Magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus

Claim 2

A tape recording and reproducing device having magnetic head means for recording signals on and reproducing signals from a magnetic tape passing adjacent said head means in tension from a supply reel to a takeup reel and switch control means movable to a plurality of positions for selectively determining the stop and operating modes of said device, wherein the improvement comprises means yieldably urging said switch control means to the position thereof determining said stop mode, tape engaging means mounted on said device for movement between first and second positions thereof, means for biasing said tape engaging means towards said second position, said tape engaging means being held in said first position by said tape as the tape moves in tension past said head means and being moved towards said second position by said biasing means in the absence of tensioned tape engaged therewith, holding means adapted for selectively holding said switch control means at said positions of the latter determining said stop and operating modes of said device with a relatively great holding force when Said switch control means is at any of said positions thereof determining said operating modes and with a substantially smaller holding force when said switch control means is at said position thereof determining said stop mode, and means operably engaged with said tape engaging means and said holding means for sufficiently increasing said holding force applied by said holding means when said tape engaging means is at said first position to overcome the force of said means urging the switch control means to said position determining the stop mode and thereby hold said switch control means at a position thereof corresponding to an operating mode of said device.

Claim 3

In a tape recording and reproducing device having magnetic head means for recording signals on and reproducing signals from a magnetic tape passing adjacent said head means in tension from a supply reel to a takeup reel and switch control means selectively movable to a plurality of positions for stopping said device and varying the operative modes thereof, apparatus for selectively maintaining said switch control means in each of said positions comprising, a cam member operably connected to said switch control means and having a plurality of recesses formed on the peripheral surface thereof, said recesses corresponding respectively to said switch control means positions, means for selectively engaging said cam recesses, first biasing means urging said selective engaging means into said recesses, said first biasing means being adapted to apply a greater force to said selective recess engaging means at the cam recesses corresponding to said operative modes than at the cam recess corresponding to the stop mode of said device, means engaging said cam member for urging said cam to a position wherein said selective engaging means is engaged with said cam recess corresponding to the stop mode of said device, tape engaging means mounted on said device for movement between first and second positions therein, second biasing means urging said tape engaging means towards said second position, said tape engaging means being held in said first position by said tape as the tape moves in tension past said head means and being moved towards said second position by said second biasing means in the absence of tensioned tape engaged therewith, and means operably engaged with said tape engaging means and said recess engaging means for increasing the force applied by said first biasing means when said tape engaging means is at said first position to overcome the force applied by said cam urging means and hold said recess engaging means in a predetermined recess in said cam corresponding to an operative mode of said device.

Claim 4

In a tape recording and reproducing device having magnetic head means for recording signals on and reproducing signals from a magnetic tape passing adjacent said head means in tension from a supply reel to a takeup reel and switch control means selectively movable to a plurality of positions for stopping said device and varying the operative modes thereof, apparatus for selectively maintaining said switch control means in each of said positions comprising, a cam member operably connected to said switch control means and having a plurality of recesses formed on the peripheral surface thereof, said recesses corresponding respectively to said switch control means positions, means for selectively engaging said cam recesses, first biasing means urging said selective engaging means into said recesses, said first biasing means being adapted to apply a greater force to said selective recess engaging means at the cam recesses corresponding to said operative modes than at the cam recess corresponding to the stop mode of said device, means engaging said cam member for urging said cam to a position wherein said selective engaging means is engaged with said cam recess corresponding to the stop mode of said device, tape engaging means mounted on said device for movement between first and second positions therein, second biasing means urging said tape engaging means towards said second position, said tape engaging means being held in said first position by said tape as the tape moves in tension past said head means and being moved towards said second position by said second biasing means in the absence of tensioned tape engaged therewith, and means operably engaged with said tape engaging means and said recess engaging means for increasing the force applied by said first biasing means when said tape engaging means is at said first position to overcome the force applied by said cam urging means and hold said recess engaging means in a predetermined recess in said cam corresponding to an operative mode of said device.

Claim 5

Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said cam recess corresponding to said stop mode is deeper with respect to the surface of said cam than the remaining recesses thereon.

Claim 6

Apparatus as in claim 3 wherein said means operably engaged with said tape engaging means and said recess engaging means includes first and second pivotally mounted levers, having opposed abutment surfaces thereon, said first lever having said recess engaging means mounted thereon and said first biasing means being operably interconnected between said first and second levers for urging said abutment surfaces into engagement.

Claim 7

Apparatus as in claim 4 wherein said tape engaging means includes stop means thereon operably engaged with said second lever for holding said lever abutment means in spaced relation when said tape engaging means is in said first position whereby the force applied by said first biasing means to said first lever and said recess engaging means is increased.

Claim 8

Apparatus as in claim 5 wherein said stop means is in direct engagement with a surface portion of said second lever when said tape engaging means is in said first position.

Claim 9

In a tape recording and reproducing device having magnetic head means for recording signals on and reproducing signals from a magnetic tape passing adjacent said head means in tensiOn from a supply reel to a takeup reel and switch control means selectively movable to a plurality of positions corresponding respectively to the stop and operating modes of said device, apparatus for selectively maintaining said switch control means in a respective one of said positions comprising, a cam member operably connected to said switch control means and having a plurality of recesses formed on the peripheral surface thereof, said recesses corresponding respectively to said switch control means positions, means for selectively engaging said cam recesses, means engaging said cam member for urging said cam to a position wherein said selective engaging means is engaged with the cam recess corresponding to the stop mode of said device, tape engaging means mounted on said device for movement between first and second positions therein, means biasing said tape engaging means towards said second position, said tape engaging means being held in said first position by said tape as the tape moves, in tension, past head means and being moved towards said second position by said biasing means in the absence of tensioned tape engaged therewith, and releasable lock means operably engaged between said selective engaging means and said tape engaging means for holding said selective engaging means in a predetermined cam recess corresponding to one of the operative modes of said device when said tape engaging means is in said first position, against the bias of said cam urging means and for releasing said selective engaging means when said tape engaging means is moved towards said second position whereby said cam is moved by said cam urging means to the position wherein said selective engaging means is engaged with the cam recess corresponding to the stop mode of the device.

Claim 10

In a tape recording and reproducing device having magnetic head means for recording signals on and reproducing signals from a magnetic tape passing adjacent said head means in tensiOn from a supply reel to a takeup reel and switch control means selectively movable to a plurality of positions corresponding respectively to the stop and operating modes of said device, apparatus for selectively maintaining said switch control means in a respective one of said positions comprising, a cam member operably connected to said switch control means and having a plurality of recesses formed on the peripheral surface thereof, said recesses corresponding respectively to said switch control means positions, means for selectively engaging said cam recesses, means engaging said cam member for urging said cam to a position wherein said selective engaging means is engaged with the cam recess corresponding to the stop mode of said device, tape engaging means mounted on said device for movement between first and second positions therein, means biasing said tape engaging means towards said second position, said tape engaging means being held in said first position by said tape as the tape moves, in tension, past head means and being moved towards said second position by said biasing means in the absence of tensioned tape engaged therewith, and releasable lock means operably engaged between said selective engaging means and said tape engaging means for holding said selective engaging means in a predetermined cam recess corresponding to one of the operative modes of said device when said tape engaging means is in said first position, against the bias of said cam urging means and for releasing said selective engaging means when said tape engaging means is moved towards said second position whereby said cam is moved by said cam urging means to the position wherein said selective engaging means is engaged with the cam recess corresponding to the stop mode of the device.

Claim 11

Apparatus as in claim 7 wherein the cam recess corresponding to said stop mode is deeper with respect to the surface of the cam than the remaining recesses thereon.

Claim 12

Apparatus as in claim 8 wherein said means for selectively engaging said cam recesses includes first and second pivotally mounted levers, said levers having opposed abutment surfaces and tension means normally biasing said abutment surfaces into engagement, said first lever having a recess engaging member thereon adapted to be held in predetermined recess by said tension means, said tape engaging means having a stop means thereon operably engaged with said releasable lock means for holding said lever abutment means in spaced relation when said tape engaging means is in said first position whereby the tension produced by said abutment biasing means is increased to overcome the bias of said cam urging means and hold said recess engaging member in said predetermined recess.

Claim 13

Apparatus as in claim 9 wherein said releasable lock means comprises a pair of pivotally mounted levers, biasing means pivotally interconnecting said lock levers for urging said levers in a common rotational direction about their respective pivot points, one of said lock levers having a cam surface and an abutment member for operably engaging said stop means when said tape engaging means is in said first position and said recess engaging member is at said predetermined recess, the other of said lock levers having a cam surface and means thereon for engaging the cam surface of said one lock lever, and said second lever includes means for engaging the cam surface of said other lock lever, whereby, as said switch control means is moved from the position thereof corresponding to said stop mode to a position thereof corresponding to an operative mode of said apparatus, said first and second levers are pivoted as said recess engaging member is moved out of the stop mode recess to engage said second lever engaging means with the cam surface of said other lock lever and the engaging means of said other lock lever with the cam surface of said one lock lever thereby moving said levers in counterrotation to said lever biasing means to engage said one lock lever abutment means wIth said stop means and increase the tension produced by said abutment biasing means.