Tape recorder

Claim 1

In a tape recorder which employs a tape cassette and includes elements to cooperate with the tape, in combination: a cassette loading means adapted to receive said tape cassette, said cassette loading means being supportEd on the tape recorder for movement between a raised position where said tape cassette may be introduced into said cassette loading means and a lowered position where said cassette is in a recording or playback position, means by which said cassette loading means is yieldingly biased to said lowered position; a rotatable cycle cam element, means connecting said cam element to said cassette load means such that rotation of said cam element results in linear movement of said cassette loading means between said raised and lowered positions, a motor to drive said cycle cam element, a normally open switch which controls said motor, means to close said switch upon reception of said tape cassette into said cassette loading means, and a normally closed switch which also controls said motor, means to open the latter switch when said cassette loading means reaches its lowered position; a lobe-like cam element arranged in co-axial relation with said cycle cam element; a normally closed third switch connected in parallel with the two first said switches to continue energization of said motor by by-passing the first and normally closed switch, said normally closed third switch including an over-the-center type contact which is operated by said lobe-like cam element to open said third switch; a rod arranged so as to be thurst axially by said over-thecenter type contact when the latter is operated; a movable base plate adapted to move forwardly to said cassette loading means, with the latter in its lowered position, an eccentric cam dis to move said base plate forwardly and rearwardly, a motor which drives said eccentric cam disc, a switch means which operates said motor and which is operated by an axial thrust of said rod; motor switch means including contacts, a cam member which abuts said contacts and which includes diametrically opposed rise portions, a cam shaft, said cam member being operatingly connected to said eccentric cam disc through said cam shaft so that said eccentric cam disc can control forth-and-back movement of said movable base plate; a pair of capstan shafts for feeding the tape in opposite directions to tape travel, respectively, and pinch rollers for engaging with said shaft; a rocking base plate for rocking movement between a first operating position where one of said pinch rollers is in engagement with its associated capstan shaft and a second operating position; resilient means for yieldingly urging said operating means towards said second operating position; holding means for holding said operating means in said first operating position after said operating means has been rocked to said first operating position against said resilient means; unlocking means including electromagnetic means for releasing said operating means from engagement with said holding means; a second lobe-like cam element fixed on said cam shaft, said second lobe-like cam element being rotated to rockingly shift said operating means towards said first operating position and then being stopped at a cam position where said operating means is returned to said second operating position; means to generate tape-end signals; means for detecting the tape-end signals to energize said electromagnetic means and reverse the direction of the tape travel; a switch member adapted to be turned on to apply the tape-end signals to said motor switch means, when the operating means is in said second operating position, whereby said movable base plate is moved backwardly away from said cassette loading means; and a cam member mounted on said cam shaft in co-axial relation with said eccentric cam disc, said cam member being adapted to reverse the thrust of said rod upon completion of backward movement of said movable base plate; whereby the cassette loading means, upon reception of said tape cassette into said cassette loading means, automatically lowers to its loading position in the tape recorder, and loading of said cassette Loading means in said recorder is then detected whereby the movable base plate is advanced toward said cassette loading means while the rockable operating means including a magnetic head thereon is rocked to said first operating position where a first tape track is reproduced with the tape being moved to one direction of tape travel, and further said operating means is rocked by the tape-end signal toward the second operating position where another tape track is reproduced with the tape being fed in the reverse direction of tape travel, and finally the cassette loading means is returned, by a tape-end signal, to its raised position for installation of a new tape cassette.