Automatic reciprocating magnetic tape recording and reproducing apparatus

Claim 1

AN AUTOMATIC RECIPROCATING MAGNETIC TAPE RECORDING AND REPRODUCING APPARATUS FOR USE WITH A MAGNETIC TAPE HAVING AT LEAST TWO RECORDING TRACKS IN WHICH THE TAPE IS RECIPROCATED TO EFFECT UNINTERRUPTED RECORDING AND REPRODUCING OPERATIONS COMPRISING A DRIVE PULLEY, A CAPSTAN, AN IDLER WHEEL ADAPTED TO TRANSMIT DRIVE POWER FROM SAID DRIVE PULLEY TO SAID CAPSTAN, A FLYWHEEL INTEGRAL WITH SAID CAPSTAN, A REVERSING ROLLER ARRANGED BETWEEN SAID IDLER WHEEL AND SAID FLYWHEEL, MEANS FOR CHANGING THE DIRECTION OF TAPE TRAVEL AT AN APPROPRIATE TIME DURING THE TAPE TRAVEL AND MEANS FOR MOVING SAID REVERSING ROLLER INTO AND OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID IDLER WHEEL AND SAID FLYWHEEL TO CHANGE THE DIRECTION OF ROTATION OF SAID CAPSTAN, REEL PULLEYS AND REEL WHEELS, SAID REEL PULLEYS BEING DISPOSED TO BE BROUGHT INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID REEL WHEELS, SAID REEL PULLEYS BEING ROTATABLE ABOUT SHAFTS RESPECTIVELY SECURED TO SAID REEL WHEELS, ONE OF SAID REEL PULLEYS BEING ADAPTED TO BE DRIVEN BY MEANS OF A BELT, THE OTHER REEL PULLEY BEING ADAPTED TO BE DRIVEN BY MEANS OF AN INTERMEDIATE WHEEL, SAID REEL WHEELS BEING SUPPORTED FOR VERTICAL MOVEMENT BY BEARINGS SECURED TO A BASE PLATE AND FURTHER BEING PROVIDED WITH A FRICTION MEMBER ON THE FACE ABUTTING THE REEL PULLEY TO BE BROUGHT INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH THE FACE OF SAID REEL PULLEY, SOLENOIDS PROVIDED AT THE LOWER END OF EACH OF SAID SHAFTS, ONE OF SAID SOLENOIDS BEING ENERGIZED TO AGREE WITH THE TRAVEL DIRECTION OF THE TAPE TO EFFECT VERTICAL MOVEMENT OF SAID REEL WHEEL AND TO FRICTIONALLY COUPLE ONLY THE REEL WHEEL ASSIGNED FOR WINDING THE TAPE WITH SAID REEL PULLEY SO THAT THE TAPE MAY BE WOUND.