US3589733A — Apparatus for changing and playing back recorder …

Claim 1

Independent Claim 540 words

An apparatus for playing back and changing a plurality of tape recorder magazines, each magazine having two winding cores and at least one aperture across which a tape extends from one winding core to the other so as to be exposed by said aperture for playback, said apparatus comprising a chassis, a storage means mounted on said chassis for holding the plurality of magazines in position ready for playback, one of said magazines which occupy said storage means being in an operative position so that its tape is available for playback, a playback mechanism for engaging the magazine in the playback position so as to effect playback of its tape, said mechanism comprising a support member mounted on said chassis for pivotal movement toward and away from said aperture and exposed tape, a tape-scanning member carried on said support and located thereon so that when said support is moved toward the magazine the scanning member will be inserted into the aperture of said magazine across which said tape extends so as to engage said tape for playback, a frame member pivotally mounted on said chassis for movement between a first position and a second position, a pair of winding mandrels attached to said frame member so as to be in cooperative engagement with said winding cores of the magazine in the playback position when said frame is in the first position and out of engagement with the winding cores when said frame is in the second position and an electric motor having its output connected with at least one of said mandrels for driving the same, a transport mechanism for removing a magazine from the playback position in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the winding mandrels and in a direction perpendicular to the direction of insertion of said scanning member, said transport mechanism being actuated for removing said magazine when said frame member has been moved to its second position, a control disc rotatably mounted on said chassis, a first operating means mounted on said control disc and connected with said frame member for moving said frame member between said second and first positions as said control disc is rotated, a second operating means mounted on said control disc and connected with said support member so as to cause said scanning member carried on said support member to be moved toward and away from said magazine as said control disc is rotated, means connected to said control disc for actuating said transport mechanism to remove the magazine from the playback position as said control disc is rotated and means driven by said electric motor for rotating said control disc a predetermined amount for causing said playback mechanism to move into engagement with said magazine and for rotating said disc another predetermined amount upon the completion of the playback operation whereby said scanning member will be moved out of engagement with said tape, said frame member will be moved to its second position so that the mandrels are out of engagement with the winding cores and said transport mechanism will operate to remove the magazine from the playback position so that the next magazine held in the storage means if any will move into the playback position.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 540 words

An apparatus for playing back and changing a plurality of tape recorder magazines, each magazine having two winding cores and at least one aperture across which a tape extends from one winding core to the other so as to be exposed by said aperture for playback, said apparatus comprising a chassis, a storage means mounted on said chassis for holding the plurality of magazines in position ready for playback, one of said magazines which occupy said storage means being in an operative position so that its tape is available for playback, a playback mechanism for engaging the magazine in the playback position so as to effect playback of its tape, said mechanism comprising a support member mounted on said chassis for pivotal movement toward and away from said aperture and exposed tape, a tape-scanning member carried on said support and located thereon so that when said support is moved toward the magazine the scanning member will be inserted into the aperture of said magazine across which said tape extends so as to engage said tape for playback, a frame member pivotally mounted on said chassis for movement between a first position and a second position, a pair of winding mandrels attached to said frame member so as to be in cooperative engagement with said winding cores of the magazine in the playback position when said frame is in the first position and out of engagement with the winding cores when said frame is in the second position and an electric motor having its output connected with at least one of said mandrels for driving the same, a transport mechanism for removing a magazine from the playback position in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the winding mandrels and in a direction perpendicular to the direction of insertion of said scanning member, said transport mechanism being actuated for removing said magazine when said frame member has been moved to its second position, a control disc rotatably mounted on said chassis, a first operating means mounted on said control disc and connected with said frame member for moving said frame member between said second and first positions as said control disc is rotated, a second operating means mounted on said control disc and connected with said support member so as to cause said scanning member carried on said support member to be moved toward and away from said magazine as said control disc is rotated, means connected to said control disc for actuating said transport mechanism to remove the magazine from the playback position as said control disc is rotated and means driven by said electric motor for rotating said control disc a predetermined amount for causing said playback mechanism to move into engagement with said magazine and for rotating said disc another predetermined amount upon the completion of the playback operation whereby said scanning member will be moved out of engagement with said tape, said frame member will be moved to its second position so that the mandrels are out of engagement with the winding cores and said transport mechanism will operate to remove the magazine from the playback position so that the next magazine held in the storage means if any will move into the playback position.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 59 words

The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first operating means comprises a first cam track and a cam follower attached to said frame member for cooperating with said first cam track, and wherein said second operating means comprises a second cam track and cam follower means attached to said support member for cooperating with said second cam track.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 130 words

The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said storage means comprises a chutelike space having a base, front and rear walls and two sidewalls for stacking loosely therein magazines placed one on top of the other, the lowermost magazine resting on the base and being in the operative position for playback, a slotted opening in one of said sidewalls through which the lowermost magazine is removed by said transport mechanism, a guide channel located in said base and extending transversely from one sidewall to the other and slightly therebeyond for guiding therein said transport mechanism, a pair of apertures in said base for receiving therethrough said mandrels and an aperture located in said front wall being aligned with the aperture in the lowermost magazine for receiving therethrough said scanning member.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 214 words

The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said transport mechanism comprises a slide member guided in said channel, a gripping member pivotally mounted on said slide being biased in an upright position with respect to the base of said chutelike storage space, said gripping member being tiltable only in the direction of movement of removing said magazine so that when a magazine is in the playback position said gripping member will be tilted down and substantially flush with said base, and wherein said means connected to said disc for actuating said transport mechanism comprises a first rope connected at one end thereof to a pin mounted near the periphery of said control disc and at its other end thereof to one side of said slide, whereby rotation of said control disc will cause said slide to travel so that said gripping member will be free of the lowermost magazine thereby becoming erect and will then be caused to travel in said guide channel in a direction toward said slotted opening, said gripping member thereby engaging an edge of said magazine for removal of said magazine from the playback position, removal of said magazine and replacement thereof by the next magazine in said storage means being accomplished by one complete revolution of said control disc.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 22 words

The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said means for biasing said gripping member in an upright position comprises a helical spring.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 50 words

The apparatus according to claim 4 further comprising a second rope connected at one end thereof to the other side of said slide and at its other end to a spring attached to said chassis for urging said slide toward the sidewall of said storage means without the slotted opening.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 33 words

The apparatus according to claim 3 further comprising a holder mounted on said chassis and located adjacent to said storage space for receiving magazines removed from the playback position by said transport mechanism.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 26 words

The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said holder is capable of storing a number of magazines equal to the number stored in said storage means.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 23 words

The apparatus according to claim 8 further comprising means for detecting when said holder is full and operating to deactivate the playback mechanism.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 44 words

The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said detecting means comprises a normally closed limit switch having a feeler extended into said holder whereby said feeler will be displaced when said holder is full so as to open said switch and stop playback operation.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 133 words

The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said means for rotating said control disc comprises a lever pivotally mounted at a pivot point on said chassis, a gearwheel rotatably carried on said lever, drive means connected to said gearwheel for continuously driving same by said electric motor, peripheral gearing located on the periphery of said control disc, biasing means attached to said lever for urging said gearwheel into meshing engagement with said peripheral gearing to thereby cause rotation of said control disc, displacement means for moving said gearwheel out of engagement with said peripheral gearing and a lockinG arm attached to said lever for engagement with said peripheral gearing so as to prevent rotation of said control disc when said displacement means has moved said gearwheel out of engagement with said peripheral gearing.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 110 words

The apparatus according to claim 11 further comprising a releasable locking mechanism arranged for engaging said lever so as to retain said lever in a position such that said gearwheel is maintained out of engagement with said peripheral gearing and means for releasing said locking mechanism to allow said gearwheel to engage said peripheral gearing for causing rotation of said control disc when a new magazine is in position for playback so as to initiate the playback operation by moving the playback mechanism into engagement with said magazine and when playback operation is to be terminated so as to initiate removal of said magazine by actuation of said transport mechanism.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 93 words

The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said displacement means comprises a cam disc having a third cam track with cam surfaces thereon, said cam disc being rotatably mounted on said control disc, cam follower means attached to said lever for cooperating with said third cam track and for moving said lever about its pivot point so that said gearwheel will be moved away from said peripheral gearing after said playback mechanism has been moved into engagement with said magazine and after said transport mechanism has moved a magazine from the playback position.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 118 words

The apparatus according to claim 13 further comprising arresting means for preventing rotation of said cam disc during rotation of said control disc, means for releasing said cam disc when said control disc has reached the proper position and spring means attached at one end thereof to said cam disc and at the other end thereof to said control disc, said spring means being tensioned while said cam disc is prevented from rotating and whereby said cam disc is caused to rotate rapidly under the influence of said spring means so that said lever is abruptly displaced thereby abruptly stopping the rotation of said control disc and providing rapid and accurate operations of said playback and transport mechanisms.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 119 words

The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said arresting means comprises a plurality of holding lugs attached to the periphery of said cam disc there being an equal number of holding lugs as there are cam surfaces on said third cam track, and a locking lever pivotally mounted for engaging one of said holding lugs to thereby prevent rotation of said cam disc and wherein said means for releasing said cam disc comprises a releasing cam for each of said holding lugs, said releasing cams mounted on said cam disc for engaging said locking lever so as to release it from engagement with said holding lug thereby allowing said cam disc to rotate under the influence of said spring.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 58 words

The apparatus according to claim 15 further comprising an abutment on said control disc to which said spring for causing rotation of said cam disc is attached, and a slot in said cam disc through which said abutment extends so that rotation of said cam disc is abruptly stopped when said abutment engages an end of said slot.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 93 words

The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said cam track on said cam disc comprises two cam surfaces, one of said cam surfaces being engaged by said cam follower means attached to said lever so as to disengage said gearwheel from said peripheral gearing after said transport mechanism has removed a magazine from the playback position, the other cam surface being engaged by said cam follower means attached to said lever so as to disengage said gearwheel from said peripheral gearing after the playback mechanisms have been moved into engagement with said magazine.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 153 words

The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said releasable locking mechanism comprises a pivotally mounted locking arm a pin mounted on said lever, a hook-shaped member at one end of said locking arm for engaging said pin, means attached to said locking arm for biasing said locking arm in a direction so as to prevent disengagement of said pin from said hook-shaped member, an electromagnet for causing said locking arm to pivot in a direction allowing disengagement of said pin from said hook-shaped member when said electromagnet is energized thereby releasing said lever and allowing said gearwheel to engage the peripheral gearing on said control disc and means for energizing said electromagnet when a magazine is in the playback position and said playback mechanism is to be moved into engagement therewith and when said playback mechanisms are to be disengaged from said magazine and actuation of said transport mechanism is to be initiated.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 162 words

The apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said means for energizing said electromagnet comprises in series therewith a source of electric power, an ''''on'''' switch which is closed when the apparatus is turned on, a switch having feeler means penetrating said storage space so that it is closed when a magazine is in the playback position, a normally closed switch having a feeler penetrating a holder for storing ejected magazines so that it is opened when said holder is full, said electromagnet also being in series connection with a switch which is closed when the tape in the magazine is completely played, whereby said electromagnet will be energized to start the playback operation when said holder is not full, a magazine is in the playback position and when the ''''on'''' switch is closed, said electromagnet also being energized to disengage the playback mechanism from said magazine and initiate operation of said transport mechanism when the tape of a magazine is completely played.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 42 words

The apparatus according to claim 19 further comprising a switch in series with said electromagnet which is closed by operating means on said control disc after a complete change of magazines in the playback position and an ''''off'''' switch in series therewith.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 102 words

The apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said means for energizing said electromagnet comprises a source of electric power, an ''''on'''' switch for starting the rotational movement of the control disc, a switch which is operated if the tape of a magazine is completely played back, and a contact of a holding relay for the electromagnet, and a switch for stopping the movement of the control disc in series with the holding relay and controlled by a feeler sensing the presence of a magazine in the playback position, and another switch which is operated for a short period by the control disc.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 58 words

The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said frame member comprises a mounting plate which is pivotally attached to said chassis by a shaft the longitudinal axis of which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shaft of said electric motor and is located a small distance therefrom, said electric motor being mounted on said mounting plate.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 97 words

The apparatus according to claim 3 further comprising an aperture in said rear wall, a thrust lever pivotally mounted on said chassis having a free end aligned with said rear wall aperture, a fourth cam track mounted on said control disc, cam follower means attached to said thrust lever for pivoting said thrust lever as said control disc is rotated, whereby said free end will be inserted into said rear wall aperture to engage a magazine in the playback position so as to move said magazine into a proper defined position for engagement with said playback mechanism.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 64 words

The apparatus according to claim 4 further comprising a locking member located in the path for removing a magazine from the playback position to prevent inadvertent removal of a magazine from the playback position, means connected to said locking member for removing the locking member from the removal path only during operation of the transport mechanism for removing a magazine from the playback position.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 33 words

The apparatus according to claim 24 wherein said means for removing said locking member cOmprises a fifth cam track mounted on said control disc, and a cam follower linked to said locking member.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 34 words

The apparatus according to claim 25 further comprising a counter which can be reset to zero, said counter being automatically reset by means mounted on said control disc upon the changing of each magazine.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 42 words

The apparatus according to claim 27 further comprising an additional aperture in said base, a drive shaft mounted on said frame extending through said additional aperture for cooperative engagement with the tape when said frame member is moved into said first position.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1974-06-28	1974-12-28	1975-06-29	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1978-06-28	1978-12-28	1979-06-29	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1982-06-28	1982-12-28	1983-06-29	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Apparatus for changing and playing back recorder tape magazines

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