Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval – Record transport with head stationary during transducing – Tape record
Patent
1983-08-09
1986-11-11
Wolff, John H.
Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval
Record transport with head stationary during transducing
Tape record
360105, G11B 1568, G11B 554, G11B 2122
Patent
active
046226109
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to an automatic cassette exchanging playback device, typically a cassette playback device with automated cassette exchange feature which automatically exchanges cassette tapes for continuous reproduction of records thereon, that is, a so-called auto cassette exchanger.
BACKGROUND ART
The design of conventional so-called auto cassette exchangers is directed mainly to exchange of cassette tapes itself, by which one of cassette tapes is selected from a stack of those cassette tapes for reproduction of sound or other records thereon and then returned to a chamber or a cassette store after reproduction thereof and a new one is loaded in place thereof. Those kinds of exchangers are fully described in "TAPE RECORDERS" (Author: Tadaaki Tsuono) published by Nikkan Kogyo Shinbunsha, Jan. 30, 1978, pp 224-228.
Whereas those kinds of auto cassette exchangers are capable of extracting in sequence a plurality of cassette tapes for reproduction, most of those exchangers are unable to pick up any desired one of cassette tapes. In some of cassette exchangers such selection is made available with the aid of a larger and bulky construction.
Then, a playback device with new automatic cassette exchange feature has been proposed by which a plurality of cassette tapes are disposed at a predetermined interval along a vertical direction and a selected one of the cassette tapes is inserted into a cassette deck while the cassette deck travels in a vertical direction. This type of automatic cassette exchanging playback device may be configured as low as the stack of the cassette tapes in the vertical direction because of only the need to move the cassette deck in the vertical direction. However, with this type of automatic cassette exchanging playback device, a control circuit is necessary to move the cassette deck in the vertical direction and pick up the selected one of the cassette tapes.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
Briefly stated, according to the present invention, cassette playback means is provided to travel in a vertical direction along a cassette cabinet in which a plurality of cassette tapes are housed in a stack and a desired one of the cassette tapes is brought into the cassette playback means through operation of a cassette feeder assembly for reproduction of records thereon when the cassette playback means reaches a position corresponding to the desired cassette tape. The present invention provides the ability to select and pick up any desired one of the cassette tapes from the cassette cabinet by disposing the plurality of cassette tapes within the cassette cabinet and moving the cassette playback means in the vertical direction along the cassette cabinet and to reproduce the records on the selected one of the cassette tapes by inserting that selected tape into the playback means. The present invention therefore can be utilized in so-called "karaoke (singing machine)" devices and car stereo devices. Especially, in case of car stereo devices, the present invention contributes safe driving, since no manual exchange of cassette tapes is required.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a front view of the appearance of a playback device according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a front view of an elevator assembly included in the illustrated embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a side view of a major portion of a cassette feeder assembly included in the embodiment;
FIG. 4 is a plan view of the above illustrated embodiment;
FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a major portion of the cassette feeder assembly;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the above illustrated embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a major portion of the elevator assembly;
FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram of a control unit included in the above illustrated embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 9 is an external view of an operational panel; and
FIGS. 10 through 12 are flow charts describing operations of the contro
REFERENCES:
patent: 3431367 (1969-03-01), Nickl
patent: 3848264 (1974-11-01), Wilson
patent: 3852818 (1974-12-01), Pyles
patent: 4164765 (1979-08-01), Gysling
Radio Electronics, Feb. 1963, p. 27 "New Automatic Tape Changer".
Garcia Alfonso
Mitsubishi Denki & Kabushiki Kaisha
Wolff John H.
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