Web end sensing and reversing apparatus

Claim 2

In combination with a recording and/Or reproducing machine wherein means are provided for moving a web which extends along a guide path past a transducer, the improvement which comprises: means defining a web guide path, a web extending along said guide path, said web being formed with at least one longitudinal slot spaced from an end thereof, a first member supported adjacent one side of said web guide path for rotation about an axis which is perpendicular to the direction of movement of said web along and parallel to at least the adjacent portion of said web guide path, said member extending from said axis transverse to said guide path to a position on the opposed side of said path, a second member supported on said first member for rotation about an axis parallel to said first member axis on the opposed side of said web guide path from said first member axis, said second member extending from its axis to contact said web to one side of a plane defined by said first and second member axes and in alignment with the path of said longitudinal web slot as said web moves along said guide path and being formed to engage said longitudinal slot, means biasing said second member into contact with said web, and means for performing a control function on said web moving means in response to rotation of said first and second members by said web upon engagement of said web slot by said second member.

Claim 3

The combination of claim 1 wherein said means defining a guide path includes a rotatable guide pulley around a portion of the periphery of which said web is guided, said guide pulley being supported coaxially with said first member.

Claim 4

The combination of claim 2 wherein said second member contacts said web in the area in which said web contacts the periphery of said guide pulley.

Claim 5

The combination of claim 3 wherein said guide pulley is formed with a peripheral slot aligned with the path of said web slot around said guide pulley to facilitate engagement of said web slot by said second member.

Claim 6

The combination of claim 1 including means for disengaging said second member from said web slot upon activation of said means for reversing the direction of movement of said web.

Claim 7

The combination of claim 1 wherein said means for performing a control function on said web moving means includes means for reversing the direction of movement of said web along said guide path.

Claim 8

The combination of claim 6 wherein said web is adapted to carry signals in at least two parallel longitudinal tracks, wherein said transducer is movable transversely of the width of said web path and normally aligned with one of said tracks, and including means for positioning said transducer in alignment with a different one of said tracks upon reversal of the direction of movement of said web.

Claim 9

The combination of claim 7 wherein said means for positioning said transducer includes a rotatable axially stepped positioner formed with steps engageable with said transducer, each step corresponding to a different one of said tracks on said web, a rotatable axially inclined cam for disengaging said transducer from said positioner and returning it to said positioner during one revolution of said cam about its axis, means for rotating said cam through one revolution upon reversing of said web, and means for rotating said positioner while said transducer is held out of engagement by said cam to position a different one of said steps for engagement with said transducer.

Claim 10

The combination of claim 7 wherein said web in extending along said guide path presents a pair of parallel coplanar passes adjacent the path along which said transducer is movable, wherein said transducer is normally aligned with a track on one of said passes, and wherein said means for positioning said transducer positions said transducer in alignment with a different one of said tracks on the previously unaligned pass of said web.

Claim 11

The combination of claim 1 wherein said means for moving a web comprises: a capstan positioned on oNe side of said web path, means for rotating said capstan continuously about its axis, and a pair of pressure rollers mounted on the opposite side of said web path from said capstan for selective movement toward and away from the capstan, wherein said web in extending along said guide path passes between said capstan and the first of said pressure rollers and returns between said capstan and the second of said pressure rollers, and wherein said means for performing a control function on said web-moving means comprises means for retracting one of said pressure rollers and for advancing the other of said pressure rollers to reverse the direction of movement of said web.

Claim 12

The combination of claim 10 wherein said web is adapted to carry signals in at least two parallel longitudinal tracks, wherein said transducer is supported adjacent said capstan for movement transverse of said web path and normally aligned with one of said tracks on one of said web passes across said capstan, and including means for positioning said transducer in alignment with a different one of said tracks on the previously unaligned pass of said web upon reversal of the direction of movement of said web.

Claim 13

The combination of claim 11 wherein said means for positioning said transducer includes a rotatably axially stepped positioner formed with steps engageable with said transducer, each step corresponding to a different one of said tracks on said web, a rotatable axially inclined cam for disengaging said transducer from said positioner and returning it to said positioner during one revolution of said cam about its axis, means for rotating said cam through one revolution upon reversing of said web, and means for rotating said positioner while said transducer is held out of engagement by said cam to position a different one of said steps for engagement with said transducer.

Claim 14

In combination, a drive shaft, a carrier mounted for oscillatory movement toward and away from said drive shaft on an axis parallel with that of said drive shaft, an eccentrically rotatable member mounted on said carrier for rotation on an axis parallel with that of said drive shaft, means biasing said carrier to urge said eccentric member toward engagement with said drive shaft, rotation of said drive shaft while said eccentric member is engaged therewith effecting rotation of said eccentric member and oscillatory movement of said carrier, means biasing said eccentric member to urge the portion thereof furthest from its axis into engagement with said drive shaft, a cam shaft and at least one cam supported thereon, a driving connection for effecting a single direction rotation of said cam carried by said cam shaft in response to oscillatory movement of said carrier, first releasable holding means associated with said eccentric member for holding the latter against the force of said biasing means with the portion thereof furthest from its axis generally retracted furthest from said drive shaft, second releasable holding means associated with said carrier for holding the latter in a retracted position substantially at its furthest oscillatory excursion from said drive shaft when oscillated to said retracted position, carrier control means for engagement by said second holding means for rendering said second holding means operative to hold said carrier retracted when said cam shaft reaches a preselected position, and eccentric member control means for engaging said first holding means for rendering said first holding means operative to hold said eccentric member retracted when said cam shaft reaches a said preselected position.

Claim 15

In combination, a drive shaft, a carrier mounted for oscillatory movement toward and away from said drive shaft on an axis parallel with that of said drive shaft, an eccentrically rotatable member mounted on said carrier for rotation on an axis parallel with that of said drive shaft, means biasing said carrier to urge said eccentric member toward engagement with said drive shaft, rotation of said drive shaft while said eccentric member is engaged therewith effecting rotation of said eccentric member and oscillatory movement of said carrier, means biasing said eccentric member to urge the portion thereof furthest from its axis into engagement with said drive shaft, a cam shaft and at least one cam supported thereon, a driving connection for effecting a single direction rotation of said cam carried by said cam shaft in response to oscillatory movement of said carrier, first releasable holding means associated with said eccentric member for holding the latter against the force of said biasing means with the portion thereof furthest from its axis generally retracted furthest from said drive shaft, second releasable holding means associated with said carrier for holding the latter in a retracted position substantially at its furthest oscillatory excursion from said drive shaft when oscillated to said retracted position, carrier control means for engagement by said second holding means for rendering said second holding means operative to hold said carrier retracted when said cam shaft reaches a preselected position, and eccentric member control means for engaging said first holding means for rendering said first holding means operative to hold said eccentric member retracted when said cam shaft reaches a said preselected position.

Claim 16

The combination of claim 13 wherein said carrier control means includes an indexing cam carried by said cam shaft for engagement by said second holding means.

Claim 17

The combination of claim 14 wherein said eccentric member control means comprises an extension from said second holding means positioned to hold said first releasable holding means released as said second holding means is released.

Claim 18

The combination of claim 13 wherein said driving connection for effecting rotation of a cam carried by said camshaft in response to oscillatory movement of said carrier comprises a single direction clutch having an oscillatable first member connected to said carrier, a cooperating rotatable second member and means for driving a cam carried by said camshaft in response to rotation of said second member.

Claim 19

The combination of claim 16 wherein said carrier control means includes an indexing cam carried by said camshaft for engagement by said second holding means.

Claim 20

The combination of claim 17 wherein said indexing cam and said second member are secured to said camshaft to effect rotation of said indexing cam in response to rotation of said second member.

Claim 21

In a tape recorder having a rotating capstan and a pressure roller alternately movable into and out of engagement therewith for starting, maintaining, and stopping forward tape drive, the improvement comprising: a carrier mounted for oscillatory movement toward and away from said capstan on an axis parallel with that of said capstan, an eccentrically rotatable member mounted on said carrier for rotation on an axis parallel with that of said capstan, means biasing said carrier to urge said eccentric member toward engagement with said capstan, rotation of said capstan while said eccentric member is engaged therewith effecting rotation of said eccentric member and oscillatory movement of said carrier, means biasing said eccentric member to urge the portion thereof furthest from its axis into engagement with said drive shaft, a camshaft and at least one cam supported thereon, a driving connection for effecting a single direction rotation of said cam carried by said camshaft in response to oscillatory movement of said carrier, first releasable holding means associated with said eccentric member for holding the latter against the force of said biasing means with the portion thereof furthest from its axis generally retracted furthest from said capstan, second releasable holding means associated with said carrier for holding the latter in a retracted position substantially at its furthest oscillatory excursion from said capstan when oscillated to said retracted position, carrier control means for engagement by said second holding means for rendering said second holding means operative to hold said carrier retracted when said camshaft reaches a preselected position, eccentric member control means for engaging said first holding means for rendering said first holding means operative to hold said circular member retracted rendering said first holding means operative to hold said circular member retracted when said camshaft reaches a said preselected position, and means responsive to rotation of said camshaft from one said preselected position to the next adjacent preselected position for moving said pressure roller to its said alternate position.

Claim 22

In a tape recorder having a rotating capstan and a pressure roller alternately movable into and out of engagement therewith for starting, maintaining, and stopping forward tape drive, the improvement comprising: a carrier mounted for oscillatory movement toward and away from said capstan on an axis parallel with that of said capstan, an eccentrically rotatable member mounted on said carrier for rotation on an axis parallel with that of said capstan, means biasing said carrier to urge said eccentric member toward engagement with said capstan, rotation of said capstan while said eccentric member is engaged therewith effecting rotation of said eccentric member and oscillatory movement of said carrier, means biasing said eccentric member to urge the portion thereof furthest from its axis into engagement with said drive shaft, a camshaft and at least one cam supported thereon, a driving connection for effecting a single direction rotation of said cam carried by said camshaft in response to oscillatory movement of said carrier, first releasable holding means associated with said eccentric member for holding the latter against the force of said biasing means with the portion thereof furthest from its axis generally retracted furthest from said capstan, second releasable holding means associated with said carrier for holding the latter in a retracted position substantially at its furthest oscillatory excursion from said capstan when oscillated to said retracted position, carrier control means for engagement by said second holding means for rendering said second holding means operative to hold said carrier retracted when said camshaft reaches a preselected position, eccentric member control means for engaging said first holding means for rendering said first holding means operative to hold said circular member retracted rendering said first holding means operative to hold said circular member retracted when said camshaft reaches a said preselected position, and means responsive to rotation of said camshaft from one said preselected position to the next adjacent preselected position for moving said pressure roller to its said alternate position.

Claim 23

The tape recorder of claim 19 wherein said carrier control means includes an indexing cam carried by said camshaft for engagement by said second holding means.

Claim 24

The tape recorder of claim 20 wherein said eccentric member control means comprises an extension from said second holding means positioned to hold said first releasable holding means released as said second holding means is released.

Claim 25

The tape recorder of claim 19 wherein said driving connection for effecting rotation of a cam carried by said camshaft in response to oscillatory movement of said carrier comprises a single direction clutch having an oscillatable first member connected to said carrier, a cooperating rotatable second member and means for driving a cam carried by said camshaft in response to rotation of said second member.

Claim 26

The tape recorder of claim 22 wherein said carrier control means includes an indexing cam carried by said camshaft for engagement by said second holding means.

Claim 27

The tape recorder of claim 23 wherein said indexing cam and said second member are secured to said camshaft to effect rotation of said indexing cam in response to rotation of said second member.