Abstract: A brake mechanism including a brake member, an urging force switching member pivotable and movable among a plurality of specified positions, and a single elastic member arranged between the brake member and the urging force switching member. By switching one of the action positions of the urging force switching member to another, a different urging force is applied to the brake member from the single elastic member according to the action positions. A drive and control member separately performs a switch-over between the pressing position and the releasing position of the brake member and a switch-over of one of the action positions of the urging force switching member to another.

Abstract: In a tape player configured to wind a tape pulled out of a cassette onto a rotary head to play the tape, a tension mechanism includes a mode member to control the position of a tension control member according to a selected tape mode so as to establish relative contact between a tension member and a tape under a constant pressure in a play mode and separate them in a stop mode.

Abstract: Disclosed is a braking mechanism for use in a magnetic recording apparatus essentially comprising a single cam gear and a brake-releasing member. The cam gear and the brake releasing member are so operatively connected that a stepwise rotation of the cam puts selected brake releasers in different brake releasing positions. Specifically in the first releasing position only the supply reel of the apparatus can rotate freely; in the second releasing position the take-up reel of the apparatus can rotate freely, and the supply reel can rotate against a relatively weak resistance; in the third releasing position the take-up and supply reel brakes can rotate freely together; and in unreleased position the supply and take-up reels cannot rotate.The sequential releasing of selected brakes assures coordination of braking operations appropriate for tape-loading, unloading, quick winding, playing and stopping.