is away from the cartridge.

Claim 11

An automatic playing apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said first and second housing are each capable of receiving the cartridges to visually identify what program is Recorded by a label attached to each lid of the cartridges.