Abstract: A locking mechanism comprises a chassis, a floating unit supported movably by the chassis through the intermediary of a damper, a shift plate provided in the chassis and movable by a drive power of a motor, a link mechanism cable of rotational movement by the movement of the shift plate, and a lock plate movable by the link mechanism. The shift plate has a first lock part movable in a first direction, the link mechanism has a second lock part movable in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and the lock plate has a third lock part movable in the first direction. The floating unit has first, second and third engaging parts for engaging the first, second and third lock parts, respectively, to limit the movement of the floating unit. A mechanism for limiting the vertical movement of the floating unit is provided in at least one of combinations of the first, second and third lock parts with the first, second and third engaging parts.

Abstract: A disc ejecting structure capable of positively detecting the position of a disc during a disc ejecting operation to eject the disc from a disc player with safety and high reliability. The disc ejecting structure includes a plurality of disc detecting sensors which are so arranged that a disc which is in the course of ejection or at an ejection completing position is detected depending upon patterns of combination of detection and non-detection modes of the sensors.

Abstract: A power mechanism used in a tape recorder for mode changes, etc. does not use a solenoid plunger, but uses a simple arrangement which includes a select plate having a swing portion which swings between a shift position for shifting an operated member and a release position for releasing the operated member when the select plate advances with a rotating force of a power cam and includes a guide mechanism for guiding the swing portion toward the shift and release positions.

Abstract: A tape reel rotation detecting device is configured to detect abnormal rotations of a reel by comparing the length of a pulse generated in response to rotations of the reel and a pulse length set to correspond to abnormal rotations of the reel.

Abstract: A tape twine detecting device is disclosed, in which the rotation direction of a reel base is detected on the basis of signals having waveforms of at least three different widths generated by the rotation of the reel base and a tape twine occurrence indicating signal is sent, when it is judged that the rotation is reverse.

Abstract: An intermittently driven cyclic drive member for operating a system of a tape player between a plurality of operative positions thereof includes a quick-return lock for re-establishing a locking position with respect to the drive member. The quick-return lock is actuated to a released position during only the initial movement of a power plate, returning immediately thereafter to an intercepting position and remaining positively fixed there throughout the entire remainder of the actuation stroke of the release member. Provision is further made to couple the locking system of the present invention to a second system of the player, as for example a drive disconnect plate, so that the aforementioned unlocking condition cannot be established unless the second system is properly positioned.

Abstract: A gear driving mechanism for driving a power cam, etc. for a tape recorder, in which a power cam driving working elements by its normal rotation is driven by a motor and the rotation direction of the motor is reversed for the purpose of loading, eject, etc. The mechanism is so constructed that a pivoting gear pivoting depending on the rotation direction of the motor is disposed at the motor side; a normal and a reverse rotation gear engaging with each other is disposed at the gear side; the pivoting gear at the motor side is engaged with one of the normal and the reverse rotation gear when the motor rotates in the normal direction, and with the other when it is pivoted by the reverse of the rotation of the motor.

Abstract: A loading and ejection mechanism in a tape player includes a link mechanism which transmits a motor power to a tape pack transport mechanism to drive same for loading or ejection of a tape cassette. The link mechanism includes at least one resilient connection member which normally maintains a power transmitting relationship of the link mechanism and a connection releasable arrangement which releases the power transmitting relationship of the link mechanism against the energy of the resilient connection member when an excessive load is applied to and locks the mechanism.

Abstract: A loading and ejection mechanism includes an inversion gear rotated by a motor in the opposite directions, an eject plate having a rack engageable with the inversion gear, and a mechanism to bring the rack into engagement with the inversion gear, so that the eject plate is moved back and forth by rotation of the inversion gear during loading and ejection so as to move a pack guide up and down and move an eject arm back and forth.

Abstract: An ejection mechanism for a tape player features an operation member coupled to a manually actuated ejection member for ejection of a cassette when the ejection member is pressed inward. The operation member is coupled through appropriate linkages to an inversion spring to eject the cassette. The operation member is separately biased outward by a strong return spring, and is coupled to the manually operated ejection member by a releasable latch to be released therefrom during a terminal portion of the inward stroke when an inversion spring is properly positioned to eject the cassette. The manually operated ejection member is further coupled to raise the pack guide during initial portion of the inward stroke thereof. An electrically operated head disengagement system is similarly energized during the initial inward stroke of the ejection member. The latch is cammed to a releasing position during a terminal portion of the inward stroke of the coupled pair.

Abstract: In a magnetic tape device including a cam, an operating member driven by the cam against force of an energizing member to bring a head to a position for press-fitting a tape, and a changeover member actuated by the cam for changing tape feeding direction, an improvement which comprises an electromagnetic plunger, a control member for linking the cam and the operating member to actuate the operating member in press-fitting position upon energization of the electromagnetic plunger and for releasing transmitting relation between the cam and the operating member both in the press-fitting state and in the middle of the press-fitting action upon deenergization of the electromagnetic plunger, and a link member for linking the cam and the changeover member during action of the operating member, thus not cancelling transmitting relation between the cam and the changeover member even if the action of the operating member is cancelled during action of the changeover member.

Abstract: In a tape player having a pack guide movable up and down with respect to a reel base, a pack stopper movable back and forth relative to the pack guide, a swing plate supported for rotation relative to the pack guide, an inversion spring connected between the pack stopper and the swing plate and an ejection lever connected to the swing lever, so as to complete loading and ejection of a cassette by means of the expansion force of the inversion spring, the ejection mechanism comprises an eject lock arm pivotably supported relative to the pack guide and having one end which extends across the movement path of the pack stopper, a lock plate connected to the other end of the eject lock arm to lock the pack guide at the lifted position, a spring biasing the lock plate in a direction to maintain the locking of the pack guide, and a check arrangement combined with the eject lock arm to engage the pack stopper when the pack stopper moves forwardly to convey the cassette to the ejecting position.

Abstract: An ejection mechanism for a tape player includes a guide arm vertically movably supporting a pack guide, a pack stopper connected to the guide arm for frontward and rearward movement, an ejection link connected to the guide arm, and an inversion spring provided connecting the pack stopper to the ejection link to draw and eject a cassette. The ejection mechanism further includes an ejection member disposed along a lateral wall of the frame and mounted for frontward and rearward movement and biased forward by first revival spring, and an operation member similarly disposed alongside the ejection member and similarly mounted for frontward and rearward movement with respect to the frame and biased forward by second revival spring, and an operation rod coupling the ejection link to the motion operation member. An automatically releasing latch couples the ejection member to the operation member during the inward stroke of the ejection member.

Abstract: A tape recorder includes an intermittent gear which has a cut-off portion formed in part of the tooth system in order to release the intermittent gear as appropriate from being driven by a prime mover mechanism and which is integrally provided with a cam portion, an active member which is actuated by the above cam portion and operates directly or indirectly a control member which directly or indirectly controls the advancement and withdrawal of a tape driving mechanism comprising such components as a head, pinch roller and idler, and a changeover member which is adapted to change over the direction of tape feed and is operated by means of the above-mentioned active member.

Abstract: The tape player includes a control plate movable in response to insertion of a fast-forwarding or rewinding operation lever, an idler gear plate carrying a play mode idler gear, a changeover lever carrying a fast-forwarding and rewinding mode lever, and an interlock means interlocking the idler gear plate with the changeover lever and responsive to movement of the control plate to keep only one of the idler gear plate and the changeover lever at a neutral position where the associated idler gear is away from reel bases.

Abstract: A tape pack guide mechanism, wherein a guide arm is so disposed that its extremity can pivot in the vertical direction around a pivot axle mounted at the back part of a tape player; wherein the extremity of the guide arm is connected to a pack guide which moves up and down; wherein this guide arm supports at least one stick shaped thrust piece, an extremity of which extends into the pack guide, whereby this thrust piece is so designed that, when the pack guide goes downwardly, it pushes on an upper side of a pack in the pack guide and, when the pack guide goes upwardly, it thrusts the pack guide against stoppers disposed adjacent a housing opening for introducing the tape pack.

Abstract: In a head shift mechanism in a tape player to shift a head to a reproducing position and hold it there by means of a solenoid driven by a driving signal from a solenoid driving device, an improvement comprising a solenoid driving signal generator, a counter connected to the solenoid driving signal generator for counting up solenoid driving signals from the solenoid driving signal generator, and a head shift stopping device connected to the counter for receiving count completion signal from the counter to actuate to stop action of the head shift solenoid.

Abstract: A head shift mechanism in a magnetic tape apparatus includes a rotatably driven gear, a movably supported engaging member intermittently engageable with the gear, and a cam member which is operatively coupled to and moves simultaneously with the engaging member. A movably supported changeover member is cooperable with and moves in response to movement of the cam member, and a selectively actuable arrangement causes the gear to drivingly engage the engaging member. A movably supported operating member has a magnetic head thereon, and the changeover member can cause a movably supported control member to move the operating member to an advanced position. A lock arrangement is provided to releasably lock the control member in a position where it holds the operating member in the advanced position, and selectively actuable release arrangement is provided for releasing the lock arrangement.

Abstract: A transmission system in a cam mechanism having a cam and a driven member to be driven by the cam which comprises an electromagnetic plunger and a control member for having said driven member be driven by said cam while said electromagnetic plunger is energized and releasing said driven member from driving force of said cam when said electromagnetic plunger is deenergized.

Abstract: An automatic tape-pack loading mechanism adopted in a tape player, in which a rack portion is formed on a tape-pack holder which serves to receive a tape pack and drop it into the playing position, in which a motor-driven rotating piece is so provided as to be engaged with, and disengaged from, a rotary member engaged with said rack portion, and in which a lock link is disposed on a member supporting said rotary member to change the relation from engagement to disengagement or vice versa between said rotary member and rotating piece.