US3833224A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tape recorder with cassette invertor
Assignee: Bell and Howell Co
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Filing: 1973-01-12
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Granted: 1974-09-03
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Expires: 1993-01-12
Abstract
Abstract A tape recorder-reproducer having mechanical means for automatically flipping a tape cassette to reproduce each of two separately playable record tracks carried by the tape cassette. The mechanical means includes a mechanism for lifting a tape cassette away from a play station where one of the record tracks was in position for reproduction to a position substantially perpendicular to the play station, for rotating the tape cassette approximately 180* to invert its orientation and for returning the tape cassette to the play station thereby positioning the second record track for reproduction.
Inventors
- 👤 R Haake
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 13:16
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B15/00; G11B15/675; G11B15/68; G11B15/6805; G11B15/6815
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
296 words
A tape cassette handling mechanism for a tape recorderreproducer having a load station and a record-play station for recording on and reproducing from a plurality of separate recordplay tracks on a tape cassette, one of the record-play tracks being recorded in a first direction of tape movement, another of the record-play tracks being recorded in an opposite direction, the cassette having a longitudinal edge along which a linear length of tape extends and along which tape is accessible for recording and reproducing, the mechanism comprising: carrier means having a cassette receiving opening therein permitting insertion and removal of a cassette when said carrier means is in a plane including said load station, said carrier means being supported for pivotal movement about an axis parallel with the longitudinal edge of a cassette inserted in said carrier and for movement about an axis perpendicular to and through the longitudinal edge; displacement means operatively coupled to said carrier means for moving said carrier means back and forth about said longitudinally extending axis between said plane including said load station and a second plane perpendicular to said load station plane, said second plane being at the record-play station to permit record-reproduction of one of the record-play tracks of a cassette; and pivot means supporting said carrier means on said displacement means for angular rotation of said carrier means to invert the cassette about said axis perpendicular to said longitudinal edge of the cassette and perpendicular to said first axis when said carrier means is in said first plane; said displacement means further being operable following rotation of said carrier means in said first plane to return the carrier and the inverted cassette to said second plane and the record-play station to permit record-reproduction of said another of the record-play tracks.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
296 words
A tape cassette handling mechanism for a tape recorderreproducer having a load station and a record-play station for recording on and reproducing from a plurality of separate recordplay tracks on a tape cassette, one of the record-play tracks being recorded in a first direction of tape movement, another of the record-play tracks being recorded in an opposite direction, the cassette having a longitudinal edge along which a linear length of tape extends and along which tape is accessible for recording and reproducing, the mechanism comprising: carrier means having a cassette receiving opening therein permitting insertion and removal of a cassette when said carrier means is in a plane including said load station, said carrier means being supported for pivotal movement about an axis parallel with the longitudinal edge of a cassette inserted in said carrier and for movement about an axis perpendicular to and through the longitudinal edge; displacement means operatively coupled to said carrier means for moving said carrier means back and forth about said longitudinally extending axis between said plane including said load station and a second plane perpendicular to said load station plane, said second plane being at the record-play station to permit record-reproduction of one of the record-play tracks of a cassette; and pivot means supporting said carrier means on said displacement means for angular rotation of said carrier means to invert the cassette about said axis perpendicular to said longitudinal edge of the cassette and perpendicular to said first axis when said carrier means is in said first plane; said displacement means further being operable following rotation of said carrier means in said first plane to return the carrier and the inverted cassette to said second plane and the record-play station to permit record-reproduction of said another of the record-play tracks.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
A tape recorder-reproducer as in claim 1, further comprising a housing having an opening therein, and wherein said carrier means has an opening therein in alignment with said housing opening when said carrier means is in said second plane for receiving and removing a tape cassette.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A tape recorder-reproducer as in claim 2, wherein said pivot means includes a driving source and a coupling means for coupling said driving source to said carrier means for effecting said inversion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
62 words
A tape recorder-repRoducer as in claim 3, wherein said coupling means includes a driving member rotatable by said driving source, a driven member rigidly connected to said carrier means and operable for coupling with said driving member for angularly rotating said carrier means, said driven member including means uncoupleable from said driving member when said carrier means is in said second plane.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
A tape recorder-reproducer as in claim 4, wherein said driving member is a gear having teeth thereon and said driven member is a gear having teeth thereon which is engageable with said driving member, and said uncoupleable means of driven member is a section of missing gear teeth.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
A tape recorder-reproducer as in claim 5, wherein said driven member has two sections of missing teeth, each located substantially 180* from the other whereby said driving member drives said driven member substantially 180* for inverting the orientation of said one cassette to permit reproduction of each record track.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
69 words
A tape recorder-reproducer as in claim 3, wherein said coupling means includes a driving member rotatable by said power source, a driven member rigidly connected to said carrier means, a cam member located adjacent said pivot means, and a cam follower supported by said carrier means and operable by said cam member to couple said driven member to said driving member for effecting angular rotation of said carrier means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
64 words
A tape recorder-reproducer as in claim 7, wherein said cam follower is carried by said driven member for engagement with said cam member for partial angular rotation of said driven member to couple said driven member to said driving member in response to movement of said carrier means by displacement means, said driven member thereafter completing said predetermined angular rotation by said driving member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
53 words
A tape recorder-reproducer as in claim 7, wherein said driven member includes an abutment and said cam member includes an abutment surface engaged by said driven member abutment for stopping the angular rotation of said driven member for positioning said one cassette in an inverted orientation to permit reproduction of another record track.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
61 words
A tape recorder-reproducer as in claim 7, further comprising an abutment surface located in the path of said cam follower, said cam follower being operable on said cam member to couple said driven member to said driving member as a first funciton and being operable on said abutment surface for stopping angular rotation of said carrier means as a second function.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
55 words
A tape recorder-reproducer as in claim 1, wherein said displacement means includes means supporting said carrier means, linkage means connected to said supporting means, and control means connected to said linkage means and operable for effecting displacement of said carrier means from said first plane to said second plane and return to said first plane.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
A tape recorder-reproducer as in claim 11, wherein said control means includes a spring for biasing said carrier means from said second plane to said first plane.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
A tape recorder-reproducer as in claim 11, wherein said control means includes an actuating member operably connected to said linkage means for displacing said carrier means from said first plane to said second plane.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
A tape recorder-reproducer as in claim 13, wherein said actuating member is a cam and said linkage means includes a cam follower driven by said cam for displacing said carrier means from said first plane to said second plane.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
47 words
A tape recorder-reproducer as in claim 14, wherein said control means includes a spring for urging said cam follower against said cam for urging said carrier means from said second plane to said first plane when said cam moves out of the path of said cam follower.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-09-02 | 1978-03-04 | 1978-09-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-09-02 | 1982-03-04 | 1982-09-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-09-02 | 1986-03-04 | 1986-09-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |