US4564874A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cassette recorder with freely pivoting ejection lever
Assignee: US Philips Corp
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Filing: 1982-07-19
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Granted: 1986-01-14
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Expires: 2002-07-19
Abstract
Abstract A magnetic tape cassette apparatus having a pressure roller and a magnetic head on a head bracket, movable to a pause position in which the head contacts a tape in the cassette but the pressure roller is disengaged. Insertion of a cassette into a compartment pivotally moves an ejection lever which is coupled to an ejection member so as to tension an ejection spring during movement of the ejection member from a rest position to an actuated position. A latching member latches the ejection member in the actuated position, leaving the ejection lever free to pivot relative to the ejection member, at least over a limited distance.
Inventors
- 👤 Lucas W. M. Schijven
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 10:11
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B15/00; G11B15/675; G11B15/18; G11B15/1883
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
334 words
A cassette recorder comprising: a chassis, a head support mounted on the chassis for movement with respect to the chassis, and a pressure roller and a magnetic head mounted on the support, an ejection spring, a cassette compartment for receiving a magnetic cassette, an ejection lever pivotably mounted to said chassis, and arranged such that, upon insertion of a cassette into said compartment the lever is pivoted in an insertion direction to an end position so as to tension the ejection spring, a capstan arranged for driving a magnetic tape in a cassette placed in the compartment, and drive means for driving the capstan and for transporting the tape past the magnetic head, switching means for moving the head support toward the cassette, means, responsive to pivoting of said lever in said insertion direction, for actuating said switching means to move the head support toward the cassette, characterized by comprising an ejection member arranged to be movable with respect to said chassis in at least a first direction between a rest position and an actuated position, means for connecting the ejection spring to the ejection member arranged such that the ejection spring is tensioned by movement of the member in said first direction, latching means for latching the ejection member in an actuated position, and means for coupling the ejection member to the ejection lever, at least during insertion of the cassette, arranged such that said ejection member is moved from the rest position to the actuated position in response to said pivoting of said lever in said insertion direction, and the ejection lever can be pivoted freely over at least a given distance, relative to the ejection member, when the ejection member is in the actuated position; and that, upon release of said latching means, said ejection member moves from the actuated position to the rest position under the influence of said ejection spring, the force of the tensioned ejection spring pivoting said ejection lever to eject an inserted cassette from the compartment.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
334 words
A cassette recorder comprising: a chassis, a head support mounted on the chassis for movement with respect to the chassis, and a pressure roller and a magnetic head mounted on the support, an ejection spring, a cassette compartment for receiving a magnetic cassette, an ejection lever pivotably mounted to said chassis, and arranged such that, upon insertion of a cassette into said compartment the lever is pivoted in an insertion direction to an end position so as to tension the ejection spring, a capstan arranged for driving a magnetic tape in a cassette placed in the compartment, and drive means for driving the capstan and for transporting the tape past the magnetic head, switching means for moving the head support toward the cassette, means, responsive to pivoting of said lever in said insertion direction, for actuating said switching means to move the head support toward the cassette, characterized by comprising an ejection member arranged to be movable with respect to said chassis in at least a first direction between a rest position and an actuated position, means for connecting the ejection spring to the ejection member arranged such that the ejection spring is tensioned by movement of the member in said first direction, latching means for latching the ejection member in an actuated position, and means for coupling the ejection member to the ejection lever, at least during insertion of the cassette, arranged such that said ejection member is moved from the rest position to the actuated position in response to said pivoting of said lever in said insertion direction, and the ejection lever can be pivoted freely over at least a given distance, relative to the ejection member, when the ejection member is in the actuated position; and that, upon release of said latching means, said ejection member moves from the actuated position to the rest position under the influence of said ejection spring, the force of the tensioned ejection spring pivoting said ejection lever to eject an inserted cassette from the compartment.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
A recorder as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said ejection member includes a stop against which the ejection lever bears while the ejection spring is being tensioned, in the actuated position said ejection member being arranged such that the ejection lever is freely pivotable between stops relative to the ejection member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
A recorder as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that said means for coupling comprises a pin and hole connection having a clearance between the pin and the hole, edges of the hole constituting the stops for limiting free pivoting of the ejection lever when the ejection member is in the actuated position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
A recorder as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 characterized by comprising a spindle about which the ejection lever is pivoted, said spindle also serving as a guide for movement of sad ejection member in the first direction.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
317 words
A cassette recorder comprising: a chassis, a head support mounted on the chassis for movement with respect to the chassis, and a pressure roller and a magnet head mounted on the support, an ejection spring, a cassette compartment for receiving a magnetic cassette, an ejection lever pivotably mounted to said chassis, and arranged such that upon insertion of a cassette into said compartment said lever is pivoted in an insertion direction to an end position so as to tension the ejection spring, a capstan arranged for driving a magnetic tape in a cassette placed in the compartment, and drive means for driving the capstan and for transporting the tape past the magnetic head, switching means for moving the head support toward the cassette, and means, responsive to pivoting of said lever in said insertion direction, for actuating said switching means to move the head support toward the cassette, characterized by comprising an ejection member arranged to be movable with respect to said chassis in a first direction from a rest position a first distance toward an actuated position, and after movement over said first distance to be movable in a second, different direction to said actuated position, means for connecting the ejection spring to the ejection member arranged such that the ejection spring is tensioned by movement of the member said first distance in said first direction, latching means for latching the ejection member in an actuated position, and means for coupling the ejection member to the ejection lever, at least during insertion of the cassette, arranged such that said ejection member is moved said first distance from the rest position in response to said pivoting of said lever in said insertion direction, and such that upon movement of said member in said second direction to the actuated position the ejection lever is free to pivot over at least a given distance relative to the ejection member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
317 words
A cassette recorder comprising: a chassis, a head support mounted on the chassis for movement with respect to the chassis, and a pressure roller and a magnet head mounted on the support, an ejection spring, a cassette compartment for receiving a magnetic cassette, an ejection lever pivotably mounted to said chassis, and arranged such that upon insertion of a cassette into said compartment said lever is pivoted in an insertion direction to an end position so as to tension the ejection spring, a capstan arranged for driving a magnetic tape in a cassette placed in the compartment, and drive means for driving the capstan and for transporting the tape past the magnetic head, switching means for moving the head support toward the cassette, and means, responsive to pivoting of said lever in said insertion direction, for actuating said switching means to move the head support toward the cassette, characterized by comprising an ejection member arranged to be movable with respect to said chassis in a first direction from a rest position a first distance toward an actuated position, and after movement over said first distance to be movable in a second, different direction to said actuated position, means for connecting the ejection spring to the ejection member arranged such that the ejection spring is tensioned by movement of the member said first distance in said first direction, latching means for latching the ejection member in an actuated position, and means for coupling the ejection member to the ejection lever, at least during insertion of the cassette, arranged such that said ejection member is moved said first distance from the rest position in response to said pivoting of said lever in said insertion direction, and such that upon movement of said member in said second direction to the actuated position the ejection lever is free to pivot over at least a given distance relative to the ejection member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
52 words
A recorder as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that said means for coupling comprises a pin and hole connection having a clearance between the pin and the hole, edges of the hole constituting stops for limiting free pivoting of the ejection lever when the ejection member is in the actuated position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
A recorder as claimed in claims 5 or 6 characterized by comprising a spindle about which the ejection lever is pivoted, said spindle also serving as a guide for movement of said ejection member in the first direction.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
A recorder as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that said means for connecting is arranged such that, during tensioning, the ejection spring urges the ejection member pivotally about said pin in said second direction of movement.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
84 words
A recorder as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that said chassis comprises a guide slot in which said ejection member is further guided, said ejection member having a narrowed end portion which upon completion of movement in the first direction is pivoted in the second direction in the guide slot, an edge of the guide slot functioning as part of the latching means for preventing a further movement of the ejection bracket in the first direction after the movement in the second direction.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
66 words
A recorder as claimed in claim 9, characterized by comprising a pivotal member having a guide spindle mounted thereon, and in that said ejection member has a slot through which said guide spindle passes such that the ejection member slides on said guide spindle while moving in the first direction, and during movement of the ejection member in the second direction said guide spindle is displaced.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
86 words
A recorder as claimed in claim 10, characterized by comprising a latching member, a drive plate movably mounted to said chassis, said capstan and at least a portion of said drive means being mounted to the drive plate for rotation with respect to the plate, a control member forming part of said switching means, for controlling movement of the drive plate and the head support towards the cassette, and means for coupling said latching member to said guide spindle so as to unlatch said control member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
79 words
A recorder as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that said switching means further comprises a switching member coupled through the switching spring to the control member, during a part of the movement of said ejection member in the first direction said switching member being coupled to the ejection member for tensioning said switching spring, after unlatching of the conrol member said switching spring causing the control member with the latching pin to be moved to the active position.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
58 words
A recorder as claimed in claim 12, characterized in that said switching member is arranged so that in the coupled position the switching memnber tends to pivot the ejection member about the spindle through the slot in the second direction of movement, under the influence of forces exerted by the switching spring in conjunction with the ejection spring.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
59 words
A recorder as claimed in claim 12 characterized by comprising an actuating button and means for coupling the actuating button to the control member, so as to move said switching member by spring force, during which movement the switching member is coupled to the control member and returns the control member and latching pin to the latched initial position.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
130 words
A recorder as claimed in claim 14, characterized in that said said means for coupling includes a spring coupling said pivotal member to said latching member, and in that upon actuation of said actuating button the control member is coupled to the pivotal member for returning said latching member to the position in which the control member is latched, said latching member moves said guide spindle and with it said end portion of the ejection member in a direction opposite said second direction of movement so as to unlatch and permit return movement of the ejection member to the rest position by release of the ejection spring force, during which release said ejection lever is pivoted from the end position so as to eject the cassette from the cassette compartment.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
74 words
A recorder as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that said switching means further comprises a latching pin carried on said control member and forming part of the latching means, and a switching spring arranged for moving said latching pin into an active position after unlatching of said control member, in said active position said latching pin being coupled to the ejection member so as to latch the ejection member in the actuated position.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
79 words
A recorder as claimed in claim 16, characterized in that said switching means further comprises a switching member coupled through the switching spring to the control member, during a part of the movement of said ejection member in the first direction said switching member being coupled to the ejection member for tensioning said switching spring, after unlatching of the control member said switching spring causing the control member with the latching pin to be moved to the active position.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
58 words
A recorder as claimed in claim 17, characterized in that said switching member is arranged so that in the coupled position the switching member tends to pivot the ejection member about the spindle through the slot in the second direction of movement, under the influence of forces exerted by the switching spring in conjunction with the ejection spring.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
59 words
A recorder as claimed in claim 18 characterized by comprising an actuating button and means for coupling the actuating button to the control member, so as to move said switching member by spring force, during which movement the switching member is coupled to the control member and returns the control member and latching pin to the latched initial position.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
130 words
A recorder as claimed in claim 19, characterized in that said said means for coupling includes a spring coupling said pivotal member to said latching member, and in that upon actuation of said actuating button the control member is coupled to the pivotal member for returning said latching member to the position in which the control member is latched, said latching member moves said guide spindle and with it said end portion of the ejection member in a direction opposite said second direction of movement so as to unlatch and permit return movement of the ejection member to the rest position by release of the ejection spring force, during which release said ejection lever is pivoted from the end position so as to eject the cassette from the cassette compartment.
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) | 1989-01-13 | 1989-07-15 | 1990-01-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-01-13 | 1993-07-15 | 1994-01-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-01-13 | 1997-07-15 | 1998-01-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |