Disk cartridge loading and ejecting mechanism in a recording and playback apparatus

Claim 1

A recording and playback apparatus for a disk cartridge, comprising: (a) a forward end into or from which a disk cartridge is inserted or ejected; (b) a loading lever (6) having one end disposed toward the forward end of the apparatus pivotally mounted between a pair of side walls of the apparatus and having a distal end pivotable between an ejecting position and a loading position for ejecting and loading the disk cartridge in the apparatus; (c) a locking member (36) rotatably supported on one of said pair of side walls and having a locking end engageable with said distal end of said loading lever (6) for holding said loading lever in said ejecting position and rotatably disengageable from said distal end for allowing said loading lever to pivot to said loading position; (d) a cam plate (15) reciprocally movably along said one side wall between a forward position, corresponding to when said loading lever (6) is in said ejecting position, and a rearward position when said loading lever is in said loading position, said cam plate being resiliently urged into said forward position and movable rearwardly by abutting engagement with an end of a disk cartridge inserted in said apparatus, said cam plate having an unlocking member (43) engageable with said locking member 36 as said cam plate is moved rearwardly for disengaging said locking member from said distal end of said loading lever (6), said cam plate further having an inclined cam surface (20) for engaging a portion of said loading lever as said cam plate is moved to said forward position to return said loading lever to said ejecting position; (e) a locking spring (38) connected to said locking member (36) for biasing it toward engagement with said loading lever (6); and (f) a tension spring (21) connected to said cam plate (15) for urging it toward said forward position.