CA1305554C - Video cassette auto-changer - Google Patents

Abstract

VIDEO CASSETTE AUTO-CHANGER

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
In a video cassette auto-changer which includes a plurality of reproducing and/or recording devices or VTRs, and a plurality of cassette storage bins arrayed in horizontal and vertical directions and each adapted to store a cassette therein; a cassette transporting apparatus for selectively transporting cassettes between the storage bins and the VTRs comprises fixed horizontal upper and lower guide rails along which upper and lower sliders are movable, a movable guide rail extending vertically between the sliders and pivotally connected to the latter at ends of the movable guide rail, a carriage movable vertically along the movable guide rail, a horizontal drive connected with the sliders for moving the carriage in the direction along the fixed guide rails and a vertical drive for moving the carriage along the movable guide rail. Elongated, flexible electrical connecting members or harnesses are provided for applying electrical control signals to horizontally and vertically movable components of the cassette transporting apparatus and are associated with slack take-up devices so that such electrical connecting members can accommodate and will not interfere with substantially vertical and horizontal movements of the carriage.

Description

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BACKGROU~D OF THE INVF.NTION
~ield of the Inventi _ This inv~ntion relates g~nerally t~ e videc casse~te auto-changer, tha~ is, an apparatus for ~ele~tively supplying, to a plurality of reproducing and/or recording devices or VTRs, video tape-cassettes ~ored in a large number of respective cassette storage bins.
Descri tion of the Prior Art P . . _ A video cassette auto changer has been provided, for example, for use by broadcasting stations, ~o that a large number of video ~ape cassette can ~e automatically ~electively loaded in sequence into a plurality ~f video tape recorders ~o as to permit continuous ~ideo reprc>ducing and/or recor~ing for an extended time. In a known video cassette auto-changer, a large number of ca~sette storage bins are arrayed vertieally and horizontally i~ an arrangement o~ .tacks tbereof, with a plurality of V~Rs dispos~d at one end of the stack arrangement, and with A
cassette transporting deviGe being provided for ~electively transporting cassette~ betwe~n th~ storage bins and the VTRs. ~aving in mind the r~latively large dimensions of the ~tack arrangement in orthogonally r~lated directions, for example, in verti~al and horizontal directions, the cassette transporting device may comprise a carriage adapted to receive a cassette from, and to discharge a ~asse te into a selected one of the storage bins VTRs w~th whlch the carriage is registered, a movable guide rail extending in one of the orth~gonally related directions, ~or example/
verti~ally, and hav~ng a length at least as l~rge as ~he ~3~;5~
height of the ~tack arrangement with the carriage being mounted for vertical movemen~s along the movable guide rail, and fi:~ed guid~ r~ils extending in th~ other orthogon~lly related directiont that is, hori20ntally ~ the top and bottom of the stack arrangement along the leng~h of the latter, with sliders being ~ovable along the ~ixed guide rails and a~tached to the ends of the movable guide rail~
~y effec~ing movements of the sliders along the fixed guid2 rails and of the carriage along the movable guide rail, the carriage can be brought ~nto selective registry with ~he ~arious cassette ~torage bin~ and VTRs. However, by reason of the relatively large space occupied by the fitack arrangement, it is ~t lea~t difficult and costly, and in some instances e~en impossible, to achi2ve precise parallel alignment of the upper and lower fixed guide rail~ with the result that the sliders, when rigidly connected to the ends of khe movable guide rail for mo~ably mounting th~ latter on th~ fixed guide rail~, may j~m relative to the latter.
Further, in the ~bove-de~cribed video cassette auto-changer according to the prior art, ~t is neces~ary to transmit electrical control 6ignals or the like over large distances, for examp~e, to the carriage as the latter is moved oYer relat~vely l~rge ~ertical and horizontal distances for selecti~ely registering with any o~e of the large number of cassette ~torage ~ins or the plurality of VTRs. For this purpose, it has been proposed ~o employ an elastically coiled electrical cord for ~ransmi~ting the electrical control or driving signal~ to ~he ~ovable carriage or ~he like, with the intention that the .

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elastically coiled cord will ~e automatically extended and contracted in accordance with movements of the carriage away from anc totiard, respectively, a ~iYed terminus or receptacle from with the roiled cord extends.
Alternativelyt it has been proposed to us~e a flat, flexibly resilient cable as the electrical connecting member and to increase the inherent resiliency of the fl~t cable by mounting a leaf ~pring therealong as a guide memb~r to prevent entangling of the cable in adjacent struc~ures during movements of the carriage. A~ ~ti}l another possible arrangement of the el~ctrical con~ecting member, i~ has been proposed to employ therefor ~ cable in~erted, ~or a least part of its length, in a resiliently ~lexible tube which tends to ~eep the cable fitraight~ but which can be resiliently be~t up to approximately a 180~ turn for acco~moda~ing movements of the carriage. How~ver) the foregoing schemes for controlling and preventing snagging of th electrical connecting membsr are all burdened wi~h respective disadv~ntages. When an elastically coiled electric cord is u~ed, the maximum length of the extended cord is about three t~mes its minimum or contracted length.
Thus~ the ela~tically coiled cord, even when fully contracted, take~ up more ~pace than i~ desired. Similarly, when a flat, flexibly r~sillent cable is employe~ either alone or with a leaf ~pring ox the like moun ed along the cable to in~rease ~ts resiliency, or when the cable is inserted in a resili~nt tub~, undesirably large spaces are requir~d for such arrangements particularly when large ~3~;i5~;~
movements of the carriage are tO be effected and sharp bends in the cable are to be avoided.

OBJECTS ANI) SUMMARY OF TllE INVENTlON

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a video cassette auto-changer which avoids the above-mentioned problems associated with the prior art.

More specifically, it is an object of this invention to provide a video cassette auto-changer which includes a plurality of VTRs, a large number of cassette storage bins arrayed in first and second orthogonally related directions and each adap~ed to store a cassette therein, and a cassette transporting device for selectively transporting cassettes over large distances between the storage bins and the VTRs without jamming or otherwise interrup~ing the rapid and smooth transfer of the cassettes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a video cassette auto-changer, as aforesaid, with a compact and reliably effective arrangement for transmitting electrical control or drive signals to movable elements of the cassette transporting device.
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In accordance with an aspect of the parent application of this invention, in a video cassette auto-changer which includes a plurality of reproducing and/or recording means, such as, VTRs, and a large number of cassette storage bins arrayed in first and second.
orthogonally related directions, for example, in horizontal and vertical directions, and each adapted to store a cassette therein; a cassette transporting means for selectively transporting cassettes between the storage bins and the VTRs comprises fixed :;
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guide rail means extending in the first direction, slider means mounted on the fixed guide rail means for rnovement along the latter in the first direction, slider driving means for driving the slider means a]ong the fixed guide rail means, movable guide rail means extending in the second direction, connecting means pivotally connecting the movable guide rail means to the slider means for movement with the latter along the fixed guide rail means and for pivoting in respect to the slider means in a plane containing the first and second orthogonally related directions, carriage means mounted on the movable guide rail means for movement along the latter in the second direction and being adapted to receive a cassette from, and to discharge a cassette into a selected one of the storage bins or VTRs with which the carriage means is registered, and carriage driving means for driving the carriage along the movable guide rail means so that, by the combined se]ective operations of the slider driving means and the carriage driving means, the carriage means can be registered with the selected one of the storage bins and VTRs.

In accordance with an aspect of this invention, in a video cassette auto-changerwhich includes a plurality of VTRs, a large number of cassette storage bins arrayed in first and second orthogonally related directions and each adapted to store a cassette therein, and cassette transporting means movable in the first and second directions for selectively transporting cassettes between the storage bins and the VTRs; there is provided the combination of an elongated, flexible electrica] connecting \

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member extending from a fixed source of e]ectrical control or drive signals to the cassette transporting means and being of a length to permit movements of the latter in the first direction, first movable roller means around which the electrical connecting member extends to form a bight in the latter, means mounting the first movable roller means for movements in said first direction, second movable roller means mounted for reciprocable movements in a path perpendicular to the axis of the second roller means and which is preferably parallel to said first direction, a first elongated, fle7nble mechanical connection connected at one end to the cassette transporting means and at its other end to a stationary anchor and extending around the second movable roller means intermediate such ends of the first flexible mechanical connection for moving the second movable roller means in said path in response to movemen~s of the cassette transporting means in the first direction, and a second elongated, flexible mechanical connection extending between the first and second movable roller means for moving the first roller means in the first direction in response to movements of the second roller means in said path thereof so as to avoid slackness in the bight of the e]ectrical connecting member.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, in a video cassette auto-changer which includes a plurality of VTRs, a large number of cassette storage bins arrayed in horizontal and vertical directions and each adapted to store a cassette therein, and cassette transporting means for selectively transporting cassettes ~ ..
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between the 6torage bins and VTRs; ~aid cassette tra~sporting means comprises horizontally extending upper and lower fixec guide rail~ which ar~ vertically sp~ced apart, upper and lower slider members movable along the upper and lower fixed guide rails, xespectively, ~lider driving means for driving the upper ~nd lower slider members along the fixed gu~de rails, movable guide rail means extending vertically between the upp~r and lower slider members, carriage means mounted on the m~vable guide rail means for vertical movement along the latter and being a~apted to receive a ~assette from~ and to discharge a cassette into a ~elected one of the 6tor~ge blns or VTRs with which the carriage means i~ regist~red, an elollgate~
flexible electrical conne~ting member extending from the upper slider member to the carriage means for 6upplying electrical control s~gnals to the l~tter and having a length suffi~ient to acc~mmodate the movement ~f the carriage means along the movab}e guide rail means, movable roller means under which the electrical connecting member ext~nds for forming a bight in the latter, and mean~ guiding the movable roller means ~or movement~ along the movable guide rail means under the influen~e of gravity ~o that the weight of the movable roller means acts to take up ~lack in the electrical connecting member.
~ he above, and other object , features and advantages of the i~vention, will be apparent in the followin~ detailed description ~f an illustra~i~e em~odiment thereof which is to be read ~n conneotion with the accompaDyin~ drawings ln which c~rresponding parts are ~3~5~
identified by the same reference numerals in the several views.
BRIEF DESCRIPTIO~ OF T~E DRAWI~GS
Fig. l is a front elevational view of a video ca~sette auto-changer in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the video cas~ette auto-ch~nger shown on Fig. l;
Fig. 3 is a .~ide elevational vi~w of the video cassette auto-changer of Figs. 1 and 2;
Fig. 4 is an en~arged, exploded perspective view of the mechanism for movably supporting the upper end of a vertical guide rail included in the apparatus of Figs. 1-3;
Fig. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary front elevational view of the upper end portion of the vertical guide rail and of the mechanism ~or movably mounting the ame on a fixed upper guide rail of the apparatus;
Fi~. 6 is a fragme~tary top plan view of the mechanism shown o~ Fig. 5;
Fig. 7 i5 a sectional ~iew tak~n along ~he line - i VII~VII on Fig. 5;
Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line VIII-VIII on Flg. 7;
Fig. 9 i~ ~n enlarged perspective view of the me~hanism for mounting the lower e~d portion of the vertical guide rail in respect to a lower ~ixed guide rail i~ the apparatus of Figs~ 1-3;
Fig. 10 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the mechanism ~hown i~ Fig. 9;

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~ ig. 11 is a sectional ~iew taken along the line Xl-XI on Fig . 1 O;
Fig. 12 is an explode~ perspective view shcwing d~tail~ of the vertical guide rail ~nd of the ~echani~m for movably m~unting a carriag~ thereon in the apparatus o Figs. 1-3;
Fig. 13 is an enlarged sectional vi~w taken along the li~e XIII-XIII on ~ig. 5;
~ ig. 14 is a perspective vi~w of a mechanism provided in the apparatus embodyi~g the invention for taking-up the sl~ck in an ~long~ted, flexible electr~cal connecting member through which electrical control and/or drive signals are transmitted during movements of a cas~et~e transporting device over large horizontal distances;
Figs. 15A and 15B are diagrammatic view~
illustrating the me~ ~ni~m of ~ig. 14 in two di~ferent extreme positions t}. eof, and to whi~h reference will b~
made in explai~ing e operation of such mechanism in accordance with ~his invention;
Fig. 16 ~ a fragmentary perspectiv~ ~iew of a mechanism provided the apparatus embodying the invention for taking~up ~lack in an elongated flexible electrical connecting member ~hrough which electrical control signal ~re ~upplied to the ~arriage while pe~mitting vertical movements of the latter on th~ ~erti~al guiae rail; and ~ igs. 17A and ~7B are diagrammatic ~ide eleva ional view~ representing the mechanism o~ Fig~ 16 in two different extreme positions thereof, and to which --:10-..

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reference will be made in explaining the operation of ~uch mechanism.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to ~he drawings in de!~ail, and initially to Figs. 1-3 thereof, it will be ~een thiat a ~ideo cassette auto-cha~ger according to n embodiment of this invention generally comprises an upri~ht, rec~angular housing 1 ha~ing a large numb~x of cassette ~torage bins :2 arrayed therein in orthogonally related directions, that i~, in vertiçal stacks which are arranged horizontally ~n succession, and which are each adapted to store a ~ideo tape cassette 3 therein.
Further, as is apparent in Figs. 2 a~d 3, the stacks of-6torage bi~s 2 are arranged in front and rear banks 2A and 2~ that are ~paced apart tojdefine an aisle therebetween. A
plurality of reproducing ~nd/or recording deYices, such as, VTRs 4, are stacked vertically one above the other at o~
side of the housing 1, and are of a ~o-called side-loading type so ~s to be ~a~h capabl~ of receiving a cassette 3 at the ~ide of the respective VTR 4 facing the aisle between the banks 2A and 2B of storage bins 2. A mo~able guide rail 5 e~:tends vertically in the aisle between the fsont and rear ~anks 2A ~nd 2B of ~torage bi~s 2 a~d is movable horizontally in the directions of the arrows a and a' on Fig. 1, as hereinafter described ln detail~ A cassette feeder or c~rriage 6 i5 mounted on guide rail 5 for mo~ement~ vertically along the latter in the directions ::
~ ~ indicated by the arrows b and b~ on Fig. 1, ~ herei~af~er :~; described in ~etail9 55~

In the operation of the ~bove generally described video cassette auto-changer, a ~el~cted casse~te 3 is removed by cas~et.e feeder or carria~e 6 fro~ a r~spectiv~
casset e torage bin 2, whereupon carriage 6 is moved hori~ontally in the directi~n of the arrow a and vertically in the direction of the a~row b or b ' ~o as to regifiter with the side-loading port or opening of a selected one of the VTRs 4, and the txansported cassette 3 is then transferred from carriaqe 6 into the ~elected VTR 4 for reprodu~ing or recording a signal on the tape in su~h selected cassette.
After the desixed recording or reproducing operat:ion has been performed in the selected VTR 4, the used cassette 3 is remoYed by ca~ette feeder or carri~ge 6 which ls then moved horizontally in the direction of the arrow a' and vertically i~ the direction of the arrow b or b' f~r regi~tering carriage 6 with the st~rage bin 2 into which the used cassett~ 3 is to be returnedO Then, the returned cassette 3 is transferred $rom carriage 6 to the eassette ~torage bin 2 with which it is :registered.
A ~upporting 6trw ture 10 for the upper end portion 5a of vertical guide rail 5 i~ show~ to generally include a ~ubstantially horizontal top plate ll of housing 1 to the underside of wh$~h there i~ suitably secured a ~ubstantially horizontal upper guide rail 12, and an upper ~llder mechani~ 13 mounted o~ upper guid~ rail 12 for movem~nts therealong in the dlrections of the arrow a and a'.
Th~ horizontal upper guide rail 12 is shown, particularly on Fig. 2, to be disposed above the aisle iS~4 between the front and rear banks 2A and 2B of ~torage bins 2. As ~hown on Fig~ 4~ guide rail 12 i~ substantially comprised Gf two opp~sitely f~cing C-shaped sections 12a and 12b connected hy a horizontal web 12c from which a cPntral web 16 depends~
The slider mechanism 13 includes a horizontal plate 14 with flanges 17a and 17b directed upwardly along the front and rear portions of plate 14. ~ront and rear guide rollers 15 are mounted on the opposite ~ide porti~ns of plate 14 midway be~ween flanyes 17,a and 17b for rotatio~
about respective vertical axes and are positioned or close rolling engagement with the opposite side surfaces ~f flange 16 of guide rail 12. Two inner guide rollers 18a and two outer guide roll~r~ 18b are mounted ~t the rearwardly facing side of flange 17a and at the ~orwardly facing side of flange l~b and are rotatable about respective horizontal axes. The rollerR 18a and 18b on flange 17a extend into a forwardly opening horizontal guide groove 19a defined by section 12a of guide rail 12, while the rollers 18a and 18b mQunted on flange 17b ~imilarly extend into a rearwardly opening horizo~tal guide groove 19b defined by section 12b of guide rail 120 As shown particularly on Fig. 5, $he axes of the inner rollers 18a are disposed slightly higher than the axes o~ the outer rollers 18b with the result that guide rollers 18a are in rolling contact with the downwardly facing upper surfaces of ~he respective guide grooves l9a and l9b, while guide rollers 18b are in rolling contact with the upwardly facing Iow~r ~urfaces of the respective guide grooves l9a ~nd l9b. By reason of the f~regoing, ~he slider ,,, ~3~
mechanism 13 is smo~thly guided by rollers 15,18a and 18b for movements along the horizontal upper gu~de rail 12 in the horizontal directions indicated by arrows a and a'.
Front and rear support plates 20 and 21 (Figs. 4 and 7) depend from the ront and back edge porti~n6 of hori~ontal plate 14 and are fi~ed to the latter by bolts 22.
A vertical drive mechanism 23 which wi!Ll be described in detail her~inaf~er generally comprises a geared motor 24 fixed to the back surface of support plate 21 and having a dxive shaft 25 which extends through support plate 21 and is supported at its forward end in a bearing 26 IFig. 7) ~arried by front ~upport pl~te 20.
A pair of bearings 30 and 31 (Fig. 7), which may be in the form of ball bearings, are fixed to the upper end portion 5a of vertical guide rail 5 at the inn~r side surfaces of ~ront a~d rear walls 28 2nd 29 of a box-like structure forminq guide rail 5. Driving ~haft 25 is inserted in bearings 30 and 31 with the result that the upper end portion 5a of vertical guide rail 5 i~ pivotally suspended from driving shaft 25, and hence i~ mounted on ~lider ~echani~m 13 for movements with the latter along horizontal spper guide rail 12 and for pivotal movement~
relative to ~lider mechanism 1.3 about the axic of shaft 25.
As ~how~ on Fig~ 7, ~paces ~r clearances 34 having a width w .
ar~ provided betwee~ the upper ena portlon 5a of vertical guide rail 5 and ~upport plates 2~ and 21, respectivel~.
In ~rder to facil$tate the suspen~ion .of vertical gui~e rail 5 ~r~m slider mechanism 13, upper end portion 5a of tbe guide ra~ initially mounted on ~riving shaft 25 ~3~
at a time when support plates 20 and 21 are disconnected from horizon~al pla~te 14, as ~hown on ~ig. 4. At such time, support plates 20 and 21 can be secured to each oth~r ~y ~.
pair of left and right connecting rods 32. Thereafter, one of the connrcting rods 32 is engaged with a hook bracket 33 secured to the undersurface of plate 14, as shown on Fig. 8, for temporarily suspen~ing vertical guide rail 5 from slider mechanism 13 un~il bolts 22 can be installed for securing support. plates 20 and 21 to horizontal plate 14.
Returning to Figs. 1 and 3, it will be seen thet a ~upport mechanism 37 for a lower end por~ion 5b of vlertic~l guide rail 5 generally comprises a bottom plate 38 extending along housing 1, a horizontal lower guide rail 39 fixed to the upper surface of bottom plate 38 under the aisle between the banks 2A and 2B of cassette storage bins 2, and a lower slider mechanism 40 movable along lower horizontal guide rail 39 in he directions of ~he arrows a and a'. As shown particularly on Figs. 9 and 11, lower horizontal guide r~il 39 is desirably of inverted T-shaped cross-section so as to define a vertioal, upwardly directed rib 43 extending along guide rail 39 and bei~g r~ceived between two pair~ of fr~nt and rear guide rollers 42 depending from a horizontal plate 41 of slider mechani~m 40 at laterally spaced apart positio~s and being rotat~ble abou~ respective vertical axes. Gu~d~ roller~ 42 are adapted to guide slid~r mechanism 40 along guide r~il 39 while permitting vert~cal movements of ~lidex mechanism 40 relative to guide rail 39.
As ~hown on Fi~s. 9-11, a pair ~f vertically ~paced ~a~ge ~mber~ 4~ are directed forw~rdly from the -15- ~
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front wall 28 of guide rail 5 at the lower ~nd portion 5b Gfthe latter. ~he horizontal plate 41 of ~lider mechanism 40 ext~nds xearwardly be~ween flange mem~ers 44 an~ is pi~otally connected to the lat~er by a vertical piYot pin 45. Therefore, lower 61ider mechanism 40, in moving along guide rail 39, is free to be angularly displaced about the vertical axis of pin 45 relative to vertical guide rail 5 for accommodating any deviations of the upwardly directed fl~nge 43 of guide rall 39 from a plane parallel to the plane of the central web 16 of upper guide rail 12.
Furthermore, ince ~lider mechanism 40 is fre~ o be displaced vertically i~ respect to lower guide rail 39, guide rail 5 i ~wingable a~out the horizontal axis of driving ~haft 25 ~rom which it is ~u~pended, at the upper end, in which case the lower ~nd portion 5b of guide rail 5 is displaceable in the directions indicated by th~ arrows c and c' on Fig. lO.
As shown particularly on Figs. 12 and 13, a ~ounting plate 57 is fixed ~o ~he side surface of ~assette feeder or carriage 6 facing away from the stack of ~TRs 4, ~nd upper and lower pair~ of guide roller~ 58 are mounted on plate 57 for rotation about respective horizontal axes and are engaqeable in a quide groove 59 extending vertically along the dja~ent side o~ guide rail 5. For convenience in fabricating and asse~bling guide rail 5 with carriage 6, the box-like structure of guide rail 5 is shown ~o be formed in two portions having rec~angular sections and being secured together at abutting walls 134 by ~crews 134a ~Fi~. 13) so as to ~efine the previously ~entioned ~ront and rear wal}s ~3~q5~
28 and 29 and side walls 50 and 51 extending therebetween.
Side portion~ of ront and rear walls 28 and 29 are ~hown to exte~d laterally beyond side walls 5n and 51, ~o as to define the previously mentioned guide groove 59 by means Gf the outer ~ur~ace of side wall 50 and the c~fronting or inwardly directed surfaces of the projectiny side portions of front and rear walls 28 and 29. A ~imilar ~uide groove 66 is provided at the opposite ~ide of guide r~il 5 by the outer surface of sid~ wall 51 and ~he confron~ing or inwardly directed ~urfaces at the respective projecting side portions of front and xear walls 28 and 29. Spaced apart vertical ribs 135a, 135b,135c and 135d extend rearwardly from rear wall 29, a~d spaced apart vertical ribs 135e,135f,135g ~nd 135h extend forwardly ~rom front wall 28, Guide grooves 62 are defined between ribs 135a and 135b and ribs 135e and 135f, respectively. Flanges 60 extend laterally ~rom the forward and rearward edge portions of mounting plate 57, and pairs o guide rollers 61a and 61b are mounted at the inner ~urfaces of flang~s 60 at upper and lower position~, re~pec~iY~ly, for rotation about horizontal axes. Such gu$de rollers 61a and 61b extend into guide groov~s 62 a~d, a6 shown p~rticularly on Fig. 5, the axes of guide rollers 61a are offset laterally in respect to the axes of guide roller~ 61b. Thus, guide roller~ 61a are in rolling contact with rib 135a ~ one side of vextical guide rail 5 and wlth rib 135e at the opposi~e ~ide o~ guide rail 5, while guide rollers 61b are in rolling ~ontact with the rib 135b or the rib 135f. ~herefore, mounting plate 57 and th~ cassette feoder or carriage 6 ~hexeon ~an be 6moothly .

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m~ved along vertical guide rail 5 with displacements relative to the latter only in the vertical direction, that is, the directio~ ~long the lor.gitudina~ a~is of gui~C r~il 5.
~ s .ehown on Figs. 10 and 13, a counter weight 64 is mounted on vertical guidç rail 5 at the side of the latter remote from cassette feeder or carriage 6. Upper and lower, a~d front and rear guide rollers 65 are mounted on counter weight 64 for rotation about horizontal axes and are positioned to extend into ver~ical guide gr~ove 66 defined by side wall 51 of guide rail 5 and by the edge por~ions of front and rear walls 28 and 29 projecting beyond side wall 51 and with which gulde roll~rs 65 are in rolling contact.
The counter weight 64 has front and rear flanges 64a and 64b extending therefrom paRt ribs 135h a~d 135d, respectively, of vertical guide rail S IFig. 13). Upper and lo~er pairs of guide rollers 67a and 67b (Figs. 10 and 13) extend from flanges 64a and 64b i~to guide qrooves 68 defined betw~en ribs 135g and 135h and between ribs 135c and 135d, respectively. As ~hown on Fig. 10, the horizontal axes of sotation of guide rollers 67a are offset laterally a small distance relative to the horizontal axes of rotation of guide ro}lers 67b 80 that guide rollors 67a effect rolling contact with ~he rib ~t one side of guide groove 68, for example, the rib 135h on Fig. 10, whi}e guide rollers 67b effect rolling contact with the rib i35g a~ the opposlte s~de of the respective guide groove 6B. Thus, counter weight 64 is al~o mounted ~or mooth movemen~s in the , . . . . ...

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directions of the ~rrows b and b' along vertical guidP rail 5.
~ h~ v~rtical ~rive mechdrlism 23 is provided to effec~ the controlled vertical movements of cassette f~eder or carriage 6 in the direc~ion of the arrows b and b' along vertical guide rail 5. As ~hown particularly on Figs. 4 and 7, vertical drive mechanism 23 includes, in addition to the ~reviously mentioned motor 24, a toothed driving pulley 47 fixed to motor ~haft 25 and located in a generally U-shaped cutout 52 formed in side walls 50 and 51 at upper end portion 5a of vertical guide rail 5. A~ shown particularly in ~ig. 11, hearings 53, which may be in tbe form of b~ll bearings, are fixed to the inner sides of front ana rear walls 28 and 29 of guide rail 5 at the lower ~nd of the latter, and a driven shaft 54 ls rotat~bly mounted in such b~arings 53. A toothed driven pulley 48 i~ fix~d on driven ~haft S4 ~nd is accommodated in a U-shaped cut~ut 55 formed in the lower portions of ~ide walls 50 and S1 of guide rail A timing bel~ 49 extends around pulleys 47 and 48, and runs of belt 49 betwe~n pulleys 47 ~nd 48 are disposed : centrally in grooves 59 ~nd 66, respectively, of guide rail 5. The run of timing belt 49 in ~uide groove 59 is ~ecured by a cla~p 63 to mounting plate 57 of casæette feeder or carriag~ 6 t and counter weight 64 is similarly ~ecured to the run of timing belt 49 in guide grovve 66.
; A horizontal drive mechanism 71 i~ provided to ; effect movements of vertical guide rall ~ in he horizontal dire~tions of arrows a ~nd a'. ~s ghown ln Figs. 5 and 10, such horl20ntal drive mechanism 71 includes a verti~al shaft , --lg--~3~5~
73 r~tatably mounted, at its upper and lower ends, in bearings 72 fixed ~o the top and bottom plates ll and 38 of housin~ 1 2d jacent the side of the latter re~,ote from t~s stacked VTRs 4. A toothed driven pulley 74 is fixed to the lower end of shaft 73 and is engaged by a timing belt 78 which extends around a too~hed dri~ing pulley 77 fixed on a driving shaft 76 of a drive motox 75 mountled on bottom plate 38 [Fig. 3). A pair of upp~r and lower toothed driving pulleys 79 and 80 are mounted on upper and lower portions of ~haft 73. Upper and lower toothed driven pulleys 81 and 82 (Figs. 1 ~nd 2) are moun~ed on top and bottom plat~s ll and 38 for rotatiDn about vertical ax~s adjacent the side of frame or housing 1 near the stack of VTRs 4. An upper timing belt 83 runs around driving pulley 79 and clriven pulley 81 and a lower timing belt 84 runs around driving pulley 80 and driven pulley 82~ The toothed driving pulleys 79 and 80 are a~justably ~ecured to ~haft 73 ~y releasable friction cou~lings 85 which constitute u~er and ~wer dEive sy~chronizing means 86. In other words, the rotational posit~ons of upper and lGwer driving pulley~ 79 and 80 can be adjustea relativo to each other for a purpo~e hereinafter de~cribed in detail.
As ~hown in Figs. 7 and 11, a belt ~lamp 87 ~ecures a run of upper timi~g belt 83 to plate 14 of upper slider mechani~m 13, ~nd a belt clamp 88 similarly secures a run of the low~r timiny belt 84 to plate 41 of lower ~lider ~echanism 40~ .
The opexations of th~ horizontal drive mechanism 71 and the vertioal drive mechanism 23 in effecting ~elec~ed :~3~5S;~;~
horizontal and vertical movements of eassette fe~der or carriage 6 will now be described.
Upon forward or reverse rotation of drive motor.
~5, shaft 73 is suitably driven through toothed pulleys 74 and 77 and timing belt 78. The upper and lower driving pulleys 79 and 80 are rotated wi~h shaft 73 with the result that the upper and lower timing belts 83 and 84 are driven for moving slider mechani ms 13 and 40 in the direction of the arrow a or a' along the respec~ive upper and lower guide : rails 12 and 39. The vertical guide rail 5, in bei~g connected to the upper a~d lower 1ider mechanisms 13 and 40 at shafts 25 and 45, ic similarly moved in the direction of the arrow a or aS. The movement of vertical guide rail 5, and hence of the carriage 6 thereon, i~ the direction of the arrow a or a' may be limite~ in response to the detection of a shutter plate 126 ~Fig. ll) depending from the lower end of vertical guide rail 5 by suitable ~en ors 127 fixed along the lower horizontal gu~de rail 39.
Upon the forward or rever6e rot~tion of dri~e ~otor 24, drivinq pulley 47 is si~ilarly rotated to driYe timi~g belt 49 with the result that cassette feeder or carr~age 6 secured to a run of belt 49 by clamp 53 is moved vertically al~ng guide rail 5 i~ th~ direction of the arrow b or b'. A~ the ~ame time, count~r weight 64 i~ moved vertically along guide rail 5 in ~he direction opposed to the movement of carriage 6 and balances the weigh~ ~hereof.
The vertical movements o cassette feeder or carriage 6 along guide rail 5 may be limited in response to the dete~tion ~f a Ehutter plate 128 fix~d ~o one of the flanges . ~21-. ' ~

60 on mounting plate 57 by a pl~rality of ~ensors 129a to 129e (Figs. 5 and 10) se~ured to the front wall 28 of guide r~il 5 wlthin a groov~ 130 defin~ between ribs 135f and 1359.
The upper sensors 129a,129b and 129c arrang~d in ~ucc~ssion on the upper portion o.guicle rail 5 (~ig. 5) are successively encountered by shutter plate 128 as carriage 6 nears the upper liml~ of it~ ver~ic~l movement. For exampleO the detection of shutter 128 by s~nsor 129a may signal that decelerati~n of the upward movement of carriage 6 is to be commenced, whlle the detection of ~hutter plate 128 by ~ensor 129c sig~als the upper limit of the permissible trav~l of rarriage 6 and causes cessation of the upward movement. ~he intermediate sensor 129b detects shutter plate 128 for establishlng a so-called "originl' for the vertical movement of carri ge 6, that i5, a point at which the positional relation~hip o~ carriage 6 to ~he several bins 2 is predetermined. The lower ~ensors 129d and 129e (Fig. 10) cooperate with ~hutter plate 12B for indicating respective po~i~ions at which deceleration of $he downward move~ent of carriage 6 should commence ~nd at which the downward ~ovement of the carriage ~hould cease.
It will be appreciated tha~, when the descxibed video c~ssette auto-changer is d~signed to a~commodate hundreds of cassettes 3 in the bins 2, as is intended, th~
apparatus becomes rather large, and oarriage 6 ha~ to be moved over large di tances in both the vertical and hori20nta1 direc~ions. Thus, the horizontal upper and lower guide rail~ 12 and 3g and ~he respective upper and lower -~2-' ~3~55i5~
plates ll and 38 of housing 1 are long and ~ay not be precisely parallel to each other. By reason of ~he pivotal susp~nsion of vertical guide rail 5 fro~ slider mechGnism 13 at shaft 25, even when guide rail 12 is slightly inclined so as to similarly incline ~lider mechanism 13 moving thexealong, guide rail 5 may remain vertical during its movement in the direction of the arrow a or a' for ensuring that the cas~ette feeder or carriage 6 will properly register with the bins 2 if the la~ke!r remain horizontal.
It should be underctood that, by rotationally ad~usting the upper ~nd lower driving pulleys 79 and 80 relativs to ~ch oth~r on ~haft 73, ~s i8 pO sible by reason of the releasable friction couplings 85 which constltute the drive synchronizing means 86, guide rail 5 can be made to swing a small distance a~out the pivoting axls of shaft 25 in the direc~ion of the arrow c or c' on Fig. lO relative to slider mechanism 13~o as to suitably angle vr incline guide rail 5 for ensuring that the carriage 6 thereon will be properly aligned with the various bins 2 in the e~vent that the latter aro not preci~ely horizontal. ~uch adjustments for ensuring proper alignment of carriage 6 wit~ the 6everal bi~ 2 in an apparatus of large size are made possible by the pivotal ~onnection of vertical guid~ rail 5 to upper ~lider mechani~m 13 at sha~t 25~ ~nd further by the fact that the lower slider mechani~m 40 can move up and down relative to lower guide rail 39. Thus, inclination of gu~de rail 5 ~rom the vertical, or . in respec to a perp~ndicular ~o the direction along upper guide rail }2 i~ not ~ccompanied by , longitudirlal ~tressing of guide rail 5 or by j a~ning of slider member 13 on guide rail 12.
Further, ~ince shaf~ 25 of motor ~4 is used foL
pivotally ~uspending guide rail 5 from ~lider mechanism i3, the pivotal suspension of guide rail S is ~implified, that is, a pivot pin is not required ~ust for that purpose.
Moreover, by reason of the gaps or spaces 34 between guide rail 5 and suppc\rt plates 20 and 21 of slider mechanism 13, the vertical flanges 60 extending from mounting plate 57 of cassette feeder or carriage 6 can extend in1:o such ~pace~ 34 at the upper limit of the vertical movement of carriag~ 6, thereby increasing lthe permissible range of vertical movement of carriage 6.
Referri~g ~ow to Figs. 1-3,7 and 14, it will be seen that the illu~trated video cassette auto-changer according to the i~vention is further provided with a mechanism 90 for avoiding ~lackness in an elongated flexible electrical con~ecting member 92, for example, in the form of a flat, flexible electri~ cable, for ~upplying electrical control or dr~ve ~ignals to the drive motor 24 of vertical drive mechanism 23 and to the cassette feeder or carriage 6, and which is of r~lativey great length for accommodating the large ~orizontal movements ~ncountered in an appAratus of the described type. ~ore particularly, in the illustra~ed embodiment, the flexible electrica7 connecting member 92 is guided upward along a ~id~ plate 94 of housing 1 from a f$xed power sourc~ 93 tFigs. 1 and 3) locsted within the lower portion of housi~g 1 ~t the ~ide remote from the stacked VTRs ~. ~s ~hown ~n Figs~ 7 and 14, a horizontal ,~

guide shelf 96 extends laterally above the rear bank 2B of bins 2. After traveling upwardly along side plate 94 from power source 93, flexible electrical connecting member 92 is bent to extend along shelf 96, with the end 92a of connecting member 92 remote from power source 93 being connected to a base or receptacle 95 provided at the top of drive motvr 24. The length of electrical connecting member 92 is a~ least sufficient to permit the full range of the required m~vements of motor 24 wi~h upper ~lider mech~nism 13 along horizontal guide rail 12. Of course, the v~rtical guide rail 5 suspended fr~m ~lider mechanism 13 and the cassette feedex 6 movable vertically on vertical guide rail 5 are all movable with sl~der mechanism 13 and motor 24 in the horizontal directions, and, for the ~ake of convenience, are her~inafter all referred to, 1~ the aggr~g~te, as a movable member 91.
~ shown particularly in Figs~ 14,15A and 15B, the electrical connecting member 92 ext~ndi~g long shelf 96 is turned upwardly and around a.first movable roll~r 97 which has enlarged end flanges 97a in rolling contact with ~helf 96. It will be seen that ~he portions 92b of electrical connecting member 92 extending to snd from movable roller 97 form a bight in electrical connecting member 92. A pair of paxallel guide rods 99 are dispo~ed above shelf 9S and are supported, at their opposi~e e~ds, in brackets 98 dep~nding from upper plate 11 of housing l so as to ext~nd parallel to the direction of th~ horizon~al rolli~lg movement~ of first movable roller ~7 on shelf 96. A second movable r~ller lO0 has ~ircumfere~ial grooves 100a in its opposite end ;

~25~

~3~
portions which receive guide rod~ 99 ~o that the second movable roller 100 can move by rolling along guide rods 99 in a path perpendicular to the axis of roller 100, and more p~rticularly in a hori~ontal path parallel to the path of movement of the first movable roller 97 on shelf 96. A
first elongated, flexible mechanical co~nection, for example, in the form of a wire 101, is connected at one end lOla ~o ~he base 95 on motor 24, and hence to the upper slider mechanism 13, while the other end lOlb of wire 101 is connected to a fixed anchor, for example, ~o vne of the fixed brackets 980 The wire 101 extends from its end lOla connected to base 95 around a pulley 102 rotatable in a suitably fixed bracket 102a, and then wire 101 extends around movable roller 100 in a guide groove lOOb at the middle thereof, prior to being anchored at end lOlb in bracket 98a. A ~econd elongat~d, flexihle mechanical ~onnection, for example, in the form of a wire 107, extends between the fir~t ~nd ~econd movable rollers 97 and 100.
More ~pecifically, as shown, one end 107a of wire 107 is conne~t~d to a yoke 103 in which roller 97 iB ro~atably mount~d~ while the o~her ~nd 107a of ~ire 107 is connected to a yoke 104 in which roll~r 100 is rotatably mounted.
Further, interm~diate it~ ends, wire 107 extends around guide pulleys 105 and 106 that are rotat~ble in suitably m~unted fix~d brackets 105a ~nd 106, respectively. A
tension ~pring 108 i~ interposed in wire la7 and is initially stressed to exert a biasing ~orce by which the first and second ~novable rollers 97 and lOû ~re urged along guide ~helf 96 and guiae shafts 99, respectively, in the 13~155~4 direction of ~he arrow ~ on Figs. 15A and 15B. ~he bight of electrical connectiny member or flat cable 92 is thus pulled by rollex 97 in the direction of the ~rrow a, th~r~by t~
avoid slack in cable 92. Due to the mechani~al connection provided by wire 101 ex~ending from movable member 91, that is, upper slider mechanism 13 ~d the component~ movable therewith, around fixed roller 102 and then movable roller 100 to the fixe~ anchor at end lOlb, when movable member 91 is moved laterally in the direction of the arrow a or a', the second movable roller 100 i~ moved laterally in the opposite direction, that is, in the direc~ion of the arrow a' or the arrow a, respectively.
It will be ~een that, when movable member 91 is moved by horizontal drive mechanism 7i through a distance x in the direction of tha arrow ~, for example, ~rom the position shown on Fig. 15A to the position 6how~ on Fig.
15B, the ~nd lOla of wire 101 fixed to movable m~mber 91 is also moved ~y the distance x. However, since wire 101 extends around ~ec~nd mova~le roller lQ0, that i5~ a bight i~ formed in w~re 101, the ~econd movable roller 100 is only moved through a di~tanc~ 1/2 x in the direction of the arrow a'. In respons~ to 6uch mov~ment of second movable roller 100, wire 107 pull~ first movable roller 97 1~ the direction of the arrow a through a distance of 1/2 x, for example, fxom the po~ition shown on Fig. 15A to the position shown on Fig. 15B. Since the electrical connecting member or cable 92 ex~ends aroun~ movable roller 97, and thu~ has a bight fonmed therein, the movemen~ oi roller 97 in the direction of th~ arrow a through he ~istan~e 1/2 ~ is equivalent to ~3~5~5~
the movement of movable member 91 in the same direction, that is, in the direc~ion of the axrow a, through the distance x, Furthermore, since the firs~ and second movahle r~llers 97 and 100 m~ve through the same distances, ~pring 108 interposed in wire 107 between rollers 97 and 100 main~ains a predetermined tension. In other words, regardless of the position of movable member 91, a predetermined tension T is maintainect in electrical connecting member or cable 92 as a resu:lt of ~pring 108 and slack in connecting member 92 is avoicled. Even if the distance over which moYable member 91 is to be moved in the horizontal direction i5 very lar~e, the total space required ~or accommodating cable 92 and the mechani~m 90 ~or avoiding slack therein is minimized by the fact that rollers 97 and 100 are moved through distances that are only ~ the distances through which ~ember 91 is mov~d. Further, since a predetermined tension T is always maintained in connecting member or cable 92, th~ response of the latter to movements of the movable member 91 is imme~iate and precise~
The flexible electrical connecting member or cable 92 extendlng from fixed ~ource 93 to the terminal or connecting block g5 on drive motor 24 i~, of course, j suitable for transmitting electrical driving and control ~ signals for motor 24, and ~lso for the cassette feeder or : carriage 6. ~owever, since carriage 6 is mo~able vertically on guide rail 5, an ~dditional flexible ~l~c~rical connecting m~mber 112, for example, in the form of a flexible, flat cable, is required for further transmitting those electrical driving and c~ntrol signals requlred for ' the operations of carriage 6. As shown particularly on Fig.
7, flexible flat cable 112 ~xtends from a terminal or connecting ~lcck 112a at the lower portion of drive m~tor 24 and extends vertically d~wnward in a guide groove 113 defined between vertical ribs 135b and 135c projecting from the rear wall 29 of guide rail 5. The end portion of flexible flat cable 112 remote from connecting block 112a is ~ngaged with a ~uitable terminal or connccting block 114 on cassette feedex or carriage 6. The length of flat cable 112 i~, of course, sufficien~ to accommod~e the full xange of the possible movement~ of carriage 6 vertically along guide ~ail 5. Since such movements of carriage 6 along guids rail 5 may be relatlvely large, the video cassette auto changer according to this invention further comprises a mechanism 111 for avoiding slackness in the elongated fl~xible cable 112 required for accommodating such movement~ while supplying electrical c~ntrol or dri~ing signal~ from the connecting block 112a at motor 24 to ~he connecting block 114 at carriage 6.
As ~hown on Fig. 16, the mechanism 111 includes a roller 115 under which th~ elongated flat cable 112 i~
looped, and having flanges 115a at ~ts oppo6ite ends which extend into and are guided along the vertical groove 113 in guide rail 5. ~hus, groo~e 113 in guide rail 5 fonms a first guide means 121 ~or r~ller 115. A ~econd guide means 122 for roller 115 is constituted by a yoke 116 having roller 115 rotatably mounted thereln and containing a linear bearing 117 slidably receiving a vertical guide rod 118.
The upper ~nd of guide rod 118 is secured ~n a ~upport --2g--~3~
bracket 119 fixed to guide rail 5 appr~ximately midway between the upper and l~wer onds of the latter. The lower end of guide rod 118 is supported in a bracket 120 fixed to the lower end portion of guide rail 5. Therefore, roller 115 is free to move vertically along the lower half o~ guide rail 5 while the weight W of roller 115 acts in the bigh- of flat cable 112 for avoiding slack in 1:he latter. During vertical movements of roller 115, lateral displacements thereof are preventcd by the e~gagement of roller 115 in groove 113 at the back of guide rail 5, while forward and rearward di~placements of roller 115 are prevented by the engagement of guide rod 118 i~ linear bearing 117.
As ~hown in Figs. 17A and 17B, when cas~et~e feeder or carriage 6 is moved vertically in the direction of arrow b' through a distance y, for examplo, from the position shown on Fig. 17B to the position shown on Fig.
17A, movabl~ roller llS engagi~g flexible oable 112 moves in the ~ame direction of arrow bl~ but through distance y/2, that is, a distance that is 1/2 the displaceme~t o~ the carriage 6. At all ~uch timesl fl~xible cable 112 is maintained under tension by the weight W of roller 115 which, as described, ~oves through relatively mall ~istancos ~or minimizing the ~pace required therefox even when carriage 6 undergoe~ large vertical movements. Since movable roller 115 is ~losely guided by vertical guide groove 113 and vertical guide shaft 118 during i~s vertical movements, the interference ~f movable roller 115 with other structural or operating members of the apparatus is avoided.
Thus, for example, the b~nks 2A and 2B sf cassette ~torage ; ,.

~3~5~
bins 2 can be locat~d v~ry close to vertical guide rail 5,a s shown on Fig . 3 .
As earlier noted with reference to Figs. 12 and 13, vertical guide rail 5 is dPsirably fGrmed in kwo parts which can be each conveniently extruded from aluminum and then joined by screws 134a.- ~he varic)us ribs identified previc~usly as defining the gu~de grooves 59,S2, 66,68 and 113 for ~ertically guiding the cassett,o feeder or carriage 6, ~he counter weigh~ 64, and ~he movable roller 115, as well as fc>r defining the grooYe 130 in wh~ ch the sensors 129a-129e are conveniently located, can be conveniently formed during extrusion of the parts of guide rail 5. Thus, vertical guide rail 5 i5 easily formed to ~erve a n~ber of functions in a compact form.
It is also to be seen that, by reason of the two-part structure of vertical guide rail S, driving pulley 47 and driven pulley 48 can be dispo~ed within the structure of guide rail 5 without unduly complicating the assembling c>f the latter~ In other words, the upper and lower ends of vertical~ guide rail 5 can extend the distances 11 and 12 (Figs. 7 and 11) beyond the axes of ~hafts 25 and 54, respectively and , as a result thereof, the vertical range of movements of cassette f~eder or carriag~ 6 ~long guide rail 5 can be inc:reased for a particular length of that guid~
rail. Further, w~er~ guide rail S is extruded Of aluminu~n, a lightweigh~ 8tructure i~ achieved and, lf guide r~llers 58, 61a, 61b, 65, 67a and 67b for the cassett~ fe~der or carriag~ 6 and the coun~er weight 64 are formed of ure~hane or other ~uitable ~yntheti~ resin or plastic material, substantially noi~e-free operation can be achieved.
By way of summary, it will be apparent that th~
described app~ratus according to this invention p0rmi~s movements of the cassette foeder ~r carriage 6 over large vertical and horizontal distances while e~suring that such mo~ements will be smoothly effected so that jamming is avoided. Further, in the course of su~h large horizontal and vertical movements, the electrical connecting members or cables for transmitting electrical cont.rol and~or driving signals from a fixed source to various movable elements of the apparatus, for example, to motor 24 and then on t~
carriage 6, are maintained under predetermined tension~ for avoiding ~lackness and pos~ible entanglement in other ~tructures of the apparatus.
Although the invention has been ~pecifically d~scribed in its applicatio~ to a video cassette auto-changer, it will be appreciated that the inv~ntion can be similarly applied ~o other devices for feeding or storing differ~nt kinds of cassett~ or cartridg0s containing tap~s, disks or the like.
Having specifically describ~d a preferred embodiment of the invention with r~ference to the accompanyin~ drawings, it is to be under~tood *hat the inven~ion ~ not limited to that preca~e embodimsnt, and that various changes and modifications may be ~fected ther~in by one skilled in the art with~ut departing from the ~cope or spirit of ~he invention as definod in ~he ~ppended ims~
.

Claims

EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OF PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. In an apparatus for selectively supplying and reproducing cassettes and which includes a plurality of reproducing and/or recording means, a plurality of cassette storage bins arrayed in first and second orthogonally related directions and each adapted to store a cassette therein, and cassette transporting means movable in said first and second directions for selectively transporting cassettes between said storage bins and said reproducing and/or recording means; the combination comprising:

an elongated, flexible electrical connecting member extending from a fixed source of electrical control signals to said cassette transporting means and being of a length to permit movements of the latter in said first direction, first movable roller means around which said electrical connecting member extends to form a bight in the latter, means mounting said first movable roller means for movements in said first direction, second movable roller means mounted for reciprocal movements in a path perpendicular to the axis of said second roller means, a first elongated, flexible mechanical connection connected at one end tosaid cassette transporting means and at its other end to a stationary anchor, said first mechanical connection extending around said second movable roller means for moving the latter in said path in response to movements of said cassette transporting means in said first direction, and a second elongated, flexible mechanical connection extending between said first and second movable roller means for moving said first roller means in said first direction in response to movements of said second roller means in said path so as to avoid slackness in said bight of the electrical connecting member.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1; in which a tension spring is interposed in said second mechanical connection for maintaining a predetermined tension in said electrical connecting member.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1; in which said path of movement of said second roller means is parallel to said first direction and a bight is also formed in said first mechanical connection in extending around said second roller means so that, upon movement of said cassette transporting means in said first direction, said first and second roller means are each moved in said first direction through one-half of said movement of the cassette transporting means for avoiding said slackness of the electrical connecting member.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3; in which said first direction is horizontal.