Tape recorder/reproducer deactivating device

Claim 1

In a tape recording and reproducing apparatus of the type in which the tape is contained in a cassette having a supply reel and a takeup reel rotatably supported therein with opposite ends of the tape secured to the core of said takeup and said supply reel, respectively, a combination comprising tape drive means for winding the tape from one onto the other reel, the tape being subjected to increased pull when completely wound up on one of said reels, particularly about said takeup reel, while the tape drive means are active; erasing and scanning members adapted to engage the tape; a pair of shiftable components respectively supporting said cassette and said erasing and scanning members for movement relative to each other between an active position in which said members engage the tape and a deactivated position in which said members are spaced from said tape; biasing means cooperating with said components and tending to move the same to said deactivated position; latch means movable between a locking position cooperating with said components to hold the latter against the force of said biasing means in said active position and a releasing position; operator controlled means for moving said latch means at the will of the operator between said locking and said releasing position; sensing means biased into engagement with a portion of the tape between said supply and said takeup reel for continuously sensing the pull applied to the tape, said sensing means being subjected to a signally displacement upon occurrence of said increased pull; and apparatus deactivating means mechanically connected to said sensing means and comprising latch unlocking means triggered for unlocking said latch means by said signally displacement of said sensing means.