WO1997044784A1

WO1997044784A1 - Cassette copying apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO1997044784A1
Application number: PCT/GB1997/001365
Authority: WO
Inventors: John Edward Marshall; Anthony Chilvers; Alan Lawson Leonard
Original assignee: Graff Electronics Machines Limited
Priority date: 1996-05-22
Filing date: 1997-05-20
Publication date: 1997-11-27
Also published as: GB9825089D0; GB2328072A; AU2906497A; GB2328072B; GB9610724D0

Abstract

Cassette copying apparatus is provided comprising a main body (17), a first head mechanism (26) for engagement with a cassette (25) to be copied, a second head mechanism for engagement with a blank cassette, and operating means for bringing about relative engaging movement between first head mechanism and the cassette to be copied, and between the second head mechanism and the blank cassette, the operating means comprising a unitary transfer component (10), such that movement of the unitary component (10) from a release position to a copying position brings about both sets of relative movement in a simultaneous and coordinated manner.

Description

CASSETTE COPYING APPARATUS

The invention relates to cassette copying apparatus.

In such apparatus, a cassette to be copied, and a blank cassette, have to be brought into respective contact with playing and recording heads so that signals can be transferred from the cassette to be copied to the blank cassette with the tape contained in the cassettes being driven past the heads at constant speed.

The invention is particularly, but not exclusively concerned with such apparatus for copying audio cassettes.

The need to provide physical movement between two sets of parts involves a number of problems.

It is desirable for the two sets of movements to be substantially synchronous, to reduce the risk, for example, that playback from the cassette to be copied will commence before recording has commenced on the blank cassette.

Furthermore, since the apparatus may be used a very large number of times, often by unskilled operators, there is a high risk of wear and breakage of components.

The prior art machines utilise a number of different components of relatively flimsy construction, and they also require the use of a number of different drive belts which can lead to slippage and/or breakage. We have developed cassette copying apparatus which is substantially simpler in construction to known apparatus, while being operable in a robust, consistent and efficient manner.

The invention provides cassette copying apparatus comprising a main body, a first head mechanism for engagement with a cassette to be copied, a second head mechanism for engagement with a blank cassette, and operating means for bringing about relative engaging movement between the first head mechanism and the cassette to be copied, and between the second head mechanism and the blank cassette, the operating means comprising a unitary transfer component, such that movement of the unitary component from a release position to a copying position brings about both sets of relative movement in a simultaneous and coordinated manner.

Preferably both head mechanisms are mounted on the unitary component such that the head mechanisms are moved into engagement with the cassettes but an alternative construction would be possible in which the heads remain stationary and the cassettes are moved into engagement with the head mechanisms.

The unitary component may comprise an elongate member movable back and forth in the direction of its longitudinal axis, the elongate member having a pair of cross members, each cross member supporting one of the head mechanisms.

The unitary component is preferably movable between its two positions by means of a solenoid. Where the unitary component comprises an elongate member, the solenoid is preferably mounted at one end of the elongate member, with a return spring being mounted at the other end.

The unitary component may be guided by a plurality of guide members which have grooves in which parts of the unitary component engage.

The unitary component may comprise a plate with a plurality of recesses therein, the guide members respectively engaging in the recesses.

Preferably the guide members have tapered slots in which the edges of the plate recesses engage, the tapering causing the plate to be directed to, and located in, a predetermined final position before copying takes place.

The tapered slots may be annular.

At least one spring loaded pinch roller may be mounted on the unitary component, so that as the unitary component moves to the copying position, the spring loaded pinch roller exerts pressure on a capstan shaft associated with a cassette.

Preferably there is a spring loaded pinch roller associated with each cassette, for engagement with a capstan shaft of the cassette.

A pinch roller may be mounted at one end of a pivoted arm, the spring for loading the pinch roller being arranged at the other end of the arm. By way of example, a specific embodiment of the invention will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which :-

Figure 1 is a plan view of a unitary component of this embodiment of cassette copying apparatus according to the invention;

Figures 2A and 2B are respectively plan and side views of one guide for the component shown in Figure 1 ;

Figures 3, 4 and 5 are plan views of the operating components of the apparatus associated with one cassette illustrating different relative positions during the operation of the apparatus; and

Figures 6, 7 and 8 are views corresponding to Figures 3, 4 and 5 but with the cassette, head mechanism and pinch roller assembly removed for clarity.

One of the important features of this embodiment of the invention is the use of a single, guided, unitary component to bring about the relative movement necessary to interengage two cassettes with two head mechanisms. This guided unitary component is shown in detail in Figure 1 , one of the guides being shown in Figure 2 and so the guided component will be described first in some detail.

The component comprises a sliding plate having an elongate portion 10 and two cross members 1 1 and 12. Adjacent to one end of the member 10 there is a solenoid 13, the member 10 being connected to the solenoid plunger 14, and at the other end of the member 10 there is a tension return spring 15 connected between the member 10 and a spring anchor 16 on the body 17 of the apparatus.

The plate is guided in a controlled and consistent manner by a pair of guide members 18 and 19.

One guide member 18 is shown to a larger scale in Figures 2A and 2B.

Basically the guide member comprises a circular disc having a tapered annular groove 20 in its outer periphery.

As can be seen in Figure 1 , each cross member 11 and 12 of the plate has a cut out recess 21 and the guides engage within these recesses, the edges of the recesses being located within the annular grooves 20.

The plate comprises a single, robust component, movement of which can bring about substantially all the necessary relative movement needed for the apparatus to function. Movement of the component is simply and efficiently carried out by actuation of the solenoid 13 and only a single return spring 15 is required to return the component to its starting position.

The way in which the elongate plate brings about the necessary operations will now be described in detail, with reference to Figures 3 to 8. In these figures, for the sake of simplicity, only the lower cross member 12 is shown, but it should be understood that all the operations described with respect to the cross member 12 are duplicated with respect to the cross member 1 1 and another cassette. On the cross member 12 there are mounted a tape guide 22 and a tape head 26. The head 26 is arranged on head mounting plates 23 and 24.

Movement of the plates 23 and 24 enables the height of the head to be adjusted and tilt or azimuth of the head can be adjusted by relative movement between the plates 23 and 24.

As can be seen from a comparison of Figures 3, 4 and 5, actuation of the solenoid 13 pulls the solenoid plunger 14 progressively into the solenoid, moving the head 26 and guide 22 into engagement with the appropriate parts of the audio tape wound within the cassette 25.

Also mounted on the cross member 12 is a pinch roller assembly comprising a pinch roller 27 rotatably mounted at one end of an arm 28.

The arm 28 is pivotally mounted on the cross member 12 at 29 and the arm 28 has a return spring 30 mounted between a pin 31 at one end of the arm 28 and an anchor point 32 on the cross member 12.

In the intermediate position shown in Figure 4, the pinch roller 27 has come into engagement with a capstan shaft 33 associated with the cassette 25. As movement continues to the position shown in Figure 5, increasing pressure is applied to the capstan shaft 33 by the pinch roller 27 as movement of the cross member 12 towards capstan shaft 33 causes the arm 28 to pivot, thus stretching the return spring 30 and storing energy therein.

Figures 6 to 8 illustrate the progressive movement of the cross member 12 but with other components omitted for clarity. Because all the above described components and actions are repeated with respect to the cross member 11 , the relative movement between the cassette to be copied, the blank cassette and the respective head mechanisms, take place in a simultaneous and identical manner, because the cross members 1 1 and 12 are merely parts of the unitary sliding plate.

Because of the tapered nature of the annular grooves 20 in the plate guide members 18 and 19, the final position of the plate, prior to copying, is precisely and consistently determined.

Upward movement of the plate, as viewed in Figure 1 , its final position is determined by the 45° sections 21B of the recesses 21 abutting against the inner part of the grooves 20. Also, because the grooves 20 are tapered, the plate is guided to a final position with regard to the direction coming vertically out of the plane of the paper in Figure 1 , determined by engagement of a face of the plate with the horizontal side 20a of the groove 20 (see Figure 2B).

Location of the 45° sections of the plate, 21B of Figure 1 , against the tapered face 2 IB of the guide Figure 2B locates the plate in three dimensions. The solenoid pulling the plate against the 45° sections locates the plate north/south and east/west in the plane of the paper. Because the solenoid pulls the plate against the tapered surface, 20B, of the guide, the plate is forced flush on to surface 20A of the guide which locates the plate perpendicular to the plane of the paper.

Not only does the apparatus according to this embodiment enable both sets of relative movement between heads and cassettes to be carried out simultaneously and identically, but the actions are carried out with a small number of moving parts compared to prior art machines, those parts nevertheless being robust and resistant to wear.

The arrangement also enables a single solenoid 13 to be used to move both head assemblies into position and to provide a suitable force, for example 3.5N on each pinch roller, as the pinch rollers meet the associated capstan shaft.

Because of the constructional arrangement shown, the solenoid only has to cope with the mass of the sliding plate, head assemblies and pinch roller arms, this mass being substantially 970 gms. When the plunger of a solenoid is substantially fully extended, the force exertable by the solenoid is relatively low, but as can be seen from Figures 3 to 5, the effort required to move from the Figure 3 position to the Figure 4 position is relatively low, because the pinch roller does not come into contact with the capstan shaft until the position in Figure 4 is reached. At this point the solenoid plunger has been withdrawn significantly into the solenoid and the solenoid is therefore able to provide greater force. It will be seen from a comparison of Figures 6 to 8 that in the Figure 6 and Figure 7 positions, the pinch roller arm pin 31 is in engagement with the plate and the spring 30 is inoperative. However as the arrangement moves from the Figure 7 position to the Figure 8 position, the pin 31 ceases to make contact with the plate and the spring 30 transfers its force to the pinch roller. Once the heads are fully home, as shown in Figure 5, all the spring force is applied to the pinch roller. Each pinch roller applies a force of 3.5N and a further 3N is required to overcome the force of the plate return spring 15. In its fully home position the solenoid is capable of providing the total force required of ION. Once copying of a cassette has been completed, the supply to the solenoid is switched off and the return spring 15 brings the components back to the position shown in Figure 3, in which the cassettes can be removed.

Instead of using solenoid 13 to operate the component 10, other operating means could be employed, for example an electric motor having a worm drive. This has the advantage that power to the motor is only required when movement is to be carried out.

Various modifications are possible. For example two or more sliding plates 10, together with associated components, may be ganged together in a single machine, to enable two or more cassettes to be copied simultaneously in the same machine.

Alternatively, or in addition, one machine may be electrically connected to at least one other machine, to provide a parent machine and a slave machine, so that multiple copying can be carried out.

The solenoid plunger 14 may be provided with a slot in its end, a flange on the plate 10 extending into the slot and being connected to the solenoid plunger by a pin passing through the end of the solenoid plunger and the flange.

The apparatus can of course be used to copy both mono and stereo tapes.

Where it is desired by the user to have an erase facility, then erase heads can be provided, coupled to appropriate erase circuitry. The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or ail of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

1. Cassette copying apparatus comprising a main body, a first head mechanism for engagement with a cassette to be copied, a second head mechanism for engagement with a blank cassette, and operating means for bringing about relative engaging movement between the first head mechanism and the cassette to be copied, and between the second head mechanism and the blank cassette, the operating means comprising a unitary transfer component, such that movement of the unitary component from a release position to a copying position brings about both sets of relative movement in a simultaneous and coordinated manner.

2. Cassette copying apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 , in which both head mechanisms are mounted on the unitary component such that the head mechanisms are moved into engagement with the cassettes.

3. Cassette copying apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 , in which the heads remain stationary and the cassettes are moved into engagement with the head mechanisms.

4. Cassette copying apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the unitary component comprises an elongate member movable back and forth in the direction of its longitudinal axis, the elongate member having a pair of cross members, each cross member supporting one of the head mechanisms.

5. Cassette copying apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the unitary component is movable between its two positions by means of a solenoid.

6. Cassette copying apparatus as claimed in Claim 5, when dependent on Claim 4, in which the solenoid is mounted at one end of the elongate member, with a return spring being mounted at the other end.

7. Cassette copying apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the unitary component is guided by a plurality of guide members which have grooves in which parts of the unitary component engage.

8. Cassette copying apparatus as claimed in Claim 7, in which the unitary component comprises a plate with a plurality of recesses therein, the guide members respectively engaging in the recesses.

9. Cassette copying apparatus as claimed in Claim 8, in which the guide members have tapered slots in which the edges of the plate recesses engage, the tapering causing the plate to be directed to, and located in, a predetermined final position before copying takes place.

10. Cassette copying apparatus as claimed in Claim 9, in which the tapered slots are annular.

11. Cassette copying apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which at least one spring loaded pinch roller is mounted on the unitary component so that as the unitary component moves to the copying position, the spring loaded pinch roller exerts pressure on a capstan shaft associated with a cassette.

12. Cassette copying apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 1 , in which there is a spring loaded pinch roller associated with each cassette, for engagement with a capstan shaft of the cassette.

13. Cassette copying apparatus, as claimed in Claim 12, in which a pinch roller is mounted at one end of a pivoted arm, the spring for loading the pinch roller being arranged at the other end of the arm.

14. Cassette copying apparatus as constructed and arranged substantially as described herein, with reference to the accompanying drawings.