Dual motor mode switching mechanism for a recording and/or reproducing apparatus

A mode switching mechanism in an apparatus for recording and/or reproducing signals from or onto tape wound on a supply reel and a take up reel, the mechanism comprising

• capstan means for transporting the tape;
• a capstan motor for rotationally driving the capstan means;
• a pair of reel gears for driving the supply and take up reels;
• a reel motor for selectively driving the reel gears, the reel motor being rotatable in either direction;
• transmission gear means for transmitting drive power of the reel motor;
• movable swing arm means for rotatably supporting the transmission gear means, the movable swing arm means being movable selectively in a first direction and in a second direction in dependence upon the rotational direction of the reel motor;
• intermediate gear means for selectively transmitting the drive power from the transmission gear means to the reel gears;
• drive gear means rotationally driven by the capstan motor;
• cam gear means having a peripheral gear section inclusive of interrupted portions and also having a cam surface section, a triggered section and a retained portion on a major planar surface, the cam gear means being rotationally driven in one direction by means of the gear section by the drive gear means;
• mode switching means for selectively switching and setting a plurality of operational modes by the cam surface section in dependence upon a rotational angular position of the cam gear means;
• cam gear retention means having a retainer for retaining the retained portion of the cam gear means and being movably supported between a first position in which the retainer retains the retained portion and the rotational angular position of the cam gear means is set to a position in which the interrupted portions face the drive gear means and a second position of releasing retention between the retainer and the retained portion;
• and
• trigger means for thrusting the triggered section for rotationally biasing the cam gear means in one direction;
• wherein the reel motor can be rotationally driven in a forward direction to shift the movable swing arm means in the first direction for rotationally driving the reel gears, and
• the reel motor can be rotationally driven in a reverse direction for shifting the movable swing arm means in the second direction, the cam gear retention means being moved from the first position to the second position to release retention between the retainer and the retained portion, and the cam gear means being rotationally driven for driving the mode switching means for switching operational modes.