US4390918A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Operating mode switching mechanism for a tape recorder
Assignee: Victor Company of Japan Ltd
•
Filing: 1981-02-20
•
Granted: 1983-06-28
•
Expires: 2001-02-20
Abstract
Abstract An operating mode switching mechanism for a tape recorder for effecting various operations in response to operation of manually operating keys comprises a single solenoid for causing a rotary wheel to start rotating so that various operations are selectively performed depending on the duration for which the solenoid is energized by moving a carrier plate carrying thereon an electromagnetic transducer head, between first and second positions. The rotational angle of the rotary wheel is detected by a photo sensing means, and the detected angle will be used in an electrical circuit in which three different pulses for energizing the solenoid are selectively produced in accordance with the selected operating key and the detected rotational angle of the rotary wheel. Energization interval of the solenoid is, thus synchronized with the rotation of the solenoid thereby providing accurate operating mode switching operations.
Inventors
- 👤 Shigeru Matsumoto
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 21:14
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B15/00; G11B15/02; G11B15/10; G11B15/05; G11B15/093; G11B15/103
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
347 words
An operating mode switching mechanism for a tape recorder having a movable carrier member carrying thereon an electromagnetic transuducer and movable between first and second positions, a tape driving mechanism arranged to drive a magnetic tape at a constant speed when said carrier member assumes said second position, a plurality of manually operating keys for effecting various operations, and a motor, comprising; (a) a single solenoid aranged to be energized by pulses applied thereto in response to the operation of said operating keys; (b) a rotary wheel; (c) means for locking said rotary wheel at a predetermined angular position and for unlocking the same in response to the energization of said solenoid; (d) means for rotating said rotary wheel after unlocked so that said rotary wheel provides a 360 degree revolution from said predetermined angluar position; (e) means responsive to the rotation of said rotary wheel for causing said carrier member to move from said first position to said second position against a biasing force only when said solenoid is being energized until said rotary wheel is rotated by a first predetermined angle; (f) means responsive to the rotation of said rotary wheel for locking said carrier member in an intermediate position between said first and second positions only when said solenoid is being energized during the time said carrier member assumes said second position until said rotary wheel is rotated by a second predetermined angle which is smaller than said first predetermined angle; (g) means responsive to the rotation of said rotary wheel for causing said carrier member to move from said second position to said first position when said solenoid is being energized until said rotary wheel is rotated by a third predetermined angle which is smaller than said second predetermined angle; (h) means for detecting the rotational angle of said rotary wheel; and (i) means responsive to the detected angle of said rotary wheel for deenergizing said solenoid when said rotary wheel is rotated by one of said first to third predetermined angles, which has been selected in accordance with said selected operating key.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
347 words
An operating mode switching mechanism for a tape recorder having a movable carrier member carrying thereon an electromagnetic transuducer and movable between first and second positions, a tape driving mechanism arranged to drive a magnetic tape at a constant speed when said carrier member assumes said second position, a plurality of manually operating keys for effecting various operations, and a motor, comprising; (a) a single solenoid aranged to be energized by pulses applied thereto in response to the operation of said operating keys; (b) a rotary wheel; (c) means for locking said rotary wheel at a predetermined angular position and for unlocking the same in response to the energization of said solenoid; (d) means for rotating said rotary wheel after unlocked so that said rotary wheel provides a 360 degree revolution from said predetermined angluar position; (e) means responsive to the rotation of said rotary wheel for causing said carrier member to move from said first position to said second position against a biasing force only when said solenoid is being energized until said rotary wheel is rotated by a first predetermined angle; (f) means responsive to the rotation of said rotary wheel for locking said carrier member in an intermediate position between said first and second positions only when said solenoid is being energized during the time said carrier member assumes said second position until said rotary wheel is rotated by a second predetermined angle which is smaller than said first predetermined angle; (g) means responsive to the rotation of said rotary wheel for causing said carrier member to move from said second position to said first position when said solenoid is being energized until said rotary wheel is rotated by a third predetermined angle which is smaller than said second predetermined angle; (h) means for detecting the rotational angle of said rotary wheel; and (i) means responsive to the detected angle of said rotary wheel for deenergizing said solenoid when said rotary wheel is rotated by one of said first to third predetermined angles, which has been selected in accordance with said selected operating key.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
An operating mode switching mechainism as claimed in claim 1, wherein said rotational angle detecting means comprises a light source, a light-receiving disk attached to said rotary wheel, a photo detector responsive to a light beam emitted from said light source and reflected at said light-receiving disk, and an electrical circuit responsive to the output signal of said photo detector.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
An operating mode switching mechanism as claimed in claim 2, wherein said light source comprises a light-emitting diode, and said photo detector comprises a photo transistor, both said light-emitting diode and said photo detector are stationarily supported to face said light-receiving disk.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
An operating mode switching mechanism as claimed in claim 3, wherein said light-receiving disk comprises a light-reflecting portion and a plurality of nonreflecting portions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
An operating mode switching mechanism as claimed in claim 2, wherein said electrical circuit comprises a waveform shaping circuit responsive to the output signal of said photo detector for producing pulses and a counter responsive to the output pulses from said waveform shaping circuit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
202 words
An operating mode switching mechanism as claimed in claim 5, wherein said means for deenergizing said solenoid comprises: (a) a first OR gate responsive to signals from a plurality of said operating keys; (b) a second OR gate responsive to another plurality of said operating keys; (c) a first flip-flop responsive to the output signal of said first OR gate; (d) a second flip-flop responsive to another one of said operating keys; (e) a third flip-flop responsive to the output signal of said second OR gate; (f) a third OR gate responsive to the output signals of said first to third flip-flops; (g) first to third AND gates respectively responsive to the output signals of said first to third flip-flops and to output signals of said counter; (h) a fourth OR gate responsive to the output signals of said first to third AND gates, the output signal of said fourth OR gate being fed to said first to third flip-flops to reset the same; (i) a fourth flip-flop responsive to the output signals of said third and fourth OR gates respectively; and (h) a drive circuit responsive to the output signal of said fourth flip-flop for controlling the energization of said solenoid.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
123 words
An operating mode switching mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for causing said carrier member to move from said first position to said second position comprises: (a) a sliding means arranged to move from a third position to a fourth position against a biasing force as said rotary wheel rotates; (b) an arm member rotatably mounted on said sliding means to assume a given angle as long as said solenoid is energized; and (c) means arranged to be engaged with a portion of said arm for transmitting a force to said carrier member so that said carrier member moves from said first position to said second position as said sliding means moves from said third position to said fourth position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
75 words
An operating mode switching mechanism as claimed in claim 7, wherein said arm member comprises an arm body arragned to be rotated in a given direction by said solenoid against an opposite biaisng force, and a lost-motion member coaxially pivoted with said arm body and biased in said given direction, said lost-motion member having a tip portion arranged to be engageable with a poriton of said means for transmitting said force to said carrier member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
60 words
An operating mode switching mechanism as claimed in claim 8, wherein said means for transmitting said force to said carrier member comprises a bell crank pivotally supported and having a recess for receiving said tip portion of said lost-motion member so that said bell crank is rotated as said slide means slides from said third position to said fourth position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
61 words
An operating mode switching mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for locking said rotary wheel comprises a rotatably supported stop lever having one end arranged to be moved in response to the energization of said solenoid so that said locking means rotates, and the other end arranged to come into contact with a portion of said rotary wheel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
128 words
An operating mode switching mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein said rotating means comprises a kick lever rotatably supported and biased in one direction, said kick lever being engaged with a recess made in said rotary wheel when said rotary wheel is locked at said predetermined angular position for applying a force thereto; and a toothed portion arranged along the periphery of said rotary wheel except for a nontoothed portion, said toothed portion being engagable with a gear coaxially connected to a flywheel driven by said motor, said nontoothed portion being arranged to face saod gear when said rotary wheel is locked at said predetermined angular position, said toothed portion being arranged to engage with said gear after said rotary wheel is kicked by said kick lever.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
144 words
An operating mode switching mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for locking said carrier member comprises a latch lever and a latch-release lever both coaxially and rotatably supported with said stop lever of said locking means; means for causing said latch-release lever to rotate in a given direction when said stop lever is rotated by the energization of said solenoid; means for causing said latch lever to rotate in the same direction as said given direction when said latch-release lever is rotated in said given direciton; said latch-release lever having a portion arranged to be kicked by a portion of said rotary wheel when said rotary wheel rotates so that said latch-release lever and said latch lever rotate in a direction opposite to said given direction; said latch lever having a portion engageable with a stepped poriton of said carrier member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
147 words
An operating mode switching mechanism as claimed in claim 7, wherein said means for causing said carrier member to move from said second position to said first position comprises a lock lever rotatably supported and having one end arranged to be kicked by a portion of said rotary wheel when said rotary wheel rotates, and the other end arranged to be engaged with a stepped portion of said sliding means when said sliding means assumes said fourth position; and means for biasing said lock lever in a given direction so that said lock lever keeps locking said sliding means until said lock lever is kicked by said portion of said rotary wheel, said carrier member being returned to said first position by said biasing force applied thereto when said sliding means returns to said third position by said biasing force applied to said sliding means after unlocked.
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) | 1986-06-27 | 1986-12-27 | 1987-06-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-06-27 | 1990-12-27 | 1991-06-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-06-27 | 1994-12-27 | 1995-06-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |