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Claims  |
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What is claimed is:
1. An apparatus for recording and/or reproducing signals on a magnetic
recording medium in the form of a tape contained in a tape cassette and
being movable in a run along a side of the cassette, or in the form of a
stripe affixed to a card parallel to an edge portion thereof, said
apparatus comprising:
a housing having a recess which, in a cassette mode of operation of the
apparatus, is adapted to receive the tape cassette with said run of the
tape therein being coincident with a recording medium transport tape
extending across said recess, and means which, in a card mode of operation
of the apparatus, is adapted to guide a card with said stripe forming the
recording medium thereon in said transport path;
a rotatable capstan extending into said recess adjacent said transport path
for engagement with a tape or card therein;
a head carriage mounted in said housing for reciprocal movements in
directions normal to said transport path between operative and inoperative
positions;
magnetic head means on said carriage engageable with the magnetic recording
medium in said transport path when said carriage is in said operative
position;
pinch roller means cooperating with said capstan, upon movement of said
head carriage to said operative position thereof, for driving the tape or
card therebetween along said transport path;
a tape guide member urged to project into said transport path for guiding
the tape in such path adjacent said head means in response to movement of
said carriage to said operative position in said cassette mode of
operation; and
mode change-over means selectively actuable to first and second positions
for establishing said cassette mode of operation and said card mode of
operation, respectively, said mode change-over means including means
blocking the projection of said tape guide member into said transport path
when said carriage is moved to its operative position in said card mode of
operation so as to avoid engagement of said tape guide member with a card
in said transport path.
2. An apparatus for recording and/or reproducing signals on a magnetic
recording medium in the form of a tape contained in a tape cassette and
being movable in a run along a side of the cassette, or in the form of a
stripe affixed to a card parallel to an edge portion thereof, said
apparatus comprising:
a housing having a recess which, in a cassette mode of operation of the
apparatus, is adapted to receive the tape cassette with said run of the
tape therein being coincident with a recording medium transport path
extending across said recess, means which, in a card mode of operation of
the apparatus, is adapted to guide a card with said stripe forming the
recording medium thereon in said transport path, and a pivoted cover
movable between an opened position to permit the insertion and removal of
the cassette and a closed position for enclosing said recess, said cover
having a slidable portion movable between an extended position, at which
it engages an adjacent edge of said recess to complete the closing
thereof, and a retracted position at which the slidable cover portion is
spaced from said adjacent edge of the recess to guide the card
therebetween;
a rotatable capstan extending into said recess adjacent said transport
path;
a head carriage mounted in said housing for reciprocal movements in
directions normal to said transport path between operative and inoperative
positions;
magnetic head means on said carriage engageable with the magnetic recording
medium in said transport path when said carriage is in said operative
position;
pinch roller means cooperating with said capstan, upon movement of said
head carriage to said operative position thereof, for driving the tape or
card therebetween along said transport path;
a tape guide member urged to project into said transport path for guiding
the tape in such path adjacent said head means in response to movement of
said carriage to said operative position in said cassette mode of
operation; and
mode change-over means selectively actuable to first and second positions
for establishing said cassette mode of operation and said card mode of
operation, respectively, said mode change-over means including means
blocking the projection of said tape guide member into said transport path
when said carriage is moved to its operative position in said card mode of
operation.
3. Apparatus according to claim 2; in which said mode change-over means
includes latch means operative in said card mode of operation for locking
said pivoted cover in said closed position.
4. Apparatus according to claim 2; in which said cover includes cassette
holding means for slidably receiving the cassette when the cover is in
said opened position.
5. An apparatus for recording and/or reproducing signals on a magnetic
recording medium in the form of a tape contained in a tape cassette and
being movable in a run along a side of the cassette, which cassette has
indicating means selectively capable of first and second indications, or
in the form of a stripe affixed to a card parallel to an edge portion
thereof, said apparatus comprising:
a housing having a recess which, in a cassette mode of operation of the
apparatus, is adapted to receive the tape cassette with said run of the
tape therein being coincident with a recording medium transport path
extending across said recess, and means which, in a card mode of operation
of the apparatus, is adapted to guide a card with said stripe forming the
recording medium thereon in said transport path;
a rotatable capstan extending into said recess adjacent said transport
path;
a head carriage mounted in said housing for reciprocal movements in
directions normal to said transport path between operative and inoperative
positions;
magnetic head means on said carriage engageable with the magnetic recording
medium in said transport path when said carriage is in said operative
position;
pinch roller means cooperating with said capstan, upon movement of said
head carriage to said operative position thereof, for driving the tape or
card therebetween along said transport path;
a tape guide member urged to project into said transport path for guiding
the tape in such path adjacent said head means in response to movement of
said carriage to said operative position in said cassette mode of
operation;
mode change-over means selectively actuable to first and second positions
for establishing said cassette mode of operation and said card mode of
operation, respectively, said mode change-over means including means
blocking the projection of said tape guide member into said transport path
when said carriage is moved to its operative position in said card mode of
operation;
means selectively actuable for obtaining recording and reproducing
operations, respectively;
record prevent means to prevent said recording operation in said cassette
mode of operation in response to said second indication of the indicating
means of the cassette in said recess; and means responsive to the
actuation of said mode change-over means to said second position thereof
for rendering said record prevent means ineffective in said card mode of
operation.
6. Apparatus according to claim 5; in which said indicating means of the
cassette is constituted by at least one aperture normally obstructed by an
element which is removable therefrom to provide said first and second
indications by the presence and absence, respectively, of the element in
the aperture; said record prevent means is urged to a record-prevent
position and is blocked from movement to said record-prevent position by
the presence of said element obstructing the aperture of the cassette in
said recess when the cassette mode of operation is selected; and said
means for rendering the record prevent means ineffective includes a slide
member movable to an operative position in response to the actuation of
said mode change-over means to said second position thereof for selecting
the card mode of operation, with said slide member having a lug which, in
said operative position of the slide member, is disposed to block the
movement of said record-prevent means to said record-prevent position.
7. Apparatus according to claim 6; in which said housing includes a pivoted
cover movable between an opened position to permit the insertion and
removal of the cassette and a closed position for enclosing said recess,
said cover has a slidable portion movable between an extended position in
which it is engageable with an adjacent edge of said recess to complete
the closing thereof and a retracted position in which the slidable cover
portion is spaced from said adjacent edge of the recess to guide the card
therebetween, and said slide member has a latch element thereon which, in
said operative position of the slide member, locks said pivoted cover in
said closed position of the latter.
8. An apparatus for recording and/or reproducing signals on a magnetic
recording medium in the form of a tape contained in a tape cassette and
being movable in a run along a side of the cassette, or in the form of a
stripe affixed to a card parallel to an edge portion thereof, said
apparatus comprising:
a housing having a recess which, in a cassette mode of operation of the
apparatus, is adapted to receive the tape cassette with said run of the
tape therein being coincident with a recording medium transport path
extending across said recess, and means which, in a card mode of operation
of the apparatus, is adapted to guide a card with said stripe forming the
recording medium thereon in said transport path;
a rotatable capstan extending into said recess adjacent said transport
path;
a head carriage mounted in said housing for reciprocal movements in
directions normal to said transport path between operative and inoperative
positions;
magnetic head means including a recording and reproducing head fixed on
said carriage and having a face directed toward said path so as to be
engageable against the tape or stripe constituting the magnetic recording
medium in the cassette or card mode of operation upon movement of the
carriage to said operative position thereof;
a tape guide member mounted on said carriage for limited movement relative
to the latter in said directions normal to the transport path and
including tape guide fingers adapted to extend beyond said face of the
head for positioning the tape relative to said face;
spring means urging said tape guide member relative to said carriage in the
direction for extending said tape guide fingers beyond said face and
thereby guiding the tape in said path adjacent said head in response to
movement of said carriage to said operative position in said cassette mode
of operation;
pinch roller means cooperating with said capstan, upon movement of said
head carriage to said operative position thereof, for driving the tape or
card therebetween along said transport path; and
mode change-over means selectively actuable to first and second positions
for establishing said cassette mode of operation and said card mode of
operation, respectively, said mode change-over means including a slide
member movable generally parallel to said transport path and having a
portion which, in said second position of the mode change-over means for
selecting the card mode of operation, is engageable by said tape guide
member to block the movement of the latter by said spring means with said
carriage when the latter is moved to its operative position.
9. Apparatus according to claim 8; in which said mode change-over means
further includes a manually actuable pivoted change-over lever engageable
by said slide member for positioning the latter in response to pivoting of
said change-over lever, a support arm pivotally mounted for movement with
said change-over lever, and a back-up roller on said support arm which, in
said first position of the mode change-over means, is offset in respect to
said recording and reproducing head and disposed out of said recess, said
back-up roller being displaced, in said second position of the mode
change-over means, so as to confront said face of the head at the other
side of said transport path so as to press said stripe of the card against
said face of the head.
10. Apparatus according to claim 9; in which the cassette has at least one
aperture normally obstructed by an element which is removable therefrom to
provide first and second indications by the presence and absence,
respectively, of the element in the aperture; and further comprising means
selectively actuable for obtaining recording and reproducing operations,
respectively, record prevent means urged to a record-prevent position to
prevent the recording operation in the cassette mode of operation in
response to said second indication by the cassette in said recess, said
record prevent means being blocked from movement to said record-prevent
position by the presence of said element obstructing the aperture of the
cassette in said recess when the cassette mode of operation is selected,
and a second slide member movable generally normal to said transport path
and being engageable by said change-over lever so as to be moved to an
operative position in response to actuation of the mode change-over means
to said second position thereof, said second slide member having a lug
thereon which, in said operative position of the second slide member, is
disposed to block the movement of said record prevent means to said
record-prevent position.
11. Apparatus according to claim 10, in which said housing includes a
pivoted cover movable between an opened position to permit the insertion
and removal of the cassette and a closed position for enclosing the
recess, said cover has a slidable portion movable between an extended
position in which it is engageable with an adjacent edge of said recess to
complete the closing thereof and a retracted position in which the
slidable cover portion is spaced from said adjacent edge of the recess to
guide the card therebetween, and said second slide member has a latch
element thereon which, in said operative position of the second slide
member, locks said pivoted cover in said closed position of the latter. |
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Claims |
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Description |
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a magnetic recording and/or reproducing
apparatus and, more particularly, is directed to an improved apparatus for
recording and/or reproducing audio or other signals on a magnetic
recording medium which is alternatively in the form of a magnetic tape
within a cassette or in the form of a magnetic stripe or band affixed to a
card.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Initially, individual devices have been provided for the recording and
reproducing of audio or other signals on a magnetic tape contained in a
cassette and on a magnetic stripe affixed to a cardboard or other
substantially rigid card, respectively. Furthermore, adapters have been
provided, for example, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,610,635, and in
U.S. Pat. No. 3,678,212, so that an apparatus primarily intended for
recording and/or reproducing operations in association with a magnetic
tape cassette can be adapted for use in recording or reproducing signals
in a magnetic band or stripe on a linearly movable card. Although such
adapters avoid the necessity of providing individual devices for use with
the cassettes and cards, respectively, the use of an additional device or
adapter is still troublesome. Accordingly, it has been proposed, for
example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,852,817, to provide a recording and/or
reproducing apparatus which can accommodate either a magnetic tape
cassette or a so-called magnetic card, that is, a card having a magnetic
stripe affixed thereto as the recording medium. Although the foregoing
dual-purpose apparatus can accommodate either a tape cassette or a
magnetic card without the need to employ an adapter, the structure of such
apparatus is undesirably complicated, for example, in providing individual
arrangements for driving the tape and the card, respectively. Further,
with the existing dual-purpose apparatus adapted to be changed-over to
accommodate either a tape cassette or a magnetic card, the apparatus can
be damaged if a tape cassette is inserted into the apparatus at a time
when the latter has been changed-over for accommodating a card. Moreover,
in the existing dual-purpose apparatus for use with a tape cassette or a
magnetic card, the card can be damaged by a tape guiding member provided
in the apparatus. Finally, no provision is made in the existing
dual-purpose apparatus for preventing erroneous erasing of signals
recorded on a tape in a cassette, or for de-activating the same when using
a magnetic card.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved
recording and/or reproducing apparatus which can selectively accommodate
either a tape cassette or a magnetic card, and which avoids the previously
mentioned specific disadvantages of the dual-purpose apparatus heretofore
provided for that purpose.
More particularly, it is an object of this invention to provide a
relatively simple and reliable apparatus for selectively recording and/or
reproducing signals on either a magnetic tape contained in a cassette or
on a magnetic stripe or band affixed to a linearly movable card.
Still another object is to provide an apparatus, as aforesaid, capable of
being changed-over to handle either a tape cassette or a magnetic card as
the record medium, and in which damage to either the apparatus or the
record medium is avoided in the event that an attempt is made to insert a
tape cassette or a magnetic card in the apparatus when the latter is
conditioned for the card mode of operation or the cassette mode of
operation, respectively.
Still another object is to provide an apparatus as aforesaid, which can
prevent erroneous or undesired erasing of signals prerecorded on the tape
in a cassette when the apparatus is in its cassette mode of operation, and
in which the change-over of the apparatus to its card mode of operation
makes it possible to employ the apparatus for recording as well as
reproducing signals on the magnetic band or stripe of the linearly movable
card.
In accordance with an aspect of this invention, an apparatus for recording
and/or reproducing signals on a magnetic recording medium in the form of a
tape contained in a cassette and being movable in a run along a side of
the cassette, or in the form of a card having a magnetic stripe or band
affixed thereto parallel to an edge portion of the card, comprises a
housing having a recess which, in a cassette mode of operation of the
apparatus, is adapted to receive the tape cassette with the tape run
therein being coincident with a recording medium transport path extending
across the recess, and means which, in a card mode of operation of the
apparatus, is adapted to guide a card with the stripe thereof in the
transport path, a rotatable capstan extending into the recess adjacent the
transport path, a head carriage mounted in the housing for reciprocal
movements in directions normal to the transport path between operative and
inoperative positions, magnetic head means on the carriage engageable with
the magnetic recording medium in the transport path when the carriage is
in its operative position, a pinch roller cooperating with the capstan
upon movement of the head carriage to its operative position for driving
the tape or card therebetween along the transport path, a tape guide
member urged to project into the transport path for guiding the tape in
such path adjacent the head means in response to movement of the carriage
to its operative position in the cassette mode of operation of the
apparatus, and mode change-over means selectively actuable for
establishing the cassette mode of operation and the card mode of
operation, respectively, with such mode change-over means including an
element blocking the projection of the tape guide member into the
transport path when the carriage is moved to its operative position in the
card mode of operation.
Further, in accordance with a feature of this invention, the housing of the
apparatus is provided with a pivoted cover movable between an opened
position to permit the insertion and removal of a cassette and a closed
position for enclosing the recess, and the cover has a slidable portion
movable between an extended position at which it engages the adjacent edge
of the recess to complete the closing thereof and a retracted position at
which the slidable cover portion is spaced from the adjacent edge of the
recess to guide the card therebetween. Preferably, the mode change-over
means of the apparatus according to this invention includes latch means
operative in the card mode of operation for locking the pivoted cover in
its closed position.
In accordance with another feature of this invention, each cassette adapted
for use in the apparatus has indicating means selectively capable of first
and second indications, for example, constituted by at least one aperture
normally obstructed by an element which is removable therefrom to provide
the first and second indications by the presence and absence,
respectively, of the element in the aperture, and the apparatus further
comprises means selectively actuable for effecting recording and
reproducing operations, respectively, record-prevent means to prevent
recording in the cassette mode of operation in response to said second
indication of the indicating means of a cassette in the recess of the
housing, and means responsive to actuation of the mode change-over means
for rendering the record-prevent means ineffective in the card mode of
operation.
The above, and other objects, features and advantages of the invention,
will be apparent from the following detailed description of an
illustrative embodiment which is to be read in connection with the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a so-called micro-cassette that may be used
in a recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to this invention;
FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of a magnetic card of a type that may
also be used in the recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to
this invention;
FIGS. 3 and 4 are perspective views illustrating a recording and/or
reproducing apparatus according to this invention when conditioned for use
with the micro-cassette of FIG. 1, or with the magnetic card of FIG. 2,
respectively;
FIGS. 5 and 6 are enlarged plan views showing essential elements of the
apparatus of FIGS. 3 and 4 with a portion of the housing cut away, and
with the apparatus being conditioned for use with the micro-cassette of
FIG. 1 and the magnetic card of FIG. 2, respectively;
FIGS. 7 and 8 are views generally corresponding to FIGS. 5 and 6,
respectively, but showing the apparatus according to the invention being
used for driving the tape in a cassette and for driving a linearly movable
card, respectively;
FIG. 9 is a detail plan view of a card guide member included in the
apparatus according to this invention;
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a pivoted cover included in the apparatus
of FIGS. 3 and 4 and which forms a cassette holder;
FIG. 11 is a fragmentary, enlarged sectional view taken along the line A--A
on FIG. 10;
FIG. 12 is a detail perspective view of a tape guide member included in the
apparatus according to this invention; and
FIGS. 13-16 are enlarged perspective views showing respective elements of a
change-over mechanism included in the apparatus according to this
invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that a magnetic
recording and/or reproducing apparatus 10 according to this invention, as
shown on FIGS. 3 and 4, is intended to be used in connection with
alternative recording media either in the form of a tape cassette 11 (FIG.
1) or a magnetic card 12 (FIG. 2).
The tape cassette 11 is particularly shown to be a so-called micro-cassette
which has been dimensionally standardized by a number of manufacturers so
as to be one-quarter of the size of the usual compact cassette. As shown,
micro-cassette 11 includes a substantially rectangular casing 13
containing rotatable supply and take-up reels 14 and 15 on which a
magnetic tape T is wound. The tape between reels 14 and 15 is suitably
guided so as to be movable in a run extending along a relatively long side
13a of rectangular casing 13 which is provided with a series of windows or
openings 16 for exposing the tape therealong. The top and bottom walls of
cassette casing 13 are provided with aligned central apertures 17 disposed
adjacent long side 13a for receiving a rotated capstan which, as
hereinafter described, can engage the adjacent run of tape T for driving
the latter. Further, guide openings 18 are provided in the top and bottom
walls of cassette casing 13 adjacent the opposite ends of its long side
13a for receiving guiding pins or posts by which the micro-cassette 11 may
be accurately positioned within a recording and/or reproducing apparatus.
Finally, micro-cassette 11 is shown to include indicating means for
preventing erroneous erasing of signals recorded on the tape T. As shown,
such indicating means conventionally includes an aperture 19 provided in
each of the relatively short sides or ends of cassette casing 13 and being
normally obstructed by a frangible element or tab 20. When aperture 19 is
obstructed by tab 20, the presence of tab 20 indicates that recording as
well as reproducing operations may be performed on the tape T. On the
other hand, when the frangible tab 20 is removed, the absence of such tab
from aperture 19 indicates that the signals recorded on tape T are not to
be erased, that is, a recording operation is not to be performed on the
tape.
Referring now to FIG. 2, it will be seen that the conventional magnetic
card which may be alternatively employed in the recording and/or
reproducing apparatus 10 according to this invention includes a generally
rectangular card 21 of relatively rigid cardboard, plastic sheet material
or the like having a band or strips T' of magnetic material affixed to
card 21 and extending parallel to an edge 22 of the card. An illustration
23a, for example, of a dog, as shown, is printed or otherwise applied on
card 21 which may further carry printed indicia 23b, for example,
constituting the name of the illustrated figure. The band or stripe T' of
magnetic material may be pre-recorded with audio signals which, when
reproduced, provide the correct pronunciation of the word represented by
indicia 23b or show the use of such word in a sentence, and the apparatus
according to the present invention may be employed either for reproducing
the signals pre-recorded in band or stripe T', or for recording other
signals in such band or stripe of magnetic material.
Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4 in detail, it will be seen that the apparatus 10
according to this invention for accommodating either the micro-cassette 11
or magnetic card 12 generally comprises a housing 24 including a
rectangular body 25 which may be molded of synthetic resin or the like,
and which, at least in part, defines the chassis of apparatus 10. The
housing 24 further includes a pressed metal lower portion 26 covering the
underside of body 25, and pressed metal upper portions 27 and 28 covering
the opposite end portions of the top of body 25 and being spaced
longitudinally from each other so as to define a recess 29 therebetween
which is adapted to receive the micro-cassette 11, as indicated in broken
lines on FIG. 3. The housing 24 is completed by a pivoted cover 30
swingably movable, for example, in the direction indicated by the arrow a
on FIG. 3, between an opened position, as shown on FIG. 10, to permit the
insertion and removal of the cassette 11 and a closed position, as shown
in FIG. 3, in which cover 30 closes recess 29 for enclosing the cassette
11 therein.
As is shown particularly on FIGS. 10 and 11, the cover 30 preferably forms
a cassette holder of the kangaroo-pocket type and includes opposite
elongated side frame members 31a and 31b having apertures 32 at one end to
receive a pivot pin or pins (not shown) for pivotal mounting in respect to
body 25 of the housing. Side frame members 31a and 31b are shown to be
formed, along their lower edges, with inwardly directed flanges 33a and
33b, while the upper portions of side frame members 31a and 31b are
outwardly flanged, as at 34, and suitably secured to the underside of a
main cover portion 35 of inverted U-shaped cross section. The main cover
portion 35 may be provided with a central transparent section or window
35a through which a cassette held by cover 30 can be observed. A stop 36
depends from the laterally extending edge of main cover portion 35 closest
to the pivoting axis of cover 30 so that, when the latter is tilted to its
open position, as shown in FIG. 10, a cassette 11 may be slideably
inserted under main cover portion 35 between side frame members 31a and
31b so as to be supported on flanges 33a and 33b and against stop 36.
Arcuate leaf springs 37a and 37b are shown to be attached to the
underside of main cover portion 35 so as to resiliently urge a cassette
against flanges 33a and 33b when the cassette is slideably inserted in
cover 30.
Pivoted cover 30 is further shown to include a slideable cover portion or
extension 38 which fits slideably over main cover portion 35 and is
similarly of inverted U-shaped cross section. Projections 39 extend
outwardly from the opposite sides of slideable cover portion 38 and are
secured to the latter by pins 40 (FIG. 11) which have headed inner end
portions slideable along slots 41 in the respective sides of main cover
portion 35. Thus, slideable cover portion 38 is mounted on main cover
portion 35 so as to be moveable relative to latter in the directions of
the arrows b and b' on FIG. 10 between an extended position (FIG. 3) in
which edge 38a of slideable cover portion 38 engages an adjacent edge 29a
of recess 29 to complete the closing thereof, and a retracted position
(FIG. 4) in which edge 38a of slideable cover portion 38 is spaced from
the adjacent edge 29a of recess 29 to define a gap or slot therebetween in
which the magnetic card 12 may be guided. A detent structure is preferably
provided for releaseably holding slideable cover portion 38 in either its
extended or retracted position. As shown, such detent structure may be
constituted by a leaf spring 42 secured at one end against the inner
surface of each side of main cover portion 35 and having suitably spaced
apart openings 42a and 42b each with a diameter slightly smaller than that
of the head 40a of the adjacent pin 40. The openings 42a and 42b are
located to selectively receive head 40a of the adjacent pin 40 in the
retracted and extended positions, respectively, of slideable cover portion
38. It will be apparent that projections 39 on slideable cover portion 38
can be grasped for effecting slideable movement of cover portion 38
between its retracted and extended positions relative to main cover
portion 35 and also for effecting pivotal movements of cover 30, as a
whole, between its opened and closed positions.
As shown on FIGS. 5 and 6, in the illustrated apparatus 10 according to
this invention, supply and take-up reel shafts 43a and 43b extend upwardly
from body or chassis 25 within recess 29 so as to be rotatably coupled
with supply and take-up reels 14 and 15 of cassette 11 when the latter is
operatively positioned or held by cover 30 in the closed position of the
latter. Further, a capstan 44 extends from body 25 into recess 29 so that,
when the cassette 11 is operatively positioned in recess 29, capstan 44
will project into openings 17 of cassette casing 13 in back of the run of
the tape T exposed at the openings 16.
As is usual in apparatus of the type intended to be used with a
micro-cassette, the apparatus 10, when used with micro-cassette 11, has a
reproducing mode of operation in which the tape T in cassette 11 is driven
at a prederetmined speed in the direction toward the take-up reel 15 on
which the tape is wound while signals previously recorded on the tape are
being reproduced, a recording mode of operation in which the tape is again
driven at the predetermined speed, as aforesaid, while any signals
previously recorded on the tape are erased and new signals are recorded on
the tape following such erasure, a fast forward mode of operation in which
the take-up reel is rotated at a relatively high speed so as to effect the
rapid transfer of the tape from the supply reel to the take-up reel, a
rewind mode of operation in which the supply reel 14 is rotated at a
relatively high speed so as to effect the rapid return of the tape from
the take-up reel back to the supply reel, and a stop mode in which a
cassette may be inserted in, or removed from the recess 29 in housing 24.
In order to selectively establish the foregoing modes of operation of
apparatus 10, the latter is shown on FIG. 5 to include a rockable
forward-rewind button 45 extending from a side 24a of housing 24 at the
corner of the latter defined by that side 24a and an end 24c of the
housing, a fast-forward button 46 projecting from side 24a, and a record
button 47 projecting from housing end 24c adjacent the corner defined by
the latter and the side 24b remote from side 24a. Further, as shown on
FIGS. 3 and 4, an earphone jack 48a and a microphone jack 48b may be
provided at end 24c of the housing, while side 24b of the housing has
extending therefrom a button 49 actuable for obtaining a review mode of
operation 10, a jack 50 for connection to an external power supply source,
a ring 51 for connection to a carrying strap, and a release button 52 that
is actuable to permit the removal of a battery case from housing 24.
Selective actuations of buttons 45, 46 and 47 are effective to control a
change-over mechanism (not shown) which may be of the type disclosed in
detail in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 629,676, filed Nov. 6, 1975,
and having a common assignee herewith, so as to establish the various
modes of operation of apparatus 10 when used in connection with a
micro-cassette 11. Such change-over mechanism does not form a part of the
present invention, and, therefore, has not been shown or described in
detail herein. However, it may be noted that the reproducing mode of
operation of apparatus 10 is achieved by rocking or pushing button 45 in
the direction of the arrow c on FIG. 5, so as to displace such button to
the position indicated in broken lines at 45' on FIG. 5. If button 45 is
rocked or pushed in the direction of the arrow d on FIG. 5 at a time when
apparatus 10 is in its reproducing mode, button 45 is returned to its
neutral or rest position shown in full lines, and, accordingly,
change-over from the reproducing mode back to the stop mode is achieved.
If button 45 is pushed further in the direction of the arrow d on FIG. 5,
for example, to the position indicated in dash-dot lines at 45", the
rewind mode of operation of apparatus 10 is achieved. If button 47 is
pushed in the direction of the arrow e on FIG. 5 at a time when the
apparatus is in its reproducing mode, that is, when button 45 is already
located at 45', then apparatus 10 is changed-over from its reproducing
mode to its recording mode. If button 47 is pushed in the direction of the
arrow e at a time when the apparatus is in its stop mode, that is, when
button 45 is in the position shown in full lines of FIG. 5, the effect of
the change-over mechanism is to change-over the apparatus from its stop
mode to its recording mode of operation with button 45 being moved to the
position 45'. At any time during a recording operation, the apparatus can
be restored to its stop mode merely by pushing button 45 in the direction
of the arrow d so as to restore button 45 to the neutral or stop position
shown in full lines on FIG. 5. Thus, each of the recording, reproducing
and rewind modes of operation of apparatus 10, after having been
established, continues in force until such time as button 45 is restored
to its neutral or rest position. On the other hand, a review mode of
operation established by displacement of button 49 in the direction of the
arrow f on FIG. 5, or a fast-forward mode of operation established by
displacement of button 46 in the direction of the arrow g preferably
continues in effect only so long as the respective button is displaced
against a resilient or spring force urging such button to return to its
neutral or inactive position.
As further shown in broken lines on FIGS. 5 and 6, the capstan 44 may be
provided with a fly wheel 44' located under the chassis body 25 and being
suitably driven at a constant speed by a drive source, such as, an
electric motor or the like. Locating pins or posts 53 are shown to project
from chassis body 25 at opposite sides of the capstan 44 so as to be
receivable in openings 18 of the cassette 11 for precisely locating the
latter within recess 29. A spring 53' mounted at the bottom of recess 29
may be engageable with the side of cassette housing 13 remote from side
13a for taking-up any play in the engagement of post 53 in openings 18.
When a cassette 11 is thus accurately located, the run of the tape T
extending along side 13a of the cassette casing is coincident with a
recording medium transport path extending across recess 29 and being
indicated by the broken line P--P on each of FIGS. 5-8.
The apparatus 10 is further shown to have a head carriage or base plate 54
mounted within housing portion 27 for reciprocal movements in directions
normal to the transpor | | |
