US 4,547,823 A · Mode changing apparatus

Abstract

A feather-touch mode changer having low power requirements and being capable of selectively providing a plurality of modes of operation of a tape recording/reproducing apparatus, has two changing mechanisms which are each of the type that includes a rotatable changing gear with a toothless gap, a selectively actuable trigger for causing initial angular displacement of the changing gear from an inactive position in which the toothless gap faces a drive gear to an actuating position in which the changing gear engages the drive gear, and an actuating lever that moves in a response to the rotation of the changing gear by the drive gear. The two changing mechanisms are selectively actuable, and a single drive gear is positioned for engagement with both changing gears. Each of the two changing mechanisms has associated with it a selectively energizable electromagnetic device and a locking lever that moves into a locking position in response to movement of the respective actuating lever. Each electromagnetic device is energized upon actuation of the respective trigger means to magnetically hold the respective locking lever in its locking position. The mode changing apparatus also includes mode establishing mechanisms comprising a plurality of cooperating gears and levers that are engaged by the actuating and locking levers upon selective operation of the changing mechanisms to establish FWD, FF, REW, PAUSE and ADS (Automatic Detection of Silence) modes of operation of the tape recording/reproducing apparatus.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A mode changing apparatus for a tape recording/reproducing apparatus, of the type including a mode changing mechanism having a rotatable changing gear with a toothless gap on the toothed periphery thereof, a magnet mounted on said changing gear for rotation therewith and electromagnetic yoke means for cooperating with said magnet to cause initial angular displacement of the changing gear from a staging position, in which the toothless gap faces a drive gear, to an actuating position, in which the toothed periphery engages the drive gear to turn said changing gear, when said yoke means is energized, the mode changing apparatus comprising:

a pair of mode changing members engageable with cam means mounted to said changing gear for rotation therewith and movable, in response to rotation of said changing gear, from inactive positions to active positions against the force of spring means;
holding means movable toward a holding position in response to movement of said mode changing members toward said active positions, wherein said holding means in said holding position holds said mode changing members in said active positions against the force of said spring means;
and
armature means mounted to said holding means for movement into contact with said yoke means in response to movement of said holding means toward said holding position to magnetically hold said holding means in said holding position.

1 more element

A tape recording/reproducing apparatus comprising:

a first mode changing mechanism including a first rotatable changing gear having a toothless portion on the toothed periphery thereof, a first magnet on said changing gear for rotation therewith, a first selectively energizable electromagnetic triggering yoke means for cooperating with said first magnet to cause angular displacement of said changing gear from a staging position, in which the toothless gap faces a drive gear, to an actuating position, in which the toothed periphery engages the drive gear, when said yoke means is energized and a first cam mounted on said first changing gear for rotation therewith;
a second mode changing mechanism including a second changing gear having a toothless portion on the toothed periphery thereof, therewith, a second magnet thereon for rotation with said second changing gear, a second selectively energizable electromagnetic triggering yoke means for cooperating with said second magnet to cause angular displacement of said changing gear from a staging position, in which the toothless gap faces a drive gear, to an actuating position, in which the toothed periphery engages the drive gear, when said yoke means is energized,
a second cam mounted on said second changing gear for rotation therewith;
a rotatably mounted drive gear for driving said first and second changing gears;
a motor for driving said drive gear;
first electromagnetic holding yoke means associated with said said first mode changing mechanism;
second electromagnetic holding yoke means associated with said second mode changing mechanism;
a first actuating lever means for cooperating with said first cam to move said first actuating lever in response to rotation of said first changing gear;
a second actuating lever means for cooperating with said second cam to move said second actuating lever in response to rotation of said second changing gear;
first locking lever means, including first armature means movable toward said first electromagnetic holding yoke means, movable into a holding position in response to movement of said first actuating lever means, wherein said first electromagnetic holding yoke means is energized upon energization of said first electromagnetic triggering yoke means to magnetically hold said first armature means and thereby hold said first locking lever means in said holding position;
second locking lever means, including second armature means movable toward said second electromagnetic means movable into a holding position in response to movement of said second actuating lever means, wherein said second electromagnetic holding yoke means is energized upon energization of said second electromagnetic triggering yoke means to magnetically hold second armature means and thereby hold said second locking lever means in said holding position;
and
mode establishing means for cooperating with said actuating lever means and said locking lever means for establishing a plurality of operating modes of the tape recording/reproducing apparatus.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Mode changing apparatus

Life of this patent

Mode changing apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims13