Magnetic tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus

A magnetic tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus for handling a tape cassette which is provided with a cutout recess at a front portion thereof and a front opening from which a magnetic tape can be drawn out of the tape cassette, said apparatus comprising:

• a tape drive capstan;
• a chassis;
• a magnetic head mounted on said chassis for recording and/or reproducing information signals on the magnetic tape;
• a pressure roller lever pivotally mounted on said chassis;
• a pressure roller rotatably mounted on said pressure roller lever for moving the magnetic tape into cooperation with said capstan at a third position of said pressure roller where said pressure roller presses the magnetic tape against the capstan, said pressure roller being movable, upon the pivotal movement of said pressure roller lever, from a first position within said cutout recess of the cassette and behind the inner side of the magnetic tape;
• tape drawing means on said chassis movable from an inoperative position to an operative position in response to the movement of said pressure roller lever for drawing the magnetic tape out of the tape cassette;
• spring means connected to said pressure roller lever for urging said pressure roller toward said capstan;
• driving means coupled to said pressure roller lever for controlling the movement of said pressure roller lever at least in the direction of the biasing force of said spring means;
• motor driven cam means engaged with said driving means for moving said driving means from the first position thereof where said tape drawing means is in the inoperative position thereof and said pressure roller is in the first position thereof, to a second position where said tape drawing means is in the operative position thereof and said pressure roller is in a second position spaced slightly from said capstan and with a speed of movement such that said driving means is abutted by said pressure roller lever due to the rotational force exerted on said pressure roller lever by the biasing force of said spring means for causing said pressure roller lever to move more slowly than if it were free to move due to the rotational force of said spring means alone;
• restricting means engaged with said driving means for restricting the movement of said driving means at the second position thereof against the biasing force of said spring means for disengaging said driving means from said cam means;
• and a solenoid connected to said restricting means for releasing said restricting means upon energization thereof for permitting the movement of said driving means from the second position thereof to a third position whereby said pressure roller is brought to the third position whereby said pressure roller is brought to the third position thereof by said spring means.