Magazine latching and ejection mechanism for a cassette autoloader

Abstract

In an autoloader having a tape deck for reading and recording on magnetic tape cassettes, such as are used for computer data back-up, a removable magazine for holding a number of cassettes in which a locking and ejection mechanism locks the magazine in position in the autoloader and permits its automatic or manual release and ejection from the tape deck. The magazine has no protrusions on its side, top or bottom surfaces that would interfere with easy insertion into and removal from the autoloader and which would, also, interfere with simple and easy storage of the magazines in a back-up facility. Any size magazine can be inserted in the autoloader without modification of the autoloader. A first latch member engages a receptive space in the magazine when it is partially inserted and stores ejection energy. A second latch member locks the magazine in position when it is fully inserted. The magazine may be released from the autoloader automatically under electronic control or manually by physically releasing the second latch. The stored energy then ejects the magazine a sufficient distance to enable an operator to remove it by hand.