Front-loading mechanism of a videocassette recorder utilizing a reel motor as a power source

Claim 1

A front-loading mechanism for a video-cassette recorder, the video-cassette recorder having a base plate, a cassette holder to hold a videocassette and a reel table powered by a reel motor with gears comprising: a loading arm having a geared end and a non geared end, the non geared end connected to the cassette holder so that the non geared end moves the cassette holder between a loading position with respect to the reel table and an unloading position with respect to the reel table, the non geared end moving in response to the rotation of the geared end; a powered function plate having a stepped sliding surface, the function plate disposed to move between a loading and an unloading position; a lever having a first end, a middle portion and a second end, the middle portion hinged to the base plate at a hinge point, the first end having a sliding pin thereon and the second end having a gear disposed to engage the gears of the reel motor; and a spring disposed to continuously urge the sliding pin against the sliding surface of the function plate so that the lever is swung about the hinge point as the stepped sliding surface slides and the gear on the second end of the lever are selectively engaged with the reel motor gears by the swinging movement of the lever; and means responsive to engagement of the gear on the second end of the lever with the reel motor gears for driving the geared end of the loading arm whereby a drive force of the reel motor can be selectively transmitted to the loading arm.