Two-speed video recorder

In a video recorder having two recording speeds which includes a capstan pulley for moving video tape past a recording head and a drive pulley rotated at a predetermined drive speed, the combination comprising:

• a housing mounted between said drive pulley and said capstan pulley;
• said housing including first and second shafts;
• said first shaft including first, second and third pulleys;
• said second shaft including first, second and third pulleys,
• said first, second and third pulleys of said second shaft being aligned with said first, second and third pulleys of said first shaft, respectively;
• said first pulley of said first shaft having a larger diameter than said first pulley of said second shaft;
• means for coupling said third pulleys to transfer rotational motion from one of said shafts to the other one of said shafts;
• a first belt for coupling said drive pulley and either one of said first pulleys of said shafts;
• a second belt for coupling said capstan pulley and either one of said second pulleys of said shafts;
• and
• means for selectively moving said shafts between a first and second position, such that in said first position said first belt couples said drive pulley and said first pulley of said first shaft while said second belt couples said capstan pulley and said second pulley of said second shaft, and in said second position said first belt couples said drive pulley and said first pulley of said second shaft while said second belt couples said capstan pulley and said second pulley of said first shaft.

Speed changing apparatus for connection to a video recorder having belt driven recording tape and two recording speeds comprising:

• a capstan pulley for moving video tape past a recording head;
• a drive pulley rotated at a predetermined drive speed;
• a first shaft having first and second ends and first, second and third pulleys mounted thereon;
• a second shaft having first and second ends and first, second and third pulleys mounted thereon;
• said shafts being interconnected by a first plate member mounted perpendicularly to said first ends of said shafts;
• said shafts being aligned such that said first, second and third pulleys of said first shaft are aligned parallel to said first, second and third pulleys of said second shaft;
• said first pulley of said first shaft having a larger diameter than said first pulley of said second shaft;
• means for coupling said third pulleys to transfer rotational motion from one of said shafts to the other one of said shafts;
• a first belt for coupling said drive pulley and either one of said first pulleys of said shafts;
• a second belt for coupling said capstan pulley and either one of said second pulleys of said shafts;
• a solenoid for selectively moving said shafts between first and second positions;
• said solenoid including an armature movable between a retracted and extended position corresponding with said first and second shaft positions, respectively;
• a rack interconnected to said armature for rectilinear motion therewith;
• a rod having first and second ends, said first end being interconnected perpendicularly to said plate;
• and
• a pinion mounted to said second end of said rod for mating with said rack, thereby deriving circular motion from said rectilinear motion of said rack and imparting said circular motion to said plate to thereby move said shafts between said first and second positions.