Magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus

Claim 2

A magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus for use with a tape cassette, comprising: a recording and reproducing head, an erasing head and a pinch roller; head shifting means for moving said recording and reproducing head between first, second and third positions, wherein in said first position said recording and reproducing head is disposed away from the tape of a cassette mounted in a playing position, in said second position said recording and reproducing head is advanced into the mounted cassette in contact with the tape of the mounted cassette, and in said third position said recording and reproducing head is further advanced into the mounted cassette to be in steady contact with the tape of the mounted cassette, and for moving said erasing head between two positions wherein in one position, corresponding to said first position, said erasing head is disposed away from the tape of the mounted cassette and in the other position, corresponding to said second position, said erasing head is in contact with said tape and means for moving said pinch roller to a position where said pinch roller presses the tape of the mounted casseete against a capstan when said recording and reproducing head is moved to said third position while maintaining said erasing head substantially in said other position, for driving the tape in a constant speed forwarding mode.

Claim 3

A magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a movable head base on which said recording and reproducing head, said erasing head and said pinch roller are mounted; and means for slidably moving said head base to one of said first, second and third positions, wherein said means for slidably moving said head base comprises a shaft fixed to said head base and supported on said base plate, said shaft being movable between first and second positions, the second position of said shaft being closer to the mounted cassette than the first position of said shaft; means for moving said head base towards the mounted cassette to the second position of said shaft, said head base being thereby moved to said second position; and means for pivotally moving said head base about said shaft located at its second position, thereby moving said head Base to said third position.

Claim 4

A magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a movable head base on which said recording and reproducing head, said erasing head and said pinch roller are mounted; and means for slidably moving said head base to one of said first, second and third positions, wherein said means for slidably moving said head base comprises a head base driving piece mounted slidably on said base plate and mechanically engaged with said head base for moving said head base to change its position with its sliding movement, and means responsive to the mounting of the cassette in said playing position for moving said head base driving piece so as to cause said head base to move toward said third position when said cassette has been mounted in said playing position.

Claim 5

A magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising spring means urging said head base towards said third position, means for restraining the movement of said head base against said spring means, and means for releasing said head base from said restraining means to thereby permit the movement of said head base to said third position by the effect of said spring means.

Claim 6

A magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising mounting means for mounting said cassette in said playing position and engaging means movable between engaging and disengaging positions and urged towards said engaging position, said engaging means having a first portion which engages said head base at said engaging position, thereby restricting said head base to said first position and disengages at said disengaging position, thereby permitting said head base to move from said first position, said engaging means further having a second portion which is pushed by any one of said tape cassette and said mounting means thereof when said mounting means is at said mounting position, thereby moving said engaging means to said disengaging position.

Claim 7

A magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a first pin fixed to said head base and a second pin fixed to said base plate; wherein said erasing head is mounted on an erasing head base which is movably supported on said head base and said erasing head base has two portions, one of which is engageable with said first pin to define the position of said erasing head base corresponding to said first position of said head base, the other portion of which is engageable with said second pin for keeping said erasing head base at the same position when said head base is moved to the third position from the second position.

Claim 8

A magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising means for restricting said head base to said first position and means for releasing said head base from said restriction when said tape cassette is mounted in said playing position to thereby permit said head base to move to said second position.

Claim 9

A magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said apparatus further comprises a reproduction controlling rod having a portion engageable with said head base to restrict the movement of said head base from said second position to said third position, and means for releasing the engagement between said reproduction controlling rod and said head base, said means being operative responsive to the mounting operation of said mounting means.

Claim 10

A magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said tape cassette is mounted to said playing position in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of said head base plate.

Claim 11

A magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said apparatus further comprises a spring means urging said head base towards said second position, and head base driving means interlinked with said head base and having an inclined portion, said incliNed portion being engaged with a projection provided to said mounting means against said spring means during the mounting operation of said means to thereby move said head base towards said first position thereof so as to permit said tape cassette to be mounted to said playing position.

Claim 12

A magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said inclined portion is disengaged from said projection when said tape cassette has been mounted at said playing position to thereby move said head base toward said third position by said spring means and said head base driving means further comprise a cut portion which is engageable with said mounting means when said mounting means is at said mounting position thereby to hold said cassette in said playing position.

Claim 13

A magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a base plate; a head base movably mounted on said base plate, and supporting said recording and reproducing head, said erasing head and said pinch roller; mounting means supported on said base plate and movable between mounting and demounting positions for mounting and demounting a tape cassette at and from a playing position for recording and reproducing the tape thereof; a head base controlling plate interlinked with said mounting means, said head base controlling plate comprising an outer edge which is slidably engaged with said head base to prevent said head base from being moved from said first position when said mounting means is positioned at said demounting position, and a cut portion which is formed at one end of said outer edge to disengage said head base from said outer edge to thereby permit said head base to move towards said third position when said mounting means is positioned at said mounting position.

Claim 14

A magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a movable head base on which said recording and reproducing head, said erasing head and said pinch roller are mounted; and means for slidably moving said head base to one of said first, second and third positions, wherein said means for slidably moving said head base comprises spring means urging said head base towards said third position and means engageable with said head base, for restricting the movement of said head base against the force of said spring means, said means engageable with said head base being disengaged from said head base when the cassette has been mounted on said apparatus in said playing position, whereby said head base is free to move to the third position.

Claim 15

A magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a base mounted on which said recording and reproducing head is mounted; and mounting means for mounting a tape cassette in a playing position wherein said mounting means is provided with a cassette holding case for holding a tape cassette therein, said cassette holding case comprising a space for holding the cassette, said space being defined by guides and engaging pawls provided on both sides of said guides, an opening for inserting the cassette into said holding space along said guides, a spring actuated rod adapted to be engaged with one edge of the inserted cassette mounted in said holding space towards said opening, said engaging pawls being adapted to be engaged with an edge of the inserted cassette opposite to said one edge in order to hold the inserted cassette within said space against the urging of said rod, a spring actuated means for urging said inserted cassette against said guides, thereby preventing said cassette from being disengaged from said engaging pawls, said cassette holding case being swingably supported on said base plate for the mounting and demounting operation of said cassette.

Claim 16

A magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising means for releasing said cassette held in said space from engagement with said engaging pawls, said cassette being moved by the Urging of said spring actuated rod at the end of the mounting operation of said cassette into said playing position and means for limiting the movement of said cassette thereby causing said cassette to be brought into said playing position.

Claim 17

A magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising at least one guide pin having a vertically elongated surface to define a front face of said playing position and a horizontal surface to define a horizontal level of the same, said horizontal surface being abutted with the under side of said tape cassette to thereby position said tape cassette at said horizontal level and to release said tape cassette from engagement with said pawls responsive to the mounting operation of said mounting means, and said vertically elongated surface being abutted with the front face of said tape cassette when said tape cassette is released from engagement with said pawls and pushed towards said opening by said spring actuated rod.

Claim 18

A magnetic tape cassette recording and reproducing apparatus, comprising: a base plate; means for mounting a tape cassette on said apparatus in an operating position; driving means for driving the tape in a mounted cassette at a first speed for recording and reproducing and at a second speed for fast winding and rewinding operation, selectively; a capstan rotatably mounted on said base plate for engagement with the tape in said mounted cassette; a movable head base on which are mounted a first recording and reproducing head, a second erasing head and a pinch roller, said head base being slidable toward and away from the tape in said mounted cassette; means coupled to said mounting means for slidably moving said head base to one of first, second and third positions, wherein, in said first position, said first and second heads and said pinch roller are disposed away from the cassette operating position and out of contact with said tape to permit said cassette to be mounted therein by said mounting means, in said second position, said first and second heads are disposed in contact with the tape in said mounted cassette and said pinch roller is held out of engagement with said tape to permit said driving means to operate said tape at said second speed, and in said third position, said first and second heads are disposed in contact with said tape in said mounted cassette and said pinch roller engages said tape to press it against said capstan, said pinch roller and capstan cooperating to frictionally drive said tape in said mounted cassette; and first and second pins fixed to said head base; wherein said erasing head is mounted on a mounting plate which is movably supported on said head base and said mounting plate has two portions, one of which is engageable with said first pin to define the position of said mounting plate corresponding to said first position of said head base, the other portion of which is engageable with said second pin for keeping said mounting plate at the same position when said head base is moved to the third position from the second position.

Claim 19

A magnetic tape cassette recording and reproducing apparatus, comprising: a base plate; means for mounting a tape cassette on said apparatus in an operating position; driving means for driving the tape in a mounted cassette at a first speed for recording and reproducing and at a second speed for fast winding and rewinding operation, selectively; a capstan rotatably mounted on said base plate for engagement with the tape in said mounted cassette; a movable head base on which are mounted a first recording and reproducing head, a second erasing head and a pinch roller, said head base being slidable toward and away from the tape in said mounted cassette; means coupled to said mounting means for slidably moving said head base to one of first, second and third positions, wherein, in said first position, said first and second heads and said pinch roller are disposed away from the cassette operating position and out of contact with said tape to permit said cassette to be mounted therein by said mounting means, in said second position, said first and second heads are disposed in contact with the tape in said mounted cassette and said pinch roller is held out of engagement with said tape to permit said driving means to operate said tape at said second speed, and in said third position, said first and second heads are disposed in contact with said tape in said mounted cassette and said pinch roller engages said tape to press it against said capstan, said pinch roller and capstan cooperating to frictionally drive said tape in said mounted cassette; and first and second pins fixed to said head base; wherein said erasing head is mounted on a mounting plate which is movably supported on said head base and said mounting plate has two portions, one of which is engageable with said first pin to define the position of said mounting plate corresponding to said first position of said head base, the other portion of which is engageable with said second pin for keeping said mounting plate at the same position when said head base is moved to the third position from the second position.