JPH07121952A - Tape cassette and recording/reproduction device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To positively prevent the insertion of different kinds of cassettes and at the same time judge a cassette size with a simple configuration by installing a part to be detected for enabling the presence or absence of a tape cassette to be detected externally in front of a front lid. CONSTITUTION:When a first tape cassette 1 approaches, first detection parts 107 and 108 detect a part 4 to be detected. Also, when a second tape cassette 2 approaches, second detection parts 109 and 110 detect a second part 5 to be detected, thus discriminating the first and second tape cassettes according to the presence or absence of the detection signals of the first and second detection parts. Also, when the approaching attitudes of the first and second tape cassettes are detected due to the detection, a discrimination circuit 104 sends a discrimination signal to a system control circuit 105 and the circuit 105 supplies a control signal to a door opening/closing means 106 so that a door part 102 is opened, thus opening the door part 102 and then inserting the first cassette 1 or the second cassette 2 into a device. On the other hand, when a third cassette 3 approaches, the door part 102 is blocked.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tape cassette and a recording / reproducing apparatus using the same, and more particularly to inserting a plurality of types of tape cassettes having different case thicknesses and case sizes into a front load. And a cassette size discriminating means for discriminating the sizes of a plurality of types of tape cassettes when mounted at a predetermined position in the device.
The present invention relates to a wrong cassette erroneous insertion preventing means for preventing a different kind cassette from being inserted into an apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in VTRs such as video cameras, there has been a demand for further reduction in size and weight, and technical developments have been made in various fields. Generally VT
Since the size of the R mechanism is determined by the shapes of the cylinder and the cassette, the size of the cylinder and the cassette itself must be reduced in order to reduce the size of the mechanism. Therefore, in the cylinder, the diameter is reduced by increasing the rotation speed and increasing the tape winding angle, and in the cassette, efforts are made for a small cassette having an outer size smaller than that of the DAT cassette.

Further, in such a new cassette, a large cassette for recording and reproducing in the same format as a small cassette, but having a large outer dimension and capable of handling a long time is also considered in parallel.

By the way, as a construction for mounting this kind of large and small tape cassettes at predetermined positions in the apparatus, there is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62-62
As described in JP-A-219358 and JP-A-63-148450, a method of inserting a plurality of types of tape cassettes from one insertion opening and mounting the front load is well known. As described in both of the above publications, the cassette size determining means in the apparatus is also as follows.
There is known a configuration in which a plurality of detectors, which contact the inserted cassette and detect its size, are arranged in the apparatus.

[0005]

When the above-mentioned large and small cassettes are selectively inserted from the same insertion opening, the DA
Because the T cassette is smaller than the large cassette, DA
There is a problem that the T-cassette easily enters the insertion slot of a large cassette size.

Further, since the apparatus adopts the above cassette size discrimination system, even if a different type cassette such as a DAT cassette gets into the insertion port, the detector detects the inserted cassette. Since it is possible that the cassette holder is erroneously operated, there arises a problem that a different type cassette is transported into the apparatus.

An object of the present invention is to provide two types of tape cassettes having different case thicknesses and case sizes, and a recording / reproducing apparatus using the same, in particular, by selectively inserting the large and small cassettes from one insertion port. It is an object of the present invention to provide a tape cassette and a recording / reproducing device which can prevent the insertion of a heterogeneous cassette and can discriminate the cassette size with a simple structure.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, the presence or absence of the first tape cassette can be detected from the outside in the first and second tape cassettes having different case sizes. A first detected portion and a second detected portion capable of externally detecting the presence or absence of the second tape cassette are provided.

Further, in the recording / reproducing apparatus for inserting the cassette, a door portion for opening / closing one insertion opening, a door opening / closing means for opening / closing the door portion, the first or second tape cassette and other components. When the heterogeneous cassette approaches the front surface of the apparatus, the first or second detected part and a detection means for optically detecting the presence or absence of the part other than the detected part, and the detection result of the detection means A discriminating means for discriminating the proximity of the tape cassette and the other cassettes of different types,
A control unit for controlling the door opening / closing unit based on the determination result of the determination unit is provided.

Further, the door portion is divided into a plurality of first, second and third doors, and when the proximity state of the first or second tape cassette is detected, each door is moved according to the detection result. The configuration is

[0011]

If the tape cassette and the recording / reproducing apparatus are constructed as described above, the detecting means can be the first or second detected portion only by bringing the first or second tape cassette close to the front surface of the apparatus. Since the presence / absence of the tape is optically detected, it is possible to detect the proximity of the first or second tape cassette or the proximity of another heterogeneous cassette.

When the first and second tape cassettes come close to each other, the discriminating means discriminates between the first and second detected portions, so that the size of the tape cassette can be discriminated and the control portion Since the door opening / closing means is controlled so that the door portion is opened only when the first or second tape cassette approaches based on the discrimination result of the discrimination means, it is possible to insert a different type cassette other than the tape cassette having the detected portion. It can be prevented.

Further, in the state where the first or second tape cassettes are close to each other, when the first tape cassettes are close to each other, the first door is opened and moved so that only the first tape cassette can be inserted. When the second tape cassette comes close to each other, the first, second and third doors open and move to allow the insertion of the second tape cassette, which enables a reliable insertion operation.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

First, the features of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 1, 1 is a first tape cassette, 2 is a second tape cassette, 3 is a third tape cassette, 4 is a first detected portion formed on the front surface of the first tape cassette 1, and 5 is The second detected portion is formed on the front surface of the second tape cassette 2. 100 is a recording / reproducing apparatus, 101
Is an insertion opening, 102 is a door section, 103 is a detection section (detection means), 104 is a discrimination circuit (discrimination means), 105 is a system control circuit, and 106 is a door opening means.

Here, the first tape cassette 1 is a small cassette and the second tape cassette 2 is a large cassette. The third tape cassette 3 is a heterogeneous cassette such as a DAT cassette.
Has a smaller outer dimension than the second tape cassette 2. Therefore, the third tape cassette 3 has the insertion opening 1 for allowing the second tape cassette 2 to be inserted.
There was a problem that it was erroneously inserted from 01.

Therefore, in the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, first and second detected portions 4 and 5 are provided on the front surfaces of the first and second tape cassettes, and the detection portion 103 detects them. In addition, the different type cassette 3 is inserted by opening the door 102 only when the first or second tape cassette 1 or 2 having the detected portions 4 and 5 approaches the front surface of the recording / reproducing apparatus. This prevents the problem of incorrect insertion from the mouth 101.

Further, according to the present invention, the first and second tape cassettes are configured to be distinguishable from each other, and the detecting section 10 is provided.
After 3 detects the proximity of the first or second tape cassette,
The discriminating circuit 104 discriminates the size of the tape cassette.

Further, in the present invention, as a result of the determination, when it is detected that the first tape cassette 1 is close to the apparatus, the system control circuit 105 opens and closes the door so that the first tape cassette can be inserted. The means 106 is controlled to open the door portion 102, and the second tape cassette 2
The door 102 is opened so that the second tape cassette can be inserted when the two approaches. That is, as shown in FIG. 10, the door portion is the first door 113,
It is divided into a second door 114 and a third door 115, and when the first tape cassette 1 approaches the apparatus, the first door 113 is opened so that the second tape cassette 2 approaches. At this time, the first door 113, the second door 114, and the third door 115 are opened so that the second tape cassette 2 can be inserted, and as a result, the insertion of the first and second tape cassettes can be ensured. It is something that is done.

First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 shows the structure of the small cassette, and FIG. 3 shows the structure of the large cassette.

2A and 2B, the first tape cassette 1 moves back and forth with respect to the main body case 7a for housing the magnetic tape 6a, the front lid 8a, the upper lid 9 and the main body case 7a. It is composed of a flexible metal slider 10a. Here, the front lid 8a is rotatable frontward with respect to the main body case 7, and the upper lid 9 is connected to the front lid 8a and can be opened upward.

On the front surface of the front lid 8a, the first detected portion 4
Is pasted. This first detected portion 4 is shown in FIG.
As shown in, it has a two-layer structure of a sheet 4a having metallic luster and a sticking portion 4b. Reference numeral 12a is a storage portion for storing the first detected portion 4, and the front surface portion of the front lid 8a is recessed. In the lower part of the front lid 8a, 13 is a first notch and 14 and 15 are second notches. Here, when the slider opening member (not shown) moves in the first notch 13, the member and the upright piece 11a of the slider come into contact with each other so that the slider can be opened. Also, the second notch 14,
Reference numeral 15 is a notch for releasing the slider lock.

Also in the second tape cassette 2 shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, a second detected portion 5 similar to the first detected portion 4 is provided on the front surface of the front lid 8b. To be The second tape cassette 2 is only larger in size than the first tape cassette 1 and its configuration is almost the same as that of the first tape cassette 1. Omit it.

Next, the recording / reproducing apparatus in which the first and second tape cassettes 1 and 2 are mounted will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 4, 101 is an insertion slot which allows the first and second tape cassettes 1 and 2 to be selectively inserted. The insertion opening 101 is closed by the door. 10
Reference numerals 7, 109 and 111 denote infrared ray emitting portions embedded in the front surface of the apparatus, and reference numerals 108, 110 and 112 denote infrared ray receiving portions, which are 107, 108, 109 and 11 respectively.
0,111,112 constitutes a detection means. Here, the pair of the light emitting portion 107 and the light receiving portion 108 constitute a first detecting portion and can detect the presence or absence of the first detected portion 4 when the first tape cassette 1 approaches. The pair of the light emitting unit 109 and the light receiving unit 110 is a second detecting unit and can detect the presence or absence of the second detected unit 5 when the second tape cassette 2 approaches. Further, the pair of light emitting units 1
Reference numeral 11 and the light receiving portion 112 are a third detecting portion and can detect a portion other than the second detected portion 5 of the second tape cassette 2, that is, the front lid itself.

Next, the operation will be described.

In the configuration of FIG. 4, when the first tape cassette 1 approaches, the first detection units 107 and 108 detect the first detected unit 4, and when the second tape cassette 2 approaches, the first detection unit 107, 108 detects the first detected unit 4. Since the second detectors 109 and 110 detect the second detected portion 5, the first and second tape cassettes are discriminated by the presence / absence of detection signals from the first and second detectors.
When the approaching postures of the first and second tape cassettes are detected in accordance with this detection, the determination circuit 104 in FIG.
Then, the discrimination signal 104 is sent to the system control circuit 105.
The system control circuit 105 supplies a control signal to the door opening / closing means 106 so as to open the door portion 102, so that the door portion 102 is opened and the first or second tape cassette 1 or 2 is installed in the device. It can be inserted inside.

On the other hand, when the third cassette 3 which does not have the first or second detected portion, such as a DAT cassette, approaches the insertion slot, the detecting means does not detect anything. It is determined that the first or second tape cassettes 1 and 2 are not close to each other. Therefore, in the system control circuit 105, a control signal is supplied to the door opening / closing means 106 so as not to open the door portion 102 to keep the door portion 102 closed, so that erroneous insertion of a different type cassette is reliably prevented. It Further, this means that even the first or second tape cassette 2 having the first or second detected portion cannot be inserted unless the cassette front portion and the detecting means are inserted so as to face each other. Therefore, erroneous insertion in the same type cassette in different directions can be prevented. When the first or second tape cassette 1 or 2 is inserted upside down, the first notch 1 in FIG.
Since an opening member (not shown) formed on a cassette holder (not shown) for penetrating the inside of 2a to open the slider comes into contact with the tape cassettes 1 and 2, they cannot be inserted upside down.

That is, the configuration of FIG. 4 is a method of detecting a detected portion using a large number of sensors, and another embodiment using the large number of sensors will be described below with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7.

First, FIG. 5A showing the second embodiment.
In (b), 13a is a first notch for opening the slider formed in the first tape cassette 1, and 13b is a first notch formed in the second tape cassette 2. Further, in the notches 13a and 13b, the upright pieces 11a and 11b of the respective sliders are exposed from the front surface of the front lid. That is, in this embodiment, the first and second detected parts 4 and 5 in FIG.
The slider itself is detected by utilizing the fact that the slider is made of metal, as shown in FIG.
In (b), the first and second tape cassettes 1, 2 or 1 are formed even if the upright strips 11a, 11b of the slider exposed from the notches 13a, 13b are detected by a large number of detecting portions shown in FIG. Since different types of cassettes that do not have a metal slider can be detected, it is possible to prevent incorrect insertion of different types of cassettes that do not have a metal slider, and to distinguish between the first and second tape cassettes in the same manner as above. It is possible.

Next, a third embodiment of the detecting means will be described with reference to FIGS.

In the third embodiment, too, the metal slider is detected by a large number of detectors. 6 and 7, reference numeral 107 'denotes a first optical sensor, which integrally houses the light emitting unit 107 and the light receiving unit 108 and is fixed inside the recording / reproducing apparatus 100. Similarly, 109 'is an integrated second optical sensor, and 111' is an integrated third optical sensor.

In this structure, when the first or second tape cassette 1 or 2 is inserted to the position shown in FIG. 7, the metal slider 10a shown in FIG. Is detected by the first optical sensor 107 ', and the slider 10b made of metal and provided in the second tape cassette 2 shown by the dotted line in FIG.
Is the second optical sensor 109 'or the third optical sensor 111
´ will be detected. Therefore, by discriminating the detection signals of these three optical sensors, the size of the first and second tape cassettes can be discriminated in the same manner as described above, and a heterogeneous cassette having no metal slider can be detected. You can also When a different type cassette is inserted, the device does not operate, etc., so that the different type cassette is prevented from being inserted.

Next, a fourth embodiment of the detecting means will be described with reference to FIG. The configuration shown in FIG. 8 is a configuration in which one sensor is used to detect the detected portion.

In FIG. 8, the pair of the light emitting portion 107 and the light receiving portion 108 shows one detecting portion. Further, the first detected portion 4 and the second detected portion 5 are also formed in the first and second tape cassettes 1 and 2, respectively, similarly to the configuration of FIG. The detected portion 4 and the second detected portion 5 and the front portion of the cassette without the detected portions 4 and 5 have different light reflectances. For example, the first detected portion 4 reflects light. The second detected portion 5 is bright at a rate of 90%, the second detected portion 5 is dark at a reflectance of 10%, and the front surface of the cassette has a light reflectance of 50% in the middle. That is, in the fourth embodiment, one detection unit 107, 108 includes a first detection unit 4, a second detection unit 5, a detection unit 4, and a detection unit 4.
5 and the front surface of the cassette, the discriminating circuit (not shown) detects the difference in light reflectance to detect the proximity of the first or second tape cassette 1 or 2 and the detected portion 4 , 5 to determine the proximity of different types of cassettes.

Therefore, since the first and second tape cassettes 1 and 2 or other heterogeneous cassettes can be detected by one detecting section, the size of the first and second tape cassettes can be discriminated in the same manner as described above. Moreover, it is possible to prevent the wrong insertion of the different type cassette.

It should be noted that in the structure using one detecting section as in the fourth embodiment, it is necessary to provide a difference in the structures of the detected parts 4 and 5, and in the fourth embodiment, the light reflectance is changed. Different configurations. In addition, as shown in FIG. 9A, the detected portions 4 and 5 may have different color marks, or may have a barcode form as shown in FIG. 9B. As shown in FIGS. 9 (c) and 9 (d), marks and characters such as ◯ Δ may be formed and detected by the shape identification sensor.

Next, the structure of the door portion, which is the third feature of the present invention, will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIGS. 10A and 10B, reference numeral 113 is a first door, 114 is a second door, 115 is a third door, and the first door 113 is a gear 117 that meshes with the rack 116. The second door 114 and the third door 115 can be independently moved in the horizontal direction indicated by the arrow in the figure by the same rack and gears. The second and third doors 114 and 115
Guides 118 and 119 for contacting with the side surface of the cassette and restricting the insertion of the cassette are formed on the.

The operation will be briefly described with reference to FIGS.

When the apparatus shown in FIG. 8 is not used, the doors 113, 114 and 115 block the insertion opening 101. From this state, when the first tape cassette 1 approaches the apparatus and the approaching attitude of the first tape cassette 1 is detected by a detection means (not shown) or the like, the state shown in FIG.
As shown in (a), only the first door 113 descends to allow the first tape cassette 1 to be inserted, so that the first tape cassette 1 is laterally regulated by the guides 118 and 119 while the apparatus is being controlled. It can be inserted inside.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 10B, when the second tape cassette 2 is close to the apparatus and the close attitude of the second tape cassette is detected, the first door 1
Since the second door 114 and the third door 115 move horizontally in the direction in which the second door 114 and the third door 115 are separated from each other, the second tape cassette can also be inserted into the apparatus while being regulated by the guides 118 and 119. Is.

[0042]

As described above, according to the tape cassette and the recording / reproducing apparatus using the same of the present invention, the detected portions are provided on the front lids of large and small tape cassettes of different sizes, and the detected portions are detected in the apparatus. A detection means for detecting a portion is provided, and when a large or small tape cassette approaches the front surface of the device, the detection means detects the proximity of the tape cassette,
When the size of the tape cassette is determined based on the detection result of the detection means, the door is opened according to the size of the cassette, and when a different type cassette having no detected portion on the front lid approaches the front surface of the apparatus. Since the door is closed so that a different type cassette cannot be inserted, it is possible to reliably prevent incorrect insertion of a different type cassette, and it is possible to determine the cassette size with a simple configuration, which significantly improves the reliability of the device. Can be made.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system block diagram showing the features of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view showing the configuration of a small cassette,
FIG. 6A is an external perspective view showing a state in which the small cassette is not used, and FIG.

FIG. 3 is an external perspective view showing the configuration of a large cassette,
(A) is an external perspective view showing a large cassette not in use, and (b) showing an open state of the large cassette.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of a tape cassette of the present invention and a recording / reproducing apparatus using the same.

FIG. 5 is a front view of a tape cassette showing a second embodiment of the present invention, (a) is a front view of a small cassette, and (b) is a front view of a large cassette.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

7 is an explanatory top view of the configuration of FIG.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

9 is an explanatory diagram showing another embodiment of the detected portion in the configuration of FIG.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a structure of a door portion of the recording / reproducing apparatus, FIG.
(B) is a perspective view showing a configuration when a large cassette is inserted.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... 1st tape cassette (small cassette), 2 ... 2nd tape cassette (large cassette), 3 ... 3rd tape cassette (different type cassette), 4 ... 1st detected part, 5 ... 2nd Detected part, 8a, 8b ... Front lid, 12a, 12b ... Storage part, 10a, 10b ... Slider, 103 ... Detecting means, 1
04 ... Judgment means, 105 ... Control means, 106 ... Door opening / closing means, 113 ... First door, 114 ... Second door, 11
5 ... Third door.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Internal reference number FI technical display location G11B 23/30 E 7177-5D (72) Inventor Noriaki Masuda 292 Yoshida-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Stock Company, Hitachi, Ltd. Visual Media Research Laboratory (72) Inventor, Hikaru Mizutani, 1-88, Tora, Ibaraki, Osaka Prefecture, Hitachi Hitachi Maxell Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor, Katsuo Maehara, 1-88, Tora, Ibaraki, Osaka No. Hitachi Maxell Co., Ltd.

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. A tape cassette comprising: a main body case accommodating a tape; and a front lid that can be opened frontward with respect to the main body case. A tape cassette that is installed on the front of the lid. 2. A recording / reproducing apparatus using the tape cassette according to claim 1, wherein a door portion for opening / closing the insertion opening, a door opening / closing means for opening / closing the door portion, and the tape cassette being a front surface of the apparatus. A detection means for optically detecting the detected portion in the state of being close to the detection means, a determination means for determining the type of the tape cassette based on the detection result of the detection means, and a detection portion based on the determination result of the determination means. And a controller for controlling the door opening / closing means so that the door is opened only when the tape cassette approaches the front surface of the apparatus. 3. A first tape cassette and a second tape cassette having different case thickness and case size, wherein the first tape cassette can detect the presence or absence of the first tape cassette from the outside. A second tape cassette having a case size larger than that of the first tape cassette, the second tape cassette having a second tape cassette that can detect the presence or absence of the second tape cassette from the outside. Is provided on the front surface of the front lid, and the first and second detected portions have substantially the same light reflectance. 4. A recording / reproducing apparatus for selectively using the first and second tape cassettes according to claim 3, further comprising a door portion for opening / closing the insertion opening, and a door opening / closing means for opening / closing the door portion. , A plurality of detections for optically detecting the first or second detected portion or a portion other than the first or second detected portion in a state where the first or second tape cassette is close to the front surface of the apparatus Section, a discriminating means for discriminating the proximity of the first or second tape cassette and the proximity of other than the first or second tape cassette based on the detection result of the detecting section, and And a control unit for controlling the door opening / closing means so as to open the door section only when the tape cassette having one or the second detected section approaches the front surface of the apparatus. apparatus. 5. A first tape cassette and a second tape cassette having different case thickness and case size, wherein the first tape cassette is capable of externally detecting the presence or absence of the first tape cassette. A second tape cassette having a case size larger than that of the first tape cassette, the second tape cassette having a second tape cassette that can detect the presence or absence of the second tape cassette from the outside. Is installed on the front surface of the front lid, and the first and second detected portions have different light reflectances or outer shapes. 6. A recording / reproducing apparatus for selectively using the first and second tape cassettes according to claim 5, further comprising a door portion for opening and closing an insertion opening, and door opening and closing means for opening and closing the door portion. , In a state where the first or second tape cassette is in close proximity to the front surface of the apparatus, a first or second detected portion, and a single optical sensor for selectively optically detecting proximity other than the first or second detected portion Based on the detection unit and the detection result of the detection unit, whether the tape cassette in the close attitude is the first tape cassette, the second tape cassette, or the other third tape cassette,
And a control for controlling the door opening / closing means so as to open the door portion only when the tape cassette having the first or second detected portion approaches the front surface of the apparatus based on the determination result of the determination means. And a recording / reproducing apparatus. 7. The front lid is formed with a storage recess in which the front surface of the front lid is recessed, and the detected portion is installed in the storage recess. The tape cassette according to 3 or 5. 8. The front lid has a structure in which a light reflectance of a portion having a detected portion and a light reflectance of a portion not having the detected portion are different from each other. Or the tape cassette according to item 5. 9. The tape cassette according to claim 1, wherein the detected portion is made of a metal or a material having a metallic luster. 10. The tape cassette according to claim 9, wherein the detected portion is formed integrally with the front lid. 11. The detection part is in the form of a bar code or a mark.
A tape cassette according to item 7, 8 or 9. 12. A structure in which the light reflectance of the first detected portion, the light reflectance of the second detected portion, and the light reflectance of the portions other than the first and second detected portions are different. 7. The recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein 13. A tape cassette comprising: a main body case accommodating a tape; a front lid that can be opened forward with respect to the main body case; and a metal slider that can be moved back and forth with respect to the main body case. The tape is characterized in that the slider is provided so as to be exposed from the front surface of the front lid, and the exposed portion of the slider of the tape cassette that is brought close to the front surface of the apparatus is optically detected to determine the presence or absence of the cassette with the slider. cassette. 14. A recording / reproducing apparatus using a tape cassette provided with a metal slider, comprising at least one detecting section for optically detecting the slider, wherein the tape cassette is inserted into the apparatus. The recording / reproducing apparatus, wherein the detecting section detects the slider in the opened state to determine the presence / absence of a cassette with a slider. 15. The first door is arranged at the center of the insertion port and is movable in the thickness direction of the tape cassette, and the first door is arranged at both side surfaces of the first door. The second and third doors, which can move in a direction almost perpendicular to the direction of movement of the doors, and the lowering operation of the first door with respect to the fixed postures of the second and third doors, make it possible to insert the first tape cassette. And a configuration in which the second tape cassette can be inserted by the separating operation of the second and third doors with respect to the first door in conjunction with the lowering operation of the first door. The recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 4, which is characterized in that: