Title: Multi-cartridge apparatus for recording and reproducing audio signals automatically and successively

Do you think this is a good invention? Vote now:

Votes so far: For:(0) Against:(0)
Claims: What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for recording and reproducing audio signals automatically and successively from a plurality of cartridges, comprising:

cartridge receiving means having a plurality of spaces defined by at least one partition wall provided between upper and lower base plates, each space receiving one cartridge therein;

transducing head means and cartridge sensing switch means mounted in each cartridge receiving space;

bias means mounted in each cartridge receiving space for normally urging a cartridge in a cartridge receiving space out of engagement with the corresponding transducing head means and sensing switch means;

cartridge moving means mounted in each cartridge receiving space for selectively moving a cartridge in that space into an operating position in contact with the corresponding transducing head means and against the force of said bias means, said cartridge moving means including a locking lever pivotally mounted for movement in the corresponding cartridge receiving space and having a lock roller mounted at one end portion for engagement with a recess in the corresponding cartridge, means coupled to said lock lever for urging the lock lever in a direction of movement such that said lock roller contacts said cartridge, a locking cam having a cam slope which contacts the other end portion of said locking lever, each locking cam being mounted on a common control cam shaft such that the cam slope of each locking cam is angularly offset from each other locking cam slope; and

control means coupled to said control cam shaft to rotate said cam shaft upon a predetermined control signal to selectively control the movement of said cartridges into and out of engagement with their corresponding transducing head means.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: transducing head change switch means for switching said transducing head means into operation in correspondence with a selected cartridge and a switch change cam mounted on said control cam shaft to actuate said transducing head change switch means upon rotation of said control cam shaft.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said switch change cam has a plurality of cam slopes which correspond to the number of cartridge receiving spaces in said apparatus, said switch change cam slopes being arranged to operate said head change switch means in a predetermined order upon rotation of said control cam shaft.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:

a main power switch;

power control solenoid operated means coupled to said main power switch;

a storage capacitor; and

solenoid control switch means coupled between said power control solenoid means and said storage capacitor and further coupled to said head change switch means, said solenoid control switch means having a first operating position for charging said storage capacitor when said head change switch means is in a position for selecting the last available cartridge operating position and a second operating position for discharging said capacitor through said power control solenoid means when said head change switch means is in a position for selecting the first available cartridge operating position.

5. The apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising indicating means for indicating the presence of a cartridge in its operating position, said indicating means comprising a plurality of indicating lamps corresponding to the number of cartridge receiving spaces in said apparatus, and indicating lamp switch means coupled to said indicating lamps and operated by said switch change cam to energize the indicating lamp corresponding to said selected cartridge.

6. The apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:

detecting means corresponding to each cartridge receiving space for distinguishing between two-channel and four-channel tapes in said cartridges;

a detecting means switch interlocked with said head change switch means for selecting the detecting means corresponding to the cartridge receiving space containing the selected cartridge located in its operating position; and

a pair of indicating lamps coupled to said detecting means for indicating the presence of two-channel and four-channel tapes, respectively, in the selected cartridge.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising:

first circuit means coupled to said transducing head means for recording and reproducing information onto and from tapes in said cartridge in a four-channel mode;

second circuit means coupled to said transducing head means for recording and reproducing information onto and from tapes in said cartridges in a two-channel mode; and

relay operated switch means coupled to said detecting means and to said first and second circuit means for switching said first and second circuit means into and out of operation as a function of the tape mode detected by said detecting means.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a control solenoid;

means coupling said control solenoid to said control cam shaft for rotating said control cam shaft when said control solenoid is energized;

a main power switch and a second power switch coupled in parallel with said main power switch;

auxiliary switch means coupled to said control solenoid and to said second power switch for providing a current path to said control solenoid when said main power switch is open; and

a solenoid control cam mounted on said control cam shaft for closing said second power switch upon rotation of said control cam shaft to a position in which all cartridges are moved out of their respective operating positions.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said solenoid control cam comprises a plurality of projections corresponding to the number of said locking cams, said projections engaging said second power switch to close said second power switch when the control cam shaft is rotated to said position in which all cartridges are moved out of their respective operating positions.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means comprises:

tape sensing means located in each cartridge receiving space for sensing the presence of signal means provided on the tape of a first cartridge located in its operating position; and

control shaft rotating means coupled to said tape sensing means to rotate said control shaft upon receipt of an output signal from said tape sensing means to release said first cartridge from its operating position and to move a second cartridge into its operating position.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising means coupled to said control shaft rotating means to manually energize said rotating means to rotate said control shaft when an output signal from said tape sensing means is absent.

12. The apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising means coupled to said tape sensing means to selectively disable said tape sensing means and inhibit an output thereof from activating said control shaft rotating means.

13. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said control means further comprises:

a control solenoid;

means coupling said control solenoid to said control cam shaft to rotate said control cam shaft when said control solenoid is energized;

a normally closed cartridge change switch coupled to said control solenoid for supplying electrical current to said control solenoid; and

a cartridge change switch cam mounted on said control cam shaft for opening said cartridge change switch when said control cam shaft is rotated to a position in which a cartridge is moved into its operating position.

Other info:

Inventors: Kobayashi, Tamio (Hirakata, JA)
Torama, Tadashi (Osaka, JA)

Application Number: 425796
Filing Date: 1973-12-18
Publication_date: 1976-06-15
Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (Osaka, JA)
Primary Class(es): 360/92
Other Classes:
US Patent Ref:

3431367	Mar, 1969	Nickl	360/92.
3552751	Jan, 1971	Kelso	360/94.
3583708	Jun, 1971	Prager	360/94.
3698722	Oct, 1972	Ban	360/92.
3730532	May, 1973	Miyamoto	360/93.
3752484	Aug, 1973	Ban	360/92.
3825949	Jul, 1974	Pyles	360/91.

Other Refs:
Primary Examiner: Cook, Daryl W.
Assistant Examiner:
Attorney: Stevens, Davis, Miller & Mosher