Combination four-channel two-channel stereophonic endless cartridge tape player

Claim 1

A cartridge tape player, which selectively reproduces fourchannel stereophonic signals or two-channel stereophonic signals recorded on eight tracks on an endless magnetic tape enclosed in a cartridge, for receiving a first cartridge enclosing a tape recorded with the four-channel stereophonic signals of which the first channel signal is recorded on the first and second tracks, the second channel signal on the third and fourth tracks, the third channel signal on the fifth and sixth tracks and the fourth channel signal on the seventh and eighth tracks, and a second cartridge enclosing a tape recorded with the two-channel stereophonic signals of which the first channel signal is recorded on the first to fourth tracks and the second channel signal on the fifth to eighth tracks, said first and second cartridges having different shapes for identifying the respective cartridges, Wherein said tape player comprises: a magnetic head assembly including four magnetic heads arranged as a unit and disposed transversely to the longitudinal direction of the tracks of the magnetic tape, said four magnetic heads being spaced apart from one another a distance corresponding to the spacing between the tracks to trace the tracks, wherein the first head is used for reproducing the first channel signal of the four-channel signals or the first channel signal of the two-channel signals, the second head is used for reproducing the second channel signal of the four-channel signals, the third head is used for reproducing the third channel signal of the four-channel signals or the second channel signal of the two-channel signals, and the fourth head is used for reproducing the fourth channel signal of the four-channel signals; a solenoid; means, responsive to the track ends, for energizing said solenoid; stepping means, responsive to the energization of said solenoid, for stepping said magnetic head assembly so that the magnetic heads are respectively brought into contact with different tracks, said stepping means making one cycle with four steps of the motion of said magnetic head assembly; four amplifiers for amplifying electrical signals; means for connecting a first head of the four magnetic heads with a first amplifier of the four amplifiers; means for connecting a third head of the four magnetic heads with a third amplifier of the four amplifiers, a multivibrator circuit which is normally open; a relay coil connected to the output of said multivibrator circuit; sensing means for detecting the difference between the shapes of the first and second cartridges inserted into the tape player; first switching means, responsive to the detection of said sensing means for the second cartridge, for switching over the second amplifier to connect it in parallel with the first amplifier and for switching over the fourth amplifier to connect it in parallel with the third amplifier, said first switching means, also being responsive to the detection of said sensing means for the first cartridge, for switching over the second amplifier to connect it with a second magnetic head and for switching over the fourth amplifier to connect it with a fourth magnetic head; second switching means for switching over to close four circuits one by one synchronously with the operation of said stepping means, said four circuits being normally open; said first switching means, responsive to the detection of said sensing means for the first cartridge, for further closing said multivibrator circuit in response to the close of the third and fourth circuits of the four circuits by said second switching means to oscillate said multivibrator circuit; means, responsive to the energization of said relay coil by the oscillation current of said multivibrator circuit, for energizing said solenoid until said second switching means closes the first circuit of the four circuits.