Tape cassette loading and unloading apparatus comprising holder moving means and movement synchronizing mechanism

A tape cassette loading and unloading apparatus for loading and unloading a tape cassette in and from a recording an/or reproducing apparatus, said tape cassette having an approximately rectangular parallelepiped shape with top and bottom surfaces respectively having a longer side and a shorter side and a lid provided on a front of the tape cassette along a longitudinal direction thereof for protecting a tape accommodated within the tape cassette, said tape cassette loading and unloading apparatus comprising:

• a frame;
• holder means movably provided within said frame for receiving and moving the tape cassette which is inserted into said holder means, said holder means comprising a holder for receiving the tape cassette which is inserted into said holder means, a slide member slidably coupled to said holder, said slide member being movable horizontally between a cassette receiving position where said holder receives the tape cassette and an insertion completion position and being movable vertically between said insertion completion position and a predetermined loading position, said tape cassette being partially inserted into said holder in the longitudinal direction of the tape cassette so as to push said slide member slightly past said cassette receiving position toward said insertion completion position, said slide member moving said holder vertically between upper and lower positions of said holder as said slide member moves vertically between said insertion completion position and said predetermined loading position;
• moving means for moving said slide member horizontally to said insertion completion position and then to said predetermined loading position during a tape cassette loading mode in response to insertion of said tape cassette slightly past said cassette receiving position, and for moving said slide member from said predetermined loading position to said cassette receiving position via said insertion completion position during a tape cassette ejecting mode, said moving means and said slide member being provided exclusively on one side part of said frame;
• a movement synchronizing mechanism for maintaining said holder in the horizontal state with a plurality of arms when said holder moves vertically;
• holding members provided on said slide member for respectively holding the top and bottom surfaces of said tape cassette while said slide member is moved, said holding members being separated from the top and bottom surfaces of said tape cassette in said cassette receiving position and holding the top and bottom surfaces of said tape cassette in said insertion completion position and in said predetermined loading position;
• and
• a lid opening member integrally provided on said frame for engaging the lid of the tape cassette and opening the lid as said slide member is moved from said insertion completion position to said predetermined loading position.