Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~ he device of this invention relates to an error prevention
mechanism for a tape recorder, which holds control buttons, for example, when
a video recording or playback button is operated, both rapid feed and re-wind
buttons are he].d in non-control condition, and when a rapid or re-wind button
is operated, both the video recording and play back buttons are held in non-
control condition. The device is directed to the provision of one lock plate
and one spring, whereby.the plate and spring of simple construction can
properly function to hold the buttons in non-control condition and release
them therefrom.
In accordance with the invention, there is provided an error
prevention mechanism for control buttons, comprising sliding plates slidable
by at least a video recording button and playback button, slide plates slid-
able by at least a rapid feed button and re-wind button, a lock plate having
each tapered face and each stop face corresponding to projections provided at
said plates and being slidable intersecting the sliding directions of said
plates, a spring keeping said lock plate neutral, and a stop button for
restoring all said sliding and slide plates, said error prevention mechanism
being characterized in that; among said tapered faces formed at said lock
plate, said tapered faces abutting against said projections at said sliding
~0 plates slidable by said`video recording and playback buttons, are formed to
ace reversely to said tapered faces abutting against said projections at
said slide plates slidable by the rapid feed and re-wind buttons; said lock
plate, when said sliding plates and slide plates move, is moved reversely
thereto respectively, so that said projections at one of said sliding plates
and slide plates abut against said stop faces at said lock plate to thereby
hold said sliding plates or slide plates in non-control conditions; a projec-
tion is formed at said lock plate; and spring is wound at one side thereof to
-- 1 --
~.
one of at least two pins fixed to a chassis at both sides along the length-
wise direction of said lock plate, and extends at the other side toward the
other pin; so that both legs of said spring bias the other pin between said
legs, thereby interposing said projection at said lock plate between both
said legs of said spring.
The error prevention mechanism of the device, which is applied to a
video tape recorder, will be descri.bed with reference to the drawings in
which:
Figure 1 is a general view;
Figures 2 through 4 are views of explanation for a cassette;
Figure 5 i.s a view of explanation for function when the cassette is
sct to load the tape in playback condition;
Figure 6 is a view of explanation for a gcar train;
Figure 7 is a sectional view of a support gear at a first loading
gear ring in condition of being fixed to the chassis.
Figures 8 through 11 show switching conditions of gear train;
in which:
Figure 8 is a view of explanation of loading function;
Fi`gure 9 is a view of explanation of operation at an end of loading;
Fi`gure lQ is a view of explanation of unloading operation;
Figure 11 is a view of explanation of operation at an end of un-
loadlng.
Figures 12 and 13 are views of explanation of operating condition
of each mechanism when a pinch roller press-contacting plunger operates and
stops;
Figures 14 and 15 are views of explanation of a guide for the pinch
roller;
-- 2 --
Figure 16 is a side view of a draw-out pin;
Figure 17 is a view partially showing rapid feed condition;
Figure 18 is a partial view of rewinding condition;
Figure 19 is a view of explanation of brake member;
Figures 20 and 21 are viewsof a lever mechanism for control buttons;
Figures 22 and 23 are views of explanation of operation, showing
playback control locked condition in Figures 20 and 21;
Figure 24 is a view of explanation of a lock mechanism for control
buttons in non-control condition; and
~ Figures 25 and 26 are views of cxplanation of operation in Figure 24.
Figures 6 and 7 precede Figure 5 ln the drawings.
An embodiment of the invention will be detailed with reference to
the drawings. Figure 1 shows the whole mechanism not in operation, in which
1 is a group of control buttons, 2 is a feeder reel, 3 is a take-up reel, 4 is
a pinch roller, 5 is a tape take-out pin, 6 is a rotary head, 7 is a voice
control head, 8 is a whole width erasing head, 9 is a voice erasing head, 10 is
a capstan, 11 is a flywheel, 12 is a first loading gear ring pivotally support-
ing the pinch roller 4, 13 is a second loading gear ring provided with the
tape take-out pin 5, 14 is a plunger to press-contact the pinch roller 4 with
the capstan 10, 15 is an idler for driving the take-up reel 3~ 16 is a rapid
feed transmission gear, 17 is a return transmission gear, 18 is- a motor, 19
is a gear train for transmitting rotation of motor 18 to the first loading
gear ring 12 and second loading gear ring 13, and 20 isan automatic stopping
plunger. Detailed construction and relative function of each of the above
will be described as follows.
A cassette 21 for video tape used in this embodiment is the smallest
at present and is about 106mm wide, 68 mm long, and 12 mm thick. A magnetic
-- 3 --
video tape 24 wound onto a pair of tape reels 22, 23 are housed within the
cassette 21 as shown in a plan view of Figure 2, a bottom view of ~igure 3,
and a side view of Figure 4. The cassette 21 has at its tape take-out face
of the front edge an opening-and-closing lid 25 pivoted at 26 thereto, the
lid 25 being closed tight in normal ~y a spring or the like. The cassette 21
also, as shown in Figures 3 and 5, is provided at the front bottom with a
recess 27 accommodating therein the pinch roller 4 and a recess 28 accommodat-
ing the tape take-out pin 5. Figure 4 shows the cassette 4 set on a cassette
mount base 29 located above the reels 2, 3. The cassette base 29, as shown
in Figure 5, has cassette level keeping pieces 30, 31, 32 and 33, the pieces
32, 33 forming abutments 34, 35 for the lid 25. When the cassette 21 is set
on the base 29 as shown in Figures 4 and 5, the lid 25 abuts a~ its foremost
end against abutments 34J 35, thereby being kept as is opening at the front.
~t this time, the pinch roller 4 pivoted to the first loading gear ring 12 and
the tape take-out pin 5 formed at the second loading gear ring 13 are posi-
tioned within the recesses 27, 28. In order to pull-out the tape 24 shown by
the solid line in Figure 5 and keeping it in loading condi.tion (video recording
or regenerating condition~, the pinch roller 4 and take-out pin 5, as shown
by the phantom line7 are positioned at the rear of tape 24 within the recesses
27, 28 respectively. Then,the first and second loading gear rings 12 and 13
are rotated in the opposite directions to move the pinch roller 4 and take-out
pin 5 in the loading direction, thereby drawing out the tape 24. Hence, the
tape 24 applies loading to electric elements, such as rotary head 6, voice
control 7, whole width erasing head 8, and voice erasing head 9, and further
press-contacts with the capstan 10 through the pinch roller 4, whereby feed
rotation of capstan 10 by the motor18 and winding-up of the take-up reel 3
through idle roller 15 carry out tape drive for video recording and re-
-- 4 --
generation.
Rotations of the first and second loading gear rings 12 and 13
necessary for the above loading by tape 24 are carried out by the gear train
19 connected properly to the motor 18.
In detail, a basic gear 36, as shown in ~igure 6, is provided at the
rotary shaft of motor 18 and connected to two gears 37, 38 in the relationship
of being properly switched thereto, the gears 37, 38 being in neutral position.
One gear 37 is rotatable in normal and comlected to a larger gear 39, and the
other gear 38 for reversing is connected to the larger gear 39 through an
intermediate gear 40. Also, the gear 37 is pivoted to a swingable plate 43
of T-like shape and having pins 41~ 42 at both opposite ends thereof, the
plate 43 being pivoted at an intermediate portion between both ends to a shaft
44 of larger gear 39, the pin 41 being biased by a spring 45 in the direction
of connecting the gear 37 with the basic gear 36. The gear 38 ls pivoted
to one end of a rocking plate 47 of L-like shape and having at the other end
a pin 46, the plate 47 being pivoted at its intermediate portion to the shaft
44 of larger gear 39 thereby biasing the pin 46 by a spring 48 in the direc-
tion of connecting the gear 38 with the basic gear 36. Thus, the two rocking
plates 43, 47 are switched to transmit the normal and reverse rotations to
the larger gear 39. The larger gear 39 is integral with a pinion 49 whose
rotation is transmitted to a speed change gear 50 and a pinion 51 ~ntegral
therewith.
On the other hand, the first loading gear ring 12 has at its inner
periphery a geared groove and is supported radially by support pinions 52,
53 and 54 in mesh with the geared groove. One support pinion 52 is integral
with a gear 55 in mesh with the pinion 51 driven by the motor 18 through the
gear 37 or 38, whereby normal or reverse rotation of motor 18 is transmitted
-- 5 --
to the first loading gear ring 12~ ~pon rotation of first loading gear ring
12, another connecting gear 56 in mes~h with the inner geared groove at the
ring 12 is rotated. Then, reverse rotation of first loading gear ring 13 is
transmitted through a pinion 57 integral with the gear 56 to the second load-
ing gear ring 13 provided rotatably onto the outer periphery of rotary head
6. }lence, the pinion 37 is switched to rotate the first and second loading
gear rings 12 and 13 in the opposite direction as shown by the arrows, there-
by driving the pinch roller 4 and take-out-pin 5 out of the recesses 27, 28
following the rotations of rings 12, 13, thus drawing the tape 24 out of the
cassette 21 toward the opposite peripheral sides of rotary head 6. The pinch
roller 4 press-contacts the tape 24 with the capstan 10 by means of the
plunger 14 turned-on by a mechanism to be hereinafter described, at which
time the tape 24 is put onto the pinch roller 4 side from the taken-out side
by pin 5 successively through the whole width erasing head 8, rotary head 6,
voice erasing head 9, voice control head 7, and capstan 10. In addition, the
support gears 53, 54, which support the first loading gear ring 12 at the
inner periphery thereof, are, as shown in Figure 7, fixed to gear shafts 59
rotatably supported to a press-fit member 58 fixed to a chassis C respectively.
A mechanism for a cessation of rotation at a finish of loading or
unloading by the first and second loading gear rings, comprises semicircular
recesses 60, 61 of different depths and provided at the outer periphery of
ring 12, and two rollers 62, 63 insertable into the recesses 60, 61 respec-
tively as shown in Figures 8 through 11. A cessation when loading is finished,
as shown in Figure 9, is carried out by the roller 63 fit into the recess 61.
In detail, the roller 63 is mounted rotatably on one end of a rocking plate
66 which is pivoted to a spindle 64 and biased by a spring 65 to always press-
-- 6 --
contact the roller 63 with the outer periphery of ring 12, the rocking plate
66 being angled to approach the ring 12 in the loading direction and to escape
from the ring 12 in the unloading direction. A ~-like shaped recess 67 is
formed at the rocking plate 66, which engages with the pin 41 at one end of
T-like shaped rocking plate 43 provided at the normal rotation gear 37. When
the roller 63 is fit into the recess 61 Erom the outer periphery of ring
12 in the loading condition shown in Figure 8J the rocking plate 66 swings
in the direction of the arrow in Figure 9 and moves the pin 41 at rocking
plate 43 through onc side of V-like shaped recess 67 against the spring 45 to
thereby swing the rocking plate 43 around the shaft 44, thus disengaging the
gear 37 rom the basic gear 36. ~lence, the ring 12, which is rotated in
normal through the g0ar 37, stops its rotation in the loading direction.
T~e ring 12, when the unloading is -finished, stops its rotation by
the roller 62 fit into the recess 60. In detail, the roller 62 is provided
rotatably at one end of a rocking plate 70 which is pivoted to a shaft 68 and
biased by a spring 69 to always press-contact the roller 62 with the outer
periphery of ring 12, the rocking plate 70 being angled to move the roller 62
toward the ring 12 with respect to the unloading direction and to escape
from the ring 12 in the loading direction. Also, the rocking plate 70 has at
its other end a hook 71 which corresponds to the pin 46 at ~-like shaped
rocking plate 47 provided at the reverse gear 38. When the roller 62 in un-
loading condition shown in Figure 10, is fit into the recess 60 from the outer
periphery of ring 12, the rocking plate 70 turns in the direction of the arrow
in Figure 11 to pull the pin 46 at rocking plate 47 to thereby turn the
rocking plate 47 around the shaft 44, thus disengaging the gear 38 from the
basic gear 36. Consequently, the ring 12 reversely rotated through the gear
38 stops its rotation in the unloading direction. The recess 60 is so posi-
-- 7 --
tioned that when the pinch roller 4 and take-out pin 5 ~n association relative
therewith are positioned within the cavities 27, 28 at the cassette 21, the
roller 62 is fit into the recess 60. The recess 61 is so posltioned that when
the pinch roller 4 and take-out pin 5 turn to reach the loading finish posi-
tions respectively, the roller 63 is fit into the recess 61.
Furthermore, the normal rotation gear 37 and reverse rotation gear
38 are mutually switched by a regeneration or playback button (PLAY) and video
recording button ~REC) in a group l of operating buttons of self-locking type
to be hereinafter described. The button ~PLAY) or (REC) is operated to move
a common slide plate 74 through slide plates 72, 73, the slide plate 74 being
pulled by a spring 75 against the operating direction and having at the tip
a cam 76. The cam 76, as shown in Figure ll, has cam faces 77, 78 different
in level, the cam faces 77, 78 abutting against the pin 42 at the T-like
shaped rocking plate 43 at normal rotation gear 37. W~en the c~l face 77
restricts the pin 42 against the spring 451 in other words, in condition of
not operating the buttons 72, 73, the gear 37 disengages from the basic gear
36 to transmit no rotation to the rings 12, 13. However, when the button 72
or 73 is operated, the common slide plate 74 moves to abut the cam face 78
against the pin 42, whereby the T-like shaped rocking plate 43 slightly turns
through the spring 45 and the normal rotation gear 37 meshes with the basiç
gear 36. Hence, the motor 18 rotates both the rings 12, 13 through the trans-
mission gear train to move the pinch roller 4 and take-out pin 5 in the load-
ing direction.
At the other edge of common slide plate 74 are formed stepped cam
faces 79, 80, which abut against the pin 46 at L-like shaped rocking plate 47
carrying the reverse rotation gear 38. When the cam face 79 restricts the
pin 46 against the spring 48, in other words, in condi.tion of operating the
-- 8 --
~6~
~utton CPLAY~ or ~REC~, the gear 38 disengages from the basic gear 36. When
the stop button (STOP) is operated or automatic stopplng mechanism acts, in
condition of loading as shown in Flgure 12, the regeneration but~on (PLAY)
or video recording button (REC) ~s released through the sel~-locking mechanism
in control button group 1, and simultaneously the common slide plate 74
returns through the spring 75. Then, the pin 46 at L-like shaped rocking
plate 47 moves from the cam face 79 to the cam face 80 and abuts thereagainst
and the plate 47 slightly turns through the spring 48 to mesh the reverse
rotation gear 38 with the basic gear 36, thereby transmitting reverse rotation
to the rings 12, 13 to be in the unloading condition. In addition, when the
unloading is finished to fit the roller 62 into the recess 60 as foregoing,
the pin 46 at the L-like shaped plate 47, even when abutting against the cam
~ce 80, is restricted by the hook 71 at rocking plate 70, whereby the reverse
rotation gear 38 is not engaged with the basic gear 36, thus transmitting no
rotation to the rings 12, 13
Upon operation of regeneration button ~PLAY) or video recording
button (REC), the normal rotation gear 37 engages with the basic gear 36 thro-
ugh the cam face 76 at common slide plate 74 and associates with the rings 12,
13 to be in loading condition. When the loading is finished and the pinch
roller 4 and take-out pin 5 move together with~the tape 24 so as to reach the
fixed position as shown in Figure 12, the roller 63, as shown in Figure 9, is
fit into the recess 61 at ring 12 to move the normal rotation gear 37 away
~rom the basic gear 36 to thereby stop the loading. At the rocking plate 66
carrying the roller 63 is provided an actuator 82 for turning-on a switch
81 to actuate the plunger 14, so that the plunger is actuated upon the stop-
ping of loading. At the utmost end of plunger 14 is provided a pusher 83
turnable around its spindle 84, the pusher 83 urging the pinch roller 4 against
_ 9
the capstan 10 through a contact surface 85 and being connected in association
with an elongate slide plate 86 through a connector 87, the slide plate 86
engaging or disengaging the idler 15 with or from the take-up reel 3 in o-rder
to transmit thereto rotation of regeneration or video recording. The loading
starts from condition in Pigure 1 and the plunger is actuated as shown in
Figure 12, then the contact surface 85 pushes the pinch roller 4 spindle,
thereby press-contacting roller 4 with the capstan 10 to convey the tape 4
sandwiching it therebetween.
A tongue 88 is provided at the pusher 83 and abuts against one end
of connector 87. The connector 87 swings around its spindle 89 and connects
at the other end with one rising 90 at the elongate slide plate 86 and
associates therewith. The idler 15 is provided at an arm 92 swingable around
a spindle 91, the arm 92 being opposite at its edge 93 to the other rising 94
of slide plate 86 through a spring 95. Hence, when the plunger 14 is turned-
Oll, the idler 15 abuts against a smaller diameter portion 96 integral with the
lower portion of take-up reel 3, following the movement of slide plate 86 in
the direction of the arrow, thereby transmitting rotation in the take-up
direction to the reel 3 through a drive mechanism to be hereinafter described.
Next, when the regeneration or video recording is finished and the
stop button ~STOP) is operated, the plunger is turned-off to release the pinch
roller 4 from press-contact with the capstan 10. The pin 42 at the T-like
shaped rocking plate 43 carrying the normal rotation gear 37 which disengages
rom tlle basic gear 36 through the roller 63 fit into the recess 61, is
abutting against the cam face 77 at the common slide plate 74 which returns
by the stop button ~STOP), thereby keeping the gear 37 in disengagement from
the basic gear 36. Simultaneously, the pin 46 at L-like shaped rocking plate
47 carrying the reverse rotation gear 38 abuts against the cam face 80 at the
- 10 --
commOn slide plate 74, because the roller 62 is positioned on the outer peri-
phery of ring 12 (being rlot fit into the recess 60~ and the hook 71 at the
rocking plate 70 is released from the pin 46. At this time the reverse
rotation gear 38 meshes with the basic gear 36 to put the ring 12 in unloading
condition. However even when the plunger 14 is turned-off to put the ring in
~mloading condition, the loading tape 24 must be wound-up within the cassette
21. Hence~ the elongate slide plate 86~ as shown in Figure 13, is provided
with a rocking plate 97 which restrains the pla~e 86 from its return even
when the plunger 14 is turned-off, and which keeps the idler 15 in condition
of press-contacting with the smaller diameter portion 96 at take-up reel 3.
The rocking plate 97 is pivoted at its intermediate portion onto a spindle 98,
is inserted at one end between two rîsings 99, 100 formed at the elongate
slide plate 86, and abuts at the other end against the pin 42 at L-like shaped
rocking plate 47. In the unloading condition of meshing the reverse rotation
gear 38 with the basic gear 36 as foregoing, the pin 46 at rocking plate 47
urges the other end of rocking plate 97 to turn the plate 97 around the spindle
98 and the other end of plate 97 checks through the rising 99 the slide plate
86 which tends to return by turn-off of plunger 14. As a result, even during
the unloading, the idler 15 abuts against the smaller diameter portion 96 so
as to allow the take-up reel 3 to w~nd up the tape 4.
Furthermore, a mechanism for placing the tape 4 on the rings 12, 13
will be detailed. The pinch roller 4, as shown in Figures 14 and 15, is
pivoted onto a spindle 103 at one end of arm 102 pivoted at its other end
through a spindle 101 to a cylinder 113 fixed to the ring 12. A pin 104 is
provided at the foremost end of arm 102. A small arm 106 is pivoted at its
one end to an intermediate portion of a-rm 102 through a spindle 105 and has at
the other end a tapered roller 107. The arm 102 Eixedly supports a spindle
- 11 -
101 which is mounted vertically movably to the cylinder 113 through a spring
108 and supports t~e pinch roller 4 to escape radially outwardly ~in the
arrow direction~ from the ring 12. The tapered roller 107 similarly is formed
-. to escape radially outwardly of the ring 12 through a spring 9. Also, a load-
ing guide 110 properly fixed to the chassis C ~s provided in the loading rack
of pinch roller 4, so that the pinch roller 4 and tapered roller 107, which
are biased radially outwardly of ring 12 through the springs 108, 109 in the
escaping direction, abut against the guide roller 110 and are guided therewith
from the starting point of loading to the terminus thereof. In the loading
track of pinch roller 4, a guide plate 112 having a tapered surface abutting
against the upper portion of spindle 101 for fixing the arm 102, is fixed
to a head base 113a carrying heads 7, 8 and 9. The tape 4, which is pulled
out by pinch roller 4 simultaneously with the loading, is placed on and along
a tape guide groove 115 which is slanted corresponding to a head cap 114 at
the cylinder portion of rotary head 6. A~ this time, the upper end of spindle
lOl is guided along the tapered lower surface of guide plate 112 corresponding
to the guide groove 115, pinch roller 4 carrying the tape 4 moves downward
; against the spring 108 between the arm 102 and the cylinder 11~, and the tape
4 is placed slantwise on the tape guide groove 115 at rotary head 6 from the
side of take-out pin 5 moving relative to pinch roller 4, which is for the
purpose of recording video signal slantwise on the tape 4. The tapered
roller 107, which is provided at the small arm 106 pivoted to arm 102 at pinch
roller 4, a~uts against a pin 116 formed at the terminus of loading as shown
in Figures 5 and 12, small arm 106 turns the spring 109, and tapered roller
107 carrying the tape 24 allows the tape to escape outwardly, so that the
tape 24 may not back-scrape against the tape guided toward rotary head 6 and
heads 7, 8.
- 12 -
The take-out pin 5, as shown in Figures 14 and 16, is pivoted onto
the upper end of spindle 118 provided on an arm 117 extending -from the second
loading ring 13, and has a rocking plate 120 pivoted to a spindle 119 ixed
to the arm 117. The rocking plate 120 is pivoted to arm 117 through the
spindle 119 slightly shifted toward the ring 13 side with respect to the take-
out pln, and is provided outwardly from the pin 5 with a tape pin 124. The
plate 120 is shaped to surround the spindle 118 outwardly thereof and toward
the tape pin 124 side through a curved portion 123, and has at the outer end
a projection 122 abutting against a pin 121 formed at khe position where the
pin 121 is opposite to the pin 116 at the terminus of loading. Also, the
plate 120 allows tlle curved portion 123 to always abut against the periphery
of spindle 118 at the take-out pin 5. When the pin 5 moves until the loading
terminus, the projection 122 at the utmost end of rocking plate 120 abuts
against pin 121, so that the plate 120 turns against the spring 124', whereby
the pin 124 carrying the tape 24 leaves the take-out pin 5, thus preventing
the tape 24 from back-scrape against the tape guided toward the rotary head
6 and head 8.
Hence, the tape 24, as shown in Figure 5, is drawn out of the reels
22 and 23 within the cassette 21 and loaded toward the tape reel 2 at take-up
~0 reel 3 from the tape reel 23 fit to the feed reel 2 shaft successively through
the pin 124, take-out pin 5, whole width erasing head 8, rotary-head 6, voice
erasing head 9, voice control head 7, between capstan 10 and pinch roller 4,
pin 104, pinch roller 4, and tapered roller 1070
Next, tape rapid feed and rewinding mechanism is shown in Figures
17 and 18. A rapid feed button ~FF) is operated to be self-locked. A rapid
feed transmitting gear 16, which is pivoted to a slide plate 125 between the
pair of reels 2 and 3, engages with a gear formed at the outer periphery of
- 13 -
take-up reel 3 as shown in ~igure 17, thercby rotatlng the take-up reel 3 in
the ~inding-up direction through the gear 16 rotatable through a drive
mechanism to be hereinafter describedJ the slide plate 125 being biased in
the direction of restoration through a spring 127.
The rewind button (RE~), when operated, is self-locked, and a rewind-
ing transmitting gear 17, which is pivoted to a slide plate 128 between the
pair of reels 2 and 3, engages with a gear at the outer periphery of feed reel
` 2 and with the rapid feed transmitting gear 16 as shown in Figure 18, thereby
; transmitting to the feed reel 2 through the rewinding gear 16 the rotation
of rapid feed gear 16 rotatable through a drive mechanism to be hereinafter
described, thus rotating the feed reel 2 in the rewinding direction, the slide
plate 128 being biased in the return direction through a spring 130.
The rapid feed transmitting gear 16 and rewinding transmitting
gear 17 move between the pair of reels 2 and 3, the gear 16 being coupled with
the take-up reel 3, the gear 17 being coupled with the gear 16 stationary and
with the feed reel 2. Hence, pivot points of gears 16, 17 and locations of
slide plates 125, 128 are set to carry out the above operations. The reels
2, 3 and gear 17 are made from synthetic resin and gear 16 is metallic, where-
by the metallic gear 16 directly driven by the drive source is rotating to
mesh with the gear of stationary reel 3 and gear 17 to thereby keep a good
gear train. The gear 17 on the slide plate 125, when the rewind button (REW)
is pushed, slightly moves against the spring 127, and simultaneously the gear
17 is coupled with the gear of reel 2, thereby improving the connection
between the gears 16 and 17.
The slide plates 125, 128 associate at the tips thereof with a brake
member 131, which is of T-like shape, has at both ends elastic members 132,
133 press-contacting with the smaller diameter portions 96, 96a oE reels 2,
- 14 -
3 respectively, and is slidable in the operating direction through a slot 135
into which a pin 134 fixed to the chassis C is inserted. A spring 138 wound
at its center onto the pin 134 is retained at both ends to pins 136, 137 pro-
jecting from the both ends of T-like shaped member 131, thereby biasing the
member 131 in the return direc~ion ~the braking direction). The top 139 of
T-like shaped member 131 abuts against the tips 140, 141 of slide plates
125, 128, so that when the slide plate 125 or 128 abuts against the top ~when
in rapid feed or rewinding), the member 131 slides against the spring 138 to
move the elastic members 132, 133 apart from the smaller diameter portions 96,
96a at reels 2, 3, thereby releasing the reels 2, 3 from braked conditions.
An idle cutout 142 and a fixture 143 are formed at a root of T-like
shaped member 131, so that a pin 144 at the chassis C may be properly switched
beh~een the cutout 142 and the fixture 143. In detail, a rising 145 is pro-
vided at one side edge of member 131 and associates with the rising 150 formed
halfway of the elongate slide plate 86, through two rocking plates 148, 149
swingable around spindles 146, 147 respectively as shown in Figure 13. Hence,
during regeneration, video recording and unloading, the rising 150 at the
slide plate 150 in an active condition, pushes the rising 145 at braking
member 131 through the rocking plates 148, 149, whereby the member 131 rotates
around the pin 134 in the arrow direction to contact the pin 144 with one wall
at the cutout 142, at which time the elastic member 132 leaves the smaller
diameter portion 96 and 133 abuts against the smaller diameter portion 96a.
Thus, while braking the reel 2, the reel 3 is released to be rotatable by the
idler 15 to thereby wind-up the tape 24 in tension.
Furthermore, another brake member 151, as shown in Figure 1, is
provided for the reel~2, which is pi~oted at its intermediate portion, is turn-
able at one end through a tongue 152 toward the arm 117 carrying the take-out
- 15 -
6~
pIn 5 to thereby release the reel 2 from braki.ng, and forms at the other end
a tongue 153. The tongue 153 engages with one end o$ a cassette mounting
case (a case p;.voted to the chassis, housing the cassette and opening and
closing on the cassette base 291 not shown, so that the brake member 151, when
the unloading ends, turns to disengage the tongue 151 from the cassette mount-
ing case to thereby keep the case openable. In other words, during loading~
the member 151 is kept in the aforesaid engagement to lock the case not to
open.
The group 1 of control buttons is of self-locking type, which will
be described according to Figures 20 through 23. Bracket members 154, 155
are fi~ed on the chassis through screws. A single lever shaft 156 is hori-
zontally mounted between the bracket members and pivotably supports at regular
intervals operating levers 157, 158, 159, 160 and 161 for the rewind button
~REW), rapid feed button (FF), stopping button (STOP), regeneration button
~PLAY) and video recording button (REC). To the bracket members 154, 155 are
pivoted retainers 162 each of L-like type as shown in Figure 2~, a partially
sectional view of the regeneration button (PLAY). A spring 163 is wound onto
the pivot position of the retainer 162 and is seated at one end on the bracket
member 155 and engages at the other end with the lower surface of retainer
' 20 162, thereby always biasing the retainer 162 to be turnable clockwise. A
spring 164 is wound onto the lever shaft 156 and engages at one end with the
regeneration lever 160 and at the other end with a proper spring seat 165,
thereby biasing the regeneration lever 160 al~ays in the not-operating con-
dition. The regeneration lever 160 and other levers 157, 158, 159 and 161, as
shown in Figure 21 have projections 166 integral with the levers respectively,
so that when the respective levers 157 through 161 are active, the projection
166 abuts against the retainer 162 through a slide face 167 to keep each lever
- 16 -
~L6~
in operating condition, and when the levers are inactive, the retainer 162
engages at its tip ~ith a stopper 168 at the respective le~ers 157 through
161.
An actuator 169a is provided at the respective levers 157 through
161 and abuts against a leaf sprlng 169 provided at an operating end of each
of the rewinding slide plate 128, rapid feed slide plate 125, regeneration
slide plate 72 and video recording slide plate 73. When each of levers 157
to 161 is operated, the leaf spring 169 allows the respective slide plates
128, 125, 72 and 73 to slide and to be locked in operating condition. The
reason for interposing these leaf springs 169 is to absorb a stroke difference
because the actuator 169a is larger in stroke than the respective plates 128,
125, 72 and 73, thereby ensuring action of actuator 169a. In addition, the
utmost end of lever 159 for stopping button (STOP) ~the utmost end correspond-
ing to the actuator 169a~ abuts against a stopper 170 not to engage the tip of
retainer 162 with a projection Ccorresponding to the projection 166) at the
chassis C, whereby the stopping lever (STOP) only is not locked.
When the regeneration slide plate 72 or video recording slide plate
73, is in operating condition, the rewinding slide plate 128 and rapid feed
slide plate 125, i.e., rewinding button (REW) and rapid feed button (FF), are
locked not to operate. Conversely, when the plate 128 or 125 is in operating
condition, other slide plates 72, 73, i.e., regeneration button (PLAY) and
video recording button ~REC)~ are locked not to operate. In detail, projec-
tions 171, 172, 173 and 174, as shown in Figure 24, are provided from the
respective plates 128, 125, 72 and 73 at its side of operating the respective
levers 157, 158, 160, 161. W~ile, a lock plate 179 having tapered faces 175,
176, 177 and 178 abutting against the projections 171 to 174 respectively is
provided to be slidable through elongate slots 180, 181 and pins 182, 183 on
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the chassis in the direct~on of intercrossing the slidi:ng direction of the
respective leYers~157, 158, 16Q and 161. Also, the lock plate 179 has at
its central portlon a projection 184 which keeps the plate 179 neutral and is
positioned together with another pin 185a on the chassis wlthfn a U-like shap-
ed spring 186 wound onto a pin 185. Referring to Figure 25, for example, when
the regeneration button (PLAY) actuates the lever 160, the projection 173 at
slide plate 72 abuts against the tapered face 177 of lock plate 179 to move
the plate 179 leftwards and bias it in the return direction through a spring
186. The video recording button (REC) is the same as the above. At this time,
the projections 171, 172 abut against the stopping faces 187, 188 to restrain
the levers 157, 158 from moving in the operating directions respectively.
On the contrary, when the rapid feed button (FF) actuates the lever 158, the
projection 172 at slide plate 125 abuts agains~ the tapered face 176 at the
lock plate 179 to thereby move the plate 17~ rightwards and bias it in the
return direction through the spring 186. At ~his time, the projections 173,
174 abut against the stop faces 189, 190 at lock plate 179 to thereby restrain
the levers 160, 161 from moving in the operating directions respectively.
Furthermore, the feed reel 2, take-up reel 3 and capstan 10, as
shown by the phantom line in Figure 1, are driven in such a manner that one
pulley 191 is coupled with the flywheel 11 through a belt 193, the other pulley
192 is coupled with a pulley 195 at the rapid feed gear 16 through a belt 194,
and another pulley 196 at the gear 16 is coupled with a pulley 198 through
a belt 197.
Furthermore, the automatic stopping mechanism actuates the plunger
20 to turn on through electric elements (not shown) for detecting the finish
o unloading. The plunger 20, as shown in Figures 20 through 23, engages an
actuating arm 199 at its hook 200 with the foremost end of L-like shaped
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retainer 162 at the video recording button (~EC) side thereof, so that the
plunger ~0 is actuated ~o turn the retainer 162 against the spring 163 to
thereby disengage ths retainer 162 from the projection 166 at the lever, 157,
158, 160 or 161 of any button in operation.
Furthermore, the capstan 10 and group of heads 7, 8 and 9, are set
opposite to the pair of reels 2, 3 sandwiching the rotary head 6. Especially,
in tllis embodiment, the axis of capstan 10, the axis 201 of rotary head 6, and
the center between the pair of reels 2, 3, are aligned. The first loading
gear ring 12 and second loading gear ring 13 are aligned at the axes thereof
on the above straight line. ~lence, the pinch roller 4 and take-out pin 5 are
relatively loaded or unloaded to or from the capstan 10 and heads 7, 8 and 9
in the vicinity of the rotary head 6, thereby drawing out the tape nearly at
random. Consequently, the mechanism necessary for loading is designed with
ease and the tape cassette of small size is adopted to make the whole mechanism
simple and compact.
As clearly understood from the aforesàid description, the error
prevention mechanism of the device comprises sliding plates slidable by at
least video recording and playback buttons, and slide plates slidable by rapid
feed and re-wind buttons; a lock plate provided with tapered faces and stop
~0 faces corresponding to projections at these plates respectively and being slid-
able intersecting the sliding direction of each plate; a spring keeping the
lock plate neutral; and a stop button for restoring all the sliding plates and
slide plates for the respective buttons. Among the tapered faces formed at
the lock plate, the tapered faces abutting ag~inst the projections formed at
the sliding plates for video recording and playback buttons are formed to face
reversely to the tapered faces abutting against the projections formed at the
slide plates for the rapid feed and re-wind buttons, and the lock plate, when
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;
the sliding plates and slide plates move, is moved reversely thereto respec-
tively, so that the projections at either sliding plates or slide plates are
abutted against the stop faces at the lock plate, whereby when the video
recording or playback button is turned-on, both the rapid feed and re-wind
buttons can be held in non-control condition. Conversely, when the rapid
feed or re-wind button is turned-on, both the video recording and playback
buttons can be held in non-control condition. Also, construction of only one
lock plate and one spring, is ob~ainable of function to move in two directions.
Furthermore, the lock plate is provided wi~h the projection and the spring is
wound at one side thereof onto one of at least two pins provided on the
chassis at both sides along the lengthwise direction of the lock plate, and
extends at the other side toward the other pin, so that both legs of the spring
~ias the other pin to be sandwiched between the legs, whereby the projection
of the lock plate is interposed between both the legs of the spring. Hence,
the mechanism of simple construction can hold each button in non-control
condition by use of the lock plate and release the button from the non-control
condition, and is advantageous especially in mounting of the spring and in
exact operation of the lock plate.
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