Cassette tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus

A tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus for use with a tape cassette including a housing containing a supply of tape and having spaced parallel walls with an opening therebetween at one side of the housing along which a run of the tape is normally guided, and at least one lid mounted on the housing for movement relative to the latter parallel to the planes of said spaced walls between a closed position where the lid extends along the opening for covering a respective part of said run of the tape and an opened position where the lid is displaced from said opening in the direction away from said one side of the housing to permit the withdrawal of the tape through said opening:

• said apparatus comprising a chassis;
• transducer means mounted on said chassis for recording and/or reproducing information signals on a tape engaged therewith;
• locating means on said chassis engageable with the cassette housing for disposing the latter with said one side thereof facing toward and spaced from said transducer means;
• tape withdrawing means engageable with said tape run in a cassette housing engaged with said locating means and being operative to withdraw the tape through said opening and into engagement with said transducer means;
• and a cassette loading device including a cassette holder, means mounting said holder for movement in respect to said chassis between an inoperative position spaced from said locating means for the insertion and removal of a cassette in said holder and an operative position where a cassette in said holder is engaged with said locating means, lid opening means mounted for movement in respect to said holder between an inactive position at which said lid opening means is spaced from said holder in a direction substantially perpendicular to said planes of the walls of a cassette housing in said holder at said inoperative position so as to avoid interference with said insertion and removal of the cassette therein, and an active position at which said lid opening means is engageable with each said lid of a cassette in said holder at said operative position and is displaced relative to said holder in the direction of movement of the respective lid from its closed position to its opened position, and mechanical coupling means connecting said holder and said lid opening means for disposing the latter in said inactive and active positions in response to the movement of said holder to said inoperative and operative positions, respectively.