Cassette tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus

Abstract

In a tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus for use with a tape cassette including a housing containing a supply of tape and having spaced parallel walls with an opening therebetween at one side of the housing along which a run of the tape is normally guided, and lids mounted on the housing for movement relative to the latter in directions parallel to the planes of the spaced walls between closed positions where the lids extend along the opening for covering respective parts of the tape run and opened positions where the lids are displaced from the opening to permit the withdrawal of the tape therethrough; and in which magnetic heads or transducers for recording and/or reproducing information signals on a tape engaged therewith are mounted on a chassis so as to be spaced from the open side of a cassette housing when the latter is positioned by engagement with locating members on the chassis, and tape withdrawing members are engageable with the tape run in the cassette housing positioned by the locating members and are operative to withdraw the tape through the open side and into engagement with the transducers: a cassette loading device is provided which includes a cassette holder pivotally mounted for movement in respect to the chassis between an inoperative position spaced from the locating members for permitting the insertion and removal of a cassette in the holder and an operative position where a cassette in the holder is engaged with the locating members, lid opening members mounted for movement in respect to the holder between an inactive position at which the lid opening members are spaced from a cassette in the holder in a direction substantially perpendicular to the planes of the walls of the cassette housing so as to avoid interference with the insertion and removal of the cassette in the holder, and an active position at which the lid opening members are engageable with the lids of a cassette in the holder and are displaced relative to the holder in the direction of movement of the respective lids from their closed positions to their opened positions, and a cam arrangement connecting the lid opening members with the holder and chassis for disposing the lid opening members in their inactive and active positions when the holder is in its inoperative and operative positions, respectively. Preferably, the cam arrangement is operative to move the lid opening members relative to the chassis in opposition to the initial pivotal movement of the holder from its inoperative position so that the engagement of the lid opening members with the lids and the substantial opening of the latter can be achieved well before the arrival of the holder at its operative position.