Vertical record card adapter for record tape machine

Abstract

A vertical record card can be held at selected levels in sound recording or reproduction association with a recorder-player adapted for cassette contained record tape.

We claim: 
     
       1. An adapter for enabling a sound recorder-reproducing machine, having a deck surface which defines a cassette receiving station and also having means for driving the record tape in a cassette mounted thereon into intelligence transfer association with an electromagnetic transducer adjacent said driving means, to handle a record card having parallel tracks of magnetic recording medium, said adapter comprising: a casing, mountable to said cassette receiving station, having a track forming a substantially linear path for guiding a record card mounted therein;   means associated with said casing for selectively transversely adjusting a record card mounted in said casing track between a first condition in which a first recording track is registered with said transducer and a second condition in which a second recording track is registered with said transducer;   said casing track, when said casing is mounted on said machine, being aligned with said drive means and said transducer and having openings therein for receiving said drive means and said transducer permitting said drive means to move a record card in said casing track in an operative association with said transducer.   
     
     
       2. An adapter according to claim 1 in which said carrier adjusting means comprises: a carrier shifter arranged in said casing, for movement between a first aspect to support said first track in registration with said transducer and another aspect in which said second track in registration with said transducer; and   a manual member movable between a first station and another station and coupled to said shifter for moving said carrier shifter for a position external said housing.   
     
     
       3. An adapter according to claim 2 in which said carrier shifter is a platform arranged to move in a horizontal plane for supporting a carrier in vertical orientation at a horizontal level in which the lowermost of said recording tracks registers with said transducer. 
     
     
       4. An adapter according to claim 2 in which said manual member is arranged for movement between said first station and a second station for enabling recording through said transducer on one of said recording tracks while said shifter is disposed in said first aspect, and characterized by means arranged for movement through said casing in response to said manual member for actuating a recording switch on said machine as said manual member is moved to said second aspect. 
     
     
       5. An adapter according to claim 4 further characterized by means for limiting movement of said actuating means when said manual member is moved to said second station. 
     
     
       6. An adapter according to claim 4 characterized by means for permitting actuation of a record switch on said machine. 
     
     
       7. An adapter according to claim 3 wherein the manual member is mounted for reciprocation through said casing between a depressed and an extended condition and characterized by a spring urging said member to said extended condition, an abutment arranged in a casing for preventing movement of said member to said second station while in said extended condition. 
     
     
       8. An adapter according to claim 7 wherein the abutment is proportioned to enable movement of said member from said first to said second station when said member is in said depressed condition. 
     
     
       9. An adapter according to claim 7 characterized by: coupling means comprising a pair of rockable levers movable between a normal position in which said shifter is disposed in one of its aspects and a second condition in which said shifter is disposed in its other aspect and arranged in the path of movement of said manual member; and   a pair of pins connecting said levers and said platform responsive to the condition of said manual member for moving said shifter.   
     
     
       10. A combination according to claim 9 in which said platform is arranged for movement onto and off of said track. 
     
     
       11. A recording-reproducing machine for sound records in a magnetic medium and comprising: a body having opposed sides and an upwardly opening well for optionally receiving a tape cassette therein;   a casing releasably retained in said well and having a track aligned along one side of said well for supporting a vertical record card;   a pair of spindles arranged in said well for supporting a cassette containing a pair of reels of record tape when said casing is out of said well;   said casing including means for accommodating said spindles when said casing is disposed in said well;   drive means located in said well adjacent said one side for optionally driving either a tape in a cassette mounted in said well or driving a record card supported in said casing when said casing is mounted in said well;   an electromagnetic transducer means located adjacent said one side of either intelligence transfer to and from a record card in said track or to and from a cassette tape;   means located in said well adjacent said one side for either erasing a record in the medium on said card or a tape in a cassette;   first switch means for manually conditioning said machine for sound reproduction through said transducer means;   second switch means for conditioning said machine for recording through said transducer means;   means associated with said body for normally disabling operation of said second switch means; and means on said casing for manually overcoming said disabling means.   
     
     
       12. A combination according to claim 11 in which the casing has opposed extensions projecting beyond said body for extending said supporting track beyond said sides. 
     
     
       13. A combination according to claim 11 in which the machine is characterized by a pair of pins arranged in said well for registering cassette contained record tape with said transducer means and said erasing means. 
     
     
       14. A combination according to claim 11 wherein said second switch means comprises a recording switch in said body and a manually operative member projecting from said body for operating said recording switch and normally disposed in a disabled condition, and further characterized by means associated with said casing for operating said recording switch independently of said manually operative member. .Iadd. 15. In combination with an audio tape device comprising a playback transducer, a storage space for accommodating a supply of elongated audio record tape in wound form, and drive means for pulling said tape from the winding and moving it at a constant playback speed past said playback transducer; an attachment for adapting said audio device to play back a recording on a substantially planar record card, said attachment comprising: a base member removably disposed within said tape storage space of said audio device in a predetermined position;   means on said base member defining a guide channel for said card to slide through, and arranged so that the path of said card through said channel goes past said playback transducer and said drive means, said guide channel defining means being configured to provide operative access for said playback transducer to said card and for said drive means to said card, whereby said drive means drives said card through said guide channel past said transducer at said constant speed to play back the recording on said card. .Iaddend..Iadd. 16. The combination of claim 15; wherein said tape storage space is defined by a horizontal deck, said constant speed drive means includes a driven capstan rising vertically from said deck and a pinch roller movable horizontally into opposable relation with said capstan for drivingly gripping said record tape therebetween; wherein:   said base member horizontally overlies said deck;   said channel-defining means comprises a wall upstanding from said base member to define a front boundary of said channel;   said wall is configured by being relieved to allow said record card to have access to said playback transducer and pinch roller;   and said base member is configured to permit said capstan to project upwardly at a location immediately behind said channel;   whereby said pinch roller moves horizontally through said wall relief into contact with said record card in said channel to press said card into   
     
     
        driving engagement with said capstan. .Iaddend..Iadd. 17.  The combination as in claim 16; wherein said audio tape device is of the reel-to-reel type in which supply and takeup spindles project upwardly from said deck; wherein: said base member is relieved to provide clearance for said spindles. .Iaddend..Iadd. 18. The combination as in claim 16, wherein said wall relief to provide card access to said playback transducer and said pinch roller is at least one aperture in said wall, and the base member is configured by a clearance opening to permit the upward projection of said capstan. .Iaddend.