Abstract: A loading apparatus for incorporation in an automated system for storing and/or delivering cassettes containing media recording tapes or discs, or other products such as perfumes, cosmetics, and drugs. The apparatus provides storage locations for cassettes in compartments arranged in horizontal rows and vertical columns. In use with media recording tapes or discs, the apparatus includes operating locations at which recording/playback units, for example, VCRs, are mounted in the system in a vertical column adjacent a column of storage compartments. A loading/delivery location is also provided. A loading/unloading apparatus includes a carrier having a movable gripping mechanism mounted for horizontal and vertical movement adjacent the storage unit for gripping and transferring a selected cassette to and from the carrier. The carrier is movable to carry a selected cassette horizontally and vertically between cassette storage compartments and operating, loading, and delivery locations.

Abstract: A single-handle faucet has a valve, a connecting rod and a handle on the connecting rod which can be pivoted between an OFF position and a full ON position. The handle is movably mounted on the connecting rod. When the handle is moved to a first position, the handle is prevented from pivoting past an intermediate position between the OFF position and the full ON position. When the handle is moved to a second position, the handle can be moved to the full ON position.

Abstract: A changer for sequentially playing back at least two records without any interruption includes a magazine for storing records along a number of storage planes in side-by-side compartment and two mechanisms for transferring stored records to and from the magazine, and for playing back the records. The mechanisms are commonly movable relative to the magazine for alignment of one mechanism with a stored record while another record is being played back in the other mechanism.

Abstract: A power-driven apparatus for assisting in loading and unloading a disc into a player or recording apparatus comprising a housing for receiving and supporting the disc, a power-operated movable roller driven by a motor to rotate the disc and a movable detector for energizing the motor for guiding the disc into and out of the housing of the player. The edge of the disc is engaged by the roller which positively rolls the disc along an entrance surface, the roller and entrance surface being covered by a material having a high coefficient of friction so that the roller positively rolls the disc both into and out of the apparatus to assist in the loading and unloading.

Abstract: An automatic loading and unloading mechanism for a slot-type record disc apparatus including three conical elements mounted in a mechanically variable triangle arrangement and having surfaces tapering inwardly in the upward direction and engaging the edge of a disc at an upper portion of said tapering surfaces to hold a disc when the disc is partially inserted into the slot of the apparatus; the conical elements are movable edgewise in the loading and unloading directions while maintained in contact at upper portions thereof with different portions of the edge of the disc as the conical elements move edgewise to move the disc to and from an intermediate position above a drive hub; the conical elements are movable radially outwardly relative to the center of a disc held by the conical elements to lower the disc between the intermediate position and an operating position on a drive hub caused by the edge of the disc riding down the tapered surfaces of the conical elements to lower portions thereof; the conical

Abstract: A suspension system provides a motion damping mounting for carrying a record playback machine comprising a plurality of damping ring assemblies, each having an elastic ring for fastening between a machine and a support, the rings being flattened when secured such that opposite segments of each ring extend substantially straight and parallel such that a component of stress applied to the machine in the direction of the straight segments produces limited rolling movement of a flattened ring, which damps motion of the playback machine in the direction of the straight segments of the flattened ring, the flattened ring also damping motion of the machine vertically and laterally relative to the direction of the straight segments. According to this invention, the damping assembly includes a ring and mounting plates or clips and fasteners for securing the ring to the machine or the support.

Abstract: The disclosure describes a mechanism for loading and unloading cassettes or discs comprising a main frame, spaced side plates fixed on the main frame and having inverted L slots, and a movable frame between these side plates providing a magazine for a cassette or disc. The mechanism further comprises lateral members on the movable frame engaged in the inverted L slots and movable side plates associated with the fixed side plates and mounted on the main frame for rectilinear movement. The movable side plates have inclined slots which receive the lateral members. Further, the mechanism comprises a structure such as a rack and gear arrangement which interconnects the movable side plates for movement in unison. The inclined slots in the movable side plates act to guide the lateral members and the movable frame in a path defined by the inverted L slots between ejected and operating positions of the cassette or disc.

Abstract: A photographic camera converting a captured optical image to a series of electronic signals is disclosed comprising a recording mechanism to record these signals including a recording head which executes transverse scanning movements with reference to a magnetic record medium so that at least one scanning movement corresponds to each image. The magnetic record medium is contained within a cassette that is removable from the camera body.

Abstract: A record player apparatus with a laser reproduction unit and a movable support for moving the reproduction unit across the surface of a record as the record is rotated during a playing operation to position the reproduction unit to reproduce recordings in tracks on the records has a non-volatile memory unit for storing identification information read by the reproduction unit from tracks on the records which retains the information when the power supply is cut off and the reproducing is interrupted while the record is being rotated during a playing operation and has a mechanism for locating the reproduction unit in the position occupied when the power supply was cut off to resume the reproducing at the point of interruption when the power supply is reconnected.

Abstract: A record player having a mechanism for guiding and centering records of different sizes on a driving spindle. Two pairs of levers are mounted on a record carrier at diametrically opposed positions. The levers have generally circular hubs mounted on pivots carried by the record support and extending arms including record engaging studs. Insertion of a record engages the studs to pivot the arms which guide the record to a centered position. Alignment of slots in the hubs of at least one of the pairs of levers sense the proper positioning of the record and trigger the player to rotate the record carrier from the load to the play position.

Abstract: A disc or record cleaning device especially for laser-read discs having digital recordings is provided in a disc storage container and incorporates a cleaning member with which the disc or record is brought into contact so as to clean the disc by a relative movement with respect to the cleaning member. The cleaning member is a fibrous pad and is either fixed and the disc rotated or the disc is held stationary and the cleaning pad rotated or translated. The storage container is provided by sections movable relative to one another, either articulated about a common pivot or translatable. The relative movement of the sections is coupled to move the disc and cleaning member relatively for cleaning the disc.

Abstract: A disc cleaning device is provided in an apparatus for transferring information to or from a disc, which apparatus includes a base, means for rotating the disc, and means for transferring information to or from the disc, the information transferring means held by an arm movably mounted on the base, the disc cleaning device comprising means for cleaning the disc mounted rotatably on the arm, means for operatively associating the disc cleaning means with a surface of the disc when the information transferring means is in an inoperative mode, and means for disassociating the disc cleaning means from the surface of the disc when the information transferring means is in an operative mode.

Abstract: Loading and unloading mechanism for slot type disc player apparatus incorporates a device for transferring a disc to the disc drive after it has been inserted through a slot and for transferring the disc from the disc drive and ejecting it through the slot after the playing operation has been completed. A disc carrier plate is mounted on the frame of the apparatus for helical movement between a first position adjacent the slot and a second position adjacent the disc drive. A spring or a motor provides power to rotate the carrier plate, which rotational movement is translated to helical movement by helical ramp members and cooperating bearing members. Control devices are included to provide automatic operation.

Abstract: A disc player apparatus having mechanism for guiding and centering disc records of different size on a disc record drive having a vertical spindle. A horizontal plate for receiving a disc record inserted and movable along a horizontal path to a position centered on the spindle has spaced levers pivotally movable laterally outwardly from a first position straddling the center line of the path and resiliently urged toward each other; the levers have a first position spaced sufficiently to engage an inserted disc record of either a small size or a large size and be moved outwardly thereby against the resilient element to guide a record of either size to centered position. A pair of generally L-shaped stop members are mounted on the plate straddling the center line in the path of an inserted small size record to locate such a record in its centered position.

Abstract: A detector system for the operative face of a disc carrying data on one face only is applicable to a laser or optical reading means which is located in turntable apparatus whereby the user is warned of the fact that the disc is placed upside-down and that, therefore, the data which it carries cannot be reproduced. A control signal is generated by the detector system, producing a warning or tripping an operation such as the rejection of the disc or the interruption of the insertion movement.

Abstract: An electronic still camera is disclosed having an optical system, a transducer in the form of CCD image sensors for producing image representing signals responsive to an image focused on the sensors by the optical system, an actuable shutter control and circuits in the camera for transmitting image representing signals from the transducer to a recording device having a plurality of individual no-volatile integrated circuit memory units. A controller means in the form of a microprocessor is operated by a shutter control and controls the transmission of image representing signals from the transducer through the circuits to record only a separate single image in each of the individual memory units.

Abstract: A disc record apparatus having a fixed housing including an entrance slot for a disc record and a surface to slidably receive a disc record inserted edge first in its own plane through said slot to a playing position has a drive spindle for the disc record mounted in a spindle or motor housing for translation axially of the spindle and perpendicularly relative to the plane of the disc record. The spindle is movable in tranlation from an insertion position displaced from the plane of the record to an operative position in engagement centrally with a disc record in playing position for rotating the disc record. A motor driven cam member translates the spindle housing. A movable gate is provided for the entrance slot and the motor driven cam member is connected for opening and closing the gate so that a disc record may be inserted or ejected coordinated with translation movement of the spindle.

Abstract: A cleaning device for razor cartridges, particularly of the "twin blade" type, having a casing with a socket into which a cartridge may be snapped in place, the casing having an inlet for water from a faucet and channels directing the flow of water and producing jets, the cartridge being held such that the jets are aimed directly at the space between the blades so that water flows between and around the blades and through passages in the cartridge to flush accumulated soap and shaving residue; the cleaning device is disclosed in the cap of a shaving foam dispenser and in the case in which the razors are put on sale.

Abstract: An audio-visual cartridge containing two coplanar adjacent rotatable discs, a visual disc carrying a plurality of picture transparencies mounted in a ring for successive viewing and an audio disc having sound recording tracks on a face thereof for individual sound recordings corresponding to transparencies, the cartridge being in the form of a flat envelope having a first and second internal compartment disposed in coplanar relation for accommodating the discs. An apparatus for reproducing recordings while a user views transparencies on discs contained in an audio-visual cartridge is provided with a manual selector for rotating the visual disc and a motor drive for rotating the audio disc, an optical viewer for reading the transparencies, an audio device for reading sound tracks and reproducing recordings and a circuit and mechanism for coordinating the rotation of the discs so that individual recordings corresponding to transparencies are reproduced while the corresponding transparencies are being viewed.

Abstract: A mechanism for controlling the return movement of cassettes in slide-in type tape decks by utilizing a movable frame to return the cassettes and momentarily interrupt the return movement of the movable frame at a point in its travel where at least one of the drive members penetrating the cassettes in the operative position is still engaged in the cassettes.