Unidirectional tape motion detection apparatus and automatic tape return

Claim 2

In a recording device, recording means for recording on a recording medium, control means for moving said recording medium in a first direction relative to said recording means so that said recording means records on said recording medium in a track parallel to an edge of said recording medium and for moving said recording medium in a second direction relative to said recording means, and adjusting means selectively responsive to said recording medium being moved in said second direction for returning a length of said recording medium to the position occupied prior to being moved in said second direction, said adjusting means including a solid state latching circuit having a first switch means operative in response to said control means becoming inoperative when said recording medium is not in said position and a second switch means operative in response to said first switch member becoming operative for moving said recording medium in said first direction.

Claim 3

In a recording device having a control means for moving a tape and a recording means in a first direction and in a second direction relative to each other in a path which is parallel to an edge of said tape and a switch means responsive to motion of said tape as said tape is being moved in said second direction for producing a switch condition, a solid state latching circuit which is responsive to said switch condition and to said control means becoming inoperative and which is arranged to cause said recording device to move said tape in said first direction until saId tape is returned to the position at which said motion began, said solid state latching circuit causing said recording device to move said tape in said first direction by providing a common voltage at a plurality of terminal points, and said solid state latching circuit including a first switching means which is operative in response to a first voltage provided by said switch condition and a second voltage provided from one of said plurality of terminal points, and a second switching means which is operative in response to said first switching means becoming operative and which provides said common voltage to all of said plurality of terminal points and maintains said first switching means operative even though said second voltage is replaced by said common voltage at said one of said plurality of terminal points.

Claim 4

In a recording device having a control means for moving a tape and a recording means in a first direction and in a second direction relative to each other in a path which is parallel to an edge of said tape and a switch means responsive to motion of said tape as said tape is being moved in said second direction for producing a switch condition, a solid state latching circuit which is responsive to said switch condition and to said control means becoming inoperative and which is arranged to cause said recording device to move said tape in said first direction until saId tape is returned to the position at which said motion began, said solid state latching circuit causing said recording device to move said tape in said first direction by providing a common voltage at a plurality of terminal points, and said solid state latching circuit including a first switching means which is operative in response to a first voltage provided by said switch condition and a second voltage provided from one of said plurality of terminal points, and a second switching means which is operative in response to said first switching means becoming operative and which provides said common voltage to all of said plurality of terminal points and maintains said first switching means operative even though said second voltage is replaced by said common voltage at said one of said plurality of terminal points.

Claim 5

In a tape device in which a recording medium is moved relative to a recording means alternately in a first direction and in a second direction opposite said first direction and is moved relative to a transcribing means alternately in said first direction and in said second direction, first signal means for providing a first signal in response to motion of said recording medium relative to said recording means in said first direction when said motion is not to return said recording medium to a position occupied prior to motion in said second direction and for providing a second signal in the absence of said first signal, second signal means for providing a third signal in response to motion of said recording medium relative to said transcribing means in said first direction when said motion is not to return said recording medium to a position occupied prior to motion in said second direction and for providing a fourth signal in the absence of said third signal, and an indicating means for providing indicia which increase in magnitude in response to the simultaneous occurrence of said first signal and said fourth signal.

Claim 6

In a tape device in which a recording medium is moved relative to a recording means alternately in a first direction and in a second direction opposite said first direction and is moved relative to a transcribing means alternately in said first direction and in said second direction, first signal means for providing a first signal in response to motion of said recording medium relative to said recording means in said first direction when said motion is not to return said recording medium to a position occupied prior to motion in said second direction and for providing a second signal in the absence of said first signal, second signal means for providing a third signal in response to motion of said recording medium relative to said transcribing means in said first direction when said motion is not to return said recording medium to a position occupied prior to motion in said second direction and for providing a fourth signal in the absence of said third signal, and an indicating means for providing indicia which increase in magnitude in response to the simultaneous occurrence of said first signal and said fourth signal.

Claim 7

The tape device of claim 3 including adjusting means responsive to said second signal for causing motion of said recording medium in said first direction relative to said recording means.

Claim 8

The tape device of claim 4 in which said adjusting means is responsive to the simultaneous occurrence of said second signal and a first potential and including switch means for providing a second potential different from said first potential when said tape device becomes inoperative, and converting means for converting said second potential into said first potential.

Claim 9

The tape device of claim 3 in which said indicia decrease in magnitude in response to the simultaneous occurrence of said second signal and said third signal.

Claim 10

The tape device of claim 6 in which said indicia remain constant in magnitude in response to the simultaneous occurrence of said first signal and said third signal and in response to the simultaneous occurrence of said second signal and said fourth signal.

Claim 11

The tape device of claim 7 in which said indicating means provides a first electrical condition simultaneously with each of said indicia which is greater in magnitude than zero and which includes a status means for providing a second condition when all of said tape available for motion in said first direction had been moved in said first direction relative to said transcribing means, and a correcting means responsive to simultaneous occurrence of said first condition and said second condition for causing said indicating means to provide an indicium having the magnitude of zero.

Claim 12

In a tape device in which a recording medium is moved from a first tape bin to a second tape bin relative to a recording means and alternately in a first direction and in a second direction opposite to said first direction and in which said recording medium is subsequently moved from said second tape bin to said first tape bin relative to a transcribing means and alternately in said first direction and in said second direction, first signal means for providing a first signal in Response to operation of a first switch positioned in said first tape bin by selective motion of said recording medium relative to said recording means in said first direction and for providing a second signal in the absence of said first signal, second signal means for providing a third signal in response to operation of a second switch positioned in said second tape bin by selective motion of said recording medium relative to said transcribing means in said first direction and for providing a fourth signal in the absence of said third signal, and indicating means for providing indicia in response to the simultaneous occurrence of two signals from a group of signals including said first signal, said second signal, said third signal and said fourth signal.

Claim 13

In a tape device in which a recording medium is moved from a first tape bin to a second tape bin relative to a recording means and alternately in a first direction and in a second direction opposite to said first direction and in which said recording medium is subsequently moved from said second tape bin to said first tape bin relative to a transcribing means and alternately in said first direction and in said second direction, first signal means for providing a first signal in Response to operation of a first switch positioned in said first tape bin by selective motion of said recording medium relative to said recording means in said first direction and for providing a second signal in the absence of said first signal, second signal means for providing a third signal in response to operation of a second switch positioned in said second tape bin by selective motion of said recording medium relative to said transcribing means in said first direction and for providing a fourth signal in the absence of said third signal, and indicating means for providing indicia in response to the simultaneous occurrence of two signals from a group of signals including said first signal, said second signal, said third signal and said fourth signal.