Slide return mechanism

Claim 2

In a slide projector for use with a slide container that comprises an open ended box-like cartridge for containing a stack of slides the combination comprising: a receiving chamber for receiving said slides after they have been projected; a housing overlying said receiving chamber; means formed in said housing for guiding said cartridge into a position overlying said receiving chamber; means within said receiving chamber for returning said projected slides to said cartridge; means associated with said housing and said returning means for releasably holding said returning means at a position whereat said projected slides are within said cartridge; and means formed in said platform for coacting with said cartridge to release said returning means from said holding means and allow said returning means to return to said receiving chamber when said cartridge is removed from said guide means.

Claim 3

The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said cartridge includes a tab formed in said edge and said returning means comprises a platform including a depression, complimentarily shaped to said tab, that decreases in depth across said platform such that said tab progressively depresses said platform and releases it from said holding means as said cartridge is removed from said guide means.

Claim 4

In a slide projector for use with a slide container that comprises an open ended box-like cartridge having flanges on opposing parallel sides and a projection disposed on the leading edge of said magazine that extends beyond the plane of said open end the combination comprising: a vertically disposed chamber having an open upper end for receiving slides after projection; a platform slideably disposed within said chamber; a housing above said chamber having an entry aperture in registry with said upper end of said chamber; horizontal grooves formed in opposing edges of said entry aperture for cooperating with said flanges on said cartridge such that said cartridge may be inserted into said projector to position the open end of said cartridge in registry with said entry aperture by sliding said leading edge of said cartridge horizontally across said entry aperture; means for manually raising said platform to position a stack of projected slides in said cartridge and means for releasably holding said platform in said raised position; an inclined plane surface formed in said platform parallel to the direction of insertion movement that is complimentary shaped with said projection on said leading edge; said inclined plane surface being disposed such that as said cartridge is removed from said projector, said projection wipes across said surface and forces said platform downwardly until it is released from said holding means.

Claim 5

In a slide projector for use with a slide container that comprises an open ended box-like cartridge having flanges on opposing parallel sides and a projection disposed on the leading edge of said magazine that extends beyond the plane of said open end the combination comprising: a vertically disposed chamber having an open upper end for receiving slides after projection; a platform slideably disposed within said chamber; a housing above said chamber having an entry aperture in registry with said upper end of said chamber; horizontal grooves formed in opposing edges of said entry aperture for cooperating with said flanges on said cartridge such that said cartridge may be inserted into said projector to position the open end of said cartridge in registry with said entry aperture by sliding said leading edge of said cartridge horizontally across said entry aperture; means for manually raising said platform to position a stack of projected slides in said cartridge and means for releasably holding said platform in said raised position; an inclined plane surface formed in said platform parallel to the direction of insertion movement that is complimentary shaped with said projection on said leading edge; said inclined plane surface being disposed such that as said cartridge is removed from said projector, said projection wipes across said surface and forces said platform downwardly until it is released from said holding means.