Cassette with index mechanism for magnetic tape dictating machine

Claim 2

A cassette for a tape record dictating machine comprising a thin oblong case having two sets of aligned openings through the top and bottom walls thereof, said openings having inwardly extending flanged rims forming journal bearings, supply and takeup reels in said cassette having hubs loosely journaled on the flanged rims of said respective openings, said hubs having radial spokes between the flanged rims of said openings for coupling engagement with respective drive spindles of the tape record machine when the cassette is mounted thereon, an index mechanism comprising an index member bearing indicia mounted in concentric relation to one of said journal bearings, an index pointer, means mounting said index member and pointer on said cassette for relative rotary movement, and a step-down drive mechanism operated from the hub journalled on said one bearing for producing said relative rotary movement between said index member and index pointer responsive to a reeling of a tape from one of said reels to the other.

Claim 3

The cassette set forth in claim 1 wherein said drive mechanism is a planocentric reducer.

Claim 4

The cassette set forth in claim 1 wherein said index pointer is flexibly mounted to permit the same to be pressed into marking engagement with said index slip.

Claim 5

The cassette set forth in claim 2 wherein said planocentric reducer comprises an annular internal-tooth gear fixedly mounted on one face of said cassette in concentric relation to the opening for said supply reel member, an inner external tooth gear mounted on said face of the cassette loosely within said outer annular gear and having a predetermined lesser number of teeth than said outer annular gear, said inner gear having a center hole loosely receiving an outer hub extension of said supply reel, and spring means on said outer hub extension for radially biasing said inner gear in meshing engagement with said outer gear at a point in fixed relation to said supply reel whereby to provide a rotating engagement of the inner gear with said outer gear as said supply reel is rotated.

Claim 6

The cassette set forth in claim 4 wherein said annular outer gear is a plastic member molded integrally with the case of said cassette.

Claim 7

The cassette set forth in claim 4 wherein said spring-loaded means comprises a plunger extending slidably in diametrical relation through said hub, and a compression spring on said plunger for pressing the same at one end in slidable engagement with the inside edge of the hub of said inner gear to maintain the inner gear meshing engagement with said outer gear at a point in line with said plunger.

Claim 8

A cassette for a tape record dictating machine comprising a thin oblong case having two sets of aligned openings through the top and bottom walls thereof, said openings having inwardly extending flanged rims forming journal bearings, supply and take-up reels in said cassette having hubs loosely journaled on the flanged rims of said respective openings, said hubs having radial spokes between the flanged rims of said openings for coupling engagement with respective drive spindles of the tape record machine when the cassette is mounted thereon, an annular index member mounted on one face of said cassette in concentric relation to the opening for one of said reels, an index pointer rotatably mounted within said annular index member for arcuate indexing movement along the index member, and a planocentric reducer comprising an annular internal-tooth gear fixedly mounted on one face of said cassette in concentric reLation to the opening for said supply reel with said annular index member mounted on the face of said annular gear, an inner external tooth gear mounted on said face of the cassette loosely within said outer annular gear and having a predetermined lesser number of teeth than said outer annular gear, said inner gear having a center hold loosely receiving an outer hub extension of said supply reel, and spring means on said outer hub extension for radially biasing said inner gear in meshing engagement with said outer gear at a point in fixed relation to said supply reel whereby to provide a rotating engagement of the inner gear with said outer gear as said supply reel is rotated, and means mounting said index pointer on said inner gear.

Claim 9

A cassette for a tape record dictating machine comprising a thin oblong case having two sets of aligned openings through the top and bottom walls thereof, said openings having inwardly extending flanged rims forming journal bearings, supply and take-up reels in said cassette having hubs loosely journaled on the flanged rims of said respective openings, said hubs having radial spokes between the flanged rims of said openings for coupling engagement with respective drive spindles of the tape record machine when the cassette is mounted thereon, an annular index member mounted on one face of said cassette in concentric relation to the opening for one of said reels, an index pointer rotatably mounted within said annular index member for arcuate indexing movement along the index member, and a planocentric reducer comprising an annular internal-tooth gear fixedly mounted on one face of said cassette in concentric reLation to the opening for said supply reel with said annular index member mounted on the face of said annular gear, an inner external tooth gear mounted on said face of the cassette loosely within said outer annular gear and having a predetermined lesser number of teeth than said outer annular gear, said inner gear having a center hold loosely receiving an outer hub extension of said supply reel, and spring means on said outer hub extension for radially biasing said inner gear in meshing engagement with said outer gear at a point in fixed relation to said supply reel whereby to provide a rotating engagement of the inner gear with said outer gear as said supply reel is rotated, and means mounting said index pointer on said inner gear.