US3087686A - Tape recorder apparatus - Google Patents

Description

April 30, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1' Filed June 3, 1960 J. P. WREN 3,087,686

TAPE RECORDER APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 30, 1963 Filed June 3, 1960 a 0 5M M av 52 JM M rwh w I I v v I I I I I I I I A t If United States Patent 3,087,686 TAPE RECORDER APPARATUS John Pelham Wren, Swindon, England, assignor to The Garrard Engineering and Manufacturing Company Limited, Swindon, England Filed June 3, 1960, Ser. No. 33,748

Claims priority, application Great Britain July 30, 1959 Claims. (Cl. 242-6513) such, that the tape, in passing from one spool to the other,

follows a path in which the tape forms an unobstructed bridge portion spanning a gap between salient portions of the magazine, which bridge portion, when the magazine is placed upon the deck with the tape deck spindles engaging the centre holes of the tape spools, is suitably located within a gate made up of the magnetic head or heads and the tape drive means of the deck, the magazine carrying a dis-placeable brake which acts upon both tape spools and which co-operates with brake release means provided upon the deck for releasing the brake to permit rotation of the tape spools.

The present invention consists in a tape recorder deck in association with tape spool means, of the type indicated, wherein the brake, means on the tape spool means and the brake release means on the deck are arranged for interlocking engagement, when the brake release means is actuated, so that the magazine is locked against removal from the tape deck.

The invention further consists in a tape recorder deck in association with tape spool means, as set forth in the preceding paragraph, wherein the displaceable brake on the tape spool means includes brake block means carried upon a spring loaded plunger which projects from the tape spool magazine, and the brake release means on the deck includes a post projecting from the surface of the tape deck and displaceable in a direction towards and away from the plunger such that when the magazine is in position on the deck the plunger is displaced by the release means against its spring-loading and releases the brake and the plunger and brake release means interlock to prevent removal of the magazine from the deck. Preferably, the brake release post is mechanically connected to, for example, the on/off or other operating switch of the tape deck so that when this switch is operated the post is displaced to release the magazine brake simultaneously locking the magazine in position upon the tape deck. It is also preferred that the brake block means should comprise a common friction block which is urged under the influence of the spring-loading into a wedging position between the peripheries of the two tape spools within the magazine where they are closely adjacent, the .brake being mounted for limited free lateral movement between the spools such that when the brake is applied a self-centering eifect is alforded which ensures equal application of the brake to both spools. The limited free lateral movement may be afiorded, for example, by loosely mounting the plunger in guides, by loosely mounting the brake block on the plunger, or by a combination of both of these measures.

The invention still further consists in a tape recorder 3,087,686 Patented Apr. 30, 1963 deck in association with tape spool means as set forth in the preceding paragraph, wherein the plunger and post are arranged for rectilinear movement in a direction parallel to the surface of the tape deck. In one preferred form the post is formed with a recess or abutment in or under which the end of the plunger is trapped when the brake release mean-sis actuated.

The invention still further consists in a tape recorder deck in association with tape spool means, as set forth in any of the three preceding paragraphs, wherein the tape spools are floatingly mounted within the magazine and the magazine and the tape spools are so devised, having regard to the tape spool spindles on the tape deck, that when the magazine is in situ on the tape deck, the tape deck spindles engage the tape spools and drivingly support them clear of contact with the walls of the magazine. Where the tape spools are floatingly mounted within the magazine in this manner, and the magazine and deck are provided with a brake plunger and post arranged for rectilinear movement in a direction parallel to the surface of tape deck, as set out in the preceding paragraph, the tape deck is provided with magazine-locating guide means on the side of the magazine when in situ which is remote from the side on which the brake plunger projects.

The magazine-locating guide means comprise abutment means against which the magazine is thrust under the combined action of the brake-release post and the springloading of the brake plunger so locating the magazine accurately in a position where there can be no contact between the inner walls of the magazine and the spools.

In order to assist in the location of the spools on the tape deck spindles the latter have tapering end portions so that they are shell-nosed, projecting means being provided on the spindles adapted to engage with co-op crating means on the tape spools to effect a driving engagement therewith. Thus, for example, the projecting means on the tape deck spindles'comprise spring-loaded pins which will automatically locate themselves in the driving slots conventionally provided in the spools as soon as rotation of the spindles commences, even if the maga zine has been placed on the tape deck so that initially the slots in the spools are not in register with the projecting pins on the tape deck spindles.

It is preferred to form the spools and the magazine therefor so as to comprise a reversible unit so that the magazine may be placed upon the tape deck with either face downwards, so enabling two recording and replay tracks to be utilized on the tape in known manner.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of a tape recorder deck in association with tape spool means, according to the present invention, and

FIGURE 2 is a section taken on the line 22 of FIG- URE 1.

In carrying the invention into effect according to one convenient mode by way of example, a tape recorder deck is indicated generally as 1 and tape spool means, shown in position on the deck, as 2.

The tape spool means includes a pair of tape spools 3 which constitute feed and take-up spools in conventional manner for a reel of magnetic tapes4. The spools are enclosed within a flat container or magazine 5 formed by upper and lower magazine portions held together by means of clips '6 to permit the removal of the spools 3 and tape 4 from the magazine if desired.

The magazine 5 is formed with salient portions 5a having tape guides 7 at their extremities, so that the tape 4- in passing from one spool 3 to the other follows a path in which the tape 4 forms an unobstructed bridge portion 4a spanning the gap between the salient portions 5a of the magazine.

When the magazine is placed upon the tape deck, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, with the tape deck spindles 8 engaging the centre holes 9 of the tape spools 3, the bridge portion 4a is arranged to be located within a gate made up of a magnetic head housing 10, carrying an erase head 11 and a record/replay head 12, a pressure assembly 13, carrying arms 14 and pressure pad 15 for ensuring intimate contact between the magnetic tape and the erase and record/replay heads respectively, a capstan drive 16 and a pinch-roller 17 for co-operation with the capstan drive 16 for driving the magnetic tape during record or replay.

For use, the gate is arranged to be closed onto the bridge portion 4a in the manner to be described more fully hereinafter.

The magazine 5 carries a displaceable brake consisting of a brake block in the form of a common friction block 18 carried at one end of a plunger 19 which is spring loaded by means of spring 20 into a position in which the friction block is located in a wedging position between the peripheries of the two tape spools 3 within the magazine 5. The friction block 18 is loosely mounted on the plunger 19 which itself is loosely mounted for 1ongitudinal movement within guides (not shown) on the structure of the magazine 5 in order that the friction block 18 may perform limited free lateral movements between the spools so that when the brake is applied a self-centering effect of the block 18 is achieved to ensure equal application of the block to both spools.

For the purpose of releasing the brake from the tape spools in the magazine during, record, replay, or fast wind operations, the tape deck is provided with brake release means consisting of a post 21 projecting from the tape deck plate 22 and displaceable in a direction longitudinally of the plunger 19 when the magazine is in position on the deck.

A control knob 23 and a wind knob 24 are provided on the tape deck for enabling the following operations to be carried out.

Control knob 23, shown in FIGURE 1 in the off position, may be moved towards the left for playing the magnetic tape within the magazine or towards the right for the purpose of imposing a recording upon the magnetic tape.

In either case control cam 25 on the control knob shaft 39 is rotated to cause firstly the control arm 26 and the operating arm 27 to pivot anti-clockwise together against the tension of spring 29 about the pivotal point of connection 28 of the operating arm 27 to the tape deck plate 22.

In this way the pressure assembly 13 and the pinchroller 17 carried on the operating arm 27 are brought against the bridge portion 4a of the magnetic tape urging it against the magnetic heads 11 and 12 and the capstan 16.

Further rotation of cam 25 causes the control arm 26 to pivot anti-clockwise about its point of pivotal connection 30 to the operating arm 27, increasing the compression of spring 30a and applying pressure via the pressure assembly 13 and the pinch roller 17 to the magnetic tape against the heads 11 and 12 and the capstan '16.

An adjustable stop 31 is provided for adjusting the relative positions of the operating and control levers in the unoperated position.

Furthermore, the anticlockwise rotation of the control lever 26, caused by rotation of the control cam 25 in either direction, also causes the brake operating link 32 to be pulled towards the front of the deck by means of a pivot pin 33 on the control lever 26 and located in a slot 33a in the operating link 32.

Forward movement of the link 32 causes rotation of the brake release lever 34, to which the link 32 is pivotally connected at 35, in an anti-clockwise direction about the point of pivotal connection 36 of the brake release lever 34 to the tape deck plate 22.

Pivoted also to this point 36, and biassed by means of spring 37 in a clockwise direction, is wind lever 38.

Movement of the wind knob 24 towards the front of the deck will cause the wind lever 38 to engage an abutment 34:: on the brake release lever 34, but by virtue of the slot 33 in the brake operating link 32, movement of the wind knob will not cause movement of the control or operating levers.

Rotation of the brake release lever 34 in an anti-clockwise direction (caused by actuation of either control or wind knob 23 or 24), causes the movement towards the rear of the deck of the brake arm 40, to which the release lever 34 is pivotally connected at 41, and the post 21 carried on the arm 40, against the influence of spring 37 acting via a switch bell-crank 42, one arm 42a of which rests against a fixed pin 43 on the arm 40. The rearward end of arm 49 is bifurcated as at 40a and guided by a post 49 secured to an adjacent component 50 of the deck.

Arm 42b on the b'ellcrank 42 actuates switch 44 when the bellorank 42 is rotated in an anti-clockwise direction about pivot 45 by rearward movement of the brake arm 40 and its pin 43. Actuation of switch 44 completes electrical circuits (not shown) in known manner to effect the desired function of the deck.

A switch (not shown) is connected to the control knob shaft 39 so that when the control knob is actuated, the desired electrical circuits are completed to the means for driving the capstan 16 and tape spools 3 and to the magnetic head or heads.

The post 21 is provided with recess 21a into which fits a tongue 19a formed at the end of the plunger 19 remote from the friction block 18 when the post 21 is displaced to release the brake.

In this way during operation of the deck, the tongue 19a is trapped in the recess and the magazine 5 is locked against removal from the deck.

The tape spools 3 are fioatingly mounted within the magazine 5 being maintained approximately in position by the general shape of the magazine, but no fixed axes are provided for the spools. The magazine and tape spools are so devised, having regard to the tape spool spindles 8 on the deck, that when the magazine 5 is in situ on the deck, the tape deck spindles engage the tape spools and drivingly support them clear of contact with the walls of the magazine.

In order to assist in the location of the spools on the tape deck spindles 3, the latter have tapering end portions so that they are shell-nosed. Projecting means in the rform of spring loaded pins 46 are provided on the spindles 8 and are adapted to engage in one of the three notches 47 conventionally formed around the centre holes 9 of the tape spools 3, to etfect a driving engagement therewith. As soon as rotation of the spindles 8 commences, the pins 46 will automatically locate themselves in the notches 47, even if the magazine has been placed on the tape deck so that initially the notches in the spools are not in register with the projecting pins on the tape deck spindles.

The magazine is formed as a reversible unit so that it may be placed upon the tape deck with either side downwards, so enabling two recording and replay tracks to be utilized upon the one tape in known manner.

In order to prevent displacement of the magazine on the tape deck relative to the tape spools therein when the brake release means is actuated to engage the plunger of the displaceable brake, the tape deck plate 22 is provided with magazine-locating guide means in the form of abutments 48 on the side of the magazine when in situ which is remote from the side on which the brake plunger 19 projects.

When the brake release means is actuated, the magazine is thrust against the abutments 48 under the combined action of the brake-release post 21 and the spring-loading of the brake plunger 19 so locating the magazine accurately in a position where there can be no contact between the inner walls of the magazine 5 and the spools 3.

Various modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention.

I claim:

1 In combination, a recording tape magazine; a pair of spaced spool-s in said magazine for transfer of tape therebetween; brake means movably mounted in said magazine; means biasing said brake means to arrestingly engage both of said spools; a tape recorder deck arranged for cooperative mounting or" said magazine thereon; brake release means on said deck selectively operable to a brake release position to move said brake means to release said spools; manual actuating means on said deck connected to said brake release means and selectively actuable to operate said brake release means to the brake release position; and cooperating means on said brake release means and said brake means interen-gaged in said brake release position to lock said magazine to said deck.

2. The combination claimed in claim 1, in which said brake means includes a brake block means and a plunger mounting said brake block means and having an operating end projecting from said magazine; said biasing means including a spring loading said plunger to engage said brake block means with both of said spools; said brake release means comprising a post projecting from the upper surface of said deck and displaceable toward and away from the operating end of said plunger; said cooperating means being formed on the operating end of said plunger and on said post.

3. The combination claimed in claim 2 in which said plunger and said post are arranged for rectilinear movement in a direction parallel to the surface of said deck.

4. In combination, a recording tape magazine; a pair of spaced spools in said magazine for transfer of tape therebetween; brake means movably mounted in said magazine; means biasing said brake means to arrestingly engage both of said spools; a tape recorder deck arranged for cooperative mounting of said magazine thereon; brake release means on said deck selectively operable to a brake release position to move said brake means to release said spools; and cooperating means on said brake release means and said brake means interengaged in said brake release position to lock said magazine to said deck; said brake means including a brake block means and a plunger mounting said brake block means and having an operating end projecting from said magazine; said biasing means including a spring loading said plunger to engage said brake block means with both of said spools; said brake release means comprising a post projecting from the upper surface of said deck and displacea'ble toward and away from the operating and of said plunger; said cooperating means being formed on the operating end of said plunger and on said post, and including an abutment projecting from the outer end of said post toward the operating end of said plunger, and engageable over the operating end of said plunger in said brake release position.

5. The combination claimed in claim 2, in which said cooperating means includes an abutment projecting from the outer end of said post toward the operating end of said plunger, and engageable over the operating end of said plunger in said brake release position.

6. In combination, a recording tape magazine, a pair of spaced spool-s in said magazine for transfer of tape therebetween; brake means movably mounted in said magazine; means biasing said brake means to arrestingly engage both of said spools; a tape recorder deck arranged for cooperative mounting of said magazine thereon; brake release means on said deck selectively operable to a brake release position to move said brake means to release said spools; and cooperating means on said brake release means and said brake means interengaged in said brake release position to lock said magazine to said deck; said tape recorder deck including a pair of spaced spindles arranged to engage within said spools; said spools being floatingly mounted in compartments formed in said magazine, each of said compartments including circular peripheral wall portions concentric with each other and having a radius or curvature in excess of that of the peripheries of said spools; said spindles, when engaged with said spools, drivingly supporting the latter with clearance with respect to said circular wall portions.

7. The combination claimed in claim 6, in which said brake means includes brake block means mounted upon a plunger having an operating end projecting from the magazine; said biasing means comprising a spring loading said plunger; said brake release means including a post projecting from the surface of the tape deck and displaceable toward and away from said plunger; magazine locating guide means on said tape deck toward the side of the magazine remote from that from which the operating end of said plunger projects; said guide means being so positioned that, when said magazine is biased against said guide means under the combined action of said post and the spring loading of the brake plunger, said spindles are concentric with said circular peripheral wall portions so that there is radial clearance between the peripheries of said spools and said circular wall portions.

8. In combination, a recording tape magazine; a pair of spaced spools in said magazine for transfer of tape therebetween; brake means movably mounted in said magazine; means biasing said brake means to arrestingly engage both of said spools; a tape recorder deck arranged for cooperative mounting of said magazine thereon; brake release means on said deck selectively operable to a brake release position to move said brake means to release said spools; and cooperating means on said brake release means and said brake means interengaged in said brake release position to lock said magazine to said deck; said brake means including a brake block means and a plunger mounting said brake block means and having an operating end projecting from said magazine; said biasing means including a spring loading said plunger to engage said brake block means with both of said spools; said brake release means comprising a post projecting from the upper surface of said deck and displaceable toward and away from the operating end of said plunger; said cooperating means being formed on the operating end of said plunger and on said post; an operating switch on said deck; and means mechanically connecting said post with said operating switch to operate the latter upon movement of said post to the brake release position.

9. In combination, a recording tape magazine, a pair of spaced spools in said magazine for transfer of tape thenebetween; brake means movably mounted in said magazine; means biasing said brake means to arrestingly engage both of said spools; a tape recorder deck arranged for cooperative mounting of said magazine thereon; brake release means on said deck selectively operable to a brake release position to move said brake means to release said spools; and cooperating means on said brake release means and said brake means interengaged in said brake release position to lock said magazine to said deck; said brake means comprising a wedge shape brake block, of friction material, biased into a wedging position between the peripheries of the two spools at a location where these peripheries are closely adjacent to each other.

10. The combination claimed in claim 9, wherein said wedge shape brake block is mounted for free lateral movement between the spools for self-centering engagement with both spools.

11. The combination claimed in claim 10, wherein said wedge shape brake block is mounted on a plunger and said plunger is mounted for play with respect to said magazine to provide such free lateral movement.

12. The combination claimed in claim 10, including a mounting plunger for said wedge shape brake block; said brake block being loosely mounted on said plunger to provide such free lateral movement.

13. The combination claimed in claim 6, in which said spindles have tapering end portions engageable in said spools.

14. The combination claimed in claim 6, said' spools being formed with central circular apertures to receive said spindles and with angularly spaced radial slots extending from said apertures; and spring loaded pins on the outer ends of said spindles for engaging in said slots for driving of said spools.

15. The combination claimed in claim 1, in which said magazine includes a pair of parallel walls between which said spools are disposed; said magazine being arranged as a reversible unit with either of said walls in engagement with the surface of said tape recorder deck.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,584,733 Owens Feb. 5, 1952 2,804,508 M-astling et al. Aug. 27, 1957 2,894,700 Roberts et al. July 14, 1959 2,914,620 Dale Nov. 24, 1959 2,919,866 Minott Jan. 5, 1960 2,989,261 Gillette et a1 June 20, 1961

Claims (1)

1. IN COMBINATION, A RECORDING TAPE MAGAZINE; A PAIR OF SPACED SPOOLS IN SAID MAGAZINE FOR TRANSFER OF TAPE THEREBETWEEN; BRAKE MEANS MOVABLY MOUNTED IN SAID MAGAZINE; MEANS BIASING SAID BRAKE MEANS TO ARRESTINGLY ENGAGE BOTH OF SAID SPOOLS; A TAPE RECORDER DECK ARRANGED FOR COOPERATIVE MOUNTING OF SAID MAGAZINE THEREON; BRAKE RELEASE MEANS ON SAID DECK SELECTIVELY OPERABLE TO A BRAKE RELEASE POSITION TO MOVE SAID BRAKE MEANS TO RELEASE SAID SPOOLS; MANUAL ACTUATING MEANS ON SAID DECK CONNECTED TO SAID BRAKE RELEASE MEANS AND SELECTIVELY ACTUABLE TO OPERATE SAID BRAKE RELEASE MEANS TO THE BRAKE RELEASE POSITION; AND COOPERATING MEANS ON SAID BRAKE RELEASE MEANS AND SAID BRAKE MEANS INTERENGAGED IN SAID BRAKE RELEASE POSITION TO LOCK SAID MAGAZINE TO SAID DECK.

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