US3838459A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for recording and/or playing back a magnetic tape contained in a cassette
Assignee: Olivetti SpA
•
Filing: 1972-01-26
•
Granted: 1974-09-24
•
Expires: 1992-01-26
Abstract
Abstract The apparatus is used for recording and/or playing back a magnetic tape contained in a cassette provided with locating holes extending through its thickness and with apertures disposed along at least one of its edges through which the exposed tape can be engaged by the elements entraining the tape and by a transducer. The apparatus comprises a supporting chassis on which are mounted the entraining elements, the transducer and means adapted to locate the tape cassette on the chassis by acting on the outer faces of the cassette and on the locating holes. The entraining elements consist of a first and a second pair of rollers, each pair comprising a driving and a driven roller, each pair acting selectively to transport the tape forward and backward respectively. The apparatus further comprises an actuating device adapted to move both the driven rollers simultaneously into the proximity of the respective driving rollers and to move the transducer into contact with the tape, and a selectively actuable mechanism for bringing the selected driven roller into pressure contact with the respective driving roller. Means are also provided for imparting a rotary movement to the selected driving roller after it has been engaged by the corresponding driven roller.
Inventors
- 👤 G Bettini
- 👤 C Romano
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 08:21
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B23/00; G11B23/02; G11B23/04; G11B23/08; G11B23/087; G11B15/00; G11B15/02; G11B15/05; G11B15/06; G11B15/08; G11B15/18; G11B15/1883; G11B15/26; G11B15/28; G11B15/29; G11B15/43
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
354 words
Apparatus for recording and/or playing back a magnetic tape contained in a removable cassette comprising: a supporting base, cassette positioning means on said base for removably holding said cassette with a portion of said tape exposed, an actuating plate slidable on said base, a recording and/or playback head mounted on said actuating plate, positioning means connected to said actuating plate for moving said actuating plate between a rest position wherein said head is spaced from said exposed tape and an operating position wherein said head is in contact with said exposed tape, first and second oppositely rotatable drive capstans fixedly mounted on said base on one side of said exposed tape for selectively driving said tape in either direction, first and second pinch rollers on the other side of said exposed tape opposite said first and second capstans, said first and second pinch rollers being supported respectively on first and second lever means pivotally mounted on said base, each of said lever means being movable between a second position wherein the respective said pinch roller supported thereby is in an intermediate disengaged position slightly spaced from the respective said capstan and a first position wherein the respective said pinch roller supported thereby is in an engaged position in engagement with the respective said capstan with said tape captured therebetween, first and second selectively operable electromagnets operatively interconnected respectively with said first and second lever means for pivoting said lever means between said second position and said first position, and means for selectively actuating said first and second electromagnets, first and second transmission elements carried by said actuating plate and engageable with said first and second lever means to simultaneously move said lever means between a third position wherein said pinch rollers are spaced a distance farther than said intermediate disengaged position from said capstans and said second position simultaneously with the movement of said actuating plate from said rest position to said operating position, whereby the selected one of said pinch rollers can be moved said slight distance from said intermediate disengaged position to said engaged position by the respective one of said electromAgnets.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
354 words
Apparatus for recording and/or playing back a magnetic tape contained in a removable cassette comprising: a supporting base, cassette positioning means on said base for removably holding said cassette with a portion of said tape exposed, an actuating plate slidable on said base, a recording and/or playback head mounted on said actuating plate, positioning means connected to said actuating plate for moving said actuating plate between a rest position wherein said head is spaced from said exposed tape and an operating position wherein said head is in contact with said exposed tape, first and second oppositely rotatable drive capstans fixedly mounted on said base on one side of said exposed tape for selectively driving said tape in either direction, first and second pinch rollers on the other side of said exposed tape opposite said first and second capstans, said first and second pinch rollers being supported respectively on first and second lever means pivotally mounted on said base, each of said lever means being movable between a second position wherein the respective said pinch roller supported thereby is in an intermediate disengaged position slightly spaced from the respective said capstan and a first position wherein the respective said pinch roller supported thereby is in an engaged position in engagement with the respective said capstan with said tape captured therebetween, first and second selectively operable electromagnets operatively interconnected respectively with said first and second lever means for pivoting said lever means between said second position and said first position, and means for selectively actuating said first and second electromagnets, first and second transmission elements carried by said actuating plate and engageable with said first and second lever means to simultaneously move said lever means between a third position wherein said pinch rollers are spaced a distance farther than said intermediate disengaged position from said capstans and said second position simultaneously with the movement of said actuating plate from said rest position to said operating position, whereby the selected one of said pinch rollers can be moved said slight distance from said intermediate disengaged position to said engaged position by the respective one of said electromAgnets.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
144 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each one of said pinch rollers has a cylindrical rigid body covered by resilient rubbery material, said cylindrical body having a central portion flanked by a pair of edge portions, the cross-section of said central portion being less than the cross-section of said edge portions while the thickness of said rubbery material is correspondingly several times greater in said central portion than in said edge portion, the width of said central portion being substantially equal to the width of said tape, so that said tape lies on the more resilient part of said material defined by said central portion of said covering, said capstan and said pinch roller being in direct contact along the said edge portions whereby the entrainment of said pinch roller is effected substantially by the frictional forces which are exerted on said edge portions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
79 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each of said first and second lever means comprises a pair of spaced parallel levers between which said pinch roller is rotatably mounted, each said pair of levers being pivotally mounted on a common shaft attached to said base, and wherein each said electromagnet is connected to the respective said lever means by a connecting lever pivotally mounted on said base and resiliently interconnected to said lever means by a spring means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
126 words
Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein each of said spring means comprises a helical spring having one end attached to said connecting lever and the other end attached to a first pin mounted in two recesses on said pair of levers, wherein said connecting lever and said pair of spaced levers are mounted on a common shaft, and further comprising a second pin carried by each said connecting lever engaging a pair of aligned openings in the respective said pair of spaced levers, said openings being substantially larger than said second pin, whereby the extent of relative motion between said connecting lever and said pair of spaced levers allowed by said spring is limited by contact between said second pin and the edges of said openings.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said transmission elements comprises a pair of transmission pins on said actuating plate to push said pair of spaced levers toward said second position, each said pair of spaced levers being biased toward said third position by second spring means connected to the respective said connecting lever.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
216 words
In an apparatus for recording and/or playing back a magnetic tape, a device for transporting said magnetic tape comprising: a support base, a capstan rotatable on said base, a pinch roller adapted to cooperate with said capstan to feed said tape, a pair of support levers rotatably supporting said pinch roller, common pivot means for independently pivoting said pair of supporting levers on said base, a third lever pivoting on said base, stop elements carried by said third lever and two counterstop elements carried by said support levers, spring means connecting each of said support levers with said third lever for mutually urging said stop elements toward said counterstop elements, and actuating means operating said third lever for moving said third lever between a rest position and a work position, said third lever, when in said rest position, causing said support levers to disengage said pinch roller from said capstan, said stop elements arresting then each one of said counterstop elements, and said third lever, when in said work position, causing said support levers to engage said pinch roller with said capstan, so that said pinch roller is perfectly adjusted with respect to said capstan by the action of said spring means over each of said supporting levers for a uniform transport of said magnetic tape.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
216 words
In an apparatus for recording and/or playing back a magnetic tape, a device for transporting said magnetic tape comprising: a support base, a capstan rotatable on said base, a pinch roller adapted to cooperate with said capstan to feed said tape, a pair of support levers rotatably supporting said pinch roller, common pivot means for independently pivoting said pair of supporting levers on said base, a third lever pivoting on said base, stop elements carried by said third lever and two counterstop elements carried by said support levers, spring means connecting each of said support levers with said third lever for mutually urging said stop elements toward said counterstop elements, and actuating means operating said third lever for moving said third lever between a rest position and a work position, said third lever, when in said rest position, causing said support levers to disengage said pinch roller from said capstan, said stop elements arresting then each one of said counterstop elements, and said third lever, when in said work position, causing said support levers to engage said pinch roller with said capstan, so that said pinch roller is perfectly adjusted with respect to said capstan by the action of said spring means over each of said supporting levers for a uniform transport of said magnetic tape.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
A transport device according to claim 6, wherein said third lever is pivoted on said common shaft between said support levers, and said spring means comprise a spring stretched between sAid third lever and a bar on said support levers substantially parallel to said common shaft.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
A transport device according to claim 7, wherein said stop elements comprises a pin fixed to said third lever and said counterstop elements comprise the inner surfaces of openings in said supporting levers, said openings being substantially larger than said pin.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
70 words
A device according to claim 6, wherein said pinch roller comprises a cylindrical rigid body covered by resilient material, said cylindrical body having a central portion of reduced diameter with respect to edge portions so that thickness of said resilient material is several times greater in said central portion than in said edge portions, the width of said central portion being substantially equal to the width of said magnetic tape.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2943852A
Cited
US3115314A
Cited
DE1254377B
Cited
US3547372A
Cited
US3664672A
Cited
US3612432A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-09-23 | 1978-03-25 | 1978-09-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-09-23 | 1982-03-25 | 1982-09-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-09-23 | 1986-03-25 | 1986-09-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |