Control apparatus for a tape drive

Claim 2

In a tape recorder including a motor, a transducer station, a plate mounted for movement between a record position and a stop position, means for moving said plate to its record position when the motor is energized and to its stop position when the motor is not energized, transducer means engageable with the tape at the transducer station by movement of the plate to its record position, and tape drive means for transporting tape past the transducer station when the plate is in its record position; the improvement comprising control means for selectively disabling the tape drive means while said plate remains in its record position and said motor remains energized.

Claim 3

In a tape recorder including a rotatably mounted capstan, a transducing station, means energizable for rotatably driving the capstan, a plate mounted for movement between a record position and a stop position, transducing means connected to the plate for movement therewith from a position spaced from the tape when the plate is in its stop position to a position in engagement with the tape when the plate is in its record position, a pressure roller connected to the plate for movement therewith from a position spaced from the capstan when the plate is in its stop position to a position adjacent the capstan when the plate is in its record position, bias means for urging the pressure roller to an active position wherein the roller is located with respect to the capstan for pressing tape against the capstan to effect feeding of the tape past the capstan when the plate is in its record position, and first control means for moving the plate from its stop position to its record position, the improvement comprising: means for selectively disabling the bias means while said plate remains in its record position and said capstan is being driven by said energizable means; and second control means for selectively moving the pressure roller to its active position when the bias means has been disabled.

Claim 4

In a tape recorder including a rotatably mounted capstan, a transducing station, means energizable for rotatably driving the capstan, a plate mounted for movement between a record position and a stop position, transducing means connected to the plate for movement therewith from a position spaced from the tape when the plate is in its stop position to a position in engagement with the tape when the plate is in its record position, a pressure roller connected to the plate for movement therewith from a position spaced from the capstan when the plate is in its stop position to a position adjacent the capstan when the plate is in its record position, bias means for urging the pressure roller to an active position wherein the roller is located with respect to the capstan for pressing tape against the capstan to effect feeding of the tape past the capstan when the plate is in its record position, and first control means for moving the plate from its stop position to its record position, the improvement comprising: means for selectively disabling the bias means while said plate remains in its record position and said capstan is being driven by said energizable means; and second control means for selectively moving the pressure roller to its active position when the bias means has been disabled.

Claim 5

The combination as defined in claim 2 wherein said last-mentioned means comprises electromechanical transducer means for selectively moving the pressure roller into its second position in response to electrical signals.

Claim 6

In a tape recorder controllable by signals from a photographic apparatus having an electrical connector said recorder including a rotatably mounted capstan, a transducing station, means energizable for rotatably driving the capstan, a plate mounted for movement between a record position and a stop position, transducing means connected to the plate for movement therewith from a position spaced from the tape when the plate is in its stop position to a position in engagement with the tape when the plate is in its record position, a pressure roller connected to the plate for movement therewith from a position spaced from the capstan when the plate is in its stop position to a position adjacent the capstan when the plate is in its record position, bias means for urging the pressure roller to an active position wherein the roller is located with respect to the capstan for pressing tape against the capstan to effect feeding of the tape past the capstan when the plate is in its record position, and first means For moving the plate from its stop position to its record position, the improvement comprising: an electrical connector on the recorder adapted for coupling with the electrical connector of the photographic apparatus for transmitting control signals between the photographic apparatus and the recorder; second means for moving the plate from its stop position to its record position, said second moving means being responsive to coupling of said two electrical connectors; means for disabling the bias means when the plate is moved to its record position by said second moving means; and electromechanical transducer means for selectively moving the pressure roller to its active position in response to said control signals when the bias means is so disabled.

Claim 7

In a tape recorder controllable by signals from a photographic apparatus having an electrical connector said recorder including a rotatably mounted capstan, a transducing station, means energizable for rotatably driving the capstan, a plate mounted for movement between a record position and a stop position, transducing means connected to the plate for movement therewith from a position spaced from the tape when the plate is in its stop position to a position in engagement with the tape when the plate is in its record position, a pressure roller connected to the plate for movement therewith from a position spaced from the capstan when the plate is in its stop position to a position adjacent the capstan when the plate is in its record position, bias means for urging the pressure roller to an active position wherein the roller is located with respect to the capstan for pressing tape against the capstan to effect feeding of the tape past the capstan when the plate is in its record position, and first means For moving the plate from its stop position to its record position, the improvement comprising: an electrical connector on the recorder adapted for coupling with the electrical connector of the photographic apparatus for transmitting control signals between the photographic apparatus and the recorder; second means for moving the plate from its stop position to its record position, said second moving means being responsive to coupling of said two electrical connectors; means for disabling the bias means when the plate is moved to its record position by said second moving means; and electromechanical transducer means for selectively moving the pressure roller to its active position in response to said control signals when the bias means is so disabled.

Claim 8

The improvement as defined in claim 4 further comprising: a manually movable control member for selectively positioning the plate in its record and stop positions; lock means engageable by said control member for retaining said plate in its record position; and means for disengaging said lock means in response to coupling of said two electrical connectors.

Claim 9

In a tape recorder including a supply reel, a takeup reel, a transducing station, drive means engageable with a tape for advancing the tape from the supply reel past the transducing station to the takeup reel, and movable transducer means engageable with the tape at the transducer station for recording signals on the tape, the combination comprising: a plate movable between a record position and a stop position; first control means for moving said plate between its record position and its stop position; means interconnecting said plate with the transducer means and with the tape drive means for moving the transducer means and the tape drive means into engagement with the tape to thereby advance the tape when said plate is moved to its record position and for moving the transducer means and the tape drive means out of engagement with the tape when said plate is moved to its stop position; a ratchet connected with the supply reel for rotation therewith; a pawl cooperatively engageable with the ratchet to prevent rotation of the supply reel; second control means for moving said plate to its record position and for maintaining said pawl out of engagement with said ratchet except when said plate has been moved to its record position by said second control means; means for generating electrical signals; and electromechanical transducer means mechanically connected with said pawl and electrically connected with said generating means for selectively engaging said pawl with said ratchet to selectively disable the tape drive means in response to electrical signals from said generating means when said plate has been moved to its record position by said second control means.

Claim 10

In a tape recorder including a supply reel, a takeup reel, a transducing station, drive means engageable with a tape for advancing the tape from the supply reel past the transducing station to the takeup reel, and movable transducer means engageable with the tape at the transducer station for recording signals on the tape, the combination comprising: a plate movable between a record position and a stop position; first control means for moving said plate between its record position and its stop position; means interconnecting said plate with the transducer means and with the tape drive means for moving the transducer means and the tape drive means into engagement with the tape to thereby advance the tape when said plate is moved to its record position and for moving the transducer means and the tape drive means out of engagement with the tape when said plate is moved to its stop position; a ratchet connected with the supply reel for rotation therewith; a pawl cooperatively engageable with the ratchet to prevent rotation of the supply reel; second control means for moving said plate to its record position and for maintaining said pawl out of engagement with said ratchet except when said plate has been moved to its record position by said second control means; means for generating electrical signals; and electromechanical transducer means mechanically connected with said pawl and electrically connected with said generating means for selectively engaging said pawl with said ratchet to selectively disable the tape drive means in response to electrical signals from said generating means when said plate has been moved to its record position by said second control means.