US3946436A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic shutoff mechanism for magnetic tape recording and reproducing apparatus
Assignee: Sony Corp
•
Filing: 1974-08-06
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Granted: 1976-03-23
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Expires: 1994-08-06
Abstract
Abstract An improved apparatus for recording and/or reproducing signals on a magnetic tape adapted to be wound on supply and take up reels of a tape cassette which are rotationally coupled with respective reel support members of the apparatus. The reel support members are selectively urged through a drive transmission to rotate in the direction for winding tape on the respective tape reels upon the manual actuation of a control for causing operation of a reel drive. A shut off device is provided which is powered by the reel drive and is conditioned in response to the arresting of the rotation of the reel support members, for example when the tape is fully unwound from one of the reels, while operation of the reel drive continues, in order to cause the control to halt operation of the drive by de-energization of an electric motor thereof. The de-energization is achieved by the release of a latch mechanism holding actuating members for the apparatus in an operative condition, by means of a latch release operating assembly having an oscillating member normally moving between two limited positions during operation of the apparatus and driven by the drive means to an extreme position to release the latch upon arresting of the rotation of one of the reel support members. The device, in one embodiment, includes an assembly responsive to the actuating controls of the apparatus for preventing the shut off device from halting operation of the drive when the controls of the apparatus are actuated to cause rewinding of tape onto the supply reel of the cassette during the play mode of the apparatus for the purpose allowing signal review, so that the tape can be fully rewound during the review mode without halting the operation of the drive.
Inventors
- 👤 Shizuo Takashino
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 22:28
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B15/00; G11B15/18; G11B15/44; G11B15/02; G11B15/10; G11B15/1883; G11B15/22; G11B15/46
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
440 words
An apparatus operable in a plurality of modes, including play, stop, and rewind modes, for recording and/or reproducing signals on a magnetic tape extending between first and second reels to which the ends of the tape are secured and on which the tape is wound, said apparatus comprising: first and second rotatable reel support members for rotational coupling with the first and second reels, respectively; drive means; drive control means to effect operation of said drive means to operate said apparatus in any of said modes; transmission means connected to said drive means and comprising a first member driven in one direction by said drive means and further comprising means to couple said first member selectively to either of said reel support members for selectively driving the selected reel support member to rotate in the direction for winding tape on the reel respectively coupled therewith in response to operation of said drive means and permitting continued operation of said drive means when rotation of said reel support members is arrested upon the full unwinding of the tape from the other of said reels, said transmission means including means responsive to the drive control means for rotating one of said reel support members in said play mode and for interrupting the play mode and rewinding tape onto the reel coupled with the other of said reel support members, thereby to permit review of signals on tape wound on the reel coupled with said one reel support member during said play mode; shutoff means coupled to said first member of said transmission means to be powered by said drive means and having a first condition for causing said drive control means to halt the operation of said drive means and a second condition in which said drive means is unaffected by said shutoff means; and shutoff control means connected with one of said reel support members for disposing said shutoff means in said second condition in response to rotation of said one reel support member and for disposing said shutoff means in said first condition in response to arresting of the rotation of said reel support members during continued operation of said drive means; and means responsive to said drive control means for preventing said shutoff control means from disposing the shutoff means in said first operative condition when said drive control means is actuated to cause said transmission means to rewind tape onto the reel coupled with the other of said reel support members during the play mode to permit signal review, whereby said tape can be fully rewound during the play mode without halting the operation of said drive means.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
440 words
An apparatus operable in a plurality of modes, including play, stop, and rewind modes, for recording and/or reproducing signals on a magnetic tape extending between first and second reels to which the ends of the tape are secured and on which the tape is wound, said apparatus comprising: first and second rotatable reel support members for rotational coupling with the first and second reels, respectively; drive means; drive control means to effect operation of said drive means to operate said apparatus in any of said modes; transmission means connected to said drive means and comprising a first member driven in one direction by said drive means and further comprising means to couple said first member selectively to either of said reel support members for selectively driving the selected reel support member to rotate in the direction for winding tape on the reel respectively coupled therewith in response to operation of said drive means and permitting continued operation of said drive means when rotation of said reel support members is arrested upon the full unwinding of the tape from the other of said reels, said transmission means including means responsive to the drive control means for rotating one of said reel support members in said play mode and for interrupting the play mode and rewinding tape onto the reel coupled with the other of said reel support members, thereby to permit review of signals on tape wound on the reel coupled with said one reel support member during said play mode; shutoff means coupled to said first member of said transmission means to be powered by said drive means and having a first condition for causing said drive control means to halt the operation of said drive means and a second condition in which said drive means is unaffected by said shutoff means; and shutoff control means connected with one of said reel support members for disposing said shutoff means in said second condition in response to rotation of said one reel support member and for disposing said shutoff means in said first condition in response to arresting of the rotation of said reel support members during continued operation of said drive means; and means responsive to said drive control means for preventing said shutoff control means from disposing the shutoff means in said first operative condition when said drive control means is actuated to cause said transmission means to rewind tape onto the reel coupled with the other of said reel support members during the play mode to permit signal review, whereby said tape can be fully rewound during the play mode without halting the operation of said drive means.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
499 words
An apparatus operable in a plurality of modes, including play, stop, and rewind modes, for recording and/or reproducing signals on a magnetic tape extending between first and second reels to which the ends of the tape are secured and on which the tape is wound, said apparatus comprising: first and second rotatable reel support members for rotational coupling with the first and second reels respectively; drive means including an electric motor; drive control means including a switch having a normal inoperative condition and being actuable to an operative condition for energizing said motor and thereby effecting operation of said drive means; manually operable actuating means movable from a normal inoperative position to an operative position for actuating said switch means to said operative condition thereof; latch means for releasably holding said actuating means in said operative position thereof; transmission means connected to said drive means and responsive to said drive control means for driving a selected one of said reel support members to rotate in the direction for winding tape on the reel respectively coupled therewith and for permitting continued operation of said drive means when rotation of said reel support members is arrested upon the full unwinding of the tape from the other of said reels; shutoff means including latch release means displaceable to a predetermined extent for releasing said latch means; latch release operating means movable between a first inoperative position and a second operative position in operative driven engagement with said drive means to be driven by said drive means for displacing said latch release means to said predetermined extent only when the rotation of said reel support members is arrested during the continued operation of said drive means, and means for selectively moving said latch release operating means from its inoperative position to its operative position including a lever pivotally mounted in said apparatus and having one end positioned adjacent said latch release operating means; means for normally biasing said one end of said lever to a first position against said latch release operating means at which the latter is held in its operative position; means driven by said drive means for oscillating said lever, against the bias of said biasing means, between said first position thereof and a second position wherein said one end of the lever is out of engagement with said latch release operating means; and stop means operatively engaged with one of said reel support members for limiting oscillation of said lever, during rotation of said one reel support member, to movement between said second position of the lever and an intermediate position at which said one end of the lever is adjacent to but out of engagement with said latch release operating means and for releasing said lever for movement to its first position by said biasing means when rotation of said one reel support member is arrested thereby to move said latch release operating means to its second position for displacing said latch release means to said predetermined extent.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
499 words
An apparatus operable in a plurality of modes, including play, stop, and rewind modes, for recording and/or reproducing signals on a magnetic tape extending between first and second reels to which the ends of the tape are secured and on which the tape is wound, said apparatus comprising: first and second rotatable reel support members for rotational coupling with the first and second reels respectively; drive means including an electric motor; drive control means including a switch having a normal inoperative condition and being actuable to an operative condition for energizing said motor and thereby effecting operation of said drive means; manually operable actuating means movable from a normal inoperative position to an operative position for actuating said switch means to said operative condition thereof; latch means for releasably holding said actuating means in said operative position thereof; transmission means connected to said drive means and responsive to said drive control means for driving a selected one of said reel support members to rotate in the direction for winding tape on the reel respectively coupled therewith and for permitting continued operation of said drive means when rotation of said reel support members is arrested upon the full unwinding of the tape from the other of said reels; shutoff means including latch release means displaceable to a predetermined extent for releasing said latch means; latch release operating means movable between a first inoperative position and a second operative position in operative driven engagement with said drive means to be driven by said drive means for displacing said latch release means to said predetermined extent only when the rotation of said reel support members is arrested during the continued operation of said drive means, and means for selectively moving said latch release operating means from its inoperative position to its operative position including a lever pivotally mounted in said apparatus and having one end positioned adjacent said latch release operating means; means for normally biasing said one end of said lever to a first position against said latch release operating means at which the latter is held in its operative position; means driven by said drive means for oscillating said lever, against the bias of said biasing means, between said first position thereof and a second position wherein said one end of the lever is out of engagement with said latch release operating means; and stop means operatively engaged with one of said reel support members for limiting oscillation of said lever, during rotation of said one reel support member, to movement between said second position of the lever and an intermediate position at which said one end of the lever is adjacent to but out of engagement with said latch release operating means and for releasing said lever for movement to its first position by said biasing means when rotation of said one reel support member is arrested thereby to move said latch release operating means to its second position for displacing said latch release means to said predetermined extent.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
106 words
An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said latch release operating means includes a gear rotatably mounted thereon for movement between said first and second positions of the latch release operating means wherein said gear, at said second position, is placed in operative driven engagement with said drive means for rotation thereby; and said latch release means comprises a second lever pivotally mounted in said apparatus and having a sector shaped gear segment formed thereon engaged with said gear, whereby rotation of said gear causes movement of said gear segment with respect to the gear, thereby to displace said latch release menas to said predetermined extent.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
68 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said latch release operating means comprises a third lever pivotally mounted in said apparatus and having said gear rotatably mounted thereon, said second lever being rotatably mounted on said third lever for movement therewith between said first and second positions of the latch release operating means and for independent pivotal movement upon rotation of said gear by said drive means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 4 including resilient means for normally maintaining said second and third levers in a relatively fixed position with respect to each other and for allowing rotation of said third lever with respect to said second lever by said gear.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
167 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said manually operable actuating means includes a plurality of operating mode selecting members individually movable between respective normal inoperative and operative positions; and said latch means includes a latch member common to all of said mode selecting members and having keepers for at least certain mode selecting members, a latch element extending from each of said certain mode selecting members and being engageable with the respective keeper of said latch member when the respective mode selecting member is moved to its operative position; means for mounting said latch member for movement between a latching position for receiving the latch elements of said mode selecting menbers in the respective keepers and a released position in which said latch elements are freed from their respective keepers; and means for urging said latch member to said latching position; said latch release means moving said latch member to said released position upon the displacement of said latch release means to said predetermined extent.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
51 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said mounting means mounts said latch means for pivotal movement, and said latch release means includes abutment means engaging said latch means for pivoting the latch means against the bias of said urging means to said released position upon actuation of said gear.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
325 words
An apparatus according to claim 2 including an elongated plate pivotally mounted in said apparatus for swinging movement to either side of a centered position; said plate having an elongated slot formed therein including a pair of opposed end sections and a pair of angularly related outwardly extending branches located at an intermediate position along said slot between said end sections; said lever having an abutment member formed thereon and slidably received in said slot, and said stop means being defined by the outer extremities of said branches; and rotational transmission means operatively connected between said one reel support member and said plate for frictionally urging said plate to the side of said centered position in the direction of rotation of said one reel support member, thereby to maintain said abutment member in engagement with the trailing edge of said slot with respect to the direction of rotation of the one reel support member, whereby during rotation of said one reel support member said abutment member oscillates in said slot between the outer extremity of one of said branches at an off centered position of said plate and one of the opposed ends of the slot at the centered position of the plate as said lever oscillates between said intermediate and second positions thereof respectively; said abutment member operating to return said plate to its centered position against the bias of said rotational transmission means as the lever oscillates from said intermediate position to said second position, by its engagement with the edge of the slot at said one opposed end thereof; said plate, upon arresting of rotation of said one reel support member, remaining stationary after having been moved to its centered position by oscillation of said abutment member, thereby allowing said abutment member to enter the other opposed end section of the slot, past said slot branches, to permit said lever to move its first position under the bias of said biasing means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
70 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said oscillating means comprises a cam member driven by said drive means and having a peripheral cam surface engaged with said lever for oscillating the latter; said cam surface having a predetermined configuration selected to urge said lever from said second to said intermediate positions thereof while allowing substantially free movement of said lever from said second to said first position thereof.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
162 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said manually operable actuating means includes a plurality of operating mode selecting members and said transmission means includes means responsive to the operation of the mode selecting members for rotating one of said reel support members in a play mode and for interrupting the play mode and rewinding the tape onto the other of said reel support members, thereby to permit review of signals on tape wound on the reel coupled with said one reel support member during said play mode; and means responsive to said drive control means for preventing movement of said latch release means to said predetermined extent when said mode selecting members are actuated to cause said transmission means to rewind tape onto the tape reel coupled with the other of said reel support members during a previously selected play mode, whereby said tape can be fully rewound during the play mode without halting the operation of said drive means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
198 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said manually operable actuating means includes a plurality of operating mode selecting members and said transmission means includes means responsive to the operation of the mode selecting members for rotating one of said reel support members in a play mode and for interrupting the play mode and rewinding the tape onto the other of said reel support members, thereby to permit review of signals on tape wound on the reel coupled with said one reel support member during said play mode; and means responsive to said drive control means for moving said plate from its centered position to one of its off centered positions when rotation of its associated reel member is arrested after actuation of said mode selecting members to cause said transmission means to rewind tape onto the tape reel coupled with the other of said reel support members during a previously selected play mode whereby movement of said abutment member, in this mode of the apparatus, is restricted between said one opposed end section of the slot and one of said branches, to limit oscillation of said lever to movement between said second and intermediate positions thereof.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
61 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein said plate includes an extension tongue and said plate moving means comprises an auxiliary lever pivotally mounted in said apparatus in engagement with said tongue and resilient means for biasing said auxiliary lever into engagement with said tongue to pivot said plate from its centered position to said one of its off-centered positions.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
52 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 12 including means operatively connected to said mode selecting members for holding said auxiliary lever out of engagement with said tongue in all operating modes of the apparatus except during interruption of the play mode for rewinding of the tape to permit review of signals thereon.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3637163A
Cited
US3779498A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-03-23 | 1979-09-22 | 1980-03-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-03-23 | 1983-09-22 | 1984-03-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-03-23 | 1987-09-22 | 1988-03-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |