Playback change apparatus for multitrack tape recorder

Claim 2

An operation changing apparatus for tape recorders using multitrack endless tape and having a motor for driving the magnetic tape in contact with a magnetic head assembly, said apparatus comprIsing electric conducting portions on said tape in the proximity of each channel track end and constituting but a small fraction of tape length; an electric power circuit for driving said motor; normally closed first contact means inserted in the electric power circuit for controlling said power circuit; two conductor members mounted to contact the magnetic tape; a power source, one terminal of which is electrically connected to one of said two conductor members; normally open second contact means electrically connected between said two conductor members; relay means having a coil one terminal of which is electrically connected to the other terminal of said power source; said relay means upon energization simultaneously urging said normally closed contact means to open and said normally open contact means to close so that said electric power circuit is opened and said two conductor members short circuit each other; a plunger coil, one terminal of which is electrically connected to the other terminal of said power source; means responsive to the energization of said plunger coil for transferring the magnetic head assembly to an adjacent channel track; first means for electrically connecting the other conductor member to the other terminal of the relay coil so that the rotation of the motor is automatically stopped when said two conductor members contact and are short circuited by said electric conducting portions on the magnetic tape; second means for electrically connecting the other conductor member to the other terminal of the plunger coil so that the magnetic head assembly is automatically transferred to an adjacent channel track on the magnetic tape when said two conductor members simultaneously contact said electric conducting portions; third means for electrically connecting the other conductor member to a terminal having no connection so that the signal of only one channel track being scanned by the magnetic head assembly is repeatedly reproduced; and switch means for selecting one of the operations of said first means, said second means and said third means.

Claim 3

An operation changing apparatus for tape recorders using multitrack endless tape as defined in claim 1 further comprising a second normally opened switch electrically connected between said two conductor members and manually closed to short circuit said two conductor members.

Claim 4

An operation changing apparatus for tape recorders using multitrack endless tape and having a motor for driving the magnetic tape in contact with a magnetic head assembly to reproduce recorded signals, said apparatus comprising electric conducting portions on said tape in the proximity of each channel track end; an electric power circuit for driving said motor; normally closed first contact means in the electric power circuit; two conductor members mounted for contact with the magnetic tape; a power source, one terminal of which is electrically connected to one of said two conductor members; normally opened second contact means electrically connected between said two conductor members; relay means having a coil, one terminal of which is electrically connected to the other terminal of said power source; said relay means upon energizing simultaneously urging said normally closed contact means to open and said normally opened contact means to close so that said electric power circuit is opened and said two conductor members short circuit each other; a plunger coil, one terminal of which is electrically connected to the other terminal of said power source; means responsive to energization of said plunger coil for transferring the magnetic head assembly to an adjacent channel track; and a single pole, three position switch having a movable selector arm and first, second and third contacts, said movable selector arm being electrically connected to the other conductor member, said first contact having no connection, said second contact being electrically connected to the other terminal of said relay coil, said third contact being electrIcally connected to the other terminal of said plunger coil, so that during contact of said movable selector arm with said first contact, the signal of only one channel track being scanned by the magnetic head assembly is repeatedly reproduced, so that during contact of said movable selector arm with said second contact the rotation of the motor is automatically stopped by the energization of said relay coil when said two conductor members make contact with said electric conducting portions of the magnetic tape, so that during contact of said movable selector arm with said third contact the magnetic head assembly is automatically transferred to an adjacent channel track by the energization of said plunger coil when said two conductor members make contact with said electric conducting portions of the magnetic tape.

Claim 5

An operation changing apparatus for tape recorders using multitrack endless tape and having a motor for driving the magnetic tape in contact with a magnetic head assembly to reproduce recorded signals, said apparatus comprising electric conducting portions on said tape in the proximity of each channel track end; an electric power circuit for driving said motor; normally closed first contact means in the electric power circuit; two conductor members mounted for contact with the magnetic tape; a power source, one terminal of which is electrically connected to one of said two conductor members; normally opened second contact means electrically connected between said two conductor members; relay means having a coil, one terminal of which is electrically connected to the other terminal of said power source; said relay means upon energizing simultaneously urging said normally closed contact means to open and said normally opened contact means to close so that said electric power circuit is opened and said two conductor members short circuit each other; a plunger coil, one terminal of which is electrically connected to the other terminal of said power source; means responsive to energization of said plunger coil for transferring the magnetic head assembly to an adjacent channel track; and a single pole, three position switch having a movable selector arm and first, second and third contacts, said movable selector arm being electrically connected to the other conductor member, said first contact having no connection, said second contact being electrically connected to the other terminal of said relay coil, said third contact being electrIcally connected to the other terminal of said plunger coil, so that during contact of said movable selector arm with said first contact, the signal of only one channel track being scanned by the magnetic head assembly is repeatedly reproduced, so that during contact of said movable selector arm with said second contact the rotation of the motor is automatically stopped by the energization of said relay coil when said two conductor members make contact with said electric conducting portions of the magnetic tape, so that during contact of said movable selector arm with said third contact the magnetic head assembly is automatically transferred to an adjacent channel track by the energization of said plunger coil when said two conductor members make contact with said electric conducting portions of the magnetic tape.