Cassette tape recording and reproducing apparatus with leaf-spring hold-down means

Claim 1

A cassette tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus, comprising: a base plate; a carriage having at least one head thereon and being movably mounted on said base for movement parallel to the latter between first and second positions at which said head is disposed at an inactive station and at an operational station, respectively; supporting means including a pair of support members fixed on said base plate and having shouldered portions facing away from said base plate for receiving and supporting a first edge portion of a tape cassette extending adjacent said operational station at a predetermined level with respect to said head; a first resilient member mounted on said base plate for engaging the edge portion of said cassette which is opposite said first edge portion and urging the cassette toward said operational station and onto said shouldered portions; and a leaf-spring arm having one portion affixed to said carriage and having a free end that extends over, and bears downwardly on, said first edge portion of the cassette supported on said shouldered portion upon movement of the carriage to said operational station, whereby to ensure the exact positioning of the cassette with respect to said head when the latter is moved to said operational station, said free end of said arm being spaced above said first edge portion to allow said first edge portion to slide thereunder as said carriage moves from said inactive station to said active station, and the movement of said carriage to said inactive station for disposing said head at said inactive station being effective to withdraw said leaf-spring arm from over said first edge portion of a cassette on said shouldered portions so that said first edge portion of the cassette is free to be seated on, and removed from, said shouldered portions.