Apparatus for identifying a type of tape cassette inserted into a tape recorder

An apparatus for identifying either of first and second types of tape cassettes inserted in a longitudinal direction into a cassette holder of a tape recorder and mounted at a predetermined position in said tape recorder, said first type of tape cassette having a first configuration at a position on a side surface thereof perpendicular to the said longitudinal direction and said second type of tape cassette having a second configuration different from said first configuration at a position on a side surface thereof corresponding to the position of said first configuration of said first type of tape cassette, said apparatus comprising:

• detection means operable in response to mounting of either of said first and second types of tape cassettes, said detection means taking a first operating state when engaged with said first configuration of said first tape cassette and taking a second operating state when engaged with said second configuration of said second tape cassette, and
• switch means responsive to said first and second operating states of said detection means for identifying the type of said first and second types of tape cassettes mounted in said tape recorder on the basis of said first and second operating states of said detection means;
• said detection means comprising rotatable lever means arranged to be at a predetermined rotational position, separated from a mounted position of said first or second type of tape cassette, before mounting said first or second type of tape cassette and rotatable toward said first or second type of tape cassette after mounting said first or second type of tape cassette, said rotatable lever means engaging with said first configuration of said first type of tape cassette or said second configuration of said second type of tape cassette by rotation so that said rotatable lever means takes said first or second operating states,
• said rotatable lever means comprising a lever having an engaging portion engageable with and disengageable form head-mounting means of said tape recorder which mounts a recording and reproducing head of said tape recorder and which is movable by drive means therefore to take a first position, separated from a mounted position of said first and second types of tape cassettes, before mounting either of said first and second types of tape cassettes and to take a second position to cause said head of said tape recorder to approach the tape of either of said first and second types of tape cassettes when mounting said either of first and second types of tape cassettes, when said head-mounting means takes said first position,
• said engaging portion of said lever being engaged with said head-mounting means so that said lever is rotated in a direction to take said predetermined rotational position, and when said head-mounting means takes said second position, said engaging portion of said lever being disengaged from said head-mounting means,
• said rotatable lever means further comprising a spring for biasing said lever in a direction opposite to the predetermined rotational position direction whereby said lever is rotatable in the opposite direction when said engaging portion of said lever is disengaged from said head-mounting means, said lever engaging with said first configuration of said first tape cassette or said second configuration of said second tape cassette by rotation in the opposite direction to take said first and second operating states.