Tape cartridge loading apparatus

Abstract

An arrangement for loading a tape cartridge in a deck of a magnetic tape transport has a motor-driven pair of cams engaging different ones of a pair of pivotally mounted elongated arms disposed beneath the deck with one of the arms mounting a pawl extending through an aperture in the deck. Rotation of the cams causes movement of the pawl-mounting arm enabling the pawl to engage a ridge at the underside of a tape cartridge being loaded in the deck and push the cartridge into the region of an operative position adjacent a magnetic transducer assembly. Movement of the other elongated arm in conjunction with the pawl-mounting arm slides a fork assembly beneath the deck so as to raise three different pins coupled thereto and mounted within the deck. A partially conical pin and a rectangular pin adjacent the transducer assembly engage recesses of similar configuration at the underside of the tape cartridge to precisely position the cartridge relative to mutually perpendicular X and Y axes while at the same time urging the top of the cartridge base against a pair of height referencing rods so as to precisely position the forward portion of the cartridge relative to a vertical Z axis. The third pin engages the underside of the cartridge adjacent the rear portion thereof so as to position the rear portion of the cartridge relative to the Z axis against a further reference surface. Further rotation of the pair of cams and the resulting rotation of the pair of elongated arms pulls the pawl away from the cartridge and lowers the pins to permit removal of the cartridge from the deck.