Idler drive mechanism with positional control

Claim 2

An idler drive mechanism in a magnetic tape recording apparatus having supply and takeup reel discs, the magnetic tape recording apparatus being operable in forward and reverse search modes and recording and reproducing modes, said idler drive mechanism comprising: a base; a reversible motor mounted on said base; a drive roller mounted on said base and rotatable by said motor; an arm assembly pivotally mounted on said base; an idler wheel rotatably supported on said arm assembly and selectively movably disposed between the supply and takeup reel discs, and said idler wheel being held in driven contact with said drive roller at all times and kept in a position spaced slightly from said takeup reel disc when in said recording or reproducing mode; a slide lever slidably supported on said base and movable in a first direction when in the forward or reverse search mode and in a second direction when in the recording or reproducing mode; and a first spring operatively coupled between said arm assembly and said slide lever for urging said idler wheel from said position into driving contact with said supply or takeup reel disc dependent on the direction of rotation of said reversible motor when said slide lever is displaced in said first direction, said spring being releasable to a free state thereof when said slide lever is displaced in said second direction for thereby retracting said idler wheel away from said supply or takeup reel disc into said position.

Claim 3

An idler drive mechanism according to claim 1, including a second spring acting between said base and said slide lever for normally urging said slide lever to be displaced in said first direction.

Claim 4

An idler drive mechanism according to claim 1, including a third spring acting between said arm assembly and said drive roller for normally urging said idler wheel in a direction to be pressed against said drive roller.

Claim 5

An idler drive mechanism according to claim 1, including a plunger actuatable when the magnetic tape recording apparatus is to enter the recording or reproducing mode, and a lever assembly operatively connected between said plunger and said slide lever for displacing the latter in said first direction when said plunger is actuated.

Claim 6

An idler drive mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said arm assembly comprises a first and a second arm pivotably connected to each other, said idler wheel being rotatably mounted on said first arm, said second arm being pivotably mounted on said base.

Claim 7

An idler drive mechanism according to claim 5, wherein said slide lever has a spring retainer, said first spring comprising a torsion spring having a first end held in operative engagement with said spring retainer, and a second end engaging said second arm.

Claim 8

An idler drive mechanism according to claim 1, including means on said base for retaining said idler wheel in said position spaced slightly from said takeup reel disc when said slide lever is displaced in said second direction.

Claim 9

An idler drive mechanism according to claim 7, including a plunger mounted on said base, a first lever operatively connected to said plunger and pivotably mounted on said base, and a second lever pivotably mounted on said first lever and engageable with said arm assembly to displace said idler wheel out of driving contact with said supply or takeup reel disc when said plunger is deactivated upon entering the recording or reproducing mode, said plunger being actuatable again to retract said second lever out of engagement with said arm assembly when said slide lever is displaced in said first direction.

Claim 10

An idler drive mechanism according to claim 7, including a leaf spring mounted on said base for engaging said idler wheel when the latter is in said position to thereby prevent said idler wheel from moving into driving contact with the supply or takeup reel disc.

Claim 11

An idler drive mechanism according to claim 7, wherein said base has a fixed shaft and a guide hole, said means comprising an idler wheel locking device movably supported on said fixed shaft and having a locking pin slidably fitted in said guide hole, said idler wheel locking device having a slanted face, and a lifter pin mounted on said slide lever and slidably engageable with said slanted face when said slide lever is displaced in said second direction for lifting said locking pin through said guide hole into engagement with said arm assembly to retain said idler wheel in said locked position.

Claim 12

An idler drive mechanism according to claim 10, wherein said means further includes a coil spring disposed around said fixed shaft and acting between said base and said idler wheel locking device for normally urging said locking pin to be displaced back into said guide hole.

Claim 13

An idler drive mechanism in a magnetic tape recording apparatus having supply and takeup reel discs, said magnetic tape recording apparatus being operable in forward and reverse search modes and recording and reproducing modes, said idler drive mechanism comprising: first drive means for driving said takeup reel disc when said magnetic tape recording apparatus operates in said recording and reproducing modes, said first drive means comprising s first motor, a first idler wheel rotatable through transmission means by said first motor for rotating said takeup reel disc; second drive means for driving said takeup reel disc or said supply reel disc when said magnetic tape recording apparatus operates in said forward or reverse search mode, said second drive means comprising a second motor, a drive roller rotatable thereby, a second idler wheel held against said drive roller for being rotated thereby, a first spring urging said second idler wheel against said drive roller, and an arm assembly rotatably supporting second said idler wheel; mode switching means for switching between said forward and reverse search modes and recording modes, said switching means comprising a plunger, a lever actuatable by said plunger, a slide lever movable by said lever between a first position for selecting said recording and reproducing modes and a second position for selecting said forward and reverse search modes, said slide lever having a spring retainer, and a second spring acting between said spring retainer and said arm assembly for coacting with said second spring to bring said second idler wheel into driven contact with said takeup or supply reel disc dependent on the direction of rotation of said second motor; and a leaf spring disposed adjacent to said second idler wheel, said second spring being releasable to keep said second idler wheel in a position slightly spaced from said takeup reel disc in cooperation with said leaf spring when said slide lever is moved to said second position for the recording and reproducing modes.

Claim 14

An idler drive mechanism in a magnetic tape recording apparatus having supply and takeup reel discs, said magnetic tape recording apparatus being operable in forward and reverse search modes and recording and reproducing modes, said idler drive mechanism comprising: first drive means for driving said takeup reel disc when said magnetic tape recording apparatus operates in said recording and reproducing modes, said first drive means comprising s first motor, a first idler wheel rotatable through transmission means by said first motor for rotating said takeup reel disc; second drive means for driving said takeup reel disc or said supply reel disc when said magnetic tape recording apparatus operates in said forward or reverse search mode, said second drive means comprising a second motor, a drive roller rotatable thereby, a second idler wheel held against said drive roller for being rotated thereby, a first spring urging said second idler wheel against said drive roller, and an arm assembly rotatably supporting second said idler wheel; mode switching means for switching between said forward and reverse search modes and recording modes, said switching means comprising a plunger, a lever actuatable by said plunger, a slide lever movable by said lever between a first position for selecting said recording and reproducing modes and a second position for selecting said forward and reverse search modes, said slide lever having a spring retainer, and a second spring acting between said spring retainer and said arm assembly for coacting with said second spring to bring said second idler wheel into driven contact with said takeup or supply reel disc dependent on the direction of rotation of said second motor; and a leaf spring disposed adjacent to said second idler wheel, said second spring being releasable to keep said second idler wheel in a position slightly spaced from said takeup reel disc in cooperation with said leaf spring when said slide lever is moved to said second position for the recording and reproducing modes.