Recording and reproducing device

The present invention is relative to a recording and/or reproducing apparatus having a cassette tape exchanging function of selectively taking out a cassette tape (1) accommodated in a cassette holder (130) for recording or reproducing information signals. A cassette tape driving device (150) is arranged in an inner area of a toroidally-shaped rotational plate (121) passing through the proximity of a cassette insertion/ejection opening (112) formed in a front panel (111) of a cabinet (110). The cassette tape accommodated in the cassette holder is pushed towards the cassette tape driving device by grip arms (162A), (162B) of a cassette holding mechanism (160) mounted on the opposite side of the cassette insertion/ejection opening (112) or is pulled out so as to be accommodated in the cassette tape holder.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a recording and/or reproducing apparatus in which a plurality of cassette tapes are accommodated, a desired one of them is removed as necessary, and information signals are recorded on the removed cassette tape, or in which information signals recorded on the removed cassette tape are reproduced. This application claims priority of Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-402647, filed on Dec. 11, 2001, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND ART

Up to now, a rack mount device, adapted for accommodating a plural number of a variety of electronic equipment, such as a recording and/or reproducing apparatus employing a cassette tape as a recording medium or a control device for controlling the recording and/or reproducing apparatus, is used by broadcasting stations. In this rack mount device, the plural electronic equipment, such as recording and/or reproducing apparatus, accommodated thereon are combined together to form a part of a broadcasting apparatus used in the broadcasting station. The unit of the rack mount device is an apparatus with a width of 19 inches (about 48.26 cm) and a height of 44.5 mm, such that the height of the apparatus may be changed in terms of this height of 44.5 mm as a unit, in order to accommodate a variety of the electronic equipment. That is, the rack mount device has a constant width of 19 inches and may have its height changed in terms of the unit height as a unit in keeping with the size of the electronic equipment accommodated therein.

As the recording and/or reproducing apparatus, mounted on this rack mount device, there is proposed a recording and/or reproducing apparatus, having a cassette tape exchanging function, in which a plural number of cassette tapes are accommodated in the main body unit of the apparatus and selectively taken out and loaded on the recording and/or reproducing unit for recording or reproducing information signals, such as video signals, audio signals or data signals.

As the cassette tape used in this recording and/or reproducing apparatus, a tape as shown inFIG. 1is used. This cassette tape1is an 8 mm cassette tape having housed therein a magnetic tape with a tape width of 8 mm. An upper cassette half and a lower cassette half are abutted and unified together to a cassette half2within which a pair of tape reels are rotatably housed. The magnetic tape is placed around these tape reels and pulled outwards via a tape takeout opening formed in the front surface of the cassette half2. The cassette half2is provided with a lid3for opening/closing the tape takeout opening. The lid3is rotationally-biased in the direction of closing the tape takeout opening, and when the cassette tape1is loaded on the recording and/or reproducing unit of the recording and/or reproducing apparatus, the lid is opened to expose the tape takeout opening to permit the magnetic tape to be drawn out from the cassette half.

On both lateral sides of the cassette half2, there are formed engagement recesses4,4engaged by, e.g., an insertion/ejection mechanism for inserting or ejecting the magnetic tape to or from the recording and/or reproducing unit.

As the aforementioned recording and/or reproducing apparatus employing the cassette tape as a recording medium and having the function of exchanging the cassette tape used, the present assignee has already proposed an apparatus configured as shown inFIGS. 2 and 3.

Meanwhile, the recording and/or reproducing apparatus having the function of exchanging the cassette tape is also termed a cassette tape library apparatus.

Referring toFIGS. 2 and 3, such recording and/or reproducing apparatus, previously proposed by the present assignee, includes a casing12, forming the main body unit of the apparatus. Within this casing12, there are accommodated a cassette housing mechanism15, a cassette tape driving device16, and a cassette insertion/ejection mechanism17. The cassette housing mechanism15includes a plural number of cassette holders14, each including multiple tiers of shelves13each holding the cassette tape1. The cassette tape driving device16, as recording and/or reproducing means, records or reproduces information signals on or from the cassette tape1, which is housed in each cassette holder14and which is selectively loaded on the cassette tape driving device. The cassette insertion/ejection mechanism17is adapted for transferring the cassette tape1between the cassette housing mechanism15and the cassette tape driving device16.

The cassette housing mechanism15includes a rotary table20, rotationally driven by a rotational driving mechanism19having a driving motor18, as shown inFIG. 3. Around the outer rim of the rotary table20are toroidally arranged a plural number of cassette holders14, as shown inFIG. 2. These cassette holders14are arranged on the rotary table20so that insertion openings14afor the cassette tapes1are opened outwards. The cassette housing mechanism15is arranged on the front side of the casing12so that the insertion/ejection openings14aof the cassette holders14face a cassette insertion/ejection opening30formed in the front side of the casing12, as shown inFIG. 2.

The cassette tape1is inserted into or ejected from the cassette holder14of the cassette housing mechanism15via the cassette insertion/ejection opening14a. The cassette tape1is inserted into or ejected from each cassette holder14by actuating the rotational driving mechanism19for rotating the rotary table20for moving the cassette holder14, into which the cassette tape1is inserted or from which the cassette tape1is ejected, to a position facing the insertion/ejection opening30.

The cassette tape driving device16, into which the cassette tape1housed in the cassette holder14of the cassette housing mechanism15is selectively loaded and which records or reproduces the information signals on or from the so loaded cassette tape1, is arranged on the lower surface of the cassette housing mechanism15, as shown inFIG. 3, showing a recording and/or reproducing apparatus11, including two cassette tape driving devices16arranged in juxtaposition to each other.

The cassette insertion/ejection mechanism17is arranged towards an inner recessed portion of the casing12, that is towards the back side of the casing opposite to the front side thereof provided with the insertion/ejection opening30. The cassette insertion/ejection mechanism17includes a cassette gripping mechanism23and a lift mechanism24for moving the cassette gripping mechanism23between the cassette holders14and the cassette tape driving devices16. The cassette gripping mechanism23includes a pair of grip arms21,22for gripping the cassette tape1accommodated in one of the cassette holders14.

The cassette insertion/ejection mechanism17actuates the cassette gripping mechanism23for intruding the paired grip arms21,22into the cassette holder14to grip the cassette tape1accommodated in the cassette holder14. The cassette insertion/ejection mechanism then actuates the paired grip arms21,22in a direction away from the cassette holder14to pull out the cassette tape1. The cassette insertion/ejection mechanism then actuates the lift mechanism24to lower the cassette gripping mechanism23with the cassette tape1gripped thereby to a lower portion of the cassette housing mechanism15facing one of the cassette tape driving devices16. The cassette gripping mechanism23then is actuated to move the paired grip arms21,22towards the cassette insertion/ejection opening of the cassette tape driving device16to load the cassette tape1on the cassette tape driving device16. Once the cassette tape1is loaded on the cassette tape driving device16, the cassette tape driving device is in a state of recording or reproducing information signals. The recording or reproducing button provided on the recording and/or reproducing apparatus11is then acted on to record or reproduce the information signals for the cassette tape1.

Meanwhile, the cassette gripping mechanism23is controlled so as to be moved to a pre-specified one of the cassette tape driving devices16. That is, the cassette gripping mechanism23is moved to a lower position facing the cassette tape driving devices16and subsequently moved horizontally to a position facing the specified cassette tape driving device16.

The cassette tape1, loaded on the cassette tape driving devices16and which has recorded the information signals or from which the information signals have been reproduced, is returned to the cassette holder14of the cassette tape housing mechanism15by a procedure which is the reverse of the above-described sequence of operations. That is, the cassette tape1, loaded on the cassette tape driving device16, is gripped by the cassette gripping mechanism23and pulled out from the cassette tape driving device16. The cassette tape1then is moved towards the cassette holder14as it is gripped by the cassette gripping mechanism23. The cassette gripping mechanism23then is moved towards the cassette holder14, and the cassette tape1gripped by this cassette gripping mechanism23is housed in the original cassette holder14to complete the recording or reproduction of the given cassette tape1.

It should be noted that, in the recording and/or reproducing apparatus111having the exchanging function for the cassette tapes1, the cassette holders14, each holding the cassette tape1, are of a multi-tiered structure, and the cassette tape driving device16is arranged on the lower side of the cassette housing mechanism15provided with the cassette holders14. Thus, it is necessary to provide a mechanism for causing movement in the horizontal direction for inserting or ejecting the cassette tape1into or from the cassette holder14of the cassette housing mechanism15and a mechanism for causing movement in the vertical direction across the cassette holders14and the cassette tape driving device16. As a result, not only the structure of the cassette insertion/ejection mechanism17is complex, but also the recording and/or reproducing apparatus1is increased in height, thus increasing the size of the apparatus.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a novel recording and/or reproducing apparatus whereby the aforementioned problems inherent in the recording and/or reproducing apparatus provided with the cassette tape exchanging function may be overcome.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a recording and/or reproducing apparatus whereby the apparatus may be further reduced in size and the mechanism for feeding the cassette tape from the cassette holder to the recording and/or reproducing unit for the cassette tape may be simplified.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a recording and/or reproducing apparatus whereby the cassette tape may be reliably inserted from the cassette holder into the recording and/or reproducing unit or ejected from the recording and/or reproducing unit into the cassette holder.

The recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to the present invention includes cassette housing means comprised of a plurality of cassette holders arranged in an annular array on the same horizontal plane in a preset distance from one another, a recording and/or reproducing unit arranged within an area defined by the cassette holders for recording signals on a cassette tape or reproducing signals from a cassette tape, and cassette tape inserting/ejecting means for loading the cassette tape on the recording and/or reproducing unit and ejecting the cassette tape therefrom.

The recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to the present invention further comprises a cabinet having a cassette tape insertion/ejection opening on a front side thereof, rotational driving means for rotationally driving the cassette housing means, and movement means for moving the cassette tape inserting/ejecting means between a position proximate to the cassette holder and a position spaced apart from the cassette holder.

In this recording and/or reproducing apparatus, the recording and/or reproducing unit is provided in an inner area surrounded by the toroidally-arranged cassette holders, and the cassette tape is moved between the cassette holder and the recording and/or reproducing unit so as to be inserted into or ejected from the recording and/or reproducing unit, so that the apparatus is reduced in thickness and, moreover, the range of movement of the cassette tape is diminished.

In the recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to the present invention, the centers of the insertion/ejection opening, provided in the cabinet, cassette housing means, recording and/or reproducing unit and the cassette tape transport means are arrayed substantially in alignment with one another. By this structure, the cassette tape may be moved along a substantially straight path.

Moreover, the movement of the cassette tape relative to the cassette holder and relative to the recording and/or reproducing unit occurs substantially in the same horizontal plane.

Preferably, a space which permits passage of the cassette tape inserting/ejecting means therethrough is provided in the cassette holder.

The recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to the present invention is provided with an annular stationary subsequently upstanding cassette stopper plate for facing inner openings of the plural toroidally-arrayed cassette holders. The cassette stopper plate includes an opening or cut-out to permit passage of a cassette tape when the cassette tape is extruded from the cassette holder into the recording and/or reproducing unit.

Preferably, there is provided an extrication-proofing or extrication-prohibiting stopper for prohibiting outward extrication of a cassette tape accommodated in the cassette holder in an outer opening of the cassette holder.

Preferably, mistaken cassette tape insertion preventative means is provided in a mid-portion of an upper plate of the cassette holder for a cassette tape extruded from outside towards inside of the cassette holder and supported by a spring plate.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from reading the embodiments of the present invention as shown in the drawings.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings, a recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to the present invention is now explained in detail.

Referring first toFIG. 4, the structure of the recording and/or reproducing apparatus embodying the present invention is explained.

The recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to the present invention uses a cassette tape1, shown inFIG. 1, as a recording medium. The recording and/or reproducing apparatus100includes a cabinet110, forming a main body unit of the apparatus. Within this cabinet110, there are arranged a cassette housing mechanism120, an annular fence140, playing the role of a cassette stopper (seeFIGS. 7 to 9), a cassette tape driving device150, forming a recording and/or reproducing unit, and a cassette holding mechanism160.

The cassette housing mechanism120includes a plural number of cassette holders130arranged toroidally around the outer rim of a toroidally-shaped rotational plate121at a preset distance from one another. The cassette holders130are arranged on the rotational plate121so that, when the rotational plate121is rotated and moved to the front side of the cabinet110, the cassette holders130face an insertion/ejection opening112formed in a front panel111mounted to the front side of the cabinet110. In an inner region surrounded by the cassette holders130, arranged toroidally on the rotational plate121, there is arranged the cassette tape driving device150forming the recording and/or reproducing unit. The cassette tape driving device150is mounted with a cassette insertion/ejection opening152towards the back side of the cabinet110, opposite to the front side thereof provided with the cassette insertion/ejection opening112. Facing a cassette inserting/ejecting opening152of the cassette tape driving device150on both sides of the cassette holders130is mounted the cassette gripping mechanism160forming a cassette inserting/ejecting mechanism for taking out the cassette tape1housed within the cassette holders130for loading the cassette tape1in the cassette tape driving device150. The cassette holding mechanism160includes a pair of holding arms162A,162B engaging in engagement recesses4,4provided in both lateral sides of the cassette tape1for holding the cassette tape1.

With the recording and/or reproducing apparatus100of the present invention, the cassette insertion/ejection opening112provided in the cabinet110, the cassette tape driving device150and the paired holding arms162A,162B of the cassette gripping mechanism160are arrayed substantially in alignment with one another, on a common centerline, and are arranged on the same height level. That is, the insertion/ejection opening112, the cassette tape driving device150and the cassette holding mechanism160are arranged on the same plane for causing movement of the cassette tape1on the same plane.

The cabinet110, forming the recording and/or reproducing apparatus100of the present invention, is formed to a width of 19 inches, so as to be housed and arranged in a standard rack mount device used in a broadcasting station. The cabinet110has its height set to conform to the unit of the electronic equipment housed and arranged in the standard rack mount device. That is, the electronic equipment, housed and arranged in the standard rack mount device, has its height changed in terms of a height of one height step of 44.5 mm as a unit. The recording and/or reproducing apparatus100according to the present invention is formed as a flat parallelepiped device having a height of 44.5 mm or less, so that the apparatus may be housed and arranged within the standard rack mount device compatibly with other electronic equipment.

The cassette insertion/ejection opening112, provided in the front panel111mounted on the front side of the cabinet110to permit insertion or ejection of the cassette tape1, is usually closed by a shutter114, except when the cassette tape1is inserted or ejected. The shutter114is moved in the direction indicated by an arrow X inFIG. 4as it is guided by a pair of guide rails113,113provided on the inner surface of the front panel111.

The cassette housing mechanism120, within which is accommodated the cassette tape1inserted into the cabinet110through the cassette insertion/ejection opening112, is positioned on the front side of the cabinet110, as shown inFIG. 4, for taking up the major portion of the spacing within the cabinet110.

The cassette housing mechanism120includes the rotational plate121, a driving motor124for rotationally driving the rotational plate121and a plural number of the cassette holders130. There are provided eight cassette holders130.

The rotational plate121is a toroidally-shaped plate on the outer rim of which is formed a rack122. This rack122meshes with a gear123, which is mounted on the rotational shaft of the driving motor124, so that by actuating the driving motor124, the rotational plate121is run in rotation. The rotational plate121is rotationally supported by having its inner periphery engaged by plural rollers125. On the upper surface of the rotational plate121are arranged the plural number of cassette holders130at a preset separation from one another.

The cassette holders130, forming the cassette housing mechanism120, is made up by an upper plate131and a lower plate132, as shown inFIG. 6A. The upper plate131and the lower plate132are unified together by, e.g., a screw and include an outer opening133, via which the cassette tape1is inserted into the cassette holders130from the cassette insertion/ejection opening112of the front panel111, and an inner opening134, via which the cassette tape1accommodated in the cassette holders130is inserted into and ejected from the cassette tape driving device150.

On both extreme ends of the lower plate132are formed side plates132A bent upwards and erected upright, as shown inFIG. 6A. The upper plate131can be secured in position by these side plates132A. These side plates132A are formed to a height lower than the thickness of the cassette tape1.

To the foremost part of the lower plate132is secured an extrication-proofing or extrication-prohibitng stopper135swollen out upwards for inhibiting extrication of the cassette tape1. This extrication-proofing stopper135has its outer side formed as an inclined surface135A, while having its inner side formed as a vertically-extending surface135B, as shown in the cross-sectional view ofFIG. 6B. On the left and right lateral sides of the lower plate132, are laid a pair of sliders136adapted for supporting the bottom surface of the cassette tape1in a floated position from the plate surface of the lower plate132for reducing the frictional resistance for facilitating the sliding.

The upper plate131is bent to a shallow chevron shape and provided with a horizontal plate section131A of a broad width and vertical sections of shorter lengths on both sides of the horizontal plate section. The lower ends of the vertical sections are bent outwards at right angles to the vertical sections to form L-shaped side plate sections131B. The horizontal sections of the L-shaped side plate sections131B are horizontal plate sections131C.

The spacing between the horizontal plate section131A and the sliders136of the lower plate132is set so as to be slightly wider than the thickness of the cassette tape1so as to permit insertion and ejection of the cassette tape1without interference. The spacing between the horizontal plate sections131C of the side plate sections131B of the upper plate131and the lower plate132A is sufficiently smaller than the thickness of the cassette tape1to inhibit intrusion of the cassette tape1therein.

Thus, as shown in the schematic view ofFIG. 6D, showing the outer opening133of the cassette holders130, when the upper plate131and the lower plate132are connected to each other to form the cassette holder130, the center portion of the outer opening133becomes a cassette insertion/ejection opening133A, via which the cassette tape1is inserted or ejected, while small-sized openings with a reduced height on both sides of the cassette insertion/ejection opening133A become gripping arm insertion openings133B via which a pair of gripping arms162A,162B is inserted, as explained subsequently.

To a mid-portion of the outer surface of the upper plate131towards the outer opening133, the proximal ends of a pair of spring plates137are secured, while a pair of mistaken-insertion preventative blocks138for the cassette tape1are secured to the lower surface portions of the foremost part of the upper plate131extending to both left and right sides as free ends. The mistaken-insertion preventative blocks138are formed so as to be slightly protruded into the cassette holder130via an opening formed in the upper plate131, as shown inFIGS. 7 to 9. The surface of the mistaken-insertion preventative block138facing the outer opening133is formed as a vertical surface138A, while the lower surface thereof facing the inner opening134is formed as an inclined surface138B, as shown inFIG. 6C.

The annular fence140is fixedly mounted along the inner peripheral surface of the cassette housing mechanism120, in proximity to the inner opening134of the cassette holder130, as shown inFIGS. 4 to 9. Specifically, the annular fence140is a strip-shaped member of a height sufficient to stop at least an upper portion of the inner opening134of the cassette holders130. This annular fence140is vertically mounted to a toroidally-shaped plate151, mounted to a disc-shaped cover overlying and protecting the cassette tape driving device150, as will be explained subsequently. The annular fence140may be formed by vertically and downwardly warping the outer rim of the toroidally-shaped plate151.

Although shown only in part inFIG. 4, the annular fence140is formed along the entire rim area. However, the annular fence140either is not provided or is partially removed in an area ahead of the cassette inserting/ejecting opening152of the cassette tape driving device150, in order that the cassette tape1housed in the cassette holder130can be extruded towards the cassette tape driving device150by the cassette holding mechanism160forming the cassette insertion/ejection means for loading the cassette tape on the cassette tape driving device150.

Referring toFIG. 7B, if, when the user manually thrusts the cassette tape1into the cassette holders130, the user has excessively thrust the cassette tape1, and the cassette tape is intruded into the cassette tape driving device150, in the absence of the annular fence140, such that the cassette tape1cannot be retained at a preset position. In order to prevent the cassette tape1from becoming unable to be positioned correctly, at least the upper end of a lid3of the cassette tape1is designed to abut against the annular fence140to present the cassette tape1from being intruded further towards the inner region. Thus, the cassette tape1is positioned by the annular fence140and an extrication preventative stopper153provided to the outer opening133of the cassette holders130. The above is the function of the annular fence140.

The cassette tape driving device150, forming the recording and/or reproducing unit used in the recording and/or reproducing apparatus100of the present invention, has enclosed therein, e.g., a rotational magnetic head device having a rotational magnetic head, a tape running device for running the magnetic tape provided in the rotational magnetic head device and a guide device for guiding the magnetic tape. The cassette tape driving device150is not essential to the present invention, and hence is not explained in detail. It should be noted, however, that the cassette tape driving device150is arranged inwardly of the toroidally-shaped rotational plate121of the cassette housing mechanism120with the cassette insertion/ejection opening152for the cassette tape1facing the back side opposite to the cassette insertion/ejection opening112of the front panel111, that is, with the cassette insertion/ejection opening directly opposite to the cassette holding mechanism160mounted towards the back side of the cabinet110.

The structure of the cassette holding mechanism160, forming the cassette insertion/ejection mechanism, is now explained with reference toFIGS. 4,10and11.

The cassette holding mechanism160, arranged towards the back side of the cabinet110, thrusts the cassette tape1, housed in the cassette holders130of the cassette housing mechanism120, from the inner opening134through the opening152of the cassette tape driving device150into its inside, by way of insertion, and also pulls out the cassette tape1loaded in the cassette tape driving device150for housing in the cassette holders130.

The cassette holding mechanism160includes a substantially rectangular slide plate161as a base member. On the upper surface of the slide plate161, a pair of grip arms162A,162B are provided facing the front side of the cassette tape driving device150. These grip arms162A,162B are pivotally mounted on rotational pivots163,163. The foremost parts of the grip arms162A,162B are formed as inwardly directed hooks162F,162F. The one of the grip arms162A is bifurcated, with the circular proximal end of the other grip arm162B being fitted for rotation within the bifurcations.

In rear of these grip arms162A,162B, there are provided a first pulse motor164for driving the grip arms162A,162B in the opening/closing directions, a worm gear165formed on the output shaft of the pulse motor and a spur gear166meshing with the worm gear165. This spur gear166meshes with another spur gear, not shown, secured below the grip arm162B. An encoder164A is coupled to the first pulse motor164.

On one lateral side of the slide plate161is formed a rack167for extending substantially its entire length, as shown inFIG. 4. Although not shown, the slide plate161is mounted on the chassis, arranged below the slide plate161, and a pair of linear guides168,168are laid on the chassis parallel to each other and at a spacing substantially corresponding to the width of the slide plate161from each other (seeFIG. 4). The slide plate161is coupled to these linear guides168,168for sliding thereon. On a chassis, not shown, there is arranged a driving mechanism made up by a second pulse motor169and a gear170coupled to this rotational shaft. This gear170meshes with the rack167of the slide plate161. The driving mechanism forms driving means for causing movement of the cassette holding mechanism160forming the cassette insertion/ejection means.

The operation of the above-described cassette holding mechanism160is now explained with reference toFIGS. 4,6,10and11.

When the recording and/or reproducing apparatus is in the halted state, the slide plate161is at a standby state at the most receded position. When the cassette tape1housed in the cassette holders130is loaded on the cassette tape driving device150, the second pulse motor169is actuated, under control by the encoder164A, for advancing the slide plate161towards the cassette tape driving device150. Simultaneously, the first pulse motor164is actuated for inwardly contracting the spacing between the hooks162F,162F of the paired grip arms162A,162B. By further advancing the slide plate161, the back surfaces of the inwardly contracted hooks162F thrust the cassette tape1housed in the cassette holders130for loading the cassette tape1from the opening152of the cassette tape driving device150in position in the cassette tape driving device150. When the cassette tape1is loaded on the cassette tape driving device150, the slide plate161is receded and reverts to its stand-by position.

When the recording or reproduction of the of the cassette tape1loaded on the cassette tape driving device150has come to a close, the cassette tape1is ejected and held in the opening152of the cassette tape driving device150so as not to be detached from the opening152.

The second pulse motor169is actuated, under control by the encoder164A, for advancing the slide plate161, at the same time as the first pulse motor164is actuated to open the paired grip arms162A and162B. The slide plate161is further advanced, with the paired grip arms162A,162B passing through a grip arm insertion opening133B in the cassette holders130to fit into engagement recesses4,4formed in both lateral surfaces of the cassette tape1, which is at a standby position. The second pulse motor169is then rotationally driven in reverse, so that the slide plate161is receded, at the same time as the cassette tape1sandwiched between the grip arms162A and162B is pulled back into and housed within the inside of the cassette holders130.

When the cassette tape1has reached the preset position, the second pulse motor169is actuated in reverse to open the hooks162F,162F apart, with the slide plate161being further receded and returned to its original standby position.

As may be seen from the foregoing description, the most significant feature of the recording and/or reproducing apparatus100of the present invention is that the respective centers of the cassette insertion/ejection opening112in the cabinet110, cassette holders130, cassette tape driving device150and the cassette holding mechanism160are arranged on a substantially straight line. As another significant feature of the recording and/or reproducing apparatus100of the present invention, the cassette insertion/ejection opening112in the cabinet110and the inlet/exit openings of the cassette holders130and the cassette tape driving device150are arranged in the same horizontal plane so that the movement of the cassette tape1with respect to these devices may occur within the same plane.

The operation of the recording and/or reproducing apparatus100of the present invention is now explained with reference to the drawings.

First, an operator inserts the cassette tape1, about to be accommodated, via the cassette insertion/ejection opening112of the front panel111in the regular orientation shown inFIG. 7A, as shown inFIG. 4. The shutter114, opening/closing the cassette insertion/ejection opening112, is opened laterally by a driving mechanism, not shown, so that the cassette tape1is inserted into the vacant cassette holder130, located ahead of the cassette insertion/ejection opening112, via the outer opening133of the vacant cassette holder130, as shown inFIG. 7B.

During this introducing operation, the bottom of the cassette tape1smoothly surmounts the inclined surface135A of the extrication preventative stopper153, and since the lid3of the cassette tape1is formed as an inclined surface, the cassette tape1is inserted into the inside of the cassette holder130, as the lid3uplifts the mistaken-insertion preventative block138.

On the other hand, if the operator has excessively inserted the cassette tape1, the lid3of the cassette tape1abuts against the annular fence140to impede further forward movement of the cassette tape1, so that the cassette tape1is housed in the preset position within the cassette holder130. If once the cassette tape1is accommodated in position, the lower back surface of the cassette tape1is caught by the vertically-extending surface135B of the extrication-proofing or extrication-prohibiting stopper135, so that the cassette tape1cannot be easily extricated outwards, even on rotation of the rotational plate121.

If the operator inadvertently has inserted the cassette tape1turned upside-down, and moreover inverted in the fore-and-aft direction, as shown inFIG. 8, the forward back surface of the inserted cassette tape1is the vertically-extending surface, and hence this surface abuts against the vertical surface138A of the mistaken-insertion preventative block138to obstruct further insertion of the cassette tape1.

If the operator inadvertently has inserted the cassette tape1upside-down, as shown inFIG. 9, since the forward surface of the lid3of the inserted cassette tape1is a vertically-extending surface, it compresses against the vertical surface138A of the mistaken-insertion preventative block138to obstruct further insertion of the cassette tape1. In any case, if the cassette tape1has not been inserted in the correct orientation, the insertion of the cassette tape1is inhibited to assure safe operation.

In the above-described operational principle, the cassette tape1about to be introduced actuates the motor124and the gear123to run the rotational plate121in rotation to cause the vacant cassette holder130to be halted ahead of the cassette insertion/ejection opening112so as to permit the cassette tape to be accommodated in the cassette holder.

If information signals are recorded or reproduced for the desired cassette tape1, the motor124is actuated to run the rotational plate121to halt the cassette holder130holding the cassette tape1of interest ahead of the cassette tape driving device150.

The second pulse motor169is then actuated, under control by the encoder164A, to advance the slide plate161towards the cassette tape driving device150. The first pulse motor164is also actuated to reduce the spacing between the hooks162F,162F of the grip arms162A,162B to extrude the cassette tape1so far gripped by these grip arms. The cassette tape1is pushed via the inner opening134of the cassette holder130into the inside of the cassette tape driving device150, so that the cassette tape1is ready to be recorded or reproduced. The slide plate161is receded to its standby position.

When the recording or reproduction of the cassette tape1loaded on the cassette tape driving device150has come to a close, the cassette tape1is ejected and held in the opening152of the cassette tape driving device150. The second pulse motor169is actuated under control by the encoder164A to advance the slide plate161. At the same time, the first pulse motor164is actuated, so that the paired grip arms162A,162B of the cassette holding mechanism160are opened apart and allowed to pass through the gripping-arm insertion openings133B within the cassette holders130so as to be engaged in the engagement recesses4,4in the lateral sides of the cassette tape1in the standby position to grip this cassette tape1. The second pulse motor169is then run in reverse rotation to cause the slide plate161to be receded to pull the cassette tape1back into the inside of the original cassette holder130. When the cassette tape1is at the preset position, the first pulse motor164is run in reverse rotation to open the hooks162F,162F apart to permit the cassette tape to be accommodated again in position.

The positions of the cassette tape1, the rotational plate121, the cassette holders130, the slide plate161and the grip arms162A,162B are detected by a variety of sensors and sent to the encoder for various control operations. However, the present invention is not relevant to, e.g., control timing, so that the detailed operation thereof is omitted for simplicity.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described with reference to the drawings and, as may be apparent to those skilled in the art, various changes, substitutions or equivalents may be envisaged without departing from the scope and the purport of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

In the recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to the present invention, the recording and/or reproducing unit is mounted in an inner region surrounded by plural toroidally-arranged cassette holders, so that the apparatus itself may be reduced in size. In the present apparatus, the mechanism for insertion/ejection of the cassette tape may be simplified on account of the linear movement of the cassette tape from insertion of the cassette tape into the cassette housing mechanism until loading the cassette tape accommodated in the cassette housing mechanism to the recording and/or reproducing unit.

Since the height positions of the insertion/ejection opening formed in the front panel of the cabinet, cassette insertion/ejection opening in the recording and/or reproducing unit, outer and inner openings in the cassette holder and the cassette gripping mechanism are in the same plane, the recording and/or reproducing apparatus may be of a reduced height. In addition, the movement of the cassette tape may be simplified to assure reliable movements.