WO1994020957B1 - Tape duplicating apparatus and method - Google Patents

Abstract

Slave cassettes each including a slave tape and having a peripheral groove are stacked in a first station. Gripping fingers movable into the grooves in the forward cassette and the next cassette grip the forward cassette. During the pivoting of the cassette to a second station, a cover on the cassette is pivoted to expose the slave tape. At the second station, threading arms are moved from retracted to extended positions. The cassette and the threading arms are then moved to a third station planar with a pinch roller which is displaced from the capstan. The threading arms are then retracted to dispose the slave tape on the capstan. With a master tape on the pinch roller, the pinch roller is moved to a position abutting the capstan. The pinch roller and capstan are then rotated to transfer the image on the master tape to the slave tape such that the image beginning is at the slave tape beginning. The threading arms are extended; the pinch roller is moved to the displaced position; the cassette and the threading arms are moved to the second station; and the threading arms are retracted to decouple the slave tape from the capstan. The cassette is then moved to a position where belts are coupled to the cassette and the gripping fingers are thereafter released from the cassette. The belts then move the cassette to the mouth of a fourth station. Pins are rotated to move the cassette into the fourth station.

Claims

AMENDED CLAIMS[received by the International Bureau on 6 September 1994 (06.09.94); original claims 1-23 replaced by new claims 1-54 (40 pages)]

1. In a method of transferring to a slave tape the image on a master tape, the master tape being disposed in a first cassette having a first supply reel and a first take-up reel and the slave tape being disposed in a second cassette having a second supply reel and a second take-up reel, the following steps: providing a rotatable capstan; providing a rotatable pinch roller movable between a first position abutting the capstan and a second position displaced from the capstan; providing a plurality of the second cassettes in a stacked relationship; transferring the first one of the second cassettes in the stacked relationship to a particular position for obtaining a transfer of the image on the master tape to the first one of the slave tapes; moving the pinch roller to the first position to provide for a transfer to the first one of the slave tapes of the image on the master tape; rotating the capstan and the pinch roller to obtain a transfer to the slave tape of the image on the master tape; moving the pinch roller to the second position after the transfer of the image on the master tape to the slave tape; and transferring the first one of the second cassettes from the particular position.

2. In a method as set forth in Claim 1, wherein: the slave tape is disposed on the supply and take-up reels in the second cassette before the transfer of the image on the master tape to the slave tape so that, when the image on the master tape is transferred to the slave tape, the slave tape will be wound on the supply reel in the slave cassette; the master tape is rewound after the transfer of the image on the master tape to the first one of the slave tapes; a second one of the second cassettes in the stacked relationship is transferred to the particular position after the first one of the second cassettes in the stacked relationship has been transferred from the particular position; the slave tape has a thermomagnetic layer with a Curie temperature above which any image on the slave tape is destroyed and below which the image on the master tape is transferred to the slave tape by contact between the master and slave tapes; and the slave tape is heated to a temperature above the Curie temperature during the rotation of the capstan with the pinch roller in the first position and before the movement of the slave tape to the position where the pinch roller abuts the capstan.

3. In a method of transferring to a slave tape the image on a master tape, the master tape being disposed in a first cassette having a first supply reel and a first take-up reel and the slave tape being disposed in a second cassette having a second supply reel and a second take-up reel, the steps of: providing a rotatable capstan; providing a rotatable pinch roller movable between a first position abutting the capstan and a second position displaced from the capstan; providing a determination of the length of the image on the master tape; providing a movement of the slave tape from one end of the slave tape on the second supply reel through a distance slightly greater than the length of the image on the master tape; thereafter providing a rotation of the capstan and the pinch roller, with the pinch roller in the first position, to obtain a transfer of the image on the master tape to the slave tape in a direction to wind the slave tape on the supply reel in the second cassette; and moving the pinch roller to the second position when the image on the master tape has been transferred to the slave tape.

4. In a method as set forth in Claim 3, wherein: the image on the master tape is transferred to the slave tape such that the end of the image is transferred first and the 79

beginning of the image is at the end of the slave tape so that the supply reel on the second cassette is able to provide the image from the beginning of the tape; the master tape is rewound on the second supply reel after the transfer of the image on the master tape to the slave tape; the second cassette is removed after the transfer of the image on the master tape to the slave tape and is replaced by another of the second cassettes to obtain a transfer of the image on the master tape to the slave tape in such another one of the second cassette; the second cassettes are disposed in a stacked relationship after having the image on the master tape transferred to the slave tape in such cassettes; the slave tape has a thermomagnetic layer with a Curie temperature above which any image on the slave tape is destroyed and below which the image on the master tape is transferred to the thermomagnetic layer on the slave tape as a result of contact between the master and slave tapes; and the slave tape is heated to a temperature above the Curie temperature during the movement of the slave tape with the pinch roller in the first position and before the abutting relationship between the pinch roller and the capstan.

5. In a method of transferring to a slave tape the image on a master tape, the master tape being disposed in a first cassette having a first supply reel and a first take-up reel and the slave tape being disposed in a second cassette having a second supply reel and a second take-up reel, the following steps: providing a rotatable capstan; providing a rotatable pinch roller movable between a first relationship abutting the capstan and a second relationship displaced from the capstan; transferring the second cassette to a particular station for obtaining a disposition of the slave tape on the capstan; disposing the slave tape on the capstan at the particular station; moving the pinch roller to the first relationship with the capstan; providing a transfer of the image on the master tape to the slave tape; moving the pinch roller to the second relationship with the capstan after the transfer of the image on the master tape to the slave tape; displacing the slave tape from the capstan; and transferring the second cassette from the particular station.

6. In a method as set forth in Claim 5, the additional steps of: rewinding the master tape after the transfer of the image on the master tape to the slave tape and after the movement of the pinch roller to the second relationship with the capstan; and transferring a second one of the second cassettes to the particular station after the transfer from the particular station of the second cassette on whose slave tape the image on the master cassette has been previously recorded; and wherein: the distance of the image on the master tape is determined; the slave tape is moved on the second supply reel to one end of the slave tape; the slave tape is then moved from the end of the slave tape through a distance corresponding to the distance of the image on the master tape; the image on the master tape is then transferred to the slave tape in a direction for disposing the slave tape on the supply reel in the second cassette; a plurality of the second cassettes are stacked in a first relationship before the transfer of the image on the master tape to the slave tapes; the second cassettes are sequentially transferred from the first stacked relationship before the transfer of the image on the master tape to the slave tapes in such second cassettes; and the second cassettes are sequentially transferred from the particular station to a second stacked relationship after the 8 1

transfer of the image on the master tape to the slave tapes in such cassettes.

7. In a method of transferring to a plurality of slave tapes the image on a master tape, the master tape being disposed in a first cassette having a first supply reel and a first take- up reel and the slave tapes being disposed in second cassette each having a second supply reel and a second take-up reel, the following steps: disposing the second cassettes in a stacked relationship in a first station; transferring each of the second cassettes individually to a particular station for transferring to the slave tape on such cassette the image on the master cassette; disposing the first cassette at the particular station; transferring the image on the master tape to each of the slave tapes while the individual one of the second cassettes holding such slave tape is at the particular station; and transferring each of the second cassettes to a second station in a stacked relationship in such station after the transfer of the image on the master tape to the slave tape in such second cassette.

8. In a method as set forth in Claim 7, wherein: the slave tape in each of the second cassettes is disposed on a capstan at the particular station; a pinch roller is moveable between a first position abutting the capstan to provide for a transfer of the image on the master tape to the slave tapes and a second position displaced from the capstan; the slave tape for each of the second cassettes is disposed on the capstan in the second position of the pinch roller and wherein the pinch roller is moved to the first position after the disposition or. the capstan of the slave tape for such cassette; the first station holds the second cassettes perpendicular to the disposition of the second cassettes in the second station; the second cassettes are rotated through an angle of substantially 180° after the transfer of the second cassettes from the first station to move the second cassettes to the particular station; the second cassettes are rotated through an angle of substantially 90° after the transfer to the second cassettes of the image on the master tape to transfer the second cassettes into the second station; the slave tape on each of the second cassettes is initially moved to an end of the tape, the slave tape on each of the second cassettes is then wound on the supply reel for such cassette through a distance corresponding to the length of the image on the master tape, and the image on the master tape is then transferred at the particular station to the slave tape on such cassette, so that the beginning of the image on such slave tape is at the end of the tape to facilitate the subsequent viewing of the image by an individual.

9. In a method of transferring to a slave tape the image on a master tape, the master tape being disposed in a first cassette having a first supply reel and a first take-up reel and each of the slave tapes being disposed in a second cassette having a second supply reel and a second take-up reel, the steps of: disposing the second cassettes in a stacked relationship in a first station; transferring each of the second cassettes individually to a particular station; providing a capstan for the slave tape in each of the cassettes at the particular station; providing a pinch roller for the master tape at the particular position; initially disposing the pinch roller in a first relationship to the capstan to provide for a disposition of each of the slave tapes on the capstan; subsequently disposing the pinch roller in a second relationship to the capstan to provide for a transfer of the image on the master tape to each of the slave tapes; 83

thereafter disposing the pinch roller in the first relationship to the capstan to provide for a removal of each of the slave tapes from the capstan; and transferring each of the second cassettes from the particular position to a second station in a stacked relationship after the removal of the slave tape in such second cassette from the capstan.

10. In a method as set forth in Claim 9, wherein: each of the slave tapes is initially wound on the supply reel in each of the second cassettes and is thereafter wound on the take-up reel through a distance corresponding to the length of the image on the master tape and the pinch roller is thereafter moved to the second relationship to the capstan and the slave tape is wound on the supply reel to transfer the image on the master tape to the slave tape; threading arms are moved to a first position providing for each of the slave tapes in each of the second cassettes to be disposed on the capstan at the particular position and are thereafter moved to a second position disposing the slave tape on the capstan in position to receive a transfer of the image on the master tape to the slave tape on the capstan; the second cassettes are disposed in the first station at a position displaced from the particular station but substantially parallel to the particular position, each of the second cassettes is transferred from the first station and rotated to the particular station, the second station is disposed in a plane perpendicular to the first station and the particular station, and each of the second cassettes is rotated to a position between the first station and the particular station in transverse relationship to the first station and the second station and is then transferred into the second station.

11. In a method of transferring to slave tapes an image on a master tape, the master tape being disposed in a first cassette having a first supply reel and a first take-up reel and the slave tapes being disposed in second cassettes each having a second supply reel and a second take-up reel, each of the second cassettes having a first periphery and a second periphery and having a groove at the first periphery in the cassette, the following steps: disposing the second cassettes in a stacked relationship in a first station; extending a first arm into the groove in the first periphery of a first one of the second cassettes in the first station and extending a second arm into the space between the groove in the first periphery of a second one of the second cassettes in the first station and the second periphery of the first cassette and gripping the peripheries of such first one of the second cassettes with the first and second arms, the second one of the second cassettes being adjacent the first one of the second cassettes in the first station; moving such first one of the second cassettes from the first station to a particular station while the first and second arms are at the peripheries of the first one of the second cassettes; transferring at the particular station the image on the master tape to such first one of the second cassettes; and thereafter moving such first one of the second cassettes, while the first and second arms grip the first and second peripheries of the first ones of the second cassettes, to a second station for holding the second cassettes in a stacked relationship in the second station.

12. In a method as set forth in Claim 11, the additional steps of: extending the first arm into the groove in the first periphery of such second one of the second cassettes in the first station and extending the second arm into the space between the groove in the first periphery of a third one of the second cassettes in the first station and the second periphery of such second one of the second cassettes in the first station and gripping the first and second peripheries of such second one of the second cassettes in the first station with the first and second arms, the second and third ones of the second cassettes 85

being adjacent to each other in the second station; and moving such second one of the second cassettes in the first station to the particular station to obtain a transfer of the image on the master tape to the slave tape in such second one of the second cassettes; and wherein: the step of transferring the image on the master tape to the slave tape in such first one of the second cassettes includes the steps of winding the slave tape in such first one of the second cassettes on the supply reel in such first cassette to the end of such slave tape and thereafter unwinding such slave tape from such supply reel to the take-up reel in such first one of the second cassettes through a distance corresponding to the length of the image on the master tape and thereafter rewinding such slave tape on such supply reel in the first one of the second cassettes while transferring the image on the master tape to such slave tape; the slave tape in such first one of the second cassettes is disposed on a capstan; the master tape is disposed on a pinch roller; and the pinch roller is movable to a first position abutting the capstan to provide a transfer of the image on the master tape to such slave tape and the pinch roller is movable to a second position displaced from the capstan to provide for a disposition of the slave tape on the capstan and the master tape on the pinch roller and for a removal of the slave tape from the capstan.

13. In a method of transferring to slave tapes an image on a master tape, the master tape being disposed in a first cassette having a first supply reel and a first take-up reel and the slave tapes being disposed in second cassettes each having a second supply reel and a second take-up reel each of the second cassettes having a first periphery and a second periphery and having a groove at a particular position in its first periphery, the following steps: disposing the second cassettes in a stacked relationship in a first station; extending a first arm into the groove in the first periphery of a first one of the second cassettes in the first station and extending a second arm into the space between the groove in the first periphery of a second one of the second cassettes in the first station and the second periphery of the first one of the second cassettes and gripping the first and second peripheries of the first one of the second cassettes, the first and second ones of the second cassettes being adjacent to each other in the first station; moving the first one of the second cassettes to a second station having a capstan for receiving on its periphery the slave tape in the first one of the second cassettes and having a pinch roller for receiving on its periphery the master tape in the first cassette, the pinch roller being movable between a first position abutting the capstan and a second position displaced from the capstan; disposing the slave tape in the first one of the second cassettes on the capstan with the pinch roller in the second position; moving the pinch roller from the second position to the first position; transferring the image on the master tape to the slave tape in the first one of the second cassettes with the pinch roller in the first position; moving the pinch roller from the first position to the second position; removing the slave tape in the first one of the second cassettes from the capstan with the pinch roller in the second position; and transferring the first one of the second cassettes from the second station to a third station.

14. In a method as set forth in Claim 13, wherein the step of transferring the image on the master tape to the slave tape in the first one of the second cassettes includes the steps of: winding the slave tape on the supply reel in the first one of the second cassettes with the pinch roller in the second position; 87

winding the slave tape from the supply[-]reel to the take-up reel in the first one of the second cassettes through a distance corresponding substantially to the length of the image on the master tape with the pinch roller in the second position; moving the pinch roller from the second position to the first position; and rewinding the slave tape on the supply reel in the first one of the second cassettes with the pinch roller in the first position to obtain the transfer of the image on the master tape to the slave tape in the first one of the second cassettes; and wherein: said method includes the step of repeating the above sequence sequentially for the second one of the second cassettes and for each of the successive ones of the second cassettes in the second station; each of the second cassettes is moved from the first station to the second station by rotating the first and second arms and such second cassette through a first particular angle; and each of the second cassettes is moved from the second station to the third station by rotating the first and second arms and such second cassette through a second angle different from the first particular angle.

15. In a method of transferring to a slave tape the image on a master tape, the master tape being disposed in a first cassette having a first supply reel and a first take-up reel and the slave tape being disposed in a second cassette having a second supply reel and a second take-up reel, the steps of: providing a capstan for holding the slave tape on its periphery; providing a pinch roller for holding the master tape on its periphery, the pinch roller having a first position with the pinch roller abutting the capstan and having a second position with the pinch roller displaced from the capstan to provide for the disposition of the slave tape on the capstan; providing threading arms having a first position for engaging the slave tape in the cassette and a second position for 88

moving the slave tape from the second cassette to a position over the capstan; moving the pinch roller to the second position; moving the threading arms to the second position and then to the first position to provide for the disposition of the slave tape on the capstan; and moving the pinch roller to the first position.

16. In a method as set forth in Claim 15, wherein the threading arms are operative in the first position after the movement of the threading arms to the first position from the second position to define the path of movement of the slave tape from the second supply reel to the capstan and then to the second take-up reel, the additional steps of: providing a movement of the master tape and the slave tape with the pinch roller and the threading arms in the first positions; transferring the image on the master tape to the slave tape during such movement; disposing a plurality of the second cassettes in a first station in a stacked relationship; sequentially transferring the second cassettes from the first position to the position for disposition on the capstan; moving the pinch roller to the second position after the transfer of the image on the master tape to the slave tape in each of the second cassettes; removing the slave tape in each of the second cassettes from the capstan and the threading arms; and stacking each of the second cassettes in a second station.

17. In combination for transferring to slave tapes an image on a master tape, the master tape being disposed in a first cassette having a first supply reel and a first take-up reel and the slave tapes being disposed in second cassettes each having a second supply reel and a second take-up reel, each of the second cassettes having first and second external surfaces and having a groove at a particular position on the first external 89

surface of such cassette: first means for defining a first station for receiving the second cassettes in a stacked relationship; second means movable relative to the second cassettes in the first station for gripping each of the second cassettes in the first station in sequence at the position of the groove on the first external surface of such cassette and for gripping such cassette at the second external surface; third means for moving each of such second cassettes in sequence from the first station to a particular station displaced from the first station while the gripping means grips the first and second external surfaces of such cassette; and fourth means for transferring the image on the master tape to the slave tape in each of the second cassettes at the particular station upon the movement of such second cassette to the particular station.

18. In a combination as set forth in Claim 17, wherein the fourth means includes a capstan for engaging the slave tape in each of the second cassettes and a pinch roller for engaging the master tape, the pinch roller being movable between a first position with the pinch roller abutting the capstan and a second position with the pinch roller in a position displaced from the capstan to provide for the disposition on the capstan of the slave tape in each of the second cassettes when the pinch roller is in the second position: fifth means for moving the pinch roller to the second position before the transfer of each of the second cassettes to the particular station; sixth means for moving the pinch roller to the first position after each of the second cassettes has been transferred to the particular station; the fourth means being operative to transfer the image on the master tape to the slave tape at the particular station after the pinch roller has been moved to the first position; seventh means for defining a second station for holding the second cassettes in a stacked relationship, the second station being displaced from the first station; eighth means for transferring each of the second cassettes in sequence from the particular station to the second station after the transfer of the image on the master tape to the slave tape in such second cassette; ninth means for stacking the second cassettes in the second station after the transfer of the second cassettes in sequence to the second station; the third means being initially operative to move each of the second cassettes from the first station to a particular position before the particular station; the fourth means including a pinch roller for engaging the master tape in the first cassette and a capstan for engaging the slave tape in each of the second cassettes; there being threading arms movable between a first relationship initially engaging the slave tape in each of the second cassettes and subsequently providing for the engagement of the slave tape in each of the second cassettes by the capstan and a second relationship providing for a disposition of the slave tape in each of the second cassettes in displaced relationship to the capstan at a position above the capstan; there being tenth means for initially moving the threading arms from the first relationship to the second relationship at the particular position; the third means being operative to move each of the second cassettes to the particular station after the disposition of the threading arms in the second relationship; and the tenth means being operative to dispose the threading arms in the first relationship after the movement of each of the second cassettes to the particular station to dispose the slave tape in such second cassette on the capstan; there being means for moving the pinch roller to the second position before the disposition of the threading arms in the first relationship at the particular station; and there being means for moving the pinch roller to the first position at the particular station after the movement of the threading arms to the first relationship at the particular station to couple the master tape on the pinch roller to the slave tape in each of the second cassettes on the capstan to obtain a transfer of the image on the master tape to the slave tape.

19. In combination for transferring to slave tape the image on a master tape, the master tape being disposed in a first cassette having a first supply reel and a first take-up reel and the slave tapes being disposed in second cassettes each having a second supply reel and a second take-up reel; first means defining a first station for holding a plurality of the second cassettes in a stacked relationship; second means for individually transferring the second cassettes from the first station; third means defining an image transfer station; fourth means for transferring the individual ones of the second cassettes to the image transfer station; fifth means for transferring the image on the master tape to the slave tape in each of the second cassettes at the image transfer station; and sixth means for transferring each of the second cassettes from the image transfer station upon the transfer to the slave tape in such cassette of the image on the master tape.

20. In a combination as set forth in Claim 20: seventh means for defining a second station for holding a plurality of the second cassettes in a stacked relationship; and eighth means for transferring the second cassettes to the second station after the transfer to the slave tapes in such second cassettes of the image on the master tape; each of the second cassettes having an external groove; the second means including ninth means for separating each successive one of the second cassettes in the first station from the other ones of the second cassettes in the first station at the external grooves in the second cassettes and for gripping such second cassette at the groove and transferring such second cassette to the image transfer station; 92

tenth means for gripping each successive one of the second cassettes in the first station before the transfer of such cassette by the fourth means to the image transfer station; eleventh means for operating upon the tenth means to release each successive one of the second cassettes after the transfer of such cassette from the image transfer station by the sixth means; twelfth means at the second station for operating upon the eleventh means to release the successive ones of the second cassettes and for simultaneously retaining and moving such second cassettes to the second station.

21. In combination for transferring to a slave tape the image on a master tape, the master tape being disposed in a first cassette having a first supply reel and a first take-up reel and the slave tape being disposed in a second cassette having a second supply reel and a second take-up reel: a capstan for receiving the slave tape on its periphery; a pinch roller having a first position abutting the capstan and having a second position displaced from the capstan, the pinch roller having a periphery for receiving the master tape; threading arms for the slave tape, the threading arms being movable between a first position initially engaging the slave tape in the second cassette and subsequently providing a disposition of the slave tape on the capstan and a second position providing a disposition of the slave tape over the capstan; first means for providing a movement of the pinch roller to the second position; second means for providing a movement of the threading arms from the first position to the second position and then to the first position; and third means for providing a movement of the pinch roller to the first position.

22. In a combination as set forth in Claim 21, wherein: the slave cassette has a cover to prevent the slave tape from being exposed; means are provided for moving the cover in the slave cassette to expose the slave tape; the threading means is initially disposed in the first position after the exposure of the slave tape to engage the portion of the slave tape extending between the supply reel and the take-up reel in the second cassette and is movable to the second position after the exposure of the slave tape to extend the slave tape over the capstan in displaced relationship to the capstan with the pinch roller in the second position and is then movable to the first position after the exposure of the slave tape to dispose the slave tape on the capstan; a dancer arm is provided, having first and second positions and spring loaded to return the dancer arm from the second position to the first position and movable with the threading arms from the first position to the second position during the movement of the threading arms from the first position to the second position and movable as a result of the spring loading from the second position to the first position during the movement of the threading arms from the second position to the first position to facilitate the disposition of the slave tape on the capstan and to facilitate the definition of the path of the slave tape after the movement of the threading and dancer arms and the pinch roller to the first positions; fourth means is provided for movement of the capstan and the pinch roller with the pinch roller in the first position to obtain a transfer of the image on the master tape to the slave tape; the first means is operative after the transfer of the image on the master tape to the slave tape to move the pinch roller to the second position; the second means is operative after the transfer of the image on the master tape to the slave tape and the movement of the pinch roller to the second position to move the threader arms to the second position; means is provided for defining a receiving station for holding the second cassette; and 94

means is provided for transferring the second cassette to the receiving station after the transfer of the image on the master tape to the slave tape, the movement of the pinch roller to the second position and the movement of the threader arms to the first position.

23. In combination for transferring to a slave tape the image on a master tape, the master tape being disposed in a first cassette having a first supply reel and a first take-up reel and the slave tape being disposed in a second cassette having a second supply reel and a second take-up reel: a capstan having a periphery for holding the slave tape; a pinch roller having a periphery for holding the master tape, the pinch roller being movable between a first position abutting the capstan and a second position displaced from the capstan; threading arms having a first position for engaging the slave tape in the second cassette and having a second position for moving the slave tape to a position above the capstan for providing for the disposition of the slave tape on the capstan when the threading arms are returned to the first position; first means for disposing the second cassette and the threading arms in a planar relationship displaced from the pinch roller and the capstan; second means for moving the threading arms to the second position and then to the first position; the first means being operative to dispose the second cassette and the threading arms in the same planar relationship as the pinch roller and the capstan after the movement of the threading arms to the second position and then to the first position, and third means for moving the pinch roller from the second position to the first position after the movement of the threader arms from the first position to the second position and then back to the first position.

24. In a combination as set forth in Claim 23: 95

fourth means for rotating the pinch roller and the capstan with the pinch roller and the threading arms in the first position and the threading arms and the second cassette in the planar relationship with the pinch roller and the capstan to obtain a transfer to the slave tape of the image on the master tape; fifth means for moving the pinch roller from the first position to the second position after the transfer of the image on the master tape to the slave tape; the first means being operative to dispose the second cassette and the threading arms in the planar relationship displaced from the pinch roller after the transfer of the image on the master tape to the slave tape and the movement of the pinch roller to the second position; the second means being operative to move the threader arms to the second position before the disposition of the threading arms and the second capstan in the planar relationship displaced from the pinch roller and the capstan and to move the threading arms to the first position after the movement of the threading means and the second cassette to the position displaced from the pinch roller and the capstan; sixth means for providing the second cassette in a first station in a stacked relationship; seventh means for gripping the second cassette in the first station to provide for the transfer by the first means of the second cassette from the first station to the planar relationship displaced from the pinch roller and the capstan; eighth means for providing a second station; the first means being operative to provide for the transfer of the second cassette to the second station after the transfer of the image on the master tape to the slave tape and after the movement of the second cassette to the position displaced from the planar relationship with the pinch roller and the capstan; the gripping means being operative to release the second cassette after the movement of the second cassette to the second station,* and ninth means for providing a transfer of the second cassette 96

into the second station.

25. In combination for transferring to slave tapes the image on a master tape, the master tape being disposed in a first cassette having a first supply reel and a first take-up reel, the slave tapes being disposed in second cassettes each having a second supply reel and a second take-up reel, each of the second cassettes having first and second peripheries and each having a groove on its first periphery: means for defining a station in which the second cassettes are disposed in a stacked relationship; gripping means for gripping a first one of the second cassettes in the station at the groove in the first periphery of such second cassette and for gripping the second periphery of the first one of the second cassettes in the station; first means for providing a movement of the gripping means into the groove in the first periphery of the first one of the second cassettes in the station and the groove in a second one of the second cassettes in the station; the first and second ones of the second cassettes being disposed in adjacent relationship in the station; and second means for providing a transfer of the first one of the second cassettes from the station during the gripping by the gripping means of the first one of the second cassettes in the station at the forward and rear peripheries of such first one of such second cassettes.

26. In a combination as set forth in Claim 25: means for providing a transfer of the image on the master tape to the slave tape in the first one of the second cassettes after the transfer of the first one of the second cassettes from the station; means for defining a second station for holding the second cassettes in a stacked relationship; means for providing a transfer of the first one of the second cassettes to the second station after the transfer of the image on the master tape to the slave tape in the first one of such second cassettes and while the gripping means grips the first and second peripheries of the first one of the second cassettes; the gripping means being operative to release the first one of the second cassettes after the transfer of such second cassette to the second station; and means operative after the release of the first and second peripheries of the first one of the second cassettes by the gripping means for moving the first one of the second cassettes into the second station upon the transfer of such first one of such second cassettes to the second station.

27. In combination for transferring an image on a master tape to slave tapes, the master tape being disposed in a first cassette having a first supply reel and a first take-up reel, the slave tapes being disposed in second cassettes each having a second supply reel and a second take-up reel and having first and second peripheries and each having a groove on its first periphery: first means for defining a first station for retaining the second cassettes; second means for gripping a first one of the second cassettes in the first station at the groove in such first one of the second cassettes; third means for gripping the first one of the second cassettes at the position of the groove in a second one of the second cassettes in the first station; the first and second ones of the second cassettes being adjacent to each other in the first station; fourth means for providing a movement of the second and third means in a synchronized relationship to grip the first and second peripheries of the first one of the second cassettes while the first one of the second cassettes is still in the first station; fifth means for operating upon the fourth means to obtain a synchronous movement of the second means into the groove in the first periphery of the first one of the second cassettes in the 98

station and the third means into the groove in the second one of the second cassettes in the station; and sixth means for moving the first one of the second cassettes from the first station upon and during the gripping of the first and second peripheries of the first one of the second cassettes.

28. In a combination as set forth in Claim 27: means responsive to the transfer of the first one of the second cassettes from the first station for transferring the image on the master tape to the slave tape in such cassette; the second means being disposed at positions between the top and the bottom of the first one of the second cassettes in the first station to engage the first one of the second cassettes in the first station; the third means being disposed at positions respectively above and below the top and bottom of the first one of the second cassettes and being respectively movable downwardly and upwardly into the groove in the second one of the cassettes to grip the first one of the cassettes; the second means including spring clips for moving into the groove in the forward periphery of the first one of the second cassettes to grip such second cassette in the groove in such second cassette; means for defining a second station; means responsive to the transfer of the image on the master tape to the slave tape in the first one of the second cassettes for transferring such cassette to the second station while the second and third means grip the first and second peripheries of the first one of the second cassettes; the fourth means being operative upon the movement of the first one of the second cassettes to the second station for moving the second and third means in a synchronized relationship from the first one of the second cassettes; and means operative upon the movement of the second and third means from the first one of the second cassettes for moving such second cassette into the second station. 99

29. In combination for transferring to a slave tape an image on a master tape, the master tape being disposed in a first cassette having a first supply reel and a first take-up reel, the slave tape being disposed in a second cassette having a second supply reel and a second take-up reel and having first and second peripheries and having a groove at its first periphery: gripping means for gripping the second cassette at the groove in its first periphery and at the second periphery; first means for providing a transfer of the image on the master tape to the slave tape in the second cassette while the gripping means grips the second cassette; second means for defining a station for holding the slave cassette; third means responsive to the transfer of the image on the master tape to the slave tape in the second cassette for transferring the second cassette to the station while the gripping means grips the second cassette; fourth means operative on the gripping means at the second station for releasing the gripping means from gripping the second cassette; and fifth means responsive to the release of the second cassette by the gripping means at the second station for transferring the second cassette into the second station.

30. In a combination as set forth in Claim 29, wherein: the gripping means includes first gripping means for gripping the second cassette at the groove in the first periphery of the second cassette and includes second gripping means for gripping the second cassette at the second periphery of the second cassette and further includes sixth means for moving the first and second gripping means in a synchronous relationship; the fifth means includes sixth means for repositioning the second cassette, regardless of the positioning of the second cassette by the third means in the transfer of the second cassette to the station, for the transfer of the second cassette into the station; the station has an open mouth; the third means is operative to transfer the second cassette to a position in front of the mouth of the station; the fifth means is operative to transfer the second cassette into the station from the position in front of the mouth of the station; and the fifth means includes pins pivotable from a position misaligned with the mouth of the station to a position aligned with the mouth of the station for transferring the second cassette into the station through the mouth of the station.

31. In combination for transferring to a slave tape an image on a master tape, the master tape being disposed in a first cassette having a first supply reel and a first take-up reel, the slave tape being disposed in a second cassette having a second supply reel and a second take-up reel and having first and second peripheries and having a groove at its first periphery: gripping means for gripping the second cassette at the groove in the first periphery of the second cassette and at the second periphery of the second cassette; first means for transferring to the slave tape the image on the master tape; second means for defining a station having an open mouth for receiving the second cassette and other second cassettes in a stacked relationship, the open mouth having a particular width; third means for transferring the second cassette to a position substantially parallel to the open mouth of the station but displaced from the station in a direction corresponding to the direction of the particular width of the mouth of the station; fourth means for holding the second cassette at the top and the bottom of the second cassette and for moving the second cassette to the mouth of the station in the direction corresponding to the particular width of the mouth of the station; and fifth means operative upon the movement of the second cassette to the mouth of the station for transferring the second cassette into the station through the mouth of the station. 1 0 1

32. In a combination as set forth in Claim 31, wherein: the gripping means includes first gripping means for gripping the second cassette at the groove in the first periphery of the second cassette and includes second gripping means for gripping the second cassette at the second periphery of the second cassette and further includes means for synchronizing the movements of the first and second gripping means to positions for gripping the second cassette; the third means includes means for pivoting the second cassette from the first means to the station after the transfer of the image on the master tape to the slave tape; the fourth means includes belts for holding the second cassette and for moving the second cassette in the direction corresponding to the width of the mouth of the cassette after the pivotal movement of the second cassette; the fifth means includes pins rotatable after the movement of the second cassette by the fourth means to the mouth of the station to move the second cassette into the station through the mouth of the station; and the fifth means includes sixth means operable upon a skewed disposition of the second cassette relative to the mouth of the station for positioning the second cassette substantially parallel to and aligned with the mouth of the station and for then moving the second cassette into the station through the mouth of the station.

33. In combination for transferring to slave tapes the image on a master tape, the master tape being disposed in a first cassette having a first supply reel and a first take-up reel and the slave tapes being disposed in second cassettes each having a second supply reel and a second take-up reel, each of the second cassette having a cover pivotable from a first position covering the slave tape to a second position exposing the slave tape: first means for defining a first station holding the second casset es in a stacked relationship; second means for gripping the forward one of the second 1 02

cassettes in the first station; third means for defining a second station to provide for a transfer at the second station of the image on the master tape to the slave tapes in the second cassettes; fourth means for transferring the forward one of the second cassettes in the first station to the second station; fifth means for pivoting the cover on the forward one of the second cassettes from the first position to the second position during the transfer of such second cassette from the first station to the second station; and sixth means for transferring the image on the master tape in the master cassette at the second station to the slave tape in the forward one of the second cassettes.

34. In a combination as set forth in Claim 33: seventh means for retaining the cover on the forward one of the second cassettes in the second position at the second station; eighth means for defining a third station for holding the second cassettes in a stacked relationship; and ninth means for transferring the slave cassettes to the third station after the transfer of the image on the master cassette at the second station to the slave tapes in the second station; the sixth means being operative to transfer the image on the master tape at the second station to the slave tapes in the second cassettes such that the beginning of the image is substantially at the beginning of the slave tape on the second supply reel; each of the second cassettes having a groove at its forward periphery; the second means including first gripping means for gripping the forward one of the slave cassettes in the first station at the groove in such cassette and second gripping means for gripping the rear peripheral surface of such cassette; and the fourth means being operative to produce a synchronized movement of the first and second gripping means from the first 1 03

station to the second station.

35. In combination for transferring an image on a master tape to slave tapes, the master tape being disposed in a first cassette having a first supply reel and a first take-up reel and the slave tapes being disposed in second cassettes each having a second supply reel and a second take-up reel: first means for defining a first station for holding the slave cassettes in a stacked relationship; second means for defining a second station for obtaining a transfer of the second cassettes in sequence from the first station to the second station; third means for providing a pivotal movement of the second cassettes in sequence from the first station to the second station; fourth means for transferring at the second station the image on the master tape to the slave tapes in the second cassettes; fifth means for defining a third station for receiving the second cassettes after the transfer at the second station of the image on the master tape to the slave tapes in the second cassettes, the third station being disposed out of the path of the pivotal movement of the slave cassettes; sixth means for providing a pivotal movement of the slave cassettes in sequence from the second station to a position displaced from the third station; and seventh means for moving the second cassettes in sequence to the third station from the position displaced from the third station.

36. In a combination as set forth in Claim 35, wherein: each of the second cassettes has a cover movable between a first position for covering the slave tape in such cassette and a second position for exposing the slave tape in such cassette, the cover normally being disposed in the first position; eighth means is provided for moving the cover in each of the second cassettes from the first position to the second position 1 04

during the pivotal movement of such cassette from the first station to the second station; each of the second cassettes has a groove in one of its peripheries; ninth means is provided for gripping each of the second cassettes, during the movement of such second cassette from the first station to the second station, at the groove in such cassette and at a position adjacent the groove in the periphery of the next one of the second cassettes in the first station; and tenth means is provided for initially positioning the slave tape in each of the second cassettes at the second station to have substantially all of the slave tape on the second supply reel when the image on the master tape has been transferred to the slave tape.

37. In a method of transferring an image on a master tape to a slave tape, the master tape being disposed in a first cassette having a first supply reel and a first take-up reel and the slave tape being disposed in a second cassette having a second supply reel and a second take-up reel, the second cassette having a cover pivotable between a first position covering the slave tape and a second position exposing the slave tape, the steps of: transferring each of the second cassettes in sequence from a stacked relationship in a first station; moving each of the slave cassettes in sequence to a second station where the first cassette is located; moving the cover on each of the second cassettes from the first position to the second position during the transfer of such second cassette to the second station; and transferring the image on the master tape to the slave tape in each of the second cassettes at the second station.

38. In a method as set forth in Claim 37, wherein: the slave tape in each of the second cassettes is initially disposed with substantially all of the slave tape on the second supply reel in such second cassette and the slave tape is wound on the second take-up reel in such second cassette through a distance corresponding to the length of the image on the master tape and the slave tape is wound on the second supply reel while the image on the master tape is transferred to the slave tape; the cover on each of the second cassettes is retained in the second position at the second station while the image on the master tape is being transferred to the slave tape; each of the slave cassettes is transferred to a third station after the image on the master tape has been transferred to the slave tape in such cassette at the second station; the slave tape has a thermomagnetic layer with a Curie temperature above which any image on the thermomagnetic layer is destroyed and below which the image on the master tape can be transferred to the slave tape and the thermomagnetic layer is heated to a temperature above the Curie temperature and the image on the master tape is transferred to the thermomagnetic layer on the slave tape by contacting the master tape and the slave tape to cool the slave tape below the Curie temperature; and the length of the image on the master tape is determined by winding the master tape on the first supply reel and then rewinding the master tape on the first take-up reel until the end of the image on the master tape and determining the length of the image on the master tape during the rewinding of the master tape on the first take-up reel.

39. A method of providing for the transfer of an image on a master tape in a master cassette to a slave tape in a slave cassette where the slave cassette has a cover disposable in a first position over the slave tape and movable to a second position exposing the slave tape for the transfer of the image on the master tape to the slave tape, including the steps of: transferring the slave tape from a first station to a second station; moving the cover in the first cassette from the first position to the second position during the movement of the slave cassette from the first station to the second station; retaining the cover in the second position at the second 1 06

station ; transferring the image on the master tape to the slave tape at the second station; and moving the slave cassette from the second station to a third station after the transfer of the image on the master tape to the slave tape.

40. In a method as set forth in Claim 39, the further steps of: releasing the cover for movement to the first position after the transfer of the image on the master tape to the slave tape and before the transfer of the slave cassette to the third station; providing a capstan at the second station; providing for a movement of the slave cassette to a fourth station between the first station and the second station before the movement of the slave cassette to the second station; disposing the slave tape in the slave cassette at the fourth station relative to the capstan for disposition on the slave tape at the second station; disposing the slave tape on the capstan at the station for the transfer of the image on the master tape to the slave tape at the second station; the cover being moved from the first position to the second position during the movement of the slave cassette from the first station to the fourth station and being retained in the second position at the second station and during the movement of the slave cassette between the second and fourth positions; displacing the slave tape from the cassette at the second position after the transfer of the image on the master tape to the slave tape; and returning the slave tape to its position in the slave cassette after the movement of the slave cassette from the second station to the fourth station.

41. A method of providing the transfer of an image on a master tape in a master cassette to a slave tape in a slave 1 07

cassette, including the steps of: providing a capstan at a first station; initially moving the slave cassette to a second station displaced from the first station; lifting the slave tape from the slave cassette to a relationship where the slave tape will encompass the capstan when the slave cassette is moved from the second station to the first station; moving the slave cassette from the second station to the first station; releasing the slave tape at the first station for disposition on the capstan; and providing a transfer of the image on the master tape to the slave tape while the slave tape is on the capstan at the first station.

42. In a method as set forth in Claim 41, the further steps of: providing a pinch roller at the first station; initially disposing the pinch roller in a first position displaced from the capstan before the slave cassette is moved to the first station and before the slave tape is disposed on the capstan at the first station; disposing the master tape on the pinch roller at the first station with the pinch roller in the second position and disposing the slave tape on the capstan at the first station with the pinch roller in the first position; moving the pinch roller to a second position in abutting relationship with the slave tape in the slave cassette at the first station after the slave tape is disposed on the capstan at the first station and the master tape is disposed on the pinch roller at the first station; thereafter providing a transfer at the first station of the image on the master tape to the slave tape; providing the slave tape with a thermomagnetic layer having a Curie temperature above which magnetic information on the slave tape is destroyed and below which the magnetic information on the 1 08

master tape can be transferred to the slave tape; and heating the thermomagnetic layer on the slave tape to a temperature above the Curie temperature at a position contiguous to the capstan and before the capstan at the first station in the direction of movement of the slave tape.

43. A method of providing for the transfer of an image on a master tape in a master cassette to slave tapes in slave cassettes, including the steps of: disposing the slave cassettes in a stacked relationship in a first station; transferring the slave cassettes in sequence from the first station; pivoting to a second station the slave cassettes transferred from the first station; transferring the image on the master tape to the slave tapes at the second station; pivoting the slave cassettes in sequence to transport means between the first and second stations; transporting the slave cassettes to a position displaced from the circumferential arc defined by the pivoting of the slave cassettes between the first and second stations; and transferring the slave cassettes to a third station displaced from the arc between the first and second stations after the transport of the slave cassettes from the circumferential arc defined by the rotation of the slave cassettes.

44. In a method as set forth in Claim 43, wherein the slave cassettes have spring-loaded covers over the tapes in the slave cassettes, the additional steps of: moving the covers during the movement of the slave cassettes from the first station to the second station to expose the slave tapes in the slave cassettes; retaining the covers at the second stations for the exposure of the slave tapes in the slave cassettes to provide for the transfer of the image on the master tape to the slave tapes; 1 09

providing for the movement of the covers on the slave cassette over the slave tapes during the movement of the slave cassettes to the transport position for transport to the third station; interrupting the pivotal movements of the slave cassettes at a fourth station during the pivotal movements of the slave cassettes from the first station to the second station; providing a capstan at the second station; displacing the slave tapes from the slave cassettes at the fourth station to provide for the disposition of the slave tapes on the capstan at the second station; pivoting the slave cassettes from the fourth station to the second station; releasing the slave tapes from the displaced relationship from the capstan at the second station to provide for the disposition of the slave tapes on the capstan; transferring the image on the master tape to the slave tapes while the slave tape is disposed on the capstan at the second station; providing the third station with a mouth substantially aligned with the direction of transport of the slave cassette from the circumferential arc defined by the pivoting of the slave cassettes; aligning the slave cassettes with the mouth of the third station after the slave cassettes have been transported from the circumferential arc defined by the rotation of the slave cassettes; and transferring the slave cassettes into the third station through the mouth of the third station.

45. In combination for transferring an image on a master tape in a master cassette to a slave tape in a slave cassette: means for retaining the slave cassette in a first station; means for defining a second station displaced from the first station; means for gripping the slave cassette in the first station and for pivoting the slave cassette to the second station; 1 1 0

means for transferring the image on the master tape in the master cassette to the slave tape in the slave cassette at the second station; transport means between the first and second stations; means for pivoting the slave cassette to the transport means after the transfer of the image on the master tape to the slave tape; means for transferring the slave cassette to the transport means after the pivoting of the slave cassette to the transport means; means for defining a third station at a position displaced from interference with the pivoting of the slave cassette between the first and second stations; means for providing for a displacement by the transport means of the slave cassette to the third station after the transfer of the slave cassette to the transport means; and means for providing a transfer of the slave cassette into the third station after the transport of the slave cassette by the transport means to the third station.

46. In a combination as set forth in Claim 45, wherein the third station has a mouth extending in the direction of transport of the slave cassette by the transport means, and the slave cassette has a cover over the tape: means for aligning the slave cassette on the transport means with the mouth of the third station before providing the transfer of the slave cassette into the third station through the mouth of the third station; a third station disposed between the second station and the transport means in the pivotal arc defined by the pivotal motion of the slave cassette between the first and second stations; a capstan at the second station; means for interrupting the pivotal movement of the slave cassette at the third station during the pivotal movement of the slave cassette between the first and second stations; means for positioning the slave tape in the slave cassette at the third station in a position to be disposed on the capstan 1 1 1

at the second station; means for pivoting the slave cassette from the third station to the second station after the positioning of the slave tape in the slave cassette at the third station in the position to be disposed on the capstan on the second station; means for disposing the slave tape on the capstan at the second station, the means for transferring the image on the master tape to the slave tape being operative at the first station to transfer the image on the master tape to the slave tape with the slave tape on the capstan; and means for displacing the cover from the tape in the slave cassette during the rotary movement of the slave cassette from the first station to the second station and during the transfer of the image on the master tape to the slave tape at the second station.

47. In combination for transferring an image on a master tape to slave tapes, the master tape being disposed in a first cassette having a first supply reel and a first take-up reel, the slave tapes being disposed in second cassettes each having a second supply reel and a second take up reel and each having first and second peripheries and having a groove in the first periphery: first means for defining a first station for holding the second cassettes in a stacked relationship; second means for sequentially gripping each successive one of the second cassettes in the first station at the groove in the first periphery of such cassette and at the second periphery of such cassette; third means for defining a second station; fourth means for transferring each successive one of the second cassettes in sequence from the first station to the second station with the second means gripping such successive one of the second cassettes at the groove in the first periphery of such second cassette and at the second periphery of such second cassette; and fifth means for transferring the image on the master tape 1 1 2

to the slave tape in each successive one of the second cassettes in sequence at the first station.

48. In a combination as set forth in Claim 47, wherein te second means grips each successive one of the second cassettes at the groove in the first periphery of such second cassette and at the second periphery of such second cassette during the transfer of the image on the master tape to the slave tape in such second cassette: sixth means for transferring each successive one of the second cassettes from the second station, after the transfer of the image on the master tape to the slave tape in such successive one of the second cassettes, while the second means is gripping such successive one of the second cassettes at the groove in the first periphery of such second cassette and at the second periphery in such second cassette; seventh means for defining a third station for holding the successive ones of the second cassettes in a stacked relationship; eighth means for transferring each successive one of the second cassettes in sequence to the third station, after the transfer of the image on the master tape to the slave tape in such second cassette, while the second means is gripping such successive one of the second cassettes at the groove in the first periphery of such second cassette and at the periphery of such second cassette, the second means being operative to release each successive one of the second cassettes upon the transfer of such second cassette to the third station; and ninth means for transferrin each successive one of the second cassettes into the third station upon the release of such second cassette by the second means.

49. In combination for transferring an image on a master tape to slave tapes, the master tape being disposed in a first cassette having a first supply reel and a first take-up reel, the slave tapes being disposed in second cassettes each having first and second peripheries and having a groove in the first 113

periphery: first means for gripping each successive one of the second cassettes at the groove in the first periphery of such second cassette and at the second periphery of such second cassette; second means for transferring the image on the master tape to the slave tape in each successive one of the second cassettes while the first means is gripping such second cassette at the groove in the first periphery of the second cassette and at the second periphery of the second cassette, the transfer of the image on the master tape to the slave tape in each successive one of the second cassettes occurring at a particular position; and third means for transferring each successive one of the second cassettes from the particular position, after the transfer of the image on the master tape to the slave tape in such successive one of the second cassettes at the particular position, while the first means grips such successive one of the second cassettes at the groove in the first periphery of such second cassettes and at the second periphery of such second cassettes.

50. In a combination as set forth in Claim 49: fourth means for defining a station for holding the successive ones of the second cassettes in a stacked relationship, the third means being operative to transfer each successive one of the second cassettes to the fourth means while the first means grips such second cassette at the groove in the first periphery of such second cassette and at the second periphery of such second cassette, the first means being operative to release each successive one of the second cassettes upon the transfer of such second cassette to the station; and seventh means operative upon the release of each successive one of the second cassettes at the station for moving such second cassette into the station.

51. In a method of transferring to slave tapes an image on a master tape, the master tape being disposed in a first cassette having a first supply reel and a first take-up reel and the slave 1 1 4

tapes being disposed in second cassettes each having a supply reel and a take-up reel, each of the slave cassettes having a first periphery and a second periphery and having a groove in the first periphery, the steps of: gripping each successive one of the second cassettes at the groove in the first periphery and at the second periphery while such second cassettes are stacked in a first station; transferring each successive one of the second cassettes from the first station to a second station while such second cassette is gripped at the groove in the first periphery of such second cassette and at the second periphery of such second cassette; transferring the image on the master tape to the slave tape in each successive one of the second cassettes at the second station; and thereafter transferring each successive one of the second cassettes to a third station while each second cassette is being gripped at the groove in the first of such second cassette and at the second periphery of such second cassette, the first, second and third stations being displaced from one another.

52. In a method as set forth in Claim 51, the further steps of: releasing the gripping of each successive one of the second cassettes at the groove in the first periphery of each successive one of the second cassettes and at the second periphery of such successive one of the second cassettes when such cassette reaches the second station; and thereafter transferring each successive one of the second cassettes into the second station with the gripping of such successive one of the second stations at the groove in the first periphery of such cassette and at the second periphery in such second cassette; and wherein: the second station has a mouth through which each of the successive ones of the second cassettes passes to become stacked in the second station; each successive one of the second cassettes is aligned with 1 1 5

the mouth in the second station after the gripping of such successive one of the second cassettes becomes released at the groove in the first periphery of the second station and at the second periphery in such cassette and before the transfer of such cassette into the second station; the second station has a wall defining the mouth of the second station; and the alignment of individual ones of the second cassettes with the mouth of the second station includes a rotation of such, cassettes relative to the mouth of the second station and a movement of such cassettes in a direction corresponding to the direction of the wall of the second station.

53. In a method of transferring to slave tapes an image on a master tape, the master tape being disposed in a first cassette having a first supply reel and a first take-up reel, the slave tapes being disposed in second cassettes each having a supply reel and a take-up reel, each of the slave cassettes having a first periphery and a second periphery and having a groove in the first periphery, the steps of: gripping each successive one of the second cassettes at the groove in the first periphery of such cassette and at the second periphery in such cassette; transferring the image on the master tape to the slave tape in each successive one of the second cassettes while gripping such cassette at the groove in the first periphery and at the second periphery; thereafter transferring each successive one of the second cassettes to a station while gripping such cassette at the groove in the first periphery and at the second periphery; thereafter releasing the gripping of each successive one of the second cassettes at the groove in the first periphery and at the second periphery; and thereafter transferring each successive one of the second cassettes into the station with the gripping of such cassette at the groove in the first periphery and at the second periphery being released. 1 1 6

54. In a method as set forth in Claim 53, wherein: the station has an open mouth; each successive one of the second cassettes is aligned with the mouth of the station after the release of the gripping of such cassette at the groove in the first periphery and at the second periphery and before the transfer of such cassette into the station; individual ones of the second cassettes are rotated to align such cassettes with the mouth of the station after the release, of the gripping of such cassettes at the groove in the first periphery of such cassettes and at the second periphery of such cassettes and before the transfer of such cassettes into the station; the station has a wall defining the opening in the station; and individual ones of the second cassettes are moved in a direction having a component substantially parallel to the wall of the station to align such cassettes with the mouth of the station after the release of the gripping of such cassettes at the groove in the first periphery of such cassettes and at the second periphery of such cassettes but before the transfer of such cassettes into the station.