Magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus capable of containing a plurality of recording cassettes

A magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus comprising:

• a cassette housing section including a first stand-by region, a tape loading region, and a second stand-by region arranged horizontally, whereby two tape cassettes can be housed in the housing section in a horizontal plane;
• a first transportation mechanism for transporting one of the tape cassettes in the cassette housing section between the first stand-by region and the tape loading region, and transporting the other tape cassette between the tape loading region and the second stand-by region, said first transportation mechanism including a plurality of drive rollers capable of engaging the top surfaces of the tape cassettes in the housing section, a first drive source, and a transmission mechanism for transmitting the driving force from the first drive source to the drive rollers to rotate the rollers;
• a tape drive region adjacent to the tape loading region;
• a second transportation mechanism for transporting one of the tape cassettes in the cassette housing section between the tape loading region and the tape drive region;
• and
• drive means for driving any tape cassette transported in the tape drive region.