Automated cassette loader

An automated cassette loader system, comprising:

• an enclosure;
• a tape drive mounted in the enclosure;
• a magazine removably mounted in the enclosure for holding tape cassettes in a first plurality of cassette positions in a first plane and in a second plurality of cassette positions in a second plane parallel therewith, each such cassette position in said first plurality separated from each such cassette position in said second plurality, wherein said cassettes are supported on their broad faces, first plurality of cassette positions are in a first line and include a first transfer position disposed at a first end of said first line, said second plurality of cassette positions are in a second line and include a second transfer position disposed at a first end of said second line;
• a cassette intake position at a second end of the first line of said first plurality of tape cassette positions;
• a cassette exit position at a second end of the second line of said second plurality of tape cassette positions;
• transporter means, disposed within the enclosure adjacent both the magazine and the tape drive, for transporting the cassettes between the tape drive and the magazine, including:
• a cassette holder;
• elevator means, coupled to the cassette holder, for moving the cassette holder between the first and second planes of the magazine and a front loading entrance of the tape drive;
• and
• lateral shifter means, coupled to the cassette holder, for moving one of said cassettes into and out of the cassette holder;
• and
• circulation means for sequentially circulating said cassettes from the magazine to the tape drive by expelling one of said cassettes from the second plane to the transporter means and then pushing one of said cassettes from the first plane to the second plane, including first pushing means for pushing a multiplicity of cassettes along said first plane, second pushing means for pushing a multiplicity of cassettes along a second plane and shifting means for shifting cassettes between said first and second planes, said shifting means including:
• paddle means for advancing one of said cassettes from said second transfer position to an adjacent position in said second plane;
• and
• plunger means for urging one of said cassettes from said first transfer position in said first plurality into said second transfer position in said second plurality.

Apparatus for use in tape cassette loading systems, said apparatus comprising:

• a magazine housing for holding a plurality of tape cassettes in a first plurality of cassette positions wherein a broad face of each of said tape cassettes is substantially in a first plane, and in a second plurality of cassette positions wherein a broad face of each of said tape cassettes is substantially in a second plane parallel with said first plane, and wherein each such cassette position in said first plurality is separated from each such cassette position in said second plurality, said first plurality of cassette positions are in a first line and include a first transfer position disposed at a first end of said first line of said first plurality of tape cassette positions, said second plurality of cassette positions are in a second line and include a second transfer position disposed at a first end of said second line of second plurality of cassette positions;
• a cassette intake position at a second end of said first line of said first plurality of tape cassette positions;
• a cassette exit position at a second end of said second line of said plurality of tape cassette positions;
• cassette transport means including a cassette transport position for accepting a third one of said tape cassettes from said cassette exit position and for transferring said third tape cassette to said cassette intake position, including:
• a cassette holder;
• means, coupled to the cassette holder, for moving the cassette holder between the first and second planes;
• and
• lateral shifter means, coupled to the cassette holder, for moving said third tape cassette into and out of the cassette holder;
• circulating means for sequentially circulating said cassettes, including first pushing means for pushing a multiplicity of cassettes along said first plane, second pushing means for pushing a multiplicity of cassettes along a second plane and shifting means for shifting cassettes between said first and second planes, said shifting means including:
• paddle means for expelling a first one of said plurality of tape cassettes from said second transfer position in said second plane;
• and
• plunger means for transferring a second one of said plurality of tape cassettes from said first transfer position in said first plurality along a path substantially perpendicular to said first and second planes into said second transfer position in said second plurality.