A tape cassette loading device inclusive of a tape cassette holder which is slidably or rotatably stored in or drawn out of a main body of a tape cassette apparatus includes a tape cassette holder for storing at least one tape cassette and for slidably or rotatably moving the at least one tape cassette from or to a predetermined position within a holder storing member provided with the main body of the apparatus, support members slidably or swingly provided with the cassette holder and supporting members with the holder storing member, for supporting the at least one cassette, and positioning members provided, for positioning the at least one tape cassette at the predetermined position via the supporting members.

The invention relates to a magnetic tape cassette device in which a cassette (2) containing the magnetic tape can be introduced into a cassette tray and can rest, loosely held, in the cassette tray (1) before or after the moving of an operating lever (13) which can move with the cassette housing during introduction, the operating lever (13) interacting with a tappet (29), which in the introduction position of the cassette pushes against the latter in order that it may be hindered from free movements in the cassette tray (1). The tappet lever (23) is designed as a double-armed swivel part (23), the tappet (29) being provided at a free end (28) of a first swivel arm (24) of the swivel part (23) and the connection to the operating lever (13) being provided at the end of a second swivel arm (25) of this swivel part (23). The connection with the operating lever is either direct or via an over-center helper spring (125), which moves the operating lever (13) automatically into an end position in each case after passing beyond the top dead center.

An eight track tape alignment instrument for selective application to and use between the tape cartridge receiving cavity and the tape cartridge of conventional magnetic tape players so as to wedgingly apply uniform pressure between the cartridge wheel and the capstan and cause travel of the magnetic tape past and proper alignment thereof relative to the decoding and electronic sound converting head to prevent slow and non-uniform travel or malfunctioning of the tape and misalignment of the latter relative to the head creating crosstalk problems and thereby insuring of quality reproduction through the speakers. The instrument is preferably plastic, and is small, light, relatively short and narrow, and wedge-shaped so as to be grasped between the index finger and thumb and the tapered end thereof selectively inserted between the front face of the cartridge and the walls of its cavity and pushed inwardly to correct any misalignment between the cartridge wheel and capston.

A cassette tape machine has a cassette receiver in form of a drawer which pulls out from the front panel of the machine, so that the cassetts may be placed into it from above in flat condition even if the top surface of the machine itself is inaccessible. The capstan drive, preferably a direct drive, is mounted in the cassette receiver, immediately below the cassette nest, so that no variations in the tape speed--resulting in wow and flutter--are introduced by the need to transmit motion to the capstan from a remote location of the drive.

A tape cartridge positioning and ejection device for use in a magnetic tape recording and reproduction apparatus in which a rack and pinion combination is employed for positioning of the tape cartridge in the correct recording and reproduction position upon insertion and for ejection of the same when necessary in an efficient manner.