Automatic insertion/ejection linkage for a magnetic-tape-cassette apparatus

Claim 1

A magnetic-tape-cassette apparatus having a linkage for automatically inserting and ejecting a magnetic-tape cassette, said apparatus comprising: a frame having a pivot spindle disposed thereon, a cassette holder having an insertion opening for a cassette, and an end position defined in the holder; and a cassette driver, adapted for engaging a cassette inserted into the holder, movably guided in the cassette holder, a lever pivotally mounted on said spindle, and coupled to said driver, an actuating rod movably guided in said frame, and an ejection member connected to said rod, a spring secured to the actuating rod at a first point of attachment, and to said lever at a second point of attachment, said points of attachment being arranged relative to the pivoting spindle so as to form an over-center linkage, following actuation of the ejection member, said spring then pivoting said lever further and ejecting the cassette; said second point of attachment passing through a plane containing the pivoting spindle and the first point of attachment, characterized in that said spring is connected directly to the actuating rod, said lever has a slot therein having wall portions forming a control edge and a stop edge, said actuating rod comprises a pin which undergoes relative movement along a first part of said control edge during insertion of the cassette into the holder, and then along a second part of the control edge arranged such that, under influence of the force exerted on the actuating rod by the spring, said relative movement pivots said lever further until the cassette occupies the end position in the holder, upon actuation of the ejection member to move the actuating rod in an ejection direction, said pin is urged against a first portion of the stop edge thereby pivoting said lever in a cassette-ejecting direction until said second point of attachment passes through said plane, and is then moved further along said stop edge during pivotal movement due to the force exerted by said spring, thereby ejecting the cassette.