Cassette loading device for accommodating cassettes of different sizes in a tape cassette recording and/or reproducing apparatus

A tape cassette recording and/or reproducing apparatus capable of selectively operation with a relatively large-sized cassette and a relatively small-sized cassette having relatively large and small widths, respectively, and containing respective pairs of rotatable reels which, in said large-sized cassette, have a first relatively large center-to-center distance and, in said small-sized cassette, have a second relatively small center-to-center distance, said apparatus comprising:

• a cassette holder movable between a cassette receiving and discharging position and a loading position and being operative to receive a selected one of said relatively large-sized and small-sized cassettes when in said cassette receiving and discharging position and to convey the selected cassette therewith to said loading position;
• means guiding said cassette holder to move in a path having a rectilinear portion extending from said cassette receiving and discharging position to an intermediate position and a right-angled portion extending from said intermediate position to said loading position;
• a pair of reel bases movable relative to each other for varying the center-to-center distance between said reel bases;
• reel base adjusting means selectively driven in a first mode for moving said reel bases to first positions in which said center-to-center distance therebetween is equal to said first center-to-center distance so as to be engageable with the reels of a relatively large-sized cassette conveyed by said cassette holder to said loading position, and in a second mode for moving said reel bases to second positions in which said center-to-center distance therebetween is equal to said second center-to-center distance so as to be engageable with the reels of a relatively small-sized cassette conveyed by said cassette holder to said loading position, said reel base adjusting means completing movements of said reel bases to said first positions or said second positions thereof during movement of said cassette holder along said rectilinear path portion to said intermediate position;
• detecting means for detecting the size of a cassette received in said cassette holder in said cassette receiving and discharging position and which selects first and second conditions when detecting said relatively large-sized and relatively small-sized cassettes, respectively;
• and
• drive means propelled by said cassette holder and movable with said cassette holder during movement of said cassette holder only between said cassette receiving and discharging position and said intermediate position and being responsive to said first and second conditions of said detecting means for driving said reel base adjusting means in said first and second modes, respectively, and thereby disposing said reel bases in said first and second positions, respectively, thereof when said cassette holder conveys a relatively large-sized cassette or a relatively small-sized cassette, respectively, to said loading position.

A tape cassette recording and/or reproducing apparatus capable of selective operation with a relatively large-sized cassette and a relatively small-sized cassette having relatively large and small widths, respectively, and containing respective pairs of rotatable reels which, in said large-sized cassette, have a first relatively large center-to-center distance and, in said small-sized cassette, have a second relatively small center-to-center distance, said apparatus comprising:

• a cassette holder movable between a cassette receiving and discharging position and a loading position and being operative to receive a selected one of said relatively large-sized and small-sized cassettes when in said cassette receiving and discharging position and to convey the selected cassette therewith to said loading position;
• means guiding said cassette holder to move in a path having a horizontal portion extending from said cassette receiving and discharging position to an intermediate position and a vertical portion extending from said intermediate position to said loading position;
• a pair of reel bases movable relative to each other for varying the center-to-center distance between said reel bases;
• reel base adjusting means selectively driven in a first mode for moving said reel bases to first positions in which said center-to-center distance therebetween is equal to said first center-to-center distance so as to be engageable with the reels of a relatively large-sized cassette conveyed by said holder to said loading position, and in a second mode for moving said reel bases to second positions in which said center-to-center distance therebetween is equal to said second center-to-center distance so as to be engageable with the reels of a relatively small-sized cassette conveyed by said holder to said loading position, said reel base adjusting means completes movements of said reel bases to said first positions or said second positions thereof during movement of said cassette holder along said horizontal path portion to said intermediate position;
• detecting means including a cassette sensing member for detecting the size of a cassette received in said cassette holder in said cassette receiving and discharging position and which selects first and second conditions when detecting said relatively large-sized and relatively small-sized cassettes, respectively;
• drive means movable with said cassette holder only between said cassette receiving and discharging position and said intermediate position and being responsive to said first and second conditions of said detecting means for driving said reel base adjusting means in said first and second modes, respectively, and thereby disposing said reel bases in said first and second positions, respectively, thereof when said cassette holder conveys a relatively large-sized cassette or a relatively small-sized cassette, respectively, to said loading position, said drive means including a drive member mounted on said cassette holder for horizontal movement with said cassette holder and being vertically movable relative to said cassette holder, and spring means urging said drive member downwardly relative to said cassette holder to a lower position corresponding to said second mode of the reel base adjusting means, said cassette sensing member being mounted on said drive member so as to be engaged only by a relatively large-sized cassette received in said cassette holder for displacing said drive member against the force of said spring means to an upper position corresponding to said first mode of the reel base adjusting means;
• and
• means including a motor for moving said cassette holder from said cassette receiving and discharging position to said loading position so that said motor is also operable, through said cassette holder and said drive means, for driving said reel base adjusting means.

A tape cassette recording and/or reproducing apparatus capable of selective operation with a relatively large-sized cassette and a relatively small-sized cassette having relatively large and small widths, respectively, and containing respective pairs of rotatable reels which, in said large-sized cassette, have a first relatively large center-to-center distance and, in said small-sized cassette, have a second relatively small center-to-center distance, said apparatus comprising:

• a cassette holder movable between a cassette receiving and discharging position and a loading position and being operative to receive a selected one of said relatively large-sized and small-sized cassettes when in said cassette receiving and discharging position and to convey the selected cassette therewith to said loading position;
• means guiding said cassette holder to move in a path having a rectilinear portion extending from said cassette receiving and discharging position to an intermediate position and a right-angled portion extending from said intermediate position to said loading position;
• a pair of reel bases movable relative to each other for varying the center-to-center distance between said reel bases;
• reel base adjusting means selectively driven in a first mode for moving said reel bases to first position in which said center-to-center distance therebetween is equal to said first center-to-center distance so as to be engageable with the reels of a relatively large-sized cassette conveyed by said cassette holder to said loading position, and in a second mode for moving said reel bases to second positions in which said center-to-center distance therebetween is equal to said second center-to-center distance so as to be engageable with the reels of a relatively small-sized cassette conveyed by said cassette holder to said loading position, said reel base adjusting means completes movements of said reel bases to said first positions or said second positions thereof during movement of said cassette holder along said rectilinear path portion to said intermediate position;
• detecting means including a cassette sensing member for detecting the size of a cassette received in said cassette holder in said cassette receiving and discharging position and which selects first and second conditions when detecting said relatively large-sized and relatively small-sized cassettes, respectively;
• and
• drive means movable with said cassette holder only between said cassette receiving and discharging position and said intermediate position and being responsive to said first and second conditions of said detecting means for driving said reel base adjusting means in said first and second modes, respectively, and thereby disposing said reel bases in said first and second positions, respectively, thereof when said cassette holder conveys a relatively large-sized cassette or a relatively small-sized cassette, respectively, to said loading position, said drive means including a drive member mounted on said cassette holder for movement with said cassette holder in the direction of said rectilinear portion of the path and being movable relative to said cassette holder at right angles to said direction of the rectilinear portion between first and second positions of said drive member corresponding to said first and second modes of the reel base adjusting means, said cassette sensing member being connected with said drive member and being selectively engageable by said selected one of the relatively large-sized and small-sized cassettes received in said cassette holder for disposing said drive member in said first or second position thereof.

A tape cassette recording and/or reproducing apparatus capable of selective operation with a relatively large-sized cassette and a relatively small-sized cassette having relatively large and small widths, respectively, and containing respective pairs of rotatable reels which, in said large-sized cassette, have a first relatively large center-to-center distance and, in said small-sized cassette, have a second relatively small center-to-center distance, said apparatus comprising:

• a cassette holder movable between a cassette receiving and discharging position and a loading position and being operative to receive a selected one of said relatively large-sized and small-sized cassettes when in said cassette receiving and discharging position and to convey the selected cassette therewith to said loading position;
• a pair of reel bases movable relative to each other for varying the center-to-center distance between said reel bases;
• reel base adjusting means selectively driven in a first mode for moving said reel bases to first positions in which said center-to-center distance therebetween is equal to said first center-to-center distance so as to be engageable with the reels of a relatively large-sized cassette conveyed by said cassette holder to said loading position, and in a second mode for moving said reel bases to second positions in which said center-to-center distance therebetween is equal to said second center-to-center distance so as to be engageable with the reels of a relatively small-sized cassette conveyed by said cassette holder to said loading position, said reel base adjusting means including a crank wheel turned in a first direction to a first position when said reel base adjusting means is driven in said first mode and turned in a second direction to a second position when said reel base adjusting means is driven in said second mode, stop means for limiting movements of said reel bases at said first and second positions thereof, and transmission means urging said reel bases to move past said first and second positions thereof upon turning of said crank wheel to said first and second positions, respectively, of the crank wheel, said transmission means including spring means which is loaded when said stop means limit movements of said reel bases at either of said first and second positions thereof so that a force exerted by the loaded spring means ensures precise positioning of said reel bases at said first and second positions, a crank pin extending from said crank wheel, a lever having a slot along one end portion slidably receiving said crank pin, means mounting said lever at another end of said lever for angular movements about a pivot axis which is displaceable against said force exerted by said loaded spring means, and means including a connecting member coupled with said lever for moving said reel bases in response to said angular movements of the lever;
• detecting means for detecting the size of a cassette received in said cassette holder in said cassette receiving and discharging position and which selects first and second conditions when detecting said relatively large-sized and relatively small-sized cassettes, respectively;
• and
• drive means movable with said cassette holder at least part of the way from said cassette receiving and discharging position toward said loading position and being responsive to said first and second conditions of said detecting means for driving said reel base adjusting means in said first and second modes, respectively, and thereby disposing said reel bases in said first and second positions, respectively, thereof when said cassette holders conveys a relatively large-sized cassette or a relatively small-sized cassette, respectively, to said loading position;
• and
• means including a motor for moving said cassette holder between said cassette receiving and discharging positions and said loading position so that said motor is also operable, through said cassette holder and said drive means, for driving said reel base adjusting means.