Tape recorder with cassette changer

Claim 2

A tape recorder-reproducer having a record-play station for recording on and reproducing from a tape in a cassette, the tape having a first magnetic track and a second magnetic track, the second magnetic track being recorded in a direction opposite from the first magnetic track, the cassette having a longitudinal edge along which a linear length of tape extends and along which tape is accessible for recording and reproducing, the improvement comprising: means for storing at least one cassette; carrier means having a first plane for receiving said one cassette from said storing means; support means coupled to said carrier means for pivotable movement about a first axis substantially parallel to said longitudinal edge of the cassette for moving said carrier means carrying said one cassette to a second plane substantially perpendicular to said first plane for placing the first magnetic track at the record-play station and for returning said carrier means to said first plane; actuating means for pivoting said support means about said first axis for moving said carrier means to and from said first and second planes; inverting means for pivoting said carrier means while in said first plane about an axis substantially perpendicular to said first axis for inverting said one cassette for return to said second plane for placing the second magnetic track at the record-play station; loading means for moving said one cassette from said storing means into said carrier means while in said first plane; and unloading means for moving said one cassette from said carrier means while in said first plane into said storing means.

Claim 3

A tape recorder-reproducer as defined in claim 1 further comprising drive means adapted for actuating said loading means at one speed and for actuating said carrier means to invert said one cassette at a reduced speed relative to said one speed.

Claim 4

A tape recorder-reproducer as defined in claim 2, wherein said drive means includes a gear member rotatable from a constant speed power source and adapted for operating said loading means at said one speed and for operating said carrier means to invert said one cassette at said reduced speed.

Claim 5

A tape recorder-reproducer as defined in claim 3 wherein said gear member includes a first gear sector operable by said power source to provide said one speed for operating said loading means and includes a second gear sector operable by said power source to provide said reduced speed for inverting said carrier means.

Claim 6

A tape recorder-reproducer as defined in claim 4 further comprising spring means for moving said gear member to engage said second gear sector with said power source when changing from said one speed to said reduced speed.

Claim 7

A tape recorder-reproducer as defined in claim 1 further comprising drive means adapted for operating said loading means and said unloading means at one speed and for operating said inverting means to invert said one cassette at a reduced speed relative to said one speed.

Claim 8

A tape recorder-reproducer as defined in claim 6 wherein said drive means includes a gear member rotatable from a constant speed power source and adapted for operating said loading means and said unloading means at said one speed and for operating said inverting means to invert said one cassette at said reduced speed relative to said one speed.

Claim 9

A tape recorder-reproducer a defined in claim 7 wherein said gear member includes a first gear sector operable by said power source to provide said one speed for operating said loading means and said unloading means and includes a second gear sector operable by said power source to provide said reduced speed for inverting said carrier means.

Claim 10

A tape recorder-reprOducer as defined in claim 1 wherein said loading means includes a slide member operable to engage and move said one cassette from said storing means into said carrier means, and said unloading means includes said slide member operable to engage and move said one cassette from said carrier means into said storing means.

Claim 11

A tape recorder-reproducer as defined in claim 1, wherein said loading means includes a power driven member adapted for actuating said loading means and said unloading means.

Claim 12

A tape recorder-reproducer as defined in claim 1 further comprising indexing means for moving said storing means to position any one of the plurality of cassettes in alignment with said carrier means while in said first plane, and said unloading means includes means for actuating said indexing means to effect movement of said storing means after the completion of said unloading means operation.

Claim 13

A tape recorder-reproducer as defined in claim 11 wherein said indexing means includes an indexing member operable to move said storing means, and said unloading actuating means includes a member for actuating said indexing member thereby automatically moving said storing means for aligning another one of the plurality of cassettes with said carrier means while in said first plane.

Claim 14

A tape recorder-reproducer as defined in claim 1 wherein said storing means includes a magazine for supporting a plurality of cassettes in a side-by-side relationship arrangement with each cassette in a plane parallel to said one cassette in said carrier means while in said first plane, and indexing means for moving said magazine to position any one of the plurality of cassettes in alignment with said carrier means while in said first plane.

Claim 15

A tape recorder-reproducer as defined in claim 1 further comprising detent means for holding said carrier means in said first plane.

Claim 16

A tape recorder-reproducer as defined in claim 1 wherein said support means includes a cam surface and said actuating means includes a cam driver acting on said cam surface for moving said carrier means in a first direction from one to the other of said first and second planes.

Claim 17

A tape recorder-reproducer as defined in claim 15 wherein said actuating means includes a spring connected to said support means for moving said carrier means in a second direction from one to the other of said first and second planes.

Claim 18

A tape recorder-reproducer or the like having a record-play station for individually receiving a tape cassette carrying a tape having a first and a second magnetic track, the second magnetic track being recorded in a direction opposite from the first magnetic track, the cassette having a longitudinal edge along which a linear length of tape extends and along which said tape is accessible for recording and reproducing, the improvement comprising: means for storing at least one cassette; carrier means having a plane for receiving the cassette from said storing means in a first orientation and operable for inverting the cassette about an axis in said receiving plane and perpendicular to said longitudinal edge of the tape cassette for positioning the cassette in a second orientation in said receiving plane; carrier support means operable to move said carrier means to and from the record-play station relative to said receiving plane; and drive means operable to move the cassette from said storing means to said carrier means, to move said carrier means from said receiving plane to the record-play station while the cassette is in said first orientation to place the first magnetic track at the record-play station, to move said carrier means from the record-play station to said receiving plane, to invert said carrier means about said axis to position the cassette in said second orientation, to move said carrier means from said receiving plane to the record-play station while the cassette is in said second orientation to place the second magnetic track at the recorD-play station, to move said carrier means from the record-play station to said receiving plane, to invert said carrier means to position the cassette in said first orientation, and to move the cassette from said carrier means to said storing means.

Claim 19

A tape recorder-reproducer or the like having a record-play station for individually receiving a tape cassette carrying a tape having a first and a second magnetic track, the second magnetic track being recorded in a direction opposite from the first magnetic track, the cassette having a longitudinal edge along which a linear length of tape extends and along which said tape is accessible for recording and reproducing, the improvement comprising: means for storing at least one cassette; carrier means having a plane for receiving the cassette from said storing means in a first orientation and operable for inverting the cassette about an axis in said receiving plane and perpendicular to said longitudinal edge of the tape cassette for positioning the cassette in a second orientation in said receiving plane; carrier support means operable to move said carrier means to and from the record-play station relative to said receiving plane; and drive means operable to move the cassette from said storing means to said carrier means, to move said carrier means from said receiving plane to the record-play station while the cassette is in said first orientation to place the first magnetic track at the record-play station, to move said carrier means from the record-play station to said receiving plane, to invert said carrier means about said axis to position the cassette in said second orientation, to move said carrier means from said receiving plane to the record-play station while the cassette is in said second orientation to place the second magnetic track at the recorD-play station, to move said carrier means from the record-play station to said receiving plane, to invert said carrier means to position the cassette in said first orientation, and to move the cassette from said carrier means to said storing means.