US3784127A

US3784127A - Transcription control for cassette tape player

Info

Publication number: US3784127A
Application number: US00268536A
Authority: US
Inventors: M Bachmann
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1971-04-05
Filing date: 1972-07-03
Publication date: 1974-01-08
Anticipated expiration: 1991-01-08

Abstract

A case holding the transcription control apparatus mounts over the cassette. Sockets are aligned with each reel axis and are movable along that axis. The sockets have teeth which, when the sockets are moved against the reels, engage the reels. The teeth on the socket associated with the take-up reel project through the spokes of the reel to disengage the spindle from the reel. A finger is movably mounted to push the pressure roll away from the capstan. The socket associated with the feed reel is connected to a gear. A ratchet mechanism engages that gear in a direction such as to rotate the feed reel in the reverse of its feed direction. A foot control is connected by a Bowdin wire to a first slide within the case. An arm connects the first slide to a second slide. When the foot control is in the stop position, the first slide moves one or both sockets into the respective reels to disengage the spindles and the second slide moves the back-up roll away from the capstan. When the foot control is set in the play position the back-up roll is freed to press the tape against the capstan and the socket associated with the take-up reel is raised away from the respective reel. As the foot control is moved between the stop and backspace positions the back-up roll is held away from the capstan, the socket associated with the take-up reel is held in a position to disengage the respective spindle and the ratchet mechanism rotates the feed reel in a direction to take up tape thereon.

Description

United States Patent 1191 Bachmann Jan. 8, 1974 TRANSCRIPTION CONTROL FOR CASSETTE TAPE PLAYER Mario E. Bachmann, 1324 S. Finley Rd., Apt. 1C, Lombard, Ill. 60148 22 Filed: July 3, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 268,536

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 131,012, April 5,

1971, abandoned.

[76] Inventor:

Primary Examiner-Leonard D. Christian Att0rneyl-loward H. Darbo et al.

[57] ABSTRACT .A case holding the transcription control apparatus mounts over the cassette. Sockets are aligned with each reel axis and are movable along that axis. The sockets have teeth which, when the sockets are moved against the reels, engage the reels. The teeth on the socket associated with the take-up reel project through the spokes of the reel to disengage the spindle from the reel. A finger is movably mounted to push the pressure roll away from the capstan. The socket associated with the feed reel is connected to a gear. A ratchet mechanism engages that gear in a direction such as to rotate the feed reel in the reverse of its feed direction. A foot control is connected by a Bowdin wire to a first slide within the case. An arm connects the first slide to a second slide. When the foot control is in the stop position, the first slide moves one or both sockets into the respective reels to disengage the spindles and the second slide moves the back-up roll away from the capstan. When the foot control is set in the play position the back-up roll is freed to press the tape against the capstan and the socket associated with the take-up reel is raised away from the respective reel. As the foot control is moved between the stop and backspace positions the back-up roll is held away from the capstan, the socket associated with the take-up reel is held in a position to disengage the respective spindle and the ratchet mechanism rotates the feed reel in a direction to take up tape thereon.

24 Claims, 20 Drawing Figures PAIENTEDJAN 3.184.127

sum u or 5 j PAIENTEDJAN 3.784.127

SHEET 5 OF 5 j29 L9" .15 J w a? 170 ,1 127 ,1 430 I O\\ Q 1 17 1% 180 139 jog 11 170 59103 120 TRANSCRIPTION CONTROL FOR CASSETTE TAPE PLAYER CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is a continuation-in-part of my prior application Ser. No. 131,012, filed Apr. 5, 1971 and now abandoned.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Cassette tape recorders and/or players have become quite a popular piece of equipment. They are comparatively small and, in a great many models, can be battery operated. The cassettes comprise a plastic case holding two reels, between and about which a recording tape extends The sige oi the cassettes is approximately 4 inch X 2- /i inch X inch.

Such cassette recorders are ideally suited for dictation purposes. However, in their usual form, they would not be convenient for a typist to transcribe from. Tape transcription apparatus is available for other forms of tape recording, but, to the best of my knowledge, it is not available for a tape recording in cassette form. The principal object of the present invention is to provide a control apparatus that can be employed with a conventional cassette tape player so that it can be conveniently employed in the transcription of cassette recordings by a typist. An important characteristic of the present invention is that it can be employed to convert any such cassette tape player to a transcriber without any modifications of the player. The embodiment of the invention merely snaps in place on the cassette that is put into the player. Furthermore, the apparatus in no way interferes with the normal operation of the player. For example, with the embodiment in place, the operator can still use either the fast forward or rewind function of the player. If it is a recorder, the apparatus can be used for recording purposes even though the embodiment of the invention may be in place on the recorder.

While the present invention was devised primarily for use with cassette type players, its concepts can be adapted to any reel to reel, capstan-idler driven device used to transport continuous media such as paper, film, wire or tape (all being encompassed within the term tape).

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cassette type tape recorder/player holding an embodiment of the invention and showing a foot control employed therewith in vertical section;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged front view of the recorder/- player with an embodiment in place thereon;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the embodiment with the cover removed and with the parts in the stop position;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 with the parts in the play position;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3 with the parts in the backspace position;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but showing only the main control slide enlarged;

FIG. 7 is an end view of the slide as seen at line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an end view of the main slide as seen at line 8-8 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is an exploded view, somewhat diagrammatic, of the socket employed to disengage the take-up reel from its spindle;

FIG. 10 is a view of the socket employed in conjunction with the feed reel and illustrating the manner of its operation;

FIGS. 11A, B and C are a series of views (as seen approximately along line 11-11 of FIG. 3) showing the operation of the lever interconnecting the two slides, with some of the associated parts deleted for clarity of illustration;

FIG. 12 is an illustration, partly in section and partly broken away, of an alternative embodiment;

FIG. 13 is an end view of the foot pedal as seen at line 13-13 of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a partial plan view, partially broken away, of the foot pedal;

FIG. 15 is an enlarged plan view of the control apparatus of FIG. 12, with the cover removed, and with the apparatus set in playing position;

FIG. 16 is a section as seen at line 16-16 of FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a section as seen at line 17-17 of FIG. 15 with a portion of the take-up reel hub and spindle added; and

FIG. 18 is an exploded view of the two plates making up the second slide.

CONVENTIONAL RECORDER/PLAYER FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a cassette recorder/player, generally 15. It holds a cassette, generally 16. The cassette has a feed reel 17 and a take-up reel 18. A length of recording tape 19 extends around and between the two reels. The recorder includes recording and

playback heads

21 and 22 past which the tape is moved by the rotation of a capstan 23. These heads are a part of the recorder/player as is a pressure roller 24 which is resiliently urged toward the capstan 23 so as to frictionally engage the tape with the capstan.

The

reels

17 and 18 have hubs 26 with an axial opening therethrough. Extending into these axial openings are a plurality of radially positioned posts which, for convenience, will be termed spokes 27. These engage ribs on the periphery of the respective spindles (forming a part of the recorder) so that the reels will rotate with the spindles. Thus, the take-up reel 18 is associated with a spindle 28 having threeribs 29 thereon,

apart. For reasons that are unimportant to the present disclosure, the top of the spindles are resiliently urged outwardly, as suggested by the spring 30 in FIG. 9 and, against the resistance of that resilient urging, can be pushed inwardly to an extent such that the top of the ribs 29 are below the reel hub 26 and thus are free of the spokes 27. In this condition the capstan can rotate without rotating the reel (or vice versa). The feed reel 17 is associated with a spindle 31 having a structure corresponding to that just described with respect to spindle 28.

Normally, the pressure roller 24 is spaced back away from the capstan. At this time the cassette can be inserted into or removed from the recorder/player. When the cassette is in place and the play-record button is pressed, the pressure roller 24 is moved over to hold the tape against the capstan to drive the tape past the heads and the take-up reel 18 is driven sufficiently so that the slack tape between it and the capstan is wound onto the reel. Depending upon the function sought, the other components of the recorder/player either make a record of the sound on the magnetic tape or take signals from the magnetic tape to convert into sound. When the rewind button is pressed, the pressure roller 24 is moved back away from the capstan and the reel 17 (rather than reel 18) is driven so that the tape 19 is transferred back onto reel 17. In the fast forward condition, dictated by the operation of the respective button, the pressure roller 24 is again spaced away from the capstan and reel 18 is driven at a relatively rapid rate so as to quickly transfer tape from reel 17 to reel 18. Pressing the stop button turns off the electrical circuitry, and, if pressure roller 24 had been advanced, retracts the pressure roller away from the capstan. The cassette can now be removed from, or replaced onto, the recorder/player.

As thus far described, the apparatus is conventional.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS The following disclosure ofa specific embodiment of the invention is offered for public dissemination in return for the grant of a patent. Although it is detailedto ensure adequacy and aid understanding, this is not intended to prejudice that purpose of a patent which is to cover each new inventive concept therein no matter how others may later disguise it by variations in form or additions or further improvements. The claims at the end hereof are intended as the chief aid toward this purpose, as it is these that meet the requirement of pointing out the parts, improvements, or combinations in which the inventive concepts are found.

The control apparatus of the present invention comprises a case, generally 33, forming a frame. This case is in two parts held together by screws 34. These two parts are a base 35 and a cover 36. At one side the base has hooks 37 at each end thereof which engage ears 38 of the cassette. A slide 39 carries a hook 40 at one end thereof and a handle 41 at the other end. The handle is on a post and projects through an opening 42 in cover 36. The slide is movable longitudinally so that hook 40 can engage about the respective side of the cassette. The arrangement is such that by disengaging hook 40 the case 33 can be moved so that hooks 37 will disengage from cars 38. Conversely, to place the case in place on the cassette, the hooks 37 are first engaged with ears 38 and then hook 40 is moved to engage the opposite side of the cassette. ln this condition, the case and cassette are locked together.

Within the case is a main control slide 45. It is confined between

walls

46 and 47 of the case which define the path of movement of the slide. One end of the slide forms a cam plate 48 having a ramp 49 thereon leading up to an end 50. This cam plate is immediately over a socket 52 which is axially aligned with spindle 28. Socket 52 has a central cavity 53 to receive the top of spindle 28 and has six downwardly extending projections 54 which are of a size to be respectively received in the six openings between the spokes 27 of the reel hub. Socket 52 is supported by a spring 55 whose ends are affixed to base 35 and whose central portion grips the socket.

Axially aligned with spindle 31 is a corresponding socket 57 having downwardly extending projections 58 thereon. At the top of socket 57 is a toothed wheel 59 (gear) having

rims

60 and 61 at opposite sides thereof.

A bar 63 is positioned between rims and 61 and has ratchet teeth 64 aligned to engage the teeth of toothed wheel 59. Bar 63 is supported by spring arms 65 from extension 66 forming a part of main slide 54. At the opposite side of the ratchet wheel is a corresponding structure comprising a bar 67 having ratchet teeth 68, spring arms 69 and an extension 70. The

spring arms

65 and 69 maintain the socket 57 in a normally raised position at which the projections 58 are free of the spokes on the hub of reel 17.

Slide 45 also carries a cam 73. It has an abutment 74 with a slot 75 therein. It has a post 76 to which one end of a spring 77 is secured. The other end of spring 77 is attached to a post 78 forming a part of case 33. Spring 77 resiliently urges the main slide 45 to the left, as viewed in FIGS. 3-5. Extension 66 also serves as a cam and has a sloping face or ramp 66'. The slide 45 has a cam 79 at one side.

Secured to the cover 36 are a pair of cams 80 having ramps 81 at one end thereof. These cams 80 are aligned with

resilient arms

65 and 69 and, as hereinafter discussed, at times force the resilient arms downwardly so as to correspondingly lower the socket 57. There are also a pair of smaller cams 82 aligned with

bars

63 and 67 and employed for the same purpose of lowering socket 57.

A second slide 84 is movable along a path defined by spaced

walls

85 and 86. Slide 84 has an opening 87 therein. lt also has an L-shaped arm 88 with a finger at the end. A post 89 on the slide is used to connect one end of a spring 90. The other end of the spring is secured to a post 91 on the case.

An arm 94 has one end loosely received over a post 95 forming a part of the case. The arm is bent so as to form a fulcrum 96 intermediate the ends of the arm, which fulcrum is in contact with the cover 36 of the case. The other end of the arm has a finger 97 which, in FIGS. 3 and 5, is aligned with an opening 98 in the case. This end of the arm has an enlargement 99 received in opening 87 in slide 84.

A Bowdin wire control comprises a sheath 102 having a wire 103 therein. The wire is hooked through slot 75 in abutment 74 (of the slide 45) and has an enlargement 104 on the end thereof. A clip 105 held in place by a screw 106 serves to hold the sheath 102 in place in the case.

The other end of the control (FIG. 1) has a mounting 108 secured to the sheath 102. The mounting is attached to a bracket 109 secured to the base portion 110 of the foot control. The wire extends through a small opening in lever 111 and has an enlargement 112 on its end to prevent it from being pulled back through the lever. The tension of spring 77 holds the enlargement 112 against the lever.

The base portion 110 of the control has a treadle 114 pivotally connected thereto by means of pin 115. A spring 116 between the two portions urges them apart. A post 117 on the treadle has a slot 118 to receive one end of the lever 111. ln the full line position illustrated in FIG. 1, the two ends of the lever are urged upwardly (by the post 117 and by the Bowdin wire) while the central portion of the lever is held against a stop 119 formed by a depending portion of bracket 109. The treadle 114 also has a downwardly extending post 120. Post 120 is positioned to contact the distal end of lever 111 as the treadle is moved downwardly.

OPERATION As in conventional dictation controls, there are essentially three positions. The first of these is the stop position, at which no transcription is occurring. This position of the treadle is shown in full lines in FIG. 1 and illustrated in FIG. 3. The next position is the play position at which the machine is running and playing what is on the tape. This position of the treadle is shown in dotted lines in FIG. 1 with the numbers being given a prime thereafter. FIG. 4 is related thereto. The third position is a position to obtain a reversal of the tape so that a portion of the tape will be played over. This position is shown in dot-dash lines in FIG. 1, and the applicable numbers have been given a double prime. FIG. 5 is related thereto.

As the treadle 114 moves from the full line position to the dotted line position, the post 117 drops and lowers the corresponding end of the lever l 11. The tension of the Bowdin wire pulls the other end upwardly so that the lever 111 rocks about the stop 119. Thus, the initial movement is a retraction of the Bowdin wire. Thereafter, if there is further depression of the treadle 114, the post 120 contacts the distal end of the lever 11] so that now the two ends of the lever are both being urged downwardly by the

respective posts

117 and 120. Continued downward movement of the treadle carries the lever 111 to the position shown in dot-dash lines causing a substantial extension of the Bowdin wire 103 at the treadle end (and a corresponding retraction of the wire into the sheath at the other end).

FIG. 3 illustrates the position of the control mechanism during the stop condition. This corresponds to the full line position of the treadle of FIG. 1. The main slide 45 has been moved slightly to the right away from the end of the case. This caused the ramp 49 to push downwardly on the top of socket 52 with the portion 48 of the cam being over the central portion of the socket and holding the socket down in its active position. Thus, the projections 54 extend between the spokes 27 of the reel. These projections push down on the ribs 29 of the spindle forcing the spindle downwardly against its spring and disengaging the spindle from the reel. Similarly,

cams

80 and 82 forced the

bars

63 and 67 downwardly. In turn, the bars engaged rim 61 and forced socket 57 downwardly from its inactive to its active position. This caused the projections 58 of that socket to similarly disengage the reel 17 from its spin dle 31 by depressing the spindle against the urging of its spring (not shown).

The cam 73 has urged arm 94 in a counterclockwise direction. This causes the enlarged head 99 of the arm to position slide 84 in a manner such that the finger at the end of L-shaped arm 88 pushed back-up roll 24 away from capstan 23 to its active position, thereby freeing the tape that is between the back-up roll and the capstan. The

teeth

64 and 68 of the two

bars

63 and 67 are just engaging toothed wheel 59 thereby immobilizing this wheel. Since the wheel is immobilized and since projections 58 of socket 57 are interdigitated with the spokes of the reel, the reel is thereby immobilized preventing any spilling of the tape from the reel caused by the inertia of the previously moving reel.

Now assuming that the operator is desirous of starting the machine to play, the operator pushes down a short distance on the treadle 114. As previously described, this causes a movement of the Bowdin wire 103 toward the cassette. The spring 77 is thereby permitted to move the main slide 45 all the way to the left in the case. This is the position shown in FIG. 4. The cam 48 and the ramp 49 have moved away from socket 52 so that the socket is free to rise under the urging of spring 55. Similarly, the

bars

63 and 67 are free of the cams and 82 so that the

spring arms

65 and 69 can raise the bars. The bars contact flange 60 of the toothed wheel and raise socket 57 out of engagement with the spindle 31. The toothed wheel 59 is free of

teeth

64 and 68. The arm 96 has moved clockwise to permit slide 84 to move to the left under the urging of spring 90. This causes arm 88 to release back-up wheel 24 and the back-up wheel moves toward the capstan (under its resilient mounting, not shown) to pinch the tape between it and the capstan. The tape now can be driven in the normal manner by the recorder/player. With the treadle in this position, the fast forward or the rewind functions of the recorder/player may be carried out in the conventional manner.

Now assume that the operator is desirous of backspacing the tape to replay a short portion thereof. The operator pushes all the way down on treadle 114 pulling the Bowdin wire 103 with it. The movement of the Bowdin wire initially returns the parts to the FIG. 3 position, at which everything is stopped. Thereafter, the Bowdin wire continues to move the main slide 45 to the right from the FIG. 3 toward the FIG. 5 position.

The continued movement of the main slide towards the right causes the teeth 64 to engage the toothed wheel 59 and rotate the toothed wheel in a clockwise direction. The teeth 68 are slanted the other direction so that they will not now engage the toothed wheel. The teeth 68 push bar 67 outward by flexing springarms 69 and skip past the teeth of the toothed wheel. The clockwise rotation of the toothed wheel causes a corresponding rotation of socket 57 which is engaged with reel 17 and draws the tape 19 away from reel 18 and back onto reel 17.

Extension 66 of the main slide has a ramp 66' on the end thereof adjacent arm 94. As will be seen in FIG. 3, this ramp 66 is just commencing to move under the end of arm 94 adjacent post 95. As it does so, it raises that end of arm 94 from the position illustrated in FIG. 11A to the position illustrated in FIG. 118. This results in a pivoting of the arm about the fulcrum 96 so that the finger 97 descends and enters opening 98. This locks end 99 of the arm in place and holds slide 84 in the same position as the main slide 45 continues to move from the FIG. 3 position toward the FIG. 5 position.

As the slide 45 continues toward the FIG. 5 position, the reel 17 continues to rotate. When the operator releases the treadle 114 after reaching the FIG. 5 position, the spring 77 is free to move slide 45 to the left. During this movement the teeth 64 slip by the toothed wheel 59 and it is the teeth 68 that now engage the wheel. This continues the rotation of the toothed wheel 59 in the clockwise direction and continues the retraction of the tape onto reel 17. The cam 79 on main slide 45 contacts the arm 94 and pivots it about fulcrum 96 from the FIG. 11B position to the FIG. 11C position. This withdraws 'finger 97 from the opening 98 to release slide 84. This then can move to the left under the urging of spring 90. By stopping the treadle at the dotted line position the parts will be in the FIG. 4 position and the record/player is free to move the tape and reproduce the sound recorded thereon. If the operator allows the treadle to return to the full line position of FIG. 1, the parts will be established in the FIG. 3 position with everything at stop.

EMBODIMENT OF FIGS. 12-18 There is a case, generally 125. The case has two

clips

126 and 127. These are pivotally mounted on

pins

128 and 129. The clips have upwardly projecting

handles

130 and 131. At the lower end the clips have

projections

132 and 133 which grip the undersidev of a cassette 16. To put the cassette in plce it is positioned against the underside of case 125 at a time when the

clips

126 and 127 have been pivoted outwardly, in the manner seen at the right side of FIG. 12. The clips are then pivoted inwardly so that

projections

132 and 133 fit against the underside of the cassette 16 thus holding the case 125 and the cassette 16 securely together. The cassette is then ready to be inserted into the player 15. The reverse of these operations is followed to separate the cassette from the control apparatus so that it may be' exchanged for another cassette.

Within the case 125 is a main slide 135. It is movable from right to left (as viewed in the drawings) in suitable ways. A spring 136 has one end hooked on a pin 137 on the main slide 135 and one end hooked on a pin 138 secured to the case 125. This spring urges the main slide to the left as viewed in the drawings. A slot 139 defines an abutment 140 which also has a slot 141 extending therethrough. The Bowdin wire 103 extends through slot 141 and the enlargement 104 is received in slot 139 where it bears against abutment 140. The sheath 102 of the Bowdin wire is suitably anchored to case 125.

Rotatably mounted within case 125 are a pair of sockets, generally 143 and 144. Socket 143 is rotatably mounted on a pin 145. It is resiliently urged downwardly by a Bellville spring 146. Secured to the socket and positioned between plates I47 and 148 is a toothed wheel 149. The socket has a central opening 151 t o receive the spindle associated with the feed or supply reel. About its distal end it has projections 152 to fit into engagement with the spokes of the feed reel.

Socket 144 is formed of a plurality of parts. There is a sheet metal cup 154 having a central opening and projections 155 about the distal end of the cup. At its other end there is an inwardly projecting flange 156. Cup 154 is received in a sleeve 157. Sleeve 157 has fingers 158 which fit between projections 155 to limit the outwardly extent of movement of the cup with respect to the sleeve. Sleeve 157 is secured to a hub 159. Hub 159 is rotatably mounted on pin 160. It has upper and

lower flanges

161 and 162. A spring 163 bears against the top of the hub and against flange 156 resiliently urging the cup 154 downwardly with respect to the hub. Flange 162 has teeth 164 about the periphery thereof.

An arm 167 is mounted on pin 128. Clip 127 includes a plate with two spaced

projections

168 and 169 which fit on opposite sides of arm 167 so as to cause the arm to rotate with the clip. The distal end of the arm forms a pointed nose 170 which engages the teeth 164 on flange 162 as the nose moves past the teeth while the clip is being moved in the direction to grip a cassette. This gives a rotational movement to the socket 144 to make sure that it properly mates with the spokes 27 of the reel of the cassette to which it is being attached. At

the termination of that movement the nose is free of the teeth so it does not interfere with the rotation of the socket 144.

The main slide 135 has a cam slot 172 therein. In considering the length of the cam slot the longest portion of it, 173, is at a relatively high elevation with respect to the short end portion 174 (see the dotted lines in FIG. 17). A U-shaped wire 175 has its base pivotally mounted in projections 176 of the case. The two sides of the U extend between

flanges

161 and 162 of' socket 144. One of these ends 177 is relatively long and extends into cam slot 172.

A plate 179 is secured to main slide 135 by a pin 180. The pin extends through a circular opening in the main slide. However, it is received in an angularly positioned oval opening 181 in plate 179. This gives the plate 179 some freedom of movement with respect to the main slide, in an upwardly and downwardly direction as viewed in FIG. 15. The plate 179 has a central opening 183 of a size to receive toothed wheel 149. It has two spaced arms 183 and 184 with

ratchet teeth

185 and 186 respectively thereon. As best seen in FIG. 15, these teeth face in opposite directions.

In the embodiment being described, the second slide. generally 188, is formed by a top plate 189 and a bottom plate 190. These plates have

openings

191 and 192 respectively, by reason of which the plates fit over pin 193 of the case. Case 189 has an angular slot 194 and plate has a straight slot 195, both of which fit over pin 196 of the case. Plate 190 has an arm 197 projecting therefrom with a finger 198 at the end of the arm. Plate 189 has a lug 199 which fits about the end 200 of plate 190. Plate 190 has a post 201. A spring 202 has one end hooked on post 201 and the other end hooked,

on a post 203 forming a part of the case 125.

The main slide 135 has a nose 205. This bears against the top plate 189. It moves between two

abutments

206 and 207 on the top plate. When rewinding, as subsequently described, the nose will move past the abutment 206.

The foot pedal of this embodiment comprises a base portion 210 and a movable treadle portion 211 pivotally connected by a pin 212. The two portions are urged apart by a spring 213. A plate 214 is secured to the base portion by screws 215. This plate clamps the sheath 102 of the Bowdin wire in a fixed position. The end of the Bowdin wire 103 passes through a spring 216 and is fastened about a crossbar 217. This crossbar rides in tracks 218 and is guided by the tracks for movement parallel to plate 214. A pair of cams 219 depend from treadle portion 211. These cams engage the crossbar 217. The cam faces of these cams essentially have three positions, namely, a normal rest position 220 (corresponding to the stop" position of the apparatus), a reentrant position 211 (corresponding to the play" position of the apparatus) and a retraction area 222 (corresponding to the rewind" operation of the apparatus).

OPERATION OF EMBODIMENT OF FIGURES 12-18 Referring to the foot control of FIGS. 13-45, when no foot pressure is applied to treadle 211, the treadle is in the raised position as illustrated. In this position the Bowdin wire 103 is slightly withdrawn from its sheath 102 on the end of the treadle; that is, on the end of the adapter case 125 the wire is withdrawn slightly from its maximum extension. A relatively small downward movement of treadle 211 causes the cams 219 to move downwardly so that the reentrant position 221 of the cams 19 is in line with the crossbar 217. This permits the crossbar to move slightly to the left from the FIG. position. At the foot pedal end, the Bowdin wire 103 moves a slight distance more into its sheath and at the opposite end the Bowdin wire 103 moves a slight distance out of its sheath. This is the play position. If it is desired to backspace the tape of the cassette, the treadle 211 is pushed all the way down. This causes cams 219 to draw crossbar 217 to the right as viewed in FIG. 15, withdrawing the wire 103 from its sheath 102 at the foot pedal end. At the end of case 125, the wire 103 is moved the maximum distance into its sheath 102. When the treadle 211 is now released the treadle and associated parts return to the position illustrated in FIG. 15. As they do so, spring 216 cushions the shock of the moving crossbar.

The operation of the apparatus within case 125 is essentially that described with respect to the previous embodiment. When the treadle is in the stop position the position of the parts is that illustrated in FIG. 12. The main slide 135 is shifted a slight distance to the right from the lefthand end of its path of travel. This causes the

teeth

185 and 186 of the arms 183 and 184 to engage the toothed wheel 149. This locks the toothed wheel against rotation. In turn, the tape extending between the two reels of the cassette prevents any rotation of the take-up wheel in the take-up direction.

The nose 205 of the main slide is bearing against abutment 206 of the top plate 189 of the second slide 188. Movement while in contact with abutment 206 has shifted the second slide 188 to the right (from the FIG. 15 position) causing the finger 198 to move against the pressure roller 24 and shift the pressure roller away from the capstan 23. The movement of the pressure roller 24 away from the capstan releases the grip on the tape so that no further effort is made to pull the tape away from the feed reel.

The end 177 ofU wire 175 is in the upper part 173 of cam slot 172 of main slide 135. This has raised wire 175 from the FIG. 17 position. In turn wire 175 has raised socket 144 until the bottom ends of the downwardly extending projections are about level with the bottom sides of spokes 27 of hub 26. Since there are six of the projections 155 interdigitated with six of the spokes, the effect is to form a closed plane surface which cannot be penetrated by the tops of the ribs 29 of the take-up spindle. Thus, the take-up spindle is effectively disengaged from the hub of the take-up reel. The bottoms of projections 155 are tapered as illustrated in FIGS. 16 and 17. This provides a camming action in the relative movement between the projections and the tops of ribs 29 to prevent the ribs from becoming trapped between a projection and a spoke.

When the treadle 211 is depressed to the play position, the Bowdin wire 103 moves to the left in FIG. 12. Thereupon spring 136 shifts the main slide 135 to the left to the position illustrated in FIG. 15. In this position the

teeth

185 and 186 no longer engage toothed wheel 149. The toothed wheel. is wholly within the opening 182 so that it is free to rotate. The movement of nose 205 of the main slide to the left allows the second slide 188 also to move to the left under the urging of spring 202. This leftward movement of the second slide permits finger 198 to move away from the pressure roller 24. Now the pressure roller is free to move toward the capstan 23 causing the tape to be gripped between the two.

With the slide in the FIG. 15 position, the end 177 of wire 175 is in the lower part 174 of cam slot 172. The effect of this is to depress socket 144 to the position illustrated in FIG. 17. In this position the lower portions of projections engage ribs 29 on spindle 28. This rotationally engages take-up spindle 28 with the take-up reel.

When the treadle is fully depressed the main slide 135 moves farther to the right from the position illustrated in FIG. 12. Initially, the nose 205 bears against abutment 206 on top plate 189 of the second slide 188. Further pressure forces the top plate 189 of the second slide downwardly in FIG. 12 so that the pin 196 moves into the upper end of the angular slot 194. This permits the nose 205 to slip past abutment 206 and move onto the straight righthand end of the top plate 189. The lower plate cannot duplicate the downward movement since it only has a straight slot 195. During all of this time, the finger 198 will remain against pressure roller 24 holding the pressure roller away from capstan 23.

The rightward movement of main slide 135 causes the plate 179 to likewise move to the right. As it does so the ratchet teeth 185 engage the toothed wheel 149 rotating the toothed wheel in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIGS. 12 and 15. The ratchet teeth 184 are cammed away from wheel 149 by the advancing sloped sides of the teeth 184. As previously described, the end 177 of the wire is in end 173 of the cam slot 172. This caused a downward movement of socket 144 so that the spindle 28 is disengaged from the hub 26. This disengagement is maintained over all of the rewind movement.

When main slide 135 is permitted to return from its far right position to the position illustrated in FIG. 12, the teeth 186 on arm 184 now engage the teeth of toothed wheel 149 to continue the clockwise rotation of that toothed wheel. The teeth 185 are cammed away from the toothed wheel by reason of the fact that the portions of these teeth that are advancing into the toothed wheel during the leftward movement are sloped to serve to cam the teeth 185 away from the toothed wheel.

I claim:

1. A transcription control apparatus for use with a cassette and cassette type tape player having two tape reels and two spindles which are movable between a position at which they axially engage respective tape reels and a position at which they are disengaged from said reels, one of the reels being a take-up reel when the player is playing and the other being a feed reel, said player having tape drive means for feeding said tape in a path between the reels when the player is playing, said drive means including a member that is movable to a position to disengage the tape from the drive means, said apparatus comprising:

a frame adapted to be positioned on said player in juxtaposition to said reels and at an end of the axes thereof;

means on said frame releasably attaching said frame to said player when so positioned;

a first device on said frame and aligned with the spindle of the take-up reel and movable from an inactive position to an active position at which the spindle associated with the take-up reel is rotationally disengaged from the take-up reel;

a second device on said frame and aligned with the spindle of the feed reel and engaging said feed reel;

a third device on said frame and associated with the tape drive means and movable from an inactive position to an active position at which the member is moved to the position to disengage the tape from the drive means; and

control means mounted on the frame and operatively connected with said devices for movement to establish a first condition at which said first and third devices are in the inactive positions, a second condition at which said first and third drives are in the active position, and a third condition at which said first and third devices are in the active position, said control means, when moving between the second and the third condition, actuating said second device to rotate the feed reel in a tape take-up direction.

2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including manually operable actuating means connected to said control means for moving said control means.

3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first and second devices each comprise a socket axially aligned with the respective spindle and movable along said axis, said socket having a portion to contact the spindle and move the spindle to disengage the respective reel and spindle.

4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein at least one said portion engages the respective reel to fix the rotational position thereof when it is disengaging the respective spindle.

5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said control means includes a main slide movable in said frame in a path lying in a plane normal to the axes of the spindles, said slide including means operatively engaging said first device, and spring means between the frame and the slide and urging said slide in one direc tion in said path.

6. An apparatus for a player where said member is a pressure roller and as set forth in claim 5, including a second slide movable in said plane and having a part to contact said pressure roller, a spring between the second slide and the frame for resiliently urging said second slide in one direction, and means interconnecting the two slides for moving one in responseto the movement of the other.

7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said control means includes a first part movable between three positions and operatively connected to the first and second devices, a second part movable between two positions and operatively connected to said third device, and means interconnecting said parts so that said second part remains in one of its positions when the first part is in one and a second of its positions.

8. An apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein said first part is a first slide movable along a path between three positions, said second part is a second slide movable along a second path between two positions, and including resilient means connecting at least one of said slides and said frame and resiliently urging said one slide to the end of its path.

9. An apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein said second device includes a toothed wheel rotatable about an axis parallel to the axis of the feed reel spindle and engaging said feed reel when the second device is in the active position, said first part including a slide having a first bar with ratchet teeth in contact with one side of said toothed wheel and shaped to catch the toothed wheel when the slide moves in one direction and to slide past it when the slide moves in the other direction thereby rotating the toothed wheel in one direction only, said slide having a second bar with ratchet teeth in contact with the opposite side of said toothed wheel and shaped to catch the toothed wheel when the slide moves in said other direction and to slide past it when the slide moves in said one direction thereby rotating the toothed wheel in one direction only, said one direction of rotation of the toothed wheel corresponding to the direction of rotation of the feed reel when the feed reel is taking up tape, said slide including support means for said bars allowing'the bars to move toward and away from the toothed wheel so that they can engage the wheel or ratchet past it depending upon the direction of movement of the slide.

10. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said second device includes a toothed wheel rotatable about an axis parallel to the axis of the feed reel spindle and engaging said feed reel when the second device is in the active position, said control means including a slide having a first bar with ratchet teeth in contact with one side of said toothed wheel and shaped to catch the toothed wheel when the slide moves in one direction and to slide past it when the slide moves in the other direction thereby rotating the toothed wheel in one direction only, said slide having a second bar with ratchet teeth in contact with the opposite side of said toothed wheel and shaped to catch the toothed wheel when the slide moves in said other direction and to slide past it when the slide moves in said one direction thereby rotating the toothed wheel in one direction only, said one direction of rotation of the toothed wheel corresponding to the direction of rotation of the feed reel when the feed reel is taking up tape, said slide including support means for said bars allowing the bars to move toward and away from the toothed wheel so that they can engage the wheel or ratchet past it depending upon the direction of movement of the slide.

11. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said frame includes means to releasably lock it to said cassette.

12. An apparatus as set forth in claim 11, including a movable arm means having an end position to engage said first device and an external end which can be manually engaged and moved to move the arm and rotate the first device.

13. An apparatus as set forth in claim 12, wherein said releasable locking means includes a pivotable lever, said lever having said arm means forming a part thereof.

14. A transcription control apparatus. for use with a cassette and cassette type tape player having a pair of reel members and a pair of spindle members, one pair of members being movable between a position at which they respectively engage the other pair of members and a position at which they are disengaged from said other pair of members, one of the reel members being a takeup reel member when the player is playing and the other being a feed reel member, said player having tape drive means for feeding said tape in a path between the reels when the player is playing, said drive means including a member that is movable to a position to disengage the tape from the drive means, said apparatus comprising:

a supplemental frame mounted on said apparatus in juxtaposition to said members; manual control means having a stop position, a play position and a backspace position, said control means being movable between said positions; and actuating means mountedon said supplemental frame operatively connected to said control means and to said members to disengage the tape from the drive means and immobilize said reel members when the control means is in the stop position, to

engage the drive means with the tape and to free' the reel members for driving for tape advancement when the control means is in the play position, and to disengage the tape from the drive means, disengage the take-up reel member from the respective spindle member, and to rotate the feed reel member in the reverse direction in response to a movement of the control means between the backspace position and the stop position.

15. An apparatus as set forth in claim 14 including a movable cable connecting said manual control means and said actuating means to transmit movements of the control means to the actuating means, and a sheath about said cable.

16. An apparatus as set forth in claim 15, wherein said cable has an end at said control means and is movable with respect to said sheath between a fully extended end position, a fully retracted end position and an intermediate position, and said manual control means comprises a foot treadle movable between a raised position, a depressed position and an intermediate position, and means connecting the treadle and the cable at said end and positioning said cable in one of said end positions when the treadle is in the depressed position, in the other of the end positions when the treadle is in the intermediate position, and in the cable intermediate position when the treadle is in the raised position, the raised position of the treadle being the stop position, the intermediate position of the treadle being the play position.

17. An apparatus as set forth in claim 16, wherein said treadle includes a base portion and a movable portion, and the means connecting the treadle and the cable comprises,

a pair of posts depending from the movable portion and movable therewith, a lever having one end connected to one of said posts and the other end in the path of movement of the other post as the movable portion is depressed, and a fulcrum attached to the treadle base and contacting the lever from above intermediate the ends of the lever, said cable being connected to the lever between the fulcrum and the other end of the lever.

18. An apparatus as set forth in claim 16, wherein said actuating means includes a slide movably mounted in said frame for movement between three positions, two being end positions and the third being an intermediate position, one of said end positions of the slide corresponding to the play position and the intermediate position of the slide corresponding to the stop position, said slide being connected to said cable to be moved in one direction thereby, resilient means between the slide and the frame for urging the slide in the other direction.

19. An apparatus as set forth in claim 3 for use where said reels have spaced spokes, the improvement comprising:

said portion of the socket comprising a number of projections, said number being the same as the number of spokes, said projections being interdigitated with the spokes and effectively filling the spaces between the spokes.

20. An apparatus as set forth in claim 19, wherein said socket is movable between a position between said spokes at which the reel and spindle are rotationally disengaged and a second position above said spokes to permit the spindle to move into engagement with the reel.

21. An apparatus as set forth in claim 19, wherein said socket is movable between a position between said spokes at which the reel and spindle are rotationally disengaged and a second position below said spokes at which said socket engages both the spokes and the spindle.

22. In a transcription control apparatus for use with a cassette having a hub with a number of spaced spokes projecting inwardly from the hub and a cassette type tape player having a spindle thereon with a distal portion that is resiliently movable in an axial direction and a rib on the side of the portion to engage said spokes when in the extended position, the improvement comprising:

socket means for rotationally engaging and disengaging said spindle from said hub, said socket means having an open end of a size to fit about the distal end of the spindle and a plurality of projections at said open end and axially aligned with said ribs and with spaces between the spokes, and

mounting means operatively connected to said socket means for moving said socket means axially with respect to the spindle between a first position at which the hub and the spindle are rotationally engaged and a second position at which they are disengaged.

23. An apparatus as set forth in claim 22, wherein I said socket is movable between a position between said spokes at which the reel and spindle are rotationally disengaged and a second position above said spokes to permit the spindle to move into engagement with the reel.

24. An apparatus as set forth in claim 22, wherein said socket is movable between a position between said spokes at which the reel and spindle are rotationally disengaged and a second position below said spokes at which said socket engages both the spokes and the spindle.

Claims

1. A transcription control apparatus for use with a cassette and cassette type tape player having two tape reels and two spindles which are movable between a position at which they axially engage respective tape reels and a position at which they are disengaged from said reels, one of the reels being a take-up reel when the player is playing and the other being a feed reel, said player having tape drive means for feeding said tape in a path between the reels when the player is playing, said drive means including a member that is movable to a position to disengage the tape from the drive means, said apparatus comprising: a frame adapted to be positioned on said player in juxtaposition to said reels and at an end of the axes thereof; means on said frame releasably attaching said frame to said player when so positioned; a first device on said frame and aligned with the Spindle of the take-up reel and movable from an inactive position to an active position at which the spindle associated with the take-up reel is rotationally disengaged from the take-up reel; a second device on said frame and aligned with the spindle of the feed reel and engaging said feed reel; a third device on said frame and associated with the tape drive means and movable from an inactive position to an active position at which the member is moved to the position to disengage the tape from the drive means; and control means mounted on the frame and operatively connected with said devices for movement to establish a first condition at which said first and third devices are in the inactive positions, a second condition at which said first and third drives are in the active position, and a third condition at which said first and third devices are in the active position, said control means, when moving between the second and the third condition, actuating said second device to rotate the feed reel in a tape take-up direction.

5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said control means includes a main slide movable in said frame in a path lying in a plane normal to the axes of the spindles, said slide including means operatively engaging said first device, and spring means between the frame and the slide and urging said slide in one direction in said path.

6. An apparatus for a player where said member is a pressure roller and as set forth in claim 5, including a second slide movable in said plane and having a part to contact said pressure roller, a spring between the second slide and the frame for resiliently urging said second slide in one direction, and means interconnecting the two slides for moving one in response to the movement of the other.

9. An apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein said second device includes a toothed wheel rotatable about an axis parallel to the axis of the feed reel spindle and engaging said feed reel when the second device is in the active position, said first part including a slide having a first bar with ratchet teeth in contact with one side of said toothed wheel and shaped to catch the toothed wheel when the slide moves in one direction and to slide past it when the slide moves in the other direction thereby rotating the toothed wheel in one direction only, said slide having a second bar with ratchet teeth in contact with the opposite side of said toothed wheel and shaped to catch the toothed wheel when the slide moves in said other direction and to slide past it when the slide moves in said one direction tHereby rotating the toothed wheel in one direction only, said one direction of rotation of the toothed wheel corresponding to the direction of rotation of the feed reel when the feed reel is taking up tape, said slide including support means for said bars allowing the bars to move toward and away from the toothed wheel so that they can engage the wheel or ratchet past it depending upon the direction of movement of the slide.

14. A transcription control apparatus for use with a cassette and cassette type tape player having a pair of reel members and a pair of spindle members, one pair of members being movable between a position at which they respectively engage the other pair of members and a position at which they are disengaged from said other pair of members, one of the reel members being a take-up reel member when the player is playing and the other being a feed reel member, said player having tape drive means for feeding said tape in a path between the reels when the player is playing, said drive means including a member that is movable to a position to disengage the tape from the drive means, said apparatus comprising: a supplemental frame mounted on said apparatus in juxtaposition to said members; manual control means having a stop position, a play position and a backspace position, said control means being movable between said positions; and actuating means mounted on said supplemental frame operatively connected to said control means and to said members to disengage the tape from the drive means and immobilize said reel members when the control means is in the stop position, to engage the drive means with the tape and to free the reel members for driving for tape advancement when the control means is in the play position, and to disengage the tape from the drive means, disengage the take-up reel member from the respective spindle member, and to rotate the feed reel member in the reverse direction in response to a movement of the control means between the backspace position and the stop position.

17. An apparatus as set forth in claim 16, wherein said treadle includes a base portion and a movable portion, and the means connecting the treadle and the cable comprises, a pair of posts depending from the movable portion and movable therewith, a lever having one end connected to one of said posts and the other end in the path of movement of the other post as the movable portion is depressed, and a fulcrum attached to the treadle base and contacting the lever from above intermediate the ends of the lever, said cable being connected to the lever between the fulcrum and the other end of the lever.

19. An apparatus as set forth in claim 3 for use where said reels have spaced spokes, the improvement comprising: said portion of the socket comprising a number of projections, said number being the same as the number of spokes, said projections being interdigitated with the spokes and effectively filling the spaces between the spokes.

22. In a transcription control apparatus for use with a cassette having a hub with a number of spaced spokes projecting inwardly from the hub and a cassette type tape player having a spindle thereon with a distal portion that is resiliently movable in an axial direction and a rib on the side of the portion to engage said spokes when in the extended position, the improvement comprising: socket means for rotationally engaging and disengaging said spindle from said hub, said socket means having an open end of a size to fit about the distal end of the spindle and a plurality of projections at said open end and axially aligned with said ribs and with spaces between the spokes, and mounting means operatively connected to said socket means for moving said socket means axially with respect to the spindle between a first position at which the hub and the spindle are rotationally engaged and a second position at which they are disengaged.

23. An apparatus as set forth in claim 22, wherein said socket is movable between a position between said spokes at which the reel and spindle are rotationally disengaged and a second posItion above said spokes to permit the spindle to move into engagement with the reel.