Ejecting and loading mechanism for a tape cassette with means for preventing unintentional ejection of the cassette

A tape cassette ejecting and loading mechanism comprising:

• a top cover;
• a horizontal carrier movably mounted under said top cover;
• and ejecting lever mounted below a lower surface of said horizontal carrier, and a first spring mounted to elastically bias said ejecting lever in a direction to eject a tape cassette out of a cassette holder;
• a locking lever mounted below said horizontal carrier, said locking lever being coupled to said ejecting lever to lock said ejecting lever and unlock said ejecting lever at loading and unloading position;
• and
• a safety lever mounted to a middle portion of said carrier, said safety lever having a surface engageable with said ejecting lever at a determined angular displacement of said safety lever and ejecting lever, and a second spring mounted to elastically bias said safety lever in a direction to engage said surface thereof with said ejecting lever to prevent said ejecting lever from rotating, to thereby prevent said cassette from being ejected unintentionally when a tape is initially being loaded into said mechanism.