Ultra-thin tape cassette transport

A reel-to-reel tape cassette transport for operating on a multiple track tape contained in a cassette having a working edge with a window that exposes the tape therein, said transport comprising

• A. a rigid transverse beam member extending along a first axis;
• B. a magnetic head assembly rigidly mounted to the transverse member, said head assembly including a head movable relative to the base along a second axis perpendicular to said first axis;
• C. A front wall mounted a fixed distance in front of the transverse member;
• D. means defining a cassette receiving slot in the front wall;
• E. cassette locating means integral with and projecting from the transverse member on each side of the head assembly toward said front wall while locating the cassette working edge opposite the head assembly along a locating axis parallel to said second axis;
• F. means defining a loading plane and for guiding the cassette from the slot to the transverse member so that the working edge of the cassette seats against, and is located by said locating means;
• G. support means positioned between the transverse member and the front wall for supporting a cassette inserted into the receiving slot;
• H. drive spindles projeting up from the support means;
• I. upstanding cassette locating pins mounted to the support means between the transverse member and the spindles for locating the cassette along a third axis perpendicular to said first and second axes
• J. means for hinging the support means relative to the transverse member so that the support means can swing between an operating position wherein the spindles and locating pins project up through said plane and a loading position wherein the spindles and pins are disposed below said plane, and
• K. means for moving the support means between said operating and loading positions.