GB2223121A

GB2223121A - Auto-stop mechanism for a tape recorder

Info

Publication number: GB2223121A
Application number: GB8919053A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mitsuo Ishikawa
Original assignee: Tokyo Pigeon Co Ltd; Sankyo Seiki Manufacturing Co Ltd
Current assignee: Tokyo Pigeon Co Ltd; Nidec Instruments Corp
Priority date: 1988-08-29
Filing date: 1989-08-22
Publication date: 1990-03-28
Anticipated expiration: 2009-08-22
Also published as: KR910007481B1; JPH0690823B2; BR8904337A; GB2223121B; GB8919053D0; JPH0261848A; KR900003842A; CN1017573B; CN1040882A

Abstract

An auto-stop mechanism for a tape recorder comprises a sensor 9 having a forked cam aperture 9e. The forked cam aperture 9e has an abutting portion 9h. The sensor 9 is rotatable in connection with the direction of taking-up the tape. A sensor lever 7 which is rotatable regardless of tape direction has a pin 7b. The pin 7b engages in the forked cam aperture 9e. When the taking-up of the tape ends and the sensor 9 stops rotating, the pin abuts against the abutting portion of the cam aperture to limit the swinging stroke of the sensor lever, thereby stopping the tape recorder. In the auto-stop mechanism, there is provided a mechanism 6c, 7c for confirming the disappearance of the rotating force of the sensor by slightly rotating the sensor lever a little after the pin has collided with the abutting portion, thereby preventing erroneous auto-stop actuation if the pin catches the abutting portion during tape reversal or if the tape becomes slack. <IMAGE>

Description

AUTO-STOP MECHANISM FOR A TAPE RECORDER This invention relates to an auto-stop mechanism for a tape recorder in which mechanism a stopping means is actuated in response to the stoppage of transfer of the tape.

Referring to Figure 12 of the accompanying drawings, there is illustrated an example of a conventional auto-stop mechanism for a tape recorder. In the conventional auto-stop mechanism, a sensor 9, which is rotatable in connection with the direction of taking-up of the tape (not shown), has a heart-shape forked cam aperture 9e within which an abutting portion 9h is provided. A sensor lever 7, which is normally rotatable independently of the transfer of the tape, has an abutting pin 7b. The abutting pin 7b engages in the forked cam aperture 9e. When the rotating force of the sensor 9 disappears, the abutting pin 7b abuts against the abutting portion 9h of the forked cam aperture 9e to limit the swinging stroke of the sensor lever 7, thereby effecting auto-stopping operation.

In the auto-stop mechanism, assume that a rotating force in the direction of the arrow in solid line is applied to the sensor 9. The sensor 7 is rotated by a cam surface 6a, and the abutting pin 7b now moves in the direction of the arrow in Figure 10. The forked cam aperture 9e is also going to move in the direction of the arrow in solid line. If this operation further continues, the abutting pin 7b would come into one of the recesses to the side of the abutting portion 9h of the forked cam aperture 9e. However, if the direction of transfer of the tape is reversed for another operation at this time, a rotating force in the opposite direction is applied to the sensor 9 and then the abutting pin 7b may collide with the abutting portion 9h of the forked cam aperture 9e.If such a collision occurs during a change of direction of transfer of the tape, the abutting pin 7b remains on the abutting portion 9h of the forked cam aperture 9e, thereby initiating an unnecessary auto-stop operation.

Furthermore, if the tape is slack, it is possible that no rotating force is applied to the sensor 9 at that time, thereby resulting in an erroneous operation.

An object of this invention is to overcome these difficulties in the prior auto-stop mechanism and to provide an improved auto-stop mechanism for a tape recorder wherein an erroneous operation is prevented from occuring during changing of the direction of transfer of the tape or due to slack in the tape.

The invention provides an auto-stop mechanism for a tape recorder comprising a sensor which is rotatable in connection with the direction of transfer of the tape, the sensor having a forked cam aperture formed therein, the forked cam aperture having an abutting portion, and a sensor lever which is normally rotatable independently of the transfer of the tape, the sensor lever having an abutting pin engaged with the forked cam aperture, the abutting pin being adapted to abut against the abutting portion of the forked cam aperture to limit the swinging stroke of the sensor lever, thereby stopping the tape recorder when the rotating force of the sensor disappears, characterised by a confirmation mechanism for confirming the disappearance of the rotating force of the sensor by slightly rotating the sensor lever a little after the abutting pin abuts against the abutting portion.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of an auto-stop mechanism for a tape recorder; Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the auto-stop mechanism of the tape recorder; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the auto-stop mechanism; Figures 4 to 9 are diagrams illustrating the operations of the auto-stop mechanism; Figure 10 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the sensor; Figure 11 is a graph wherein the rotational angle or the time elasped of the cam gear is plotted on the abscissa axis and the clockwise rotational displacement of the sensor lever is plotted on the ordinate axis; and Figure 12 is a plan view of the main part of a conventional auto-stop mechanism.

Referring now to Figures 1 to 3, in a tape recorder, a head plate 10 is provided on a base plate 1. A plurality of actuating levers each having a push button attached thereto are provided for selectively performing various operations of the tape recorder. Among these levers, an actuating lever 2 for, for example, recording and reproducing has a push button 11 attached thereto and is used to forwardly and rearwardly move the head plate 10. An auto-shut-off plate 3 is attached under the plate 1.

Components of an auto-stop mechanism 100 are incorporated into the auto-shut-off plate 3.

Moreover, a plate (not shown) on which a motor 12 is mounted is provided under the plate 1. The motor 12 is drivable at a constant speed to rotate a fly-wheel 14, in the direction of the arrow, through a belt 13. A capstan pivot 15 is fixed to the fly-wheel 14. The capstan pivot 15 protrudes from the upper surface of the plate 1. An idler 4, provided on the plate 1, is rotatable in the direction of the arrow by the fly-wheel 14 or, through a suitable transmission, by the motor 12.

Reel spindles 16 and 17 are rotatably mounted on the plate 1. When tape cassette (not shown) is put into the tape recorder, the winding hubs of the take-up and supply reels of the cassette are coupled to the reel spindles 16 and 17 respectively. A gear 18 is provided with the reel spindle 16 through a suitable means such as a friction transmission. A take-up idler 19 for performing take-up operation upon constant-speed transfer of tape is provided engageably with the gear 18. A lever 5 is rotatably mounted on the plate 1 through a pivot 20'. The take-up idler 19 transmits a low speed of rotation from a small diameter gear 4a of the idler 4 to the reel spindle 16. The friction transmission means allows for a difference in speed between the constant speed transfer of the tape and the constant rotation take-up by the reel spindle 16.

Another means such as friction transmission (not shown) is provided to allow rotation of the motor, fly-wheel, and the others even if rotation of the reel spindles stop at the end of the tape.

A pinch arm 20 is pivotably mounted on the head plate 10, and a pinch roller 21 is rotatably fixed to the pinch arm 20. The pinch roller 21 is moved toward the capstan pivot 15 to pinch the tape therebetween so as to transfer the tape at a constant speed upon recording or reproducing.

Moveover an erasing head 22 and a recording/reproducing head 23 are fixedly mounted on the head plate 10.

The auto-stop mechanism will now be described.

A cam gear 6, a sensor lever 7 and a control lever 8 are rotatably or swingingly mounted on fixed pivots 9., 3band 3c respectively, of the auto-shut-off plate 3.

The central aperture of the cam gear 6 is rotatably engaged with the fixed pivot 3a of the auto-shut-off plate 3. The cam gear 6 has three cam surfaces: a first cam surface 6a is generally elliptical and eccentrically surrounds the center thereof; a second cam surface 6b serves to guide a first cam follower 7a of the sensor lever 7 so as to be moved outwardly from the approximately intermediate position of the radius; and the third cam surface 6c is located near the periphery thereof and serves to guide a second cam follower 7c of a confirmation mechanism so as to be moved slightly inwardly.

The sensor lever 7 has an aperture at a generally intermediate portion thereof. The sensor lever 7 is rotatably mounted on the fixed pivot 3b of the auto-shut-off plate 3 at the aperture. The sensor lever 7 has a bidirectionally extending limb and a side limb.

The first cam follower 7a depends from the free end of the side limb and engages with the cam surfaces 6a and 6b of the cam gear 6.

An abutting pin 7b is provided at the free end of the forward limb so as to upwardly extend and engage with a heart-shape forked cam slot 9e of the sensor 9.

Moreover, a second cam follower 7c of the confirmation mechanism depends from near the middle of the forward limb and engages with the cam surface 6c of the cam gear 6.

The rearward limb is forked, the free end 7d of one fork limb faces a latching plate 24, and the free end 7e of the other resilient fork limb faces a switching plate 25. The latching plate 24 and the switching plate 25 are arranged to be superimposed on each other and are biased toward the right side of Figure 1 by springs 26 and 27 respectively.

The control lever 8 has an aperture at a generally intermediate portion thereof and two limbs extending in opposite direction. The control lever 8 is rotatably mounted on the fixed pivot 3c of the auto-shut-off plate 3.

The control lever 8 has a forward end 8a, and engaging portions 8b, 8c and 8d which cooperate with other members, as described below.

A spring 28 is provided between the sensor lever 7 and the control lever 8 to apply a counter-clockwise swinging force to both of the levers.

Therefore, the first cam follower 7a of the sensor lever 7 normally abuts against the cam surface 6a of the cam gear 6.

The sensor 9 is a lever in the form of a generally Y-character shape, and has a pivot 9a extending upwardly at the center thereof, which pivot rotatably protrudes into an aperture 29a provided at the bottom of a supporting pivot 29 of the reel spindle 16.

An elastic limb 9b is provided at the forward end of one of the limbs of the Y-shape so as to extend toward generally the center thereof. When the assembled auto-stop mechanism 100 is mounted on the plate 1, the forward end of the elastic limb 9b can be pushed up by a protrusion 3d provided on the auto-shut-off plate 3. Two projections 9c stand on opposite sides of the pivot 9a and extend through respective sectorial apertures la provided in the plate 1 to the lower surface 30a of the gear 30 movable integrally with the reel spindle 16.

Then, the projections 9c are normally lightly pressed by the elastic limb 9b due to its elasticity.

Thus, the sensor 9 can be swingingly displaced in the direction of the rotation of the reel spindle 16 within a range.

A further projection 9d stands on the under side of one of the projections 9c.

The projection 9d is contacted by the forward end 8a of the control lever 8, so that a counter-clockwise rotational force can be applied to the sensor 9. The magnitude of the rotational force is set to be larger than a rotational force produced by contact with the reel spindle 16.

Another of the limbs of the Y-shape has the heart-shape forked cam aperture 9e provided therein, which aperture has an extension.

The abutting pin 7b of the sensor lever 7 protrudes into the forked cam aperture 9e.

The lever 5 on which the take-up idler 19 is mounted has a protrusion 5a depending from the end of the lever 5. When the take-up idler 19 comes into a position for taking up, the protrusion 5a pushes the engaging portion 8b of the control lever 8 to rotate the control lever clockwise.

The idler 4 has a pivot 31 which is mounted on a lever 32, and the lever 32 is adapted to be moved for fast forward and rewinding of tape by inserting a pivot 33 into an elongate slot 32a. When the lever 32 is moved so that the idler 4 performs transmission for fast forward or rewinding of tape, an engaging portion 32b or 32c of the lever 32 pushes the engaging portion 8c or 8d of the control lever 8 to rotate the control lever 8 clockwise.

In either case, when the idler 4 is in a condition for transmission, the control lever 8 rotates clockwise and then the sensor 9 becomes free of the control lever 8.

The latching plate 24 holds the actuating lever 2 in a condition for operating. The switching plate 25 is adapted to turn on a switch 34 when the push button 11 is pushed to the operating condition.

The ends 24a and 25a of the latching plate 24 and the switching plate 25 oppose the free ends 7d and 7e of the forked arm of the sensor lever 7.

When the sensor lever 7 rotates clockwise, the forked ends 7d and 7e are pushed against the plates 24 and 25 so that the latching plate 24 unlocks the push bottom 11 and the switching plate 25 holds the switch 34 on.

The operation of the auto-stop mechanism of the tape recorder will be described. Figures 4 to 9 show relative positions of each component in connection with rotation of the cam gear 6. For example, assume that the push button 11 is pushed against return spring 35 (see Figure 1) for a reproducing operation.

While the push button 11 and the operating lever 2 actuate the members as required for the operation, a protrusion 2a of the operating lever 2, which extends through an aperture in the plate 24, is latched by the latching portion 24b of the latching plate 24 and is thus locked.

Simultaneously, a protrusion 2a' also of the lever 2 and which extends through an aperture in the plate 25, displaces the switching plate 25 so as to turn on the switch 34. The protrusions 2a and 2a' are identical. The latching plate 24 and the switching plate 25 are shown side by side for simplicity of explanation.

When the operation starts in such manner, the cam gear 6 rotates in the direction of the arrow, as shown in Figure 4.

The reel spindle 16 also rotates, and then the sensor 9, which is in contact with the reel spindle 16 through the projection 9c, also receives a rotating force.

The direction of rotation of the sensor 9 is as shown by the arrow shown in solid line in Figure 4 for reproducing and fast forward, and is as shown by the arrow shown in dotted line for rewinding.

While the sensor 9 receives a rotating force in the direction of the arrow from the forward end 8a of the control lever 8 before the reel spindle 16 rotates, the control lever 8 rotates clockwise, whereby the sensor 9 is free of the control lever 8 when rotation is transmitted to the reel spindle 16.

Next, operations following the condition of Figure 4 will be described. The sensor lever 7 is biased in a counter-clockwise direction by the spring 28. The first cam follower 7a is shown as contacting the most offset portion of the cam surface 6a of the cam gear 6. The abutting pin 7b at the free end of the sensor lever 7 is in the slot 9f of the extension of the forked cam aperture 9e of the sensor 9.

When the cam gear 6 rotates in the direction of the arrow, the sensor lever 7 rotates counter-clockwise according to regression of the cam surface 6a, coming into the condition of Figure 5.

If the reel spindle 16 rotates at the same time, namely while tape is transferred, a rotating force is applied to the sensor and thus the wall surface of the forked cam aperture 9e moves on the abutting pin 7b of the free end of the sensor lever 7 which pin 7b is in the aperture 9e.

Then, when the sensor lever 7 comes into its most counter-clockwise rotated position as shown in Figure 5, the movement of the abutting pin 7b within the forked cam aperture 9e of the sensor 9 can be performed without any interference, and the abutting pin 7b can extend into the end 9g of one of the limbs of the forked cam aperture 9e.

Which one of the limbs the abutting pin 7b extends into depends on the direction of rotation of the reel spindle 16, namely reproducing or fast forward, or rewinding of tape. Figure 5 shows the condition for reproducing or fast forwarding of tape.

Subsequently, the sensor lever 7 is rotated clockwise by the cam surface 6a of the cam gear 6.

The first cam follower 7a of the sensor lever 7 passes through between the two cam surfaces 6a and 6b of the cam gear 6.

The abutting pin 7b at the free end of the sensor lever 7 moves along the forked cam aperture 9e of the sensor 9 and then reaches the slot 9f of the extension thereof.

At the same time, the sensor 9 is returned to the original position against the rotating force by the reel spindle 16.

In such manner, the condition shown in Figure 4 is attained. The conditions of Figures 4 and 5 are alternately and repeatedly attained during transfer of tape.

Now, assume that the end of the tape is reached and then the reel spindle 16 stops.

After the condition shown in Figure 4 is attained, the sensor lever 7 starts to rotate counter-clockwise.

However, because the reel spindle 16 is now stopped, the sensor 9 does not receive any rotating force and thus remains in the same position.

Then, the abutting pin 7b at the free end of the sensor lever 7 moves along the intermediate portion of the forked cam aperture 9e until it abuts against the abutting portion 9h which projects towards the center of the heart-shaped portion.

Namely, the counter-clockwise rotation of the sensor lever 7 is interrupted in its movement. This condition is shown in Figure 6.

The motor 12 still drives in rotation the cam gear 6 as shown in Figure 7.

The first cam follower 7a of the sensor lever 7 is lifted off the cam surface 6a. Then, the cam surface 6b engages the first cam follower 7a.

The sensor lever 7 is rotated clockwise to a large extent by the cam surface 6b, as shown in Figure 8.

When the sensor lever 7 is rotated clockwise to a large extent, the free end 7d of one fork limb pushes the end 24a of the latching plate 24 to unlock the operating lever 2, and the free end 7e of the other fork limb prevents the switching plate 25 from returning, thereby maintaining the switched-on condition.

When the cam gear 6 further rotates, the first cam follower 7a of the sensor lever 7 passes over the end of the cam surface 6b and then drops to the cam surface 6a.

Since the sensor lever 7 rotates counter-clockwise, the ends 7d and 7e of the forked limb stop pushing the latching plate 24 and the switching plate 25 so that they are free.

Since the pushing of the push button 11 is released and the idler 4 and the taking-up idler 19 are returned to a position wherein they stop transmitting rotation, the control lever 8 rotates counter-clockwise to apply a counter-clockwise rotating force to the sensor 9.

The control lever 8 allows the sensor 9 to act only when the reel spindle 16 is ready to rotate and thus prevents unnecessary auto-stopping.

Then, the mechanism is completely restored to the original position as taken before the push button has been pushed, and is ready to perform the next operation, as shown in Figure 9.

Although the auto-stop mechanism works in such a manner, in practical use there is a slight possibility that auto-stopping is erroneously effected.

Figure 10 is for the purpose of explaining the reason why such erroneous operation may occur. In Figure 10, the abutting pin 7b at the free end of the sensor lever 7 and the forked cam aperture 9e of the sensor 9 are shown enlarged.

Figure 10 shows the mechanism changing from the condition of Figure 4 to the condition of Figure 5.

In Figure 10 the abutting pin 7b moves in the direction of the arrow.

The forked cam aperture 9e is going to move in the direction of the arrow shown in solid line.

Although the condition shown in Figure 5 will be attained if it does so, now assume that an operation for reversing the transfer of the tape is made. In this example, changing from reproducing or fast forwarding operation to rewinding operation is made.

Then, the reel spindle 16 is reversely rotated.

Therefore, the forked cam aperture 9e is moved in the direction of the arrow shown in dotted line so that the wall of the aperture 9e abuts against the abutting pin 7b.

Then, the abutting pin 7b comes in to the end 9g of the other limb of the forked cam aperture 9e and the condition of Figure 4 is attained. In such manner, the new operation continues.

However, because the abutting pin 7b moves in the direction of the arrow, it may be possible that the abutting pin 7b collides with the abutting portion 9h of the forked cam aperture 9e during its movement.

If a sufficiently large rotating force were transmitted from the reel spindle 16 to the sensor 9, in despite of such collision the sensor 9 would be rotated so that the abutting pin 7b comes into the end 9g'.

However, because it is desirable not to apply an extra load to the reel spindle 16, a force transmitted to the sensor 9 is limited to a small value.

Therefore, if such a collision occurs during changing of direction, the abutting pin 7b often remains on the abutting portion 9h of the forked cam aperture 9e.

This leads to the condition of Figure 6.

Therefore, the operation for auto-stopping as described above in connection with Figures 7 to 9 will be effected.

In other words, auto-stopping is erroneously performed.

Such erroneous operation can be prevented by the confirmation mechanism which will be described below.

The confirmation mechanism is arranged to confirm the disappearance of rotating force of the sensor 9 by slightly swinging the second cam follower 7c of the sensor lever 7 to the cam surface 6c of the cam gear 6 shortly after the abutting pin 7b abuts against the abutting portion 9h.

In operation of the confirmation mechanism, as shown in Figure 6 the cam surface 6c of the cam gear 6 comes close to the second cam follower 7c, which depends from one limb of the sensor lever 7.

When the cam surface 6c contacts the second cam follower 7c, the sensor lever 7 is slightly rotated clockwise.

Then, the abutting pin 7b becomes slightly displaced from the abutting portion 9h of the heart-shape forked cam aperture 9e.

At the same time, if the reel spindle 16 rotates for tape transferring in the opposite direction, the sensor 9 rotates and then the abutting pin 7b comes into the end 9g' of the forked cam aperture 9e.

For this reason, auto-stopping cannot occur.

If the reel spindle 16 has really stopped at the end of the tape, the sensor lever 7 will be slightly rotated clockwise by the cam surface 6c of the cam gear 6. Even if the abutting pin 7b becomes displaced from the abutting portion 9h of the forked cam aperture 9e, the sensor 9 is not moved.

Therefore, when the cam surface 6c has passed by, the abutting pin 7b abuts the abutting portion 9h again, as shown in Figure 7. After that, auto-stopping can be performed.

When the abutting pin 7b of the sensor lever 7 is on the abutting portion 9h of the forked cam aperture 9e, the cam surface 6c of the cam gear 6 contacts the second cam follower 7c of the sensor lever 7. When the abutting pin 7b of the sensor lever 7 has already come into the end 9g of the forked cam aperture 9e, the cam surface 6c passes near the second cam follower 7c without any interference therebetween.

The path of the cam surface 6c is indicated by the arrow shown in dotted line in Figure 5.

In the graph of Figure 11, the rotational angle e of the cam gear 6 (or the time elasped) is plotted on the abscissa axis, and the clockwise rotational displacement D of the sensor lever 7 is plotted on the ordinate axis.

The rotational displacement is indicated in a dotted line. If the reel spindle 16 rotates, the first cam follower 7a of the sensor lever 7 continuously contacts the cam surface 6a, as described above. Therefore, the rotational displacement changes as indicated in the dotted line A-B-C-D according to the cam surface 6a.

If the sensor 9 is stopped, a collision of the abutting pin 7b with the abutting portion 9h of the forked cam aperture 9e will occur at the position of B.

After that, since the sensor lever 7 is not rotated, the dotted line E is traced.

Then, since the cam surface 6c contacts the second cam follower 7c, the sensor lever 7 slightly rotates clockwise.

This traces the dotted line F.

If the sensor 9 is stopped after the cam surface 6c has passed, a collision with the abutting portion 9h occurs again and then the sensor 9 stops rotating at the position of G and is subsequently rotated to a large extent by the cam surface 6b as indicated by the dotted line H.

If the sensor 9 starts to rotate during the passing of F, any collision with the abutting portion 9h no longer occurs. Since the abutting pin 7b comes into the end 9g' of the forked cam aperture 9e, the rotational position of the sensor lever 7 becomes the same as in the dotted line C and thereafter the dotted line D is traced.

One of the factors which causes the erroneous operation is that the direction of transfer of the tape is changed just before B. However, this is thereafter corrected by reconfirmation at F.

Operation for preventing erroneous operation due to slack tape will be described.

Assume that the reel spindle which does not have the sensor 9 attached thereto, in this example, the rewinding reel spindle 17, is operated to rewind the tape.

If there is slack in the tape, the reel spindle 16 having the sensor 9 attached thereto will not be rotated before the slack portion of the tape is completely rewound.

Namely, since the tape may be stopped, there might occur an erroneous operation of the auto-stop mechanism.

The chance of this occurrence happens during the transition from the state of Figure 4 to that of Figure 5, for example, from A to B in Figure 11.

During this period, if the reel spindle 16 remains stopped due to the slack in the tape, the abutting pin 7b would get on the abutting portion 9h of the forked cam aperture 9e to cause auto-stopping.

However, such auto-stopping can be prevented if the reel spindle 16 starts to rotate until reconfirmation is effected by the cam surface 6c and the second cam follower 7c at the position of F.

Then, the reel spindle 16 may remain stopped during the time from A to F.

The permissible slack of the tape increases by about a factor of 3.5 compared with between A and B, and therefore erroneous operation due to such slack is more completely prevented.

In the auto-stop mechanism for a tape recorder as arranged in such manner described above, a simple confirmation mechanism comprising the cam surface 6c and the second cam follower 7c slightly rotates the sensor lever 7 to cause the abutting pin 7b to be temporarily displaced from the abutting portion 9h of the forked cam aperture 9e, thereby confirming disappearance of the rotating force of the sensor 9 to prevent any erroneous operation.

Claims

1. An auto-stop mechanism for a tape recorder comprising a sensor which is rotatable in connection with the direction of transfer of the tape, the sensor having a forked cam aperture formed therein, the forked cam aperture having an abutting portion, and a sensor lever which is normally rotatable independently of the transfer of the tape, the sensor lever having an abutting pin engaged in the forked cam aperture, the abutting pin being adapted to abut against the abutting portion of the forked cam aperture to limit the swinging stroke of the sensor lever, thereby stopping the tape recorder when the rotating force of the sensor disappears, characterised by a confirmation mechanism for confirming the disappearance of the rotating force of the sensor by slightly rotating the sensor lever a little after the abutting pin abuts against the abutting portion.

2. An auto-stop mechanism for a tape recorder substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 to 11 of the accompanying drawings.