Cartridge eject actuating circuitry for multi-track tape cartridge player

Claim 2

In a cartridge tape player adapted to receive a tape cartridge having a multi-track recording tape therein mounted for movement through said cartridge, said tape having a conductive strip thereon defining the ends of the tracks thereof, said tape player including tape driving instrumentalities connectable to a power source for operation thereof in response to the insertion of a tape cartidge into said player for driving said tape through said cartridge and being disconnectable from said power source upon removal of said tape cartridge from said player, a magnetic tape head for playing back information recorded on said tape, said tape head being mounted for movement into alignment with the various tracks on said tape, tape head indexing means for moving said tape head incrementally from tape track to tape track, sensing means for detecting the conductive strip at the ends of said tape tracks and in response thereto causing the operation of said tape head indexing means to move said tape head into alignment with a successive one of said tape tracks, and a cartridge eject mechanism for ejecting a cartridge from said player when said tape head is moved into alignment with a predetermined track on said tape, actuating circuitry for said cartridge eject mechanism including switch means having a plurality of separated contacts thereon equal in number to the number of tracks on said tape, a wiper movable in response to the incremental movement of said tape head between said tape tracks to corresponding contacts of said switch means, said cartridge eject mechanism being operated to eject a cartridge from said player upon movement of said wiper to a predetermined one of said contacts corresponding to said predetermined tape track, the operation of said cartridge eject mechanism being delayed during movement of said wiper to said predetermined contact to permit said tape drive instrumentalities to move said conductive strip past said sensor, thereby avoiding subsequent ejection of said cartridge upon reinsertion thereof into said player.

Claim 3

A cartridge tape player as claimed in claim 1 wherein the switch means of said activating circuitry includes a rotary switch having a plurality of contacts thereon, and intermediate contact terminals engageable momentarily by said wiper as the latter moves between said first-mentioned contacts, and a capacitor being coupled electrically to said power source and said rotary switch contacts and being charged by said power source during the time said wiper engages said rotary switch contacts and discharged through said wiper when the latter engages said intermediate contact terminals, said cartridge eject mechanism including an operating solenoid coupled electrically to said capacitor, said solenoid being maintained de-energized during discharge of said capacitor to permit said tape drive instrumentalities to move said conductive strip past said sensing means and being energized to operate said cartridge eject mechanism in response to said wiper engaging said predetermined one of said contacts during the charging of said capacitor.

Claim 4

A cartridge tape player as claimed in claim 2 wherein said cartridge eject actuating circuity further includes diode means coupled to said capacitor to provide a path for discharging said capacitor during the movement of said wiper to said predetermined contact while maintaining said cartridge eject solenoid de-energized.

Claim 5

A cartridge tape player as claimed in claim 2 wherein said tape player further includes a tape head indexing assembly including a cam member mounted for rotation incrementally in accordance with the sensing of said conductive strip on said tape to position said tape head with respect to the various tracks on said tape, the wiper of said switch means being coupled to said rotary cam member and movable therewith to corresponding contacts of said switch means.

Claim 6

A cartridge tape player as claimed in claim 4 further including selectoR switch means interposed between the contacts of said switch means and said cartridge eject solenoid and operable to first and second conditions, said cartridge eject solenoid being energized upon movement of said switch wiper to each successive contact of said switch means when said selector switch means is operated to said first condition and being energized upon movement of said wiper to a predetermined one of said contacts of said switch means when said selector switch means is operated to said second condition.

Claim 7

In a cartridge tape player adapted to receive a tape cartridge having a multi-track recording tape therein mounted for movement therethrough, said tape having a conductive strip thereon defining the ends of the tracks of the tape, said tape player including tape driving instrumentalities connectable to a power source for operation thereof in response to the insertion of a tape cartridge into said player for driving said tape through said cartridge, a magnetic tape head for playing back recorded information on said tape, said tape head being mounted for movement with respect to said tape into alignment with the various tracks on said tape, tape head indexing means including a rotatable cam member and solenoid, said cam member being coupled to said tape head to move the latter with respect to said tape tracks in response to the rotation of said cam member to predetermined positions, sensing means coupled electrically to said tape head indexing solenoid for sensing the conductive strip at the end of said tape tracks and in response thereto causing the energization of said tape head indexing solenoid to rotate said cam member incrementally and a cartridge eject mechanism for ejecting a cartridge from said player when said tape head is moved into alignment with a predetermined track on said tape, including a solenoid energizable to operate said eject mechanism to remove said tape cartridge from said player, actuating circuitry for said cartridge eject mechanism including a rotary switch having a plurality of contacts thereon equal in number to the number of tracks on said tape, a wiper rotatably coupled to said tape head indexing cam for movement therewith between said switch contacts and intermediate contact terminals engageable momentarily by said wiper during movement of the latter between said first mentioned contacts, and a capacitor coupled to said power source and said rotary switch contacts through said cartridge eject solenoid, said wiper being rotated by the movement of said tape head indexing cam in response to the sensing of said conductive strip by said sensor, said capacitor being charged by said power source during the time said rotary switch wiper is in engagement with said switch contacts and being discharged through said wiper upon the latter engaging one of said intermediate contact terminals, said eject solenoid being maintained de-energized while said capacitor is discharging and being energized during the recharging of said capacitor, subsequent to said wiper moving to a successive contact when said tape head is moved into alignment with said predetermined track on said tape, thereby to eject said cartridge from said player and to deactivate said tape driving instrumentalities subsequent to said conductive strip being moved past said sensor.

Claim 8

In a cartridge tape player adapted to receive a tape cartridge having a multi-track recording tape therein mounted for movement therethrough, said tape having a conductive strip thereon defining the ends of the tracks of the tape, said tape player including tape driving instrumentalities connectable to a power source for operation thereof in response to the insertion of a tape cartridge into said player for driving said tape through said cartridge, a magnetic tape head for playing back recorded information on said tape, said tape head being mounted for movement with respect to said tape into alignment with the various tracks on said tape, tape head indexing means including a rotatable cam member and solenoid, said cam member being coupled to said tape head to move the latter with respect to said tape tracks in response to the rotation of said cam member to predetermined positions, sensing means coupled electrically to said tape head indexing solenoid for sensing the conductive strip at the end of said tape tracks and in response thereto causing the energization of said tape head indexing solenoid to rotate said cam member incrementally and a cartridge eject mechanism for ejecting a cartridge from said player when said tape head is moved into alignment with a predetermined track on said tape, including a solenoid energizable to operate said eject mechanism to remove said tape cartridge from said player, actuating circuitry for said cartridge eject mechanism including a rotary switch having a plurality of contacts thereon equal in number to the number of tracks on said tape, a wiper rotatably coupled to said tape head indexing cam for movement therewith between said switch contacts and intermediate contact terminals engageable momentarily by said wiper during movement of the latter between said first mentioned contacts, and a capacitor coupled to said power source and said rotary switch contacts through said cartridge eject solenoid, said wiper being rotated by the movement of said tape head indexing cam in response to the sensing of said conductive strip by said sensor, said capacitor being charged by said power source during the time said rotary switch wiper is in engagement with said switch contacts and being discharged through said wiper upon the latter engaging one of said intermediate contact terminals, said eject solenoid being maintained de-energized while said capacitor is discharging and being energized during the recharging of said capacitor, subsequent to said wiper moving to a successive contact when said tape head is moved into alignment with said predetermined track on said tape, thereby to eject said cartridge from said player and to deactivate said tape driving instrumentalities subsequent to said conductive strip being moved past said sensor.

Claim 9

A cartridge tape player as claimed in claim 6 further including switch means interposed between said rotary switch contacts and said capacitor and operable to first and second conditions, said cartridge eject solenoid being energized upon movement of said rotary switch wiper to each successive contact when said switch means is operated to said first condition and being energized upon movement of said rotary switch wiper to a predetermined one of said contacts when said switch means is operated to said second condition.

Claim 10

A cartridge tape player as claimed in claim 7 wherein said conductive strip at the end of said tape tracks comprises a section of metal foil, wherein said sensing means comprIses a two terminal contact switch coupled electrically to said tape head indexing solenoid and wherein upon moving said tape to position said metal foil in engagement with the two terminals of said contact switch, said last mentioned solenoid is energized to rotate said tape head indexing cam.