Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval – Record transport with head stationary during transducing – Tape record
Reexamination Certificate
1998-08-27
2001-03-20
Miller, Brian E. (Department: 2652)
Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval
Record transport with head stationary during transducing
Tape record
Reexamination Certificate
active
06204993
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a cassette tape player which is capable of playing, fast-forwarding and rewinding of the tape of a cassette tape in both the forward and reverse directions.
Conventionally known cassette tape players include those of the auto reverse type adapted to run, fast-forward and fast-rewind the tape of a cassette tape in both the forward and reverse directions. An example of cassette tape players of this type is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 1994-176458.
A cassette tape player of the auto-reverse type mentioned above includes a pair of capstans which respectively serve for forward rotation and reverse rotation, a pair of pinch rollers for pushing a tape against the capstans, and a pair of reel blocks to rotate the pair of reels of a cassette tape in the direction in which the tape is to be taken up, said reel blocks respectively associated with forward rotation and reverse rotation. With the components as above, when the device is in either the forward mode or the reverse mode, the capstan and the pinch roller corresponding to the direction of the current mode run the tape at a constant speed, while the reel corresponding to the direction of the current mode is rotated at a low speed to take up the tape. When the device is in either the fast-forward mode or the rewinding mode, the tape is fast-forwarded or fast-rewound by rotating the reel corresponding to the direction of the current mode at a high speed.
The forward capstan and the reverse capstan are designed to be rotated at a constant speed in the directions respectively corresponding thereto by fly wheels fastened to the capstans, and the rotation of the fly wheels is transmitted to the forward reel block and the reverse reel block through transmission mechanisms which are respectively and individually installed on the forward-rotation side and the reverse-rotation side so that the reel blocks are rotated at a low speed or a high speed.
Each transmission mechanism on the forward-rotation side and the reverse-rotation side includes a low-speed gear having a small diameter and a high-speed gear having a large diameter, both of which are attached to the corresponding fly wheel; a reel gear associated with the reel block; a low-speed intermediate gear for transmitting the driving force from the low-speed gear to the reel block associated therewith; a high-speed intermediate gear for transmitting the driving force from the high-speed gear to the reel block; a mechanism for engaging or removing the low-speed intermediate gear with or from the reel gear; and a mechanism for engaging or removing the high-speed intermediate gear with or from the reel gear.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
However, the structure of the conventional cassette tape player described above is complicated and requires a large number of parts, because the forward-rotation side and the reverse-rotation side are provided individually with transmission means to respectively rotate the forward reel block and the reverse reel block.
In order to solve the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a cassette tape player having a simple structure with a reduced number of parts, wherein a mechanism of transmitting the driving force to a pair of reel blocks is shared by the forward-rotation components and the reverse-rotation components.
A cassette tape player according to the invention includes a pair of capstans which are respectively serve for forward rotation and reverse rotation, a driving means for driving said capstans in the directions respectively corresponding thereto, i. e. forward and in reverse, a pair of reel blocks which respectively serve for forward rotation and reverse rotation, a pair of reel gears to be integrally rotated with the reel blocks, a low-speed gear to be integrally rotated with one of the capstans, a high-speed gear to be integrally rotated with the other capstan, and a transmission changeover means for transmitting the driving force from the low-speed gear to the reel gear that corresponds to the direction in which the tape is desired to run when the system is in either the forward mode or the reverse mode, and transmitting the driving force from the high-speed gear to the reel gear that corresponds to the direction in which the tape is fed when the system is in either the fast-forward mode or the rewinding mode.
In the course of a forward operation, the transmission changeover means transmits the driving force from the low-speed gear to the reel gear for forward rotation. In the course of a reverse operation, the transmission changeover means transmits the driving force from the low-speed gear to the reel gear for reverse rotation. During a fast-forward operation, the transmission changeover means transmits the driving force from the high-speed gear to the reel gear serving for forward rotation. During a rewinding operation, the transmission changeover means transmits the driving force from the high-speed gear to the reel gear serving for reverse rotation. The mechanism of transmitting the driving force to the pair of reel blocks is thus shared by the forward-rotation components and the reverse-rotation components.
The transmission changeover means is disposed between the pair of capstans and the pair of reel blocks and includes a pair of interlocked transmission gears, a gear supporting plate supporting the transmission gears in such a manner as to permit the transmission gears to rotate, a first rocking plate for rocking the gear supporting plate in the direction of the capstan and the reel block serving for forward rotation or in the direction of the capstan and the reel block serving for reverse rotation, and a second rocking plate for rocking the gear supporting plate back and forth between the capstans and the reel blocks.
By thus rocking the two transmission gears disposed between the pair of capstans and the pair of reel blocks back and forth toward either the forward-rotation side or the reverse-rotation side, and toward either the capstans or the reel blocks respectively, transmission changeover can be performed easily and reliably.
The cassette tape player includes an end detecting means which is provided with a rotation detecting sensor for detecting rotation of one of the transmission gears and is adapted to detect the tape end based on detection by the rotation detecting sensor of rotation of said transmission gear coming to a stop.
By monitoring rotation of the transmission gear and detecting the tape end based on detection by the rotation detecting sensor of rotation of said transmission gear coming to a stop, an end detecting means that shares a transmission gear with the transmission changeover means is provided without the need of providing each reel block with an end detecting means or separately installing a dedicated detecting mechanism.
The cassette tape player further includes a pair of fly wheels to be respectively rotated together with the capstans, a low-speed clutch which is installed between one of the fly wheels and the low-speed gear and is adapted to transmit torque from said fly wheel to the low-speed gear and stop transmission in the event where the torque exceeds a given level, and a high-speed clutch which is installed between the other fly wheel and the high-speed gear to transmit torque from the fly wheel associated therewith to the high-speed gear and stop transmission in the event where the torque exceeds a given level.
As a low-speed clutch is installed between one of the fly wheels and the low-speed gear, while a high-speed clutch is installed between the other fly wheel and the high-speed gear, it is easy to set respective torques appropriate for a low speed and a high speed.
The cassette tape player further includes a mode changeover plate which enables the control of the transmission changeover function of the transmission changeover means and is adapted to be shifted to any one of the positions selected from among the forward-mode position to permit the driving force to be transmitted from the low-speed g
Mason & Associates
Miller Brian E.
LandOfFree
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