Th interlocked stacked cassettes multi-channel cassette system for sound recording and reproduction wi

Claim 2

A multi-channel cassette system for sound recording and reproduction comprising: a first cassette including a supply reel, take-up reel and magnetic tape; a second cassette including a supply reel, take-up reel and magnetic tape said second cassette being positioned on said first cassette in a stacked relationship with the axes of said supply reels of said first and second cassettes aligned, and the axes of said take-up reels of said first and second cassettes, aligned; first means for interlocking said axially aligned supply reels of said first and second cassettes to synchronize the movement thereof; second means for interlocking said axially aligned take-up reels of said first and second cassettes to synchronize the movement thereof; each of said interlocking means including a central seating ring with a plurality of spaced pins connected to said central seating ring and extending transversely therefrom, said transverse pins being received between adjacent sprockets of said aligned supply reels and said aligned take-up reels; first spindle means for receiving said interlocked axially aligned supply reels; second spindle means for receiving said interlocked axially aligned take-up reels; magnetic transducer means for reproducing and recording information on said magnetic tapes of said first and second cassettes; and means for driving said magnetic tapeS past said magnetic transducer means.

Claim 3

A multi-channel cassette system as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said first and second spindle means include pairs of upper and lower collars having longitudinal ribs thereon for positioning between adjacent sprockets of said aligned supply reels and said aligned take-up reels which are devoid of said pins.

Claim 4

A multi-channel cassette system for sound recording and reproduction on magnetic tapes comprising: first spindle means including a plurality of rotatable collars for receiving the supply reels of a plurality of cassettes, said first spindle means includes a shaft having a pair of collars concentrically mounted thereon, means for engaging said collars to cause said collars to rotate with said shaft when said shaft is rotated in one direction and to rotate freely about said shaft when said shaft is rotated in the opposite direction; second spindle means including a plurality of rotatable collars for receiving the take-up reels of a plurality of cassettes, said second spindle means includes a shaft having a pair of collars concentrically mounted thereon, means for engaging said collars to cause said collars to rotate with said shaft when said shaft is rotated in a direction opposite to the direction in which said collars rotate with said first spindle means and to rotate freely about said shaft when said second shaft is rotated in the opposite direction; magnetic transducer means for reproducing and recording information on said plurality of cassettes; and means for driving the magnetic tapes past said magnetic transducer means.

Claim 5

A multi-channel cassette system for sound recording and reproduction on magnetic tapes comprising: first spindle means including a plurality of rotatable collars for receiving the supply reels of a plurality of cassettes, said first spindle means includes a shaft having a pair of collars concentrically mounted thereon, means for engaging said collars to cause said collars to rotate with said shaft when said shaft is rotated in one direction and to rotate freely about said shaft when said shaft is rotated in the opposite direction; second spindle means including a plurality of rotatable collars for receiving the take-up reels of a plurality of cassettes, said second spindle means includes a shaft having a pair of collars concentrically mounted thereon, means for engaging said collars to cause said collars to rotate with said shaft when said shaft is rotated in a direction opposite to the direction in which said collars rotate with said first spindle means and to rotate freely about said shaft when said second shaft is rotated in the opposite direction; magnetic transducer means for reproducing and recording information on said plurality of cassettes; and means for driving the magnetic tapes past said magnetic transducer means.

Claim 6

A multi-channel cassette system for sound recording and reproduction on magnetic tapes comprising: first spindle means including a plurality of rotatable collars for receiving the supply reels of a plurality of cassettes, said first spindle means includes a shaft with upper and lower cylindrical collars mounted thereon, said cylindrical collars having pin receiving grooves extending acutely downward from the top ends thereof, said shaft has two sets of pins arranged adjacent the top ends of said collars and extending outwardly therefrom, said sets of pins being in planes transverse to the longitudinal axis of said shaft, biasing means for biasing said collars upwardly to cause said pins to seat within said grooves, said grooves being arranged to receive said sets of pins when said collars are rotated in one direction and being arranged to disengage from said sets of pins when said collars are rotated in the opposite direction; second spindle means including a plurality of rotatable collars for receiving the take-up reels of a plurality of cassettes, said second spindle means includes a shaft with upper and lower cylindrical collars mounted thereon, said cylindrical collars having pin receiving grooves extending acutely downward from the top ends thereof, said shaft has two sets of pins arranged adjacent the top ends of said collars and extending outwardly therefrom, said sets of pins being in planes transverse to the longitudinal axis of said shaft, biasing means for biasing said collars upwardly to cause said pins to seat within said grooves, said grooves being arranged to receive said sets of pins when said collars are rotated in a direction opposite to the direction in which the sets of pins receive said collars of said first spindle means and being arranged to disengage from said sets of pins when said collars are rotated in the opposite direction; magnetic transducer means for reproducing and recording information on said plurality of cassettes; and means for driving the magnetic tapes past said magnetic transducer means.

Claim 7

A multi-channel cassette system for sound recording and reproduction on magnetic tapes comprising: first spindle means including a plurality of rotatable collars for receiving the supply reels of a plurality of cassettes, said first spindle means includes a shaft with upper and lower cylindrical collars mounted thereon, said cylindrical collars having pin receiving grooves extending acutely downward from the top ends thereof, said shaft has two sets of pins arranged adjacent the top ends of said collars and extending outwardly therefrom, said sets of pins being in planes transverse to the longitudinal axis of said shaft, biasing means for biasing said collars upwardly to cause said pins to seat within said grooves, said grooves being arranged to receive said sets of pins when said collars are rotated in one direction and being arranged to disengage from said sets of pins when said collars are rotated in the opposite direction; second spindle means including a plurality of rotatable collars for receiving the take-up reels of a plurality of cassettes, said second spindle means includes a shaft with upper and lower cylindrical collars mounted thereon, said cylindrical collars having pin receiving grooves extending acutely downward from the top ends thereof, said shaft has two sets of pins arranged adjacent the top ends of said collars and extending outwardly therefrom, said sets of pins being in planes transverse to the longitudinal axis of said shaft, biasing means for biasing said collars upwardly to cause said pins to seat within said grooves, said grooves being arranged to receive said sets of pins when said collars are rotated in a direction opposite to the direction in which the sets of pins receive said collars of said first spindle means and being arranged to disengage from said sets of pins when said collars are rotated in the opposite direction; magnetic transducer means for reproducing and recording information on said plurality of cassettes; and means for driving the magnetic tapes past said magnetic transducer means.