Magnetic-tape apparatus with full and partial head plate advance

Claim 1

A magnetic-tape apparatus, comprising a head mounting plate having two raised edges bounding respective opposite sides of a pivoting space, each of said edges having at least one recess formed therein, opening into said pivoting space, two winding spindles arranged in line with each other, and a winding idler drivingly connected to each of said spindles, a pivotal arm carrying a pivotal idler wheel for driving a selected one of said spindles in a respective one of two opposite directions, and means for pivoting said arm about a pivotal axis for operable engagement of said idler wheel with the respective winding idler, a stop projection carried on said pivotal arm, extending into said pivoting space, for engaging one of said recesses after pivotal movement of the arm into a pivoted stop position, means for moving said mounting plate from a retracted position to a first position defined by a stationary stop; and in response to movement of the pivotal arm into the pivoted stop position, moving said mounting plate from said retracted position to a second position situated between the retracted position and the first position, said stop projection defining said second position, characterized in that said pivotal arm comprises a sliding element on which said stop projection is arranged, means for guiding said sliding element on the pivotal arm for radial movement relative to a pivotal axis of the arm, and a spring biassing said sliding element such that, upon movement of the head mounting plate toward the winding spindles, after said stop projection has engaged said recess, the stop projection can be moved toward said pivotal axis from a non-shifted first position to a second position in which the sliding element is shifted relative to the pivotal arm against the spring force, in said second position the stop projection positioning the head mounting plate in the mounting plate second position.