Abstract A latch/unlatch mechanism particularly useful for a cassette door holder having a latch hook thereon. The latch mechanism comprises a solenoid including a plunger and a resilient onepiece spring latch arm formed of a strip of resilient material and operatively connected to the solenoid plunger. When the solenoid is unenergized, the latch arm is engageable with the latch hook on the cassette door and manually locked by overcoming the resiliency of the spring material and yieldingly interlocking with the latch hook. When the solenoid is energized, the actuated plunger overcomes the resiliency of the spring material, disengaging the latch arm from the latch hook to enable the cassette door to be opened, and upon de-energization of the solenoid, the latch arm will return the plunger to its original position. The mechanism is also provided with a retention member which engages and constrains the plunger stroke during the restoration of the plunger to its extended position upon deenergization of the solenoid. This mechanism eliminates the need for a latch pawl, a pivot and associated parts as well as a solenoid plunger return spring.
A latch/unlatch mechanism particularly useful for a cassette holder door comprising: a solenoid including a coil and plunger means responsive to the magnetic field in the coil; resilient latch means yieldably engageable with a hook on said door and operatively and directly attached to said plunger means and disengageable from said hook by the bending thereof upon energization of said solenoid and the retraction of said plunger means; and tab means integral with said resilient latch means and operatively engaged with said plunger means for limiting the overtravel of said plunger means beyond the required stroke upon de-energization of said coil.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
101 words
A latch/unlatch mechanism particularly useful for a cassette holder door comprising: a solenoid including a coil and plunger means responsive to the magnetic field in the coil; resilient latch means yieldably engageable with a hook on said door and operatively and directly attached to said plunger means and disengageable from said hook by the bending thereof upon energization of said solenoid and the retraction of said plunger means; and tab means integral with said resilient latch means and operatively engaged with said plunger means for limiting the overtravel of said plunger means beyond the required stroke upon de-energization of said coil.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein said latch means has an aperture and wherein said plunger means has an annular groove which engages said aperture for operative retention therein.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
55 words
The mechanism claimed in claim 2 wherein said annular groove forms two abutment surfaces and is adjacent the outer end thereof and wherein the first abutment surface thereof engages the latch means and wherein the second abutment surface engages the tab means which acts as a restraint against the outward movement of the plunger means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
67 words
The mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein said latch means comprises an arm of resilient material provided with a hook which engages the hook of the door and which is movable upon energization of the solenoid so as to disengage the hook on said door and wherein said tab means is formed by an intermediate finger integral with the arm and engageable with the plunger means.