Head positioning mechanism for tape player

Claim 1

In a transducer head positioning mechanism for a multi-track magnetic tape player having a capstan drive shaft positioned to frictionally engage the multi-track tape to drive the same and a transducer head positioned adjacent the multi-track tape, the combination including, a coupling member driven by the capstan drive shaft, a rotatable cam having a plurality of stepped cam surfaces thereon each of which is associated with different tracks on the magnetic tape, said rotatable cam further having a plurality of notches on the peripheral edge thereof, each of said notches positioned to align with each of said cam surfaces, said peripheral edge of said rotatable cam positioned in a spaced relation to the capstan drive shaft for engagement with said coupling member driven by the capstan drive shaft, cam follower means mounted to the transducer head and engageable with said stepped cam surface for positioning the transducer head to the different tracks on the tape, a locking device engageable with one of said notches positioned on said peripheral edge of said rotatable cam for positively locking said rotatable cam from engaging said coupling member on the capstan drive shaft upon the completion of positioning the transducer head to the next track on the tape to thereby prevent the rotation of said rotatable cam, and actuating means responsive to the completion of the playing of one track on the tape engageable with one of said notches on said rotatable cam to rotate said cam, said rotational movement thereby disengaging said locking device from one of said notches on said rotatable cam and causing said rotatable cam to be engaged and rotated by said coupling member driven by the capstan drive shaft to position the transducer head to the next track on the tape.