Miniature cassette adapter apparatus and cassette tape recorder-reproducer

Abstract

Adapter apparatus to be received within the cassette holder of a conventional cassette record-playback apparatus to permit miniature tape cassettes to be used in the record-playback apparatus, and record-playback apparatus useful with said adapter apparatus. The adapter apparatus is configured to be received within the location normally occupied by a tape cassette of standard size and configuration, and includes a receptacle into which a miniature tape cassette may be placed. The adapter includes drive apparatus which is selectively engaged to be driven by the capstan and pressure roller of the record-playback apparatus and which drives the forward takeup reel of the miniature tape cassette. One or more magnetic heads are provided in the adapter apparatus for engagement with the tape carried in the miniature cassette.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. Adapter apparatus for use with a tape record-playback apparatus of the type having a receptacle for receiving a tape cassette and additionally having a first powered drive means for selectively driving a tape supply member of the tape cassette in a reverse .[.rewind.]. .Iadd.winding .Iaddend.direction, and tape movement means including .Iadd.a second powered drive means for selectively driving a tape receiving member of the tape cassette in a forward winding direction, .Iaddend.a rotatable tape drive capstan positioned to be in proximity to a portion of the tape in the tape cassette.Iadd., .Iaddend.and a pressure roller for selective engagement with said tape portion, said tape movement means .Iadd.being .Iaddend.selectively operative to move tape in the tape cassette in a forward .Iadd.winding .Iaddend.direction; said adapter apparatus comprising: support means externally configured to be operatively receivable in said tape cassette receptacle of a record-playback apparatus in place of a tape cassette normally received therein;   said support means including means for removably receiving a miniature tape cassette which is substantially smaller in external configuration than a tape cassette normally operatively received in said receptacle and which includes .[.at least one.]. .Iadd. a .Iaddend.tape .Iadd.forward .Iaddend.winding member operative to wind tape in a forward direction .Iadd.and a tape reverse winding member operative to wind tape in a reverse direction; .Iaddend..[.and.]. .Iadd.   a pair of drive members positioned on said miniature cassette receiving means for rotational engagement with such tape reverse winding member and tape forward winding member of a miniature tape cassette received on said support means; .Iaddend.   first drive means associated with said support means for operative engagement with .Iadd.the one of .Iaddend.said .[.one tape winding.]. .Iadd.drive .Iaddend..[.member.]. .Iadd.members which rotationally engages such tape forward winding member .Iaddend.of a miniature tape cassette received on said support means and selectively operative to be driven by said tape movement means to establish movement coupling interconnection between the tape movement means of said record-playback apparatus and said one tape winding member of such miniature tape cassette to selectively impart forward tape winding movement to said one tape winding member.[...]. .Iadd.; and   second drive means associated with said support means and operatively connected between said first powered drive means of such tape record-playback apparatus and the other of said drive members on said miniature cassette receiving means to transmit reverse winding movement of the first powered drive means to the tape reverse winding member of such miniature tape cassette received on said support means. .Iaddend.   
     
     
       2. Adapter apparatus for use with a tape record-playback apparatus of the type having a receptacle for receiving a tape cassette and additionally having tape movement means including a first powered drive means for selectively driving a tape supply member of the tape cassette in a reverse rewind direction, a rotatable tape drive capstan positioned to be in proximity to a portion of the tape in the tape cassette, and a pressure roller for selective engagement with said tape portion; said adapter apparatus comprising: support means externally configured to be operatively receivable in said tape cassette receptacle of a record-playback apparatus in place of a tape cassette normally received therein;   said support means including first and second spindle means for engagement with corresponding first and second tape winding members of a tape cassette;   first drive means on said support means operative to be selectively driven in response to rotation of the tape drive capstan of the record-playback apparatus to selectively rotate one of said spindle means at a predetermined speed; and   second drive means on said support means for disposition in motion coupling relation between the first powered drive means of the record-playback apparatus and the other of said spindle means.   
     
     
       3. Apparatus as in claim 2, further comprising: transducing means positioned on said support means in signal transducing relation with the tape of a tape cassette disposed on said first and second spindle means;   first signal transfer means on said support means in signal communication with said transducing means;   second signal transfer means positioned within the receptacle on the record-playback apparatus and operative to receive signals from said first signal transfer means; and   said first signal transfer means being disposed on said support means in position to be placed in signal transfer relation with said second signal transfer means when said support means is received in said receptacle of the record-playback apparatus.   
     
     
       4. Adapter apparatus for use with a tape record-playback apparatus of the type having a receptacle for receiving a tape cassette and additionally having .[.tape movement means including.]. a first powered drive means for selectively driving a tape supply member of the tape cassette in a reverse .[.rewind.]. .Iadd.winding .Iaddend.direction, .Iadd.a second powered drive means for selectively driving a tape receiving member of the tape cassette in a forward winding direction, .Iaddend.a rotatable tape drive capstan positioned to be in proximity to a portion of the tape in the tape cassette, and a pressure roller for selective engagement with said tape portion; said adapter apparatus comprising: support means externally configured to be operatively receivable in said tape cassette receptacle of a record-playback apparatus in place of a tape cassette normally received therein;   said support means including means for removably receiving a miniature tape cassette which is substantially smaller in external configuration than a tape cassette normally operatively received in said receptacle and which includes .[.at least one.]. .Iadd.a .Iaddend.tape .Iadd.forward .Iaddend.winding member operative to wind tape in a forward direction .Iadd.and a tape reverse winding member .Iaddend.operative to wind tape in a reverse direction; .[.and.].    first drive means associated with said support means for .[.operative.]. .Iadd.operatively .Iaddend..[.engagement with said one.]. .Iadd.imparting forward movement to .Iaddend.tape .[.winding member of.]. .Iadd.in .Iaddend.a miniature tape cassette received on said support means and selective operative .Iadd.for movement coupling interconnection with the tape drive capstan of said record-playback apparatus .Iaddend.to be driven in response to rotation of the tape drive capstan of said record-playback apparatus to .[.establish movement coupling interconnection between said capstan and said one tape winding member of such miniature tape cassette to selectively.]. impart .Iadd.said .Iaddend.forward .[.tape winding.]. movement to said .[.one.]. tape .[.winding member..]. .Iadd.; and   second drive means associated with said support means and operatively connected between the first powered drive means of said record-playback apparatus and said tape reverse winding member of such miniature tape cassette received on said support means to transmit reverse winding movement of the first powered drive means to said tape reverse winding member of such miniature tape cassette.  .[.5. Apparatus as in claim 4, further comprising:   second drive means associated with said support means and operatively connected between the first powered drive means of said record-playback apparatus and a second tape winding member of a miniature tape cassette   
     
     
        received on said support means..]. 6. Apparatus as in claim .[.5.]. .Iadd.4, .Iaddend.wherein: said second drive means is associated with said support means to be positioned in connective alignment with the first powered drive means of said record-playback apparatus when said support means is received in the   
     
     
        cassette receptacle. 7. Apparatus as in claim 6, wherein said first drive means comprises: spindle means rotatably mounted on said support means for engagement with said .[.one.]. tape .Iadd.forward .Iaddend.winding member of a miniature tape cassette received in said support means; and   an endless drive belt means in selective rotation driving relation with said spindle means;   said drive belt means being positioned in said support means to be .[.received in driven relation with.]. .Iadd.driven in response to rotation of .Iaddend.the capstan of said record-playback apparatus in   
     
     
        which said adapter apparatus is disposed. 8. Apparatus as in claim 4, further comprising: means associated with said support means and positioned to be displaced by selective engagement of the pressure roller of the record-playback apparatus, said means being responsive to displacement by the pressure roller relative to the capstan to accomplish said selective movement coupling interconnection of first drive means.  .[.9. Apparatus as in claim 8, further comprising:   second drive means associated with said support means and operatively connected between the first powered drive means of said record-playback apparatus and a second tape winding member of a miniature tape cassette   
     
     
        received on said support means..]. 10. Apparatus as in claim 8, wherein: said first drive means comprises drive belt means disposed in said support means to be positioned between the capstan and the pressure roller when said support means is received in the cassette receptacle of a record-playback apparatus;   winding member engaging means disposed in said support means and positioned to drivingly engage said .[.first.]. tape .Iadd.forward .Iaddend.winding member of a miniature tape cassette received therein; and   said drive belt means being selectively operatively coupled with said   
     
     
        winding member engaging means. 11. Apparatus as in claim 10, further comprising: drive wheel means operatively connected with said winding member engaging means and having a drive belt surface along which said drive belt means passes for driving engagement;   selectively displaceable clutch pulley means along which said drive belt passes, said clutch pulley means being selectively displaceable to a first position wherein tension is applied to said drive belt means for driving engagement with said drive wheel means, and to a second position wherein tension is removed from said drive belt means to remove said drive wheel means from driving relation with said drive belt means. .Iadd. 12. Adapter apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said first drive means is selectively operative either to a first state establishing said operative engagement between said tape movement means and said one drive member on said miniature cassette receiving means, or to a second state for terminating said operative engagement. .Iaddend.