Magnetic sound recording and reproducing apparatus

Claim 1

A magnetic sound recording and reproducing apparatus for loading a cassette having a magnetic tape therein and for removing the cassette therefrom, said apparatus comprising a stationary frame having opposite upper and lower surfaces, a pair of spaced cassette guides mounted on the upper surface of said stationary frame for horizontally guiding said cassette in forward and rearward movement and for defining a cassette receiving chamber, a pair of vertical shafts secured to the lower surface of said stationary frame, an elevator frame movable in a vertical direction towards and away from said stationary frame along said shafts, said elevator frame including a pair of reel driving shafts for driving reels in the cassette, and rotatable drive capstans, said reel driving shafts and drive capstans being located on said elevator frame on the upper surface thereof, a pair of displaceable latch members on the stationary frame having initial positions preventing upward movement of the elevator frame, said latch members being adjacent said receiving chamber and being movable from said initial positions by introduction of a cassette into said receiving chamber, said latch members returning to their initial positions when the cassette is removed, a pair of stop pins mounted on the upper surface of the elevator frame and positioned to face said latch members and be blocked against upward movement when the latch members are in said initial position, said stop pins being released by said latch members when the cassette is loaded in the receiving chamber, camming pins secured to said elevator frame at the bottom thereof, an elevator frame control member supported beneath said elevator frame for horizontal displacement, blocks secured to said frame control member and having inclined surfaces facing said camming pins for controlling movement of said elevator frame in the vertical direction by contact with said camming pins, means urging said elevator frame control member in a direction to bias the inclined surfaces of said blocks against said camming pins and cause the elevator frame to be raised when the latch members have been displaced by full introduction of the cassette into the receiving chamber, a plate member movable in the direction of said capstans, guide means on the upper surface of said stationary frame for guiding said plate member, a magnetic recording and reproducing head on said plate member, a pair of pinch rollers also on said plate member, and means urging said plate member towards said capstans when the cassette is fully introduced in the receiving chamber to cause the head to contact the tape in the cassette, and to cause the pinch rollers to clamp the tape between the capstans and the pinch rollers.