Abstract: A tray unit is moved into a housing or partially pulled out from the housing by a horizontal motor provided in the housing. Since the tray unit can load a plurality of cassettes, the weight of the unit is largely changed in accordance with the number of loaded cassettes. The horizontal motor must be controlled by accurately detecting the moving position of the tray unit. The rotation of the horizontal motor is transmitted to a rotary member. The rotation of the rotary member is associated with a pulse detecting element provided on a printed circuit board for tray position detection. The moving position of the tray unit is detected by counting pulses obtained from the pulse detecting element in accordance with the rotation of the rotary member.

Abstract: First and second tape-pulling members comprise slanted posts and guide rollers adapted for engagement with the tape contained in a tape cassette. By the slanted posts and guide rollers, the first and second tape-pulling members pull the tape out of the tape cassette. Each of the guide rollers includes a tape-winding portion around which the tape is to be wound. First and second holding members are provided at positions where the tape loading by the first and second tape-pulling members is completed. Tape control portions, by which the tape disengaged from the guide rollers are controlled, are formed on the first and second holding members, respectively, such that they are located on the tape-outlet sides of the guide rollers of the first and second tape-pulling members, i.e., on the side closer to a cylinder. Each of the tape control portions is substantially at the same level as the corresponding tape-winding portions of the guide rollers.

Abstract: A cassette tape slack-preventing apparatus to prevent magnetic tape from becoming slack when inserted into a video tape recorder in which the capstan motor drives the reel bases as well as the cassette loading machanism. Mode switching cams are used to detect if a front loading mechanism is in operating and keeps the reel bases from rotating through linkages to the cams.

Abstract: A cassette holder holds a cassette, and is disposed to be substantially horizontally movable. A loading mechanism includes a guide member for guiding the cassette holder to load or unload the cassette, and a worm wheel for driving the guide member. A worm unit includes a worm, having first and second ends, meshed with the worm wheel, a rotating member coaxially mounted to the first end of the worm, and thrust and radial bearings coaxially mounted between the worm and the rotating member, the worm being driven in accordance with a transmission of rotation from a drive source to the rotating member. A mounting mechanism, to which the worm unit is mounted, includes a first elastic support member for elastically supporting the second end of the worm, and a second elastic support member for elastically supporting the radial bearing.

Abstract: A driving gear is attached to a capstan motor used for driving a capstan. The driving gear is rotated together with the capstan motor. A vertically-movable gear, which is movable in the axial direction thereof, faces the driving gear, and is designed in such a manner as to selectively mesh with the driving gear. The vertically-movable gear is moved up or down by a switch lever, and this switch lever is swung in accordance with the rotation of a mode-switching cam. When the vertically-movable gear is raised by the up swing of the switch lever and brought into mesh with the driving gear, a front loading mechanism moves a cassette holder which holds a tape cassette containing a magnetic tape, and loads the tape cassette in a tape-driving mechanism by utilization of the rotating force of the driving gear transmitted to the front loading mechanism through the vertically-movable gear.

Abstract: A disc stored in a casing is inserted in an apparatus for reproducing signals from the disc. The apparatus comprises: a housing having at one side an inlet through which the casing is inserted, a cover movable between a close position where it closes the inlet of the housing and an opening position where it opens the inlet, and a locking mechanism for preventing the cover from moving to the opening position when signals are reproduced from the disc and for moving the cover to the opening position when signals are not reproduced from the disc.