Cassette auto changer system

A cassette auto changer system including means for selectably providing a plurality of cassettes to be loaded into one or more tape signal reading means, comprising:

• a cassette rack including a plurality of cassette receiving compartments;
• a tape transfer mechanism operable to selectably transport cassettes between said cassette rack and said tape signal reading means;
• a pair of position detection portions provided in a longitudinal direction of an opening of each of said cassette receiving compartments at either side of said opening;
• a pair of position detection sensors provided on said tape transfer mechanism at a position substantially corresponding to a location of said position detection portions when said tape transfer mechanism is in a loading position relative one of said cassette receiving compartments.

A cassette auto changer system including means for selectably providing a plurality of cassettes to be loaded into one or more tape signal reading means, comprising:

• a cassette rack including a plurality of cassette receiving compartments;
• tape transfer mechanism operable to selectably transport cassettes between said cassette rack and said tape signal reading means;
• wherein
• a pair of position detection portions provided in a longitudinal direction of an opening of each of said cassette receiving compartments at either side of said opening;
• a pair of position detection sensors provided on said tape transfer mechanism at a position substantially corresponding to a location of said position detection portions when said tape transfer mechanism is in a loading position relative one of said cassette receiving compartments;
• a pair of opposed slanted reference lines provided above each of said position detection portions and a reference position indicator therebetween;
• wherein
• in a direction perpendicular to a scanning direction of said tape transport means a positional reference line is provided, wherein, between said opposed slanted reference lines, a positional detection area and a non-detection area defined therein and a non-detection and a positional detection area are defined outside of said slanted reference lines.

A cassette auto changer system including means for selectably providing a plurality of cassettes to be loaded into one or more tape signal reading means, comprising:

• a cassette rack including a plurality of cassette receiving compartments;
• a cassette port accessible from an outer side of the auto changer apparatus whereby cassettes may be inserted or removed from the auto changer apparatus;
• a tape transfer mechanism operable to selectably transport cassettes between said cassette rack and said tape signal reading means and said cassette port;
• a YES/NO sensor at said cassette port for determining whether a cassette is present in said cassette port;
• and
• control means active such that, when a YES indication determined by said YES/NO sensor changes to a NO determination, said control means sets said cassette port at an IN port empty condition and, when
• in such IN port empty condition said YES/NO sensor changes to a YES condition wherein a cassette is present in the cassette port, operation of said tape transfer mechanism to said cassette port is disabled and a IN port loaded condition is determined, and when, in an IN port empty condition of said cassette port, operation of said tape transfer means is detected by said YES/NO sensor, said control means determines an OUT port loaded condition of said cassette port, and when in said OUT port loaded condition a change from YES to NO is determined by said YES/NO sensor, an IN port empty condition of said cassette port is determined by said control means.

A cassette auto changer system including means for selectably providing a plurality of cassettes to be loaded into one or more tape signal reading means, comprising:

• a cassette rack including a plurality of cassette receiving compartments;
• a tape transfer mechanism operable to selectably transport cassettes between said cassette rack and said tape signal reading means;
• wherein
• at least horizontal rotation of a movable cassette shuttle body of said tape transfer mechanism is possible, and
• a transfer area whereat up/down movement of said tape transfer mechanism is possible;
• a rotation area is defined for allowing rotation of said cassette shuttle body of said tape transfer mechanism.

A cassette auto changer system including means for selectably providing a plurality of cassettes to be loaded into one or more tape signal reading means, comprising:

• a cassette rack including a plurality of cassette receiving compartments;
• a tape transfer mechanism operable to selectably transport cassettes between said cassette rack and said tape signal reading means;
• a console portion of said cassette includes horizontally disposed guide rails at upper and lower sides of said cassette rack;
• and
• an electrically conductive rail disposed proximate said horizontally disposed guide rails;
• wherein
• a cassette shuttle body of said tape transfer mechanism is movable along said guide rails via said electrically conductive rail.

A cassette auto changer system including means for selectably providing a plurality of cassettes to be loaded into one or more tape signal reading means, comprising:

• a cassette rack including a plurality of cassette receiving compartments;
• a tape transfer mechanism operable to selectably transport cassettes between said cassette rack and said tape signal reading means;
• a cassette supporting shuttle body, operably associated with said tape transfer mechanism;
• wherein
• said cassette supporting shuttle body is rotatably movable in both horizontal and vertical directions.

A cassette auto changer system including means for selectably providing a plurality of cassettes to be loaded into one or more tape signal reading means, comprising:

• a cassette rack including a plurality of cassette receiving compartments;
• a tape transfer mechanism operable to selectably transport cassettes between said cassette rack and said tape signal reading means;
• a cassette supporting shuttle body, operably associated with said tape transfer mechanism;
• and
• a cassette hand portion connected with said cassette supporting shuttle body operable to effect extraction operation from a selected on of said cassette receiving compartments of said cassette rack;
• wherein
• said cassette hand portion further includes an unlock lever, engageable with a corresponding lock lever of said cassette receiving compartments for effecting an unlocked state of said cassette receiving compartment during engagement with said cassette hand portion for facilitating said extraction operation.

A cassette auto changer system including means for selectably providing a plurality of cassettes to be loaded into one or more tape signal reading means, comprising:

• a cassette rack including a plurality of cassette receiving compartments;
• a tape transfer mechanism operable to selectably transport cassettes between said cassette rack and said tape signal reading means;
• a upper and lower guide rails disposed at an upper side of said auto changer system;
• a horizontally movable slider portion of said tape transfer mechanism disposed above said guide rails;
• a cassette shuttle body movable along a vertical path intersecting a horizontal path of said slider portion;
• a driving means for said cassette shuttle body also acting as driving means for said horizontally movable slider portion.

A cassette auto changer system including means for selectably providing a plurality of cassettes to be loaded into one or more tape signal reading means, comprising:

• a cassette rack including a plurality of cassette receiving compartments;
• a tape transfer mechanism operable to selectably transport cassettes between said cassette rack and said tape signal reading means;
• said tape transfer mechanism including a cassette supporting shuttle body including an opposed pair of cassette guide portions engageable with opposed side portions of a cassette disposed in a selected cassette receiving compartment of said cassette rack;
• centering means for driving said cassette guide portions in left and right directions in relation to an axis thereof for effecting centering operation of said cassette guide portions.