Universal cartridge-type tape recorder and playback instrument

Claim 2

A cartridge-type player com-prising: a. means for receiving a cartridge loaded with recording tape; b. a transducer supported adjacent to the cartridge receiving means for transducing signals located in tracks on recording tape loaded in a cartridge which is inserted into the receiving means; c. means for pulling the tape past the transducer when a cartridge is inserted into the receiving means; d. means for selecting the track containing the signals which are desired to be reproduced by positioning the transducer to one of a plurality of discrete levels; e. independent toolless tuning means manually controllable by the operator from the front oF the tape player during normal playback for selectively and precisely adjusting the position of the transducer within the discrete track level selected by said selecting means in order to obtain optimum transducing performance; the means for adjusting the position of the transducer with respect to the tracks comprising: manually operable means for changing the relative position of the transducer with respect to the tracks by small increments to obtain optimum transducing performance by minimizing crosstalk between signals on different tracks; the manually operable means comprising: a panel-mounted operator control; the manually operable means for changing the relative position of the transducer with respect to the tracks by small increments comprising: a. a tape guide adjacent the transducer; and b. means for changing the level of the tape guide by small increments in response to the operation of the panel-mounted control.

Claim 3

A cartridge-type tape player comprising: a. means for receiving any one of a plurality of different types of cartridges loaded with recording tape, one type containing means for holding the tape against a capstan and another type requiring the insertion of such a holding means; b. a transducer supported adjacent to the cartridge receiving means for transducing signals located in tracks on recording tape loaded in a cartridge which is inserted into the receiving means, the positions of said tracks being different for said different types of said cartridges; c. means for pulling the tape past the transducer when a cartridge is inserted into the receiving means comprising: d. a tape driven capstan positioned adjacent the receiving means for pulling the tape through the cartridge when the tape is pressed against the capstan; e. sensing means associated with the cartridge receiving means for determining whether the cartridge requires the insertion of means for holding the tape against the capstan for proper operation; f. means for holding the tape against the capstan for cartridges which require holding means to be inserted; g. means for inserting holding means into a cartridge placed in the receiving means when the sensing means determine that the cartridge requires the insertion of holding means; h. means for selecting the track containing the signals which are desired to be reproduced by positioning the transducer to one of a plurality of discrete levels; i. independent manually operable toolless means operable from the front of the tape player for changing the relative position of the transducer with respect to the tracks to adjust the transducer position by small increments to obtain optimum transducing performance by minimizing crosstalk between signals on different tracks; and j. automatic means responsive to the sensing means for determining the relative position between the transducer and the tape when a cartridge is inserted into the receiving means; the holding means comprising: a pinch roller; the means for inserting holding means comprising: a toggle mount for the pinch roller having a first position outside the receiving means and a second position inside the receiving means; the sensing means comprising: means for flipping the pinch roller into a second position within the cartridge when the sensing means determine that the other type of cartridge is present which contains an opening for the insertion of the pinch roller into the cartridge; the automatic means for determining the relative position between the transducer and the tape comprising: means for changing the relative position of the transducer with respect to the tape, said change being from a first level associated with said one type of cartridge to a second level associated with said other type of cartridge when the pinch roller is flipped from the first position to the second position; the manually operable means for changing the relative position of the transducEr with respect to the tracks by small increments comprising: a''. means for supporting the transducer adjacent the tape when a cartridge is inserted in the receiving means including

Claim 4

A cartridge-type tape player comprising: a. means for receiving any one of a plurality of different types of cartridges loaded with recording tape, one type containing means for holding the tape against a capstan and another type requiring the insertion of such a holding means; b. a transducer supported adjacent to the cartridge receiving means for transducing signals located in tracks on recording tape loaded in a cartridge which is inserted into the receiving means, the positions of said tracks being different for said different types of said cartridges; c. means for pulling the tape past the transducer when a cartridge is inserted into the receiving means comprising: d. a tape driven capstan positioned adjacent the receiving means for pulling the tape through the cartridge when the tape is pressed against the capstan; e. sensing means associated with the cartridge receiving means for determining whether the cartridge requires the insertion of means for holding the tape against the capstan for proper operation; f. means for holding the tape against the capstan for cartridges which require holding means to be inserted; g. means for inserting holding means into a cartridge placed in the receiving means when the sensing means determine that the cartridge requires the insertion of holding means; h. means for selecting the track containing the signals which are desired to be reproduced by positioning the transducer to one of a plurality of discrete levels; i. independent manually operable toolless means operable from the front of the tape player for changing the relative position of the transducer with respect to the tracks to adjust the transducer position by small increments to obtain optimum transducing performance by minimizing crosstalk between signals on different tracks; and j. automatic means responsive to the sensing means for determining the relative position between the transducer and the tape when a cartridge is inserted into the receiving means; the holding means comprising: a pinch roller; the means for inserting holding means comprising: a toggle mount for the pinch roller having a first position outside the receiving means and a second position inside the receiving means; the sensing means comprising: means for flipping the pinch roller into a second position within the cartridge when the sensing means determine that the other type of cartridge is present which contains an opening for the insertion of the pinch roller into the cartridge; the automatic means for determining the relative position between the transducer and the tape comprising: means for changing the relative position of the transducer with respect to the tape, said change being from a first level associated with said one type of cartridge to a second level associated with said other type of cartridge when the pinch roller is flipped from the first position to the second position; the manually operable means for changing the relative position of the transducEr with respect to the tracks by small increments comprising: a''. means for supporting the transducer adjacent the tape when a cartridge is inserted in the receiving means including

Claim 5

a screw rotatably secured near one end to the plate and the other end rotatably secured to the tape player chassis; and b''. manually operable drive means for rotating the screw to regulate the level of the support plate and the transducer with respect to the tracks on the tape; one end of the screw being threaded into the tape player chassis and comprising in addition: a head fixed to the screw near the other end, the head containing an axial, circumferential slot defined by upper and lower surfaces, portions of which enclose a portion of the support plate. 3 The tape player of claim 2 wherein the manually operable drive means comprise: mechanical means for transmitting rotary motion from panel-mounted knob to the screw.

Claim 6

a toggle mount for the pinch roller having a first position outside the receiving means and a second position inside the receiving means, and

Claim 7

a toggle mount for the pinch roller having a first position outside the receiving means and a second position inside the receiving means, and

Claim 8

a manually operable, panel-mounted knob, and

Claim 9

a manually operable, panel-mounted knob, and

Claim 10

mechanical means for transmitting rotary motion from the knob to the screw for rotating the screw to cause the level of the slot with respect to the chassis to change when the knob is manually rotated; and l. automatic means responsive to the sensing means for changing the level of the transducer relative to the tape when a cartridge is inserted in the receiving means including means for moving the transducer from a first level associated with one type of cartridge to a second level associated with the other type of cartridge when the pinch roller is flipped from the first position to the second position, the distance between the levels being determined by the difference between the axial width of the slot and the thickness of the support plate in the slot.

Claim 11

mechanical means for transmitting rotary motion from the knob to the screw for rotating the screw to cause the level of the slot with respect to the chassis to change when the knob is manually rotated; and l. automatic means responsive to the sensing means for changing the level of the transducer relative to the tape when a cartridge is inserted in the receiving means including means for moving the transducer from a first level associated with one type of cartridge to a second level associated with the other type of cartridge when the pinch roller is flipped from the first position to the second position, the distance between the levels being determined by the difference between the axial width of the slot and the thickness of the support plate in the slot.

Claim 12

means for flipping the pinch roller into the second position within the cartridge when the sensing means determine that the cartridge in the receiving means contains an opening for the insertion of the pinch roller into the cartridge; e. a transducer support plate slidably secured to the tape player chassis; f. a magnetic recording transducer slidably secured to the support plate; g. a rotary mounted index wheel having an axially indexed cam surface, the wheel being mounted between the transducer and the support plate; h. means riding on the cam surface for selectively raising or lowering the transducer, relative to the tape and the support plate, responsive to the rotary position of the wheel; i. a ratchet wheel on the index wheel for selecting the rotary position of the cam surface; j. solenoid controlled means cooperative with the ratchet wheel for rotating the the indexing wheel in a step-by-step manner; k. manually operable means for regulating the relative level between the tape and the transducer incorporating

Claim 13

means for flipping the pinch roller into the second position within the cartridge when the sensing means determine that the cartridge in the receiving means contains an opening for the insertion of the pinch roller into the cartridge; e. a transducer support plate slidably secured to the tape player chassis; f. a magnetic recording transducer slidably secured to the support plate; g. a rotary mounted index wheel having an axially indexed cam surface, the wheel being mounted between the transducer and the support plate; h. means riding on the cam surface for selectively raising or lowering the transducer, relative to the tape and the support plate, responsive to the rotary position of the wheel; i. a ratchet wheel on the index wheel for selecting the rotary position of the cam surface; j. solenoid controlled means cooperative with the ratchet wheel for rotating the the indexing wheel in a step-by-step manner; k. manually operable means for regulating the relative level between the tape and the transducer incorporating

Claim 14

A cartridge-type tape player comprising: a. means for receiving any one of a plurality of different types of cartridges loaded with recording tape, one type containing means for holding the tape against a capstan and another type requiring the insertion of such a holding means; b. a transducer supported adjacent to the cartridge receiving means for transducing signals located in tracks on recording tape loaded in a cartridge which is inserted into the receiving means, the positions of said tracks being different for said different types of said cartridges; c. means for pulling the tape past the transducer when a cartridge is inserted into the receiving means comprising; d. a tape drive capstan positioned adjacent the receiving means for pulling the tape through the cartridge when the tape is pressed against the capstan; e. sensing means associated with the cartridge receiving means for determining whether the cartridge requires the insertion of means for holding the tape against the capstan for proper operation; f. means for holding the tape against the capstan for cartridges which require holding means to be inserted; g. means for inserting holding means into a cartridge placed in the receiving means when the sensing means determine that the cartridge requires the insertion of holding means; h. means for selecting the track containing the signals which are desired to be reproduced by positioning the transducer to one of a plurality of discrete levels; i. independent manually operable toolless means operable from the front of the tape player for changing the relative position of the transducer with respect to the tracks to adjust the transducer position by small increments to obtain optimum transducing performance by minimizing crosstalk between signals on different tracks; and j. automatic means responsive to the sensing means for determining the relative position between the transducer and the tape when a cartridge is inserted into the receiving means; the holding means comprising; a pinch roller; the means for inserting holding means comprising: a toggle mount for the pinch roller having a first position outside the receiving means and a second position inside the receiving means; the sensing means comprising: means for flipping the pinch roller into a second position within the cartridge when the sensing means determine that the other type of cartridge is present which contains an opening for the insertion of the pinch roller into the cartridge; and the automatic means for determining the relative position between the transducer and the tape comprise: means for changing the relative position of the transducer with respect to the tape, said change being from a first level associated with said one type of cartridge to a second level associated with said other type of cartridge when the pinch roller is flipped from the first position to the second position; the manuaLly operable means for changing the relative position of the transducer with respect to the tracks comprising: a tape guide for maintaining the position of the tape relative to the transducer; and means for manually moving the tape guide to regulate the level of the tape with respect to the transducer. 5 The tape player of claim 4 wherein the means for manually moving the tape guide comprise: a. means for raising or lowering the level of the tape guide relative to the transducer having a rotatable control shaft to control the amount by which the level is changed; and b. mechanical means for transmitting rotary motion from a panel-mounted, manually operable knob to the control shaft.

Claim 15

A universal cartridge-type tape player comprising: a. means for receiving either one of two different types of magnetic tape cartridges one of which is provided with a hole for allowing a pinch roller to enter the cartridge; b. a capstan positioned adjacent the cartridge receiving means for pulling magnetic tape through the cartridge when the tape is pressed against the capstan; c. sensing means associated with the cartridge receiving means for determining whether a cartridge inserted in the receiving means contains a hole for allowing a pinch roller to enter the cartridge; d. selectable drive means responsive to the sensing means for holding the tape against the capstan containing:

Claim 16

A universal cartridge-type tape player comprising: a. means for receiving either one of two different types of magnetic tape cartridges one of which is provided with a hole for allowing a pinch roller to enter the cartridge; b. a capstan positioned adjacent the cartridge receiving means for pulling magnetic tape through the cartridge when the tape is pressed against the capstan; c. sensing means associated with the cartridge receiving means for determining whether a cartridge inserted in the receiving means contains a hole for allowing a pinch roller to enter the cartridge; d. selectable drive means responsive to the sensing means for holding the tape against the capstan containing: