Multiple speed drive mechanism for cassette recorders

Claim 1

A driving mechanism of a cassette-type magnetic tape recorder suitable for voice logging use comprising (a) a frame, (b) a flywheel-capstan assembly including (i) an axially positioned shaft rotatably mounted on said frame and extending to form a capstan engageable with a pinch roller for advancing a magnetic tape positioned therebetween when the flywheel-capstan assembly is driven, and (ii) a flywheel mounted on said shaft having a plurality of perimeter portions spaced along the axis thereof for engaging suitable drive means, (c) drive means, including a drive shaft adapted to be driven at a relatively constant speed, having a plurality of different axial positions, and a plurality of idler wheels, each of which is rotatably mounted on a carriage movable with respect to said frame, enabling the simultaneous engagement of each of said idler wheels with a different one of the axial positions of said drive shaft and enabling the independent engagement of a given one of said idler wheels with a matching one of said perimeter portions of said flywheel, and (d) means for selectively moving a given carriage to engage one of said idler wheels with one of said perimeter portions of said flywheel and for disengaging the remaining idler wheels from the remaining perimeter portions, wherein said perimeter portions of said flywheel and said axial portions of said drive shaft are selected to provide different ratios therebetween, whereby the flywheel-capstan assembly may be caused to be uniformly driven at different angular velocities enabling alternative drive conditions.