Cassette loading apparatus for video cassette recorder

Abstract

A motor installed on a wall of a cassette housing operates a placement gear and a rotating member for safely placing a cassette holder on a deck and then also operates a ring gear, which is installed on the deck, in order to load video tape for reproduction, thereby making it possible that both the action of placing the cassette holder on the deck and the action of loading the tape for reproduction can be achieved by using only one motor. A combination of a sector gear and a cam or a disc with a built-in spring can also be used in order to lock the cassette holder properly after the cassette holder, with the cassette held therein, is placed on the deck.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a cassette loading apparatus for a video cassette recorder having a front loading system, more particularly to an apparatus for placing the video cassette holder having the cassette in it on the deck and pulling out the video tape from the cassette to be loaded on the upper drum of the video cassette recorder (hereinafter called the VCR).

2. Discussion of the Background

A VCR having a conventional front loading system is usually equipped with a device designed to safely place on the deck the cassette holder holding the video cassette in it and a device designed to pull out the video tape from the said

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and more particularly to FIGS. 1-5 thereof, there are shown a conventional cassette holder housing 1, a motor 2 having a worm 3 on its rotating shaft and installed on a side wall of the housing 1, a worm gear 4 made in a body with a flat gear 5, an intermediate gear 6 engaged with the said flat gear 5, a right-angled opening 9, a placement gear 7 having a concentric circular opening 16 having a concavity 17, a rotating member 8 with an extended arm lever 8', a broad opening 14 and a projected hanger 15, and a movable pin 13 which slides a guide opening having an arc-shaped portion 11 and an escape groove 12 and which also slides through the broad opening 14 of the rotating member 8. Elements 7, 8 and 13 are axially fixed on an axis E of an axle 10 on the housing's wall, wherein a torsion spring 18, fixed between the movable pin 13 and the projected hanger 15, operatively combines the placement gear 7, the rotating member 8 and the movable pin 13. The placement gear 7 engages with the intermediate gear 6. There are further shown a connecting gear 19 installed at the bottom of the deck 23 and engaging with the worm 3, a master cam 20 formed with a cam groove 21, a sector gear 22 with a driving pin 24 engaging with the cam groove 21, interlocking gears 25, 25', 25" and a ring gear 26. As shown schematically in FIG. 16, the ring gear 26 may operate a conventional mechanism 126 which moves two loading poles 130 in order to load the video tape 131 on the upper drum 132 for reproduction after pulling out the tape from the cassette 133. FIG. 16 illustrates an intermediate stage of the operation.

With reference now to FIGS. 2 to 4, when the cassette is inserted from the front of the housing 1 so as to be held in the cassette holder 27, a cassette switch 28 fixed on the top of the housing 1 operates and connects an electric source to the motor 2. The motor 2 then operates, making the worm 3 revolve the worm gear 4 and the connecting gear 19 simultaneously. The rotating power of the worm gear 4, in turn, revolves the placement gear 7, installed axially on the axis 10, through operation of the flat gear 5 and the intermediate gear 6.

Thus, the movable pin 13, caught in the concavity 17 at an end of the circular opening 16, slides along the arc-shaped portion 11 of the guide opening by the rotation of the placement gear 7, thereby revolving the rotating member 8, which is elastically installed by the torsion spring 18 fixed on the movable pin 13 and the hanging piece 15. The rotation of rotating member 8 causes rotation of its arm lever 8'.

Further, the interlocking pin 29, formed on the side wall of the cassette holder 27 and inserted through the opening 9, moves horizontally and then vertically along the opening 9, thereby causing the cassette held in the cassette holder 27 to be placed safely on the deck 23.

Though the motor 2 continues to operate even after the cassette holder is safely placed on the deck, the rotating member 8 stops rotating and only the placement gear 7 keeps rotating. The cassette holder 27 is locked properly, because the movable pin 13 escapes from the arc-shaped portion 11 of the guide opening and moves to and stays in the escape groove 12. Therefore, the rotation of the placement gear 7 is not further transmitted to the rotating member 8. In other words, as the placement gear 7 alone keeps revolving, the cassette holder placed on the deck is not pressed excessively by the arm lever 8' of the rotating member 8.

Until the cassette holder 27 is safely placed on the deck 23 through the operation described above, the sector gear 22 remains idle, because the driving pin 24 of the sector gear 22 idles through the cam groove's outer part A, which forms a concentric circle with the master cam 20, while the master cam 20 is rotated by the connecting gear 19 interlocked with the worm 3.

At the moment when the cassette holder is placed on the deck, the driving pin 24, which was moving along the outer concentric part A of the cam groove 21 of the master cam 20, reaches the operating part B of the cam groove 21. Thus, from the moment the placement gear 7 begins to idle, the driving pin 24 slides through the operating part B of the cam groove 21, and the sector gear 22 starts to operate, making the gears 25, 25', 25" rotate. Further, the ring gear 26 are is rotated and two loading poles is 130 are moved to pull out the tape from the cassette which is held in the cassette holder and load it on the upper drum of the VCR.

On the other hand, if the aforesaid operation (i.e., safely placing the cassette holder on the deck and effecting the tape loading) is conducted in reverse order through operation of the motor 2 in reverse, by pushing or touching the eject switch of the VCR, the tape is unloaded and then the cassette is ejected from the cassette holder by the interlocking pin 29 and the arm lever 8' of the rotating member 8.

FIGS. 6-10 show a second embodiment which is modification of the above-described embodiment according to the present invention, wherein a placement gear 7 and an arm lever 8' are made to revolve simultaneously by the rotating power of the motor 2 transmitted by the movable worm 3', the worm gear 4 with the flat gear 5 and the intermediate gear 6. The rotating shaft 2' of the motor 2 has a guide groove 30 extending therealong so that the movable worm 3', the projection 30' (FIG. 10) of which engages with the guide groove 30, may slide on it forward and backward. The connecting gear 19, the master cam 20 with its cam groove 21 and an interlocking gear 25 are installed in engagement with each other at the bottom of the deck 23 so that the movable worm 3' may transmit the rotation power of the motor 2 to them.

When the motor 2 operates, the movable worm 3', which engages with the worm gear 4, rotates by the rotation of the rotation shaft 2', as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, and transmits the motor's rotation power to the placement gear 7 through the worm gear 4, flat gear 5 and the intermediate gear 6, thereby rotating the placement gear 7 and its arm lever 8' simultaneously. The interlocking pin 29, formed on the side wall of the cassette holder 27 and inserted into the guide hole of the arm lever 8', moves horizontally and then vertically along the right-angled opening 9 so that the cassette holder 27 may be safely placed on the deck. As the movable worm 3' is engaged only with the worm gear 4 and is separated from the connecting gear 19 during such placing operation, the tape loading device at the bottom of the deck 23 does not operate.

After the cassette holder 27 is safely placed on the deck by the above-said operation, the motor 2 continues to operate. However, the placement gear 7 stops rotating when the interlocking pin 29 guided by the arm lever 8' reaches the end of the opening 9 and the arm lever 8' also stops moving forward. As the arm lever comes to a standstill, the placement gear 7 cannot rotate anymore and the intermediate gear 6 and the worm gear 4 are also in the same condition, the cassette holder 27 having been properly locked by the interlocking pin 29 and the lever 8'. Because the worm gear 4 cannot rotate and the motor 2 keeps running, the movable worm 3' is forced to slide toward the opposite part of the rotating shaft 2' and engages with the connecting gear 19, making the connecting gear 19 start to rotate. Thereafter, the motor 2, the worm 3', the connecting gear 19, the master cam 20, the interlocking gear 25 and the ring gear (not shown) operate in the same manner as described above with reference to FIG. 5.

Thus, with the rotation of the ring gear, the loading poles start to move so as to effect the tape loading on the upper drum.

The previous explanation on the operation of ejecting the cassette, of course, applies to the present modification, and the cassette is easily ejected from the cassette holder.

Though the cassette holder can be properly locked by the combination of the arm lever 8' and the gears so as not to shake or sway in the above two embodiments, there can be other modifications providing the same performance within the scope of the present invention. FIGS. 11 and 14 respectively show two examples of such modification in the form of third and fourth embodiments.

In FIGS. 11 to 13, a cam gear 31 is driven by the worm 3 and engages the sector gear 33 by means of cam groove 32 and driving pin 34.

When the motor 2 operates, the worm 3 rotates the worm gear 4, making the cam gear 31 rotate as shown in FIG. 13. As the cam gear 31 starts to rotate, the driving pin 34 of the sector gear 33 also starts to slide in the operation operational part C of the cam groove 32, making the sector gear 33, the placement gear 7 and the arm lever 8' start to operate, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13. Then, as the arm lever 8' forces movement of the interlocking pin 29, formed on the side wall of the cassette holder 27, horizontally and then vertically along the right-angled opening 9, the cassette holder 27 holding the cassette in it is safely placed on the deck when the driving pin 34 arrives at the end of the operation part C of the cam groove 32. Because the motor 2 is designed to operate a little more after the cassette is placed on the deck, the driving pin 34 slides a little further into the concentric area D of the cam groove 32 and the cassette holder is tightly locked by means of the interlocking pin 29, the arm lever 8' and the cam mechanism. Even if the cam gear 31 rotates a little further by inertia or else after the motor 2 stops rotating, the cassette holder 27 is not pressed excessively because the driving pin 34 slides in the concentric area D of the cam groove 32 and thus the sector gear 33 does not move further.

In FIGS. 14 and 15, showing a fourth embodiment and another example of a modification, a placement gear 7, a disc 36 with a spiral opening 37 in which a tension spring 35 is kept and a rotating member 8 with an arm lever 8' are assembled in a body by means of a fixing ring 40 onto the axis 10' formed on a wall of the cassette holder housing 1 to perform the cassette holder placing function. Two opposite ends of the tension spring 35 are respectively tied on a fixing pin 38 protruding from a wall of the placement gear 7 and another fixing pin 38' formed on the inner wall of the rotating member 8, leaving a space 39 at the inner end of the spiral opening 37. The placement gear 7 is rotated by means of the intermediate gear 6, the worm gear 4 and the worm 3.

Accordingly, when the motor 2 operates and the placement gear 7 is forced to rotate by means of the worm 3, the worm gear 4 and the intermediate gear 6, the tension spring 35, an end of which is caught by the fixing pin 38 on the wall of the placement gear 7, pulls the rotating member 8 by the fixing pin 38' on which another end of the spring 35 is fixed, and thereby the rotating member 8 is forced to rotate.

Therefore, when the placement gear 7 rotates, the fixing pin 38' of the rotating member 8 is pulled by the tension spring 35, and the rotating member 8 is forced to rotate together with its arm lever 8', which motion makes the interlocking pin 29, formed on the cassette holder, slide vertically and then horizontally along the right-angled opening 9 in order to place the cassette holder on the said deck in the same manner as described in the above.

When the cassette holder is safely placed on the deck and the interlocking pin 29 reaches as far as the end of the opening 9, the arm lever 8' cannot slide further and the interlocking pin 29 is locked by the combination of the arm lever 8' of the rotating member 8 and the gears 4, 6 and 7. However, as the motor 2 operates a little further, as designed, the fixing pin 38 of the placement gear 7 pulls an end of the tension spring 35 toward the space 39 formed at the inner end of the spiral opening 37, and thereby the tension spring 35 is strained and extended. As a result, the tension spring 35 pulls elastically the arm lever 8' of the rotating member 8 by the fixing pin 38' on the inner wall of the rotating member 8 to a certain extent such that the tension spring 35 is extended, thereby assisting the locking of the interlocking pin 29 so that the interlocking pin 29 is pressed firmly and flexibly. Therefore, the tension spring 35, tightened as such, absorbs impacts effected from outside and protects the cassette holder from being excessively pressed by the arm lever 8' or being shaken by the foreign impacts.

Although the present invention has been described with respect to the preferred embodiments constructed in accordance therewith for the purpose of illustrating the manner in which the invention may be used to advantage, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various variations, modifications, equivalent arrangements or improvements may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the invention is not to be limited by the specific embodiments herein, but only by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A cassette loading apparatus for placing a cassette holder having a magnetic tape held therein onto a deck and for driving a ring gear to operate means for pulling tape from the cassette and for loading the tape onto an upper drum for reproduction, said apparatus comprising:

a housing having formed therein a right-angled opening;

an interlocking pin fixed on said cassette holder and extending through said right-angled opening;

an axis on said housing;

an arm lever mounted for rotation about said an axis and drivingly engaging said interlocking pin;

a placement gear mounted for rotation on said axis;

means drivingly coupling said placement gear to said arm lever, wherein rotation of said placement gear causes motion of said interlocking pin in said right-angled opening;

a motor mounted on said housing;

a worm mounted on a shaft of said motor;

gearing means for drivingly coupling said worm to said placement gear;

a master cam mounted on the bottom of said deck, said master cam having a cam groove formed therein;

a driving pin received in said cam groove of said master cam;

gear means drivingly coupling said driving pin received in said groove of said master cam to said ring gear; and

connecting gear means for drivingly coupling said worm to said master cam, wherein operation of said motor causes motion of said arm lever to move said interlocking pin to place said cassette holder on said deck and further drives said master cam to rotate said ring gear, whereby said tape is pulled from said cassette and loaded onto said upper drum for reproduction after said cassette holder is placed on said deck.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

a guide opening having an arc-shaped portion and an escape groove at an end thereof are formed in said housing;

a movable pin is mounted for movement in and along said guide opening;

said placement gear has a concentric circular opening formed therein, said concentric circular opening terminating terminates in a concavity at an end thereof, and said movable pin being is received in said concentric opening;

a rotating member is mounted for rotation on said axis, said arm lever extending extends from said rotating member, said rotating member having has a broad opening formed therein, and said movable pin being received in said broad opening, there being a projected hanger extending from a face of said rotating member; and

a torsion spring having first and second ends is disposed such that the first end thereof is in engagement with said projected hanger and the second end thereof engages said movable pin.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said worm is mounted for movement along said shaft of said motor between first and second positions, said worm being fixed against relative rotation with respect to said shaft;

said gearing means for drivingly coupling said worm to said placement gear are disposed for engagement with said worm when said worm is in said first position; and

said connecting gear means for drivingly coupling said worm to said master cam are disposed for engagement with said worm when said worm is in said second position.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said gearing means for drivingly coupling said worm to said placement gear comprise a sector gear and a cam gear, said sector gear drivingly engaging said placement gear, said cam gear having a cam groove formed therein, there being a driving pin fixed on said sector gear and disposed in said cam groove, an outer end of said cam groove being formed as a part of a circle concentric about an axis of rotation of said cam gear.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

a fixing pin extends from a face of said placement gear;

a rotating member is disposed for rotation on said axis, said arm lever extending from said rotating member, there being a fixing pin extending from a face of said rotating member;

a disk is mounted for rotation on said axis, said disk having a spiral opening formed therein; and

a tension spring is disposed in said spiral opening of said disk, opposite ends of said tension spring being respectively fixed on said fixing pins, there being a space at the inner end of said spiral opening not occupied by said tension spring.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, with said gear means comprising a first gear positioning said driving pin within said groove.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, with said cam groove comprising a first portion defining an arc concentric with said master cam leading to a second portion defining a helical spiral.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, with said cam groove comprising a first portion defining an arc concentric with said master cam to accommodate passage of said driving pin during said motion of said arm lever, and a second portion defining a helical spiral to guide said driving pin during rotation of said ring gear.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, comprising said drivingly coupling means joining said arm lever and said placement gear together.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, comprising said drivingly coupling means joining said arm lever and said placement gear together to rotate simultaneously.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, with said gear means comprising a first gear positioning said driving pin within said groove.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, with said arm lever comprising a pair of elongate arms extending radially relative to said axis and surrounding said interlocking pin, and with said drivingly coupling means uniting said arm lever and said placement gear together as an integral monolithic component.

13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, with said arm lever comprising a pair of elongate arms extending radially relative to said axis and surrounding said interlocking pin, and with said drivingly coupling means uniting said arm lever and said placement gear together to rotate simultaneously about said axis.

14. The cassette loading apparatus of claim 1, with said drivingly coupling means comprised of a spring interposed between and operationally connecting said arm lever and said placement gear.

15. The cassette loading apparatus of claim 1, comprised of said arm lever and said placement gear being separately mounted upon said axis.

16. The cassette loading apparatus of claim 1, comprised of said arm lever being joined by said drivingly coupling means to said placement gear, and being mounted upon said axis by said placement gear.

17. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, with said housing supporting said apparatus while comprising said deck and a pair of opposite sides separated by said deck.

18. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

said housing supporting said apparatus while comprising said deck and a pair of opposite sides separated by said deck; and

said motor being mounted on one of said sides.

19. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising said master cam being mounted beneath said bottom of said deck.

20. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

said groove defining a spiral and drawing said driving pin to follow a path extending transversely across said master cam and away from the ring gear as said master cam rotates relative to said deck; and

said driving pin moving said gear means relative to the ring gear as said driving pin follows said path.

21. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprised of said housing separating said arm lever from said cassette holder.

22. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprised of gearing means mounted on another shaft of said motor for drivingly coupling rotational energy from said motor and said worm to said placement gear.

23. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprised of said motor having a single said shaft coaxially aligning said motor and said worm.

24. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprised of:

said cam groove forming a spiral around a second axis; and

said connecting gear means being mounted on said housing to surround said cam groove and to rotate around said second axis.

25. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprised of said connecting gear means comprising a plurality of teeth formed in a spaced array along a periphery of said master cam.

26. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprised of:

said arm lever comprising a pair of elongate arms extending radially relative to said axis and surrounding said interlocking pin;

said drivingly coupling means uniting said arm lever and said placement gear together to simultaneously rotate about said axis as an integral monolithic component; and

said housing supporting said apparatus while comprising said deck and a pair of opposite sides separated by said deck.

27. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, comprising said drivingly coupling means joining said arm lever and said placement gear together.

28. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, comprising said drivingly coupling means joining said arm lever and said placement gear together to rotate simultaneously.

29. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, with said gear means comprising a first gear positioning said driving pin within said groove.

30. The cassette loading apparatus of claim 1, with said arm lever comprising a pair of elongate arms extending radially relative to said axis and surrounding said first pin, and with said drivingly coupling means uniting said arm lever and said placement gear together to simultaneously rotate about said axis as an integral monolithic component.

31. The cassette loading apparatus of claim 1, comprised of said connecting gear means comprising a plurality of teeth formed along a periphery of said master cam.

32. A cassette loading apparatus for placing a cassette holder having a magnetic tape held therein onto a deck and for driving a ring gear to operate means for pulling tape from the cassette and for loading the tape onto an upper drum for reproduction, said apparatus comprising:

a housing having formed therein a right-angled opening;

an interlocking pin fixed on said cassette holder and extending through said right-angled opening;

an arm lever mounted for rotation about an axis and drivingly engaging said interlocking pin;

a placement gear mounted for rotation on said axis;

means drivingly coupling said placement gear to said arm lever, wherein rotation of said placement gear causes motion of said interlocking pin in said right-angled opening;

a motor mounted on said housing;

a worm mounted on a first shaft of said motor;

gearing means mounted on another shaft drivingly coupling rotational energy from said motor and said worm to said placement gear;

a master cam mounted on the bottom portion of said deck that forms a floor for said housing, said master cam having a cam groove formed therein;

a driving pin received in said cam groove of said master cam;

gear means drivingly coupling said driving pin received in said groove of said master cam to said ring gear; and

connecting gear means for drivingly coupling said worm to said master cam, wherein operation of said motor causes motion of said arm lever to move said interlocking pin to place said cassette holder on said deck and further drives said master cam to rotate said ring gear, whereby said tape is pulled from said cassette and loaded onto said upper drum for reproduction after said cassette holder is placed on said deck.

33. A cassette loading apparatus for placing a cassette holder having a magnetic tape held therein onto a deck and for driving a ring gear to operate means for pulling tape from the cassette and for loading the tape onto an upper drum for reproduction, said apparatus comprising:

a housing having formed therein a right-angled opening, said housing supporting said apparatus while comprising said deck and a pair of opposite side walls separated by said deck;

an interlocking pin fixed on said cassette holder and extending through said right-angled opening;

an arm lever mounted for rotation about an axis, said arm lever comprising a pair of elongate arms extending radially relative to said axis embracing and drivingly engaging said interlocking pin;

a placement gear mounted for rotation on said axis;

means drivingly coupling said placement gear to said arm lever together as an integral monolithic component, wherein rotation of said placement gear causes motion of said interlocking pin in said right-angled opening;

a motor mounted on said housing;

a worm mounted on a shaft of said motor;

gearing means for drivingly coupling said worm to said placement gear;

a master cam mounted on the bottom of said deck, said master cam having a cam groove formed therein defining a spiral around a second axis;

a driving pin received in said cam groove of said master cam;

gear means drivingly coupling said driving pin received in said groove of said master cam to said ring gear; and

connecting gear means for drivingly coupling said worm to said master cam, wherein operation of said motor causes motion of said arm lever to move said interlocking pin to place said cassette holder on said deck and further drives said master cam to rotate said ring gear, whereby said tape is pulled from said cassette and loaded onto said upper drum for reproduction after said cassette holder is placed on said deck.

34. A process comprising:

assembling a cassette loading apparatus for placing a cassette holder having a magnetic tape held therein onto a deck and for driving a ring gear to operate means for pulling tape from the cassette and for loading the tape onto an upper drum for reproduction, with said apparatus comprising:

a housing having formed therein a right-angled opening;

an interlocking pin fixed on said cassette holder and extending through said right-angled opening;

an arm lever mounted for rotation about an axis and drivingly engaging said interlocking pin;

a placement gear mounted for rotation on said axis;

means drivingly coupling said placement gear to said arm lever, wherein rotation of said placement gear causes motion of said interlocking pin in said right-angled opening;

a motor mounted on said housing;

a worm mounted on a shaft of said motor;

gearing means for drivingly coupling said worm to said placement gear;

a master cam mounted on the bottom of said deck, said master cam having a cam groove formed therein;

a driving pin received in said cam groove of said master cam;

gear means drivingly coupling said driving pin received in said groove of said master cam to said ring gear; and

connecting gear means for drivingly coupling said worm to said master cam; and

disposing said motor to cause said arm lever to move said interlocking pin to place said cassette holder on said deck and further drives said master cam to rotate said ring gear, whereby said tape is pulled from said cassette and loaded onto said upper drum for reproduction after said cassette holder is placed on said deck.

35. The process of claim 34, comprised of disposing said motor to:

shift said coupling after said cassette holder is placed on said deck, between said worm and said placement gear and between said worm and said connecting gear means, by sliding said worm along said shaft; and

drive said master cam while said worm is drivingly coupled to said connecting gear means to pull the magnetic tape from the cassette.

36. The process of claim 35, comprised of disposing said master cam to continuously rotate during said rotation of said placement gear and during rotation of said ring gear.

37. The process of claim 34, comprised of positioning said motor to continuously rotate said master cam during said rotation of said placement gear and during rotation of said ring gear.

38. The process of claim 34, comprised of disposing said placement gear and said lever arm to simultaneously rotate during said motion of said first pin in said right angle opening.

39. A cassette loading apparatus, comprising:

a housing supporting said apparatus while providing a deck, said housing having a bottom and having a plurality of slots formed therein that intersect at a right angle;

a motor mounted upon said housing;

a worm mounted upon a shaft of said motor;

a cassette holder positioned to receive a magnetic tape cassette;

a first pin fixed on said cassette holder to travel along said plurality of slots;

a cassette loading assembly for placing a magnetic tape cassette held in said cassette holder onto a bottom of said deck of said apparatus, comprised of:

an axle mounted upon said housing;

an arm lever mounted for rotation about said axle while drivingly engaging said first pin along said plurality of slots;

a placement gear mounted to rotate around said axle;

means drivingly coupling said placement gear to said arm lever, wherein rotation of said placement gear causes motion of said first pin in said plurality of slots;

gearing means for drivingly coupling said worm to said placement gear;

a tape loading assembly for driving a ring gear to operate a plurality of poles disposed to load a tape borne by the cassette onto an upper drum of said apparatus for reproduction, said tape loading assembly comprised of:

a master cam mounted on said bottom of said deck, said master cam having a cam groove formed therein;

a driving pin received in said cam groove of said master cam;

first gear means drivingly coupling said driving pin to the ring gear; and

connecting gear means for drivingly coupling said worm to said master cam;

wherein operation of said motor causes motion of said arm lever to move said first pin to place said cassette holder on said deck and further drives said master cam to rotate the ring gear, whereby the tape is pulled from the cassette and loaded onto the upper drum for reproduction after said cassette holder is placed on said deck.

40. The cassette loading apparatus of claim 39, with said arm lever comprising a pair of elongate arms extending radially relative to said axle and surrounding said first pin, and with said drivingly coupling means uniting said arm lever and said placement gear together as an integral monolithic component.

41. The cassette loading apparatus of claim 39, comprised of said arm lever and said placement gear being separately mounted upon said axle.

42. The cassette loading apparatus of claim 39, comprised of said arm lever being joined by said drivingly coupling means to said placement gear, and being mounted upon said axle by said placement gear.

43. The cassette loading apparatus of claim 39, comprised of:

said cam groove forming a spiral around an axis; and

said connecting gear means being mounted on said housing to surround said cam groove and to rotate around said axis.

44. The cassette loading apparatus of claim 39, comprised of said connecting gear means comprising a plurality of teeth formed along a periphery of said master cam.

45. The cassette loading apparatus of claim 39, comprised of:

said arm lever comprising a pair of elongate arms extending radially relative to said axle and surrounding said first pin, and with said drivingly coupling means, uniting said arm lever and said placement gear together to simultaneously rotate about said axis as an integral monolithic component;

said cam groove forming a spiral around an axis; and

said connecting gear means being mounted on said housing to surround said cam groove and to rotate around said axis.

46. The cassette loading apparatus of claim 39, comprised of:

said arm lever and said placement gear being separately mounted upon said axle;

said cam groove forming a spiral around an axis; and

said connecting gear means being mounted on said housing to surround said cam groove and to rotate around said axis.

47. The cassette loading apparatus of claim 39, comprised of:

said arm lever being joined to said placement gear and being mounted upon said axle by said placement gear;

said cam groove forming a spiral around an axis; and

said connecting gear means being mounted on said housing to surround said cam groove and to rotate about said axis.

48. The cassette loading apparatus of claim 39, comprised of:

said arm lever comprising a pair of elongate arms extending radially relative to said axle and surrounding said first pin;

said drivingly coupling means uniting said arm lever and said placement gear together to simultaneously rotate about said axis as an integral monolithic component;

said connecting gear means comprising a plurality of teeth formed along a periphery of said master cam.

49. The cassette loading apparatus of claim 39, comprised of:

said arm lever and said placement gear being separately mounted upon said axle; and

said connecting gear means comprising a plurality of teeth formed along a periphery of said master cam.

50. The cassette loading apparatus of claim 39, comprised of:

said arm lever being joined to said placement gear and being mounted upon said axle by said placement gear; and

said connecting gear means comprising a plurality of teeth formed along a periphery of said master cam.

51. The cassette loading apparatus of claim 39, with said gearing means comprising:

an arcuate slot formed on said housing;

a third pin moveably mounted within said arcuate slot;

an arcuate groove borne by said placement gear, extending around said axle;

a third pin moveably mounted within said arcuate slot and positioned to travel about said arcuate groove after said cassette loading assembly has placed a magnetic tape cassette upon said deck; and

a spring having one end engaged by said third pin, resiliently coupling said arm lever and said placement gear via said third pin.

52. The cassette loading apparatus of claim 39, comprising:

said cam groove having an arcuate portion of constant radius leading to a spiral portion of varying radius; and

a movable gear bearing said driving pin, mounted to rotate relative to the ring gear as said driving pin travels along said spiral portion of said cam groove.

53. The cassette loading apparatus of claim 39, with:

said gearing means comprising:

an arcuate slot formed on said housing;

a third pin moveably mounted within said arcuate slot;

an arcuate groove borne by said placement gear, extending around said axle;

a third pin moveably mounted within said arcuate slot and positioned to travel around said arcuate groove after said cassette loading assembly has placed a magnetic tape cassette upon said deck; and

a spring having one end engaged by said third pin, resiliently coupling said arm lever and said placement gear via said third pin; and

said cam groove having an arcuate portion of constant radius leading to a spiral portion of varying radius; and

said first gear means comprising a movable gear bearing said driving pin, mounted to rotate relative to the ring gear as said driving pin travels along said spiral portion of said cam groove.

54. The cassette loading apparatus of claim 39, further comprised of:

said arm lever being joined by said drivingly coupling means to said placement gear, and being mounted upon said axle by said placement gear; and

said worm being slidably mounted upon and rotatably driven by said motor to be alternately drivingly coupled with said gearing means and said connecting gear means.

55. The cassette loading apparatus of claim 39, with said first gear means comprising a movable gear bearing said driving pin while positioning said driving pin within said cam groove.

56. The cassette loading apparatus of claim 39, further comprising:

said arm lever being joined by said drivingly coupling means to said placement gear, and being mounted upon said axle by said placement gear;

said worm being slidably mounted upon and rotatably driven by said motor to be alternately drivingly coupled with said gearing means and said connecting gear means; and

said first gear means comprising a movable gear bearing said driving pin while positioning said driving pin within said cam groove.

57. The cassette loading apparatus of claim 39, with said gearing means comprising:

a second cam having a second groove formed therein, driven by said worm;

a third pin received in said second groove of said second cam; and

a movable gear drivingly coupling said third pin to said placement gear.

58. The cassette loading apparatus of claim 39, comprising:

a second cam having a second groove formed therein, driven by said worm;

a third pin received in said second groove of said second cam; and

a movable gear holding said third pin within said second groove while applying motion of said third pin along said second groove to rotate said placement gear around said axle.

59. The cassette loading apparatus of claim 39, comprising:

said gearing means comprising:

a second cam having a second groove formed therein, driven by said worm;

a third pin received in said second groove of said second cam;

a movable gear drivingly coupling said third pin to said placement gear;

said cam groove having an arcuate portion of constant radius leading to a spiral portion of varying radius; and

a fourth gear bearing said driving pin, said fourth gear being mounted to rotate relative to the ring gear as said driving pin travels along said spiral portion of said cam groove.

60. The cassette loading apparatus of claim 39, comprising:

said gearing means comprising:

a second cam having a second groove formed therein, driven by said worm;

a third pin received in said second groove of said second cam; and

a movable gear drivingly coupling said third pin to said placement gear;

said first gear means comprising a first gear bearing said driving pin while positioning said driving pin within said cam groove.

61. The cassette loading apparatus of claim 39,

a second cam having a second groove formed therein, driven by said worm;

a third pin received in said second groove of said second cam; and

a movable gear holding said third pin within said second groove while applying motion of said third pin along said second groove to rotate said placement gear around said axle;

said cam groove having an arcuate portion of constant radius leading to a spiral portion of varying radius; and

a fourth gear bearing said driving pin, mounted to rotate relative to the ring gear as said driving pin travels along said spiral portion of said cam groove.

62. The cassette loading apparatus of claim 39,

a second cam having a second groove formed therein, driven by said worm;

a third pin received in said second groove of said second cam; and

a movable gear holding said third pin within said second groove while applying motion of said third pin along said second groove to rotate said placement gear around said axle;

said first gear means comprising a movable gear bearing said driving pin while positioning said driving pin within said cam groove.

63. Apparatus as claimed in claim 39, with said arm lever comprising a pair of elongate arms extending radially relative to said axle and surrounding said first pin, and with said drivingly coupling means uniting said arm lever and said placement gear together to rotate simultaneously around said axle.

64. Apparatus as claimed in claim 39, with said housing comprising said deck and a pair of opposite sides separated by said deck.

65. Apparatus as claimed in claim 39, further comprising:

said housing comprising a pair of opposite sides separated by said deck; and

said motor being mounted on one of said sides.

66. Apparatus as claimed in claim 39, further comprising said master cam being mounted beneath said bottom of said deck.

67. Apparatus as claimed in claim 39, further comprising:

said cam groove defining a spiral and drawing said driving pin to follow a path extending transversely across said master cam and away from the ring gear as said master cam rotates relative to said deck; and

said driving pin moving said first gear means relative to the ring gear as said driving pin follows said path.

68. Apparatus as claimed in claim 39, further comprised of gearing means mounted on another shaft of said motor for drivingly coupling rotational energy from said motor and said worm to said placement gear.

69. Apparatus as claimed in claim 39, further comprised of said motor having a single said shaft coaxially aligning said motor and said worm.

70. Apparatus as claimed in claim 39, further comprised of:

said cam groove forming a spiral around a second axle; and

said connecting gear means being mounted on said housing to surround said cam groove and to rotate around said second axle.

71. The cassette loading apparatus of claim 39, comprised of:

said arm lever comprising a pair of elongate arms extending radially relative to said axle and surrounding said first pin, and with said drivingly coupling means, uniting said arm lever and said placement gear together to simultaneously rotate about said axis as an integral monolithic component;

said housing comprising a pair of opposite sides separated by said deck.

72. Apparatus as claimed in claim 39, comprising said drivingly coupling means joining said arm lever and said placement gear together.

73. Apparatus as claimed in claim 39, comprising said drivingly coupling means joining said arm lever and said placement gear together to rotate simultaneously.

74. Apparatus as claimed in claim 39, with said first gear means comprising a first gear positioning said driving pin within said groove.

75. A cassette loading apparatus, comprising:

a housing supporting said apparatus while providing a bottom forming a deck, said housing having a plurality of slots formed therein that intersect at a right angle;

a source of motive power mounted upon said housing;

a cassette holder positioned to receive a magnetic tape cassette;

a first pin fixed on said cassette holder to travel along said plurality of slots;

a cassette loading assembly placing a magnetic tape cassette held in said cassette holder onto said deck, comprised of:

an axle mounted upon said housing;

an arm lever mounted for rotation about said axle while drivingly engaging said first pin along said plurality of slots;

a placement gear mounted to rotate around said axle;

means drivingly coupling said placement gear to said arm lever, wherein rotation of said placement gear causes motion of said first pin in said plurality of slots;

gearing means for drivingly coupling said motive power to said placement gear;

a tape loading assembly driving a ring gear to operate a plurality of poles disposed to load a tape borne by the cassette onto an upper drum of said apparatus for reproduction, said tape loading assembly comprised of:

a master cam mounted on said bottom of said deck, said master cam having a cam groove formed therein;

a driving pin;

first gear means drivingly coupling said driving pin to the ring gear; and

connecting gear means for positioning said driving pin within said groove of said master cam while drivingly coupling said motive power to said master cam;

said source of motive power sequentially driving said cassette loading assembly and said tape loading assembly, said source of motive power comprising a motor with a shaft mounted on said housing and a worm mounted upon said shaft and positioned to be drivingly coupled with said placement gear via said gearing means and to be drivingly coupled to said master cam via said connecting gear means;

wherein operation of said motor causes motion of said arm lever to move said first pin to place said cassette holder on said deck and further drives said master cam to rotate the ring gear, whereby the tape is pulled from the cassette and loaded onto the upper drum for reproduction after said cassette holder is placed on said deck.

76. The apparatus of claim 75, further comprised of said worm being slidably mounted upon and rotatably driven by said motor to be alternately drivingly coupled with said gearing means and said connecting gear means.

77. Apparatus as claimed in claim 75, with said arm lever comprising a pair of elongate arms extending radially relative to said axle and surrounding said first pin, and with said drivingly coupling means uniting said arm lever and said placement gear together as an integral monolithic component.

78. Apparatus as claimed in claim 75, with said arm lever comprising a pair of elongate arms extending radially relative to said axle and surrounding said first pin, and with said drivingly coupling means uniting said arm lever and said placement gear together to rotate simultaneously around said axle.

79. The cassette loading apparatus of claim 75, with said drivingly coupling means comprised of a spring interposed between and operationally connecting said arm lever and said placement gear.

80. The cassette loading apparatus of claim 75, comprised of said arm lever and said placement gear being separately mounted upon said axle.

81. The cassette loading apparatus of claim 75, comprised of said arm lever being joined by said drivingly coupling means to said placement gear, and being mounted upon said axle by said placement gear.

82. Apparatus as claimed in claim 75, with said housing comprising a pair of opposite sides separated by said deck.

83. Apparatus as claimed in claim 75, further comprising:

said housing comprising a pair of opposite sides separated by said deck; and

said motor being mounted on one of said sides.

84. Apparatus as claimed in claim 75, further comprising said master cam being mounted beneath said bottom of said deck.

85. Apparatus as claimed in claim 75, further comprising:

said groove defining a spiral and drawing said driving pin to follow a path extending transversely across said master cam and away from the ring gear as said master cam rotates relative to said deck; and

said driving pin moving said first gear means relative to the ring gear as said driving pin follows said path.

86. Apparatus as claimed in claim 75, further comprised of said housing separating said arm lever from said cassette holder.

87. Apparatus as claimed in claim 75, further comprised of gearing means mounted on another shaft of said motor for drivingly coupling rotational energy from said motor and said worm to said placement gear.

88. Apparatus as claimed in claim 75, further comprised of said motor having a single said shaft coaxially aligning said motor and said worm.

89. Apparatus as claimed in claim 75, further comprised of:

said cam groove forming a spiral around a second axle; and

said connecting gear means being mounted on said housing to surround said cam groove and to rotate around said second axle.

90. Apparatus as claimed in claim 75, further comprised of said connecting gear means comprising a plurality of teeth formed in a spaced array along a periphery of said master cam.

91. Apparatus as claimed in claim 75, further comprised of:

said arm lever comprising a pair of elongate arms extending radially relative to said axle and surrounding said first pin;

said drivingly coupling means uniting said arm lever and said placement gear together as an integral monolithic component; and

said housing comprising said deck and a pair of opposite sides separated by said deck.

92. Apparatus as claimed in claim 75, comprising said drivingly coupling means joining said arm lever and said placement gear together.

93. Apparatus as claimed in claim 75, comprising said drivingly coupling means joining said arm lever and said placement gear together to rotate simultaneously.

94. Apparatus as claimed in claim 75, with said gear means comprising a first gear positioning said driving pin within said groove.

95. The cassette loading apparatus of claim 75, with said arm lever comprising a pair of elongate arms extending radially relative to said axle and surrounding said first pin, and with said drivingly coupling means uniting said arm lever and said placement gear together as an integral monolithic component.

96. The cassette loading apparatus of claim 75, comprised of said connecting gear means comprising a plurality of teeth formed along a periphery of said master cam.

97. A cassette loading apparatus, comprising:

a housing supporting said apparatus, said housing having a bottom providing a deck and having a plurality of slots formed therein that intersect at a right angle;

a motor mounted on said housing;

a worm mounted upon and rotatably driven by said motor;

a cassette holder positioned to receive a magnetic tape cassette;

a first pin fixed on said cassette holder to travel along said plurality of slots;

a cassette loading assembly for placing a magnetic tape cassette held in said cassette holder onto a deck of said apparatus, comprised of:

an axle mounted upon said housing;

an arm lever mounted for rotation about said axle while drivingly engaging said first pin along said plurality of slots;

a placement gear mounted to rotate around said axle;

means drivingly coupling said placement gear to said arm lever, wherein rotation of said placement gear causes motion of said first pin in said plurality of slots;

gearing means for drivingly coupling said worm to said placement gear;

a tape loading assembly driving a ring gear to operate a plurality of poles disposed to load a tape borne by the cassette onto an upper drum of said apparatus for reproduction, said tape loading assembly comprised of:

a master cam mounted on said bottom of said housing, said master cam having a cam groove formed therein;

a driving pin received in said cam groove of said master cam;

first gear means drivingly coupling said driving pin to the ring gear; and

connecting gear means for drivingly coupling said worm to said master cam;

wherein operation of said motor causes motion of said arm lever to move said first pin to place said cassette holder on said deck and further drives said master cam to rotate the ring gear, whereby said tape is pulled from said cassette and loaded onto said upper drum for reproduction after said cassette holder is placed on said deck.

98. Apparatus as claimed in claim 97, with said arm lever comprising a pair of elongate arms extending radially relative to said axle and surrounding said first pin, and with said drivingly coupling means uniting said arm lever and said placement gear together as an integral monolithic component.

99. Apparatus as claimed in claim 97, with said arm lever comprising a pair of elongate arms extending radially relative to said axle and surrounding said first pin, and with said drivingly coupling means uniting said arm lever and said placement gear together to rotate simultaneously around said axle.

100. The cassette loading apparatus of claim 97, with said drivingly coupling means comprised of a spring interposed between and operationally connecting said arm lever and said placement gear.

101. The cassette loading apparatus of claim 97, comprised of said arm lever and said placement gear being separately mounted upon said axle.

102. The cassette loading apparatus of claim 97, comprised of said arm lever being joined by said drivingly coupling means to said placement gear, and being mounted upon said axle by said placement gear.

103. Apparatus as claimed in claim 97, with said housing comprising said deck and a pair of opposite sides separated by said deck.

104. Apparatus as claimed in claim 97, further comprising:

said housing comprising said deck and a pair of opposite sides separated by said deck; and

said motor being mounted on one of said sides.

105. Apparatus as claimed in claim 97, further comprising said master cam being mounted beneath said bottom of said deck.

106. Apparatus as claimed in claim 97, further comprising:

said groove defining a spiral and drawing said driving pin to follow a path extending transversely across said master cam and away from the ring gear as said master cam rotates relative to said housing; and

said driving pin moving said first gear means relative to the ring gear as said driving pin follows said path.

107. Apparatus as claimed in claim 97, further comprised of said housing separating said arm lever from said cassette holder.

108. Apparatus as claimed in claim 97, further comprised of gearing means mounted on another shaft of said motor for drivingly coupling rotational energy from said motor and said worm to said placement gear.

109. Apparatus as claimed in claim 97, further comprised of said motor having a single said shaft coaxially aligning said motor and said worm.

110. Apparatus as claimed in claim 97, further comprised of:

said cam groove forming a spiral around a second axle; and

said connecting gear means being mounted on said housing to surround said cam groove and to rotate around said second axle.

111. Apparatus as claimed in claim 97, further comprised of said connecting gear means comprising a plurality of teeth formed in a spaced array along a periphery of said master cam.

112. Apparatus as claimed in claim 97, further comprised of:

said arm lever comprising a pair of elongate arms extending radially relative to said axle and surrounding said first pin, and with said drivingly coupling means uniting said arm lever and said placement gear together as an integral monolithic component; and

said housing comprising a deck and a pair of opposite sides separated by said deck.

113. Apparatus as claimed in claim 97, comprising said drivingly coupling means joining said arm lever and said placement gear together.

114. Apparatus as claimed in claim 97, comprising said drivingly coupling means joining said arm lever and said placement gear together to rotate simultaneously.

115. Apparatus as claimed in claim 97, with said gear means comprising a first gear positioning said driving pin within said groove.

116. The cassette loading apparatus of claim 97, with said arm lever comprising a pair of elongate arms extending radially relative to said axle and surrounding said first pin, and with said drivingly coupling means uniting said arm lever and said placement gear together as an integral monolithic component.

117. The cassette loading apparatus of claim 97, comprised of said connecting gear means comprising a plurality of teeth formed along a periphery of said master cam.

118. A cassette loading apparatus, comprising:

a housing supporting said apparatus, said housing having a bottom providing a deck and having a plurality of slots formed therein that intersect at a right angle;

a motor mounted on said housing;

a worm mounted upon and rotatably driven by said motor;

a cassette holder positioned to receive a magnetic tape cassette;

a first pin fixed on said cassette holder to travel along said plurality of slots;

a cassette loading assembly for placing a magnetic tape cassette held in said cassette holder onto said deck, comprised of:

an axle mounted upon said housing;

a placement gear mounted to rotate around said axle;

an arm lever mounted for rotation with said placement gear as said placement gear rotates around said axle and drivingly engaging said first pin along said plurality of slots;

means drivingly coupling said placement gear to said arm lever, wherein rotation of said placement gear causes motion of said first pin in said plurality of slots;

gearing means for drivingly coupling said worm to said placement gear;

a tape loading assembly for driving a ring gear to operate a plurality of poles disposed to load a tape borne by the cassette onto an upper drum of said apparatus for reproduction, said tape loading assembly comprised of:

a master cam mounted on said bottom of said housing, said master cam having a cam groove formed therein;

a driving pin received in said cam groove of said master cam;

first gear means drivingly coupling said driving pin to the ring gear; and

connecting gear means for drivingly coupling said worm to said master cam;

wherein operation of said motor causes motion of said arm lever to move said first pin to place said cassette holder on said deck and further drives said master cam to rotate the ring gear, whereby said tape is pulled from said cassette and loaded onto said upper drum for reproduction after said cassette holder is placed on said deck.

119. Apparatus as claimed in claim 118, with said arm lever comprising a pair of elongate arms extending radially relative to said axle and surrounding said first pin, and with said drivingly coupling means uniting said arm lever and said placement gear together as an integral monolithic component.

120. Apparatus as claimed in claim 118, with said arm lever comprising a pair of elongate arms extending radially relative to said axle and surrounding said first pin, and with said drivingly coupling means uniting said arm lever and said placement gear together to rotate simultaneously around said axle.

121. The cassette loading apparatus of claim 118, with said drivingly coupling means comprised of a spring interposed between and operationally connecting said arm lever and said placement gear.

122. The cassette loading apparatus of claim 118, comprised of said arm lever and said placement gear being separately mounted upon said axle.

123. The cassette loading apparatus of claim 118, comprised of said arm lever being joined by said drivingly coupling means to said placement gear, and being mounted upon said axle by said placement gear.

124. Apparatus as claimed in claim 118, with said housing comprising a pair of opposite sides separated by said deck.

125. Apparatus as claimed in claim 118, further comprising:

said housing comprising a deck and a pair of opposite sides separated by said deck; and

said motor being mounted on one of said sides.

126. Apparatus as claimed in claim 118, further comprising said master cam being mounted beneath said bottom of said housing.

127. Apparatus as claimed in claim 118, further comprising:

said groove defining a spiral and drawing said driving pin to follow a path extending transversely across said master cam and away from the ring gear as said master cam rotates relative to said housing; and

said driving pin moving said gear means relative to the ring gear as said driving pin follows said path.

128. Apparatus as claimed in claim 118, further comprised of said housing separating said arm lever from said cassette holder.

129. Apparatus as claimed in claim 118, further comprised of gearing means mounted on another shaft of said motor for drivingly coupling rotational energy from said motor and said worm to said placement gear.

130. Apparatus as claimed in claim 118, further comprised of said motor having a single said shaft coaxially aligning said motor and said worm.

131. Apparatus as claimed in claim 118, further comprised of:

said cam groove forming a spiral around a second axle; and

said connecting gear means being mounted on said housing to surround said cam groove and to rotate around said second axle.

132. Apparatus as claimed in claim 118, further comprised of said connecting gear means comprising a plurality of teeth formed in a spaced array along a periphery of said master cam.

133. Apparatus as claimed in claim 118, further comprised of:

said arm lever comprising a pair of elongate arms extending radially relative to said axle and surrounding said first pin, and with said drivingly coupling means uniting said arm lever and said placement gear together as an integral monolithic component; and

said housing comprising a pair of opposite sides separated by said deck.

134. Apparatus as claimed in claim 118, comprising said drivingly coupling means joining said arm lever and said placement gear together.

135. Apparatus as claimed in claim 118, comprising said drivingly coupling means joining said arm lever and said placement gear together to rotate simultaneously.

136. Apparatus as claimed in claim 118, with said gear means comprising a first gear positioning said driving pin within said cam groove.

137. The cassette loading apparatus of claim 118, with said arm lever comprising a pair of elongate arms extending radially relative to said axle and surrounding said first pin, and with said drivingly coupling means uniting said arm lever and said placement gear together as an integral monolithic component.

138. The cassette loading apparatus of claim 118, comprised of said connecting gear means comprising a plurality of teeth formed along a periphery of said master cam.

139. A cassette loading apparatus, comprising:

a housing supporting said apparatus while providing a deck having a bottom, said housing having a plurality of slots formed therein that intersect at a right angle;

a cassette holder positioned to receive a magnetic tape cassette;

a first pin fixed on said cassette holder to travel along said plurality of slots;

a cassette loading assembly placing a magnetic tape cassette held in said cassette holder onto said deck, comprised of:

an axle mounted upon said housing;

an arm lever mounted for rotation about said axle while drivingly engaging said first pin along said plurality of slots;

a placement gear mounted to rotate around said axle;

means drivingly coupling said placement gear to said arm lever, wherein rotation of said placement gear causes motion of said first pin in said plurality of slots;

gearing means for drivingly coupling motive power to said placement gear;

a tape loading assembly driving a ring gear to operate a plurality of poles disposed to load a tape borne by the cassette onto an upper drum of said apparatus for reproduction, said tape loading assembly comprised of:

a master cam mounted on said bottom of said deck, said master cam having a cam groove formed therein;

a driving pin;

first gear means drivingly coupling said driving pin to the ring gear; and

connecting gear means for positioning said driving pin within said groove of said master cam while drivingly coupling said motive power to said master cam;

a motor mounted on said housing; and

a worm mounted upon and rotatably driven by said motor to be drivingly coupled with said gearing means and said connecting gear means;

wherein operation of said motor causes motion of said arm lever to move said first pin to place said cassette holder on said deck and further drives said master cam to rotate the ring gear, whereby the tape is pulled from the cassette and loaded onto the upper drum for reproduction after said cassette holder is placed on said deck.

140. An apparatus for loading a cassette containing a tape wound on a reel and for pulling the tape from the cassette for placing onto an upper drum for reproduction in a tape player, said apparatus comprising:

a cassette holder disposed to receive a cassette, the cassette holder having affixed thereon at least one interlocking pin actuating movement of the cassette holder;

a motor providing a rotating force;

a mechanism conveying the rotating force from said motor;

a first driver engaged with said interlocking pin and driving said interlocking pin for loading the cassette;

a second driver causing the pulling of said tape from the cassette;

a first transmission transmitting the rotating force of said motor to said first driver;

a second transmission transmitting the rotating force of said motor to said second driver;

a switch selectively transmitting the rotating force from said motor to said first transmission and to said second transmission, said switch first transmitting the rotating force of said motor to said first transmission and subsequently transmitting the rotating force of said motor to said second transmission, wherein the operation of said motor in a first direction causes actuation of said first driver through said first transmission and loading the cassette onto a deck and upon completion of said loading, further operation of said motor in said first direction causes actuation of said second driver through said second transmission and pulling of the tape from the cassette and placing the tape onto said upper drum.

141. The apparatus as claimed in claim 140, with said second driver comprising:

a master cam having a cam groove formed therein; and

a driving pin received in said cam groove of said master cam.

142. An apparatus, comprising:

a cassette holder disposed to receive a cassette containing a tape wound on a reel positioned to accommodate removal of the tape and placement of the tape onto an upper drum prior to reproduction of the tape in a tape player, said cassette holder having affixed thereto at least one interlocking pin actuating movement of said cassette holder;

a drive assembly comprising a motor providing a rotating force and a worm driven by said rotating force;

a component conveying the rotating force of said drive assembly;

a first driver engaged with said interlocking pin and driving said interlocking pin for loading the cassette, said driving means having a gear portion and a protrusion portion, said protrusion portion being disposed on an outer periphery of said gear portion and said protrusion portion having a cutout for receiving said interlocking pin;

a second driver pulling the tape from the cassette;

a first mechanism transmitting said rotating force from said motor to said first driver;

a second mechanism transmitting said rotating force from said motor to said second driver; and

a switch selectively transmitting said rotating force of said motor to said first mechanism and said second mechanism, said switch first transmitting the rotating force of said motor to said first mechanism and subsequently transmitting said rotating force of said motor to said second mechanism, wherein the operation of said motor in a first direction causes actuation of said first driver through said first mechanism and loading of the cassette onto a deck, and upon completion of said loading, continued operation of said motor in said first direction causes pulling of the tape from the cassette by actuation of said second driver through said second mechanism and placement of the tape onto the upper drum.

143. Apparatus as claimed in claim 142, with said worm receiving said rotating force of said motor and engaging said first mechanism and said second mechanism.

144. Apparatus as claimed in claim 142, with first driver comprising:

an axle mounted on said housing;

an arm lever including said protrusion portion, rotating about said axle and engaging said interlocking pin;

a placement gear including said gear portion, rotating about said axle; and

a coupler connecting said placement gear to said arm lever.

145. Apparatus as claimed in claim 144, with said second driver comprising:

a master cam having a cam groove formed therein;

a driving pin received in said cam groove of said master cam; and

a second gear drivingly coupling said driving pin to a ring gear pulling said tape from said cassette and placing said tape onto the upper drum.

146. Apparatus as claimed in claim 145, with said first mechanism comprising a third gear drivingly coupling said worm to said placement gear.

147. Apparatus as claimed in claim 146, with said second mechanism comprising a connecting gear drivingly coupling said worm to said master cam.

148. Apparatus as claimed in claim 147, further comprised of said third gear drivingly coupling rotational energy from said motor and said worm to said placement gear.

149. Apparatus as claimed in claim 147, further comprised of:

said cam groove forming a spiral around a second axle; and

said connecting gear being mounted on said housing to surround said cam groove and to rotate around said second axle.

150. Apparatus as claimed in claim 147, further comprised of said connecting gear comprising a plurality of teeth formed in a spaced array along a periphery of said master cam.

151. Apparatus as claimed in claim 147, further comprised of:

said arm lever comprising a pair of elongate arms extending radially relative to said axle and surrounding said interlocking pin, with said coupler uniting said arm lever and said placement gear together as an integral monolithic component; and

a housing supporting said apparatus while comprising a deck and a pair of opposite sides separated by said deck.

152. Apparatus as claimed in claim 147, comprising said coupler joining said arm lever and said placement gear together.

153. Apparatus as claimed in claim 147, comprising said coupler joining said arm lever and said placement gear together to rotate simultaneously.

154. Apparatus as claimed in claim 147, further comprised of said second gear positioning said driving pin within said groove.

155. The cassette loading apparatus of claim 147, with said arm lever comprising a pair of elongate arms extending radially relative to said axle and surrounding first pin, and with said coupler uniting said arm lever and said placement gear together as an integral monolithic component.

156. The cassette loading apparatus of claim 147, comprised of said connecting gear comprising a plurality of teeth formed along a periphery of said master cam.

157. Apparatus as claimed in claim 145, further comprising:

a housing supporting said apparatus while comprising a deck and a pair of opposite sides separated by said deck; and

said master cam being mounted beneath a bottom of said deck.

158. Apparatus as claimed in claim 145, further comprising:

said cam groove defining a spiral and drawing said driving pin to follow a path extending transversely across said master cam and away from the ring gear as said master cam rotates relative to said deck; and

said driving pin moving said second gear relative to the ring gear as said driving pin follows said path.

159. Apparatus as claimed in claim 144, with said arm lever comprising a pair of elongate arms extending radially relative to said axle and surrounding said interlocking pin, and with said coupler uniting said arm lever and said placement gear together as an integral monolithic component.

160. Apparatus as claimed in claim 144, with said arm lever comprising a pair of elongate arms extending radially relative to said axle and surrounding said interlocking pin, and with said coupler uniting said arm lever and said placement gear together to rotate simultaneously around said axle.

161. The cassette loading apparatus of claim 144, with said coupler comprised of a spring interposed between and operationally connecting said arm lever and said placement gear.

162. The cassette loading apparatus of claim 144, comprised of said arm lever and said placement gear being separately mounted upon said axle.

163. The cassette loading apparatus of claim 144, comprised of said arm lever being joined by said coupler to said placement gear, and being mounted upon said axle by said placement gear.

164. Apparatus as claimed in claim 144, further comprised of a housing supporting said apparatus while comprising a deck and a pair of opposite sides separated by said deck.

165. Apparatus as claimed in claim 144, further comprising:

a housing supporting said apparatus while comprising a deck and a pair of opposite sides separated by said deck; and

said motor being mounted on one of said sides.

166. Apparatus as claimed in claim 142, further comprised of a housing separating said arm lever from said cassette holder.

167. Apparatus as claimed in claim 142, further comprised of said motor having a single shaft coaxially aligning said motor and said worm.

168. A cassette loading apparatus for placing a cassette holder having a magnetic tape held therein onto a deck and for driving a ring gear to operate means for pulling tape from the cassette and for loading the tape onto an upper drum for reproduction, said apparatus comprising:

a housing having formed therein a right-angled opening, said housing supporting said apparatus while comprising said deck and a pair of opposite side walls separated by said deck;

an interlocking pin fixed on said cassette holder and extending through said right-angled opening;

an arm lever mounted for rotation about an axis and drivingly engaging said interlocking pin;

a placement gear mounted for rotation on said axis;

means disposed between said arm lever and said placement gear, drivingly coupling said placement gear to said arm lever, wherein rotation of said placement gear causes motion of said interlocking pin in said right-angled opening;

a motor mounted on said housing;

a worm mounted on a shaft of said motor;

gearing means for drivingly coupling said worm to said placement gear;

a master cam mounted on the bottom of said deck, said master cam having a cam groove formed therein;

a driving pin received in said cam groove of said master cam;

gear means drivingly coupling said driving pin received in said groove of said master cam to said ring gear; and

connecting gear means for drivingly coupling said worm to said master cam, wherein operation of said motor causes motion of said arm lever to move said interlocking pin to place said cassette holder on said deck and further drives said master cam to rotate said ring gear, whereby said tape is pulled from said cassette and loaded onto said upper drum for reproduction after said cassette holder is placed on said deck.

169. A cassette loading apparatus for placing a cassette holder having a magnetic tape held therein onto a deck and for driving a ring gear to operate means for pulling tape from the cassette and for loading the tape onto an upper drum for reproduction, said apparatus comprising:

a housing having formed therein a right-angled opening, said housing supporting said apparatus while comprising said deck and a pair of opposite side walls separated by said deck;

an interlocking pin fixed on said cassette holder and extending through said right-angled opening;

an arm lever mounted for rotation about an axis and drivingly engaging said interlocking pin;

a placement gear mounted for rotation on said axis;

means drivingly coupling said placement gear to said arm lever, wherein rotation of said placement gear causes motion of said interlocking pin in said right-angled opening;

a motor mounted on said housing;

a worm mounted on a shaft of said motor;

gearing means for drivingly coupling said worm to said placement gear;

a master cam mounted on a bottom portion of said deck, said master cam having a cam groove formed therein wherein said bottom portion of said deck comprises a floor of said housing;

a driving pin received in said cam groove of said master cam;

gear means drivingly coupling said driving pin received in said groove of said master cam to said ring gear; and

connecting gear means for drivingly coupling said worm to said master cam, wherein operation of said motor causes motion of said arm lever to move said interlocking pin to place said cassette holder on said deck and further drives said master cam to rotate said ring gear, whereby said tape is pulled from said cassette and loaded onto said upper drum for reproduction after said cassette holder is placed on said deck.

170. The apparatus of claim 167, further comprised of said master cam being mounted on an underside of said bottom portion.

171. A cassette loading apparatus for placing a cassette holder having a magnetic tape held therein onto a deck and for driving a ring gear to operate means for pulling tape from the cassette and for loading the tape onto an upper drum for reproduction, said apparatus comprising:

a housing having formed therein a right-angled opening, said housing supporting said apparatus while comprising said deck and a pair of opposite side walls separated by said deck;

an interlocking pin fixed on said cassette holder and extending through said right-angled opening;

an arm lever mounted for rotation about an axis and drivingly engaging said interlocking pin;

a placement gear mounted for rotation on said axis;

means drivingly coupling said placement gear to said arm lever, wherein rotation of said placement gear causes motion of said interlocking pin in said right-angled opening;

a motor comprising a source of motive power mounted on said housing and a shaft of said motor rotated by said motive power;

a worm mounted on said shaft of said motor;

gearing means for drivingly coupling said worm to said placement gear;

a master cam mounted on the bottom of said deck, said master cam having a cam groove formed therein;

a driving pin received in said cam groove of said master cam;

gear means drivingly coupling said driving pin received in said groove of said master cam to said ring gear; and

connecting gear means for drivingly coupling said worm to said master cam, wherein operation of said motor causes motion of said arm lever to move said interlocking pin to place said cassette holder on said deck and further drives said master cam to rotate said ring gear, whereby said tape is pulled from said cassette and loaded onto said upper drum for reproduction after said cassette holder is placed on said deck.

172. A cassette loading apparatus for placing a cassette holder having a magnetic tape held therein onto a deck and for driving a ring gear to operate means for pulling tape from the cassette and for loading the tape onto an upper drum for reproduction, said apparatus comprising:

a housing having formed therein a right-angled opening, said housing supporting said apparatus while comprising said deck and a pair of opposite side walls separated by said deck;

an interlocking pin fixed on said cassette holder and extending through said right-angled opening;

an arm lever mounted for rotation about an axis and drivingly engaging said interlocking pin;

a placement gear mounted for rotation on said axis;

means disposed between said arm lever and said placement gear, drivingly coupling said placement gear to said arm lever, wherein rotation of said placement gear causes motion of said interlocking pin in said right-angled opening;

a motor comprising a source of motive power mounted on said housing and a shaft of said motor rotated by said motive power;

a worm mounted on said shaft of said motor;

gearing means for drivingly coupling said worm to said placement gear;

a master cam mounted on a bottom portion of said deck, said master cam having a cam groove formed therein wherein said bottom portion of said deck comprises a floor of said housing;

a driving pin received in said cam groove of said master cam;

gear means drivingly coupling said driving pin received in said groove of said master cam to said ring gear; and

connecting gear means for drivingly coupling said worm to said master cam, wherein operation of said motor causes motion of said arm lever to move said interlocking pin to place said cassette holder on said deck and further drives said master cam to rotate said ring gear, whereby said tape is pulled from said cassette and loaded onto said upper drum for reproduction after said cassette holder is placed on said deck.

173. The apparatus of claim 172, further comprised of said master cam being mounted on an underside of said bottom portion.

174. A process of loading a cassette, comprising:

selecting a cassette loading apparatus for placing a cassette holder having a magnetic tape held therein onto a deck and for driving a ring gear to operate means for pulling tape from the cassette and for loading the tape onto an upper drum for reproduction, said apparatus comprising:

a housing having formed therein a right-angled opening;

an interlocking pin fixed on said cassette holder and extending through said right-angled opening;

an arm lever mounted for rotation about an axis and drivingly engaging said interlocking pin;

a placement gear mounted for rotation on said axis;

means drivingly coupling said placement gear to said arm lever, wherein rotation of said placement gear causes motion of said interlocking pin in said right-angled opening;

a motor mounted on said housing;

a worm mounted on a shaft of said motor;

gearing means for drivingly coupling said worm to said placement gear;

a master cam mounted on the bottom of said deck, said master cam having a cam groove formed therein;

a driving pin received in said cam groove of said master cam;

gear means drivingly coupling said driving pin received in said groove of said master cam to said ring gear; and

connecting gear means for drivingly coupling said worm to said master cam; and

operating said motor to cause said arm lever to move said interlocking pin to place said cassette holder on said deck and further drives said master cam to rotate said ring gear, whereby said tape is pulled from said cassette and loaded onto said upper drum for reproduction after said cassette holder is placed on said deck.

175. The process of claim 174, comprising:

after said cassette holder is placed on said deck, shifting said coupling between said worm and said placement gear and between said worm and said connecting gear means, by sliding said worm along said shaft; and

pulling the magnetic tape from the cassette by driving said master cam while said worm is drivingly coupled to said connecting gear means.

176. The process of claim 174, comprising continuously rotating said master cam during said rotation of said placement gear and during rotation of said ring gear.

177. The process of claim 174, comprising simultaneously rotating said placement gear and said lever arm during said motion of said first pin in said right angle opening.

178. The process of claim 175, comprising continuously rotating said master cam during said rotation of said placement gear and during rotation of said ring gear.