Abstract: A storage container for a recording medium and related methods of manufacturing and assembling same are described. The storage container includes: a base; a recording medium holder having a compact disc clamp and being pivotally attached at a first end thereof to a first end of the base and the other end being a free end for movement relative to the base; a cover pivotally attached at a first end thereof to the first end of the base; and an actuator for moving the holder relative to the base. When the cover is lifted relative to the base, the actuator causes the holder to move from the first position to the second position and to automatically present the recording medium away from the base for facilitated removal and replacement. In one embodiment, the clamp can include two portions, one of which is a semicircular portion formed on the holder and the other of which is a raised semicircular portion formed on a tongue pivotally attached to the holder.

Abstract: A tape cassette with a separate, plastic molded, elongated, tape guide subassembly is described. The tape guide subassembly incorporates two bearing extensions integrally molded at the left and right ends thereof. Each bearing extension is a pair of opposing, parallel, planar members extending from support members, each of which is parallel to the planar top and bottom of the tape guide subassembly. Each planar member includes a roller receiving means integrally formed therein and the rotational axles for the tape rollers are either integrally molded as part of the bearing extension or the tape roller itself. The planar members in each pair have the ability to flex only in the direction perpendicular to their planes, allowing the rollers to be easily snapped into place during assembly. Once the rollers are inserted into the tape guide subassembly, the latter is assembled into the front of the tape cassette, wherein the rollers form part of the central tape support area of the tape cassette.

Abstract: A single-reel tape cartridge containing a reel of tape with a free end attached to a leader block including a mechanism for securing the leader block in a leader block receiving well when the tape is stored in the tape cartridge. A rib is formed on one of the side walls of the tape cartridge to prevent the leader block from being driven into the tape cartridge by an external force.

Abstract: A one-piece retail container removably secures a substantially rigid item, such as a compact disc jewel box, in a securing well. The retail container includes a vertically elongated frame forming sides, top and bottom of the retail container and a front plate, integrally formed with the frame, having front and rear surfaces. The vertically elongated frame forms side and bottom walls of a securing well into which a first aperture of the front plate opens. The front plate forms securing well ledges for restraining the substantially rigid item from passing through the front plate from the securing well. Securing well tabs are integrally formed with the frame at the side and bottom walls of the securing well for restraining the substantially rigid item from moving in a rearward direction, while a center rib is integrally formed on the rear surface, of the front plate at the top of the securing well.

Abstract: A tape cassette is described having top and bottom cassette halves, tape reels and low friction washers between the tape reels and the cassette halves. Each tape reel is made of a plastic hub connected to two plastic flanges, each flange having intentionally curved circumferential edges. Each flange also has a raised, annular centering ring abutting and rotating only on the washers for rotatably supporting the tape reels relative to the tape cassette. These centering rings minimize friction, prevent skewing of the tape reels relative to each other and, along with the curved edges of the flanges, permit the tape to be wound without damage.

Abstract: An internal, self-locking hub assembly for a compact, audio, tape cassette is described, including a locking member with at least one movable portion and a spring. The cassette includes at least one receptacle formed in the raised annular rings thereof. The spring normally forces the movable portion radially inward in a direction parallel to the plane of the hub, wherein the movable portion engages the at least one receptacle in the raised annular ring, and locks the hub against rotation. On the other hand, when the tape cassette is placed into a tape player/recorder, the spindle thereof enters the center of the hub, abuts and moves the at least one movable portion radially outward against the force of the spring, thereby unlocking the at least one movable portion from the at least one receptacle and permitting normal rotation of the hub.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus using an ionized fluid, such as air, to dislodge charged debris from a workpiece includes a ground corona comb disposed adjacent the workpiece. The ground corona comb has a jagged edge which conforms to the surface of the workpiece. The ground corona comb is attached to a vacuum device which suctions the dislodged debris from the vicinity of the workpiece. Utilization of the ground corona comb reduces the time required for the cleaning process by quickly discharging all electrical charges on the debris enabling the debris to be swiftly suctioned off by the vacuum device.

Abstract: An assembly tray is injection molded with an open bottom to provide access to articles supported by the tray during manufacturing. Gear teeth are included on the bottom of the tray in the shape of a timing belt for indexing the tray during manufacturing. Stacking ledges are provided in the rim on top of the tray so that one tray can be stacked on top of another without sticking. A torsion box is provided on the sides of the tray to provide torsional stability. The assembly tray can be selected from a stack of other trays, used in automated manufacturing and stacked in another stack. The assembly tray is particularly suited for assemblying components of tape cassettes.

Abstract: A leader tape staking rod and related method of assembly are provided. The staking rod includes an injection molded, elongated member having two opposing, substantially flat sides, two opposing, substantially curved sides, a first end and a second end, and a square-shaped opening formed through the elongated member from the first end to the second end. The method uses a tool having a corresponding square-shaped tip for engaging and transporting the staking rod to the vicinity of the leader block which receives the leader tape in a substantially cylindrical opening. The staking rod is then inserted into the opening formed in the leader block in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the opening with its two opposing, substantially flat sides adjacent the mouth of the opening.

Abstract: A write/protect tab assembly including a substantially planar jacket base and a write/protect tab slidably mounted in a tab pocket formed in the jacket base, such that the tab is encaptured by the jacket base. The tab is alternatively encaptured by: a latch formed at the tab pocket for receiving the tab; shelf-like projections formed on the tab pocket for receiving corresponding elongated recesses formed on the sides of the tab; a cap attached to the tab with the tab pocket being disposed between the tab and the cap; or guides formed adjacent the tab pocket for receiving in sliding relation the sides of the tab. The present invention also includes a method of encapturing the tabs in the jacket base before the cover is positioned on the jacket base.

Abstract: A wiper spring attached to a ramp formed in a floppy disc jacket base, which biases against a fabric liner to force the fabric liner against the floppy disc. The wiper spring is preferably metal, such as phosphor bronze, berilium copper or stainless steel. The wiper spring is attached to the jacket base by two or more posts formed on the base which protrude through openings formed in the spring and which are peened to hold the spring in place.

Abstract: An improved coined reel leaf spring for a video tape cassette is provided having a central portion and arms emanating therefrom. The arms include at least one rib formed therein adding strength to the arms and allowing a one-half reduction in the conventional thickness of the coined reel leaf spring required to effect bending and biasing. The reduced thickness, of course, reduces material costs for the coined reel leaf spring and overall production costs for the tape cassette.

Abstract: An assembly tray is injection molded with an open bottom to provide access to articles supported by the tray during manufacturing. Gear teeth are included on the bottom of the tray in the shape of a timing belt for indexing the tray during manufacturing. Stacking ledges are provided in the rim on top of the tray so that one tray can be stacked on top of another without sticking. A torsion box is provided on the sides of the tray to provide torsional stability. The assembly tray can be selected from a stack of other trays, used in automated manufacturing and stacked in another stack. The assembly tray is particularly suited for assemblying components of tape cassettes.

Abstract: A continuous loop tape cassette for use with an external tape player/recorder apparatus, having a cassette base, a cover and a separate tape guide positioned therebetween. The separate tape guide includes an elongated bridge molded of a low friction plastic and having substantially planar top and bottom surfaces, left and right ends with curved, relatively flat, front surfaces which are slightly slanted relative to the substantially planar top and bottom bridge surfaces, and a flange formed integrally of the front top surface of each end. In addition, locating holes are formed at each left and right end to receive corresponding projections formed on the cassette base and to orient the bridge relative to the tape cassette. Finally, there is provided between the left and right ends a leaf spring having a relatively soft, tape contacting member thereon for exerting a uniform pressure on the running tape as it crosses the magnetic head of the external tape player/recorder apparatus.

Abstract: An antitheft container for a compact digital, audio disc, including: a fold-over album having an outer flat sheet of die cut, thin, soft PVC material, an inner shell of thin, rigid vaccum formed PVC material with first and second square portions each having a rib formed therein for engagement with one another when the album is folded over and a middle insert of advertising literature sealed between the inner shell and the outer sheet; and a fold-over protector member having a vacuum-formed clear rigid PVC shell, also with a rib formed thereon, an extending flap and a hinge therebetween for folding the protector member. The front of the protector member temporarily engages the first portion of the inner shell via the complementary ribs, whereas the flap of the protector member folds over the outer sheet of the album.

Abstract: A ribbon cartridge having a self-contained ratchet assembly and drive gear assembly. Three principal components are provided: a drive gear; a ratchet gear spool connected by a ring gear formed thereon to the drive gear; and a take-up spool having internal teeth which are rotatably mounted on a ratchet formed on the external diameter of the ratchet gear spool. The drive gear is driven by a simple printer motor at a constant speed, which, in turn, drives the ratchet gear spool at a constant speed. This action, in turn, drives the take-up spool through the flexible plastic ratchet at a speed that varies with the amount of ribbon accumulating on the take-up spool.

Abstract: An automated apparatus and method for assembling a flexible recording disc, including a single A-ring assembly station having an A-ring pick-up substation and a disc/A-ring assembly substation.

Abstract: A tape cassette pressure flap and pressure flap/cassette housing assembly and related methods for manufacturing the pressure flap and for assembling the pressure flap in the cassette housing. The pressure flap is substantially flat and made of a flexible material. The flap has a first free end with a low coefficient of friction for normally urging a tape portion into contact with a support member of the cassette housing so as to minimize slackness of the tape, and a second end for being fixedly attached to the cassette housing. A piece is formed at the fixed end to form a flange. The fixed end is then inserted between a pair of walls and the support member formed in the cassette housing. The inserted fixed end of the pressure flap terminates at an area formed by the second wall positioned substantially at an angle to the first wall, so that the pressure flap cannot be pushed out of position relative to the tape upon which it resiliently abuts.

Abstract: A tape cassette for use with an external tape player/recorder apparatus having upper and lower cassette halves and an independent tape guide for insertion between the cassette halves. The independent tape guide is a subassembly comprising an elongated bridge molded of plastic and having a top planar surface, a bottom planar surface, a front, a back, a left end and a right end, two pairs of corner posts located substantially centrally of the front and a plurality of lateral projections extending from the front in relatively perpendicular relation to the planes of the top and bottom of the bridge. Each pair of corner posts has holes formed therein to receive a stainless steel pin therethrough also in perpendicular relation to the planes of the top and bottom of the bridge, which together with the plurality of lateral projections define the tape sliding surface.