Multiple-size-accepting cassette loading mechanism

Claim 1

Automatic tape cassette reciprocation apparatus to load one of a set of generally rectangular magnetic tape cassettes of different widths dimensions into a housing structure (H) after partial insertion of the tape cassette into an opening (O) of the housing structure, and to unload or eject tape cassettes from the housing structure, comprising, a drive shaft (34) rotatably secured to the housing structure and extending transversely with respect to cassette reciprocation direction (31, 81); a plurality of pairs of drive rollers (50,51; 52,53; 54,55) located on the drive shaft, the rollers of any one pair being spaced from each other by a distance which is approximately of, or slightly smaller than, the width dimension of the respective cassette of the set of cassettes, and the rollers of any pair being located symmetrically with respect to a central axis of symmetry (X--X) parallel to cassette reciprocation direction and which bisects said opening, for engagement with a major surface of the respective cassette in the vicinity of a sidewall (SW) of the cassette, the respective diameters of the roller pairs increasing with increasing distance from said central axis, thereby assuring that, regardless of cassette width, each cassette will be driven adjacent its sidewalls rather than adjacent its tape reels; and drive means (35) coupled to the drive shaft (34) for rotating said drive shaft and hence the plurality of pairs of drive rollers.