US3756608A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic cassette changer
Assignee: Data Instruments Co
•
Filing: 1970-03-18
•
Granted: 1973-09-04
•
Expires: 1990-03-18
Abstract
Abstract An automatic cassette or magazine changer for automatically placing and removing cassettes or magazines onto and from a tape recorder is disclosed. The cassettes are lowered and lifted one at a time onto and from the tape recorder by means of a vertically moving platform. A pusher which moves horizontally urges the cassettes from the platform into a discharge hopper once a cassette has been lifted above the tape recorder''s drive shafts and guide pins by the platform. The cassettes are stacked in the discharge hopper in the order in which they are played with the first cassette played being the top cassette in the stack.
Inventors
- 👤 J Neill
- 👤 T Loy
- 👤 H Swanson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 02:57
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B15/00; G11B15/675; G11B15/68; G11B15/6885
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
367 words
An automatic cassette changer for use with a magnetic tape recorder or playback means comprising: platform means for vertically lowering and lifting a cassette onto and from engagement with said tape recorder or playback means, said means having an upper and lower position and said recorder or playback means being stationarily mounted adjacent the lower position of said platform means; an input hopper for holding a plurality of cassettes in parallel stacked relationship to said platform means and in vertical alignment with said tape recorder or playback means; said hopper being positioned directly above said platform means such that cassettes from said hopper may engage said platform means and be lowered onto said tape recorder or playback means while only moving in a single direction; holding means in said hopper including actuating means for supporting the stacked cassettes in said hoppeR; pushing means for pushing a cassette in a horizontal path to eject a cassette resting on said platform means in its upper position, wherein said path includes the upper surface of said platform means when said means is in its upper position; and a housing for securing said platform means, said input hopper, said pushing means with a magnetic tape recorder or playback means, said housing defining a pair of parallel guide slots and wherein said pushing means is coupled to said guide slots for movement in said guide slots, said guide slots determining said path of said pushing means; drive means for driving said platform means and said pushing means in a horizontal path in a timed operative sequence; said pushing means having a rest position at one side of said hopper and being movable by said drive means and guided by said guide slots to an eject position underlying said stack; said pushing means being operatively connected wtih said actuating means for releasing a single cassette from said hopper onto said pushing means while said pushing means is within the confines of said hopper and said cassette being automatically positioned onto said platform means when said pushing means is returned to its rest position; whereby a cassette may be vertically lowered by said drive means for engagement with a tape recorder or playback means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
367 words
An automatic cassette changer for use with a magnetic tape recorder or playback means comprising: platform means for vertically lowering and lifting a cassette onto and from engagement with said tape recorder or playback means, said means having an upper and lower position and said recorder or playback means being stationarily mounted adjacent the lower position of said platform means; an input hopper for holding a plurality of cassettes in parallel stacked relationship to said platform means and in vertical alignment with said tape recorder or playback means; said hopper being positioned directly above said platform means such that cassettes from said hopper may engage said platform means and be lowered onto said tape recorder or playback means while only moving in a single direction; holding means in said hopper including actuating means for supporting the stacked cassettes in said hoppeR; pushing means for pushing a cassette in a horizontal path to eject a cassette resting on said platform means in its upper position, wherein said path includes the upper surface of said platform means when said means is in its upper position; and a housing for securing said platform means, said input hopper, said pushing means with a magnetic tape recorder or playback means, said housing defining a pair of parallel guide slots and wherein said pushing means is coupled to said guide slots for movement in said guide slots, said guide slots determining said path of said pushing means; drive means for driving said platform means and said pushing means in a horizontal path in a timed operative sequence; said pushing means having a rest position at one side of said hopper and being movable by said drive means and guided by said guide slots to an eject position underlying said stack; said pushing means being operatively connected wtih said actuating means for releasing a single cassette from said hopper onto said pushing means while said pushing means is within the confines of said hopper and said cassette being automatically positioned onto said platform means when said pushing means is returned to its rest position; whereby a cassette may be vertically lowered by said drive means for engagement with a tape recorder or playback means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
The automatic cassette changer defined in claim 1 including a discharge hopper for containing a plurality of cassettes located along the path of said pushing means such that a cassette pushed from said platform means is urged into said discharge hopper by said pushing means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
The automatic cassette changer defined in claim 1 wherein a discharge hopper adaptable for containing a plurality of cassettes is coupled to said housing along the path of said pushing means such that a cassette pushed from said platform means is urged into said hopper by said pushing means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
The automatic cassette changer defined in claim 3 including an alternate discharge hopper adaptable for containing a plurality of cassettes located adjacent to said path of said pushing means and means for selectively urging a cassette from said path of said pusher into said alternate discharge hopper.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
The automatic cassette changer defined in claim 3 wherein said discharge hopper contains means for stacking successive cassettes received by said hopper such that each successive cassette is placed beneath the preceding cassette received by said hopper.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
70 words
The automatic cassette changer defined in claim 5 wherein said stacking means comprises an elevator for lifting cassettes from said path of said pusher into the interior of said discharge hopper and at least two pawls disposed within the interior of said discharge hopper for permitting cassettes on said elevator to pass from said path into said discharge hopper and aaptable for preventing such cassettes from returning to said path.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
59 words
The automatic cassette changer defined in claim 5 including an alternative hopper adaptable for containing a plurality of cassettes located along said path of said pusher and means for selectively preventing the cassettes from being stacked in said discharge hopper such that the next successive cassette pushed by said pushing means urges said preceding cassette into said alternate hopper.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The automatic cassette changer defined in claim 1 wherein the magnetic transducer associated with said recorder or playback means are movably coupled to said recorder or playback means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
The automatic cassette changer defined in claim 1 including means for selectively removing the magnetic transducer and idler wheel associated with said tape recorder and playback means into and from engagement with a magnetic tape contained within a cassette engaging said tape recorder or playback means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
The automatic cassette changer defined in claim 9 wherein said input hopper contains means for selectively causing a single cassette from said hopper to drop from said hopper and engage said cassette platform.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
53 words
The automatic cassette changer defined in claim 10 wherein at least one magnetic head of said magnetic tape recorder or playback means is moveably mounted and is adaptable for being brought in contact with the magnetic tape in a cassette on said cassette platform when said cassette platform is in said lower position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
The automatic cassette changer defined in claim 11 wherein said discharge hopper contains means for stacking successive cassettes received by said hopper such that each successive cassette is placed beneath the preceding cassette received by said hopper.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
69 words
The automatic cassette changer defined in claim 12 wherein said stacking means comprises an elevator for lifting cassettes from said path of said pusher into the interior of said discharge hopper and at least two pawls disposed within the interior of said hopper for permitting cassettes on said elevator to pass from said path into said discharge hopper and adaptable for preventing said cassette from returning to said path.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1278523A
Cited
US2744372A
Cited
US3291323A
Cited
US3421638A
Cited
US3589733A
Cited
US3494572A
Cited
US3477726A
Cited
DE1939432A1
Cited
US3620385A
Cited
US3578262A
Cited
US3658193A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-09-03 | 1977-03-05 | 1977-09-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-09-03 | 1981-03-05 | 1981-09-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-09-03 | 1985-03-05 | 1985-09-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |