Importance

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Abstract

A multi-cassett loading and unloading system having a housing which has defined locations for different size cassettes such as the Standard (large size) and Mini (small size) cassettes of the DVC (digital video) format, which are distinguished by different center-to-center spacing of the tape reels. The housing is movable horizontally and vertically during the loading and unloading operations. An element of a connection between the housing and a mobile member engages and thereby detects which size cassette is in the housing. A linkage between the mobile member and the driving members adjusts a spacing of the driving members responsive to horizontal translation of the mobile member by the housing. When a large size cassette is being loaded, it is engaged and detected by the element, and the connection is disabled which causes the mobile member to set the spacing of the driving members to match the spacing of the tape reels of the large size cassette and, when a small size cassette is being loaded, it is engaged and detected by the element, and the connection is enabled by the element engaging an abutment on the housing which causes the mobile member to be translated by the housing and set the spacing of the driving members to match the spacing of the tape reels of the small size cassette. In a disclosed embodiment, the element takes the form of a pressure roller which pushes the cassette in the housing on reference supports as the housing is moved vertically to lower the cassette into engagement with the driving members.

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First Claim