Automatic changer for cassette player-recorder

Claim 2

In a cassette player-recorder equipped with an automatic changer and having a magazine for storing a plurality of cassettes each having openings for introduction of tape transport elements within the cassette, said magazine being movable to locate a cassette stored therein for transfer in a downward direction to a playing position, the combination comprising, guide means for constraining the movement of a cassette received from said magazine to a single vertical plane to and from its playing position, a tape transport movably mounted adjacEnt said guide means for movement downward and toward said guide means by gravity and carrying tape and reel drive elements adapted upon such movement of said tape transport to be introduced into the openings of a cassette while said cassette is being lowered by gravity to operatively engage elements within the cassette, and means connected to said tape transport for supporting a cassette in said guide means and movable downward with said tape transport to lower said cassette by gravity along said guide means to its playing position.

Claim 3

A cassette player-recorder according to claim 1 including means for supporting said magazine for horizontal movement above said guide means, said magazine having an open bottom and said guide means extending vertically downward below said magazine, parallel stationary rails beneath said magazine interrupted by a transverse entrance slot to said guide means, the cassettes in said magazine being supported by said rails except for a single cassette above the slot, a retaining rod extending horizontally beneath said magazine parallel to said rails and across said entrance slot for holding that single cassette from dropping from said magazine through said entrance slot and means for retracting said retaining rod to drop the single cassette into said guide means.

Claim 4

A cassette player-recorder according to claim 2, said magazine having vertical side walls, and including means for supporting said retaining rod adjacent one end of said slot so that a single cassette above said slot and resting on said rod is tilted away from one side wall of said magazine adjacent said rod toward leaning engagement with the opposite side wall of said magazine and is free to drop into said slot when said retaining rod is retracted.

Claim 5

A cassette player-recorder according to claim 2 including motor operated means for retracting said retaining rod and for returning said retaining rod across said entrance slot immediately after retraction thereof to drop a cassette, to prevent accidental introduction of another cassette into said guide means from said magazine.

Claim 6

A cassette player-recorder according to claim 4 providing a complete playing cycle in which motor driven cassette carrying means returns the cassette from the playing position to the magazine to complete the cycle, said motor operated means being further operative to retract said retaining rod prior to the completion of the cycle to allow the cassette to return to the magazine.

Claim 7

A cassette player-recorder equipped with an automatic changer comprising: a tape transport including tape and reel drive elements, guide means for constraining the movement of a cassette to a vertical plane in moving to and from playing position wherein said tape transport elements operatively engage elements within a cassette, means for mounting said tape transport for movement downward and toward said guide means by gravity, a horizontally movable magazine for storing a plurality of cassettes and movable to locate a cassette above said guide means, cassette transferring means for receiving and lowering a cassette from said magazine into said guide means, means connected to said tape transport and movable downward with said tape transport for supporting and lowering a cassette received from said transferring means to the playing position and for registering the cassette openings with said tape and reel drive elements, the descent of the tape transport and cassette being by gravity and positively controlled during their lowering movement toward the playing position, and means for operating said cassette transferring means to elevate a cassette to the magazine from said supporting and lowering means in the event that the downward descent of the cassette and tape transport toward the playing position is blocked before the playing position is reached.

Claim 8

A cassette player-recorder equipped with an automatic changer comprising: a tape transport including tape and reel drive elements, guide means for constraining the movement of a cassette to a vertical plane in moving to and from playing position wherein said tape transport elements operatively engage elements within a cassette, means for mounting said tape transport for movement downward and toward said guide means by gravity, a horizontally movable magazine for storing a plurality of cassettes and movable to locate a cassette above said guide means, cassette transferring means for receiving and lowering a cassette from said magazine into said guide means, means connected to said tape transport and movable downward with said tape transport for supporting and lowering a cassette received from said transferring means to the playing position and for registering the cassette openings with said tape and reel drive elements, the descent of the tape transport and cassette being by gravity and positively controlled during their lowering movement toward the playing position, and means for operating said cassette transferring means to elevate a cassette to the magazine from said supporting and lowering means in the event that the downward descent of the cassette and tape transport toward the playing position is blocked before the playing position is reached.

Claim 9

A player-recorder according to claim 6, including a rectangular open-bottomed magazine having transverse compartments for storing cassettes side by side in verticAl position standing on their edges.

Claim 10

A player-recorder according to claim 6 including an annular open-bottomed magazine having radial compartments for storing cassettes side by side in vertical position standing on their edges.

Claim 11

A cassette player-recorder equipped with an automatic changer comprising: a tape transport including tape and reel drive elements, guide means for constraining the movement of a cassette to a vertical plane in moving to and from playing position wherein said tape transport elements operatively engage elements within a cassette, said guide means having a horizontal entrance slot for a cassette, a horizontally movable magazine for storing a plurality of cassettes side-by-side standing on edge and movable to locate a single cassette above said entrance slot, retaining means for holding cassettes in said magazine and operative to drop a single cassette from said magazine so that the lower edge of the cassette enters said slot, cassette transferring means for receiving and lowering the single cassette from said magazine into said guide means, and means associated with said tape transport for lowering the cassette from said transferring means to the playing position and for registering the cassette openings with said tape and reel drive elements, the descent of the cassette being by gravity and positively controlled during its lowering movement to the playing position.

Claim 12

A cassette player-recorder equipped with an automatic changer comprising: a tape transport including tape and reel drive elements, guide means for constraining the movement of a cassette to a vertical plane in moving to and from playing position wherein said tape transport elements operatively engage elements within a cassette, said guide means having a horizontal entrance slot for a cassette, a horizontally movable magazine for storing a plurality of cassettes side-by-side standing on edge and movable to locate a single cassette above said entrance slot, retaining means for holding cassettes in said magazine and operative to drop a single cassette from said magazine so that the lower edge of the cassette enters said slot, cassette transferring means for receiving and lowering the single cassette from said magazine into said guide means, and means associated with said tape transport for lowering the cassette from said transferring means to the playing position and for registering the cassette openings with said tape and reel drive elements, the descent of the cassette being by gravity and positively controlled during its lowering movement to the playing position.

Claim 13

A cassette player-recorder equipped with an automatic changer apparatus comprising: a frame, guide means on said frame for constraining the movement of a cassette to a vertical plane in moving to and from playing position, a tape transport on said frame including cassette tape and reel drive elements adapted to operatively engage elements within a cassette in the playing position, a horizontal magazine for storing a plurality of cassettes, means mounting said magazine for horizontal movement on said frame to locate a single cassette above said guide means, retaining means for holding cassettes in said magazine and operative to drop a single cassette into said guide means, a motor on said frame, cassette transferring means operated by said motor for receiving and lowering a single cassette dropped from said magazine into said guide means, and means for mounting said tape transport for movement downward and toward said guide means by gravity, means connected to said tape transport and movable downward therewith for supporting the cassette in said guide means and for lowering the cassette by gravity from said transferring means to the playing position, said tape and reel drive elements being adapted to be introduced into the openings of a cassette while said cassette and tape transport are being lowered by gravity to operatively engage elements within the cassette.

Claim 14

A cassette player-recorder equipped with an automatic changer apparatus comprising: a frame, guide means on said frame for constraining the movement of a cassette to a vertical plane in moving to and from playing position, a tape transport on said frame including cassette tape and reel drive elements adapted to operatively engage elements within a cassette in the playing position, a horizontal magazine for storing a plurality of cassettes, means mounting said magazine for horizontal movement on said frame to locate a single cassette above said guide means, retaining means for holding cassettes in said magazine and operative to drop a single cassette into said guide means, a motor on said frame, cassette transferring means operated by said motor for receiving and lowering a single cassette dropped from said magazine into said guide means, and means for mounting said tape transport for movement downward and toward said guide means by gravity, means connected to said tape transport and movable downward therewith for supporting the cassette in said guide means and for lowering the cassette by gravity from said transferring means to the playing position, said tape and reel drive elements being adapted to be introduced into the openings of a cassette while said cassette and tape transport are being lowered by gravity to operatively engage elements within the cassette.

Claim 15

A cassette player-recorder according to claim 10 in which said transferring means includes an arm supported on said frame for vertical movement and operative independently of said tape transport to move downward without the cassette after lowering the cassette to said tape transport.

Claim 16

A cassette player-recorder according to claim 10 including means for operating said transferring means with said support means to lower a cassette from the magazine into playing position and independently of said support means to raise a cassette to the magazine from said support means upon malfunction thereof in lowering the cassette into playing position.

Claim 17

A cassette player-recorder according to claim 10 providing a complete playing cycle in which cam means driven by said motor operates said transferring and support means in one sequence during the first part of the cycle to lower the cassette to playing position, and in the reverse sequence to raise the cassette to the magazine to complete the cycle.

Claim 18

A cassette player-recorder according to claim 13 in which said cam means includes separate sets of driven elements for operating respectively, said retaining and transferring means, and said support means.

Claim 19

A cassette player-recorder according to claim 13 in which said cam means includes separate cams for operating respectively, said retaining and transferring means, and said support means.

Claim 20

A cassette player recorder according to claim 13, said magazine having compartments for separate storage of the cassettes, including means driven by said motor for shifting said magazine at the end of the playing cycle and after return of the cassette to one compartment to locate the next compartment above said guide means.

Claim 21

A cassette player-recorder according to claim 16 including switch controlled power means for energizing said motor, and means for automatically opening and closing said switch at the end of each playing cycle after shift of the magazine to provide consecutive playing cycles.

Claim 22

A cassette player-recorder according to claim 17 including means for holding said switch open to stop said motor and terminate the consecutive operation responsive to the return of a cassette from the playing position to the last compartment in said magazine.

Claim 23

A cassette player-recorder according to claim 17 including manually operable means for interrupting the opening and closing of said switch at the end of each playing cycle providing means for selection of single or consecutive playing cycles.

Claim 24

A cassette player-recorder according to claim 10 including an interlock operative to lock the magazine against movement after retraction of said retaining means to drop a cassette.

Claim 25

An automatic changer for a cassette player-recorder having a frame, and a tape transport including support means mounted to move substantially normal to and together with the movement of a cassette to a playing position so as to introduce tape and reel drive elements carried on said movable support means into the cassette with a linear motion substantially perpendicular relative to the face of the cassette, said automatic changer comprising: a horizontal magazine for storing a plurality of cassettes, means supporting said magazine for horizontal movement on said frame to locate a single cassette in an operative position, guide means on said frame below said magazine for constraining the downward movement of a single cassette from said operative position in said magazine to a vertical plane to its playing position, a motor on said frame, transferring means for receiving and lowering the single cassette from said magazine in said guide means, means mounting said movable support means on said frame for movement vertically downward simultaneously with movement toward said guide means, a member connected to said movable support means and extending into such guide means for lowering the cassette from said transferring means by gravity and for registering the cassette with said tape and reel drive elements, and means driven by said motor for operating said transferring means and for shifting said support means in timed sequence for carrying a cassette from said magazine in said guide means to the playing position.

Claim 26

An automatic changer for a cassette player-recorder having a frame, and a tape transport including support means mounted to move substantially normal to and together with the movement of a cassette to a playing position so as to introduce tape and reel drive elements carried on said movable support means into the cassette with a linear motion substantially perpendicular relative to the face of the cassette, said automatic changer comprising: a horizontal magazine for storing a plurality of cassettes, means supporting said magazine for horizontal movement on said frame to locate a single cassette in an operative position, guide means on said frame below said magazine for constraining the downward movement of a single cassette from said operative position in said magazine to a vertical plane to its playing position, a motor on said frame, transferring means for receiving and lowering the single cassette from said magazine in said guide means, means mounting said movable support means on said frame for movement vertically downward simultaneously with movement toward said guide means, a member connected to said movable support means and extending into such guide means for lowering the cassette from said transferring means by gravity and for registering the cassette with said tape and reel drive elements, and means driven by said motor for operating said transferring means and for shifting said support means in timed sequence for carrying a cassette from said magazine in said guide means to the playing position.

Claim 27

An automatic changer according to claim 21 in which said transferring means includes an arm supported on said frame for vertical movement and operative independently of said movable support to move downward without the cassette after lowering the cassette to said movable support member, said member being operative to lower the cassette into playing position.

Claim 28

An automatic changer according to claim 21, in which a resiliently mounted pinch roller is engaged by the tape within the cassette as the cassette moves into playing position, and one of said movable support members is operative to gradually engage the cassette during the course of its movement and positively moves the cassette downward into playing position against resistance offered by said pinch roller.

Claim 29

An automatic changer according to claim 21 including a magazine interlock operated by said movable support means to lock the magazine against movement after retraction of said retaining means To drop a cassette.

Claim 30

An automatic changer according to claim 21, said magazine having separate compartments for the cassettes stored therein, including a magazine interlock comprising a rack on the magazine, a gear meshing with said rack, a shaft depending from said gear, a locking member rotated by said shaft and presenting a plurality of edges adapted to move successively through a locking position which registers one of said compartments in the magazine with said guide means, a detent shiftable between a released position and said locking position for engagement with one of said locking edges, in which locking position said detent prevents rotation of said locking member and movement of said magazine, and a linkage operated by said movable support means to shift said detent between said locking and said released positions.

Claim 31

An automatic changer according to claim 21 including means operating said transferring means for vertical downward movement with said support means to lower the cassette into playing position and to further vertical downward movement and return upward movement independently of said support means to raise a cassette to the magazine from said support means upon failure of said tape and reel drive elements to register with and enter the cassette during the course of its downward movement with said support means.

Claim 32

A cassette player-recorder according to claim 21 including spring means opposing at least the final stage of movement of said support means in lowering the cassette to playing position, said spring means being operative to initiate the return movement of said support means for raising the cassette to the magazine to complete the playing cycle.

Claim 33

A cassette player-recorder according to claim 27 including a pawl mounted on said frame and operative to latch said support means against the force of said spring means to hold the cassette in playing position.

Claim 34

A cassette player-recorder according to claim 28 having solenoid means operative with a cassette in playing position for actuating said retaining pawl to unlatch said support means responsive to the end of the tape being reached in the transport of the tape from reel to reel in the playing operation of the cassette.

Claim 35

A cassette player according to claim 29 including manually operable means for operating said solenoid to actuate said retaining pawl to unlatch said support means for interrupting the playing operation and returning the cassette to the magazine.

Claim 36

An automatic changer according to claim 21 providing a complete playing cycle in which said means driven by said motor operates said transferring and support means in one sequence during the first part of the cycle to lower the cassette to playing position, and in the reverse sequence to raise the cassette to the magazine to complete the cycle.

Claim 37

An automatic changer according to claim 31 including spring means opposing at least the final stage of operation of said support means in lowering the cassette to playing position, said spring means being operative to initiate the return operation of said support means for raising the cassette to the magazine to complete the playing cycle.

Claim 38

An automatic changer according to claim 32 including switch controlled power means for energizing said motor, means opening said switch and stopping said motor responsive to the cassette obtaining the playing position, and means closing said switch and starting said motor for raising the cassette to the magazine responsive to initial return operation of said support means by said spring means.

Claim 39

An automatic changer for a cassette player-recorder having a frame, and a tape transport including a movable support mounted to move substantially normal to and together with the movement of a cassette to a playing position so as to introduce tape and reel drive elements carried on said movable support into the cassette with a linear motion substantially perpendicular relative to the face of the Cassette, said automatic changer comprising: a horizontal magazine for storing a plurality of cassettes, means supporting said magazine for horizontal movement on said frame to locate a single cassette in an operative position, retractable means beneath said magazine for retaining said cassettes in said magazine, guide means on said frame below said magazine for constraining the movement of a cassette from said operative position in said magazine to a vertical plane to its playing position, a motor on said frame, transferring means for lowering a cassette from said magazine in said guide means, means mounting said movable support on said frame for movement vertically downward simultaneously with movement toward said guide means, members connected to said movable support and extending into such guide means for lowering the cassette by gravity from said transferring means and for registering the cassette with said tape and reel drive elements, and cam means driven by said motor for sequentially retracting said retaining means to drop a cassette from said operative position in said magazine into said guide means and for operating said transferring means and movable support to lower a cassette in said guide means to the playing position, the descent of the cassette after the operation of said retaining means being by gravity and sequentially controlled by the lowering movement of said transferring means and said support members.

Claim 40

An automatic changer for a cassette player-recorder having a frame, and a tape transport including a movable support mounted to move substantially normal to and together with the movement of a cassette to a playing position so as to introduce tape and reel drive elements carried on said movable support into the cassette with a linear motion substantially perpendicular relative to the face of the Cassette, said automatic changer comprising: a horizontal magazine for storing a plurality of cassettes, means supporting said magazine for horizontal movement on said frame to locate a single cassette in an operative position, retractable means beneath said magazine for retaining said cassettes in said magazine, guide means on said frame below said magazine for constraining the movement of a cassette from said operative position in said magazine to a vertical plane to its playing position, a motor on said frame, transferring means for lowering a cassette from said magazine in said guide means, means mounting said movable support on said frame for movement vertically downward simultaneously with movement toward said guide means, members connected to said movable support and extending into such guide means for lowering the cassette by gravity from said transferring means and for registering the cassette with said tape and reel drive elements, and cam means driven by said motor for sequentially retracting said retaining means to drop a cassette from said operative position in said magazine into said guide means and for operating said transferring means and movable support to lower a cassette in said guide means to the playing position, the descent of the cassette after the operation of said retaining means being by gravity and sequentially controlled by the lowering movement of said transferring means and said support members.

Claim 41

An automatic changer for a cassette player-recorder having a frame, and a tape transport including a movable support carried on said frame, said automatic changer comprising: a horizontal magazine for storing a plurality of cassettes supported for horizontal movement on said frame to locate a single cassette in an operative position, guide means on said frame below said magazine for guiding a single cassette in a vertical plane between said operative position in said magazine and a playing position, means for mounting said movable tape transport support on said frame adjacent said guide means for movement vertically downward by gravity simultaneously with movement toward said guide means, and means for carrying a cassette on said transport support for lowering the cassette by gravity along said guide means toward the playing position as said transport support moves downward by gravity, said transport support having tape and reel drive elements adapted to be introduced into openings in the cassette when in registration therewith as said cassette and transport support move downward by gravity toward the playing position.

Claim 42

An automatic changer for a cassette player-recorder having a frame, and a tape transport including a movable support carried on said frame, said automatic changer comprising: a horizontal magazine for storing a plurality of cassettes supported for horizontal movement on said frame to locate a single cassette in an operative position, guide means on said frame below said magazine for guiding a single cassette in a vertical plane between said operative position in said magazine and a playing position, means for mounting said movable tape transport support on said frame adjacent said guide means for movement vertically downward by gravity simultaneously with movement toward said guide means, and means for carrying a cassette on said transport support for lowering the cassette by gravity along said guide means toward the playing position as said transport support moves downward by gravity, said transport support having tape and reel drive elements adapted to be introduced into openings in the cassette when in registration therewith as said cassette and transport support move downward by gravity toward the playing position.

Claim 43

An automatic changer as set forth in claim 35 further including an elevator operable independently of said transport support for lowering a cassette by gravity from the operative position in the magazine along said guide means to said cassette carrying means on said transport support.

Claim 44

An automatic changer for a cassette player-recorder having a frame, and a tape transport including a movable support carried on said frame, said automatic changer comprising: a horizontal magazine for storing a plurality of cassettes supported for horizontal movement on said frame to locate a single cassette in an operative position, guide means on said frame below said magazine for guiding a single cassette in a vertical plane between said operative position in said magazine and a playing position, means for mounting said movable tape transport support on said frame adjacent said guide means for movement vertically downward by gravity simultaneously with movement toward said guide means and for movement vertically upward simultaneously with movement away from said guide means and means for carrying a cassette on said transport support for lowering the cassette by gravity along said guide means toward the playing position as said transport support moves downward by gravity and for raising the cassette toward the magazine upon upward vertical movement of said transport support said transport support having tape and reel drive elements adapted to Be introduced into openings in the cassette when in registration therewith as said cassette and transport support move downward by gravity toward the playing position, a drive source, a connecting linkage including cam means between said drive source and said transport support for controlling the downward movement of said transport support by gravity during a portion of the change cycle and for raising said transport support during a further portion of the change cycle, and means included in said linkage allowing said cam means to continue operating in the event downward movement of the cassette or the transport support or its tape and reel drive elements toward the cassette is blocked, whereby to continue the change cycle without substantial interruption to immediately raise the cassette toward the magazine and withdraw the tape and reel drive elements away from the cassette.

Claim 45

An automatic changer for a cassette player-recorder having a frame, and a tape transport including a movable support carried on said frame, said automatic changer comprising: a horizontal magazine for storing a plurality of cassettes supported for horizontal movement on said frame to locate a single cassette in an operative position, guide means on said frame below said magazine for guiding a single cassette in a vertical plane between said operative position in said magazine and a playing position, means for mounting said movable tape transport support on said frame adjacent said guide means for movement vertically downward by gravity simultaneously with movement toward said guide means and for movement vertically upward simultaneously with movement away from said guide means and means for carrying a cassette on said transport support for lowering the cassette by gravity along said guide means toward the playing position as said transport support moves downward by gravity and for raising the cassette toward the magazine upon upward vertical movement of said transport support said transport support having tape and reel drive elements adapted to Be introduced into openings in the cassette when in registration therewith as said cassette and transport support move downward by gravity toward the playing position, a drive source, a connecting linkage including cam means between said drive source and said transport support for controlling the downward movement of said transport support by gravity during a portion of the change cycle and for raising said transport support during a further portion of the change cycle, and means included in said linkage allowing said cam means to continue operating in the event downward movement of the cassette or the transport support or its tape and reel drive elements toward the cassette is blocked, whereby to continue the change cycle without substantial interruption to immediately raise the cassette toward the magazine and withdraw the tape and reel drive elements away from the cassette.

Claim 46

An automatic changer as set forth in claim 37 further including an elevator operated by said drive source independently of said transport support for lowering a cassette by gravity from the operative position in the magazine along said guide means to said cassette carrying means on said transport support during a portion of the change cycle and for raising a cassette from said cassette carrying means to the magazine during a later portion of the change cycle.

Claim 47

In a cassette player-recorder, the combination according to claim 1 in which said tape transport is mounted for movement upward and away from as well as downward and toward said guide means, and said cassette supporting means connected to said tape transport includes a member projecting into the plane of said guide means and movable upward and downward with said tape transport for raising and lowering a cassette in said guide means, said tape and reel drive elements being adapted upon movement of said tape transport upward and away from said guide means to be withdrawn from openings of a cassette while said cassette is being raised from the playing position, said combination further comprising means including an arm movable along said guide means for transferring a cassette from said magazine to said cassette supporting member during an early portion of the change cycle and from said member to return the cassette to the magazine during a later portion of the change cycle.

Claim 48

A cassette player-recorder according to claim 9 providing a complete playing cycle in which motor driven means operates said transferring means and positively controls the movement of the cassette in one sequence during the first part of the cycle to carry the cassette to playing position, and in the reverse sequence to return the cassette to the magazine to complete the cycle.

Claim 49

A cassette player-recorder according to claim 40, said magazine having compartments for separate storage of the cassettes, including motor driven means for shifting said magazine at the end of the playing cycle and after return of the cassette to one compartment to locate the next compartment above said guide means.

Claim 50

A cassette player-recorder according to claim 41 including switch controlled power means for controlling said motor driven means, and means for automatically opening and closing said switch at the end of each playing cycle after shift of the magazine to provide consecutive playing cycles.

Claim 51

A cassette player-recorder according to claim 42 including manually operable means for interrupting the opening and closing of said switch at the end of each playing cycle providing means for selection of single or consecutive playing cycles.

Claim 52

An automatic changer for a cassette player-recorder having a frame, and a tape transport including support means mounted to move substantially normal to and together with the movement of a cassette to a playing position so as to introduce tape and reel drive elements carried on said movable support means into the cassette with a linear motion substantially perpendicular relative to the face of the cassette, saId automatic changer comprising: a horizontal magazine for storing a plurality of cassettes, means supporting said magazine for horizontal movement on said frame to locate a single cassette in an operative position, guide means on said frame below said magazine for constraining the downward movement of a single cassette from said operative position in said magazine to a vertical plane to its playing position, a motor on said frame, transferring means for receiving and lowering the single cassette from said magazine in said guide means, means mounting said movable support means on said frame for movement vertically downward simultaneously with movement toward said guide means, a member connected to said movable support means and extending into such guide means for lowering the cassette from said transferring means by gravity and for registering the cassette with said tape and reel drive elements, and means driven by said motor for operating said transferring means and for shifting said support means in timed sequence for carrying a cassette from said magazine in said guide means to the playing position and in a reverse sequence to raise the cassette to the magazine after operation in the playing position.

Claim 53

An automatic changer for a cassette player-recorder having a frame, and a tape transport including support means mounted to move substantially normal to and together with the movement of a cassette to a playing position so as to introduce tape and reel drive elements carried on said movable support means into the cassette with a linear motion substantially perpendicular relative to the face of the cassette, saId automatic changer comprising: a horizontal magazine for storing a plurality of cassettes, means supporting said magazine for horizontal movement on said frame to locate a single cassette in an operative position, guide means on said frame below said magazine for constraining the downward movement of a single cassette from said operative position in said magazine to a vertical plane to its playing position, a motor on said frame, transferring means for receiving and lowering the single cassette from said magazine in said guide means, means mounting said movable support means on said frame for movement vertically downward simultaneously with movement toward said guide means, a member connected to said movable support means and extending into such guide means for lowering the cassette from said transferring means by gravity and for registering the cassette with said tape and reel drive elements, and means driven by said motor for operating said transferring means and for shifting said support means in timed sequence for carrying a cassette from said magazine in said guide means to the playing position and in a reverse sequence to raise the cassette to the magazine after operation in the playing position.