US3677555A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cassette changer
Assignee: Thomas International Corp
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Filing: 1968-11-21
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Granted: 1972-07-18
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Expires: 1988-11-21
Abstract
Abstract A cassette changer having a plurality of elements for either record or playback operation relative to a tape and defining a tape path wherein a holder for a plurality of cassettes can be indexed sequentially to bring successive cassettes into position to have a portion of the tape carried thereby in line with the tape path and with a capstan for driving the tape along with a pair of spindles extending through the reels of each cassette and having driving engagement with one reel of a cassette in playing position. The operations are primarily controlled by a main control member movable through two different strokes with a full stroke thereof causing retraction of cassette probe means, disengagement of the drive to the driven one of the spindles, lifting of certain of the head and transport components away from the tape, and indexing of the cassette holder. Movement of the main control member through less than a full stroke, as required in pause, fast-forward, and rewind operations, causes the foregoing operations except for indexing of the said holder. The main control member is moved through a full stroke by power means which can be operated by either of a reject switch, an end-oftape sensor switch, or a record interlock switch when a tape appearing at playing position to be recorded upon is actually pre-recorded. The main control member can be moved through less than a full stroke by operation of either a stop member or last cassette shut-off mechanism, or by actuable elements, such as buttons, operable to provide the pause, fast-forward, and rewind operations, with the first two mentioned operations operating through the power means but interposing an abutment in the path of the main control member to limit the main control member to the shorter stroke. The probe has three distinct positions to detect either a pre-recorded tape cassette, a non-recorded tape cassette, or the absence of a cassette, with the last-referred to position causing further operation of the indexing means. The drive for the reel spindles is by means of an idler wheel system, with the first normally operative idler wheel being movable from an operative position causing normal speed operation of the tape, a second optionally operative idler wheel providing for fastforward operation, and a third optionally operative idler wheel providing for rewind operation, and with the first idler wheel always being disengaged by the main control member upon movement thereof.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas W Vail
- 👤 Allen L Ryan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 01:50
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B15/00; G11B15/02; G11B15/16; G11B15/18; G11B15/26; G11B15/28; G11B15/675; G11B15/68; G11B15/6805; G11B15/6815
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
200 words
A cassette changer for playing one of a plurality of tape cassettes with the cassettes each having a code member to indicate non-recorded tape comprising, tape transport and head elements defining a tape play path, a movable cassette holder for holding a plurality of cassettes, means for indexing said holder to present successive cassettes to a position wherein a length of tape in a cassette lies along said path, a movable support mounting at least one of said elements for movement toward and away from the tape along said path, probe means including a movable probe member having a retracted position spaced from said travel path and three different advanced positions including two different intermediate positions for sensing the absence of a cassette at said play position when the probe member is fully advanced and further sensing whether the cassette has the code member by the intermediate advanced position taken by the probe member, and means including a movably mounted main control member moved through a full stroke in a cassette indexing cycle to move said support and said one element to a cassette index position, to operate said indexing means, and to move said probe to its retracted position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
200 words
A cassette changer for playing one of a plurality of tape cassettes with the cassettes each having a code member to indicate non-recorded tape comprising, tape transport and head elements defining a tape play path, a movable cassette holder for holding a plurality of cassettes, means for indexing said holder to present successive cassettes to a position wherein a length of tape in a cassette lies along said path, a movable support mounting at least one of said elements for movement toward and away from the tape along said path, probe means including a movable probe member having a retracted position spaced from said travel path and three different advanced positions including two different intermediate positions for sensing the absence of a cassette at said play position when the probe member is fully advanced and further sensing whether the cassette has the code member by the intermediate advanced position taken by the probe member, and means including a movably mounted main control member moved through a full stroke in a cassette indexing cycle to move said support and said one element to a cassette index position, to operate said indexing means, and to move said probe to its retracted position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
A cassette changer as defined in claim 1 wherein power means moves said main control member, said power means being independently operable by each of an end-oF-tape sensor, a reject switch, and a switch operated by said probe when the absence of a cassette is sensed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
61 words
A cassette changer as defined in claim 1 wherein said indexing means includes a movable part moved by said main control member in the full stroke of the main control member, and means for moving said main control member through less than a full stroke to move said support and retract said probe without moving said part and indexing said holder.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
50 words
A cassette changer as defined in claim 3 wherein said main control member is yieldably moved, and an abutment is moved into the path thereof to limit the stroke of said member, and means operated by either a stop button or a last cassette shut-off mechanism to move said abutment.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
A cassette changer as defined in claim 3 wherein mechanical means operate said main control member through less than a full stroke and said mechanical means being operable by either of pause, fast forward or rewind buttons.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
A cassette changer as defined in claim 5 wherein the cassette has tape reels therein with a drive spindle for each reel and drive means therefor operable to move the tape at a play speed, at fast forward, or rewind and said main control member controlling said drive means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
281 words
A cassette changer for playing any one of a plurality of tape cassettes with the cassettes each having a code member to indicate non-recorded tape comprising, head elements and a capstan defining a tape path with a coacting element for pressing a tape against the capstan, means mounting at least one of said elements for movement away from the tape, a movable cassette holder for holding a plurality of cassettes, means for indexing said holder to present successive cassettes to a position wherein a length of tape lies in said path, a pair of spindles positioned to extend through the reels of a plurality of cassettes and having drive engagement with the reels of a cassette at said position, a drive mechanism for said capstan and spindles including movable idler wheels, probe means for detecting the presence of a cassette at said position and the presence of the code member, a main control member having a full stroke to retract the probe means, move said element, operate the indexing means and disengage the drive mechanism to the spindles and a lesser stroke to perform all the aforesaid functions except operate the indexing means, power means for moving said main control member, a reject switch, an end-of-tape switch, and a probe switch, all three switches in circuit with said power means to cause operation thereof, means movable into the path of said main control member to limit the stroke thereof, and means operated by a stop button or a last cassette detecting mechanism to move said abutment, and means operable apart from said power means to move said main control member in a partial stroke for pause, rewind, or fast forward operation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
281 words
A cassette changer for playing any one of a plurality of tape cassettes with the cassettes each having a code member to indicate non-recorded tape comprising, head elements and a capstan defining a tape path with a coacting element for pressing a tape against the capstan, means mounting at least one of said elements for movement away from the tape, a movable cassette holder for holding a plurality of cassettes, means for indexing said holder to present successive cassettes to a position wherein a length of tape lies in said path, a pair of spindles positioned to extend through the reels of a plurality of cassettes and having drive engagement with the reels of a cassette at said position, a drive mechanism for said capstan and spindles including movable idler wheels, probe means for detecting the presence of a cassette at said position and the presence of the code member, a main control member having a full stroke to retract the probe means, move said element, operate the indexing means and disengage the drive mechanism to the spindles and a lesser stroke to perform all the aforesaid functions except operate the indexing means, power means for moving said main control member, a reject switch, an end-of-tape switch, and a probe switch, all three switches in circuit with said power means to cause operation thereof, means movable into the path of said main control member to limit the stroke thereof, and means operated by a stop button or a last cassette detecting mechanism to move said abutment, and means operable apart from said power means to move said main control member in a partial stroke for pause, rewind, or fast forward operation.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
180 words
A cassette changer for playing one of a plurality of tape cassettes with the cassettes each having a code member to indicate non-recorded tape comprising, elements defining a tape play-record path, a cassette holder for holding a plurality of cassettes, means for indexing said holder to present successive cassettes to a play position wherein a length of tape lies in said play-record path, probe means including a movable probe member having a retracted position spaced from said travel path and three different advanced positions including two different intermediate positions for sensing the absence of a cassette at said play position when the probe member is fully advanced and further sensing whether the cassette has the code member by the intermediate advanced position taken by the probe member, means at the end of each index cycle for advancing said probe member from the retracted position toward a cassette, and including means for automatically continuously indexing said holder and actuating said probe member between retracted and advanced position to search for a cassette with non-recorded tape when a Record operation is desired.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
180 words
A cassette changer for playing one of a plurality of tape cassettes with the cassettes each having a code member to indicate non-recorded tape comprising, elements defining a tape play-record path, a cassette holder for holding a plurality of cassettes, means for indexing said holder to present successive cassettes to a play position wherein a length of tape lies in said play-record path, probe means including a movable probe member having a retracted position spaced from said travel path and three different advanced positions including two different intermediate positions for sensing the absence of a cassette at said play position when the probe member is fully advanced and further sensing whether the cassette has the code member by the intermediate advanced position taken by the probe member, means at the end of each index cycle for advancing said probe member from the retracted position toward a cassette, and including means for automatically continuously indexing said holder and actuating said probe member between retracted and advanced position to search for a cassette with non-recorded tape when a Record operation is desired.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
A cassette changer as defined in claim 8 having a record interlock switch, and a circuit including said switch and said probe means to again index said holder if a pre-recorded tape arrives at said position and said switch has been operated.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
73 words
A cassette changer as defined in claim 8 wherein said probe means includes a multi-contact switch operated by said probe member with the switch and probe member having three operative positions related to the advanced position of the probe member wherein, in a first position, a non pre-recorded cassette is detected, in a second position, a pre-recorded tape cassette is detected, and, in a third position, the absence of a cassette is detected.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-07-18 | 1976-01-17 | 1976-07-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-07-18 | 1980-01-17 | 1980-07-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-07-18 | 1984-01-17 | 1984-07-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |