Patent GB-1429256-A (GB)
Title: Tape recorder
IPC: G11B15/18
Filed: 1973-10-04
Abstract: 1429256 Cassette tape recorders CLARION CO Ltd 4 Oct 1973 [4 Oct 1972 13 Oct 1972 16 Jan 1973] 46504/73 Heading G5R A cassette-type magnetic tape recorder has a motor 50, Fig. 8, arranged to feed the tape selectively in either direction at transducing speed; a member 12, 120, Fig. 7, for holding and guiding the cassette P, Fig. 12, a moving frame 1, having member 12 hinged 11 to it, pivoted above a chassis deck 100, Fig. 3, for moving member 12 between a cassette-loading first position and an operative second position; a transfer mechanism 106 for driving member 12 from its first to its second position; a spring 132, Fig. 12, for operating the transfer mechanism; an over-centre mechanism 17, 19, Fig. 7, for assisting cassette insertion and completing cassette ejection; and an eject mechanism 107 for operating the transfer mechanism in a cassette ejection mode, in which mode the member 12 is returned from its second to its first position, spring 132 is loaded and the transfer mechanism cocked. The transfer mechanism includes a plate 106 slidably mounted at the right side of the chassis, and the over-centre mechanism comprises an ejector 17 loosely pivoted on frame 1 and acted on by a toggle spring 19, Fig. 7. On inserting a cassette P through a loading port 281, Fig. 12, having a spring-closed door 280, the cassette engages in holders 120 of member 12 and the leading cassette edge engages a pin 171, Fig. 7, on ejector 17 thereby driving the latter over-centre whereafter spring 19 causes pin 172, located on ejector 17 and engaged with a step P<SP>1</SP> on the cassette, to fully draw in the cassette, ejector 17 during this motion engaging a locking lever 16 to release a catch 161 thereof from a pin 128 on plate 106 whereby spring 132 draws plate 106 forwards and, by engagement of a pin (211), Fig. 9 (not shown), on frame 1 with a slot 126, Fig. 12, in plate 106, thus driving frame 1, member 12 and cassette P to a lower operative position. During loading a power switch (197), Fig. 9, is closed to start tape transport and the cassette P engages a resilient strip 181, Fig. 8, to release a locking engagement between strip 181 and a plate 5, Fig. 10, whereby springs 55 draw plate 5 and heads 20, 88 and pinch rollers 10 thereon towards the cassette tape. On pushing in an eject member 107, Fig. 12, a part 130 thereon engages and drives plate 106 rearwardly whereby frame 1, guide 12 and cassette P are raised to the loading position. Member 107 also causes a resilient arm 108, Fig. 7, thereon to drive ejector 17 over-centre whereafter spring 19 causes pin 171 on ejector 17 to eject the cassette through port 281, the door 280 of which is automatically opened by a spring 284, Fig. 12, engaged between door 280 and a pin 190 on plate 106. Operation of ejector 107 also pivots a retractor 2, Fig. 8, to draw plate 5 back away from the tape. Playback is possible during forward (right to left) or reverse tape feed, the tape being driven in the selected direction by corresponding ones of pinch rollers 10 and two capstans 36, Fig. 8, contra-rotated by motor 50 via belt 152. Reversal of tape feed direction occurs on energization of a solenoid 110, either by a programme change button (291), Fig. 1 (not shown), or by an end of tape sensor sensing stoppage of a lefthand tape spool rotor 40 by means of wires 216 engaged on the underside of that rotor which has alternate conductive and non-conductive  sections. Solenoid 110 acts via a bi-stable tumbler 164 to slide a two-position switching plate 6 left or right from its current to its other position, cams 196 on plate 6 acting on pegs 153, Fig. 10, of pinch roller frames 149 to engage the appropriate pinch roller 10 and a further cam 60 of plate 6 coacting with projections 47, Fig. 8, on pivoted idler carriers 46 to engage an appropriate one of two idlers 45 between a corresponding spool rotator 40 and capstan flywheel hub 134. Plate 6 also operates a mode select switch 230 located under circuit board 103. Operation of ejector 107 acts on plate 6 to automatically put the recorder in the forward feed mode. Recording is selected by pushing in a record control member (7), Figs. 2, 11 (not shown), to operate a record switch (220). A toggle (67), acted on via a spring (68), has a pin (27) engageable with a catch (75) on member 7, a pin (28) engageable with a tab 54, Fig. 10, on plate 5, and a pin (29) engageable with a tab 63, Fig. 8, on plate 6 and interlocks operations so that recording is only possible during forward tape feed. Fast wind/rewind and pause are selected by a lever 9 having a normal central position and movable left or right to fast wind in a corresponding direction. If lever 9 is moved left or right less than the amount required to engage fast wind, a brake control strip 8 engages one or the other of brake pads 86 with a corresponding spool rotor 40, and lever 9 moves a connector plate 51, Fig. 10, to push plate 5 backwards to disengage the operative pinch roller 10 and, via slots 218 in plate 5 engaged with shafts 45a of idlers 45, to disengage the operative idler 45. On moving lever 9 fully left or right to either fast wind position the same actions obtain but the appropriate brake is only momentarily engaged and in addition a carrier 94 is pivoted to engage fast wind idlers 96, 97 thereon between the appropriate spool rotor 40 and capstan flywheel 35.