Positioning of magnetic tape cassette on prodn. track - using probe that acts as stop and generates signal to actuator to allow movement to next station

A continuous prodn. process for magnetic tape cassettes requires that they are fed along a track to a point where the leading cassette is stopped, detected and raised to allow transportation to the next stage. The combined detector and actuator (2) is mounted under the track such that the leading edge of a cassette contacts a projecting probe (5). The probe is part of a pivoted (3) lever (6), the end of which (8) is used to trigger an inductive or optical sensor (10). When the cassette hits the probe the lever tilts and the sensor generates a signal. The generated signal is used to activate a cylinder actuator (16) and the end tip (13) raises the cassette to pass over the probe and so continue to the next stage.