JPS5936344B2 - Recording/playback device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a recording and reproducing apparatus, and more particularly to a recording and reproducing apparatus that performs recording and/or reproduction using a tape cassette that stores magnetic tape.

When recording and reproducing using a tape cassette with magnetic tape housed in a case or housing, either insert the magnetic head into the case and bring it into contact with the magnetic tape, or pull out the magnetic tape from the case and insert it into the magnetic head. It is necessary to confront it with.

Therefore, an opening must be formed in the case. Moreover, it is preferable to provide a lid over this opening to protect the magnetic tape when the tape cassette is not in use. An object of the present invention is to provide a device that can easily and reliably open and close the lid of a tape cassette equipped with such a lid. The magnetic tape has an opening that allows exposing the negative part of the magnetic tape, and a lid that opens and closes at least a portion of the opening and is normally biased to the closed state by a biasing spring. A device that performs recording and/or playback using a tape cassette, wherein a magnetic tape mounting portion into which the tape cassette is mounted is provided with an elastic lid opening mechanism having a hook-shaped portion at its tip; The hook-shaped portion is provided so as to be able to engage with the lid of the tape cassette, and the tape cassette is moved forward relative to the lid opening mechanism to engage the hook-shaped portion of the lid opening mechanism and the lid. By engaging these, the lid opening mechanism is configured to open the lid, and the tape cassette is moved back relative to the lid opening mechanism to open the lid. This relates to a recording/reproducing device characterized in that, by separating a hook-shaped portion of a lid mechanism from the lid body, the lid body is automatically closed by its biasing spring. be.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. This embodiment relates to a dual capstan type tape recorder that uses a tape cassette called a large cassette, which is slightly larger than a compact cassette. 1st
3 to 3 show a tape cassette 1 called a large cassette, and a case or power set housing 2 is composed of upper and lower halves 3a and 3b as is conventionally known.

A pair of reels 4a and 4b are housed in the force setting housing 2 at a predetermined distance from each other on the left and right sides. These reels 4a and 4b have upper and lower ends of their reel hubs 5a and 5b connected to a pair of upper and lower reel holes 6a formed in the upper and lower halves 3a and 3b forming the upper and lower walls of the force setting housing 2, respectively.
6b and is rotatably supported. Note that both reels 4a and 4b constitute a so-called single flange reel, and one reel 4a has its reel hub 5.
Is there a reel flange on the upper end of a? The other reel 4b is provided with a reel flange Tb at the lower end of its reel hub 5b. On the other hand, a magnetic tape (hereinafter simply referred to as tape) 8 is wound around the reel hubs 5a and 5b of both reels 4a and 4b, with both ends fixed to the reel hubs 5a and 5b, as is conventionally known. It is stored inside. The tape 8 is guided by a pair of left and right guide rollers 12a and 12b rotatably provided at both left and right ends of the front side of the force setting housing 2, and is guided along the front surface of the force setting housing 2. It is surrounded. An opening 9 for detecting the tape end of the tape 8 is formed on the side surface of the force setting housing 2, extending over the upper and lower halves 3a and 3b.

Force set positioning pin insertion holes 10a, 10b are formed inside the opening 9, passing through the upper and lower halves 3a, 3b. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a cylindrical portion 11 is integrally formed with the lower half 3b, continuous with the edges of the insertion holes 10a and 10b.
This cylindrical portion 11 extends to a position where it comes into contact with the lower surface of the upper half 3a. The upper end of this cylindrical portion 11 is
It is located above the upper end in the width direction of the tape 8 that runs in sliding contact with the tape 1 . Configuring the cylindrical portion 11 in this manner is extremely preferable for the tape 8.

That is, there is a method in which the cylindrical portion 11 is made to protrude from the upper and lower halves 3a and 3b by half of their length, respectively, and joined at the center of the tape 8 in the width direction, but in this case,
This is because the upper and lower halves 3a and 3b are molded plastic products, and therefore a step is created at the joint, which may damage the tape 8 that slides into contact with this portion. Although this cylindrical portion 11 is formed integrally with the lower half 3b as described above,
This may be formed integrally with the upper half 3a and extended to a position where its lower end abuts the upper surface of the lower half 3b. The cylindrical portion 11 has an opening Ila extending in the axial direction and facing the opening 9 formed on the side of the force set.
An opening 11a formed in this cylindrical portion 11 is for shining light onto a photosensitive element embedded in a force set positioning pin, which will be described later. A horizontally long opening 13 from which the tape 8 can be pulled out is formed on the front surface of the force setting housing 2.

This horizontally elongated opening 13 constitutes a long hole formed along the entire area of the front surface, and its vertical width is sufficiently larger than the width of the tape 8. Further, a pair of cutouts 14a and 14b are formed in the upper and lower halves 3a and 3b, which constitute the upper and lower walls of the force setting housing 2, at positions near both left and right ends of the horizontally long opening 13, respectively, for inserting a pinch roller. ing.

Note that each of these notches 14a and 14b has an approximately U-shaped outline and is continuous with the horizontally long opening 13. Further, the inner diameter of the circular arc portion of each of these notches 14a, 14b is formed to be sufficiently larger than the diameter of a pinch roller to be described later. On the left and right front surfaces of the horizontally elongated opening 13, there are lids 15a and 15b having a width that is approximately the same as the thickness of the force setting housing 2.
It is provided so as to be openable and closable, and covers the left and right front openings 13.

The lids 15a, 15b have integrally formed support parts 16a, 16b having a U-shaped cross section, as shown in FIG. It is rotatably supported on the left and right end step portions 1Ta, 1Tb using shaft pins 18a, 18b provided as fulcrums, respectively. The return springs 19a, 19b are connected to the left and right end step portions 1? A, lTb and the support portion 16a
, 16b, and the shaft pins 18a, 18b.
These 5 springs 19a,
One end of 19b is locked to lids 15a, 15b, and the other end is locked to halves 3a, 3b, respectively. The springs 19a and 19b bias the lids 15a and 15b in the closing direction, respectively. 1. Also, at the ends of the lids 15a, 15b, as shown in FIG.
Concave portions 20a and 20b are formed to receive leaf springs, which will be described later, for opening the lid against the urging force of 9a and 19b.

These concave portions 20a and 20b are shown in FIG.
In the lateral direction, the shaft pins 18a and 18b, which pivotally support the shaft pins 5a and 15b, are biased toward both left and right sides, respectively. Also, especially the first one? As clearly shown in the figure, this lid 15a
, 15b have symmetrical inclined surfaces 21 formed at their tips. Then, as shown in FIG. 9, this lid 15
Slanted surfaces 22 that engage with these inclined surfaces are also formed at the edges of the horizontally long openings 13 of the upper and lower halves 3a, 3b of the force set housing 2, which correspond to the inclined surfaces 21 of the force set housings 2a and 15b. These mutually engaging inclined surfaces 21 and 22 have an inclination angle of about 4
It is formed at an angle of 5°. The reason why such inclined surfaces 21 and 22 are provided is as follows. That is, the lids 15a, 15
b is pivoted as shown in FIG. 10, but the lid 15a
, 15b and the upper and lower halves 3a, .
A return spring 19a is provided between the stepped portions 17a and 17b of the
Considerable clearance is provided for insertion of 19b. Therefore, it is relatively easy to move the shaft pins 18a, 18b in the axial direction. And the lid 15 of force set 1
Close a and 15b. Even in this state, the shaft may be held in the state of being moved in the axial direction, which is undesirable. However, if the lids 15a, 15b and the force setting housing 2 are provided with the inclined surfaces 21, 22, respectively, as described above, the lids 15a, -
When the lid 15b is closed, the sloped surface 21 of the lids 15a, 15b is guided by the sloped surface 22 of the force set housing 2, and the shaft pin 1
Since the positions of the lids 8a and 18b are properly regulated in the axial direction, the lids 15a and 15b are not closed while moving in the axial direction, which is extremely preferable. Next, the force set holder and force set mounting portion of the tape recorder will be explained with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 11, this tape recorder is of a top-operated type in which a force setting mounting section, gauges, various operation buttons, adjustment knobs, etc. are arranged on a top panel 25.

An opening 26 for mounting the force set 1 is formed in the upper panel 25, and the opening 26 is covered with a lid 27. This lid 21 has a window 27a covered with a transparent plastic plate, and this lid 2T constitutes a force set holder 28. That is, as shown in FIG. 12, a pair of holding plates 28a and 28b having an L-shaped cross section are fixed to the inside of the lid 27.
, 28b, side arms 29a, 29b are fixed to the lower portions thereof. Furthermore, plate springs 30a and 30b are screwed to the ends of these holding plates 28a and 28b to open the lids 15a and 15b of force set 1 when force set 1 is inserted. has been done. That is, especially the 13th
As shown in the figure, when the force set 1 is inserted into the force set holder 28 with the oblong opening 13 on the front surface as the tip, when it is inserted to the position shown by the solid line in FIG. 13, the tip of the leaf spring 30b is inserted. It comes into contact with the lid 15b and is received in the concave portion 20b.

When the force set 1 is further inserted into the holder 28 from this state, the lid 15b is relatively pressed by the plate spring 30b at the recessed portion 20b. Since this concave portion 20b is disposed on the left side of the shaft pin 18b that pivotally supports the lid 15b in FIG. 13, the lid 15b is moved around the shaft pin 18b in FIG. At this time, the lid 15b is opened by receiving a rotational force in a counterclockwise direction. As the lid 15b opens, the leaf spring 30b deforms to the left, but when the lid 15b is opened a predetermined amount at the position shown by the imaginary line in FIG. Once this happens, force set 1 cannot be inserted any further. That is, the leaf spring 30b has force set 1.
It also serves as a stopper during the insertion operation.
Note that a stopper may be provided separately from this leaf spring 30a.

This is preferable because it can prevent the lids 15a, 15b from being damaged. Incidentally, FIG. 14 shows a modification of the means for opening the lids 15a, 15b of this force set 1. That is, instead of the leaf springs 30a, 30b, hook-shaped levers 30c, 30d are rotatably provided on the outside of the holding arms 28a, 28b, and as shown in FIG. As the lever 30d is inserted into the holder 28, the tip of the lever 30d engages with the concave portion 20b of the lid 15b.
When the force set 1 is further inserted, the lever 30d rotates counterclockwise and pushes the lid 15b against the return spring 19b.
, as shown by the virtual line in the same figure. In this case, the lever 30d also serves as a stopper, but a separate stopper may be provided to regulate the insertion depth of the force set 1. Moreover, the above-mentioned lid body 2T
A leaf spring 31 is fixed to the back side of the plate to elastically hold the inserted force set 1 and to elastically press the force set 1 at the normal mounting position. The lid body 2T is rotatably supported inside the upper panel 25 by pins 32. and side arm 29
A tension spring 33 is tensioned at the tip of a and biases the lid 2T in the opening direction. Also, a lock arm 34 is fixed to the upper end of the lid 2T, as shown in FIG. 15 in particular.

A sloped surface 34a is formed at the tip of the lock arm 34 for abutting and guiding the tip of an ejector lever 35, which will be described later, and a locking notch 34b for receiving an engaging portion of the ejector lever 35 is formed at the side thereof. ing. The ejector lever 35 is formed into a substantially L-shape and is rotatably supported by a pin 35a attached to the side of the opening 26 of the upper panel 25. And this lever 35
A locking portion 35b that engages with the notch 34b is formed in a body shape at one end, and an eject button 35c is fixed to the other end. Furthermore, this eject button 35c
passes through a rectangular opening 25a formed in the front panel, a portion of which protrudes outside, and can be pushed from the outside. The lever 35 is biased in the locking direction (clockwise in FIG. 15) by a coiled spring 35d wound around the pin 35a. Therefore, in the lid body 27 configured as described above, when the lid body 2T is rotated and closed, the lock portion 35b of the ejector lever 35 engages with the notch of the lock arm 34 when the lid body 2T is approximately horizontal. 34b, the lid body 2T is held in a closed state.

Further, as shown in FIG. 15, an auxiliary plate 36 is supported by a support piece 3T having a U-shaped cross section and attached to the mechanical chassis 40 at a force set mounting position inside the force set holder portion.

This auxiliary plate 36 includes a force set positioning pin 41 fixed on the chassis 40, a reel shaft 43 directly connected to the output shaft of a motor 42 fixed on the chassis 40, and a force set positioning pin 41 fixed on the right side of the chassis 40. Insertion holes 36a, 36b for inserting the insertion depth regulating pin 44, respectively.
36c is formed. Above force set positioning pin 4
1 has a photosensitive element 45 embedded in its side, as shown in FIG. A ramp 46 is provided on the side of the force set positioning pin 41. When force set 1 is installed in the installation position,
The light from the lamp 46 passes through the opening 9 formed on the side of the force set housing 2 and the opening Ila of the cylindrical part 11 formed at the edge of the force set positioning pin insertion holes 10a and 10b. It is arranged to arrive at element 45. Then, the tape 8 runs between the opening 9 and the opening 11a. Therefore, if the tape 8 is opaque, it blocks light, but if the tape 8 is transparent, it allows light to pass through.

In general, the tape 8 consists of a recordable opaque magnetic tape and a transparent leader tape fixed to both ends of the tape, so that while the magnetic tape section is traveling along the light irradiation path, the light is blocked or Light is passed through the leader tape while it travels along the light irradiation path. The end of the tape is detected by a photosensitive element 45 based on the transmission of light through the leader tape portion, and an auto-shut-or mechanism (not shown) is operated based on the detection output. Fig. 1T shows a modification that utilizes the opening 9 on the side of the force set 1, and while the one shown in Fig. 16 above is used for tape end detection, this In this example, it is used to adjust tape tension. That is, a crank-type tension detection lever 4T is arranged on the side of the force set mounting position, and this lever 4? is rotatably supported by a pin 4Ta, is biased to rotate clockwise in FIG. 1T by a spring 47b, and its tip 4Tc is in sliding contact with the tape 8. Further, a V-shaped reel brake lever 48 is rotatably supported by a pin 48a at the bottom of this force set mounting position, and a brake lever 48 is attached to one end of the lever.
8b is fixed and is in sliding contact with the circumferential surface of a reel stand 43a attached to the reel shaft 43. The other end 48c of the lever 48 is in contact with a protrusion 47d formed on the side of the tension detection lever 4T. Further, in this modification, the force set positioning pins 41 inserted into the force set positioning pin insertion holes 10a, 10b are formed relatively short.

That is, when the force set 1 is installed at the force set mounting position, it only engages with the lower half 3b of the force set 1, so the tension becomes weaker and the tape 8 is pushed against the tip 41c of the tension detection lever 4T. The opening 11a of the cylindrical portion 11
Even if it is inserted into the cylindrical portion 11 from above, it does not come into contact with the force set positioning pin 41. When the tension of the tape 8 during running decreases, the tension detection lever 4T is rotated clockwise by the spring 4Tb, and therefore the brake lever 48 is also rotated clockwise, and the brake shoe 48b is moved to the reel stand 43a. Since the tape 8 is strongly pressed, tension is applied to the tape 8 supplied from the reel shaft 43, and the tape tension returns to a predetermined value.

Furthermore, when the tension of the tape 8 increases while it is running, the tape 8 becomes tensed and the tension detection lever 47 rotates counterclockwise against the spring 41b, which causes the brake lever 48 to also rotate counterclockwise. Brake shoe 48b and reel stand 43
The pressing force with the tape 8 becomes weaker, and the tension of the tape 8 supplied by the reel shaft 43 decreases, returning to a predetermined value.
Since this tape tension control device performs feedback control, the tape 8 can be maintained at the correct tension state with a relatively simple mechanism, which is extremely preferable. Next, the tape loading mechanism provided above the force set mounting position will be explained with reference to FIG. 52b, respectively.

These pinch levers 52a, 52b are rotatably supported by fulcrum pins 53a, 53b, respectively.
An operating lever 54 having a symmetrical shape is provided below the pinch levers 52a and 52b. Pins 55a implanted on both left and right sides of this operating lever 54,
55b engages with elongated holes 56a, 56b formed on the pinch levers 52a, 52b. On the other hand, on the back side of the chassis 40, an intermediate lever 5 is rotatably mounted on a fulcrum pin 51.
8 is supported. One end of this lever 58 is connected to the operating lever 54 via a connecting pin 59. This connecting pin 59 penetrates from the back side of the chassis 40 to the front side through a rectangular hole 60 provided on the chassis 40. Further, one end of another second intermediate lever 61 is supported by the fulcrum pin 57, and the other end of this lever 61 is connected to the rod of the tape loading plunger 62 via a damper 66 that cushions the tape loading operation. It is connected to 63. A limiter spring 64 is tensioned between the ends of the intermediate lever 58 and the second intermediate lever 61. Further, a spring 65 for reciprocating motion is further tensioned at the end of the intermediate lever 58. A head base 68 is further fixed to the chassis 40 in which this tape loading mechanism is provided.

On this head base 68 is a recording/playback head 69,
Erasing head 10--pair of tape guide pins Tla, T
lb and a pair of capstans? 2a,? 2b are provided respectively. The capstans T2a and 72b are connected to bearings T3 fixed to the chassis 40 as shown in FIG.
The motor is rotatably supported by the capstan motor T4, which is fixed to the motor chassis 78. 5. Belt? 6 and a capstan pulley TT. Next, the operation of inserting and attaching the force set using the mechanism described above will be explained.
3 at the tip thereof, it is inserted into a force set holder 28 formed by holding arms 28a and 28b on the back side of the lid 2T provided on the top surface of the tape recorder. At this time, the lids 15a and 15b of the force set 1 are kept closed by the urging force of the return springs 19a and 19b. That is, when the eject button 35c disposed on the top panel 25 of the tape recorder is pressed to release the lock of the lid 27, the lid 27 is opened by the biasing force of the tension spring 33. In this state, force set 1 is inserted into force set holder 28. By this insertion operation, the tips of the leaf springs 30a, 30b attached to the holding arms 28a, 28b are inserted into the lid 1 of the force set 1.
Recessed portions 20a and 5a and 15b are respectively formed.
20b and relatively close the lids 15a and 15b as described above.
A rotation moment is applied to the lids 15a and 15b to return them and open them against the springs 19a and 19b. When the opening is opened by a predetermined amount, the leaf springs 30a and 30b act as stoppers, and the insertion operation of force set 1 is completed. Next, the operation of attaching the force set will be explained.

This force set installation operation is performed until the force set 1 is completely inserted into the force set holder 28 and the lids 15a, 1 of the force set 1 are completely inserted.
5b is completely opened. Lid body 2 in this state? is rotated clockwise in FIG. 15 around the pin 32. Along with this rotation, the force set 1 held in the rear force set holder 28 of the lid 2T is also rotated. The force set 1 is then mounted on the auxiliary plate 36 in a substantially horizontal state. At this time, the position of the force set 1 is regulated in various directions by a force set positioning pin 41 and a force set insertion depth regulating pin 44 arranged at the same mounting position. Further, as shown in FIG. 15, the lock portion 35b of the ejector lever 35 engages with the notch 34b of the lock arm 34, so that the lid 27 is locked.A leaf spring 31 is provided on the back surface of the lid 27. Therefore, this leaf spring 3
1, the force set 1 is held elastically, so that the force set 1 is in the installed state. At this time, the reel holes 6a and 6b of the reels 4a and 4b housed in the force set 1 are engaged with the reel shaft 43 and are drivably connected. Also, the lid body 2
7, the pinch rollers 50a, 50b and tape guide pins 51a, 51b provided on the pinch levers 52a, 52b are inserted into the pinch roller insertion notches 14a, 14b of the force set 1. are inserted and arranged relative to each other, and these are located inside the tape 8.

Tape loading is started in this state. That is, in loading the tape, the plunger 62 is first energized, which pulls the rod 63, which causes the second intermediate lever 61 to rotate clockwise in FIG. 18 via the damper 66, and then The lever 58 is rotated clockwise via the limiter spring 64.

Therefore, the operating lever 54 moves upward, and the pair of pinch levers 52a, 52b rotates, causing the pinch roller 50a to rotate.
, 50b and the tape guides 51a, 51b move upward to pull the tape 8 out of the force set 1 through the horizontally long opening 13, and the tape 8 is in the state shown in FIG.
A recording/reproducing head 69, an erasing head TO, provided on the ground.
Tape guide pin Tla, 7lb and pinch roller 72
a,? 2b, and the tape loading operation is completed. In this state, the tape 8 is run to perform a predetermined recording or reproducing operation.

In this tape recorder, the reel 43b on the left side in FIG. 18 is the supply reel shaft, and the reel 43c on the right side is the take-up reel shaft, and the tape 8 is pulled out of the force set 1 and moved from the left side to the right side. Drive to. When the tape 8 wound on the reel 46 engaged with the supply reel shaft 43b has almost finished being supplied, the transparent leader tape portion of the tape 8 is attached to the force setting positioning pin 41 as shown in FIG. The light from the lamp 46 is transmitted through this leader tape portion to the photosensitive element 45.
is detected, the auto-shut-off mechanism is activated, and tape running is stopped. Next, to explain the ejecting operation of force set 1 in this embodiment, the tape 8 that has been pulled out is rewound and stored in force set 1 by an unloading operation that is completely opposite to the loading operation described above. .

When the eject button 35c is pressed in this state, the lid 2
T is unlocked and the force set holder 28 is attached to pin 3.
It is pulled by a tension spring 33 and rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 15 about 2. In this state, the force set 1 can be manually pulled out of the holder 28 and removed from the tape recorder. By this removal operation of force set 1, the lids 15a and 15b of force set 1 are disengaged from the leaf springs 30a and 30b formed on the holding arms of the force set holder 28, so that the return springs 19a and 19b are removed. Closes by biasing force. When the lids 15a and 15b close, the lid 15a
, 15b, the inclined surfaces 21 formed at the upper and lower ends of the
It is guided by the inclined surface 22 formed on the force set housing 2 and is correctly positioned with respect to the width direction of the tape (the axial direction of the shaft pins 18a, 18b). Although the present invention has been described above with reference to embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments and can be further modified based on the technical idea of the present invention. For example, in the embodiment, the present invention is applied to a dual-capstan type tape recorder, but the present invention is not limited thereto and can be applied to various recording/reproducing devices.

Furthermore, although the embodiments have been described in terms of applications to top-operated tape recorders, the present invention can also be applied to front-operated tape recorders.

Since the present invention has the above-described configuration, it is possible to reliably open and close the lid provided on the case of the tape cassette and biased in the closed state by the biasing spring with a simple structure and operation. I can do it.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show an embodiment of the invention, FIGS. 1-10 showing a power set called a large cassette, and FIGS.
FIG. 18 shows a dual capstan type tape recorder. Fig. 1 is a plan view of the force set, Fig. 2 is a front view thereof, Fig. 3 is a left side view thereof, Fig. 4 is a plan view of main parts of the lower half, Fig. 5 is a side view thereof, and Fig. 6 is a plan view of the main part of the lower half. 7 is a side view of the lid of the force set, FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line ~ in FIG. 6, FIG.
The figure is a cross-sectional view taken along the line .about.- in FIG. 1, and FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line X--X in FIG. Figure 11 is a perspective view of a tape recorder;
FIG. 12 is a bottom perspective view of the force set holder, FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken along the line ~ in FIG. 1st
Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional side view of the main part of the tape recorder, Fig. 16 is a sectional view taken along the line X--X in Fig. 15, and Fig. 17 is a main part showing a modified example using an opening formed in the side of the force setting case. FIG. 18 is a plan view of the tape recorder with the top panel removed. In addition, in the symbols used in the drawings, 1... tape cassette, 2...
...Force setting housing (case), 8...Magnetic tape, 13...Horizontal opening, 15a, 15b...
...Lid (lid body), 19a, 19b...Return spring, 30a, 30b...Plate spring, 30c, 30
d...Lever.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An opening that allows a part of the magnetic tape to be exposed in a required part of a case that stores a magnetic tape, and at least a part of this opening that opens and closes and is always biased in a closed state by a biasing spring. A device for recording and/or reproducing using a tape cassette having a lid body, the tape cassette being mounted on a magnetic tape mounting portion having an elastic tape having a hook-shaped portion formed at the tip thereof. A lid opening mechanism is provided such that the hook-shaped portion can engage with the lid of the tape cassette, and the tape cassette is moved forward relative to the lid opening mechanism to open the lid. By engaging the hook-shaped portion of the mechanism with the lid, the lid opening mechanism is configured to open the lid, and the tape is connected to the front lifting lid opening mechanism. By moving the cassette back and separating the hook-shaped portion of the lid opening mechanism from the lid, the lid is automatically closed by its biasing spring. A recording/playback device with special features.