Patent ID: 7375920

Claim:
A magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus that is arranged to receive a tape cassette accommodating a tape recording medium that is selectively loaded thereto, the loaded tape cassette being selected from a plurality of types of tape cassettes including a first tape cassette accommodating a first tape recording medium having a first width and a second tape cassette accommodating a second tape recording medium having a second width that is greater than the first width, the apparatus comprising: a rotating drum unit including a rotating head; and a loading mechanism that is configured to pull the tape recording medium of the loaded tape cassette out of the loaded tape cassette, wind the tape recording medium of the loaded tape cassette around the rotating drum unit, and form a tape path; wherein the loading mechanism includes a short loading pole that is adapted for the first tape cassette, and a long loading pole that is adapted for the second tape cassette, the short pole and the long pole being positioned at a same height; and a loading pole raising mechanism that is configured to raise the long loading pole when the second tape cassette is loaded, the loading pole raising mechanism comprising: a spiral cam member having a cylindrical portion and a spiral cam trench formed around the cylindrical portion; and a raising/lowering member having a cam follower that is engaged with the spiral cam trench, which raising/lowering member is slidably supported by the spiral cam member; and when the spiral cam member is rotated, the cam follower is guided by the spiral cam trench, and the raising/lowering member is raised to cause the long loading pole to be raised.