Cassette loading apparatus having an inner cassette holder supported on an outer cassette holder

An apparatus for loading/unloading a cassette accommodating a magnetic recording tape, the apparatus comprising:

• loading means for receiving the tape cassette and moving said tape cassette between a cassette inlet/outlet position and a reference position for loading/unloading, said loading means including an outer cassette holder pivotable with respect to said slide means and an inner cassette holder for defining a space for receiving said tape cassette;
• slide means for carrying the tape cassette positioned in the reference position to move said tape cassette between said reference position and a recording/reproducing position;
• engagement means for supporting said inner cassette holder within said outer cassette holder so that said inner cassette holder is slidingly movable in directions of movement of the tape cassette;
• and
• guide means for restricting a sliding movement of said inner cassette holder during the pivotal motion of said outer cassette holder to allow said inner cassette holder to make a pivotal movement together with said outer cassette holder and for coupling said slide means and said inner cassette holder with each other during the movement of said slide means to move said slide means and said inner cassette holder together, and
• wherein said engagement means includes a plurality of engagement pins provided on one of said inner and outer cassette holder and a plurality of longitudinally elongated holes provided in the other of said inner and outer cassette holders to engage with said pins, said guide means includes a guide groove provided in said slide means and extending in a circumferential direction about a pivot center of said outer cassette holder, and said guide groove is engaged with at least one of said engagement pins.

An apparatus for loading a cassette accommodating a magnetic recording tape, the apparatus comprising:

• slide means for carrying a cassette located in a reference position to move said cassette into and out of a position for recording/reproducing;
• and
• loading means for moving said cassette in a loading direction to position said cassette at said reference position, said loading means including an inner cassette holder and an outer cassette holder for defining a cassette insertion opening and a cassette receiving space, said outer cassette holder having an operational pivot at a stationary portion of said apparatus, said inner cassette holder is pivotally mounted on said outer cassette holder so as to be slidable substantially in a radial direction about the operational pivot of said outer cassette holder, said inner cassette holder being movable with a movement in a loading direction of said outer cassette holder through spring members and members for connection with said outer cassette holder and being moved in accordance with a movement of said slide means, and
• wherein said inner cassette holder is supported by said outer cassette holder by engagement between a plurality of engagement pins provided one of said inner and outer cassette holders and a plurality of elongated holes formed in the other of said inner and outer cassette holders, and at least one of said engagement pins is engaged with a guide groove formed in said slide means and extending in a circumferential direction about a pivot center of said outer cassette holder.