Cartridge tape player

Claim 1

A cartridge tape player for reproducing a first cartridge having four programs with two tracks per program and for reproducing a second cartridge having two programs with four tracks per program comprising: a first magnetic head, a first pre-amplifier connected to said first magnetic head, first volume control means connected to said first preamplifier, a first power amplifier connected to said first volume control means, a first speaker connected to said first power amplifier, a second magnetic head, a second pre-amplifier connected to said second magnetic head, second volume control means connected to said second preamplifier, a second power amplifier connected to said second volume control means, a second speaker connected to said second power amplifier, a third magnetic head, a third pre-amplifier connected to said third magnetic head, third volume control means connected to said third preamplifier, a third power amplifier connected to said third volume control means, a third speaker connected to said third power amplifier, a fourth magnetic head, a fourth pre-amplifier connected to said fourth magnetic head, fourth volume control means connected to said fourth preamplifier, a fourth power amplifier connected to said fourth volume control means, a fourth speaker connected to said fourth power amplifier, a first display lamp to indicate when a first program of the first or second cartridge is being reproduced, a second display lamp to indicate when a second program of the first or second cartridge is being reproduced, a third display lamp to indicate when a third program of the first cartridge is being reproduced. a fourth display lamp to indicate when a fourth program of the first cartridge is being reproduced, first selection means for selecting reproduction of the first program of the first or second cartridge, second selection means for selecting reproduction of the second program of the first or second cartridge, third selection means for selecting reproduction of the third program of the first cartridge, fourth selection means for selecting reproduction of the fourth program of the first cartridge, said first, second, third and fourtth magnetic heads being arranged in a four head assembly wherein each head is spaced from adjacent heads by substantially a two track distance, means responsive to the detection of the end of the each program of the first or second cartridge to displace said magnetic head assembly in a direction perpendicular to the track length for reproduction of successive programs, means to detect the presence of and identify the first cartridge, means to detect the presence of and identify the second cartridge, first, second, third, fourth and fifth switches ganged together so that said first, second, third, fourth and fifth switches operate simultaneously, means to simultaneously position said first, second, third, fourth and fifth switches in a first position in response to detection of the identification of the second cartridge, means to simultaneously position said first, second, third, fourth and fifth switches in a second position in response to the detection of and identification of the first cartridge, said first switch when in its first position functioning to prohibit illumination of said third and fourth display lamps, said first switch when in its second position functioning to permit selective lighting of said third and fourth display lamps, said second switch when in its first position functioning to prohibit selection for reproduction of the third program of the second cartridge, said second switch when In its second position functioning to permit selection for reproduction of the third program of the first cartridge, said third switch when in its first position functioning to prohibit selection for reproduction of the fourth program of the second cartridge, said third switch when in its second position functioning to permit selection for reproduction of the fourth program of the first cartridge, said fourth switch when in its first position functioning to permit the second speaker to reproduce the signal picked up by the second magnetic head, said fourth switch when in its second position functioning to disconnect the second magnetic head from said second speaker and functioning to connect the first magnetic head to said second speaker, said fifth switch when in its first position functioning to permit the fourth speaker to reproduce the signal picked up by said fourth magnetic head, said fifth switch when in its second position functioning to disconnect the fourth magnetic head from said fourth speaker and functioning to connect the third magnetic head to said fourth speaker whereby, the first program of the first cartridge is reproduced from the first and fifth tracks by the first and third heads which are coupled to the first and second speakers, and third and fourth speakers respectively while the first display lamp is illuminated, the second program of the first cartridge is reproduced from the second and sixth tracks by the first and third heads which are coupled to the first and second speakers, and third and fourth speakers respectively while the second display lamp is illuminated, the third program of the first cartridge is reproduced from the third and seventh tracks by the first and third heads which are coupled to the first and second speakers, and third and fourth speakers respectively while the third lamp is illuminated, the fourth program of the first cartridge is reproduced from the fourth and eighth tracks by the first and third heads which are coupled to the first and second speakers, and third and fourth speakers respectively while the fourth display lamp is illuminated, the first program of the second cartridge is reproduced from the first, third, fifth and seventh tracks by the first, second, third and fourth heads respectively which are coupled to the first, second, third and fourth speakers respectively while the first display lamp is illuminated, and the second program of the second cartridge is reproduced from the second, fourth, sixth and eighth tracks by the first, second, third, and fourth heads respectively which are coupled to the first, second, third and fourth speakers respectively while the second display lamp is illuminated.