Cassette record player-recorder

Abstract

A converter cartridge for reception and operation of a cassette record and insertion into a host cartridge player. The converter cartridge carries drive means for transporting the tape within the cassette; cam means for advancing and withdrawing tape heads and a pinch roller toward and away from the cassette in response to insertion and withdrawal of the converter cartridge; push buttons and associated linkage and drive elements effective to advance and reverse the tape within the cassette and to reinstate the playing or recording mode upon release of the appropriate push button; each of said buttons serving to lock the other when desired, the converter cartridge being capable of independent operation when fitted with power means.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
       1. A tape drive unit for a tape recorder comprising a takeup reel shaft, a friction disc operatively connected with a drive source normally for driving the shaft .Iadd.in a tape play mode.Iaddend., .Iadd.a tape head positioned in contact with a tape to be played while said friction disc drives said shaft in said tape play mode, .Iaddend.a transmission roller operable to operatively connect the shaft with the drive source, thereby causing the shaft to be driven at a different .Iadd.and higher .Iaddend.number of revolutions from that provided by said friction disc .Iadd.to provide a fast tape drive mode.Iaddend., control means.Iadd., operative to interrupt said play mode and implement said fast mode in response to applying manual pressure to an actuator, .Iaddend.to disengage the friction disc from operative connection with the shaft and at the same time to engage the transmission roller respectively with the shaft .Iadd.as well as to move said tape head to disengage said tape head from contact with said tape, .Iaddend.and reset means for .Iadd.automatically .Iaddend.resetting said control means .Iadd.to resume said play mode in response to the release of manual pressure from said actuator by repositioning said tape head in contact with said tape and by disengaging said transmission roller from said shaft and operatively reengaging the friction disc with the shaft.Iaddend.. 
     
     
       2. A tape drive unit according to claim 1, further including another shaft in parallel relationship with and at a distance from the takeup reel, said another shaft being adapted to carry another reel, said transmission roller being positioned between said takeup reel and said another reel, rewind means .Iadd.operative in response to applying manual pressure to a manual actuator, .Iaddend.for .Iadd.interrupting said play mode and implementing a rewind mode by .Iaddend.beginning said transmission roller into operative connection with said another shaft while said transmission roller is in operative connection with said drive source .Iadd.while also moving said tape head for disengaging said tape head from contact with said tape and disengaging said takeup shaft from said friction disc.Iaddend.. and second reset means for .Iadd.automatically .Iaddend.resetting said rewind means .Iadd.to resume said play mode in response to the release of manual pressure from said manual actuator by repositioning said tape head in contact with said tape and by disengaging said transmission roller from said another shaft, and reengaging said friction disc with said takeup shaft.Iaddend.. 
     
     
       3. A tape drive unit for a cassette type tape player comprising: first and second takeup shafts, the shafts being in parallel relationship with, and at a given spacing from one another, each shaft being adapted to carry a tape reel;   a drive source;   a rotatable coupler means operatively connected with said drive source normally for rotatably driving at least one of said shafts .Iadd.in a tape play mode;   a tape head positioned in contact with a tape to be played while said rotatable coupler drives said at least one of said shafts in said play mode; .Iaddend.   a transmission drive means positioned in proximity with said first and second shafts and being operable to engage the drive source with a selected one of the first and second shafts, thereby .Iadd.implementing a fast tape drive mode and .Iaddend.causing said selected shaft to be driven at a different number of revolutions from that provided by said rotatable coupler;   control means.Iadd., operative in response to applying manual pressure to an actuator, .Iaddend.for .Iadd.interrupting said play mode and implementing said fast tape drive mode by .Iaddend.disengaging the rotatable coupler from operative connection with either of said first or second shafts and to engage the transmission drive means with a selected one of the first and second shafts .Iadd.while moving said tape head to disengage said tape head from contact with said tape; .Iaddend.and   reset means for .Iadd.automatically .Iaddend.resetting said control means .Iadd.to resume said play mode in response to the release of manual pressure from said actuator by repositioning said tape head in contact with said tape and by disengaging said transmission drive means from said selected shaft and operatively reengaging said rotatable coupler means with said at least one of said shafts, .Iaddend.whereby the transmission drive means disengages, and the rotatable coupler engages the appropriate shaft.   
     
     
       4. The tape drive unit of claim 3 wherein the transmission drive means comprises: a first idler wheel;   bracket means for carrying said idler wheel, said bracket means being movably mounted to the player; and wherein the control means comprises:   means to move said bracket such that the first idler wheel couples rotational drive from the drive source to the first takeup shaft.   
     
     
       5. The tape drive unit of claim 4 wherein the transmission drive means further comprises: a second idler wheel;   means to couple the second idler wheel to said bracket;   and wherein the control means further comprises:   means to move said bracket such that the first and second idler wheels cooperate to couple rotational drive from the drive source to the second takeup shaft.   
     
     
       6. A tape drive unit for a cassette type tape player comprising: first and second takeup shafts, the shafts being in parallel relationship with, and at a given spacing from one another, each shaft being adapted to carry a tape reel;   a drive source;   a rotatable coupler means operatively connected with said drive source normally for rotatably driving at least one of said shafts .Iadd.in a tape play mode.Iaddend.;   a transmission drive means positioned in proximity with said first and second shafts and being operable to engage the drive source with a selected one of the first and second shafts, thereby .Iadd.implementing a fast tape drive mode and .Iaddend.causing said selected shaft to be driven at a different number of revolutions from that provided by said rotatable coupler;   a tape head;   tape head positioning means movably mounted in the chassis and operable in a first mode .Iadd.while said rotatable coupler means drives said at least one of said shafts in said play mode .Iaddend.to locate the tape head to be in contacting engagement with a tape to be played and operable in a second mode to remove the tape head from contacting engagement with said tape; and   control means .[.for.]. .Iadd.operative in response to applying manual pressure to an actuator to interrupt said tape mode and implement said fast tape drive mode by .Iaddend.disengaging the rotatable coupler .Iadd.means .Iaddend.from operative connection with either of said first or second shafts and to engage the transmission drive means with a selected one of the first and second shafts.[.,.]. .Iadd.while .Iaddend.said control means operating the tape head positioning means to its second mode, .Iadd.and   .Iadd.reset means for automatically resetting said control means to resume said play mode in response to the release of manual pressure from said actuator by operating the tape head positioning means to its first mode to have said tape head contact said tape and by disengaging said transmission means from said selected shaft and operatively reengaging said rotatable coupler means with said at least one of said shafts, whereby the transmission drive means disengages, and the rotatable coupler engages the appropriate shaft.Iaddend.. .[.   
     
     
       7.  The tape drive unit of claim 6 further comprising reset means for resetting said control means whereby the transmission drive means disengages, and the rotatable coupler engages the appropriate shaft, said reset means operating the tape head positioning means to its first mode..]. 
     
     
       8. A cassette player tape drive unit comprising: a player chassis;   a source of rotatable drive;   a pair of spindles predeterminedly positioned on the chassis to engage the takeup reels of a cassette to be played;   normal play drive means operable to couple rotational drive from the source to one of the spindles for driving the same at a predetermined speed .Iadd.in a tape play mode.Iaddend.;   .Iadd.a tape head positioned in contact with a tape to be played while said normal play drive means drives said one of the spindles in said tape play mode; .Iaddend.   fast play drive means including an idler wheel mounted on a movable bracket, which bracket is movably mounted in the chassis in proximity with the spindles such that the bracket is adapted to be positioned into a location whereby the idler wheel couples rotational drive to one of said spindles for driving the same at a speed exceeding the predetermined speed established by the normal play drive means .Iadd.thereby implementing a fast tape drive mode.Iaddend.;   a manually actuable selector which is operable to a first mode .Iadd.in response to the application of manual pressure.Iaddend.;   control means .Iadd.for interrupting said play mode and implementing said fast tape drive mode and .Iaddend.responsive to .Iadd.applying manual pressure for .Iaddend.activation of the selector to its first mode to sequentially:   (a) disengage the normal play drive means from coupling rotational drive to one of the spindles,   (b) apply a momentary braking force to at least one of the spindles, and   (c) thereafter move the bracket to couple increased speed rotational drive to one of the spindles through the idler wheel, .Iadd.said applying manual pressure also moving said tape head out of engagement with said tape, and   reset means operative in response to the release of said manual pressure to automatically reimplement said play mode by reengaging said tape head with said tape and by disengaging said idler wheel from driving said one of said spindles while reengaging said normal play drive means with said one of said spindles. .Iaddend.   
     
     
       9. The cassette player of claim 8 wherein the manually actuable selector is operable to a second mode, and wherein the fast play drive means further comprises a second idler wheel mounted on the bracket and adapted to be positioned by the bracket into a location such that rotational drive from the source is coupled through cooperation between the first and second idler wheels to one of the spindles for driving the same at a speed exceeding that established by the normal play means; and control means responsive to .Iadd.applying manual pressure for .Iaddend.activation of the selector in its second mode to sequentially:   (a) disengage the normal play drive means from coupling rotational drive to one of the spindles,   (b) applying a momentary braking force to at least one of the spindles, and   (c) thereafter move the bracket to couple increased speed rotational drive through both idler wheels to one of the spindles.   
     
     
       10. The cassette player of claim 8 further comprising reset means responsive to .Iadd.the release of said manual pressure for automatic .Iaddend.deactivation of the selector to sequentially: (a) move the bracket to decouple said increased rotational drive to said spindle,   (b) momentarily brake at least one spindle, and   (c) re-engage the normal play means.   
     
     
       11. The cassette player of claim 9 further comprising reset means responsive to .Iadd.the release of said manual pressure for automatic .Iaddend.deactivation of the selector to sequentially: (a) move the bracket to decouple increased rotational drive to said spindle,   (b) momentarily brake at least one spindle, and   (c) re-engage the normal play means.   
     
     
       12. A cassette player tape drive unit comprising: a player chassis;   a source of rotatable drive;   a pair of spindles predeterminedly positioned on the chassis to engage the takeup reels of a cassette to be played;   normal play drive means operable to .Iadd.implement a tape play mode and .Iaddend.couple rotational drive from the source to one of the spindles for driving the same at a predetermined speed; .Iadd.   a tape head positioned in contact with a tape to be played while said normal play drive means drives said one of the spindles in said tape play mode; .Iaddend.   fast play drive means .Iadd.for implementing a fast tape drive mode and .Iaddend.including an idler wheel mounted on a movable bracket, which bracket is movably mounted in the chassis in proximity with the spindles such that the bracket is adapted to be positioned into a location .[.whereby.]. .Iadd.wherein .Iaddend.the idler wheel couples rotational drive to one of said spindles for driving the same at a speed exceeding the predetermined speed established by the normal play drive means; .Iadd.   a manually actuable selector;   set means operative in response to the application of the manual pressure to said selector for interrupting said play mode and implementing said fast tape drive mode by disengaging said normal play drive means from said one of said spindles while moving said tape head out of contact with said tape and engaging said idler wheel with one of said spindles; .Iaddend.   .[.a.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.manually actuable selector .[.which is.]. .Iadd.being .Iaddend.operable to a first mode .Iadd.in response to the release of manual pressure from said selector.Iaddend.;   control means respnosive to .Iadd.the release of manual pressure from said selector for automatic .Iaddend.activation of the selector to its first mode to .Iadd.terminate said fast tape drive mode and resume said play mode by said control means being responsive to .Iaddend.sequentially:   (a) move the bracket to decouple increased speed rotational drive from one of the spindles through the idler wheel;   (b) apply a momentary braking force to at least one of the spindles; and   (c) engage the normal play drive means to couple rotational drive to one of the spindles, .Iadd.said release of manual pressure also moving said head into engagement with said tape .Iaddend.. .Iadd. 13. A tape drive unit according to any of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 which includes a chassis to which a rotatably driven capstan shaft is fixed, and which includes a pinch roller, movable with said tape head with respect to said chassis, said pinch roller and said capstan shaft normally contacting said tape therebetween to provide driving movement thereto, said pinch roller being moved out of contact with said tape and capstan shaft during the application of said manual pressure and automatically resuming contact in response to the release of said manual pressure. .Iaddend..Iadd. 14. A tape drive unit according to claim 13 wherein said pinch roller and tape head are both mounted on the same moveable bracket. .Iaddend..Iadd. 15. A tape drive unit according to any of claims, 3, 4, 5, or 6 wherein said control means includes additional apparatus for selectively locking the operation of the tape player in said fast tape drive mode in response to applying manual pressure to an actuator such that upon release of the applied manual pressure said transmission drive means remains engaged with said selected one of said shafts, said tape head remains positioned out of contact with said tape and said rotatable coupler means remains operatively disengaged from said at least one of said shafts. .Iaddend.