Cassette player

Claim 2

A cassette tape player having a frame, an operating member on the frame and pivotally Movable to and from a tape engaging position for selective operation with a tape in a tape spool containing cassette insertable into the player, the frame having a cassette-receiving well with a planar bottom cassettesupporting wall platform for receiving the cassette and having a central aperture, spool driving means stationarily mounted on said frame and having rotatable spindle means extending into said well through said platform for rotating said tape spool for transporting tape past the operating member, the improvement including the combination: a main pivot member pivotally mounted on said frame under the platform opposite said well and having a pivot axis substantially perpendicular to said planar platform and pivotable between loading and operating positions, first linkage means operatively connecting said main pivot member to said operating member for coordinated pivoting action therebetween, a cassette-ejector member mounted on said platform and movable through said central aperture in a reciprocating manner, means yieldably urging said cassette-ejector member into said well into a loading position, said cassette-ejector member having an operating position outside said well in said central aperture corresponding to said tape engaging position of said operating member, second linkage means having operating and loading positions operatively connecting said cassette-ejector member and said main pivot member including lost motion such that a given movement of said main pivot member effects cassette ejection as said second linkage means moves from said operating to said loading position by said cassette-ejector member moving through said central aperture to said loading position and including locking means for locking said cassette-ejector member in said operating position against movement into said well, and third linkage means including ejection actuation apparatus operatively connected to said main pivot member and including spring urging means for imparting said given movement to said members for moving same to the operating positions for coordinating movements between said main pivot member and said ejection actuation apparatus and said ejector member and for selectively locking and releasing said locking means.

Claim 3

The player set forth in claim 1 wherein said main pivot member is a bell crank having one radial outward end portion connected to said third linkage means and another outward radial end portion connected to said first linkage means and to said second linkage means, said tape engaging means including a transducer, the player further having a pinch roller on said frame and movable to and from a tape engaging position, and fourth linkage means including an extension spring connecting said main pivot member one outward end portion to said pinch roller, said extension spring being compressed for acting as a rigid rod when said pinch roller is in a tape disengaged position corresponding to said main pivot member being out of said operating position whereby the pinch roller is moved away from a tape transport path and said extension spring being extensible for spring urging said pinch roller into tape engaging relationship whenever said main pivot member is in said operating position.

Claim 4

The apparatus set forth in claim 2 wherein said main pivot member, said first linkage means, and said fourth linkage means are all essentially movable in a coplanar manner such that the depth from said platform of said linkage means is minimized.

Claim 5

The apparatus set forth in claim 3 further including a single member pivotally connecting said main pivot member to both said first and second linkage means and including a depending flange having first and second locking edges respectively for lockingly engaging said second linkage means respectively in the loading and operating positions, a pivot rod, said operating member being pivoted about said pivot rod and including an arm fixedly secured to said pivot rod and Pivotally secured to said single member with the depending flange, and said second linkage means including an arm movable toward and away from said platform for respectively moving said ejector member through said platform between said loading and operating positions and having a free-end portion selectively lockingly engageable with said first and second locking edges.

Claim 6

A cassette tape player having a housing, said housing having a cassette-receiving platform with a small aperture therein, including in combination: a head pivotally mounted on a rod for movements between tape engaging and loading positions, means for positioning a cassette in an operating position with respect to said head, cassette engaging means movably disposed in said housing for reciprocating movements through said apertures, a main pivot member having a pivot axis disposed substantially perpendicular to the broad extent of the cassette when in said operating position and movable between loading and operating positions, spring means operatively connected between said main pivot member and said housing for urging said main pivot member to said operating position, means operatively connecting said cassette engaging means to said main pivot member for coordinate movements such that said cassette engaging means extends through and beyond said operative position when said main pivot member is in said loading position and retracted into said housing when said main pivot member is in said operating position, a pinch roller, a mount supporting said pinch roller for moving same between tape engaging and loading positions and pivotally secured on said housing, an actuating arm fixedly secured to said mount, an extension spring extending between said main pivot member and said actuating arm such that when the main pivot member is in said loading position, the extension spring is compressed for urging said pinch roller into the loading position and when said main pivot member is in said operating position, said extension spring being extended for yieldably urging said pinch roller into operative engagement with a cassette in said operating position, a push button on the upper side movably extending through said housing and having a shank extending inside said housing, a first arm inside said housing and pivotally secured to said housing and having a free end portion, a second arm having opposite end portions respectively pivotally secured to said shank and said free end portion, a connecting link extending between said main pivot member and one of said arms, a depending pivot rod on said main pivot member slidably and pivotally receiving one end of said connecting link such that as the main pivot member pivots between said loading and operating positions, said connecting link slides axially on said pivot rod for varying the distance between said depending shank and said end portion of the main pivot member, and all said means and said main pivot member disposed being substantially coplanar.

Claim 7

A cassette tape player having a housing, said housing having a cassette-receiving platform with a small aperture therein, including in combination: a head pivotally mounted on a rod for movements between tape engaging and loading positions, means for positioning a cassette in an operating position with respect to said head, cassette engaging means movably disposed in said housing for reciprocating movements through said apertures, a main pivot member having a pivot axis disposed substantially perpendicular to the broad extent of the cassette when in said operating position and movable between loading and operating positions, spring means operatively connected between said main pivot member and said housing for urging said main pivot member to said operating position, means operatively connecting said cassette engaging means to said main pivot member for coordinate movements such that said cassette engaging means extends through and beyond said operative position when said main pivot member is in said loading position and retracted into said housing when said main pivot member is in said operating position, a pinch roller, a mount supporting said pinch roller for moving same between tape engaging and loading positions and pivotally secured on said housing, an actuating arm fixedly secured to said mount, an extension spring extending between said main pivot member and said actuating arm such that when the main pivot member is in said loading position, the extension spring is compressed for urging said pinch roller into the loading position and when said main pivot member is in said operating position, said extension spring being extended for yieldably urging said pinch roller into operative engagement with a cassette in said operating position, a push button on the upper side movably extending through said housing and having a shank extending inside said housing, a first arm inside said housing and pivotally secured to said housing and having a free end portion, a second arm having opposite end portions respectively pivotally secured to said shank and said free end portion, a connecting link extending between said main pivot member and one of said arms, a depending pivot rod on said main pivot member slidably and pivotally receiving one end of said connecting link such that as the main pivot member pivots between said loading and operating positions, said connecting link slides axially on said pivot rod for varying the distance between said depending shank and said end portion of the main pivot member, and all said means and said main pivot member disposed being substantially coplanar.

Claim 8

The subject matter set forth in claim 5 further including a pinch roller, a mount supporting said pinch roller for movement between tape engaging and loading positions and pivotally secured on said housing, an actuating arm fixedly secured to said mount, an extension spring extending between said main pivot member and said actuating arm such that when the main pivot member is in said loading position, the extension spring is compressed for urging said pinch roller into the loading position and when said main pivot member is in said operating position, said extension spring being extended for yieldably urging said pinch roller into operative engagement with a cassette in said operating position, said housing having an aperture on an upper side portion, a push button on said upper side portion and movably extending through said housing aperture and having a shank extending inside said housing, an arm inside said housing aNd pivotally secured between said housing and said shank, a connecting link extending between said main pivot member and said pivoted arm, a depending pivot rod on said main pivot member slidably and pivotally receiving one end of said connecting link such that as said main pivot member pivots between said loading and operating positions, said connecting link slides axially on said pivot rod for varying the distance between said depending shank and said end portion of the main pivot member, a linking arm, said main pivot member having one radial outward portion connected to said linking arm and pivoting means operatively associated with said head and including a depending flange having first and second locking edges, and a spring urged arm movably disposed on the inside of said housing, an ejection member operatively connected to said spring urged arm for ejecting a cassette and constituting said means responsive to cassette insertion for pivoting said head and being moved between said first and second locking edges of said depending flange for establishing first and second stable states corresponding to said loading and operating positions and the linkage being such that when the push button is depressed, the depending flange slides on said spring urged arm to a disengaged position for permitting same to spring urge said ejector member for ejecting the cassette and then engaging the first of said locking edges.

Claim 9

A cassette insertion and ejection mechanism operable with a cassette tape player having a cassette receiving platform and having first and second planar surface portions with an aperture therein, an ejector member movably disposed through said aperture between loading and operating positions, an ejector arm movably secured on said second surface portion in operative engagement with said ejector member and movable therewith, a head pivotally secured on said first surface portion including a pivot rod extending through the platform to said second surface portion, spring means biasing said head to an operating position from a loading position, linkage means on said second surface portion of said platform and having a main pivot member for pivoting between loading and operating positions, a connecting arm pivotally secured to said main pivot member and movable therewith for coordinated action between the head and said connecting arm, a depending flange on said connecting arm having a first locking edge engaging one side of said arm and a second locking edge engaging the side of said arm facing said second surface portion for locking the mechanism between first and second positions corresponding respectively to loading and operating positions such that insertion of a cassette moves said ejector member and said ejector arm away from said second surface freeing said one side from said first locking edge for permitting the transducer to move into operative engagement by said spring biasing, and cassette ejection actuation means operatively connected to said connecting arm for selectively moving same such that said second locking edge becomes disengaged from said ejector arm and spring means urging said ejector arm for moving the ejector member to eject the cassette and simultaneously engage an edge of said ejector arm with said first locking edge.

Claim 10

A cassette insertion and ejection mechanism operable with a cassette tape player having a cassette receiving platform and having first and second planar surface portions with an aperture therein, an ejector member movably disposed through said aperture between loading and operating positions, an ejector arm movably secured on said second surface portion in operative engagement with said ejector member and movable therewith, a head pivotally secured on said first surface portion including a pivot rod extending through the platform to said second surface portion, spring means biasing said head to an operating position from a loading position, linkage means on said second surface portion of said platform and having a main pivot member for pivoting between loading and operating positions, a connecting arm pivotally secured to said main pivot member and movable therewith for coordinated action between the head and said connecting arm, a depending flange on said connecting arm having a first locking edge engaging one side of said arm and a second locking edge engaging the side of said arm facing said second surface portion for locking the mechanism between first and second positions corresponding respectively to loading and operating positions such that insertion of a cassette moves said ejector member and said ejector arm away from said second surface freeing said one side from said first locking edge for permitting the transducer to move into operative engagement by said spring biasing, and cassette ejection actuation means operatively connected to said connecting arm for selectively moving same such that said second locking edge becomes disengaged from said ejector arm and spring means urging said ejector arm for moving the ejector member to eject the cassette and simultaneously engage an edge of said ejector arm with said first locking edge.

Claim 11

The apparatus set forth in claim 7 further including a pinch roller selectively movable between tape engaging and loading positions and pivotally secured to said first surface portion on a pivot rod extending past said second surface portion and having an actuating arm spaced from said second surface portion, an extension spring interconnecting said actuating arm and said connecting arm such that when said apparatus is in the loading position, said spring is compressed to force said pinch roller into said loading position and when said apparatus is in the operating position, the spring urging of the extension spring urges said pinch roller into said operating position.