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US5229897A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Tape cassette loading apparatus which can smoothly operate and remove static electricity on a tape cassette

Assignee: Teac Corp
•
Filing: 1991-06-07
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Granted: 1993-07-20
•
Expires: 2011-06-07
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Abstract

Abstract A tape cassette loading apparatus includes a holder which can move between a cassette insert/eject position at which a tape cassette is inserted therein and/or ejected therefrom and a cassette loading position at which the tape cassette is loaded in the cassette loading apparatus, and a cassette pushing member which pushes so as to fix the tape cassette to be inserted. Since a single forcing member functions to force the holder from the cassette loading position to the cassette insert/eject position and the cassette pushing member which pushes and fixes the tape cassette inserted in the holder, the number of elements of the apparatus of the present invention is fewer than the conventional apparatus.

Inventors

  • 👤 Katsuhiko Kimula
  • 👤 Hiroyuki Miyamoto

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-02 19:22
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B23/00; G11B23/50; G11B15/00; G11B15/675; G11B15/67581; G11B15/67584

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim 164 words
A tape cassette loading apparatus comprising: a holder, provided to be movable between a cassette insert/eject position at which a tape cassette is inserted therein and/or ejected therefrom and a cassette loading position at which the tape cassette is loaded in said cassette loading apparatus; a chassis on which said holder is pivotally supported; a forcing member, provided on said chassis, which forces said holder in a direction from the cassette loading position tot he cassette insert/eject position; and a cassette pushing means, pivotally supported in said holder and movable with said holder, which is engaged with said forcing member, for pushing the tape cassette so as to fix the inserted tape cassette in said holder, and which cassette pushing member can be engaged with an engaging portion provided on said chassis so as to pivot separately from said holder while said holder is moving from a middle position between the cassette loading position and the cassette insert/eject position to the cassette insert/eject position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 164 words
A tape cassette loading apparatus comprising: a holder, provided to be movable between a cassette insert/eject position at which a tape cassette is inserted therein and/or ejected therefrom and a cassette loading position at which the tape cassette is loaded in said cassette loading apparatus; a chassis on which said holder is pivotally supported; a forcing member, provided on said chassis, which forces said holder in a direction from the cassette loading position tot he cassette insert/eject position; and a cassette pushing means, pivotally supported in said holder and movable with said holder, which is engaged with said forcing member, for pushing the tape cassette so as to fix the inserted tape cassette in said holder, and which cassette pushing member can be engaged with an engaging portion provided on said chassis so as to pivot separately from said holder while said holder is moving from a middle position between the cassette loading position and the cassette insert/eject position to the cassette insert/eject position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 55 words
A tape cassette loading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said cassette pushing means comprises a pushing member having a plane surface facing the tape cassette via which said cassette pushing means pushes the tape cassette, said pushing member being made of conductive and elastic material and contacting the tape cassette at said plane surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 28 words
A tape cassette loading apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said plane surface of said pushing member has a width approximately equal to that of the tape cassette.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 73 words
A tape cassette loading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said cassette pushing member has a first engaging part having a first shape, and said chassis has a second engaging part having a second shape which si engaged with the first engaging part so that a distance between a pivotal point of said pushing member and the engaging point between said first and said second engaging parts changes while said holder is moving.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 44 words
A tape cassette loading apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the first and second shapes are respectively formed so that the first engaging part can be stepwisely engaged with the second engaging part and a moving speed of said holder can be stepwisely decreased.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 99 words
A tape cassette loading apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the first and second shapes are each formed as a plate, and said holder moves from the cassette loading position to the cassette insert/eject position by passing a first middle position and a second middle position located between the first middle position and cassette loading position, the first engaging part partially engaging with the second engaging part when the holder is moved to the first middle position, and the first engaging part completely engaging with the second engaging part when the holder is moved to the second middle position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 27 words
A tape cassette loading apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the first shape is formed as a polygon and the second shape is formed as a plate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 44 words
A tape cassette loading apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the first and second shapes are respectively formed so that the first engaging part can be continuously engaged with the second engaging part and a moving speed of said holder can be continuously decreased.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 29 words
A tape cassette loading apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the first shape is formed as an approximately circular arc, and the second shape is formed as a plate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 28 words
A tape cassette loading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said tape cassette loading apparatus further comprises a damper mechanism which restricts a moving speed of said holder.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 47 words
A tape cassette loading apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said damper mechanism further comprises: a gear pivotally supported in said chassis; a rack, fixed on said holder, which is engaged with the gear, the gear engaging with the rack to move thereon as said holder moves.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 108 words
A tape cassette loading apparatus comprising: a holder, provided to be movable between a cassette inset/eject position at which a tape cassette is inserted therein and/or ejected therefrom and a cassette loading position at which the tape cassette is loaded in said cassette loading apparatus; a chassis on which said holder is pivotally supported; forcing means for forcing said holder in a direction from the cassette loading position tot he cassette insert/eject position; and moving speed reducing means for reducing the moving speed of said holder by means of more than two steps while said holder is moving from the cassette loading position to the cassette insert/eject position.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 108 words
A tape cassette loading apparatus comprising: a holder, provided to be movable between a cassette inset/eject position at which a tape cassette is inserted therein and/or ejected therefrom and a cassette loading position at which the tape cassette is loaded in said cassette loading apparatus; a chassis on which said holder is pivotally supported; forcing means for forcing said holder in a direction from the cassette loading position tot he cassette insert/eject position; and moving speed reducing means for reducing the moving speed of said holder by means of more than two steps while said holder is moving from the cassette loading position to the cassette insert/eject position.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 161 words
A tape cassette apparatus comprising: a holder, provided to be movable between a cassette insert/eject position at which a tape cassette is inserted therein and/or ejected therefrom and a cassette loading position at which the tape cassette is loaded in said cassette loading apparatus; a chassis on which said holder is pivotally supported; a forcing member, provided to said chassis, which forces said holder in a direction from the cassette loading position to the cassette insert/eject position; and a cassette pushing means, pivotally supported in said holder and movable with said holder, which is engaged with said forcing member, for pushing the tape cassette so as to fix the inserted tape cassette in said holder, said cassette pushing means comprises a pushing member having a plane surface facing the tape cassette via which said cassette pushing means pushes the tape cassette, said pushing member being made of conductive and elastic material and contacting to the tape cassette by said plane surface.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 161 words
A tape cassette apparatus comprising: a holder, provided to be movable between a cassette insert/eject position at which a tape cassette is inserted therein and/or ejected therefrom and a cassette loading position at which the tape cassette is loaded in said cassette loading apparatus; a chassis on which said holder is pivotally supported; a forcing member, provided to said chassis, which forces said holder in a direction from the cassette loading position to the cassette insert/eject position; and a cassette pushing means, pivotally supported in said holder and movable with said holder, which is engaged with said forcing member, for pushing the tape cassette so as to fix the inserted tape cassette in said holder, said cassette pushing means comprises a pushing member having a plane surface facing the tape cassette via which said cassette pushing means pushes the tape cassette, said pushing member being made of conductive and elastic material and contacting to the tape cassette by said plane surface.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

JPS5758746A Cited
JPS5942559A Cited
US4688695A Cited
US4792872A Cited
US4918552A Cited
US5038236A Cited
US5119251A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1996-07-19 1997-01-18 1997-07-20 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2000-07-19 2001-01-18 2001-07-20 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2004-07-19 2005-01-18 2005-07-20 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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