Casette tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus having molded chassis and molded head carriage

Claim 2

In a tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus having a tape driving mechanism that includes reel shafts for engagement with tape supply and take-up reels, a capstan and a motor for driving the reel shafts and capstan, and a magnetic head for selectively recording and/or reproducing signals on the tape as the latter is transported between the supply an take-up reels by means of the capstan; a main molded chassis of synthetic resin having said tape driving mechanism mounted thereon, and a molded carriage of synthetic resin having at least said magnetic head fixed thereon and being slidably mounted on said main molded chassis for selectively disposing said head in an operative position in respect of the tape between the supply and take-up reels.

Claim 3

A tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, in which the synthetic resins of said main chassis and said carriage, respectively, have different hardnesses.

Claim 4

A tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, in which circuit means are provided for operating said magnetic head in the recording and/or reproducing modes thereof and include a point of reference potential, and further comprising conductive means for electrically connecting said capstan with said point of reference potential, whereby to avoid the build-up of a static charge on said capstan.

Claim 5

A tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, in which said molded carriage has an integral extension adjacent said magnetic head with recesses in the opposite surfaces of said extension facing toward and away from said main chassis, a friction reducing roller is disposed in each of said recesses, and a plate is secured on said main chassis adjacent said extension and extends over said recess facing away from said main chassis for engaging the roller therein and urging the extension Toward said main chassis.

Claim 6

A tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, in which a push button assembly is provided for selectively initiating various modes of operation of said apparatus, and said push button assembly includes a molded frame of synthetic resin secured on said molded main chassis and having a plurality of spaced apart parallel passageways formed therethrough with an integral spring retainer partially obstructing the inner end of each of said passageways, a molded push button of synthetic resin for each of said passageways including a hollow body portion slidable in the respective passageway past said spring retainer, a head portion at the outer end of said body portion adapted to be manually depressed for selecting a respective mode of operation and an external projection on said hollow body adjacent the inner end thereof, a spring within said hollow body of each of said push buttons engaging the respective spring retainer for urging the push button to an inoperative projecting position in respect to said frame, and means on said frame engageable by said external projection on each of said push buttons after the insertion of said hollow body thereof into the respective passageway for blocking the ejection of said hollow body from said passageway by the action of said respective spring.

Claim 7

A tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to claim 5, in which said means engageable with said external projection on each hollow body is constituted by a bar secured on said frame so as to extend across the inner ends of said passageways.

Claim 8

In a tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus having a tape driving mechanism that includes reel shafts for engagement with tape supply and take-up reels, a capstan and a motor for driving the reel shafts and capstan, and a magnetic head for selectively recording and/or reproducing signals on the tape as the latter is transported between the supply and take-up reels by means of the capstan; a main molded chassis of synthetic resin having said tape driving mechanism mounted thereon, said synthetic resin of the molded main chassis being relatively resilient for absorbing impacts and shocks, and a molded carriage of synthetic resin having at least said magnetic head fixed thereon and being slidably mounted on said main molded chassis for selectively disposing said head in an operative position in respect of the tape between the supply and take-up reels, said synthetic resin of the molded carriage being relatively rigid to ensure the accurate positioning of said head relative to the tape in said operative position.

Claim 9

In a tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus having a tape driving mechanism that includes reel shafts for engagement with tape supply and take-up reels, a capstan and a motor for driving the reel shafts and capstan, and a magnetic head for selectively recording and/or reproducing signals on the tape as the latter is transported between the supply and take-up reels by means of the capstan; a main molded chassis of synthetic resin having said tape driving mechanism mounted thereon, said synthetic resin of the molded main chassis being relatively resilient for absorbing impacts and shocks, and a molded carriage of synthetic resin having at least said magnetic head fixed thereon and being slidably mounted on said main molded chassis for selectively disposing said head in an operative position in respect of the tape between the supply and take-up reels, said synthetic resin of the molded carriage being relatively rigid to ensure the accurate positioning of said head relative to the tape in said operative position.

Claim 10

A tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to claim 7, in which said relatively resilient resin of the molded main chassis is an acrylonitrile-butadienestyrene copolymer, and said relatively rigid resin of the molded carriage is an acrylonitrile-styrene copolymer.

Claim 11

A tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to claim 8, in which each of said relatively resilient and relatively rigid resins is reinforced with glass fibers.

Claim 12

A tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to claim 8, in which said acrylonitrile-butadienestyrene copolymer is reinforced with glass fibers in an amount substantially equal to 10% of the weight of said acrylonitrilebutadiene-styrene copolymer, and said acrylonitrile-styrene copolymer is reinforced with glass fibers in an amount substantially equal to about 20% of the weight of said acrylonitrile-styrene copolymer.

Claim 13

A tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to claim 7, in which circuit means are provided for operating said magnetic head in the recording and/or reproducing modes thereof and include a point of reference potential, and further comprising conductive means for electrically connecting said capstan with said point of reference potential, whereby to avoid the build-up of a static charge on said capstan.

Claim 14

In a tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus haviNg a tape driving mechanism that includes reel shafts for engagement with tape supply and take-up reels, a capstan and a motor for driving the reel shafts and capstan, and a magnetic head for selectively recording and/or reproducing signals on the tape as the latter is transported between the supply and take-up reels by means of the capstan; a main molded chassis of synthetic resin having said tape driving mechanism mounted thereon; a molded carriage of synthetic resin having at least said magnetic head fixed thereon and being slidably mounted on said main molded chassis for selectively disposing said head in an operative position in respect of the tape between the supply and take-up reels; circuit means for operating said magnetic head in the recording and/or reproducing modes thereof and including a point of reference potential, whereby to avoid the build up of a static charge on said capstan; said conductive means includes a conductive bearing bushing mounted in said molded main chassis and in which said capstan is rotatable, a conductive plate mounted on said molded main chassis and having a resilient extension bearing against an end of said conductive bearing bushing, and an electrical connection between said conductive plate and said point of reference potential.

Claim 15

In a tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus haviNg a tape driving mechanism that includes reel shafts for engagement with tape supply and take-up reels, a capstan and a motor for driving the reel shafts and capstan, and a magnetic head for selectively recording and/or reproducing signals on the tape as the latter is transported between the supply and take-up reels by means of the capstan; a main molded chassis of synthetic resin having said tape driving mechanism mounted thereon; a molded carriage of synthetic resin having at least said magnetic head fixed thereon and being slidably mounted on said main molded chassis for selectively disposing said head in an operative position in respect of the tape between the supply and take-up reels; circuit means for operating said magnetic head in the recording and/or reproducing modes thereof and including a point of reference potential, whereby to avoid the build up of a static charge on said capstan; said conductive means includes a conductive bearing bushing mounted in said molded main chassis and in which said capstan is rotatable, a conductive plate mounted on said molded main chassis and having a resilient extension bearing against an end of said conductive bearing bushing, and an electrical connection between said conductive plate and said point of reference potential.

Claim 16

A tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to claim 12, in which said molded carriage has an integral extension with recesses at the sides thereof facing toward and away from said main chassis, friction reducing rollers are disposed in said recesses, and said conductive plate extends over said recess facing away from said main chassis and engages the roller therein for urging said extension toward said main chassis.

Claim 17

A tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to claim 13, in which said conductive plate has a tab extending therefrom into said recess facing away from the main chassis for retaining the respective roller in such recess.

Claim 18

In a tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus having a tape driving mechanism that includes reel shafts for engagement with tape supply and take-up reels, a capstan and a motor for driving the reel shafts and capstan, and a magnetic head for selectively recording and/or reproducing signals on the tape as the latter is transported between the supply and take-up reels by means of the capstan; a main molded chassis of synthetic resin having said tape driving mechanism mounted thereon; a molded carriage of synthetic resin having at least said magnetic head fixed thereon and being slidably mounted on said main molded chassis for selectively disposing said head in an operative position with respect of the tape between the supply and take-up reels; and in which a push button assembly is provided on said main chassis for selectively initiating modes of operation of the apparatus including recording and reproducing operations, the tape supply and take-up reels are contained in a cassette housing adapted to be fixedly positioned in respect of said main chassis and having an opening with a removable tab initially extending in said opening for indicating, by its presence, that recording of signals on the tape in said housing is permitted, a molded slide member of synthetic resin has spaced elongated slots therein receiving guide lugs integral with said molded main chassis for slidably guiding said slide member on said chassis between first and second positions at which said slide member respectively prevents and permits selection of the recording operation, a detecting finger extends integrally from said slide member so as to be engageable, in said first position, in said opening of a cassette positioned in respect to said chassis, and an elongated, reduced thickness resilient element is molded integrally with said slide member and extends into one of said slots for engagement with the respective one of said guide lugs so as to bias said slide member to said first position.

Claim 19

In a tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus having a tape driving mechanism that includes reel shafts for engagement with tape supply and take-up reels, a capstan and a motor for driving the reel shafts and capstan, and a magnetic head for selectively recording and/or reproducing signals on the tape as the latter is transported between the supply and take-up reels by means of the capstan; a main molded chassis of synthetic resin having said tape driving mechanism mounted thereon; a molded carriage of synthetic resin having at least said magnetic head fixed thereon and being slidably mounted on said main molded chassis for selectively disposing said head in an operative position with respect of the tape between the supply and take-up reels; and in which a push button assembly is provided on said main chassis for selectively initiating modes of operation of the apparatus including recording and reproducing operations, the tape supply and take-up reels are contained in a cassette housing adapted to be fixedly positioned in respect of said main chassis and having an opening with a removable tab initially extending in said opening for indicating, by its presence, that recording of signals on the tape in said housing is permitted, a molded slide member of synthetic resin has spaced elongated slots therein receiving guide lugs integral with said molded main chassis for slidably guiding said slide member on said chassis between first and second positions at which said slide member respectively prevents and permits selection of the recording operation, a detecting finger extends integrally from said slide member so as to be engageable, in said first position, in said opening of a cassette positioned in respect to said chassis, and an elongated, reduced thickness resilient element is molded integrally with said slide member and extends into one of said slots for engagement with the respective one of said guide lugs so as to bias said slide member to said first position.

Claim 20

A tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to claim 15, in which said resilient element has an arcuate end portion engaging said one guide lug.

Claim 21

A tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to claim 15, in which each of said guide lugs is of T-shaped configuration so as to have a stem slidable in the respective slot and a laterally enlarged head for holding said slide member against said chassis, and each of said slots has a laterally enlarged portion disposed to permit the passage of said head of the respective guide lug therethrough when said slidemember is displaced beyond said second position.

Claim 22

In a tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus having a tape driving mechanism that includes reel shafts for engagement with tape supply and take-up reels, a capstan and a motor for driving the reel shafts and capstan, and a magnetic head for selectively recording and/or reproducing signals on the tape as the latter is transported between the supply and take-up reels by means of the capstan; a main molded chassis of synthetic resin having said tape driving mechanism mounted thereon; a molded carriage of synthetic resin having at least said magnetic head fixed thereon and being slidably mounted on said main molded chassis for selectively disposing said head in an operative position in respect of the tape between the supply and take-up reels; and in which a push button assembly is provided for selectively initiating various modes of operation of said apparatus, said push button assembly includes a molded frame of synthetic resin secured on said molded main chassis and having a plurality of spaced apart parallel passageways formed therethrough with an integral spring retainer partially obstructing the inner end of each of said passageways, a molded push button of synthetic resin for each of said passageways including a hollow body portion slidable in the respective passagway past said spring retainer, a head portion at the outer end of said body portion adapted to be manually depressed for selecting a respective mode of operation and an external projection on said hollow body adjacent the inner end thereof, a spring within said hollow body of each of said push buttons engaging the respective spring retainer for urging the push button to an inoperative projecting position in respect of said frame, and means on said frame engageable by said external projection on each of said push buttons after the insertion of said hollow body thereof into the respective passageway for blocking the ejection of said hollow body from said passageway by the action of said respective spring, said hollow body of each push button has a pair of spaced slots defining a resilient tongue therebetween on which said external projection is positioned, said external projection has a raked surface leading to a shoulder which, during insertion of said hollow body into said passageway, causes said tongue to flex, and said means engageable with said external projection includes a surface on said frame at the inner end of each of said passageways adapted to be contacted by said shoulder of the respective projection after the latter emerges from the inner end of said passageway.

Claim 23

In a tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus having a tape driving mechanism that includes reel shafts for engagement with tape supply and take-up reels, a capstan and a motor for driving the reel shafts and capstan, and a magnetic head for selectively recording and/or reproducing signals on the tape as the latter is transported between the supply and take-up reels by means of the capstan; a main molded chassis of synthetic resin having said tape driving mechanism mounted thereon; a molded carriage of synthetic resin having at least said magnetic head fixed thereon and being slidably mounted on said main molded chassis for selectively disposing said head in an operative position in respect of the tape between the supply and take-up reels; and in which a push button assembly is provided for selectively initiating various modes of operation of said apparatus, said push button assembly includes a molded frame of synthetic resin secured on said molded main chassis and having a plurality of spaced apart parallel passageways formed therethrough with an integral spring retainer partially obstructing the inner end of each of said passageways, a molded push button of synthetic resin for each of said passageways including a hollow body portion slidable in the respective passagway past said spring retainer, a head portion at the outer end of said body portion adapted to be manually depressed for selecting a respective mode of operation and an external projection on said hollow body adjacent the inner end thereof, a spring within said hollow body of each of said push buttons engaging the respective spring retainer for urging the push button to an inoperative projecting position in respect of said frame, and means on said frame engageable by said external projection on each of said push buttons after the insertion of said hollow body thereof into the respective passageway for blocking the ejection of said hollow body from said passageway by the action of said respective spring, said hollow body of each push button has a pair of spaced slots defining a resilient tongue therebetween on which said external projection is positioned, said external projection has a raked surface leading to a shoulder which, during insertion of said hollow body into said passageway, causes said tongue to flex, and said means engageable with said external projection includes a surface on said frame at the inner end of each of said passageways adapted to be contacted by said shoulder of the respective projection after the latter emerges from the inner end of said passageway.

Claim 24

In a tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus having a tape driving mechanism that includes reel shafts for engagement with tape supply and take-up reels, a capstan and a motor for driving the reel shafts and capstan, and a magnetic head for selectively recording and/or reproducing signals on the tape as the latter is transported between the supply and take-up reels by means of the capstan; a main molded chassis of synthetic resin having said tape driving mechanism mounted thereon, and a molded carriage of synthetic resin having at least said magnetic head fixed thereon and being slidably mounted on said main molded chassis for selectively disposing said head in a operative position in respect of the tape between the supply and take-up reels; and in which a push button assembly is provided for selectively initiating various modes of operation of said appAratus, and said push button assembly includes a molded frame of synthetic resin secured on said molded main chassis and having a plurality of spaced apart parallel passageways formed therethrough with an integral spring retainer partially obstructing the inner end of each of said passageways, a molded push button of synthetic resin for each of said passageways including a hollow body portion slidable in the respective passageway past said spring retainer, a head portion at the outer end of said body portion adapted to be manually depressed for selecting a respective mode of operation and an external projection on said hollow body adjacent the inner end thereof, a spring within said hollow body of each of said push buttons engaging the respective spring retainer for urging the push button to an inoperative projecting position in respect of said frame, and means on said frame engageable by said external projection on each of said push buttons after the insertion of said hollow body thereof into the respective passageway for blocking the ejection of said hollow body from said passageway by the action of said respective spring; and wherein each said external projection has a raked surace leading to a shoulder, a molded locking plate of synthetic resin is pivoted on said molded main chassis and resiliently urged against the inner end portions of said hollow bodies, a sloping ramp is molded integrally on said locking plate for each of said push buttons and is slidably engageable by said raked surface of the respective external projection when the respective push button is depressed, and at least certain of the sloping ramps lead to respective shoulders each engageable by said shoulder of the respective projection for retaining the push button in a depressed position.

Claim 25

In a tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus having a tape driving mechanism that includes reel shafts for engagement with tape supply and take-up reels, a capstan and a motor for driving the reel shafts and capstan, and a magnetic head for selectively recording and/or reproducing signals on the tape as the latter is transported between the supply and take-up reels by means of the capstan; a main molded chassis of synthetic resin having said tape driving mechanism mounted thereon, and a molded carriage of synthetic resin having at least said magnetic head fixed thereon and being slidably mounted on said main molded chassis for selectively disposing said head in a operative position in respect of the tape between the supply and take-up reels; and in which a push button assembly is provided for selectively initiating various modes of operation of said appAratus, and said push button assembly includes a molded frame of synthetic resin secured on said molded main chassis and having a plurality of spaced apart parallel passageways formed therethrough with an integral spring retainer partially obstructing the inner end of each of said passageways, a molded push button of synthetic resin for each of said passageways including a hollow body portion slidable in the respective passageway past said spring retainer, a head portion at the outer end of said body portion adapted to be manually depressed for selecting a respective mode of operation and an external projection on said hollow body adjacent the inner end thereof, a spring within said hollow body of each of said push buttons engaging the respective spring retainer for urging the push button to an inoperative projecting position in respect of said frame, and means on said frame engageable by said external projection on each of said push buttons after the insertion of said hollow body thereof into the respective passageway for blocking the ejection of said hollow body from said passageway by the action of said respective spring; and wherein each said external projection has a raked surace leading to a shoulder, a molded locking plate of synthetic resin is pivoted on said molded main chassis and resiliently urged against the inner end portions of said hollow bodies, a sloping ramp is molded integrally on said locking plate for each of said push buttons and is slidably engageable by said raked surface of the respective external projection when the respective push button is depressed, and at least certain of the sloping ramps lead to respective shoulders each engageable by said shoulder of the respective projection for retaining the push button in a depressed position.