Automatically disengaging, tape handler

Claim 2

An automatically disengaging, tape cassette handler comprising: supporting means; carrier means disposed on said supporting means for receiving a tape cassette typically having a tape supply reel and a take-up reel; retracting means acting upon said carrier means tending to separate the same from said supporting means; disengageable latching means for releasably securing said carrier means to said supporting means; driven means for rotatably driving a tape take-up reel of a tape cassette received in said carrier means; and drive coupling means disposed on said supporting means for coupling rotary drive to said driven means, said coupling means being responsive to reactive counter-torque applied to said driven means for disengaging said latching means.

Claim 3

An automatically disengaging, tape cassette handler as defined by claim 1 having the addition of resilient means mounted on the carrier for at least partially ejecting a cassette inserted therein, said resilient means being a helical, compression-type spring compressibly engageable with the entering portion of the cassette.

Claim 4

An automatically disengaging, tape cassette handler as defined by claim 1 wherein said carrier means is pivotally mounted on said supporting means to swing away therefrom.

Claim 5

An automatically disengaging, tape cassette handler as defined by claim 3 wherein said rEtracting means is a helical torsion spring disposed coaxially to the pivotal axis of the carrier means and acting effectively between the carrier means and the supporting means.

Claim 6

An automatically disengageable, tape cassette handler as defined in claim 1 wherein said coupling means includes a rotary part which is axially translatable in response to the reactive counter-torque applied to said drive means.

Claim 7

An automatically disengaging, tape cassette handler as defined by claim 5 wherein said disengageable latching means comprises a pair of bell cranks pivotally mounted, one on said supporting means and the other on said carrier means, and forming an operative linkage between the rotary part of the drive coupling means and the carrier means for effecting release of the latter from securement to the supporting means.

Claim 8

An automatically disengaging, tape cassette handler as defined by claim 6 wherein the bell crank pivotally mounted on the carrier means also forms a stop effectively disposed in the ejection path of a cassette residing therein, thereby retaining a cassette within the carrier means until the latching means is disengaged.

Claim 9

An automatically disengaging, tape cassette handler as defined by claim 1 wherein said drive coupling means comprises a sleeve journaled in said supporting means and operatively coupled to said driven means, a hub connectible to a source of rotary drive and being coaxially spaced apart from said sleeve, a shaft drivingly received in the hub and being axially translatable relative thereto, said shaft extending into said sleeve, a drive pin affixed to and extending normally from said shaft through a semi-helical slot in said sleeve, and a resilient member rotatably coupling said sleeve to said shaft.

Claim 10

An automatically disengaging, tape cassette handler as defined by claim 8 wherein said resilient member is a helical torsion spring disposed coaxially about said shaft, said torsion spring being resiliently yieldable upon the application of a reactive counter-torque to said spindle, thereby causing said shaft to rotate within said sleeve and be axially translated as said drive pin cams within the helical slot.

Claim 11

An automatically disengaging, tape cassette handler as defined by claim 9 wherein said hub is rotatably mounted on said supporting means, and a limit pin is affixed to and extends normally from said shaft through an axially aligned slot in the hub, thereby limiting the axial translations of said shaft through said hub.

Claim 12

An automatically disengaging, tape cassette handler as defined by claim 1 wherein said drive coupling means comprises a first plate, a drive shaft perpendicularly secured to said first plate, a second plate slidably disposed on said shaft parallel to and spaced apart from said first plate, and a plurality of elongated resilient members axially and angularly coupling said first plate and said second plate.

Claim 13

An automatically disengaging, tape cassette handler as defined by claim 11 wherein said elongated resilient members extend obliquely and concentrically from said first plate to said second plate.

Claim 14

An automatically disengaging, tape cassette handler as defined by claim 12 having the addition of a limiting hub mounted on said second plate and extending toward said first plate for limiting axial contraction of said drive coupling means.

Claim 15

An automatically disengaging, tape cassette handler as defined by claim 13 wherein said first plate, said second plate and said elongated resilient members are formed as one piece of a hardened plastic material having an inherent flexibility.

Claim 16

A tape cassette handler comprising: supporting means for receiving a tape cassette typically having a tape supply reel and take-up reel; means for releasably retaining a tape cassette received by said supporting means; a driven member journaled in said supporting means and operable to be coupled to and rotatably drive the take-up reel of a tape cassette releasably retained in said supporting means; a drive member journaled in said supporting means coaxial with said driven member; a coupling member drivingly connecting said drive and said driven members, one of the members having a limited axial degree of freedom and being axially translatable in one direction in response to an angular overrun of said drive member with respect to said driven member; and means operatively connected to said retaining means and responsive to movement of the axially translatable member for releasing said retaining means and for sufficiently separating the cassette from said supporting means to uncouple the take-up reel from said driven member.

Claim 17

A tape cassette handler comprising: supporting means for receiving a tape cassette typically having a tape supply reel and take-up reel; means for releasably retaining a tape cassette received by said supporting means; a driven member journaled in said supporting means and operable to be coupled to and rotatably drive the take-up reel of a tape cassette releasably retained in said supporting means; a drive member journaled in said supporting means coaxial with said driven member; a coupling member drivingly connecting said drive and said driven members, one of the members having a limited axial degree of freedom and being axially translatable in one direction in response to an angular overrun of said drive member with respect to said driven member; and means operatively connected to said retaining means and responsive to movement of the axially translatable member for releasing said retaining means and for sufficiently separating the cassette from said supporting means to uncouple the take-up reel from said driven member.

Claim 18

A tape cassette handler including, in combination: supporting means; a carrier disposed on said supporting means and shaped to form a pocket for receiving a tape cassette typically having a tape supply reel and take-up reel; disengageable latching means for releasably securing the carrier to the supporting means; disengageable latching means for releasably securing a tape cassette in the pocket of the carrier; driven means journaled in said supporting means for rotatably driving a take-up reel of a tape cassette releasably secured in the pocket of the carrier; drive coupling means for coupling said driven means to a source of rotary drive; and means forming a part of said drive coupling means and responsive to reactive counter-torque applied to the driven means for disengaging both of said latching means to release the carrier from securement to the supporting means and a tape cassette from securement in the pocket of the carrier.

Claim 19

A tape cassette handler including, in combination: supporting means; a carrier disposed on said supporting means and shaped to form a pocket for receiving a tape cassette typically having a tape supply reel and take-up reel; disengageable latching means for releasably securing the carrier to the supporting means; disengageable latching means for releasably securing a tape cassette in the pocket of the carrier; driven means journaled in said supporting means for rotatably driving a take-up reel of a tape cassette releasably secured in the pocket of the carrier; drive coupling means for coupling said driven means to a source of rotary drive; and means forming a part of said drive coupling means and responsive to reactive counter-torque applied to the driven means for disengaging both of said latching means to release the carrier from securement to the supporting means and a tape cassette from securement in the pocket of the carrier.

Claim 20

A tape cassette handler as defined in claim 16 wherein said means forming a part of the drive coupling means comprises a member having a permitted axial movement and effective when the rotary drive overruns the driven means to move axially, and wherein means is provided which responds to such axial movement for effecting disengagement of both of said latching means.

Claim 21

An automatically disengaging, tape cassette handler comprising: a supporting structure; a carrier mounted on said supporting structure and internally dimensioned to form a pocket in which a tape cassette is slidably receivable; resilient means acting upon said carrier and tending to separate the same from said supporting structure; disengageable latch means mounted on the supporting structure and operable in one position to secure the carrier to the supporting structure; a driven spindle rotatable to drive a take-up reel of a tape cassette received in the pocket of said carrier; a drive shaft effectively journaled in said supporting structure coaxial with said spindle and capable of axial translation; a coupler enclosing adjacent ends of the spindle and shaft and forming a driving connection therebetween, said coupler being effective when the drive shaft overruns the spindle to cause the shaft to axially translate in one direction; and an arm forming part of the latch means extending into position to be engaged by the end portion of the shaft remote from the coupler and effective upon axial translation of the shaft in said one direction to disengage the latch means and free the carrier for separation from the supporting structure.

Claim 22

An automatically disengaging, tape cassette handler comprising: a supporting structure; a carrier mounted on said supporting structure and internally dimensioned to form a pocket in which a tape cassette is slidably receivable; resilient means acting upon said carrier and tending to separate the same from said supporting structure; disengageable latch means mounted on the supporting structure and operable in one position to secure the carrier to the supporting structure; a driven spindle rotatable to drive a take-up reel of a tape cassette received in the pocket of said carrier; a drive shaft effectively journaled in said supporting structure coaxial with said spindle and capable of axial translation; a coupler enclosing adjacent ends of the spindle and shaft and forming a driving connection therebetween, said coupler being effective when the drive shaft overruns the spindle to cause the shaft to axially translate in one direction; and an arm forming part of the latch means extending into position to be engaged by the end portion of the shaft remote from the coupler and effective upon axial translation of the shaft in said one direction to disengage the latch means and free the carrier for separation from the supporting structure.