Mode changing mechanism for cassette tape player

Abstract

A mode changing mechanism for a recording and/or reproducing apparatus, such as, a cassette tape player, includes a gear driven by a motor and having a driving lug projecting from the gear for movement in a circular path therewith, a mode changing element which is movable from a first position corresponding to one mode of the player, for example, its stop mode, through second and third positions, in turn, to a fourth position corresponding to another mode of the player, for example, the reproducing mode thereof, a manually actuable mode selecting button movable from an inoperative position to an operative position for displacing the mode changing element from its first position to the second position where a pawl on the mode changing element is engageable by the driving lug for using the power of the motor in driving the mode changing element to its third position, and a spring effective when the mode changing element attains its third position to bias the mode changing element to its fourth position in which the pawl is disengaged from the driving lug, and further in which a lock is effective to retain the mode changing element in its fourth position until such time as the mode selecting button is released to return to its inoperative position for disengaging the lock and thereby permitting the spring to return the mode changing element to its first position.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.