Track indicator for a tape player

Claim 2

In a multitrack tape recording or reproducing device for receiving a tape and having a transducer head which is positioned adjacent predetermined ones of the tracks on the tape under control of a head positioning device, a head position indicating apparatus including in combination: an indicating panel with a plurality of fixed indicating portions corresponding to different head positions to indicate the track to which the head is positioned; a source of light; light channel means between the source of light and the indicating panel; first control means positioned for movement with the head and cooperating with the light channel means to cause light from the source of light to be channeled by the channel means to a selected indicating portion of the panel corresponding to the head position; and second control means for preventing the channeling of light by the channel means when no tape is in said recording/reproducing device and for enablIng the channeling of light from the source of light by the channel means when tape is received by the recording/reproducing device.

Claim 3

In a multitrack tape recording or reproducing device for receiving tape cartridges and having a transducer head which is positioned adjacent predetermined ones of the tracks on the tape in such cartridges under control of a head positioning device, a head position indicating apparatus including in combination: an indicating panel with a plurality of fixed indicating portions corresponding to different head positions to indicate the track to which the head is positioned; a source of light; light channel means between the source of light and the indicating panel; a lever carrying the source of light normally biased to a first position so that substantially no light is channeled by the channel means to the indicating panel, the lever having a camming portion for engagement by a tape cartridge to move the lever to a second position where light is channeled by the light channel means to the indicating portions of the indicating panel; and control means positioned for movement with the head and cooperating with the light channel means to cause light from the source of light to be channeled by the channel means to a selected indicating portion of the indicating panel corresponding to the head position.

Claim 4

In a multitrack tape recording or reproducing device for receiving tape cartridges and having a transducer head which is positioned adjacent predetermined ones of the tracks on the tape in such cartridges under control of a head positioning device, a head position indicating apparatus including in combination: an indicating panel with a plurality of fixed indicating portions corresponding to different head positions to indicate the track to which the head is positioned; a source of light; light channel means between the source of light and the indicating panel; a lever carrying the source of light normally biased to a first position so that substantially no light is channeled by the channel means to the indicating panel, the lever having a camming portion for engagement by a tape cartridge to move the lever to a second position where light is channeled by the light channel means to the indicating portions of the indicating panel; and control means positioned for movement with the head and cooperating with the light channel means to cause light from the source of light to be channeled by the channel means to a selected indicating portion of the indicating panel corresponding to the head position.

Claim 5

The combination according to claim 2 further including a further light channel and a further indicating portion on the indicating panel, the further light channel being between the further indicating portion and the position of the light source when the lever is in the first position.

Claim 6

In a multitrack tape recording or reproducing device for receiving a tape and having a transducer head which is positioned adjacent predetermined ones of the tracks on the tape under control of a head positioning device, a head position indicating apparatus including in combination: an indicating panel with a plurality of fixed indicating portions corresponding to different head positions to indicate the track to which the head is positioned; a source of light; a single light channel movably mounted between the source of light and the indicating portions of the indicating panel; and control means positioned for movement with the head for moving the light channel to conduct light from the source of light to a different indicating portion of the indicating panel for each different head position.

Claim 7

In a multitrack tape recording or reproducing device for receiving a tape and having a transducer head which is positioned adjacent predetermined ones of the tracks on the tape under control of a head positioning device, a head position indicating apparatus including in combination: an indicating panel with a plurality of fixed indicating portions corresponding to different head positions to indicate the track to which the head is positioned; a source of light; a single light channel movably mounted between the source of light and the indicating portions of the indicating panel; and control means positioned for movement with the head for moving the light channel to conduct light from the source of light to a different indicating portion of the indicating panel for each different head position.

Claim 8

The combination according to claim 4 wherein the light channel is a light tube pivotally positioned between the source of light and the indicating portions of the indicating panel and wherein the control means is a lever arm coupled for movement with the head positioning mechanism and coupled to the light channel means for pivoting the same to conduct light from the source of light to the different indicating portions in accordance with the head position.

Claim 9

In a multitrack tape recording or reproducing device for receiving a tape and having a transducer head which is positioned adjacent predetermined ones of the tracks on the tape under control of a head positioning device, a head position indicating apparatus including in combination: an indicating panel with a plurality of fixed indicating portions corresponding to different head positions to indicate the track to which the head is positioned; a source of light; a plurality of light channels corresponding to the number of indicating portions in the indicating panel and each terminating in a different indicating portion; and an extension lever carried by the head positioning mechanism, with the source of light mounted on the extension lever adjacent one end of the light channels so that the source of light is positioned by the movement of the extension lever opposite one end of a different light channel for each different position of the head.

Claim 10

In a multitrack tape recording or reproducing device for receiving a tape and having a transducer head which is positioned adjacent predetermined ones of the tracks on the tape under control of a head positioning device, a head position indicating apparatus including in combination: an indicating panel with a plurality of fixed indicating portions corresponding to different head positions to indicate the track to which the head is positioned; a source of light; a plurality of light channels corresponding to the number of indicating portions in the indicating panel and each terminating in a different indicating portion; and an extension lever carried by the head positioning mechanism, with the source of light mounted on the extension lever adjacent one end of the light channels so that the source of light is positioned by the movement of the extension lever opposite one end of a different light channel for each different position of the head.

Claim 11

The combination according to claim 6 wherein the source of light includes a light bulb at a fixed Location relative to the extension lever, and further includes a shutter on the extension lever between the light bulb bulb and the light channel for permitting light from the light bulb to impinge upon the end of only one of the plurality of light channels corresponding to the position of the head.

Claim 12

In a multitrack tape recording or reproducing device for receiving tape for recording or reproduction and having a transducer head which is positioned adjacent predetermined ones of the tracks under control of a head positioning device, a head position indicating apparatus including in combination: an indicating panel with a plurality of fixed indicating portions corresponding to different head positions to indicate the track to which said head is positioned; a source of light; light channel means between the source of light and the indicating panel; first control means positioned for movement with the head and cooperating with the light channel means to permit light from the source of light to be channeled by the channel means to a selected indicating portion of the indicating panel corresponding to the head position; and second control means responsive to the receipt of tape by the tape recording or reproducing device for enabling the first control means for controlling the channeling of light from the source of light to the indicating panel.

Claim 13

In a multitrack tape recording or reproducing device for receiving tape for recording or reproduction and having a transducer head which is positioned adjacent predetermined ones of the tracks under control of a head positioning device, a head position indicating apparatus including in combination: an indicating panel with a plurality of fixed indicating portions corresponding to different head positions to indicate the track to which said head is positioned; a source of light; light channel means between the source of light and the indicating panel; first control means positioned for movement with the head and cooperating with the light channel means to permit light from the source of light to be channeled by the channel means to a selected indicating portion of the indicating panel corresponding to the head position; and second control means responsive to the receipt of tape by the tape recording or reproducing device for enabling the first control means for controlling the channeling of light from the source of light to the indicating panel.

Claim 14

The combination according to claim 8 wherein the second control means includes a lever carrying a shutter means with the shutter means being in a light blocking position between the indicating panel and the source of light when no tape is in the recording/reproducing device, the lever having a camming portion for engagement when tape is received by the recording/reproducing device to move the lever to a second, light passing position.

Claim 15

The combination according to claim 9 further including a further light channel and a further indicating portion on the indicating panel, the further light channel being located between the source of light and the further indicating portion and being unaffected by the first and second control means.