Abstract: An automatic cassette loading apparatus in which a tape cassette containing a magnetic tape is held and transported forwardly and returned between a cassette insertion position and a cassette loaded position. The number of switches is reduced by use of a rotary cam and a drive arm, and a drive motor and the switches are combined on the same printed circuit board.

Abstract: In a cassette loading apparatus for a video tape recorder equipped with a front loading mechanism, bearing portions of a worm are disposed at predetermined positions in side brackets for supporting a cassette holder which have L-shaped guide holes for guiding the support shaft of the cassette holder in both horizontal and vertical directions, a reference hole is bored on the base of the video tape recorder, a shaft of the worm is inserted through the bearing portions and the reference hole, and the worm shaft keeps constant the axial distance between gears for a cassette loading mechanism and a driving gear for driving the video tape recorder.