Abstract: A cassette loader for loading a length of magnetic tape into a cassette having opposing major sides, and opposing top, bottom and first and second opposing side edges, respective first and second through capstan access holes. Positioners are used for referencing the position of the cassette at a processing station during processing. The positioners are carried by the cassette loader for engaging the bottom and the top of the cassette and for engaging the top of the cassette. One of the first or second positioners includes a place bar for urging the other positioner against the cassette under pressure and for ejecting the cassette when winding is complete.

Abstract: A cassette loader for loading a length of magnetic tape into cassette having a relatively short length of leader tape pre-loaded into the cassette and attached by opposite ends to respective first and second cassette hubs. The cassette loader includes a leader equalization position for holding a cassette; a leader equalizer for winding the leader tape substantially completely onto one or the other of the first and second cassette hubs while the cassette is in the leader equalization position and a cassette loading position spaced-apart from the leader equalization position for loading a length of magnetic tape into a cassette which has previously been processed in the leader equalization position. A cassette loading position is provided for loading a length of magnetic tape into the cassette at the cassette loading position simultaneously with the operation of the leader equalizer on the cassette in the leader equalization position.

Abstract: A cassette loader for loading a length of magnetic tape into a cassette having a relatively short length of leader tape preloaded into the cassette and attached by opposite ends to respective first and second cassette hubs. The cassette loader has a leader tape extraction position for holding a cassette, a leader tape extractor for extracting the leader tape from the cassette in preparation for splicing the leader tape to a length of magnetic tape and a cassette loading position spaced-apart from the leader tape extraction position for loading a length of magnetic tape into a cassette the leader tape of which has previously been spliced to the magnetic tape in the leader tape extraction position.