Automatic cassette changer for front loading type magnetic recording-reproduction apparatus

Claim 2

A cassette changer mountable on a magnetic recording-reproduction apparatus, the magnetic recording-reproduction apparatus having a cassette inlet-outlet opening, the cassette changer comprising a new cassette housing portion for housing a new cassette to be inserted into the cassette inlet-outlet opening for recording or reproduction, a processed cassette housing portion underlying said new cassette housing portion for housing a processed cassette discharged from said cassette inlet-outlet opening after recording or reproduction, a separator provided in a boundary portion between said new cassette housing portion and said processed cassette housing portion and pivotable between a cassette discharge position where only said processed cassette housing portion faces said cassette inlet-outlet opening with said new cassette in said new cassette housing portion being supported on said separator and a cassette insertion position where said separator is pivoted downwardly from said cassette discharge position by the weight of said new cassette and only said new cassette housing portion faces said cassette inlet-outlet opening, spring means for biasing said separator toward said cassette discharge position, separator locking means having a locking position for locking said separator in said cassette discharge position and an unlocked position which permits said separator to move to said cassette insertion position, cassette withdrawing means for transferring said processed cassette from said cassette inlet-outlet opening into said processed cassette housing portion when said separator is in said cassette discharge position, cassette insertion means for transferring said new cassette from said new cassette housing portion into said cassette inlet-outlet opening when said separator is in said cassette insertion position, and drive means for driving said cassette withdrawing means and said cassette insertion means.

Claim 3

A cassette changer as defined in claim 1, wherein said cassette insertion means comprises a pair of spaced slider means which are movable while engaging said new cassette, said drive means comprising spaced rack gears fixed on said new cassette housing portion, pinion gears mounted on each of said slider means and respectively engaged with said rack gears, said drive means further comprising a drive motor and a transmission mechanism for transmitting the rotational force of said drive motor to one of said pinion gears, and a connecting rod connecting the pinion gears to rotate together.

Claim 4

A cassette changer as defined in claim 2, wherein said transmission mechanism comprises spaced driven pulleys, a drive pulley driven by said drive motor, a belt passing over said driven pulleys and said drive pulley and being fixedly attached to said slider means so that the rotational force of said drive motor is transmitted to said one pinion gear.

Claim 5

A cassette changer mountable on a magnetic recording-reproduction apparatus, the magnetic recording-reproduction apparatus having a cassette inlet-outlet opening, the cassette changer comprising a new cassette housing portion for housing a plurality of new cassettes to be inserted into the cassette inlet-outlet opening for recording or reproduction, said plurality of new cassettes being stacked above the other in vertical array, a processed cassette housing portion underlying said new cassette housing portion for housing a processed cassette discharged from said cassette inlet-outlet opening after recording or reproduction, a separator provided in a boundary portion between said new cassette housing portion and said processed cassette housing portion and pivotable between a cassette discharge position where only the processed cassette housing portion faces said cassette inlet-outlet opening with said plurality of new cassettes stacked in said new cassette housing portion being supported on said separator and a cassette insertion position where said separator is pivoted downwardly from said cassette discharge position by the weight of said new cassettes and only said new cassette housing portion faces said cassette inlet-outlet opening, spring means for biasing said separator toward said cassette discharge position, separator locking means having a locking position for locking said separator in said cassette discharge position and an unlocked position which permits said separator to move to said cassette insertion position, cassette withdrawing means for transferring said processed cassette from said cassette inlet-outlet opening into said processed cassette housing portion when said separator is in said cassette discharge position, cassette insertion means for transferring a lowermost of said vertically arrayed new cassettes in said new cassette housing portion into said cassette inlet-outlet opening when said separator is in said cassette insertion position, drive means for driving said cassette withdrawing means and said cassette insertion means, and cassette support means movable to underlie a second lowermost of said vertically arrayed new cassettes to support said second lowermost new cassette as said cassette insertion means transfers said lowermost new cassette into said inlet-outlet opening, said cassette support means being movable to a position displaced from underlying said second lowermost new cassette upon said cassette withdrawing means transferring said processed cassette from said cassette inlet-outlet opening into said processed cassette housing portion.

Claim 6

A cassette changer mountable on a magnetic recording-reproduction apparatus, the magnetic recording-reproduction apparatus having a cassette inlet-outlet opening, the cassette changer comprising a new cassette housing portion for housing a plurality of new cassettes to be inserted into the cassette inlet-outlet opening for recording or reproduction, said plurality of new cassettes being stacked above the other in vertical array, a processed cassette housing portion underlying said new cassette housing portion for housing a processed cassette discharged from said cassette inlet-outlet opening after recording or reproduction, a separator provided in a boundary portion between said new cassette housing portion and said processed cassette housing portion and pivotable between a cassette discharge position where only the processed cassette housing portion faces said cassette inlet-outlet opening with said plurality of new cassettes stacked in said new cassette housing portion being supported on said separator and a cassette insertion position where said separator is pivoted downwardly from said cassette discharge position by the weight of said new cassettes and only said new cassette housing portion faces said cassette inlet-outlet opening, spring means for biasing said separator toward said cassette discharge position, separator locking means having a locking position for locking said separator in said cassette discharge position and an unlocked position which permits said separator to move to said cassette insertion position, cassette withdrawing means for transferring said processed cassette from said cassette inlet-outlet opening into said processed cassette housing portion when said separator is in said cassette discharge position, cassette insertion means for transferring a lowermost of said vertically arrayed new cassettes in said new cassette housing portion into said cassette inlet-outlet opening when said separator is in said cassette insertion position, drive means for driving said cassette withdrawing means and said cassette insertion means, and cassette support means movable to underlie a second lowermost of said vertically arrayed new cassettes to support said second lowermost new cassette as said cassette insertion means transfers said lowermost new cassette into said inlet-outlet opening, said cassette support means being movable to a position displaced from underlying said second lowermost new cassette upon said cassette withdrawing means transferring said processed cassette from said cassette inlet-outlet opening into said processed cassette housing portion.

Claim 7

A cassette changer as defined in claim 4, wherein said cassette insertion means comprises a pair of spaced slider means which are movable while engaging the lowermost of said plurality of new cassettes, said drive means comprising spaced rack gears fixed on said new cassette housing portion, pinion gears mounted on each of said slider means and respectively engaged with said rack gears, said drive means further comprising a drive motor and a transmission mechanism for transmitting the rotational force of said drive motor to one of said pinion gears, and a connecting rod connecting the pinion gears to rotate together.

Claim 8

A cassette changer as defined in claim 5, wherein said transmission mechanism comprises spaced driven pulleys, a drive pulley driven by said drive motor, a belt passing over said driven pulleys and said drive pulley and being fixedly attached to said slider means so that the rotational force of said drive motor is transmitted to said one pinion gear.

Claim 9

A cassette changer as defined in claim 4, wherein said cassette insertion means comprises spaced sliders which are movable while engaging the lowermost of said plurality of new cassettes, said sliders each having a top surface which are positioned so as to be flush with or higher than that of said separator when said separator is in said cassette discharge position, said top surface constituting said cassette support means.

Claim 10

A cassette changer as defined in claim 7, wherein said drive means comprises spaced driven pulleys, a drive pulley driven by a drive motor, a belt passing over said driven pulleys and said drive pulley and being fixedly attached to said slider means so that the rotational force of said drive motor drives said sliders.

Claim 11

A cassette changer mountable on a magnetic recording-reproduction apparatus, the magnetic recording-reproduction apparatus having a cassette inlet-outlet opening, the cassette changer comprising a new cassette housing portion for housing a new cassette to be inserted into the cassette inlet-outlet opening for recording or reproduction, a processed cassette housing portion underlying said new cassette housing portion for housing a processed cassette discharged from said cassette inlet-outlet opening after recording or reproduction, a separator provided in a boundary portion between said new cassette housing portion and said processed cassette housing portion and pivotable between a cassette discharge position where only said processed cassette housing portion faces said cassette inlet-outlet opening with said new cassette in said new cassette housing portion being supported on said separator and a cassette insertion position where said separator is pivoted downwardly from said cassette discharge position by the weight of said new cassette and only said new cassette housing portion faces said cassette inlet-outlet opening, spring means for biasing said separator toward said cassette discharge position, separator locking means having a locking position for locking said separator in said cassette discharge position and an unlocked position which permits said separator to move to said cassette insertion position, cassette withdrawing means for transferring said processed cassette from said cassette inlet-outlet opening into said processed cassette housing portion when said separator is in said cassette discharge position, cassette insertion means for transferring said new cassette from said new cassette housing portion into said cassette inlet-outlet opening when said separator is in said cassette insertion position, and drive means for driving said cassette withdrawing means and said cassette insertion means, said cassette insertion means comprises a pair of spaced slider means which are movable while engaging said new cassette, said drive means comprising spaced rack gears fixed on said new cassette housing portion, pinion gears attached to each of said slider means and respectively engaged with said rack gears, a drive motor, a transmission mechanism for transmitting the rotational force os said drive motor to one of said pinion gears, and a connecting rod connecting said pinion gears to rotate together, said cassette insertion means comprising a first and second link member each having one pivotably connected to one another at a first pivot shaft, said first link member having its other end connected to a connecting portion of said connecting rod, a drive pulley mounted on the other end of said second link member, said drive motor driving said drive pulley, a middle pulley means on said first pivot shaft, a driven pulley on said connecting portion of said connecting rod, a first belt passing over said drive pulley and said middle pulley means, a second belt passing over said driven pulley and said middle pulley means such that the rotational force of said drive motor is transmitted via said drive pulley, said middle pulley means, said driven pulley and said first and second belts to drive said slider means.

Claim 12

A cassette changer mountable on a magnetic recording-reproduction apparatus, the magnetic recording-reproduction apparatus having a cassette inlet-outlet opening, the cassette changer comprising a new cassette housing portion for housing a new cassette to be inserted into the cassette inlet-outlet opening for recording or reproduction, a processed cassette housing portion underlying said new cassette housing portion for housing a processed cassette discharged from said cassette inlet-outlet opening after recording or reproduction, a separator provided in a boundary portion between said new cassette housing portion and said processed cassette housing portion and pivotable between a cassette discharge position where only said processed cassette housing portion faces said cassette inlet-outlet opening with said new cassette in said new cassette housing portion being supported on said separator and a cassette insertion position where said separator is pivoted downwardly from said cassette discharge position by the weight of said new cassette and only said new cassette housing portion faces said cassette inlet-outlet opening, spring means for biasing said separator toward said cassette discharge position, separator locking means having a locking position for locking said separator in said cassette discharge position and an unlocked position which permits said separator to move to said cassette insertion position, cassette withdrawing means for transferring said processed cassette from said cassette inlet-outlet opening into said processed cassette housing portion when said separator is in said cassette discharge position, cassette insertion means for transferring said new cassette from said new cassette housing portion into said cassette inlet-outlet opening when said separator is in said cassette insertion position, and drive means for driving said cassette withdrawing means and said cassette insertion means, said cassette insertion means comprises a pair of spaced slider means which are movable while engaging said new cassette, said drive means comprising spaced rack gears fixed on said new cassette housing portion, pinion gears attached to each of said slider means and respectively engaged with said rack gears, a drive motor, a transmission mechanism for transmitting the rotational force os said drive motor to one of said pinion gears, and a connecting rod connecting said pinion gears to rotate together, said cassette insertion means comprising a first and second link member each having one pivotably connected to one another at a first pivot shaft, said first link member having its other end connected to a connecting portion of said connecting rod, a drive pulley mounted on the other end of said second link member, said drive motor driving said drive pulley, a middle pulley means on said first pivot shaft, a driven pulley on said connecting portion of said connecting rod, a first belt passing over said drive pulley and said middle pulley means, a second belt passing over said driven pulley and said middle pulley means such that the rotational force of said drive motor is transmitted via said drive pulley, said middle pulley means, said driven pulley and said first and second belts to drive said slider means.

Claim 13

A cassette changer mountable on a magnetic recording-reproduction apparatus, the magnetic recording-reproduction apparatus having a cassette inlet-outlet opening, the cassette changer comprising a new cassette housing portion for housing a plurality of new cassettes to be inserted into the cassette inlet-outlet opening for recording or reproduction, said plurality of new cassettes being stacked one above the other in vertical array, a processed cassette housing portion underlying said new cassette housing portion for housing a processed cassette discharged from said cassette inlet-outlet opening after recording or reproduction, a separator provided in a boundary portion between said new cassette housing portion and said processed cassette housing portion and pivtable between a cassette discharge position where only the processed cassette housing portion faces said cassette inlet-outlet opening with said plurality of new cassettes stacked in said new cassette housing portion being supported on said separator and a cassette insertion position where said separator is pivoted downwardly from said cassette discharge position by the weight of said new cassettes and only said new cassette housing portion faces said cassette inlet-outlet opening, spring means for biasing said separator toward said cassette discharge position, separator locking means having a locking position for locking said separator in said cassette discharge position and an unlocked position which permits said separator to move to said cassette insertion position, cassette withdrawing means for transferring said processed cassette from said cassette inlet-outlet opening into said processed cassette housing portion when said separator is in said cassette discharge position, cassette insertion means for transferring a lowermost of said vertically arrayed new cassettes in said new cassette housing portion into said cassette inlet-outlet opening when said separator is in said cassette insertion position, drive means for driving said cassette withdrawing means and said cassette insertion means, and cassette support means movale to underlie a second lowermost of said vertically arrayed new cassettes to support said second lowermost new cassette as said in cassette insertion means transfers said lowermost new cassette into said inlet-outlet opening, said cassette support means being movable to a position displaced from underlying said second lowermost new cassette upon said cassette withdrawing means transferring said processed cassette from said cassette inlet-outlet opening into said processed cassette housing portion, said cassette insertion means comprising a pair of spaced slider means which are movable while engaging the lowermost of said plurality of new cassettes, said drive means comprising spaced rack gears fixed on said new cassette housing portion, pinion gears mounted on each of said slider means and respectively engaged with said rack gears, a drive motor, a transmission mechanism for transmitting the rotational force of said drive motor to one of said pinion gears, and a connecting rod connecting the pinion gears to rotate together, said transmission mechanism comprising a first and seconf link member each having one end pivotably connected to one another at a first pivot shaft, said first link member having its other end connected to a connecting portion of said connecting rod, a drive pulley mounted on the other end of said second link member, said drive motor driving said drive pulley, a middle pulley means on said first pivot shaft, a driven pulley on said connecting portion of said connecting rod, a first belt passing over said drive pulley and said middle pulley means, a second belt passing over said driven pulley and said middle pulley means such that the rotational force of said drive motor is transmitted via said drive pulley, said middle pulley means, said driven pulley and said first and second belts to drive said slider means.

Claim 14

A cassette changer mountable on a magnetic recording-reproduction apparatus, the magnetic recording-reproduction apparatus having a cassette inlet-outlet opening, the cassette changer comprising a new cassette housing portion for housing a plurality of new cassettes to be inserted into the cassette inlet-outlet opening for recording or reproduction, said plurality of new cassettes being stacked one above the other in vertical array, a processed cassette housing portion underlying said new cassette housing portion for housing a processed cassette discharged from said cassette inlet-outlet opening after recording or reproduction, a separator provided in a boundary portion between said new cassette housing portion and said processed cassette housing portion and pivtable between a cassette discharge position where only the processed cassette housing portion faces said cassette inlet-outlet opening with said plurality of new cassettes stacked in said new cassette housing portion being supported on said separator and a cassette insertion position where said separator is pivoted downwardly from said cassette discharge position by the weight of said new cassettes and only said new cassette housing portion faces said cassette inlet-outlet opening, spring means for biasing said separator toward said cassette discharge position, separator locking means having a locking position for locking said separator in said cassette discharge position and an unlocked position which permits said separator to move to said cassette insertion position, cassette withdrawing means for transferring said processed cassette from said cassette inlet-outlet opening into said processed cassette housing portion when said separator is in said cassette discharge position, cassette insertion means for transferring a lowermost of said vertically arrayed new cassettes in said new cassette housing portion into said cassette inlet-outlet opening when said separator is in said cassette insertion position, drive means for driving said cassette withdrawing means and said cassette insertion means, and cassette support means movale to underlie a second lowermost of said vertically arrayed new cassettes to support said second lowermost new cassette as said in cassette insertion means transfers said lowermost new cassette into said inlet-outlet opening, said cassette support means being movable to a position displaced from underlying said second lowermost new cassette upon said cassette withdrawing means transferring said processed cassette from said cassette inlet-outlet opening into said processed cassette housing portion, said cassette insertion means comprising a pair of spaced slider means which are movable while engaging the lowermost of said plurality of new cassettes, said drive means comprising spaced rack gears fixed on said new cassette housing portion, pinion gears mounted on each of said slider means and respectively engaged with said rack gears, a drive motor, a transmission mechanism for transmitting the rotational force of said drive motor to one of said pinion gears, and a connecting rod connecting the pinion gears to rotate together, said transmission mechanism comprising a first and seconf link member each having one end pivotably connected to one another at a first pivot shaft, said first link member having its other end connected to a connecting portion of said connecting rod, a drive pulley mounted on the other end of said second link member, said drive motor driving said drive pulley, a middle pulley means on said first pivot shaft, a driven pulley on said connecting portion of said connecting rod, a first belt passing over said drive pulley and said middle pulley means, a second belt passing over said driven pulley and said middle pulley means such that the rotational force of said drive motor is transmitted via said drive pulley, said middle pulley means, said driven pulley and said first and second belts to drive said slider means.

Claim 15

A cassette changer mountable on a magnetic recording-reproduction apparatus, the magnetic recording-reproduction apparatus having a cassette inlet-outlet opening, the cassette changer comprising a new cassette housing portion for housing a plurality of new cassettes to be inserted into the cassette inlet-outlet opening for recording or reproduction, said plurality of new cassettes being stacked one above the other in vertical array, a processed cassette housing portion underlying said new cassette housing portion for housing a processed cassette discharged from said cassette inlet-outlet opening after recording or reproduction, a separator provided in a boundary portion between said new cassette housing portion and said processed cassette housing portion and pivotable between a cassette discharge position where only the processed cassette housing portion faces said cassette inlet-outlet opening with said plurality of new cassettes stacked in said new cassette housing portion being supported on said separator and a cassette insertion position where said separator is pivoted downwardly from said cassette discharge position by the weight of said new cassettes and only said new cassette housing portion faces said cassette inlet-outlet opening, spring means for biasing said separator toward said cassette discharge position, separator locking means having a locking position for locking said separator in said cassette discharge position and an unlocked position which permits said separator to move to said cassette insertion position, cassette withdrawing means for transferring said processed cassette from said cassette inlet-outlet opening into said processed cassette housing portion when said separator is in said cassette discharge position, cassette insertion means for transferring a lowermost of said vertically arrayed new cassettes in said new cassette housing portion into said cassette inlet-outlet opening when said separator is in said cassette insertion position, drive means for driving said cassette withdrawing means and said cassette insertion means, and cassette support means movable to underlie a second lowermost of said vertically arrayed new cassettes to support said second lowermost new cassette as said cassette insertion means transfers said lowermost new cassette into said inlet-outlet opening, said cassette support means being movable to a position displaced from underlying said second lowermost new cassettes upon said cassette withdrawing means transferring said processed cassette from said cassette inlet-outlet opening into said processed cassette housing portion, said cassette insertion means comprising spaced sliders which are movable while engaging the lowermost of said plurality of new cassettes, said sliders each having a top surface which are positioned so as to be flush with or higher than that of said separator when said separator is in said cassette discharge position, said top surfaces constituting said cassette support means, said cassette insertion means comprising a first and second link member each having one end pivotably connected to one another at a first pivot shaft, said first link member having its other end connected to a connecting rod which drives said sliders, a drive pulley mounted on the other end of said second link member, said drive means comprising a drive motor driving said drive pulley, a middle pulley means on said first pivot shaft, a driven pulley on a connecting portion of said connecting rod, a first belt passing over said drive pulley and said middle pulley means, a second belt passing over said driven pulley and said middle pulley means such that the rotational force of said drive motor is transmitted via said drive pulley, said middle pulley means, said driven pulley and said first and second belts to drive said sliders.

Claim 16

A cassette changer mountable on a magnetic recording-reproduction apparatus, the magnetic recording-reproduction apparatus having a cassette inlet-outlet opening, the cassette changer comprising a new cassette housing portion for housing a plurality of new cassettes to be inserted into the cassette inlet-outlet opening for recording or reproduction, said plurality of new cassettes being stacked one above the other in vertical array, a processed cassette housing portion underlying said new cassette housing portion for housing a processed cassette discharged from said cassette inlet-outlet opening after recording or reproduction, a separator provided in a boundary portion between said new cassette housing portion and said processed cassette housing portion and pivotable between a cassette discharge position where only the processed cassette housing portion faces said cassette inlet-outlet opening with said plurality of new cassettes stacked in said new cassette housing portion being supported on said separator and a cassette insertion position where said separator is pivoted downwardly from said cassette discharge position by the weight of said new cassettes and only said new cassette housing portion faces said cassette inlet-outlet opening, spring means for biasing said separator toward said cassette discharge position, separator locking means having a locking position for locking said separator in said cassette discharge position and an unlocked position which permits said separator to move to said cassette insertion position, cassette withdrawing means for transferring said processed cassette from said cassette inlet-outlet opening into said processed cassette housing portion when said separator is in said cassette discharge position, cassette insertion means for transferring a lowermost of said vertically arrayed new cassettes in said new cassette housing portion into said cassette inlet-outlet opening when said separator is in said cassette insertion position, drive means for driving said cassette withdrawing means and said cassette insertion means, and cassette support means movable to underlie a second lowermost of said vertically arrayed new cassettes to support said second lowermost new cassette as said cassette insertion means transfers said lowermost new cassette into said inlet-outlet opening, said cassette support means being movable to a position displaced from underlying said second lowermost new cassettes upon said cassette withdrawing means transferring said processed cassette from said cassette inlet-outlet opening into said processed cassette housing portion, said cassette insertion means comprising spaced sliders which are movable while engaging the lowermost of said plurality of new cassettes, said sliders each having a top surface which are positioned so as to be flush with or higher than that of said separator when said separator is in said cassette discharge position, said top surfaces constituting said cassette support means, said cassette insertion means comprising a first and second link member each having one end pivotably connected to one another at a first pivot shaft, said first link member having its other end connected to a connecting rod which drives said sliders, a drive pulley mounted on the other end of said second link member, said drive means comprising a drive motor driving said drive pulley, a middle pulley means on said first pivot shaft, a driven pulley on a connecting portion of said connecting rod, a first belt passing over said drive pulley and said middle pulley means, a second belt passing over said driven pulley and said middle pulley means such that the rotational force of said drive motor is transmitted via said drive pulley, said middle pulley means, said driven pulley and said first and second belts to drive said sliders.

Claim 17

A cassette changer mountable on a magnetic recording-reproduction apparatus, the magnetic recording-reproduction apparatus having a cassette inlet-outlet opening, the cassette changer comprising a new cassette housing portion for housing a new cassette to be inserted into the cassette inlet-outlet opening for recording or reproduction, a processed cassette housing portion underlying said new cassette housing portion for housing a processed cassette discharged from said cassette inlet-outlet opening after recording or reproduction, a separator provided in a boundary portion between said new cassette housing portion and said processed cassette housing portion and pivotable between a cassette discharge position where only said processed cassette housing portion faces said cassette inlet-outlet opening with said new cassette in said new cassette housing portion being supported on said separator and a cassette insertion position where said separator is pivoted downwardly from sais cassette discharge position by the weight of said new cassette and only said new cassette housing portion faces said cassette inlet-outlet opening, spring means for biasing said separator toward said cassette discharge position, separator locking means having a locking position for locking said separator in said cassette discharge position and an unlocked position which permits said separator to move to said cassette insertion position, said separator having a pivotal side end, said separator locking means comprising a projected piece provided on said pivotal side end of said separator, a lock member slidably movable between a locking position where said lock member contacts a contact surface of said projected piece and an unlocked position where said lock member moves away from said contact surface, and a lock member drive mechanism for driving said lock member between said locking and unlocked positions, cassette withdrawing means for transferring said processed cassette from said cassetts inlet-outlet opening into said processed cassette housing portion when said separator is in said cassette discharge position, cassette insertion means for transferring said new cassetts from said new cassette housing portion into said cassette inlet-outlet opening when said separator is in said cassette insertion position, and drive means for driving said cassette withdrawing means and said cassette insertion means

Claim 18

A cassette changer mountable on a magnetic recording-reproduction apparatus, the magnetic recording-reproduction apparatus having a cassette inlet-outlet opening, the cassette changer comprising a new cassette housing portion for housing a new cassette to be inserted into the cassette inlet-outlet opening for recording or reproduction, a processed cassette housing portion underlying said new cassette housing portion for housing a processed cassette discharged from said cassette inlet-outlet opening after recording or reproduction, a separator provided in a boundary portion between said new cassette housing portion and said processed cassette housing portion and pivotable between a cassette discharge position where only said processed cassette housing portion faces said cassette inlet-outlet opening with said new cassette in said new cassette housing portion being supported on said separator and a cassette insertion position where said separator is pivoted downwardly from sais cassette discharge position by the weight of said new cassette and only said new cassette housing portion faces said cassette inlet-outlet opening, spring means for biasing said separator toward said cassette discharge position, separator locking means having a locking position for locking said separator in said cassette discharge position and an unlocked position which permits said separator to move to said cassette insertion position, said separator having a pivotal side end, said separator locking means comprising a projected piece provided on said pivotal side end of said separator, a lock member slidably movable between a locking position where said lock member contacts a contact surface of said projected piece and an unlocked position where said lock member moves away from said contact surface, and a lock member drive mechanism for driving said lock member between said locking and unlocked positions, cassette withdrawing means for transferring said processed cassette from said cassetts inlet-outlet opening into said processed cassette housing portion when said separator is in said cassette discharge position, cassette insertion means for transferring said new cassetts from said new cassette housing portion into said cassette inlet-outlet opening when said separator is in said cassette insertion position, and drive means for driving said cassette withdrawing means and said cassette insertion means

Claim 19

A cassette changer as defined in Claim 12, wherein said lock member drive mechanism comprises a lock spring biasing said lock member toward said locking position and an electromagnet for moving said lock member to said unlocked position against the bias of said lock spring.

Claim 20

A cassette changer mountable on a magnetic recording-reproduction apparatus, the magnetic recording-reproduction apparatus having a cassette inlet-outlet opening, the cassette changer comprising a new cassette housing portion for housing a new cassette to be inserted into the cassette inlet-outlet opening for recording or reproduction, a processed cassette housing portion underlying said new cassette housing portion for housing a processed cassette discharged from said cassette inlet-outlet opening after recording or reproduction, a separator provided in a boundary portion between said new cassette housing portion and said processed cassette housing portion and pivotable between a cassette discharge position where only said processed cassette housing portion faces said cassette inlet-outlet opening with said new cassette in said new cassette housing portion being supported on said separator and a cassette insertion position where said separator is pivoted downwardly from said cassette discharge position by the weight of said new cassette and only said new cassette housing portion faces said cassette inlet-outlet opening, spring means for biasing said separator toward said cassette discharge position, separator locking means having a locking position for locking said separator in said cassette discharge position and an unlocked position which permits said separator to move to said cassette insertion position, said separator having a pivotal side end and an opposite end, said separator locking means comprising a lock member disposed in a position to face said opposite end of said separator and movable between said locking position where said lock member engages and supports said opposite end of said separator and said unlocked position where said lock member moves away from engaging said opposite end of said separator, and a lock member drive mechanism for driving said lock member between said locing and said unlocked positions, cassette withdrawing means for transferring said processed cassette from said cassette inlet-outlet opening into said processed cassette housing portion when said separator is in said cassette discharge position, cassette insertion means for transferring said new cassette from said new cassette housing portion into said cassette inlet-outlet opening when said separator is in said cassette insertion position, and drive means for driving said cassette withdrawing means and said cassette insertion means.

Claim 21

A cassette changer mountable on a magnetic recording-reproduction apparatus, the magnetic recording-reproduction apparatus having a cassette inlet-outlet opening, the cassette changer comprising a new cassette housing portion for housing a new cassette to be inserted into the cassette inlet-outlet opening for recording or reproduction, a processed cassette housing portion underlying said new cassette housing portion for housing a processed cassette discharged from said cassette inlet-outlet opening after recording or reproduction, a separator provided in a boundary portion between said new cassette housing portion and said processed cassette housing portion and pivotable between a cassette discharge position where only said processed cassette housing portion faces said cassette inlet-outlet opening with said new cassette in said new cassette housing portion being supported on said separator and a cassette insertion position where said separator is pivoted downwardly from said cassette discharge position by the weight of said new cassette and only said new cassette housing portion faces said cassette inlet-outlet opening, spring means for biasing said separator toward said cassette discharge position, separator locking means having a locking position for locking said separator in said cassette discharge position and an unlocked position which permits said separator to move to said cassette insertion position, said separator having a pivotal side end and an opposite end, said separator locking means comprising a lock member disposed in a position to face said opposite end of said separator and movable between said locking position where said lock member engages and supports said opposite end of said separator and said unlocked position where said lock member moves away from engaging said opposite end of said separator, and a lock member drive mechanism for driving said lock member between said locing and said unlocked positions, cassette withdrawing means for transferring said processed cassette from said cassette inlet-outlet opening into said processed cassette housing portion when said separator is in said cassette discharge position, cassette insertion means for transferring said new cassette from said new cassette housing portion into said cassette inlet-outlet opening when said separator is in said cassette insertion position, and drive means for driving said cassette withdrawing means and said cassette insertion means.

Claim 22

A cassette changer as defined in Claim 17, wherein said lock member drive mechanism comprises a lock spring biasing said lock member toward said locking position and an electromagnet for moving said lock member to said unlocked position against the bias of said lock spring.

Claim 23

A cassette changer as defined in Claim 14, wherein said cassette insertion means comprises slider means engageable with said new cassette, said lock member drive mechanism comprises a lock spring biasing said lock member toward said locking position, an operation rod slidably pushed by said slider means at the time of insertion of said new cassetts, and a locking release lever for converting the sliding movement of said operation rod into a rotational force and transmitting said rotational force to said lock member to move said lock member toward said unlocked position.

Claim 24

A cassette changer mountable on a magnetic recording-reproduction apparatus, the magnetic recording-reproduction apparatus having a cassette inlet-outlet opening, the cassette changer comprising a new cassette housing portion for housing a new cassette to be inserted into the cassette inlet-outlet opening for recording or reproduction, a processed cassette housing portion underlying said new cassette housing portion for housing a processed cassette discharged from said cassette inlet-outlet opening after recording or reproduction, a separator provided in a boundary portion between said new cassette housing portion and said processed cassette housing portion and moveable between a cassette discharge position where said processed cassette housing portion faces said cassette inlet-outlet opening with said new cassette in said new cassette housing portion being supported on said separator and a cassette insertion position where said separator is moved from said cassette discharge position and said new cassette housing portion faces said cassette inlet-outlet opening, said separator having a front portion and a rear portion extending at an obtuse angle from said front portion, said rear portion supporting said new cassette when said separator is in said cassette discharge position, said front portion supporting said new cassette when said separator is in said cassette insertion position, separator locking means having a locking position for locking said separator in one of said positions and an unlocked position which permits said separator to move to the other of said positions, cassette withdrawing means for transferring said processed cassette from said cassette inlet-outlet opening into said processed cassette housing portion when said separator is in said cassette discharge position, and cassette insertion means for transferring said new cassette from said new cassette housing portion into said cassette inlet-outlet opening when said separator is in said cassette insertion position.

Claim 25

A cassette changer mountable on a magnetic recording-reproduction apparatus, the magnetic recording-reproduction apparatus having a cassette inlet-outlet opening, the cassette changer comprising a new cassette housing portion for housing a new cassette to be inserted into the cassette inlet-outlet opening for recording or reproduction, a processed cassette housing portion underlying said new cassette housing portion for housing a processed cassette discharged from said cassette inlet-outlet opening after recording or reproduction, a separator provided in a boundary portion between said new cassette housing portion and said processed cassette housing portion and moveable between a cassette discharge position where said processed cassette housing portion faces said cassette inlet-outlet opening with said new cassette in said new cassette housing portion being supported on said separator and a cassette insertion position where said separator is moved from said cassette discharge position and said new cassette housing portion faces said cassette inlet-outlet opening, said separator having a front portion and a rear portion extending at an obtuse angle from said front portion, said rear portion supporting said new cassette when said separator is in said cassette discharge position, said front portion supporting said new cassette when said separator is in said cassette insertion position, separator locking means having a locking position for locking said separator in one of said positions and an unlocked position which permits said separator to move to the other of said positions, cassette withdrawing means for transferring said processed cassette from said cassette inlet-outlet opening into said processed cassette housing portion when said separator is in said cassette discharge position, and cassette insertion means for transferring said new cassette from said new cassette housing portion into said cassette inlet-outlet opening when said separator is in said cassette insertion position.

Claim 26

A cassette changer as defined in Claim 17, wherein said rear portion of said separator is substantially horizontally disposed and said front portion is inclined relative to horizontal when said separator is in said cassette discharge position, said front position being substantially horizontally disposed and said rear portion being inclined relative to horizontal when said separator is in said cassette insertion position.

Claim 27

A cassette changer mountable on a magnetic recording-reproduction apparatus, the magnetic recording-reproduction apparatus having a cassette inlet-outlet opening, the cassette changer comprising a new cassette housing portion for housing a new cassette to be inserted into the cassette inlet-outlet opening for recording or reproduction, a processed cassette housing portion underlying said new cassette housing portion for housing a processed cassette discharged from said cassette inlet-outlet opening after recording or reproduction, a separator provided in a boundary portion between said new cassette housing portion and said processed cassette housing portion and movable between a cassette discharge position where said processed cassette housing portion faces said cassette inlet-outlet opening with said new cassette in said new cassette housing portion being supported on said separator and a cassette insertion position where said separator is moved from said cassette discharge position and said new cassette housing portion faces said cassette inlet-outlet opening, separator locking means having a locking position for locking said separator in one of said positions and an unlocked position which permits said separator to move to the other of said positions, cassette withdrawing means for transferring said processed cassette from said cassette inlet-outlet opening into said processed cassette housing portion when said separator is in said cassette discharge position, cassette insertion means for transferring said new cassette from said new cassette housing portion into said cassette inlet-outlet opening when said separator is in said cassette insertion position, and rive means for driving said cassette withdrawing means and said cassette insertion means, said cassette insertion means being movable between a first position and an insertion position spaced from said first position, said cassette insertion means carrying a new cassette support means which underlies and supports said new cassette in said new cassette housing portion when said cassette insertion means moves from said first position to said insertion postion.

Claim 28

A cassette changer mountable on a magnetic recording-reproduction apparatus, the magnetic recording-reproduction apparatus having a cassette inlet-outlet opening, the cassette changer comprising a new cassette housing portion for housing a new cassette to be inserted into the cassette inlet-outlet opening for recording or reproduction, a processed cassette housing portion underlying said new cassette housing portion for housing a processed cassette discharged from said cassette inlet-outlet opening after recording or reproduction, a separator provided in a boundary portion between said new cassette housing portion and said processed cassette housing portion and movable between a cassette discharge position where said processed cassette housing portion faces said cassette inlet-outlet opening with said new cassette in said new cassette housing portion being supported on said separator and a cassette insertion position where said separator is moved from said cassette discharge position and said new cassette housing portion faces said cassette inlet-outlet opening, separator locking means having a locking position for locking said separator in one of said positions and an unlocked position which permits said separator to move to the other of said positions, cassette withdrawing means for transferring said processed cassette from said cassette inlet-outlet opening into said processed cassette housing portion when said separator is in said cassette discharge position, cassette insertion means for transferring said new cassette from said new cassette housing portion into said cassette inlet-outlet opening when said separator is in said cassette insertion position, and rive means for driving said cassette withdrawing means and said cassette insertion means, said cassette insertion means being movable between a first position and an insertion position spaced from said first position, said cassette insertion means carrying a new cassette support means which underlies and supports said new cassette in said new cassette housing portion when said cassette insertion means moves from said first position to said insertion postion.

Claim 29

A cassette changer as defined in Claim 19, wherein said new cassette support means slidably engages said new cassette in said new cassette housing portion as said cassette insertion means moves from said first position to said insertion position.

Claim 30

A cassette changer as defined in Claim 19, wherein said cassette insertion means is movable to a withdrawn position spaced from said first position, said new cassette support means being displaced from underlying said new cassette in said new cassette housing portion when said cassette insertion means is in said withdrawn position, said new cassette passing by gravity from said new cassette housing portion to a position on said separator when said cassette insertion means is in said withdrawn position, said new cassette in passing by gravity to said position on said separator effecting pivotal movement of said separator from its discharge position to its insertion position.

Claim 31

A cassette changer mountable on a magnetic recording-reproduction apparatus, the magnetic recording-reproduction apparatus having a cassette inlet-outlet opening, the cassette changer comprising a new cassette housing portion for housing a new cassette to be inserted into the cassette inlet-outlet opening for recording or reproductioin, said new cassette housing portion having a front side and a rear side, said rear side being generally vertically disposed, said rear side having a lower terminating end, said front side having a generally vertically disposed upper section and a lower inclined section which is inclined relative to vertical, said new cassette having a front end and a rear end, a processed cassette housing portion underlying said new cassette housing portion for housing a processed cassette discharged from said cassette inlet-outlet opening after recording or reproduction, a separator provided in a boundary portion between said new cassette housing portion and said porcessed cassette housing portion and movable between a cassette discharge position where said processed cassette housing portion faces said cassette inlet-outlet opening with said new cassette in said new cassette housing portion being supported on said separator and a cassette insertion position where said separator is moved from said cassette discharge position and said new cassette housing portion faces said cassette inlet-outlet opening, said lower inclined section of said new cassette housing portion being disposed to engage said front end of said new cassette so that the rear end of said new cassette tilts downwardly when said separator is being pivoted from its discharage position to its insertion position by the weight of said new cassette, said lower inclined section effecting rearward displacement of said new cassette as said new cassette moves by gravity to a position disposed on said separator while said separator is in said insertion position, said rear end of said new cassette passing under said terminating end of said rear side of said new cassette housing portioin during said rearward displacement of said new cassette, separator locking means having a locking position for locking said separator in one of said positions and an unlocked position which permits said separator to move to the other of said positions, cassette withdrawing means for transferring said processed cassette from said cassette inlet-outlet opening into said processed cassette housing portion when said separator is in said cassette discharge position, and cassette insertion means for transferring said new cassette from said new cassette housing portion into said cassette inlet-outlet opening when said separator is in said cassette insertion position.

Claim 32

A cassette changer mountable on a magnetic recording-reproduction apparatus, the magnetic recording-reproduction apparatus having a cassette inlet-outlet opening, the cassette changer comprising a new cassette housing portion for housing a new cassette to be inserted into the cassette inlet-outlet opening for recording or reproductioin, said new cassette housing portion having a front side and a rear side, said rear side being generally vertically disposed, said rear side having a lower terminating end, said front side having a generally vertically disposed upper section and a lower inclined section which is inclined relative to vertical, said new cassette having a front end and a rear end, a processed cassette housing portion underlying said new cassette housing portion for housing a processed cassette discharged from said cassette inlet-outlet opening after recording or reproduction, a separator provided in a boundary portion between said new cassette housing portion and said porcessed cassette housing portion and movable between a cassette discharge position where said processed cassette housing portion faces said cassette inlet-outlet opening with said new cassette in said new cassette housing portion being supported on said separator and a cassette insertion position where said separator is moved from said cassette discharge position and said new cassette housing portion faces said cassette inlet-outlet opening, said lower inclined section of said new cassette housing portion being disposed to engage said front end of said new cassette so that the rear end of said new cassette tilts downwardly when said separator is being pivoted from its discharage position to its insertion position by the weight of said new cassette, said lower inclined section effecting rearward displacement of said new cassette as said new cassette moves by gravity to a position disposed on said separator while said separator is in said insertion position, said rear end of said new cassette passing under said terminating end of said rear side of said new cassette housing portioin during said rearward displacement of said new cassette, separator locking means having a locking position for locking said separator in one of said positions and an unlocked position which permits said separator to move to the other of said positions, cassette withdrawing means for transferring said processed cassette from said cassette inlet-outlet opening into said processed cassette housing portion when said separator is in said cassette discharge position, and cassette insertion means for transferring said new cassette from said new cassette housing portion into said cassette inlet-outlet opening when said separator is in said cassette insertion position.

Claim 33

A cassette changer as defined in Claim 22, wherein said vertically disposed rear side of said new cassette housing portion and said vertically disposed upper section of said front side of said new cassette housing portion are spaced from one another a first distance, said new cassette having a width extending between said front and rear ends approximately equal to said first distance, said lower inclined section extending downwardly from said upper section and toward said vertically disposed rear side of said new cassette housing portion.

Claim 34

The cassette changer as defined in claim 22, wherein said lower inclined section extends below the level of said terminating end of said rear side of said new cassette housing portion.

Claim 35

A cassette changer mountable on a magnetic recording-reproduction apparatus, the magnetic recording-reproduction apparatus having a cassette inlet-outlet opening, the cassette changer comprising a new cassette housing portion for housing a new cassette to be inserted into the cassette inlet-outlet opening for recording or reproduction, a processed cassette housing portion underlying said new cassette housing portion for housing a processed cassette discharged from said cassette inlet-outlet opening after recording or reproduction, a separator provided in a boundary portion between said new cassette housing portion and said processed cassette housing portion and movable between a cassette discharge position where said processed cassette housing portion faces said cassette inlet-outlet opening with said new cassette in said new cassette housing portion being supported on said separator and a cassette insertion position where said separator is moved from said cassette discharge position and said new cassette housing portion faces said cassette inlet-outlet opening, locking means having a locking position for locking said separator in said discharge position and an unlocked position which permits cassette withdrawing means for transferring said processed cassette from said cassette inlet-outlet opening into said processed cassette housing portion when said separator is in said cassette discharge position, and cassette insertion means for transferring said new cassette from said new cassette housing portion into said cassette inlet-outlet opening when said searator is in said cassette insertion position, and drive means for driving said cassette withdrawing means and said cassette insertion means, said separator to move to said insertion position, said cassette insertion means being movable between a first and second position, said cassette insertion means having actuating means operable to actuate said locking means so that when said cassette insertion means is moved from said first to said second position, said locking means is actuated from its locking to its unlocked position.

Claim 36

A cassette changer mountable on a magnetic recording-reproduction apparatus, the magnetic recording-reproduction apparatus having a cassette inlet-outlet opening, the cassette changer comprising a new cassette housing portion for housing a new cassette to be inserted into the cassette inlet-outlet opening for recording or reproduction, a processed cassette housing portion underlying said new cassette housing portion for housing a processed cassette discharged from said cassette inlet-outlet opening after recording or reproduction, a separator provided in a boundary portion between said new cassette housing portion and said processed cassette housing portion and movable between a cassette discharge position where said processed cassette housing portion faces said cassette inlet-outlet opening with said new cassette in said new cassette housing portion being supported on said separator and a cassette insertion position where said separator is moved from said cassette discharge position and said new cassette housing portion faces said cassette inlet-outlet opening, locking means having a locking position for locking said separator in said discharge position and an unlocked position which permits cassette withdrawing means for transferring said processed cassette from said cassette inlet-outlet opening into said processed cassette housing portion when said separator is in said cassette discharge position, and cassette insertion means for transferring said new cassette from said new cassette housing portion into said cassette inlet-outlet opening when said searator is in said cassette insertion position, and drive means for driving said cassette withdrawing means and said cassette insertion means, said separator to move to said insertion position, said cassette insertion means being movable between a first and second position, said cassette insertion means having actuating means operable to actuate said locking means so that when said cassette insertion means is moved from said first to said second position, said locking means is actuated from its locking to its unlocked position.

Claim 37

a cassette changer as defined in Claim 25, wherein said cassette insertion means has a third position which is its position upon insertion of said new cassette in said inlet-outlet opening, said cassette insertion means being movable in one direction from said first position to said third position to insert said cassette in said inlet-outlet opening, said cassette insertion means being movable in an opposite direction from said first position to said second position to actuate said locking means from its locking position to its unlocked position.