Tape change mechanism for cassette apparatus

A tape cartridge apparatus for recording a signal on and reproducing a signal from a tape that is disposed in a selected one of a plurality of cassette tape cartridge means that are set therein, said tape cartridge apparatus comprising:

• a frame;
• a head base provided on said frame and slidable between an operating position and a receded position, said head base comprising at least a recording and reproducing head for recording a signal on and reproducing a signal from a tape in a first predetermined cassette tape cartridge means that is disposed in a normal operating position;
• a tape cartridge holder provided on said frame for holding said plurality of cassette tape cartridge means, said tape holder being rotatable and movable up and down with respect to said frame, said first predetermined cassette tape cartridge means being set in a normal operating position when said holder takes a first rotary position;
• an elevator mechanism for raising and lowering said tape holder between a lowered position and a raised position in a cassette changing mode in which a selection of cassette tape cartridge means is made, said elevator mechanism comprising an elevator cam rotatably provided on said frame and having a cam surface engaged to said tape holder, said cam surface being made up of a crest portion, a root portion and slope portions connecting said crest and root portions, said crest portion being in contact with said tape holder in the raised position, said root portion being in contact with said tape holder in the lowered position, and said slope portion being in contact with said tape holder during raising and lowering;
• a rotating mechanism for rotating said tape holder in the operating position a predetermined angle in the cassette changing mode;
• a moving mechanism for moving said head base between the operating position and the receded position, said moving mechanism first moving said head base to the receded position in the cassette changing mode so that said tape holder in the raised position is rotated said predetermined angle to a second rotary position and then returning said head base to the operating position when said tape holder turns to the lowered position, thereby setting a cassette tape cartridge means other than said first predetermined cassette tape cartridge means in said normal operating position;
• and
• said tape holder comprises a gear fixed thereto and said rotating mechanism comprises a selector cam fixed on said elevator cam, said selector gear meshing with said gear of said tape holder to rotate said tape holder said predetermined angle only when said tape holder is raised to the raised position by said elevator cam of said elevator mechanism.

A tape cartridge apparatus for recording a signal on and reproducing a signal from a tape that is disposed in a selected one of a plurality of cassette tape cartridge means that are set therein, said tape cartridge apparatus comprising:

• a frame;
• a head base provided on said frame and slidable between an operating position and a receded position, said head base comprising at least a recording and reproducing head for recording a signal on and reproducing a signal from a tape in a first predetermined cassette tape cartridge means that is disposed in a normal operating position;
• a tape cartridge holder provided on said frame for holding said plurality of tape cartridge means, said tape holder being rotatable and movable up and down with respect to said frame, said first predetermined cassette tape cartridge means being set in said normal operating position when said holder takes a first rotary position;
• an elevator mechanism for raising and lowering said tape holder between a lowered position and a raised position in a cassette changing mode in which a selection of cassette tape cartridge means is made;
• a rotating mechanism for rotating said tape holder in the raised position a predetermined angle in the cassette changing mode;
• a moving mechanism for moving said head base between the operating position and the receded position, said moving mechanism first moving said head base to the receded position in the cassette changing mode so that said tape holder in the raised position is rotated said predetermined angle to a second rotary position and then returning said head base to the operating position when said tape holder returns to the lowered position, thereby setting a cassette tape cartridge means other than said first predetermined cassette tape cartridge means in said normal operating position;
• and
• a single motor which is used in common for driving said elevator mechanism, said rotating mechanism and said moving mechanism.

A tape cartridge apparatus for recording and reproducing a signal on and from a tape in a selected one of a plurality of cassette tapes which are integral parts of a single tape cartridge set in said tape cartridge apparatus, said tape cartridge apparatus comprising:

• a frame;
• a head base provided on said frame and slidable between an operating position and a receded position, said head base comprising at least a recording and reproducing head for recording and reproducing a signal on and from a first predetermined cassette tape of said cassette tape cartridge in a normal operating position;
• a tape cartridge holder provided on said frame for holding said cassette tape cartridge, said tape holder being rotatable and movable up and down with respect to said frame, said first predetermined cassette tape being set in said normal operating position when said holder takes a first rotary position;
• an elevator mechanism for raising and lowering said tape holder between a lowered position and a raised position in a cassette changing mode in which a selection of a cassette tape is made;
• a rotating mechanism for rotating said tape holder in the raised position a predetermined angle in the cassette changing mode;
• and
• a moving mechanism for moving said head base between the operating position and the receded position;
• said moving mechanism first moving said head base to the receded position in the cassette changing mode so that said tape holder in the raised position is rotated said predetermined angle to a second rotary position and then returning said head base to the operating position when said tape holder returns to the lowered position, thereby setting a cassette tape of said cassette tape cartridge other than said first predetermined cassette tape in said normal operating position.

A tape cartridge apparatus for recording and reproducing a signal on and from a selected one of a plurality of cassette tapes that are supported in said tape cartridge apparatus, said tape cartridge apparatus comprising:

• a frame;
• a head base provided on said frame and slidable in a first plane, said head base comprising at least a recording and reproducing head for recording and reproducing a signal on and from a first predetermined tape in a predetermined cassette operating position;
• a tape holder provided on said frame for holding said plurality of cassette tapes, said first predetermined cassette tape being set in said normal operating position when said holder assumes a first rotary position;
• means for raising and lowering said tape holder between a lowered position and a raised position in a cassette changing mode in which a selection of a tape cassette is made, said means for raising and lowering for moving said tape holder along a direction substantially perpendicular to the first plane;
• means for rotating said tape holder in the raised position through a predetermined angle in the cassette changing mode;
• and
• said means for rotating being operable when the tape holder is in the raised position so as to rotate through said predetermined angle to a second rotary position, thereby setting a cassette tape other than said first predetermined cassette tape in said normal operating position.

A tape cartridge apparatus for recording and reproducing a signal on and from a selected one of a plurality of cassette tapes that are supported in said tape cartridge apparatus, said tape cartridge apparatus comprising:

• a frame;
• a head base provided on said frame and comprising at least a recording and reproducing head for recording and reproducing a signal on and from a first predetermined tape in a predetermined cassette operating position;
• a tape holder provided on said frame for holding said plurality of cassette tapes, said first predetermined cassette tape being set in said normal operating position when said holder assumes a first rotary position;
• means for raising and lowering said tape holder between a lowered position and a raised position in a cassette changing mode in which a selection of a tape cassette is made;
• means for rotating said tape holder in the raised position through a predetermined angle in the cassette changing mode, said means for rotating being operable when the tape holder is in the raised position so as to rotate through said predetermined angle to a second rotary position, thereby setting a cassette tape other than said first predetermined cassette tape in said normal operating position;
• means for moving said head base between the operating position and the receded position, said means for moving first moving said head base to the receded position in the cassette changing mode so that said tape holder in the raised position is rotated in said predetermined angle to the second rotary position and then returning said head base to the operating position when said tape holder returns to the lowered position;
• said means for raising and lowering comprising an elevator mechanism, said means for rotating comprising a rotating mechanism, said means for moving comprising a moving mechanism;
• said elevator mechanism comprising an elevator cam rotatably provided on said frame and having a cam surface engaged to said tape holder, said cam surface being made up of a crest portion, a root portion and slope portions connecting said crest and root portions, said crest portion being in contact with said tape holder in the raised position, said root portion being in contact with said tape holder in the lowered position;
• and
• said tape holder comprising a gear fixed thereto and said rotating mechanism comprises a selector cam fixed on said elevator cam, said selector gear meshing with said gear of said tape holder to rotate said tape holder said predetermined angle only when said tape holder is raised to the raised position by said elevator cam of said elevator mechanism.

A tape cartridge apparatus for recording and reproducing a signal on and from a select one of a plurality of cassette tapes that are supported in said tape cartridge apparatus, said tape cartridge apparatus comprising:

• a frame;
• a head base provided on said frame and comprising at least a recording and reproducing head for recording and reproducing a signal on and from a first predetermined tape in a predetermined cassette operating position;
• a tape holder provided on said frame for holding said plurality of cassette tapes, said first predetermined cassette tape being set in said normal operating position when said holder assumes a first rotary position;
• means for raising and lowering said tape holder between a lowered position and a raised position in a cassette changing mode in which a selection of a tape cassette is made;
• means for rotating said tape holder in the raised position through a predetermined angle in the cassette changing mode, said means for rotating being operable when the tape holder is in the raised position so as to rotate through said predetermined angle to a second rotary position, thereby setting a cassette tape other than said first predetermined cassette tape in said normal operating position;
• means for moving said head base between the operating position and the receded position, said means for moving first moving said head base to the receded position in the cassette changing mode so that said tape holder in the raised position is rotated in said predetermined angle to the second rotary position and then returning said head base to the operating position when said tape holder returns to the lowered position;
• said means for raising and lowering comprising an elevator mechanism, said means for rotating comprising a rotating mechanism, said means for moving comprising a moving mechanism;
• and
• a single motor which is used in common for driving said elevator mechanism, said rotating mechanism and said moving mechanism.

A tape cartridge recording and reproducing apparatus for recording a signal on and reproducing a signal from a tape that is disposed in a selected one of a plurality of cassette tape cartridge means that are adapted to be set into the apparatus in different predetermined positions, said tape cartridge recording and reproducing apparatus comprising a frame, a head base provided on the frame and slidable in a first plane, said head base comprising at least a recording and reproducing head for recording and reproducing a signal on and from a tape in a first predetermined cassette tape cartridge means that is disposed in the normal operating position, a tape holder provided on said frame for holding said plurality of cassette tape cartridge means, said tape holder being movable substantially perpendicular with respect to the first plane, said first predetermined cassette cartridge means being set in said normal operating position when said holder assumes a first predetermined position, a means for moving the tape holder through a preselected distance in a cassette changing mode of operation, and means for controlling said means for moving so as to move said tape holder from said first predetermined position to a second predetermined position thereby setting a cassette tape other than that in said first predetermined cassette tape cartridge means in said normal operating position.