Automatic tuning apparatus for a combination radio and tape player unit

Claim 1

An automatic tuning apparatus for a radio receiver in combination with a magnetic tape player, the magnetic tape player having magnetic tape drive means including a capstan, the radio receiver including a radio receiving circuit having a tuning element provided with an operating shaft to vary the receiving frequency, comprising: first and second rotary members; first and second transmission means for imparting the rotational force of said magnetic tape drive means to the said first and second rotational members, respectively, said second transmission means being adapted to rotate said second rotary member at lower speed than said first rotary member and in the direction reverse thereto, said second rotary member and said first rotary member being spaced from each other; a pivotally movable swing lever, an idler wheel mounted on said swing lever and adapted to be driven by abutment against said first or second rotary member; a latch member adapted to engage said swing lever and to maintain said swing lever in a position where said idler wheel abuts against neither said first nor said second rotary member, said latch member being normally biased to a first position where said latch member engages said swing lever; a manually actuated actuating member for moving said latch member from said first position to a second position where the latch member is disengaged from said swing lever, said latch member being adapted to be returned to said first position when said actuating member is released; means for moving said swing lever after disengagement from said latch member to bring and retain said idler wheel into abutment with said first rotary member, whereby said idler wheel is rotated at high speed by said first rotary member; a third transmission means for imparting rotation of said idler wheel to said operating shaft of said tuning element; a sensing circuit for producing an electrical pulse signal in response to sensing that said radio receiver circuit is tuned to a broadcasting radio wave; an electromagnetic device for magnetically moving said swing lever in response to the electric pulse signal to disengage said idler wheel and said first rotary member and to bring and retain said idler wheel into abutment against said second rotary member, said second rotary member being adapted to rotate said operating shaft to a position overrunning a position where said radio receiving circuit is tuned to said broadcasting radio wave, said electromagnetic device being responsive to the next electric pulse signal generated from said sensing circuit to release engagement of said idler wheel and said second rotary member, and means for moving said swing lever, after the disengagement of said idler wheel and said second rotary member, into engagement with said latch member in the first position.