Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval – Miscellaneous
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-21
2003-01-28
Klimowicz, William (Department: 2652)
Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval
Miscellaneous
C360S093000, C360S096510
Reexamination Certificate
active
06512656
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a recording/reproducing apparatus such as a tape recorder using a magnetic tape as a recording medium, and particularly to, a recording and/or reproducing apparatus which releases the traveling state of the magnetic tape and separates the magnetic head apart from the magnetic tape, when hold of a cover member covering the region where the magnetic tape is attached is released.
BACKGROUND ART
Conventionally, a cassette-type tape recorder is used as a recording and/or reproducing apparatus which utilizes a magnetic tape as a recording medium contained in a tape cassette. An example of this tape recorder adopts a FWD (forward) reproducing mode, a REV (reverse) reproducing mode, a FF (force feed) mode, and a REW (rewind) mode. In the FWD reproducing mode, the magnetic tape travels at a constant speed in a first traveling direction in which the magnetic tape travels forward from a tape reel rotatably supported in a cassette half to another tape reel, to reproduce information signals recorded on the magnetic tape. In the REV reproducing mode, the magnetic tape travels at a constant speed in a second traveling direction in which the magnetic tape travels reverse from the latter tape reel to the former tape reel, to reproduce information signals recorded on the magnetic tape. In the FF mode, the magnetic tape travels forward at a high speed to perform force feed of the tape toward the latter tape reel. In the REW mode, the magnetic tape travels in reverse at a high speed and is thus rewound toward the former tape reel. These operation modes can be selected by switching a magnetic tape drive mechanism comprising a magnetic tape traveling mechanism which includes various gears, levers, and the like.
As the magnetic tape drive mechanism for switching and selecting various operation modes of the tape recorder, the structure shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2
is employed.
In this magnetic tape drive mechanism, a cam gear
201
rotated and driven by a drive motor not shown is supported on a chassis of the tape recorder, as shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2
. A continuous cam groove
202
having a predetermined shape is formed in the main surface of the cam gear
201
.
The chassis is provided with a mode switch lever
203
such that the mode switch lever is movable in the X
1
and X
2
directions in
FIGS. 1 and 2
. This mode switch lever
203
is shifted in the directions of the arrows X
1
and X
2
by engaging an engage projection
204
provided at an end side with the cam groove
202
. The FWD reproducing mode, FF mode, REW, mode, and the REV mode are selected by the mode switch lever
203
when the engage projection
204
stops at the positions for selecting these operation modes, respectively. An acting portion
205
for rotating a rotary lever described later is provided on one side of a middle portion of the mode switch lever
203
.
A head base
206
attached with a magnetic head not shown is supported on the chassis of the tape recorder, such the head base is movable in the directions of the arrows Y
1
and Y
2
in
FIGS. 1 and 2
, which are perpendicular to the mode switch lever
203
and are directions in which the head base moves close to and apart from the magnetic tape of the tape cassette attached in the cassette attachment portion not shown of the tape recorder. At an intermediate portion of the head base
206
, an operation piece
207
is cut and stands to rotate and operate the rotary lever
208
. In addition, the head base
206
is moved and energized in the direction of the arrow Y
2
in
FIGS. 1 and 2
, by a spring member not shown.
Also, the chassis is provided with a rotary lever
208
whose rotation fulcrum is at a position deviated to one end side from the center. On the other end side of the rotary lever
208
, there is provided a pressure operation piece
209
for pressing and operating the operation piece
207
provided at the head base
206
. Further, the rotary lever
208
is provided with a reaction projection
210
opposed to the action portion
205
having a concave shape provided in the mode switch lever
203
.
In the magnetic tape drive mechanism thus constructed, the mode switch lever
203
is positioned in the center of the movement range extending from the directions of the arrows Y
1
and Y
2
in
FIGS. 1 and 2
, and the head base
206
is situated at the end portion in the direction of the arrow Y
2
in the movable range extending from the directions of the arrows Y
1
and Y
2
in
FIGS. 1 and 2
. In this situation, the magnetic head attached to the head base
206
is situated at a position apart from the magnetic tape, kept not in contact with the magnetic tape. At this time, the operation piece
207
provided at the head base
206
is kept in contact with the press operation piece
209
of the rotary lever
208
, as shown in FIG.
1
.
In the magnetic tape drive mechanism, for example, the REW mode shown in
FIG. 1
is selected when the cam gear
201
is rotated from the state shown in
FIG. 2
such that the mode switch lever
203
is moved in the direction of the arrow X
2
in FIG.
2
. When the mode switch lever
203
is moved in the direction of the arrow X
2
in
FIG. 2
in the state in which the REW mode is selected, the reaction projection
210
is engaged with the action portion
205
of the mode switch lever
203
, and the action portion
205
is rotated in the clockwise direction in
FIG. 1
about the support shaft
208
s.
As the rotary lever
208
is thus rotated in the clockwise direction in
FIG. 1
, the operation piece
207
is pressed by the press operation piece
209
, and the head base
206
is moved in the direction of the arrow Y
1
in FIG.
1
. As the head base
206
is thus moved in the direction of the arrow Y
1
in
FIG. 1
, the magnetic head attached to the head base
206
slides on the magnetic tape traveling at a constant speed, and reproduction of information signals recorded on the magnetic tape is enabled.
In a tape recorder constructed so as to drive the magnetic tape drive mechanism by a drive power source, the magnetic head is left in contact with the magnetic tape if the power source is shut down while the magnetic tape travels at a constant speed and a magnetic head slides on the traveling magnetic tape to record or reproduce information signals with respect to the magnetic tape. Therefore, in case where the tape cassette is extracted out of the tape recorder after the power source is shut off halfway during recording or reproduction, the power must be turned on again to activate the magnetic tape drive mechanism and the magnetic head must be then operated to move apart from the magnetic tape, thus resulting in low operability.
Meanwhile, a portable tape recorder uses a battery as a drive power source and its tape drive mechanism therefore cannot be operated unless the battery is replaced with new one, after the battery becomes empty. Regardless of whether the apparatus is of a portable type or a floor type, in the recording and/or reproducing apparatus using a magnetic tape, a stop of traveling of a magnetic tape during recording or reproduction is not detected as shut-down of the power but is mistaken as a malfunction of the apparatus, so the tape cassette may be forced to be put out by a user without releasing the contact between the magnetic head and the magnetic tape. If the tape cassette is thus taken out with the magnetic head kept in contact with the magnetic tape, not only the magnetic tape but also the tape traveling mechanism and the magnetic head provided in the recording and/or reproducing apparatus side may be damaged.
Hence, it is desirable that the magnetic head is moved apart from the magnetic tape and then the tape cassette is taken out, without turning on the power again, even in case where traveling of the magnetic tape is stopped with the magnetic head kept in contact with the magnetic tape.
In the magnetic tape drive mechanism, however, the action portion
205
of the mode switch lever
203
and the reaction projection
210
of the rotary lever
208
are engaged with e
Ishikawa Jun
Matsumoto Masao
Shibata Keiichi
Klimowicz William
Maioli Jay H.
Sony Corporation
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