Cassette loading apparatus

In an apparatus for recording and/or reproducing signals on a tape wound on reel means in a housing of a cassette when the cassette is in an operative position determined by engagement of the cassette housing with locating means on a chassis of the recording and/or reproducing apparatus:

• a cassette loading apparatus comprising cassette holding means;
• mounting means supporting said holding means for movements relative to said chassis between a cassette-receiving position remote from said chassis and in which a cassette can be inserted in, and removed from said holding means, and a cassette-loading position in which a cassette in a correct position in said holding means engages said locating means and is disposed by the latter in said operative position,
• said holding means including a cassette holding member adapted to contain a cassette and a holder support member connected to said mounting means and joined with said holding member for limited relative movement therebetween in directions toward and away from said chassis;
• means acting between said holder support member and said cassette holding member for urging said cassette holding member, and hence a cassette in the latter, toward said locating means on the chassis upon movement of said holding means to said cassette-loading position;
• detecting means engageable with a cassette inserted in said holding means in said cassette-receiving position;
• and means coupled with said detecting means for preventing movement of said holding means from said cassette-receiving position toward said cassette-loading position in the event that the cassette engaged by said detecting means deviates from said correct position in respect to said holding means.

In an apparatus for recording and/or reproducing signals on a tape wound on reel means in a housing of a cassette when the cassette is in an operative position determined by engagement of the cassette housing with locating means on a chassis of the recording and/or reproducing apparatus, and in which the cassette has a pivoted lid movable between a normal closed position and an opened position;

• a cassette loading apparatus comprising cassette holding means;
• mounting means supporting said holding means for movements relative to said chassis between a cassette-receiving position remote from said chassis and in which a cassette can be inserted in, and removed from said holding means, and a cassette-loading position in which a cassette in a correct position in said holding means engages said locating means and is disposed by the latter in said operative position;
• lid-opening means on said holding means engageable with the lid of a cassette inserted in said holding means in said cassette-receiving position;
• and
• actuating means operable in response to movement of said holding means from said cassette-receiving position toward said cassette-loading position for causing said lid-opening means to relatively rapidly move the engaged lid to said opened position of the latter during an initial portion of said movement of the holding means from said cassette-receiving position.