Tape cartridge ejection mechanism

Claim 2

An ejection mechanism for use with an electronic-type tape player device including a housing having two substantially perpendicular and intersecting outer walls, a cartridge receiving cavity accessible through an opening in a first one of said walls, for holding an insertable tape cartridge, and an operable bi-stable cartridge lock and release mechanism movable in one direction to a first stable position For releasing said tape cartridge from said cavity, said ejection mechanism including in combination: a first, cam member mounted for movement in a first plane and engageable with said cartridge lock and release mechanism for moving the same to its first stable position whereby said cartridge is moved toward said access opening in said first wall of said housing for removal from said cavity, a second, actuator member extending outwardly from said second housing wall and movable linearly in a second plane generally perpendicular to said first plane, and a motion converting means coupled to said first and second members and being mounted for movement therebetween to translate the linear movement of said second member in said second plane into a corresponding movement of said first member in said first plane, said motion converting means including a member mounted for pivotal movement and coupled at one end to said second, actuator member and link means coupled to and interposed between said pivotal member and said first member.

Claim 3

The ejection mechanism of claim 1 wherein said lock and release mechanism has a second stable position for locking said tape cartridge in said cavity, and said first member of said ejection mechanism comprises an elongated pivotable cam means including a free end thereof connected to said motion converting means and a pivoted end mounted adjacent said lock and release mechanism and having a first cam edge engageable therewith to move the same from said second stable position with movement of the free end of said cam means by said motion converting means.

Claim 4

The ejection mechanism of claim 1 wherein said pivotal member comprises a pivotal bell crank mechanically coupled to said second member and having a pivot axis removed from said mechanical coupling to provide movement of said first member in said one direction with movement of said second member in said other direction.

Claim 5

In an electronic-type tape player device including a housing having two substantially perpendicular and intersecting outer walls, an opening in one of said outer walls providing access to an internal cartridge receiving cavity, a bi-stable cartridge lock and release mechanism operable in a first plane between first and second stable positions by a snap-acting overcenter means for locking a tape cartridge within said cavity in said first position and for releasing said cartridge for removal from said cavity in said second position, an ejection mechanism including in combination: a linearly actuable slide member having an actuator arm extending outwardly of said player device from the other of said two outer walls, said actuator arm being movable in a second plane generally perpendicular to the plane of movement of said lock and release mechanism for providing movement of said slide member to an actuated position, a cam means internal to said housing and movable in said first plane, said cam means being engageable with said lock and release mechanism for moving the same from said first stable position to cause said overcenter means to move said lock and release mechanism to said second stable position with a snap-acting movement whereby said tape cartridge is released, and a motion converting means including a member mounted on said housing for pivotal movement and coupled pivotally to said slide member and link means coupled to and interposed between said pivotally mounted member and said cam means for converting movement of said slide member in said second plane to a corresponding movement of said cam means in said first plane.

Claim 6

In an electronic-type tape player device including a housing having two substantially perpendicular and intersecting outer walls, an opening in one of said outer walls providing access to an internal cartridge receiving cavity, a bi-stable cartridge lock and release mechanism operable in a first plane between first and second stable positions by a snap-acting overcenter means for locking a tape cartridge within said cavity in said first position and for releasing said cartridge for removal from said cavity in said second position, an ejection mechanism including in combination: a linearly actuable slide member having an actuator arm extending outwardly of said player device from the other of said two outer walls, said actuator arm being movable in a second plane generally perpendicular to the plane of movement of said lock and release mechanism for providing movement of said slide member to an actuated position, a cam means internal to said housing and movable in said first plane, said cam means being engageable with said lock and release mechanism for moving the same from said first stable position to cause said overcenter means to move said lock and release mechanism to said second stable position with a snap-acting movement whereby said tape cartridge is released, and a motion converting means including a member mounted on said housing for pivotal movement and coupled pivotally to said slide member and link means coupled to and interposed between said pivotally mounted member and said cam means for converting movement of said slide member in said second plane to a corresponding movement of said cam means in said first plane.

Claim 7

The ejection mechanism of claim 4 wherein said one wall containing said access opening is a side wall of said housing and said other wall providing access to said actuator arm is a front wall of said housing.

Claim 8

The ejection mechanism of claim 5 wherein said front wall includes an opening therein, and said slide member is slidably mounted on said front wall and has said actuator arm extending through said opening and movable therealong.

Claim 9

IN an electronic-type tape player device including a housing having two substantially perpendicular and intersecting outer walls, an opening in one of said outer walls providing access to an internal cartridge receiving cavity extending horizontally within said housing, a bi-stable cartridge lock and release mechanism movable between first and second stable positions by a snap-acting overcenter means, said lock and release mechanism locking an insertable tape cartridge within said cavity in said first position and releasing said cartridge for removal from said cavity in said second position, an ejection mechanism including in combination: an actuator member extending outwardly from the other of said two walls and movable vertically along said wall to an actuated position, an actuated member internal to said housing movable horizontally and engageable with said lock and release mechanism for moving the same from said first stable position in response to the movement of said actuator member to said actuated position whereby said tape cartridge is released, and motion converting means coupled between said actuator and actuated members to convert the vertical movement of said actuator member to horizontal movement of said actuated member, said motion converting means including a member mounted for pivotal movement on said housing and coupled pivotally to said actuator member and a link member interposed between and coupled to said pivotally mounted member and said actuated member, said pivotally mounted member being pivoted in response to the movement of said actuator member vertically to move said link member to drive said actuated member into engagement with said lock and release mechanism.

Claim 10

IN an electronic-type tape player device including a housing having two substantially perpendicular and intersecting outer walls, an opening in one of said outer walls providing access to an internal cartridge receiving cavity extending horizontally within said housing, a bi-stable cartridge lock and release mechanism movable between first and second stable positions by a snap-acting overcenter means, said lock and release mechanism locking an insertable tape cartridge within said cavity in said first position and releasing said cartridge for removal from said cavity in said second position, an ejection mechanism including in combination: an actuator member extending outwardly from the other of said two walls and movable vertically along said wall to an actuated position, an actuated member internal to said housing movable horizontally and engageable with said lock and release mechanism for moving the same from said first stable position in response to the movement of said actuator member to said actuated position whereby said tape cartridge is released, and motion converting means coupled between said actuator and actuated members to convert the vertical movement of said actuator member to horizontal movement of said actuated member, said motion converting means including a member mounted for pivotal movement on said housing and coupled pivotally to said actuator member and a link member interposed between and coupled to said pivotally mounted member and said actuated member, said pivotally mounted member being pivoted in response to the movement of said actuator member vertically to move said link member to drive said actuated member into engagement with said lock and release mechanism.

Claim 11

The ejection mechanism of claim 7 wherein said one wall containing said access opening is a side wall of said housing and said other wall providing access to said actuator member is a front wall of said housing.