Apparatus for shifting the magnetic tape head in a multitrack tape player

Claim 1

Cartridge type tape player apparatus having a tape deck, a replaceable cartridge accommodating a multitrack magnetic tape, tape driving means and a magnetic tape head, said apparatus comprising head shift means for shifting a magnetic tape head between specific tracks on a multitrack magnetic tape; a capstan shaft for driving the tape via the tape driving means; a capstan member affixed to the capstan shaft for rotation with said shaft, said capstan member having a projection extending therefrom; lever means provided on a vertical axis on the tape deck with freedom of movement in vertical and horizontal directions, said lever means having a guide member selectively engageing the projection of the capstan member, said guide member being positioned so that it crosses the locus of the rotating projection when it is driven in a vertical direction, said lever means having an end portion for guiding an engaging part of the head shift means in a manner whereby it rotates up to the position of the projection on the locus of the rotating projection when said guide member rotatably moves along the vertical axis in cooperation with said projection; spring means coupled to said lever means and maintaining said lever means in the rest position; and operating means mounted on the tape deck for transferring the operation in the vertical direction to said lever means in response to the detection of an indication on the tape thereby shifting said lever means from a rest position to an operating position against the action of said spring means.

Claim 7

A method of vertically shifting a magnetic tape head of multitrack tape player apparatus including a tape deck, a cam having a plurality of cam surfaces, a capstan shaft having a capstan flywheel with a projection extending therefrom, a lever device mounted on the tape deck independent from the capstan shaft and movable by the projection relatively to the tape deck, an operating device mounted on the tape deck, and energizable and deenergizable, a ratchet wheel rotatably mounted on the tape deck and having a ratchet portion positioned in the path of travel of the projection of the capstan flywheel for cooperating with the cam, a first spring and a second spring, said method comprising the steps of rotating the cam via the capstan flywheel; moving the lever device in a vertical direction relative to the tape deck for a first distance via the operating device in a manner whereby the lever device selectively engages the projection extending from the capstan flywheel and the ratchet portion of the ratchet wheel; moving the lever device horizontally a second distance via the projection extending from the capstan flywheel and simultaneously rotating the ratchet wheel via the lever device for part of an angle of rotation required to complete one shift operation of the tape head thereby guiding the ratchet portion of the ratchet wheel to a position wherein it selectively engages the projection; and rotating the capstan flywheel and thereby rotating the projection thereof and thereby rotating the ratchet portion of the ratchet device through the remainder of the angle of rotation via direct engagement of the ratchet portion and the projection whereby the ratchet wheel and cam rotate together through a specific angle of rotation and thereby shift the tape head from one track position on the tape to other track positions thereon.

Claim 8

A method of vertically shifting a magnetic tape head of multitrack tape player apparatus including a tape deck, a cam having a plurality of cam surfaces, a capstan shaft having a capstan flywheel with a projection extending therefrom, a lever device mounted on the tape deck independent from the capstan shaft and movable by the projection relatively to the tape deck, an operating device mounted on the tape deck, and energizable and deenergizable, a ratchet wheel rotatably mounted on the tape deck and having a ratchet portion positioned in the path of travel of the projection of the capstan flywheel for cooperating with the cam, a first spring and a second spring, said method comprising the steps of rotating the cam via the capstan flywheel; moving the lever device in a vertical direction relative to the tape deck for a first distance via the operating device in a manner whereby the lever device selectively engages the projection extending from the capstan flywheel and the ratchet portion of the ratchet wheel; moving the lever device horizontally a second distance via the projection extending from the capstan flywheel and simultaneously rotating the ratchet wheel via the lever device for part of an angle of rotation required to complete one shift operation of the tape head thereby guiding the ratchet portion of the ratchet wheel to a position wherein it selectively engages the projection; and rotating the capstan flywheel and thereby rotating the projection thereof and thereby rotating the ratchet portion of the ratchet device through the remainder of the angle of rotation via direct engagement of the ratchet portion and the projection whereby the ratchet wheel and cam rotate together through a specific angle of rotation and thereby shift the tape head from one track position on the tape to other track positions thereon.