Cassette locating and holding devices in a cassette tape recording

Abstract

A cassette tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus having support members fixed on a chassis and engageable from above by a tape cassette for supporting and locating the latter in an operative position in respect to a head or heads mounted on a carriage which is movable relative to the chassis between an inactive position in which each head is spaced from the operatively positioned cassette, and an active position in which each head is adapted to engage the tape in the cassette; is provided with holding members which are pivotally or slidably mounted on the chassis itself for movement with respect to the latter between cassette holding positions, in which they engage from above with an operatively positioned cassette for securely holding the latter against the support members without stressing the carriage or its movable mounting on the chassis in the direction that would affect the level of the head or heads in respect to the tape in the cassette, and cassette releasing positions, in which the holding members are spaced from the cassette so as to avoid interference with the movement of the cassette to and from its operative position on the support members. The holding members are actuated so as to be moved to their cassette holding and releasing positions upon movement of the carriage to its active and inactive positions, respectively. Such actuation of the holding members is achieved either by cooperatively engageable actuating members on the holding members and carriage, respectively, or by actuating connections between the holding members and a control mechanism by which the carriage is selectively moved between its active and inactive positions.