Magnetic tape head indexing assembly for cartridge type tape player

Claim 2

In a cartridge type tape player adapted to receive and play a cartridge having a multi-track recording tape therein, and including a magnetic tape head having a magnetic pick-up area formed thereon, said tape head being mounted for movement with respect to said tape for aligning said pick-up area with the various tracks on said tape, a tape head indexing assembly including a cam member positioned at a fixed location and mounted for rotation thereat having a plurality of cam surfaces coacting with said tape head for moving the latter to different positions with respect to said tape tracks and cam driver means coupled to said cam member and movable between first and second positions to rotate said cam member for positioning a different one of said cam surfaces into coacting relation with said tape head, cam driver actuating means for moving said cam driver means between said first and second positions when desired to change the position of said tape head with respect to the various tracks of said magnetic recording tape, said actuating means including a lever arm pivotal about a first point for movement between normal and set positions, said lever arm coupled at one end to said cam driver means for movement thereof from said first to said second position in response to the movement of said lever arm from said normal to said set position, bistable means movable to first and second stable states coupled to the opposite end of said lever arm and actuator means engageable with said bistable means to move the latter from said first to said second stable state, said bistable means in response thereto, pivoting said lever arm from said normal to said set position thereby to rotate said cam member for indexing said tape head to a different position with respect to said tape tracks.

Claim 3

A cartridge type tape player as claimed in claim 1 wherein said actuator means comprises a solenoid having a movable armature engageable with said bistable means when the latter is in said first stable state and operable to move said bistable means from said first to said second stable state.

Claim 4

In a cartridge type tape player adapted to receive and play a cartridge having a multi-track recording tape therein, and including a magnetic tape head having a magnetic pick-up area formed thereon, said tape head being mounted for movement with respect to said tape for aligning said pick-up area with the various tracks on said tape, a tape head indexing assembly including a cam member having a plurality of cam surfaces coacting with said tape head for moving the latter to different positions with respect to said tape and cam driver means coupled to said cam member and movable to change the position of said cam member, cam driver actuating means for moving said cam driver means when desired to change the position of said tape head with respect to said magnetic recording tape, said actuating means including a lever arm pivotal about a first point and coupled at one end to said cam driver means, bistable means movable to first and second stable states coupled to the opposite end of said lever arm and actuator means engageable with said bistable means to move the latter from said first to said second stable state, said bistable means in response thereto pivoting said lever arm from a normal to a set position thereby to reposition said cam member for indexing said tape head to a different position, and wherein said bistable means comprises a second lever arm pivotal at a predetermined point thEreon and a spring member connected to a free end of said lever arm and said opposite end of said first lever arm, said free end of said lever arm being positioned in said first stable state for engagement by said actuator means, whereby the latter pivots said second lever arm from said first to said second stable state thereby to rapidly pivot said first lever arm to reposition said cam.

Claim 5

In a cartridge type tape player adapted to receive and play a cartridge having a multi-track recording tape therein, and including a magnetic tape head having a magnetic pick-up area formed thereon, said tape head being mounted for movement with respect to said tape for aligning said pick-up area with the various tracks on said tape, a tape head indexing assembly including a cam member having a plurality of cam surfaces coacting with said tape head for moving the latter to different positions with respect to said tape and cam driver means coupled to said cam member and movable to change the position of said cam member, cam driver actuating means for moving said cam driver means when desired to change the position of said tape head with respect to said magnetic recording tape, said actuating means including a lever arm pivotal about a first point and coupled at one end to said cam driver means, bistable means movable to first and second stable states coupled to the opposite end of said lever arm and actuator means engageable with said bistable means to move the latter from said first to said second stable state, said bistable means in response thereto pivoting said lever arm from a normal to a set position thereby to reposition said cam member for indexing said tape head to a different position, and wherein said bistable means comprises a second lever arm pivotal at a predetermined point thEreon and a spring member connected to a free end of said lever arm and said opposite end of said first lever arm, said free end of said lever arm being positioned in said first stable state for engagement by said actuator means, whereby the latter pivots said second lever arm from said first to said second stable state thereby to rapidly pivot said first lever arm to reposition said cam.

Claim 6

In a cartridge type tape player adapted to receive and play a cartridge having a multi-track recording tape therein, and including a magnetic tape head having a magnetic pick-up area formed thereon, said tape head being mounted for movement with respect to said tape for aligning said pick-up area with the various tracks on said tape, a tape head indexing assembly including a cam member having a plurality of cam surfaces coacting with said tape head for moving the latter to different positions with respect to said tape and cam driver means coupled to said cam and movable to change the position of said cam member, cam driver actuating means for moving said cam driver means when desired to change the position of said tape head with respect to said magnetic recording tape, said actuating means including a lever arm pivotal about a first point and coupled at one end to said cam driver means, bistable means movable to first and second stable states coupled to the opposite end of said lever arm and actuator means engageable with said bistable means to move the latter from said first to said second stable state, said bistable means in response thereto, pivoting said lever arm from a normal to a set position thereby to reposition said cam member for indexing said tape head to a different position, wherein said cam driver actuating means further includes restoration means engageable with and for pivotally returning said lever arm to said normal position to restore said bistable means to said first stable state, and further including a rotatable capstan shaft engageable with the multi-track tape in said cartridge for driving said tape through said cartridge, a drive motor and a flywheel mounted for rotation with said capstan shaft and coupled to said drive motor and wherein said restoration means includes a reset member mounted on said flywheel radially outwardly from the axis of rotation thereof, said reset member revolving into engagement with said lever arm upon the latter being in said pivoted position to return the lever arm to a normal position.

Claim 7

In a cartridge type tape player adapted to receive and play a cartridge having a multi-track recording tape therein, and including a magnetic tape head having a magnetic pick-up area formed thereon, said tape head being mounted for movement with respect to said tape for aligning said pick-up area with the various tracks on said tape, a tape head indexing assembly including a cam member having a plurality of cam surfaces coacting with said tape head for moving the latter to different positions with respect to said tape and cam driver means coupled to said cam and movable to change the position of said cam member, cam driver actuating means for moving said cam driver means when desired to change the position of said tape head with respect to said magnetic recording tape, said actuating means including a lever arm pivotal about a first point and coupled at one end to said cam driver means, bistable means movable to first and second stable states coupled to the opposite end of said lever arm and actuator means engageable with said bistable means to move the latter from said first to said second stable state, said bistable means in response thereto, pivoting said lever arm from a normal to a set position thereby to reposition said cam member for indexing said tape head to a different position, wherein said cam driver actuating means further includes restoration means engageable with and for pivotally returning said lever arm to said normal position to restore said bistable means to said first stable state, and further including a rotatable capstan shaft engageable with the multi-track tape in said cartridge for driving said tape through said cartridge, a drive motor and a flywheel mounted for rotation with said capstan shaft and coupled to said drive motor and wherein said restoration means includes a reset member mounted on said flywheel radially outwardly from the axis of rotation thereof, said reset member revolving into engagement with said lever arm upon the latter being in said pivoted position to return the lever arm to a normal position.

Claim 8

A cartridge type tape player as claimed in claim 4 wherein said recording tape includes a predetermined number of tracks, wherein said tape head indexing cam member is mounted for rotation and includes an equal number of cam surfaces each comprising a predetermined area of said cam member and wherein upon actuation of said bistable means from said first to said second stable store, said cam member is rotated approximately one-half the distance of said section and upon operation of said restoration means for restoring said lever arm to said first position, said cam member is rotated the additional one-half of the distance, thereby to position a successive cam surface with respect to said tape head for indexing the latter with respect to said tape.

Claim 9

A tape head indexing assembly for use in a cartridge type tape player adapted to receive and play a cartridge having a multi-track recording tape mounted therein for movement therethrough and including a continually driven capstan drive shaft engageable with and for driving the tape through said cartridge, means coupled to said capstan shaft for continual rotation therewith and a magnetic tape head having a magnetic pick-up area formed thereon, said magnetic tape head being mounted for movement in a direction transverse the movement of said tape through said cartridge for aligning said pick-up area with the various tracks on said tape, said tape head indexing assembly including in combination; a cam member having a plurality of cam surfaces coacting with said tape head for moving the latter to a predeTermined number of positions with respect to said tape, cam driver means coupled to said cam and movable in predetermined directions to change the position of said cam member, cam driver actuating means for moving the cam driver means in said predetermined directions, said actuating means including a movable arm member coupled to said cam driver means, a bistable mechanism movable to first and second stable states coupled to said movable arm member, actuator means engageable with said bistable mechanism to move the latter from said first to said second stable state, said bistable means in turn moving the arm member of said actuating means in a first direction to initiate a change in position of said cam member, and restoration means mounted on said continuously rotating means engageable with said arm member to move the latter in a direction opposite from said first one of said directions to complete the change in position of said cam member, thereby to move said tape head and align said pick-up area with a different track on said tape.

Claim 10

A tape head indexing assembly for use in a cartridge type tape player adapted to receive and play a cartridge having a multi-track recording tape mounted therein for movement therethrough and including a continually driven capstan drive shaft engageable with and for driving the tape through said cartridge, means coupled to said capstan shaft for continual rotation therewith and a magnetic tape head having a magnetic pick-up area formed thereon, said magnetic tape head being mounted for movement in a direction transverse the movement of said tape through said cartridge for aligning said pick-up area with the various tracks on said tape, said tape head indexing assembly including in combination; a cam member having a plurality of cam surfaces coacting with said tape head for moving the latter to a predeTermined number of positions with respect to said tape, cam driver means coupled to said cam and movable in predetermined directions to change the position of said cam member, cam driver actuating means for moving the cam driver means in said predetermined directions, said actuating means including a movable arm member coupled to said cam driver means, a bistable mechanism movable to first and second stable states coupled to said movable arm member, actuator means engageable with said bistable mechanism to move the latter from said first to said second stable state, said bistable means in turn moving the arm member of said actuating means in a first direction to initiate a change in position of said cam member, and restoration means mounted on said continuously rotating means engageable with said arm member to move the latter in a direction opposite from said first one of said directions to complete the change in position of said cam member, thereby to move said tape head and align said pick-up area with a different track on said tape.

Claim 11

A tape head indexing assembly as claimed in claim 6 wherein said arm member of said actuating means is mounted for pivotal movement, wherein said bistable mechanism includes a second pivotal arm member and a spring connected to a free end of the last-mentioned arm member and free end of said arm member of said actuating means and wherein said actuator means includes a solenoid having an armature movable upon energization thereof from a first to a second position and engageable with said arm member of said bistable means, whereby upon energization of said solenoid the armature thereof is moved to pivot said bistable arm member thereby moving said bistable mechanism from the first to the second stable state to move said arm member of said actuating means in said first one of said directions.

Claim 12

A tape head indexing assembly as claimed in claim 7 wherein said continuously rotatable means includes a flywheel mounted on said capstan shaft wherein said cartridge type tape player further includes a drive motor coupled to said flywheel and operable to rotate the latter for driving the magnetic recording tape through said cartridge and wherein said restoration means includes a reset pin mounted on said flywheel radially outwardly from the axis of rotation thereof for engagement with said pivotal arm member of said actuator means.

Claim 13

A tape head indexing assembly as claimed in claim 8 wherein said cam driver means includes a pawl and ratchet coupled to said cam member for rotating the latter, the pawl being attached pivotally to said arm member of said actuating means for movement in a first direction in response to the pivotal movement of said arm member in said first direction and for movement in the opposite direction in response to the pivotal movement of said arm member in the opposite direction, thereby to rotate said cam member in a predetermined direction to position a different one of said cam surfaces for coaction with said tape head.