Playback arrangement for tape recorders and the like

Claim 1

IN A PLAYBACK APPARATUS FOR MAGNETIC TAPE AND THE LIKE, IN COMBINATION, ROTARY TAKE-UP REEL MEANS; DRIVE MEANS FOR DRIVING SAID REEL MEANS AT A GIVEN SPEED; TIME INDICATING MEANS COOPERATING WITH A TAPE ON SAID REEL MEANS FOR INDICATING THE TIME REQUIRED FOR ANY PART OF THE TAPE TO REACH A GIVEN LOCATION DURING WINDING OF THE TAPE ON TO SAID REEL MEANS WHEN THE LATTER IS DRIVEN AT SAID GIVEN SPEED; MEANS COOPERATING WITH SAID REEL MEANS FOR MAINTAINING A TAPE WOUND ON TO OR OFF FROM SAID REEL MEANS TAUT; MANUALLY OPERABLE MEANS COOPERATING WITH SAID DRIVE MEANS FOR ACTUATING THE LATTER TO DRIVE SAID REEL MEANS IN ONE DIRECTION OR THE OTHER AT SAID GIVEN SPEED, WHEREBY THE TIME REQUIRED FOR A PART OF THE TAPE HAVING A GIVEN TIME INDICATION TO REACH SAID LOCATION DURING DRIVING OF SAID REEL MEANS IS EQUAL TO THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SAID GIVEN TIME INDICATION AND THE TIME INDICATION OF THE PART OF THE TAPE WHICH HAPPENS TO BE AT SAID LOCATION; AND TIMING MEANS COOPERATING WITH SAID DRIVE MEANS FOR LIMITING THE PERIOD OF OPERATION THEREOF TO SAID TIME REQUIRED FOR SAID PART OF THE TAPE HAVING SAID GIVEN TIME INDICATION TO REACH SAID LOCATION.