Cartridge holder apparatus and magnetic recording/reproduction apparatus including same

A magnetic recording/reproduction apparatus including a cartridge holder apparatus into which a plurality of types of cartridges having a lock-receiving portion at the same position on an upper surface thereof and different height are selectively inserted, the cartridge holder apparatus comprising:

• a cartridge supporting member having a lateral plate portion and side plate portions on both sides thereof, the cartridge supporting member supporting a bottom and side surfaces on both sides of an inserted cartridge;
• a cartridge upper surface supporting member disposed between the side plate portions on both sides of the cartridge supporting member, the cartridge upper surface supporting member demarcating a cartridge housing space in cooperation with the cartridge supporting member and being positioned on an upper surface of the inserted cartridge so as to support the upper surface of the cartridge;
• a support mechanism of a cartridge upper surface supporting member for supporting the cartridge upper surface supporting member so as to form a cartridge housing space in accordance with the inserted cartridge;
• and
• a cartridge gripping mechanism supported by the cartridge upper surface supporting member and the support mechanism of a cartridge upper surface supporting member, the cartridge gripping mechanism gripping the lock-receiving portion of the inserted cartridge by locking, wherein
• the cartridge gripping mechanism is configured to change positions in the vertical direction when the support mechanism of a cartridge upper surface supporting member is operated so as to cause the cartridge upper surface supporting member to change a size of the cartridge housing space while a locking portion for locking the lock-receiving portion of the inserted cartridge maintains a position in a cartridge insertion direction;
• wherein the support mechanism of a cartridge upper surface supporting member is made of a suspension member supported by the cartridge supporting member, the suspension member suspending the cartridge upper surface supporting member and when a cartridge with large dimensions is inserted, the support mechanism of a cartridge upper surface supporting member supports the cartridge with large dimensions so as to move in an obliquely upward direction relative to a cartridge insertion direction by a swing of the cartridge upper surface supporting member due to a rotation of the suspension member;
• and
• wherein the cartridge gripping mechanism includes:
• a cartridge gripping member supported by the cartridge upper surface supporting member, the cartridge gripping member having a locking portion for locking the lock-receiving portion;
• and
• a link member whose tip is connected to the cartridge gripping member, the link member being supported by the suspension member and positioned in an obliquely downward direction relative to a direction opposite to the cartridge insertion direction;
• wherein the link member is rotated in a direction reverse to that of the rotation of the suspension member upon the rotation of the suspension member, the cartridge gripping member is moved in a direction opposite to the cartridge insertion direction, and a position of the lock-receiving portion is changed upward while maintaining a position in the cartridge insertion direction.

A cartridge holder apparatus comprising:

• a cartridge supporting member configured to support a bottom surface of an inserted cartridge;
• a cartridge upper surface supporting member configured to support an upper surface of said inserted cartridge, said cartridge upper surface supporting member being moveable relative to said cartridge supporting member;
• a support mechanism configured to support said cartridge upper surface supporting member and including a suspension member rotatably supported relative to said cartridge upper surface supporting member, said cartridge upper surface supporting member configured to move relative to said cartridge supporting member in response to a rotation of said suspension member in a first direction;
• and
• a cartridge gripping mechanism including:
• a link member supported by said suspension member, said link member configured to rotate in a second direction opposite to said first direction upon a rotation of said suspension member in said first direction;
• and
• a cartridge gripping member configured to grip said inserted cartridge.