Magnetic tape cartridge changer and magazine

Claim 2

A magnetic tape cartridge changer, comprising a rotary spindle, a magazine of overall cylindrical configuration mounted on said spindle for rotation therewith and having a plurality of channels arranged about said spindle for holding a plurality of tape cartridges, tape drive and magnetic transducing means positioned at a tape playing station, means for rotationally stepping said spindle to index successive cartridge holding channEls into juxtaposition with said drive and transducing means, means for effecting reciprocatory movement of a cartridge held in an indexed magazine channel toward and away from said drive and transducing means, and a fixed position resilient detent means in each channel for releasably holding a cartridge therein in a reference orientation, said detent means cooperating with an indent on a cartridge positioned in a channel, said reciprocatory movement effecting means comprising a movable arm positioned to enter an indexed channel and engage said indent of a cartridge retained therein and drive said cartridge from said reference orientation into engagement with said tape drive and transducing means and return said cartridge to said reference orientation engaged by said detent.

Claim 3

A magnetic cartridge changer as set forth in claim 1, wherein said rotational stepping means includes a pawl and ratchet means, a first reciprocating means for operating said pawl and ratchet stepping means, a second reciprocating means for operating said cartridge reciprocatory means, and a single cyclically operating driver for said first and second reciprocating means for effecting synchronized operation thereof.

Claim 4

A magnetic tape cartridge changer, comprising a rotary spindle, a magazine of overall cylindrical configuration mounted on said spindle for rotation therewith and having a plurality of channels arranged about said spindle for holding a plurality of tape cartridges, tape drive and magnetic transducing means positioned at a tape playing station, means for rotationally stepping said spindle to index successive cartridge holding channels into juxtaposition with said drive and transducing means, means for effecting relative reciprocatory movement toward and away from each other between said drive and transducing means and a cartridge held in an indexed magazine channel, a fixed position resilient detent means in each channel for releasably holding a cartridge therein in a reference orientation, said channels being axial through passages in said magazine, said tape drive and transducing means being fixedly positioned under said magazine in alignment with an indexed channel, said reciprocatory movement effecting means comprising an arm mounted peripherally exterior of said magazine adjacent an indexed channel, each channel having a slot to permit entry of said arm into said channel, means for moving said arm into an indexed channel to grip a cartridge positioned therein in reference orientation and drive the same downwardly into engagement with said tape drive and transducing means and return the same upwardly to said reference orientation, said detent means cooperating with a reference indent on a cartridge positioned in a channel, and said arm including means for entering said indent to grip said cartridge.

Claim 5

A magnetic tape cartridge changer, comprising a rotary spindle, a magazine of overall cylindrical configuration mounted on said spindle for rotation therewith and having a plurality of channels arranged about said spindle for holding a plurality of tape cartridges, tape drive and magnetic transducing means positioned at a tape playing station, means for rotationally stepping said spindle to index successive cartridge holding channels into juxtaposition with said drive and transducing means, means for effecting relative reciprocatory movement toward and away from each other between said drive and transducing means and a cartridge held in an indexed magazine channel, a fixed position resilient detent means in each channel for releasably holding a cartridge therein in a reference orientation, said channels being axial through passages in said magazine, said tape drive and transducing means being fixedly positioned under said magazine in alignment with an indexed channel, said reciprocatory movement effecting means comprising an arm mounted peripherally exterior of said magazine adjacent an indexed channel, each channel having a slot to permit entry of said arm into said channel, means for moving said arm into an indexed channel to grip a cartridge positioned therein in reference orientation and drive the same downwardly into engagement with said tape drive and transducing means and return the same upwardly to said reference orientation, said detent means cooperating with a reference indent on a cartridge positioned in a channel, and said arm including means for entering said indent to grip said cartridge.

Claim 6

A magnetic tape cartridge changer as set forth in claim 3, and including means for resiliently urging said arm inwardly of said channel, whereby a cartridge in said channel is resiliently urged against an inner wall of said channel by said arm to reference the position of said cartridge relative to said tape drive and transducing means and to retain said cartridge under positive control of said arm.

Claim 7

A magnetic tape cartridge changer as set forth in claim 3, wherein said channels are arranged substantially along radii of said magazine.

Claim 8

In combination, a housing having a guide channel, a magnetic tape cartridge positioned in said channel, tape drive and magnetic transducing means positioned adjacent one end of said channel, and means for effecting reciprocatory movement of said cartridge along said channel toward and away from said drive and transducing means between a play position and a retracted position, said cartridge having an indent along one side thereof, said means for effecting reciprocatory movement including means entering said indent and thereby engaging said cartridge, drive means imparting a reciprocatory motion to the last-mentioned means with a component alOng said channel to drive said cartridge into said play position in engagement with said tape drive and magnetic transducing means and to drive the cartridge away therefrom into said retracted position.

Claim 9

In combination, a housing having a guide channel, a magnetic tape cartridge positioned in said channel, tape drive and magnetic transducing means positioned adjacent one end of said channel, and means for effecting reciprocatory movement of said cartridge along said channel toward and away from said drive and transducing means between a play position and a retracted position, said cartridge having an indent along one side thereof, said means for effecting reciprocatory movement including means entering said indent and thereby engaging said cartridge, drive means imparting a reciprocatory motion to the last-mentioned means with a component alOng said channel to drive said cartridge into said play position in engagement with said tape drive and magnetic transducing means and to drive the cartridge away therefrom into said retracted position.

Claim 10

In the combination as set forth in claim 6, control means for said reciprocatory drive means for initiating and programming its reciprocatory motion.

Claim 11

In the combination of claim 6, a fixed position resilient detent means in said channel cooperating with said cartridge indent for releasably holding said cartridge in a reference position for entry of said cartridge engaging means into said cartridge indent.