Cassette Deck drive bands

Another oddity with this 1992 Aiwa AD WX888 - end of tape sensor. Instead of a follower that moves with increase of tension in the tape. This uses the same small holes in the cassette but is a fixed lump of plastic with 3 wires coming from it, not coils. Capacitively somehow sensing motion or change in capacitance of ferrite tape to leader transistion ?

Are the flywheels that the motor belt goes around different diameters?

Regards, Tim Schwartz Bristol electronics

What you mean is that the diameter of the "flange" (or whatever) at the base of the capstan, which is driven by the same belt, varies so that each capstan moves the tape at the same linear speed.

If the tape is driven by both capstans at the same time (and I assume it is), then one capstan is designed to turn ever-so-slightly faster so that the tape is held under tension.

It's not clear what happens when the tape reverses direction. However, my Nakamichi used this system, and the tape didn't go spilling into the deck's innards when it was reversed.

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Light, probably. The leader reflects more light than the tape.

I've never heard of ferrite-coated tapes.

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I wouldn't say it was a slight difference as in the ratio of 1.49 to 1.69 but not such a large difference I had noticed in general handling. Probably specious accuracy as I did not remove them for good perpendicular measurement but 44.86mm and 48.79mm of the capstan flanges. Figure-of-S shape for the band between the flanges, opposite rotational distrection, only one engaged pinch-wheel at a time of course. .

By ythe way does the USA term for say the Lazy-S ranch mean an S that is stretched out or "laid on its back" ie turned through 90 degrees? or both ?

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I hadn't thought of reflective-opto device - will try a diode check

Well, that kind of kills my theory. Your original post indicated that this was a dual-capstan drive. It isn't.

In cowboy parlance, it means "lying on its side". It does not refer to the shape or aspect ratio.

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Probly diode and photo-resistor, diode on DVM and varying ohmage on another pair of wires, on varying the ambient light . So would only detect leader join, not active in the case of a tape jam

Which implies ranch-hands could at least recognise letters. Pictoral pub signs like the Red Lion or the King's Head started in Britain because of total illiteracy amongst a lot of the populace.

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usually means rotated to lie on its back

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Was that in the 1910's or 1920's .?