Tape Recorder Mechanism Responsive to Tape Stoppage

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a magnetic-tape recording and/or playback apparatus, in particular a cassette player or recorder, (hereinafter referred to simply as a tape recorder) comprising: a depressible play button, a command member which is connected to the depressible play button and which is movable thereby, a movable and spring-loaded latching member which cooperates with said command member in the depressed condition, a capstan, a flywheel which is coupled to the capstan and drivable by a motor, a tape stoppage detection device, which comprises a component which during tape stoppage performs a movement which is characteristic of said condition, and an automatic stop device for automatically switching off the apparatus when the tape transport stops, said stop device comprising a movable frame plate which during tape stoppage can be moved by the tape stoppage detection device, so that a cooperation is obtained between the flywheel and the latching member by means of a force transmitting member which cooperates with the latching member at a first end for releasing said member against the spring load.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Such a tape recorder is known from U.S. Pat. No. 3,754,695. Said known apparatus comprises a tape-stoppage detection device with a gear-wheel disposed on the capstan, which gear-wheel engages an idler wheel which is journalled on a lever for free rotation. The idler wheel drives a third gear-wheel, which is rigidly mounted on a spindle which is in contact with the pressure roller of the apparatus. The third wheel spindle is mounted in a bracket, which is rotatable about a spindle fastened to the lever on which the idler wheel is journalled for free rotation. The three gear-wheels all have the same dimensions, so that the spindle which is in contact with the pressure roller rotates with the same speed as the capstan. Moreover, the third wheel spindle and capstan spindle have the same diameter, so that during tape transport no slip occurs between the pressure roller and the two spindles.

In the event of tape stoppage the pressure roller comes to a standstill. The spindle which is in contact with the pressure roller, however, is still driven by the gear-wheel which is disposed on the capstan and therefore performs an unwinding movement on the circumference of the pressure roller. By means of suitable elastic means the spindle is constantly held in engagement with the pressure roller. As the spindle rolls over the circumference of the pressure roller, the movement characteristic of the situation of tape stoppage is obtained, namely a tilting movement of the bracket around the spindle of the idler wheel. The tilting movement is transmitted to an unlatching lever which at one end is pivotably connected to a latching member, which consists of a latching slide. On the capstan near the flywheel an unlatching cam is provided. Because of the tilting movement the free end of the unlatching lever is brought within the range of the cam, so that the flywheel will hit the free end thereof. The force which is thus exerted on the unlatching lever by the flywheel is transmitted to the latching member by the lever, so that said member is unlatched. In this known device the unlatching lever thus both has the function of a movable frame plate, which is moved by the tape-stoppage detection device during tape stoppage, and of a force-transmitting member, for unlatching the latching slide against the spring load.

A drawback of the known tape recorder is that the latching slide is unlatched abruptly and with an impact. This means that momentarily great forces are exerted on the components of the stop device. Moreover, the impact increases the number of annoying switching noises. The nature of the stop device described further demands a certain amount of mounting space in the vicinity of the pressure roller and the capstan. Such space is not always available, in which cases the described stop device cannot be used. A further drawback is that the stop device does not respond to stoppage of the take-up reel in those cases in which the supply reel is not yet completely empty. Such a situation may for example occur in the case of a cassette which does not function entirely correctly because of blocking of the take-up reel. As the tape-stoppage detection device cannot detect such a situation, unwinding of the tape continues, thus giving rise to looping of the tape in the cassette.

It is an object of the invention to provide a tape recorder of the type mentioned above which minimizes switching noise.

According to the invention, a rotably journalled drive wheel is mounted on the frame plate. By movement of the frame plate during tape stoppage the drive wheel circumference is brought into contact with the fly-wheel and is thus caused to move, the force-transmitting member being drivably coupled to the drive wheel at a second end.

In an embodiment which automatically ensures that there is always sufficient force available for unlatching the latching member, the frame plate of the stop device is journalled pivotably about a pivoting spindle which is rigidly connected to stationary parts of the apparatus, and the second end of the force-transmitting member is drivably coupled to the drive wheel at such a side of the pivoting spindle that at least one component of the reactive force produced by the drive means acts in a direction from the drive wheel to the flywheel.

In view of the effective use of the available mounting space, in another important embodiment a number of rotatably journalled cooperating gear-wheels are disposed on the frame plate, which wheels together constitute a gear-reduction, by means of which the speed of rotation of the drive wheel can be reduced to a lower speed of rotation of a last reduction wheel with which the drivable second end of the force-transmitting member cooperates.

Further, to permit wide variation in the manufacturing and assembly tolerances of the components used, the force-transmitting member consists of a flexible pulling member, such as a cord, of which said second end is attached to a winding drum which is connected to said last reduction wheel of the stop device.

To automatically ensure that the stop device is reset to the initial position, the command member is coupled to a stop pin, the stop device being provided with a spring which keeps the frame plate elastically pressed against the stop pin in the situation that it is not moved by the tape-stoppage detection device. The stop pin projects through a slot in the frame plate, which slot has a length which is greater than the travel of the stop pin and a width which at the location of the stop pin with the play button depressed is sufficiently great to allow the frame plate to freely perform its movement during tape stoppage, and at the location of the stop pin with unlatched play button (switched off) is slightly wider than the stop pin, the width of the slot between said two locations gradually decreasing and the slot extending is such a direction that the frame plate, after unlatching of the play button by the stop pin, is returned to its initial position.

In various known tape recorders which are suitable for cassettes, for example as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,737,600, the apparatus is switched off by means of a tape stoppage detection device which consists of a differential mechanism. The differential mechanism comprises an output drive member whose direction of rotation can be changed, which member during tape transport continuously rotates in a first direction and during tape stoppage in a second, opposite direction. In an embodiment of the invention which is suited for cooperation with such a tape stoppage detection device a sensor is disposed on and is connected to the frame plate, with an end which is remote from the frame plate, at least during tape transport, in resilient engagement with the output drive member of the differential mechanism.

A further embodiment, which in comparison with simple sensing of the direction of rotation of the drive member of the differential mechanism by means of friction has the advantage of reduced frictional losses and a more reliable drive of the frame plate of the stop device, is characterized in that the drive member of the differential mechanism whose direction of rotation can be changed comprises: a differential disk, which is provided with a round raised first cam ring which comprises a number of cams with a sawtooth profile, which cams are arranged at some distance relative to each other with interspaces therebetween and which during tape transport move in the direction with the gradual sloping edge of the profile leading, as well as a second cam ring which directly adjoins the first cam ring and which is rotatable relative thereto to a limited extent, which second cam ring is provided with cams with a raised generally symmetrical profile, which cams are also arranged at some distance relative to each other with interspace therebetween, the slopes of the sawtooth profile of the first cam ring and the gradual slopes of the second cam ring being substantially equal to each other and the second cam ring being rotatable relative to the first cam ring between an angular position in which the two profiles locally substantially coincide during tape transport, so that the sensor of the stop device is first moved up, against a gradually rising edge of a sawtooth profile and is subsequently moved down along a falling edge of a pentagonal profile, then arriving at the gradually rising edge of the next sawtooth profile; and an angular position during tape stoppage in which the second cam ring is rotated by the sensor until the sensor hits the steep edge of a cam of the first cam ring.

In yet a further embodiment of the invention fast winding and rewinding of the tape can take place freely. This embodiment is characterized in that the sensor is pivotable relative to the frame plate in a direction substantially perpendicular to the frame plate and that the command member is coupled to a sensor lifting cam, which when the play button is depressed releases the sensor and when the play button is released lifts the sensor off the differential disk.

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a bottom view of a portion of a cassette recorder, in which a stop device is employed which is pivotable about a fixed spindle, the play button of the apparatus not being depressed,

FIG. 2 is similar to the view of FIG. 1, but in the situation in which the play button is depressed,

FIG. 3 is similar to the view of FIG. 2 but with the stop device in the position which it occupies just before the apparatus is switched off,

FIG. 4 is a side view of the gear reduction of the stop device used in FIGS. 1 through 3,

FIG. 5 schematically represents the co-operation of the sensor of the stop device used in FIGS. 1 through 3 with the two cam rings of the differential mechanism in the situation that the two cam rings rotate in the direction which corresponds to tape transport,

FIG. 6 schematically represents the cooperation of the same elements as in FIG. 5, but now for a direction of rotation of the differential mechanism which corresponds to tape stoppage, and

FIG. 7 shows a detail of the stop device in an elevation in accordance with the arrow "p" in FIG. 1.

In the Figures corresponding parts bear corresponding reference numberals.

FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 show a part of a cassette recorder chassis 1 with a raised edge 2 on which chassis the other parts of the apparatus are mounted. The stop device is denoted by the general reference numeral 24. The apparatus includes a depressable play button 3 which is clamped onto a command member 4 which is movable by the play button. The movable and spring-loaded latching member, which cooperates with the command member in the depressed or operative position, is constituted by a latching slide 5. The slide is of a type commonly used in cassette recorders and is continuously biased to the left, as shown in the drawing, by a tension spring 6, which acts between a hook 7 on the latching slide 5 and a hook 8 connected to the chassis 1. In the depressed condition of the command member a raised pin 9 fastened to the command member 4 enters a recess 10 along the right side of an opening 11 in the latching slide and thus locks the command member in position. When the latching slide 5 is moved to the right the pin 9 is released and the command member 4 can be returned to its initial position under the influence of a pressure spring 12 which biases the member 4 outward.

A flywheel 13 is rigidly mounted on a capstan 14, which is rotatably journalled in the chassis 1. The flywheel is drivable by an electric motor (not shown) through a belt 15.

The tape stoppage detection device bears the general reference numeral 16. This device is a differential mechanism which comprises a component which during tape stoppage performs a movement which is characteristic of this condition. This component is constituted by an output drive disk assembly 17. For a more complete description of the differential mechanism 16, reference is made to Applicant's U.S. Pat. No. 3,737,600. The differential mechanism 16 is mounted on a spindle 18, which is rotatably journalled in the chassis 1. At the other side of the chassis a take-up reel-disk is mounted on the spindle 18. The spindle 18 is driven by a friction wheel 19 having a rubber rim 20 which engages a drive roller 21 rotatable around a fixed spindle 22 and integral with a pulley 23 which is also driven by the belt 15. The friction wheel 19 is coupled to the spindle 18 through a friction coupling of any well-known type, not shown, so that the friction wheel 19 and the spindle 18 may have different speeds, in known manner. The differential disk 17 performs a movement which is characteristic of tape transport or tape stoppage, that is, whether the spindle 18 is rotating or stationary respectively. This means that the tape stoppage detection device in fact detects stoppage of the take-up reel-disk. During tape transport the differential disk 17 rotates in the direction indicated by an arrow in FIG. 2, the spindle 18 then also having the direction of rotation indicated by an arrow, whilst during tape stoppage the situation represented in FIG. 3 occurs in which the differential disk rotates in the opposite direction, also indicated by an arrow.

The stop device 24 comprises an adjustable frame plate 25 which is moved by the tape stoppage detection device 16 during tape stoppage, with the result that the flywheel 13 in turn moves the latching member 5, by means of a force-transmitting member 27 which is connected to the latching member 5 at a first end 26, for unlatching it against the load of the spring 6. More particularly, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a drive wheel 28 having a rubber rim 29 is rotatably journalled on the frame plate 25. Movement of the frame plate 25 during tape stoppage brings the rim 29 into contact with the flywheel 13 and the wheel 28 is thus set into motion. The force-transmitting member 27 consists of a flexible cord having a plastic thickened portion 31 provided at the first end 26. When a tensile force is exerted on the cord 27, the thickened portion 31 hits the latching slide 5, so that it can be unlatched. The second end 30 of the pulling cord 27 is attached to a winding drum 32, which is drivably coupled to the drive wheel 28 in a manner to be described hereinafter.

The frame plate 25 is pivotably journalled about a pivoting spindle 33, which is rigidly connected to the chassis 1. The second end 30 of the pulling cord 27 is coupled to the winding drum 32 at direction to one side of the pivoting spindle 33 that at least a component of the reaction produced in the pulling cord 27 by the drive-system acts in a direction from the drive wheel 28 towards the flywheel 13, so that an increase of the tensile force in the cord 27 also means an increase of the force with which the rubber ring 29 of the drive wheel 28 is pressed against the flywheel 13. On the frame plate 25 a number of gear wheels 34, 35, 36 and 37 are rotatably mounted on spindles 38 and 39 rigidly connected to the frame plate 25. The gear wheels together form a reduction gear train, which reduces the speed of revolution of the drive wheel 28, to which gear 34 is attached, to a lower speed of revolution of the last reduction wheel 37 which is integral with the winding drum 32 to which the pulley cord 27 is attached.

Upon depression of the play button 3 the command member 4 not only moves the latching member 5 to the right via the pin 9 but, in a manner which is commonly used in cassette recorders and which is not shown in the drawing, also moves a unit at the other side of the chassis 1. The recording head, the erase head and the pressure roller of the cassette recorder are mounted on said unit, as is a pin 40 which projects through the chassis 1 and which is shown in FIGS. 1 through 3. The pin 40 projects through a slot 42 in the frame plate 25, and functions as a stop pin for the stop device 24. A tension spring 41 keeps the frame plate 25 elastically pressed against the stop pin 40 in the condition in which the frame plate is not moved by the tape-stoppage detection device (see FIG. 1). Said slot has a length which is greater than the stroke of the stop pin 40 and furthermore has a width at the location 43, where the stop pin 40 is situated when play button 3 is depressed (see FIGS. 2 and 3), sufficiently great to allow the frame plate 25 to freely perform its pivoting movement about the pivoting spindle 33 during tape stoppage; and at the location 44, where the stop pin 40 is situated when the play button 3 is unlatched (see FIG. 1), a width slightly wider than the stop pin 40. Between these two locations 43 and 44 the width of the slot 42 gradually decreases. The slot extends in such a direction that the frame plate 25, after the play button 3 has been released by the pulling cord 27, is returned from its position shown in FIG. 3 to its initial position shown in FIG. 1.

A sensor 45 is pivotally mounted on the frame plate 25, and has an end 46 projecting remote from the frame plate. Said end 46 of the sensor 45, at least during tape transport, resiliently bears against the output drive disk assembly 17 of the differential mechanism 16.

The output drive assembly 17 is provided with a circular raised, first cam-ring 47 which comprises a number of cams 48 with a sawtooth profile, which cams are arranged at some distance relative to each other, thus defining an interspace between them. During tape transport the cams 48 move in the direction towards the oblique rising edge 49 of the profile. Directly adjoining and concentric with the first cam ring 47, and rotatable relative thereto to a limited extent, a second cam ring 50 is provided. The second cam ring has raised cams 51 having a partially symmetrical sloping profile, also arranged at some distance relative to each other, thus defining an interspace between them. The slope .alpha. of the cams 48 and the slope .beta. of the cams 51 are substantially equal to each other.

As shown in FIG. 5, during tape transport the second cam ring 50 is at an angular position relative to the first cam ring 47 in which the two profiles substantially coincide locally, so that the sensor 45 of the stop device 16 is first moved up against a gradually rising edge 49 of a sawtooth profile and is subsequently moved down along a falling edge 52 of a sloping profile, then arriving at the gradually rising edge of a next sawtooth profile etc. In FIG. 5 the arrow represents the direction of rotation of the two cam profiles relative to the stationary end 46 of the sensor 45. During tape stoppage the situation of FIG. 6 occurs, in which the second cam ring 50 is rotated with respect to the first cam ring by the sensor 45 until the sensor hits the steep edge 53 of an interspace adjoining a cam 48 of the first cam ring 47.

The cam disk 50 is freely rotatable on the spindle 18 of the differential mechanism 16 and is axially locked relative thereto by means of a retaining ring 54. Both the first cam ring 47 and the relatively rotatable cam ring 50 are made of a synthetic material. The cam ring 50 comprises a pin 55 at its underside, which pin fits a sector-shaped slot 56 of the stationary ring 47. The ends of said slot serve as stops for the ring 50, so that said ring is rotatable relative to the ring 47 to a limited extent only.

The sensor 45 is pivotably journalled to the frame plate 45 about an axis substantially parallel to the frame plate. For this purpose the frame plate 25 is provided with a bent portion which serves as the knife edge 57 of a knife-edge bearing for the sensor (also see FIG. 7). The sensor 45 is provided with a corresponding knife edge fulcrum 58 which is located between two raised lips 59 and 60 which are integral with the plastic sensor. A pressure spring 61 mounted between the frame plate 25 and the sensor 45 provides resilient loading of the pivotable sensor 45, for maintaining contact, at least during tape transport, of the end 46 of the sensor 45 with the two cam rings 47 and 50. A sliding plate 62 is mounted on the stop pin 40 which is coupled to the command member 4. Said plate 62 has a slot 63 through which the pivoting spindle 33 for the frame plate 25 projects. At an end remote from the pin 40 the sliding plate 62 is provided with a sensor lifting cam 64. When the play button 3 is depressed, see FIGS. 2 and 3, the lifting cam 64 leaves the sensor 45 free. When the play button 3 is released, see FIG. 1 and FIG. 7, the sensor 45 is lifted off the drive assembly 17 by the lifting cam 64, thus disabling the stop device 24 and enabling unimpeded fast winding of the tape in the cassette in both directions.

The operation of the cassette recorder is as follows: when the play button 3 is depressed, the command member 4 is moved from its position shown in FIG. 1 to the latched position shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Moreover, the stop pin 40 and the sensor lifting cam 64 are moved over the same distance. The head unit, at the other side of the chassis 1 and not shown in the drawing, is moved towards the cassette and the motor, not shown, is started. As a result, the belt 15 is driven in the direction indicated by the arrows in FIGS. 2 and 3, so that the pulley 23, the drive roller 21, the friction wheel 19 and the flywheel 13 are rotated. The sensor 45 then moves over the cams 48 and 51 of the cam ring 47 and 50 in the manner shown in FIG. 5. As a result, the stop device 24 is subjected to a torque which presses the frame plate 25 against the stop pin 40, and at the same time the tensile force in the spring 41 pulls the frame in the same direction. Upon tape stoppage, as the motor is not switched off, the pulley 23, the drive roller 21, the friction wheel 19 and the flywheel 13 are still driven and the direction of rotation of the drive assembly 17 is reversed (FIG. 3). Because of this reversal, the sensor 45 is initially subjected to a frictional force which results in a pivoting moment on the frame plate 25 in such a direction that the plate tends to pivot towards the flywheel. However, the frictional force is too small to overcome the counteracting torque which is produced by the tension spring 41. It is not until the situation of FIG. 6 is obtained, in which the sensor end 46 makes contact with a steep edge 53 of a cam 48 of the stationary cam ring 47, that the pivoting moment becomes so great that the frame plate 25 is pivoted about the pivoting spindle 33 and the rubber rim 29 of the drive wheel 28 is brought into contact with the circumference of the flywheel 13. As a result, the reduction gear formed by the gear wheels 34 through 37 is set into motion, so that the end 30 of the pulling cord 27 is wound onto the winding drum 32. As soon as the pulling cord 27 has been wound so far that the cord is taut, the tensile force produced in the pulling cord will contribute to the pressure of the rubber rim 29 against the circumference of the flywheel 13 and increase the tensile force to such an extent that the spring 6 and the friction that occurs can be overcome, after which the latching slide 5 can be moved sufficiently far to release the command member 4. Under the influence of the pressure spring 12 the command member 4 is returned from its position shown in FIG. 3 to the position shown in FIG. 1. Moreover, the stop pin 14 and the sensor lifting cam 64 are moved over the same distance. By the pin 40, which slides in the slot 42 of the frame plate 25, said plate is also returned around the pivoting spindle 33 from its position shown in FIG. 3 to the position shown in FIG. 1. The head unit at the other side of the chassis 1 is simultaneously moved away from the cassette and the apparatus is switched off. Thus, the initial situation of FIG. 1 is restored.

Although the drawing only relates to a single embodiment of the invention, some other embodiments which are not shown in the drawing will be obvious to those skilled in the art. For example, the pulling cord 27 may be replaced by a different force-transmitting member, for example a gear rack, which is pressed against the gear wheel 37 by spring force and which with its first end presses against the latching slide 5 at a location at the other side of the frame plate 25, such as the location where the thickened plastic portion 31 acts on the latching slide. Furthermore, modifications are readily conceivable in which the frame plate 25 is not pivotable but for example slidable. Furthermore, many other tape stoppage detection devices may be used, which impart a movement to the frame plate 25 during tape stoppage. These and similar embodiments are also considered to be within the scope of the invention.