Tape reproducing apparatus having automatic search mode

Claim 1

A tape producing apparatus having first and second manually operated, spring-biased bars urged toward a nonworking position and movable toward a working position for effecting normal and high tape speed operations respectively, and means for deriving a signal from each of a series of programs recorded in a tape when said first and second bars are simultaneously in the working position, comprising: a solenoid; switch means for establishing a circuit between said signal deriving means and said solenoid when said second bar is in the working position to energize said solenoid in the presence of said signal; a spring-biased lever having a first magnetic arm portion, a second arm portion and an intermediate arm portion, and pivoted at a point of said intermediate arm portion, said lever being rotatable about said pivot point between a first position toward which said first magnetic arm portion is urged for making contact with said solenoid and attracted thereto when same is energized and a second position in which said first magnetic arm portion is away from and unaffected by the energized solenoid, said second arm portion being engageable with said second bar when said lever is in said first position together with said solenoid being simultaneously energized; latch means for engaging with said first bar when same is in the working position and engaging with said second bar when same is exclusively in the working position; and means for urging said lever to said second position when said first bar is in the nonworking position to thereby allow said second bar to engage with said latch means and allowing said lever to rotate to said first position when said first bar is in the working position to thereby allow said second bar to engage with said second arm portion upon energization of said solenoid and disengage therefrom upon de-energization of said solenoid, said urging means including a spring-biased bell crank having a first arm engaging in pressure contact with said intermediate arm portion to rotate said lever to said second position and a second arm engageable with said first bar when same is in the working position to disengage said first arm from contact with said intermediate arm portion.