Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval – Automatic control of a recorder mechanism – Controlling the record
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-01
2001-08-28
Sniezek, Andrew L. (Department: 2651)
Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval
Automatic control of a recorder mechanism
Controlling the record
C360S073050, C360S095000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06282047
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a recording and/or reproducing apparatus of the kind using a tape, such as a VTR (video tape recorder) or the like, and more particularly to a mode change-over arrangement of the recording and/or reproducing apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
The apparatus of the above-stated kind have included mode change-over means for changing from a stop mode selectively over to one of a plurality of successively-accessible tape transport modes, such as a fast feeding mode, a rewinding mode, a recording/reproducing mode, etc., by mode change-over means. After the stop mode is shifted to a desired mode through some mode other than the selected mode by the mode change-over means, a tape is caused to travel by allowing a tape transport device, such as a capstan, to begin to rotate.
The tape transport device includes a pinch roller which is rotated and a capstan and the tape is pinched between the pinch roller and the capstan. The pinch roller is pressed against the capstan with constant pressure irrespective of the tape transport speed. Where there is another mode such as the fast feeding mode between the stop mode and a selected recording/reproducing mode, the tape is caused to begin an accommodating standby period before recording. By the term accommodating standby period is meant a time during which some tape travel is effected. In the conventional apparatus, the accommodating travel is begun after the process of mode change-over arrives at the selected recording/reproducing mode from the stop mode through the fast feeding mode. A total length of time including a period of time required before commencement of the accommodating travel and a period of time required for completion of the accommodating travel becomes longer than in a case where an apparatus has no fast feeding mode in the process of change-over from a stop mode to a recording/reproducing mode. In other words, the length of time required for the mode change-over degrades the operability of the apparatus.
Another shortcoming of the above-stated arrangement of the conventional apparatus lies in the pinch roller pushing arrangement which not only causes a loss of energy and attendant increase of electric power consumption but also undermines attempts to increase the tape transport speed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
in view of the shortcomings of the conventional apparatus described in the foregoing, it is an object of this invention to provide a recording and/or reproducing apparatus which substantially shortens the length of operating time required for change-over from one mode to another even in a case where the mode of the apparatus is to be changed from a stop mode to a selected tape transport mode through another tape transport mode. Under this object, a recording and/or reproducing apparatus in one embodiment of this invention comprises tape transport means for causing a tape to travel, mode change-over means for changing a transport mode of the tape transport means among a plurality of tape transport modes, the tape transport means being capable of causing the tape to travel in each of the plurality of tape transport modes, and control means for controlling the tape transport means, the control means including mode detecting means for detecting each of the plurality of tape transport modes and being arranged to control the tape transport means in such a manner that, in changing the transport mode of the tape transport means by the mode change-over means from a first mode over to a selected third mode successively through a non-selected second mode, the tape transport means is caused to allow the tape to begin to travel in response to detection of the second mode by the mode detecting means and, while the tape is allowed to travel, the mode change-over means is caused to changed the transport mode of the tape transport means to the third mode.
It is another object of this invention to provide a recording and/or reproducing apparatus which is capable of eliminating the shortcoming of the conventional apparatus in the fast feeding mode or in the rewinding mode mentioned in the foregoing relative to the pinch roller pushing arrangement.
Under that object, a recording and/or reproducing apparatus of this invention comprises tape transport means for transporting a tape, the tape transport means including pinching means for pinching the tape and thereby transporting the tape and having a plurality of tape transport modes having respective different tape transport speeds, mode change-over means for selectively changing over the tape transport means among the plurality of tape transport modes, the plurality of tape transport modes including at least a first transport mode and a second transport mode in which the tape is transported at a higher speed than in the first transport mode, and control means for controlling the pinching means in accordance with each of the plurality of tape transport modes, the control means being arranged to cause a pressed contact force on the tape of the pinching means to be at a predetermined value in the first transport mode and to be at a value lower than the predetermined value in the second transport mode.
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Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
Robin Blecker & Daley
Sniezek Andrew L.
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