Cartridge locking and ejector mechanism

Claim 2

A cartridge locking and ejector mechanism for a cartridge type tape player having a cartridge receiving tunnel and instrumentalities communicating with said tunnel for driving and playing a tape in said cartridge when the latter is inserted fully into said tunnel, said locking and ejector mechanism comprising: an ejector arm, movable between first and second positions; biasing means resiliently biasing said ejector arm toward said first position, linkage means coupled with said ejector arm and including means engageable with a cartridge inserted partially into said tunnel for movement from a first to a second position, to in turn move said ejector arm against said biasing means to said second position, said cartridge engaging means being movable to a third position in response to the full insertion of said cartridge into said tunnel, means coupled to said ejector arm for engaging said cartridge to maintain the latter in said fully inserted position in said tunnel, and release means for releasing said ejector arm, whereby said biasing means returns said ejector arm to said first position causing said cartridge engaging means to eject the cartridge from the tunnel.

Claim 3

A cartridge locking and ejector mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein said release means includes a solenoid operated arm member, said solenoid being energizable to move said arm member into engagement with said ejector arm upon the latter being moved to said second position, and being deenergizable to move said arm member away from said ejector arm to release the latter for ejecting said cartridge from the tape player.

Claim 4

A cartridge locking and ejector mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein said linkage means include an arm member mounted for pivotal movement about a predetermined pivot point, said arm member having a projection extending into said tunnel in the path of a cartridge received therein.

Claim 5

A cartridge locking and ejector mechanism as claimed in claim 3 wherein said linkage means further include a second arm member mounted for pivotal movement about said predetermined pivot point and engageable with said ejector arm, and means interconnecting said arm members so that upon insertion of a cartridge into said tunnel in engagement with said first mentioned arm member, said second arm member Moves said ejector arm to said second position, said interconnecting means releasing said first mentioned arm member for additional movement in response to the full insertion of said cartridge into said tunnel subsequent to said ejector arm being placed in said second position.

Claim 6

A cartridge locking and ejector mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein a wall of said cartridge includes a notch formed therein and wherein said means coupled to said ejector arm for engaging said cartridge includes a resiliently biased arm member having a roller mounted on one end thereof for engagement with said wall and for receipt in said notch.

Claim 7

A cartridge locking and ejector mechanism as claimed in claim 4 wherein said interconnecting means includes a third arm member mounted on said second arm member for pivotal movement and including means for engaging said first mentioned arm member when said cartridge is inserted into said tunnel, said engaging means being disengaged upon full insertion of said cartridge into said tunnel, subsequent to the ejector arm being placed into said second position to permit additional movement of said first mentioned arm member.

Claim 8

A cartridge locking and ejector mechanism for a tape player using an exchangeable cartridge, including in combination: a pivotally mounted ejector arm movable from a first to a second position; biasing means resiliently biasing said ejector arm to said first position; means for retaining said ejector arm in said second position, linkage means comprising a first arm mounted for pivotal movement about a fixed pivot point and having a portion thereof in engagement with said ejector arm, a second arm mounted for pivotal movement about said fixed pivot point and including a first projection extending into the path of a cartridge received in said player and a second projection extending adjacent said first arm and a third arm mounted on said first arm for pivotal movement with respect thereto, said third arm receiving said second projection of said second arm to removably interconnect said first and second arms, said first projection of said second arm being engaged by a cartridge inserted into said player to rotate said first arm, thereby to in turn rotate said ejector arm against said biasing means to said second position, said first and second arms being disconnected from each other subsequent to the movement of said ejector arm to said second position and in response to the full insertion of said cartridge into said player; and means for engaging said cartridge to maintain the latter in a fully inserted position in said player upon insertion of said cartridge to said fully inserted position, said retaining means being releasable to permit movement of said ejector arm from said second to said first position, thereby to eject said cartridge from said player.

Claim 9

A cartridge locking and ejector mechanism for a tape player using an exchangeable cartridge, including in combination: a pivotally mounted ejector arm movable from a first to a second position; biasing means resiliently biasing said ejector arm to said first position; means for retaining said ejector arm in said second position, linkage means comprising a first arm mounted for pivotal movement about a fixed pivot point and having a portion thereof in engagement with said ejector arm, a second arm mounted for pivotal movement about said fixed pivot point and including a first projection extending into the path of a cartridge received in said player and a second projection extending adjacent said first arm and a third arm mounted on said first arm for pivotal movement with respect thereto, said third arm receiving said second projection of said second arm to removably interconnect said first and second arms, said first projection of said second arm being engaged by a cartridge inserted into said player to rotate said first arm, thereby to in turn rotate said ejector arm against said biasing means to said second position, said first and second arms being disconnected from each other subsequent to the movement of said ejector arm to said second position and in response to the full insertion of said cartridge into said player; and means for engaging said cartridge to maintain the latter in a fully inserted position in said player upon insertion of said cartridge to said fully inserted position, said retaining means being releasable to permit movement of said ejector arm from said second to said first position, thereby to eject said cartridge from said player.

Claim 10

A cartridge locking and ejector mechanism as claimed in claim 7 wherein said cartridge includes a notch formed in a wall thereof and wherein said means for engaging said cartridge includes a roller mounted on an arm resiliently biased toward said ejector arm, said arm being pivotally mounted about a point about which said ejector arm is also pivotally mounted, said roller being moved into rolling engagement with said wall of said cartridge as said ejector arm is moved from said first to said second position and being received in said notch upon fully inserting said cartridge into said player.

Claim 11

A cartridge locking and ejector mechanism as claimed in claim 7 wherein said ejector arm retaining means comprise a pivotally mounted arm member movable from a first position whereat said arm member engages said ejector arm when the latter is moved to said second position, to a second position whereat said arm is disengaged from said ejector arm.

Claim 12

A cartridge locking and ejector mechanism as claimed in claim 9 wherein said ejector arm retaining means include a solenoid having an armature attached to said arm member, said solenoid being energized to move said arm membEr to said first position and deenergized to move said arm member to said second position.

Claim 13

A cartridge locking and ejector mechanism as claimed in claim 7 wherein said second arm member of said linkage means includes a tooth and wherein said first arm member of said linkage means includes a projection engageable with said tooth upon release of said ejector arm, thereby to cause the ejection of said cartridge from said player.

Claim 14

A cartridge locking and ejector mechanism for a tape player using an exchangeable cartridge, including in combination: ejector means movable from a first to a second position, biasing means resiliently biasing said ejector means to said first position, latching means for securing said ejector arm in said second position, linkage means engageable with said ejector means, said linkage means being movable from a first to a second position in response to the insertion of a cartridge into said tape player to move said ejector means against said biasing means to said second position, said linkage means being movable from said second to a third position, subsequent to moving said ejector means to said second position thereby to permit the full insertion of a cartridge into said player, and means for engaging said cartridge upon insertion of said cartridge to said fully inserted position, to maintain the latter in said fully inserted position in said player, said ejector means moving from said second to said first position, in response to the release of said latching means causing the ejection of said cartridge from said tape player.

Claim 15

A cartridge locking and ejector mechanism for a tape player using an exchangeable cartridge, including in combination: ejector means movable from a first to a second position, biasing means resiliently biasing said ejector means to said first position, latching means for securing said ejector arm in said second position, linkage means engageable with said ejector means, said linkage means being movable from a first to a second position in response to the insertion of a cartridge into said tape player to move said ejector means against said biasing means to said second position, said linkage means being movable from said second to a third position, subsequent to moving said ejector means to said second position thereby to permit the full insertion of a cartridge into said player, and means for engaging said cartridge upon insertion of said cartridge to said fully inserted position, to maintain the latter in said fully inserted position in said player, said ejector means moving from said second to said first position, in response to the release of said latching means causing the ejection of said cartridge from said tape player.