Logic deck mechanism for portable audio

Details Logic deck mechanism for portable audio Logic deck mechanism for portable audio

1997-10-30

2001-03-06

Klimowicz, William J (Department: 2652)

Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval

Record transport with head stationary during transducing

Tape record

C360S096100

Reexamination Certificate

active

06198595

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a portable audio logic deck mechanism driven by a single driving source, and more particularly, to a logic deck mechanism for a portable audio whereby power consumption can be reduced by reducing the load applied on a main slide during a power switch and a mode switch and also varying the position of a pulley according to the mode to thereby control the tension of a belt.
2. Description of Related Art
A general portable audio deck mechanism is basically divided into a manual deck mechanism in which its head is manually operated, and a logic deck mechanism in which its head is automatically operated. The portable audio deck can record or reproduce information by employing a magnetic tape as a recording medium, and performs a head operation, tape traveling, and mode switching by the power of a single driving motor.
As shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2
, a conventional logic deck mechanism for a portable audio deck is comprised of a driving source
20
constituted of a single motor fixed to a main base
10
, a power transmitting unit
30
for transmitting power from the driving source
20
, a pair of reel tables
40
(see
FIG. 2
) on which the reels (not shown) of a tape cassette are safely loaded, an interlocking unit
50
interlocking with the power transmitting unit
30
, for transmitting power to either of the reel tables
40
, a magnetic head
60
for conducting magnetic recording and reproduction, a mode changing unit
70
for lifting and lowering the magnetic head
60
and changing the rotation speed and the rotational direction of the reel tables
40
, and an ejecting unit
80
for loading and unloading the tape cassette.
The power transmitting unit
30
includes a pulley
32
, a pair of capstan wheels
33
and
34
, a main gear
35
engaged with the capstan wheel
34
, and a belt
31
for connecting the driving source
20
, the pulley
32
and the capstan wheels
33
and
34
. Accordingly, the rotating force of the driving source
20
is transmitted to the main gear
35
.
The interlocking unit
50
includes a plurality of gears, and drives the reel table
40
using the rotating force transmitted through the main gear
35
.
The mode changing unit
70
includes a cam gear
71
having a cam groove
71
a
, which selectively rotates by being engaged with the main gear
35
, and a main slide
73
having a protrusion
73
a
to be combined with the cam groove
71
a
. The main slide
73
changes the operating mode by being linearly moved by the rotation of the cam gear
71
.
The magnetic head
60
is installed on a head slide
61
, and ascends and descends in engagement with the main slide
73
.
The ejecting unit
80
is comprised of a switch knob
81
, an eject slide
83
and lever members
85
and
87
. In a still mode, the motion of the switch knob
81
opens a door (not shown). In an operating mode, the lever member
87
is caught in a stopper
74
installed on the main slide
73
, so that opening of the door is prevented. Also, the head slide
61
may be selectively caught within a groove
83
a
on the eject slide
83
, thereby performing an automatic music sensor (AMS) operation.
In the conventional portable audio logic deck mechanism having such a configuration, mode change, pivoting of a pinch roller, and raising and lowering of the magnetic head
60
are accomplished by the linear motion of the main slide
73
. Thus, overloads are applied on the cam gear
71
for transferring the main slide
73
.
The eject slide
83
and the lever member
85
must be additionally included to lift and lower the magnetic head
60
according to the movement of the main slide
73
. A function of preventing the opening of the door is conducted separately with the AMS function in a play mode. Thus, the structure of the mechanism becomes complicated, and a large number of components is required.
Furthermore, the pulley
32
and the pair of capstan wheels
33
and
34
are rotatably fixed onto the main base
10
, so it is impossible to vary the tension of the belt
31
. That is, the tension of the belt
31
is always constant to be appropriate for the greatest load regardless of forward or reverse direction play modes, a high-speed winding mode, a still mode, etc. Therefore, the load applied to the power transmitting unit
30
is large even when a small load is needed as in the play mode, which wastes power.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a logic deck mechanism for a portable audio which employs two cam gears to prevent the raising and lowering of a magnetic head from interlocking with a main slide, and which can vary the tension applied to a belt according to each mode.
To accomplish the above object, there is provided a portable audio logic deck mechanism which comprises a main base; a driving source installed on the main base, a power transmitting unit including a pair of capstan wheels isolated from each other at a predetermined interval on the main base; a pulley installed on the main base to rotate a minute distance; a belt connecting the driving source, the capstan wheel, and the pulley to each other to transmit power, and a main gear rotating interlockingly with one of the capstan wheels; a pair of reel tables installed on the main base so that the reels of a tape cassette can be safely placed on the reel tables, respectively; an interlocking unit for transmitting power to either of the pair of reel tables being interlocked with the power transmitting unit; a recording/reproducing element for recording/reproducing information to a magnetic tape of the cassette; a mode changing unit for changing the rotation speed and the rotation direction of the reel tables; a tension controlling unit for controlling the tension applied to the belt of the power transmitting unit in engagement with the mode changing unit; a lifting and lowering unit for lifting and lowering the recording/reproducing element; and an ejecting unit for loading/unloading the tape cassette.
Here, the mode changing unit comprises a motive generator; a first cam gear which finely rotates by the motive generator and selectively engages with the power transmitting unit; a main slide installed on the main base to make a linear motion in engagement with the first cam gear; and a pinch roller for controlling the rotation speed of the tape in engagement with the power transmitting unit while interlocking with the main slide.
Also, the lifting and lowering unit comprises a second cam gear rotating in engagement with the mode changing unit; and a head lever member rotatably installed on the main base, whose one end contacts the head slide, for elevating the magnetic head by being interlocked with the second cam gear.
Furthermore, the tension controlling unit comprises a tension lever member rotatably installed on the main base and provided with one end to which the rotation shaft of the pulley is fixed; an elastic member for biasing the lever member in one direction; and driving means for rotating the tension lever member according to the linear motion of the main slide.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3741564 (1973-06-01), Schulz
patent: 3945036 (1976-03-01), Karsh
patent: 4095758 (1978-06-01), Shroff
patent: 4390909 (1983-06-01), Sakamoto
patent: 4505413 (1985-03-01), Kobayashi
patent: 4559661 (1985-12-01), Muramatsu
patent: 626028 (1983-12-01), None
patent: 60-34220 (1986-09-01), None
patent: 60-62909 (1986-11-01), None
patent: 632244 (1987-12-01), None

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