Cartridge transducer machine and cartridge therefor

Claim 1

A tape cartridge transducer machine comprising a housing having a cartridge receiving space, a transducer head, a driving capstan; and having means for guiding a tape containing cartridge along a loading path in said space as the cartridge is moved to an operating position with the tape of said cartridge operatively engaging said head and capstan at the forward end of the cartridge, said housing having means for stably supporting said cartridge in an inactive position, offset along said loading path from the operating position, in which the tape is out of operative engagement with said head and capstan, and cartridge retention nand ejection mechanism comprising an elongated lever structure having a First and a second link pivotally connected, with a manually engageable end portion of the first link disposed adjacent the rearward end of a cartridge in the operating position, the portion of said lever adjacent thereto extending generally along the loading path of the cartridge, said first link of said lever structure being pivotally supported on a fixed axis, extending transversely to said loading path, spaced from the cartridge receiving space and disposed intermediate respective ends of the lever structure such axis being disposed forwardly of the rearward end of a cartridge in the operating position, whereby said lever structure is pivotally movable from a rest position responsive to pressure on the manually engageable end portion of said first link directed transversely to said loading path; spring means operatively connected to said lever structure for normally retaining the same in said rest position with one of the links of said lever structure having means movable therewith for automatically engaging a rearwardly facing wall extending substantially parallel to the forward end wall of such a cartridge when said lever structure is in its rest position to assume a cartridge-retaining condition for retaining the cartridge in the operating position, said spring means being operative through said movable means to apply forces to said cartridge, resiliently urging the latter in an inward direction whereby the tape of such a cartridge is thereby urged into firm operative engagement with said capstan, the second link of said lever having means movable therewith for engaging a forward facing wall of a cartridge in the operating position and for moving such a cartridge from the operating position to the inactive position as said first link is pivoted about said pivot axis from said rest position to its actuated position.