Recording and reproducing apparatus

本发明提供可用不同尺寸和厚度的盒式录像带的记录和再现设备。一定位导向机构，包括一对定位导向部件和一对侧面板，该对定位导向部件使得一小录像带可在该录像带夹具的支撑盒带表面上的两侧面被引导，以靠一偏压装置压下和伸出，该对侧面板在录像带夹具的两侧，使得在其两侧面可引导一大录像带。该设备还包括具有探测录像带插入和将其引入该录像带夹具的录像带插入探测开关机构和由开启夹具的部件和锁定部件组成的夹具止动器机构。 To provide a recording and reproducing apparatus which permits to use tape cassettes different in not only size but also thickness. In order to make the apparatus cope with the tape cassettes different in size and thickness, there is provided a positioning guide mechanism including a pair of positioning guide members so that a small cassette can be guided at both the side faces on a cassette supporting surface of the cassette holder so as to be depressed and projected by a biasing means, and a pair of side plates at its both sides of a cassette holder so that a large cassette can be guided at its both side faces. If a user is not highly skilled in operating such recording and reproducing apparatus which permits to use tape cassettes different in size and thickness, the apparatus will suffer from risk that the cassettes are erroneously inserted or the user carries out malicious operation. In order to avoid a trouble due to such erroneous insertion, malicious operation or the like, the recording and reproducing apparatus further includes a cassette insertion detecting switch mechanism useful for detecting the insertion of the cassette and leading the cassette into the cassette holder and a holder stopper mechanism composed of a holder unlocking member and a lock member.