Automatic tape transducer mechanism

Claim 1

In a tape recorder for use with an apertured cartridge case enclosing a pair of reels and a magnetic tape wound therein and adapted to be pushed in one direction from an inoperative to an operative position into the recorder for engaging said reels with reel driving pins and said tape with a tape driving capstan, and a transducer head, a combination comprising a stationary plate; guide means on said stationary plate for guiding the cartridge case in said one direction from said inoperative to said operative position; a movable plate carrying said drive pins and said capstan and drive means for driving said drive pins and said capstan, said movable plate being connected to said stationary plate tiltable about an axis spaced from said cartridge case in the operative position of the latter and movable in direction of movement of said case frOm said operative to said inoperative position; means for moving said movable plate, upon moving said cartridge case to said operative position, from a first position wherein said drive pins and capstan are spaced from to a second position wherein said drive pins and capstan are respectively engaged with said reels and said tape, and vice versa, said moving means comprising a first slide member adapted to be engaged by said cartridge case during movement of the latter in said one direction so as to be moved in said direction, a first spring connected to said first slide member for biasing the latter in a direction opposite to said one direction, a second slide member connected to said first slide member for movement therewith, a second spring connected to said second slide member and acting on said movable plate for moving the latter from said first to said second position when said first slide member is moved by said cartridge case in said one direction, both of said springs being stressed during such movement; latch means to lock said slide members and said movable plate in position when said movable plate is moved to said second position; and means for unlocking said latch means to thereby return said movable plate to said first position and to push said cartridge case to its inoperative position by the action of said springs.