Locking device for recorder operation modes

Claim 1

In a tape recorder of the type having a stop mode and a plurality of transport modes and generally comprising a chassis, a first lock plate slidable along said chassis and biased from an unlocking side to a locking side, a plurality of transport mode operating rods, a stop mode operating rod, and a tape cassette pocket having a normally locked door and a door lock, the improvement: wherein each of said transport and stop mode operating rods has an inclined cam face having an upper and lower end, said transport and stop mode operating rods being movable in a vertical linear direction relative to said upper and lower end, and in a direction normal to the sliding direction of said first lock plate; and wherein each of said transport mode operating rods has an engaging step formed at the upper end of said inclined cam face; said first lock plate including: transport mode engaging projections at positions corresponding to the lower ends of the inclined cam faces of said transport mode operating rods, and a stop mode engaging projection positioned to engage the cam face of said stop mode operating rod; said transport mode engaging projections on said first lock plate being resiliently biased toward the inclined cam faces such that the depression of a transport mode operating rod produces a camming action between a corresponding cam face and transport mode engaging projection to cause a sliding movement of said first lock plate against its bias, said engaging projection being locked into said engaging step by said bias when said transport mode operating rod is fully depressed, said bias causing said first lock plate to slide to the unlocking side, releasing said transport mode operating rod and stopping the tape recorder, when said engaging projection is unlocked from said engaging step by a camming action of said stop mode operating rod cam face and said stop mode engaging projection before said stop mode operating rod is fully depressed in a stopping position; and comprising: a door lock plate slidable along said chassis, said stop mode operating rod being located at a position confronting a portion of said door lock plate when said stop mode operating rod is fully depressed in the stopping position, such that full depression of said stop mode operating rod engages said door lock plate and causes it to slide in a direction to unlock said door after the tape recorder has stopped.