Abstract: A tape recorder comprises a reel mechanism provided with a pair of one-way clutches effectively acting in the opposite directions. The motive power-transmitting mechanism of the tape recorder comprises a capstan gear mounted on a flywheel-bearing center capstan shaft disposed in an area defined by a pair of reel shafts of the reel mechanism and other related member and a pair of reel gears each of which is rotatably fitted to the reel shaft and transmits the rotation moment of a motor to the reel shaft by means of either of the paired one-way clutches. The motive power-transmitting mechanism further comprises an intermediate gear simultaneously engageable with the capstan gear and the paired reel gears. Therefore, the rotation moment of the motor transmitted to the flywheel is conducted from the capstan gear to the intermediate gear and then to the paired reel gears at the same time. The rotation moment of the motor is delivered to only the desired reel shaft by means of the corresponding reel gear.

Abstract: A cassette tape recorder used with a tape cassette loaded therein comprises a pair of capstans, a motor, a power transmission mechanism, a first and a second magnetic head assembly, a moving mechanism and a magnetic head assembly operation switching circuit. The motor rotates selectively in one or the other direction at the same constant speed and with the same characteristics. The transmission mechanism is coupled to the capstans and to the motor for transmitting the rotation of the motor to the capstans to cause simultaneous rotation of the capstans in one or the other direction at the same constant speed. The first and second assemblies move between a first position in contact with the tape in the loaded tape cassette and a second position spaced apart from the tape.

Abstract: An automatic reverse tape recorder comprises a single motor which drives a tape at prescribed and high speeds, but does not include at all an idler for changing over the drive of the motor from the normal to the reverse rotation or vice versa or an idler for effecting the high speed rotation of the motor. The changeover operation of a switch connected to a motor control circuit causes the single motor to be driven in the normal direction for the fast forward (FF) tape run and in the reverse direction for the rewind (REW) tape run, at high speed in both cases, and further in the normal direction for the forward tape run for reproduction and in the reverse direction for the reverse tape run for reproduction, at a prescribed speed in both cases. The motive power of the motor can be transmitted to a pair of reel shafts at the same time by means of a motive power-transmitting mechanism.

Abstract: A direction reversing apparatus for a rotary motor of a microcassette tape transport includes a motor (14) having substantially the same characteristic for the forward and reverse motor rotation directions for driving a recording tape, and a motor controller (12) for setting a motor speed to a given speed. The reversing apparatus further includes a switch (16) coupled between the motor (14) and the motor controller (12) for reversing the direction of rotation of the motor (14).

Abstract: An apparatus for running magnetic tapes has three projecting pins each of which has a cylindrical portion and a free end portion. The three projecting pins hold at the cylindrical portions thereof a tape cassette containing a roll of magnetic tape selectively in a first position and second position which is closer to the free end portion than the first position. On the cylindrical portion of one of three projecting pins a first flange is provided for selectively preventing the tape cassette from moving from the first position to the second position. On the cylindrical portion of each of three projecting pins a second flange is provided for selectively preventing the tape cassette from being released from the three projecting pins. The apparatus also comprises a displacement member moved by the cassette when the cassette is moved between the first and the second position and a power switch connected to a motor for running the tape.

Abstract: A motor control device for a tape recorder, wherein a motor pulley is formed of a magnet whose S and N poles are alternately arranged and acts not only as such but also as a motor control pulse generator.

Abstract: A tape recorder wherein one end of a tape FF lever is engaged with a pinch roller-supporting board when the tape FF lever is rotated for the fast forward (FF) or rewind (REW) run of a cassette tape to effect the rotation of the pinch roller-supporting board, thereby retracting a pinch roller to a position where the pinch roller does not contact a tape surface; and, where the FF or REW run of the cassette tape is brought to an end, an automatic reverse plunger is driven for the rotation of the pinch roller-supporting board to disengage the pinch roller-supporting board from the tape FF lever, thereby releasing the FF or REW lock.

Abstract: An automatic reverse cassette tape recorder comprises a rotatable magnetic head supporting board, cassette-ejecting means and switch means disposed in the automatic reverse circuit. The magnetic head-supporting board supports a pair of magnetic heads and is rotated about a rotation center lying between the paired magnetic heads. At the detection of the arrival of the terminal end of a tape, or the actuation of a program switch, the magnetic head-supporting board is rotated about the rotation center to a position causing either of the magnetic heads to be projected for contact with the tape. The cassette-ejecting means is engaged with the magnetic head-supporting board at the ejection of the cassette, only where the prescribed one of the paired magnetic heads is not projected for contact with the tape. When engaged with the cassette-ejecting means, the magnetic head-supporting board is rotated about its rotation center, shifting the prescribed magnetic head to a position capable of contacting with the tape.

Abstract: A capstan shaft is disposed in the center, and 4-track 2-channel heads are arranged on a single rotatable head-supporting board in positions at equal distances from the rotation center of the head-supporting board. At time of tape end detection or programming (manual reverse), the head-supporting board is rotated to extrude and retract the heads on the upper- and lower-course sides of the center capstan, respectively, so that only the upper-course-side head may be brought into contact with a tape face. Naturally, in such construction, there is no need of 4-channel heads, and steady tape run can be obtained because the upper-course-side head is always in contact with the tape face in both forward and reverse operations.

Abstract: A control apparatus for controlling a microcassette tape transport of one motor type includes a first designation means (106) for designating a constant speed transport mode, a rewind mode, and a fast forward mode; a second designation means (124) for designation a direction of the motor rotation; a third designating means (122) for designating a direction of the tape transport. In order to effect the control of a tape transport on the basis of the combination of designations by the first, second and third designation means, the apparatus further includes a first memory means (301) which operates, e.g.

Abstract: A tape recorder comprising pulse generating mechanism for generating an electric or magnetic continuous pulse during the rotation of a reel shaft. The tape recorder further comprises an end-of-tape detection circuit including a timer, and a tape count circuit including a counter, decoder/driver and display unit. The continuous pulse from the pulse generating mechanism is applied to the end-of-tape detection circuit and the tape count circuit as an input signal.

Abstract: A casette tape recorder, wherein, when a cassette-ejecting engagement lever is pressed, a movable chassis is rotated from the lifted position to the lowered position to be engaged with a rotatable engagement cam, thereby previously accumulating the urging force of a tension spring stretched between the fixed and movable chassis. An engagement cam is rotated clockwise by a release lever which is rotated clockwise by a cassette inserted into the tape recorder, thereby releasing the movable chassis from the engagement cam, the movable chassis is lifted by the accumulated urging force of the tension spring. The urging force of the tension spring is not accumulated at the insertion of the cassette into the tape recorder, but at the ejection of the cassette. The inserted casette rotates the release lever only for the disengagement of the movable chassis from the engagement cam. The cassette can be inserted into the tape recorder only with a slight force.

Abstract: An automatic reverse tape recorder wherein a magnetic head-supporting board whose central part acts as a rotation center and both ends of which support a forward head and reverse head respectively is rotatably fitted to the fixed chassis. A normally closed switch which is rendered nonconducting when a push lever is so pressed as to cause the reproduction head to abut against the tape surface is positioned ahead of the inward projecting attachment of, for example, a push lever. This normally closed switch is set in a circuit for driving a head-supporting board rotating plunger. When the plunger driving circuit is closed, the head-supporting board is rotated, causing a motor polarity changeover switch to be actuated for the reverse drive of a motor. Where, therefore, the push lever is pressed to establish the recording mode, then the normally closed switch is rendered nonconducting by the action of the projecting attachment of the push lever.

Abstract: An automatic reverse cassette tape recorder, whose central part acts as a rotation center, and both ends of which are each provided with a magnetic head, and wherein the head-supporting board is rotated by a plunger actuated at the detection of a tape end and as often as required. Both magnetic heads are alternately pushed by the rotation of the head-supporting board. The operation mode of a motor polarity changeover switch is shifted in accordance with the rotation of the head-supporting board. A forward-reverse rotation concurrent motor has its rotation reversed to effect an automatic reverse tape run when the operation mode of the motor polarity changeover switch is shifted.

Abstract: In the cassette disclosed, a cassette housing with magnetic tape has openings at the front surface thereof for receiving a magnetic head, a pinch roller and the like. A pair of tape pad springs for pressing against the head of the openings are integrally formed with the housing.

Abstract: A capstan shaft thrust pad device, for use with a tape cassette having a capstan shaft opening of a certain diameter, includes a bearing having a generally cylindrical upper portion which forms a first bearing surface, the outer diameter of the upper bearing portion being less than the diameter of the capstan shaft opening, and a lower bearing portion forming a second bearing surface parallel to the first bearing surface. A capstan shaft is supported by the bearing for rotation about the shaft axis, the shaft extending through the bearing, perpendicular to the first and second bearing surfaces. A fly wheel is coaxially fixed to the capstan shaft beyond the second bearing surface and the fly wheel has an end surface facing the second bearing surface so as to prevent axial movement of the shaft in one direction. A generally C-shaped thrust pad member is fixed in a groove on the capstan shaft beyond the second bearing surface to prevent axial movement of the shaft in the other axial direction.

Abstract: A magnetic cassette holder includes a synthetic resin box having a pair of cassette holding chambers each having an opening through which cassette is inserted, a cutout for permitting the hubs of the cassette to be exposed, capstan inserting hole and cassette positioning hole, in which the front ends of the cassettes are exposed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a tape recorder in which a sound reproducing/recording state is set up by raising a movable chassis carrying a capstan and a pair of reel shafts. A motor is disposed on a fixed chassis. In a stop state of the tape recorder where the movable chassis is in a lowered position, a flywheel fixed to the capstan is located at a distance from a motor pulley fixed to the output shaft of the motor. When the movable chassis is raised to set up the sound reproducing/recording state, the flywheel is pressed against the motor pully to be connected directly with the motor.

Abstract: A flywheel for small size tape recorders is disposed in peripheral frictional engagement with an output wheel of a motor for rotation in the opposite direction from the latter. The ratio of moment of inertia of the rotating motor portion about the output shaft to the moment of inertia of the flywheel about its support shaft is chosen equal to the reciprocal of the ratio of their angular velocities, thereby causing a substantial balancing of the angular momentum of each other.

Abstract: A camera having a zoom function includes a camera body, a lens system, a grip for supporting the camera by hand, a photo-operation button which is manually depressible, a photo-operation member which is displaceable by the photo-operation button in a linear direction for operating the camera and is further displaceable in a second direction approximately perpendicular to the first displacement for zoom-up or zoom-down operation, and an additional operation member for varying the zooming speed in response to the amount of displacement of the photo-operation member.