Patent ID: 6081404
Filing Date: 2000-06-27
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
A cassette tape driving device comprising:a motor;a head base including a magnetic head and first and second members, and being movable between a first position in which said magnetic head is separate from a magnetic tape of a cassette and a second position in which said magnetic head is in contact with the magnetic tape;a central gear which rotates in accordance with a rotation of said motor;a planetary gear which rotates in mesh with said central gear and which revolves along an orbit around said central gear while said planetary gear is rotating in mesh with said central gear;a pair of reel gears which are arranged in the vicinity of the orbit of said planetary gear and which rotate a pair of reel bases for rotating reels of said cassette, said planetary gear revolving in a direction in which said central gear rotates and coming into mesh with one of said pair of reel gears, and said planetary gear rotating the reel gear which has meshed with said planetary gear, thereby rotating one of said pair of reel bases in order to have one of said reels take up the magnetic tape;a third member which is attached to said planetary gear and which revolves around said central gear together with said planetary gear, said third member abutting against said second member while said third member is revolving around said central gear, thereby stopping said planetary gear from revolving;a mode changing gear arranged in a position in which said mode changing gear meshes with said planetary gear which has stopped revolving upon the abutting of said third member against said second member, said mode changing gear having a toothed portion and an untoothed portion both being formed to allow said mode changing gear to rotate through a predetermined angle in accordance with the rotation of said planetary gear; anda switching member which rotates together with said mode changing gear and which presses said first member, thereby moving said head base to said second position in order to bring said magnetic head into contact with the magnetic tape, and said switching member releasing said second and third members from the state of abutting against each other, thereby permitting said planetary gear to revolve around said central gear.