The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 07, 1997
Filed:
Mar. 15, 1996
Stephane M d'Alayer, Genappe, BE;
Michel C Mortier, Ans, BE;
Staar S.A., Brussels, BE;
Abstract
A cassette loading mechanism operable with first and second type similar size magnetic tape cassettes such as analog cassettes (CC) and digital cassettes (DCC) which are parallelepiped cassettes having a discontinuity on an external surface; the cassette loading mechanism having: a sensing mechanism which distinguishes between the types of cassettes, when correctly presented, and which blocks movement to the fully inserted position of cassettes mis-presented upside down or with sides inverted; the sensing mechanism including a cassette-type-sensing lever movable from an initial position to first and second positions representing, respectively, the type of cassette responsive to engagement with a surface discontinuity distinguishing the type of cassette correctly presented and inserted in the housing, and a movable slider member which is normally blocked against movement by the sensing lever, and prevents mis-presented cassettes being moved to the fully inserted position, and which is allowed to move with correctly presented cassettes to the fully inserted position when the sensing lever is moved from its initial position upon engagement with a correctly presented cassette.