Cassette holder in recording and reproducing apparatus for magnetic tape

Abstract

A lock release mechanism in a cassette holder is applicable to magnetic tape cassettes of the type provided with a pivotal closure lid pivotally secured to opposite edges of a casing for movement between a closed position and an open position, wherein the closure lid is pivoted away from said opening to allow access to the tape while in use. The cassette also has a sliding closure member slidably mounted on one face of the casing and cooperative with the aforementioned pivotal closure lid. The sliding closure member is held in its closed position while the pivotal closure lid is in its closed position to cover a bottom spacing through which a device constituing part of a tape handling mechanism may be inserted, and in its open position while the pivotal closure lid is in its open position to allow the aforementioned device of the tape handling mechanism to engage the casing through the bottom spacing for extracting the tape for loading onto the rotary head, and is retained in its closed and open positions by means of a locking member. The lock release mechanism is provided in a cassette holder of the recording and reproducing apparatus and comprises a projection means which releases the lock on the sliding closure member to allow movement thereof from the closed position to the open position and from the open position to the closed position.