Olympus Optical Company, Ltd.

Tutomu Shibata

Kenji Kimura

Ken Satoh

Toshikazu Kato

Sinichi Saitou

Seizo Watanabe

Toyoo Nishiyama

Misao Shimoda

Akira Osanai

Kenji Fujibayashi

Hideo Tomabechi

Misao Shimdda

In a magnetic tape-automatic tracking method, at least one of the positions of the upper and lower edges of a magnetic tape is detected by an assembly of a tape edge position sensor and light-emitting diode. Any displacement of the running magnetic tape from its standard vertical position is determined from detected data. A generally vertical tape edge position-compensating post which applies a tensile force to the magnetic tape in contact therewith is rotated in a vertical plane by a reversible motor in accordance with the detected extent of the displacement of the running magnetic tape from its standard vertical position. The magnitude of a tensile force applied by the tape edge position-compensating post to the magnetic tape is varied, by the extent of the rotation of the reversible motor. As a result, the magnetic tape is vertically moved in the desired direction to regain its standard vertical position.

Method and apparatus for automatically tracking a magnetic tape

A magnetic cassette tape record and play apparatus wherein the magnetic head thereof is fixed, comprises a push member cooperating with an operation button and which is so disposed as to abut against a pad spring received in a tape cassette. When the tape cassette is loaded or ejected in the stop mode, the push member is pressed against the pad spring to deform it against its urging force, thereby locking the cassette tape in a position untouched by the magnetic head. When the operation button is depressed for the recording or reproduction mode, then the push member is removed from the pad spring, thereby causing the pressure pad to be pressed against the magnetic head with the cassette tape disposed between the pressure pad and the magnetic head.

Magnetic cassette tape record and play apparatus

A device for stably running a magnetic recording tape of a tape cassette comprises a reel shaft and a motor connected to the reel shaft. The reel shaft and the motor make a running of the magnetic recording tape providing back tension exerted on the magnetic recording tape. Within the housing of the tape cassette, a first lever having one end rotatably fixed to the housing is mounted. A guide roller for guiding the running direction of the tape is rotatably fixed to another end of the first lever. Therefore, the first lever may swing in response to a back tension exerted on the tape. An amount of the swing of the first lever is detected by a second lever which is rotably located out of the housing and selectably engaged with the first lever. The second lever is connected to the detection means which generates an electric signal in accordance with the amount of rotation of the second lever. The electric signal is sent to the electric controlling circuit means electrically connected to the motor. The electric controlling circuit means controls a value of the voltage supplied to the motor in accordance with the electric signal, and stabilize the value of the back tension exerted to the tape via the motor and the reel shaft.

Tape cassette drive assembly

A control apparatus for controlling a microcassette tape transport of one motor type includes a first designation means (106) for designating a constant speed transport mode, a rewind mode, and a fast forward mode; a second designation means (124) for designation a direction of the motor rotation; a third designating means (122) for designating a direction of the tape transport. In order to effect the control of a tape transport on the basis of the combination of designations by the first, second and third designation means, the apparatus further includes a first memory means (301) which operates, e.g. when the operation mode shifts from the constant speed transport mode to the rewind mode, and is used when a direction of the motor rotation is switched; a second memory means (401) which operates from the detection of the tape end until the motor stops and reverses its direction of the rotation, and provides a signal of the tape end detection; a third memory means (601) which operates when the operation mode shifts from the constant speed transport mode to the rewind mode or when it is returned from the rewind mode to the constant speed transport mode, and is used to distinguish between the rewind mode and the fast forward mode; a fourth memory means (701) which operates, e.g. when the operation mode shifts from the constant speed transport mode to the rewind mode or the fast forward mode, and is used to change a speed of the motor rotation so that the motor is rotated at high speed in the rewind mode or the fast forward mode; a fifth memory means (801) which operates, e.g. when the operation mode shifts from the constant speed transport mode to the rewind mode, and decides the rotation and stop of the motor; whereby memory states of said first, fourth and fifth memory means are determined depending on the memory contents of said first to fifth memory means and designations by said first to third designation means.

Method and apparatus for controlling a microcassette tape transport

A tape cassette comprises an impedance roller which is set on the opposite side of a magnetic tape to a magnetic head closely upstream thereof as viewed from the direction in which the magnetic tape runs. The impedance roller presses the magnetic tape toward the magnetic head, thereby preventing the magnetic tape from being shaken.

Tape cassette

Within a housing of a tape cassette is mounted a reel hub serving to wind a magnetic recording tape. The reel hub is moved between a first position where one side edge of the tape wound around the reel hub is spaced from a wall of the housing and a second position where the one side edge of the tape abuts against the wall, reel hub being rotated at the first position by a reel shaft of a magnetic recordig tape running apparatus inserted through an opening of the wall of the tape cassette for engagement with the reel hub. Within the housing is also mounted a abutment member. The abutment member is movable between a third position where the abutment member is spaced from the other side edge of the tape wound around the reel hub located in the first position and a fourth position where the abutment member abuts against the other side edge of the tape wound around the reel hub located in the second position by the reel shaft inserted through the opening of the tape cassette housing for engagement with the reel hub. The abutment member is usually urged to the fourth position by a compression coil spring housed in the tape cassette housing.

Growing community of inventors

Hachioji, Japan

Tutomu Shibata