CA1050437A - Cleaner for a playing head of a cassette player - Google Patents
Cleaner for a playing head of a cassette playerInfo
- Publication number
- CA1050437A CA1050437A CA254,007A CA254007A CA1050437A CA 1050437 A CA1050437 A CA 1050437A CA 254007 A CA254007 A CA 254007A CA 1050437 A CA1050437 A CA 1050437A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- cleaner
- cam
- lever
- container
- player
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Landscapes
- Packaging Of Annular Or Rod-Shaped Articles, Wearing Apparel, Cassettes, Or The Like (AREA)
Abstract
A CLEANER FOR A PLAYING HEAD
OF A CASSETTE PLAYER
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A cleaner for a playing haed of a cassette player having a sprocket drive and having a recess able to receive a cassette tape in a playing position. The cleaner com-prises a hollow container dimensioned to be retainable with the recess. A hollow post is within the container, posi-tioned to permit the sprocket drive of the player to enter the interior of the container. A cam is positioned on the post and is rotatable thereon. Drive means on the cam engage the sprocket drive of the tape player. There is an opening in one side of the container. A lever is pivotally located within the container to be reciprocable by the cam.
There are means urging the lever towards the cam and means urging the lever outwardly of the opening. Means at one end of the lever receives cleaning means for the playing head of the tape player. The cleaning means is able to project from the opening in the container to contact and clean the playing head when the cleaner is retained within the recess.
OF A CASSETTE PLAYER
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A cleaner for a playing haed of a cassette player having a sprocket drive and having a recess able to receive a cassette tape in a playing position. The cleaner com-prises a hollow container dimensioned to be retainable with the recess. A hollow post is within the container, posi-tioned to permit the sprocket drive of the player to enter the interior of the container. A cam is positioned on the post and is rotatable thereon. Drive means on the cam engage the sprocket drive of the tape player. There is an opening in one side of the container. A lever is pivotally located within the container to be reciprocable by the cam.
There are means urging the lever towards the cam and means urging the lever outwardly of the opening. Means at one end of the lever receives cleaning means for the playing head of the tape player. The cleaning means is able to project from the opening in the container to contact and clean the playing head when the cleaner is retained within the recess.
Description
l(~S0437 This invention relates to a cleaner for a playing head of a cassette player.
Cassette tapes having a sprocket drive are be-coming increasingly popular in tape playing machines.
Increasingly they are replacing those cartridges in which the tape is driven by a capstan that, in turn, is driven by an electric motor. In a cartridge machine the tape is pinched between the capstan of the tape player and a pinch wheel in the cartridge. Rotation of the capstan by an electric motor drives the tape across a playing head to play - the recorded sound. However, cassette players that have a sprocket drive have two reels and the magnetic tape is passed between the reels across a playing head. Drive in such a machine is by a sprocket in the cassette player engaging in teeth in the interior of the tape receiving reels. The sprockets turn, engage the teeth of the reels and thus force the tape across the tape playing head.
In many of the tape playing devices, cartridge or cassette, the cleaning of the tape heads can be a problem.
This is particularly so in those tape players used in auto-mobiles. Normally the tape playing head is positioned at the bottom of a recess that receives and retains the cassette or cartridge tape in a playing position. The cassette or cartridge is typically provided with means to retain itself within the recess. However, the location of the tape playing head at the base of the recess makes the cleaning difficult. Yet for continued use it is essential that the tape playing head be kept clean. -There have been proposals to clean the playing head of tape players. Generally speaking, they rely on a . :.. -, . . : : ... . .
~(~50437 hand operated lever extending through a cartridge. At one end of the lever there is a cleaning pad that contacts the tape playing head. At the other end of the lever, which extends through the back of the cartridge and out of the recess, there is a handle so that the cleaning pad can be reciprocated across the tape playing head. However, this can be undesirable. In particular, if a playing head per-forms badly in an automobile there is a temptation for the driver to clean the head while the car is moving, which is ', 10 dangerous.
The present invention avoids the disadvantages of the prior art and, in particular, provides an automatic cleaner for the playing head of a cassette player. It is merely necessary to insert the cleaner of the present inven-tion into the recess of the cassette player for the cleanerto clean the playing head of the cassette player. The cleaner may be left in position for a few minutes and then removed. After this, the playing head of the cassette player is adequately cleaned.
Accordingly, in one aspect, the present invention is a cleaner for a playing head of a cassette player having a sprocket drive an~ having a recess able to receive a cassette tape in a playing position, the cleaner comprising a hollow container dimensioned to be retainable within the recess; a hollow post within the container, positioned to permit the sprocket drive of the player to enter the interior of the container; a cam positioned on said post and rotatable thereon; drive means on said cam to engage the sprocket drive o~ the tape player; an opening in one side of the container; a lever pivotally located within the container to lOS0437 by reciprocable by the cam; means at one end of the lever to receive cleaning means for the cleaniny head of the tape player, the cleaning means being able to project from the opening in the container to contact and clean the playing head when the cleaner is retained within the recess; and means for continuously engaging the lever and the cam.
The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a plan view showing the principle of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a more detailed view, similar to Figure l, showing an embodiment of the present invention;
and Figure 3 is a partial section along the line 3-3 of Figure 2 but with the top of the container also shown.
Referring to the drawings they illustrate a cleaner 2 for a playing head of a tape player. The tape player has a sprocket drive 4 formed with teeth 6. Only the sprocket drive and the capstan of the tape player are shown.
~he sprocket drive of the player is formed within a recess that is able to receive a cassette tape in a playing posi-- tion.
The cleaner comprises a hollow container 7--only half of which is shown in Figures l and 2--that is dimension-ed to be retainable within the recess of the tape player. Tothis end, the cleaner of the present invention may, in so far as retention within the recess is necessary, be an exact duplicate of a cassette tape. Figure 2 illustrates the . . .
cleaner is formed with holes ~ to receive retaining pins formed in the tape player recess and with holes 10 to -.
1050~37 receive the capstan of the tape player. Figure 2 illus-trates a capstan drive 11 in position in one of the holes 10 .
-~ The container 7 is formed with a hollow post 12 as indicated most clearly in Figure 3 where the top and bottom parts of the post 12 are shown. Such a post 12 is conven-tional in a tape player having a sprocket drive. Normally it receives the reel. As shown in Figure 3 the post is made up of two projections, one on the bottom of the container and the other on the top that meet in the middle to form hollow post 12. In the illustrated embodiment the hollow post on the left of, for example, Figure 2 is not necessary for the cleaning action but at least an opening is necessary in order to permit the cleaner 2 to be positioned within the ~; 15 recess since the recess is provided with two sprocket drives 4 so that the tape may be moved backward or forward within the cassette.
As indicated on the right of Figures 1 and 2 the sprocket drive 4 projects through the hollow post 12 into the interior of the container 7. There is a cam 14 posi-tioned on the hollow post 12 and rotatable on the hollow post 12. The cam is made rotatable by the provision of a recess 16 dimensioned to be a fairly loose fit over the I' hollow post 12. The cam 14 is formed with internal teeth 18 which comprise a drive means on the cam 14. Teeth 18 engage I the teeth 6 on the sprocket drive 4 of the tape player so ;~ that the cam 14 may be rotated by the sprocket drive 4 of i the tape player.
~ There is an opening 20 formed in one side of the ..
container 7. A lever 22 is pivotall~ located within the B~ `
~ . ' ' . .
container 7. The lever 22 is provided with a slot 25 that engages on a post 26 formed in the container 7. A surface 28 of the lever 22 abuts the cam 14. Surface 28 is urged into this position by a coil spring 30 stretched between a first post 32 formed on the lever 22 and a second post 34 formed within the container 7. Coil spring 30 thus urges the surface 28 on lever 22 towards the cam 14. It also urges the lever 22 outwardly of the opening 20.
As indicated in Figures 1 and 2 the lever 22 is 10 formed with a recess 36 at one end. Recess 36 holds an absorbent pad 38 that can be soaked in cleaning fluid to clean the playing head of the tape player. To do this, the cleaning means projects from the opening 20 in the front of container 7. Opening 20 is aligned with the playing head (not shown) of the cassette player. Pad 38 is urged out-wardly by coil spring 30 against the playing head of the cassette player.
In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 2 the container is also provided with a second pad 40 that is ~;
retained in recesses 42 formed in the container 7. The ; second pad 40 is pressed against the capstan of the cassette player.
In operation, the cleaner according to the present invention is simply pressed into the recess of a cassette player. This action operates the conventional micro-switches on the player so that the sprocket drive 4 of the cassette player is caused to rotate. Pressing of the container 7 ; into the recess automatlcally aligns the teeth 18 on cam 14 with the teeth 6 on the sprocket drive 4. Thus, the cam 14 is rotated~ ~otation of the cam 14 causes reciprocation of :. :
.. :-- - . : , ' .' '- ' :' . , , ,: : ~ . :
. . ~ , . . . ~. . : . .
the lever 22 about the post 26 so that the pad 38 is moved back and forth across the playing head of the cassette player. After a few minutes the cleaner may be removed just like a conventional cassette tape and the playing head is clean.
The container 7 of the cleaner 2 of the present invention may be made of the usual plastics from which cassettes are made. The lever 22 and the cam 14 may be made of any suitable plastics material, for example, nylon. As indicated above, the container 7 may, in fact, be a con-ventional cassette but in that case it is us~ally necessary to modify the openings of the cassette to form the wider openings 20 required by the cleaner of the present inven-tion.
. .
.~
:
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.' .
.
:' .
, . . . . . . . .
.. . .
Cassette tapes having a sprocket drive are be-coming increasingly popular in tape playing machines.
Increasingly they are replacing those cartridges in which the tape is driven by a capstan that, in turn, is driven by an electric motor. In a cartridge machine the tape is pinched between the capstan of the tape player and a pinch wheel in the cartridge. Rotation of the capstan by an electric motor drives the tape across a playing head to play - the recorded sound. However, cassette players that have a sprocket drive have two reels and the magnetic tape is passed between the reels across a playing head. Drive in such a machine is by a sprocket in the cassette player engaging in teeth in the interior of the tape receiving reels. The sprockets turn, engage the teeth of the reels and thus force the tape across the tape playing head.
In many of the tape playing devices, cartridge or cassette, the cleaning of the tape heads can be a problem.
This is particularly so in those tape players used in auto-mobiles. Normally the tape playing head is positioned at the bottom of a recess that receives and retains the cassette or cartridge tape in a playing position. The cassette or cartridge is typically provided with means to retain itself within the recess. However, the location of the tape playing head at the base of the recess makes the cleaning difficult. Yet for continued use it is essential that the tape playing head be kept clean. -There have been proposals to clean the playing head of tape players. Generally speaking, they rely on a . :.. -, . . : : ... . .
~(~50437 hand operated lever extending through a cartridge. At one end of the lever there is a cleaning pad that contacts the tape playing head. At the other end of the lever, which extends through the back of the cartridge and out of the recess, there is a handle so that the cleaning pad can be reciprocated across the tape playing head. However, this can be undesirable. In particular, if a playing head per-forms badly in an automobile there is a temptation for the driver to clean the head while the car is moving, which is ', 10 dangerous.
The present invention avoids the disadvantages of the prior art and, in particular, provides an automatic cleaner for the playing head of a cassette player. It is merely necessary to insert the cleaner of the present inven-tion into the recess of the cassette player for the cleanerto clean the playing head of the cassette player. The cleaner may be left in position for a few minutes and then removed. After this, the playing head of the cassette player is adequately cleaned.
Accordingly, in one aspect, the present invention is a cleaner for a playing head of a cassette player having a sprocket drive an~ having a recess able to receive a cassette tape in a playing position, the cleaner comprising a hollow container dimensioned to be retainable within the recess; a hollow post within the container, positioned to permit the sprocket drive of the player to enter the interior of the container; a cam positioned on said post and rotatable thereon; drive means on said cam to engage the sprocket drive o~ the tape player; an opening in one side of the container; a lever pivotally located within the container to lOS0437 by reciprocable by the cam; means at one end of the lever to receive cleaning means for the cleaniny head of the tape player, the cleaning means being able to project from the opening in the container to contact and clean the playing head when the cleaner is retained within the recess; and means for continuously engaging the lever and the cam.
The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a plan view showing the principle of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a more detailed view, similar to Figure l, showing an embodiment of the present invention;
and Figure 3 is a partial section along the line 3-3 of Figure 2 but with the top of the container also shown.
Referring to the drawings they illustrate a cleaner 2 for a playing head of a tape player. The tape player has a sprocket drive 4 formed with teeth 6. Only the sprocket drive and the capstan of the tape player are shown.
~he sprocket drive of the player is formed within a recess that is able to receive a cassette tape in a playing posi-- tion.
The cleaner comprises a hollow container 7--only half of which is shown in Figures l and 2--that is dimension-ed to be retainable within the recess of the tape player. Tothis end, the cleaner of the present invention may, in so far as retention within the recess is necessary, be an exact duplicate of a cassette tape. Figure 2 illustrates the . . .
cleaner is formed with holes ~ to receive retaining pins formed in the tape player recess and with holes 10 to -.
1050~37 receive the capstan of the tape player. Figure 2 illus-trates a capstan drive 11 in position in one of the holes 10 .
-~ The container 7 is formed with a hollow post 12 as indicated most clearly in Figure 3 where the top and bottom parts of the post 12 are shown. Such a post 12 is conven-tional in a tape player having a sprocket drive. Normally it receives the reel. As shown in Figure 3 the post is made up of two projections, one on the bottom of the container and the other on the top that meet in the middle to form hollow post 12. In the illustrated embodiment the hollow post on the left of, for example, Figure 2 is not necessary for the cleaning action but at least an opening is necessary in order to permit the cleaner 2 to be positioned within the ~; 15 recess since the recess is provided with two sprocket drives 4 so that the tape may be moved backward or forward within the cassette.
As indicated on the right of Figures 1 and 2 the sprocket drive 4 projects through the hollow post 12 into the interior of the container 7. There is a cam 14 posi-tioned on the hollow post 12 and rotatable on the hollow post 12. The cam is made rotatable by the provision of a recess 16 dimensioned to be a fairly loose fit over the I' hollow post 12. The cam 14 is formed with internal teeth 18 which comprise a drive means on the cam 14. Teeth 18 engage I the teeth 6 on the sprocket drive 4 of the tape player so ;~ that the cam 14 may be rotated by the sprocket drive 4 of i the tape player.
~ There is an opening 20 formed in one side of the ..
container 7. A lever 22 is pivotall~ located within the B~ `
~ . ' ' . .
container 7. The lever 22 is provided with a slot 25 that engages on a post 26 formed in the container 7. A surface 28 of the lever 22 abuts the cam 14. Surface 28 is urged into this position by a coil spring 30 stretched between a first post 32 formed on the lever 22 and a second post 34 formed within the container 7. Coil spring 30 thus urges the surface 28 on lever 22 towards the cam 14. It also urges the lever 22 outwardly of the opening 20.
As indicated in Figures 1 and 2 the lever 22 is 10 formed with a recess 36 at one end. Recess 36 holds an absorbent pad 38 that can be soaked in cleaning fluid to clean the playing head of the tape player. To do this, the cleaning means projects from the opening 20 in the front of container 7. Opening 20 is aligned with the playing head (not shown) of the cassette player. Pad 38 is urged out-wardly by coil spring 30 against the playing head of the cassette player.
In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 2 the container is also provided with a second pad 40 that is ~;
retained in recesses 42 formed in the container 7. The ; second pad 40 is pressed against the capstan of the cassette player.
In operation, the cleaner according to the present invention is simply pressed into the recess of a cassette player. This action operates the conventional micro-switches on the player so that the sprocket drive 4 of the cassette player is caused to rotate. Pressing of the container 7 ; into the recess automatlcally aligns the teeth 18 on cam 14 with the teeth 6 on the sprocket drive 4. Thus, the cam 14 is rotated~ ~otation of the cam 14 causes reciprocation of :. :
.. :-- - . : , ' .' '- ' :' . , , ,: : ~ . :
. . ~ , . . . ~. . : . .
the lever 22 about the post 26 so that the pad 38 is moved back and forth across the playing head of the cassette player. After a few minutes the cleaner may be removed just like a conventional cassette tape and the playing head is clean.
The container 7 of the cleaner 2 of the present invention may be made of the usual plastics from which cassettes are made. The lever 22 and the cam 14 may be made of any suitable plastics material, for example, nylon. As indicated above, the container 7 may, in fact, be a con-ventional cassette but in that case it is us~ally necessary to modify the openings of the cassette to form the wider openings 20 required by the cleaner of the present inven-tion.
. .
.~
:
: ` ' , s ' ,.
.' .
.
:' .
, . . . . . . . .
.. . .
Claims (10)
1. A cleaner for a playing head of a cassette player having a sprocket drive and having a recess able to receive a cassette tape in a playing position, the cleaner comprising:
a hollow container dimensioned to be retainable within the recess;
a hollow post within the container, positioned to permit the sprocket drive of the player to enter the in-terior of the container;
a cam positioned on said post and rotatable there-on;
drive means on said cam to engage the sprocket drive of the tape player;
an opening in one side of the container;
a lever pivotally located within the container to be reciprocable by the cam;
means at one end of the lever to receive cleaning means for the playing head of the tape player, the cleaning means being able to project from the opening in the con-tainer to contact and clean the playing head when the cleaner is retained within the recess; and means for continuously engaging the lever and cam.
a hollow container dimensioned to be retainable within the recess;
a hollow post within the container, positioned to permit the sprocket drive of the player to enter the in-terior of the container;
a cam positioned on said post and rotatable there-on;
drive means on said cam to engage the sprocket drive of the tape player;
an opening in one side of the container;
a lever pivotally located within the container to be reciprocable by the cam;
means at one end of the lever to receive cleaning means for the playing head of the tape player, the cleaning means being able to project from the opening in the con-tainer to contact and clean the playing head when the cleaner is retained within the recess; and means for continuously engaging the lever and cam.
2. A cleaner as claimed in claim 1 in which the drive means on said cam are teeth positioned around the circumference of an opening formed in the cam to engage the drive sprocket of the tape player.
3. A cleaner as claimed in claim 1 in which the lever is provided with a slot that engages on a post within the container to provide a pivotal mount for the lever.
4. A cleaner as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means for continuously engaging comprises means urging the lever towards the cam and urging the lever outwardly of the opening.
5. A cleaner as claimed in claim 4 or claim 1, wherein the means for continuously engaging the lever and the cam is a coil spring.
6. A cleaner as claimed in claim 5 in which the lever is formed with a first post to engage the first end of the coil spring and in which the container has a second post to engage the second end of the coil spring, the coil spring being stretched between the posts to urge the lever towards the cam and outwardly of the opening.
7. A cleaner as claimed in claim 1 in which the cleaning means is a felt pad able to receive a cleaning fluid.
8. A cleaner as claimed in claim 1 provided with means to locate additional cleaning means against the capstan of the tape cleaner.
9. A cleaner as claimed in claim 9 in which the additional cleaning means is a felt pad able to absorb a cleaning fluid.
10. A cleaner as claimed in claim 1, the cam being generally circular and eccentrically displaced.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US68559376A | 1976-05-12 | 1976-05-12 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1050437A true CA1050437A (en) | 1979-03-13 |
Family
ID=24752884
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA254,007A Expired CA1050437A (en) | 1976-05-12 | 1976-06-03 | Cleaner for a playing head of a cassette player |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1050437A (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4510545A (en) * | 1982-09-13 | 1985-04-09 | Normand Boudreau | Capstan cleaner for eight-track cassettes |
-
1976
- 1976-06-03 CA CA254,007A patent/CA1050437A/en not_active Expired
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4510545A (en) * | 1982-09-13 | 1985-04-09 | Normand Boudreau | Capstan cleaner for eight-track cassettes |
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