GB2089092A - Tape recorder with continuous circulative playback function - Google Patents

Abstract

This invention relates to a kind of tape recorder with continuous circulative playback function, characterized in that it can simultaneously put a standard cassette tape and an endless tape into the cassette compartment for operation. Signals played back from the standard tape are temporarily recorded on the endless tape, from which the most recent signals can then be repeated without rewinding the standard tape. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Tape recorder with continuous circulative playback function Description With reference to the conventional tape recorders or language learning machines, the most inconvenient for the users is that when they want to replay the played music or language tapes, they must depress the rewind key first and after the tapes rewind to an adequate length, depress the stop key and then the play key for operation.

All the above procedures not only waste the user's time but also reduce their interests in doing so and further increase the possibilities to cause the damages to the tape recorder. In order to overcome the said defects, this invention provides the following creative device and improvements: 1.) An additional set of record/playback head A' and erase head B' and capstan C' are added above the original set of record/playback head A, erase head B and capstan C (as the record/playback head assemblies shown in Figure 2 and 3). These two sets of record/piayback head assemblies can be controlled to operate by depressing the tape recorder's keys.When depressing the playback key P (as the P shown in Figure 3), these two sets of record/playback heads will push forward in parallel to make themselves touch the magnetic tape for record/playback, also the capstans C and C' will tightly hold the magnetic tape on the flywheel mast R (as the flywheel mast R shown in Figure 3 and 6) and the flywheel mast will drive the magnetic tape to turn.

2.) A set of link switches SW are added in the internal of the tape recorder and its on/off operations are controlled by the pause key. The terminals and the wiring of the switch SW are as shown in Figure 1, in which A is the original record/playback head, B is the erase head, A' is the additional record/playback head and B' is the additional erase head. When depressing the play key for playback operation, the magnetic head A is operating the normal playback function and the erase head B does not erase the magnetic tape because both its ends are grounded.

However, when one end of the magnetic head A connects with the magnetic head A' by 1 and 2 connect connection of the switch SW and the other end of the magnetic head A' connects to the ground point through the 5 and 4 connection of the switch SW, the magnetic head A is in playback condition and the magnetic head A' is able to record the signals coming from the magnetic head A, in the meantime, the erase head B does not work and the erase head B' operates to erase by the 7 and 8 connection of the switch SW. All the operation procedure are : When depressing the play key, the magnetic head A can do the playback operation, the magnetic head A can record, the erase head B does not work and the erase head B' is able to do the erase work.

3.) When depressing the pause key, the inner mechanism of the tape recorder will operate to make the driving wheel H stop (as the driving wheel H shown in Figure 3) and the capstan C stay away from the standard tape, so the standard tape stops turning. On the other hand, since the capstan C' does not leave from the circulative tape, so the circulative tape keeps turning.When the additional switch SW is controlled by depressing the pause key (as shown in Figure 1), the terminals of the switch SW will become the situations that 2 connects with 3, 5 and 6 and 8 with 9, and in this case, the wiring will cut off the record operation of the circulative tape, as a result, the magnetic head A and the erase head B do not work, but due to the facts that 5 connects with 6 and 2 with 3, the magnetic head A' will convert the circulative tape into playback and the erase head B' does not work.

4.) The additional switch K as shown in Figure 3 can control the capstan C' to make it stay away from the circulative tape by the turning of the switch K, as a result, the circulative tape will not turn and it will stop playing the repeated music and language.

5.) The circulative tape is half size of the standard tape (as shown in Figure 4), it can be made available for record/playback by both sides (as shown in Figure 4) and the operating time can be decided by the tape's length. For example, the A side of magnetic tape can be made into the one that circulates per 3 minutes, then the A side is suitable for circulatively playing a music. Suppose B side of the tape is made into the one that circulates per 4 seconds, then it is suitable for circulative tape can be made into various specifications from 4 seconds to 3 minutes and which are optionally decides by the users as required.

6.) As shown in Figure 5: 51,52,53,54,55,56,57, 58 and 59 are all the small slide wheels, 61 is the elastic washer of the tape's A side and 61' is the elastic washer of B side, both of them are used for stabilizing the magnetic tape while the head touches the tape for record/playback. 62 is the circulative tape of A side which is in a closed ring form and winds the slide wheels in the way as the Figure shown. 71,72,73 and 74 are the holes which are used for the insertion of the flywheel mast while the circulative tape is in the cassette compartment, the flywheel mast and the capstan each is tightly holding one side of the magnetic tape respectively and the magnetic tape is driven by the flywheel mast.

7.) As shown in Figure 3, motor M is applying the rubber belt S to drive the flywheel N and the flywheel mast R, P is the play key and Q the pause key. When depressing the pause key P, the record/ playback head assemblies A, B, A', B' and the capstans C,C' will push forward in the way as states in Item of the "Detailed description of this invention", and the wiring is as states in Item 2. As the circulative tape can circulatively record and erase the played sound coming from the standard tape within the selected length, thus making the circulative tape always keeping the sound which is coming from the standard tape before it stops and lasts a period equal to the one that the circulative tape can last.

8.) When the pause key is depressed, its work condition are as stated in Item 3 of the "Detailed description of this invention", at this time, the standard tape stop playing and the circulative tape begins to play the sound which is coming from the standard tape before it stops.

Further, as shown in Figure 3, the switch K can also control the capstan C' to keep it away from the magnetic tape and the flywheel mast R. The switch K can be used to make the circulative tape in pause condition and in the case that the standard tape is paused, the circulative tape will also circulatively play or pause due to the control of the switch K, and this is very convenient for the users.

9.) As shown in Figure 4, the standard tape E and the circulative tape F should be put in the cassette compartment in the parallel and overlapped form.

As shown in Figure 6, at the upper center of the cassette compartment G there is a groove U to be used for keeping the circulative tape not sliding inside.

10.) Suppose it is wanted to play the consecutive music and language while the circulative tape continuously repeats to play the recorded sound, it is enough just to depress the pause key once more and at this time, the standard tape will begin to play and the circulative tape will stop playing and become in a recording condition. In this case, the tape recorder will work as in normal condition.

11.) In the event that just the standard tape is wanted to be used for enjoyment, it will be done just by taking out the circulative tape or applying the switch K to make the circulative tape stop turning. In this case, this invention will become the same as the conventional ones.

Description of drawings Figure 1 is the wiring when an additional set of magnetic head assembly and an additional switch SW are added to the tape recorder with continuous circulative playback function.

Figure 2 is the front view, referring to two sets of linkable record/playback head assemblies.

Figure 3 is the positioning map when the play key is depressed.

Figure 4 is comparative chart between the standard tape and the circulative tape.

Figure 5 is the disassembling view of the circulative tape.

Figure 6 is a side view, referring to the tape recorder of this invention.

Features 1.) A kind of tape recorder with continuous circulative playback function, characterized in that an additional set of record/piayback head, erase head, as well as capstan are added and the flywheel mast is extended, it can repeat playing the desired music or language while enjoying or learning them.

2.) The tape recorder with continuous circulative playback function, characterized a set of link switches are added in it and they are controlled by the pause key of this tape recorder. The wiring of the switches is as the enclosed drawings show. In order to get the purpose of circulative playback, the pause key can control and change two different types of tapes for playback operation.

3.) Two different types of tapes characterized in that one is the prevailing standard musical tape or language-learning tape, the other is the creative circulative tape. The manufacturing method of the circulative tape is as shown in Figure 5 and as stated in Item 5 and 6 of the "Detailed description of this invention", and its application method is as stated in Item 9 of the "Detailed description of this invention".

4.) The additional capstan characterized in that it can be controlled by the added control switch (as the switch K shown in Figure 3 and as states in Item 4 of the "Detailed description of this invention"), thus making the users being able to apply this invention more conveniently.

5.) The tape recorder characterized in that the standard tape (musical tape or language-learning tape) and the circulative tape can be simulaneously used to reduce the procedures of repeatedly depressing the keys while learning the language or enjoying the music again. It will repeatedly replay the desired language or the music just by depressing the pause key.

Claims (4)

1. A tape player comprising a playback head over which a first recorded tape is passed and a second playback head associated with an erase head over which a second tape is passed, drive means adapted to move the tapes relative to the respective heads and support means for a cassette having a continuous length of tape which consists of said second tape, the tape player being such that while the first tape is played back the second playback head is capable of recording on the second tape the output from the first tape and the erasing head is capable of erasing material on the second tape prior to recirculation of said tape through the second playback head, and while the first tape is stationary, the second playback head is capable of playing back material recorded thereon from the first tape immediately before recording on to the second tape is stopped during a period of time equal to the time taken for the continuous second tape to perform one circulation, whereby material played back from the first tape during said period may be re-played without re-winding the first tape.

2. A tape player substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

3. A tape player as claimed in claim 1 and substantially as herein described.

4. Any novel item, features or integer, or any novel combination of items, features or integers described herein or illustrated in the accompanying drawings.