Patent US3903544A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3903544A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cassette type tape recorder having dual capstan tensioning means
Assignee: Nakamichi Research Inc
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Filing: 1973-10-04
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Granted: 1975-09-02
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Expires: 1993-10-04
Abstract
Abstract A cassette type tape recorder having a cassette including a tape driven by a pair of capstans with the tape held between the capstans and a pair of corresponding pressure rollers, so that the tape can be tensioned by the downstream capstan having higher peripheral speed than the upstream capstan has, said tape recorder further comprising means to engage the downstream pressure roller against the corresponding capstan just prior to engagement of the upstream pressure roller against the corresponding capstan and a shock absorber to retard the forward movement of the pressure rollers relative to the cassette at the front thereof whereby the impact on the tape can be eliminated upon engagement of the pressure rollers against the capstans so that the tape is tensioned upon initiation of the tape recorder.
Inventors
- 👤 Niro Nakamichi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 18:39
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B15/00; G11B15/18; G11B15/26; G11B15/28; G11B15/29; G11B15/43
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
236 words
A cassette type tape recorder having a cassette including a tape extending along the front openings of the cassette and wound between a pair of reels in the cassette, a pair of capstans inserted into and removed from said cassette through the bottom openings thereof corresponding to movement of said cassette to the operating and non-operating positions and rotatable in the same direction, head means to engage said tape through some of said front openings for operating the tape recorder, a pair of pressure rollers to concurrently engage against said capstans, respectively, with said tape held between said capstans and said pressure rollers and means to carry said head means and said pressure rollers for forward and backward movement relative to said cassette at the front thereof, said tape recorder further comprising means to engage one of said pressure rollers against the corresponding capstan at predetermined time prior to engagement of the other pressure roller against the corresponding capstan and thereafter engage the other pressure roller against the corresponding capstan, said one pressure roller lying in the downstream relative to the running direction of said tape and said other pressure roller in the upstream and a shock absorber to retard said forward movement of said carrying means relative to said cassette at least during the final portion of said forward movement, said shock absorber connected between said carrying means and the chassis of said tape recorder.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
236 words
A cassette type tape recorder having a cassette including a tape extending along the front openings of the cassette and wound between a pair of reels in the cassette, a pair of capstans inserted into and removed from said cassette through the bottom openings thereof corresponding to movement of said cassette to the operating and non-operating positions and rotatable in the same direction, head means to engage said tape through some of said front openings for operating the tape recorder, a pair of pressure rollers to concurrently engage against said capstans, respectively, with said tape held between said capstans and said pressure rollers and means to carry said head means and said pressure rollers for forward and backward movement relative to said cassette at the front thereof, said tape recorder further comprising means to engage one of said pressure rollers against the corresponding capstan at predetermined time prior to engagement of the other pressure roller against the corresponding capstan and thereafter engage the other pressure roller against the corresponding capstan, said one pressure roller lying in the downstream relative to the running direction of said tape and said other pressure roller in the upstream and a shock absorber to retard said forward movement of said carrying means relative to said cassette at least during the final portion of said forward movement, said shock absorber connected between said carrying means and the chassis of said tape recorder.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
A cassette type tape recorder as set forth in claim 1, wherein said pressure rollers engaging means comprises frames holding said pressure rollers and individually pivoted on said carrying means and means to adjust the pivoted position of said frames.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
A cassette type tape recorder as set forth in claim 1, wherein said shock absorber acts at least prior to engagement of said other pressure roller against said corresponding capstan.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
60 words
A cassette type tape recorder as set forth in claim 1, wherein said shock absorber comprises cylinder and piston means provided between said chassis and said carrying means so as to compress air in said cylinder corresponding to said forward movement of said carrying means, said cylinder having an exhaust port therein to exhaust said compressed air from said cylinder.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
102 words
A cassette type tape recorder as set forth in claim 1, further comprising means to eliminate slack in said tape on the supplying one of said reels, said means including a contact member mounted on said carrying means so as to advance and retract with said pressure rollers, said contact member disposed adjacent to the upstream one of said pressure rollers, and a bearing member mounted in said cassette and cooperating with said contact member to engage excessive length of said tape along said bearing member whereby said tape is tensioned at the portion of said tape passing along said head means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
163 words
A cassette type tape recorder as set forth in claim 1, said tape recorder having reversibly playing operation and further comprising two means to eliminate slack in said tape on said respective reels, said means each including a contact member mounted on said carrying means so as to advance and retract with said pressure rollers, said contact member disposed adjacent to the corresponding pressure roller and a bearing member mounted in said cassette and cooperating with said contact member to engage excessive length of said tape along said bearing member whereby said tape is tensionEd at the portion of said tape passing along said head means, and means to effect selective movement of said contact members in said slack eliminating means corresponding to the selected direction of said tape running in said cassette, so that the upstream one of said contact members relative to the running direction of said tape engages said tape and the downstream contact member is apart from said tape.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
A cassette type tape recorder as set forth in claim 1, further comprising large diameter flywheels connected to said capstans, respectively, said flywheels disposed in different planes in an overlapped relationship to each other.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-09-01 | 1979-03-03 | 1979-09-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-01 | 1983-03-03 | 1983-09-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-01 | 1987-03-03 | 1987-09-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |