Abstract:
A cartridge holder is disclosed that includes a cartridge supporting member that supports an inserted cartridge corresponding to a first cartridge or a thicker second cartridge; a cartridge upper face holding member that is normally positioned at a first height position for holding down the first cartridge; a cartridge upper face holding member supporting mechanism configured to move the cartridge upper face holding member with respect to the cartridge supporting member; and a lock mechanism configured to lock the cartridge upper face holding member in the first height position. The cartridge supporting member and the cartridge upper face holding member define a cartridge accommodating space. The lock mechanism remains locked when the first cartridge is inserted, and unlocks when the second cartridge is inserted. When the second cartridge is inserted, the cartridge upper face holding member is raised, and the size of the cartridge accommodating space is changed.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a cartridge holder for a magnetic recording/playback apparatus. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   A streamer apparatus as a peripheral storage device for a computer that includes a rotating drum and a tape loading mechanism and uses a tape cartridge like the VTR is being commercialized. 
   It is noted that a current streamer apparatus has a relatively large storage capacity of 72 GBytes at compression mode, for example. However, there is an ever growing demand for increased storage capacity, and in turn, manufacturers are developing techniques for increasing the storage capacity of the streamer apparatus. 
   One way of increasing the storage capacity involves enabling the use of a new tape cartridge that accommodates a magnetic tape with a wider tape width compared to the tape width of the magnetic tape of the current tape cartridge. 
   It is noted that a magnetic recording/playback apparatus includes a tape cartridge automatic loading mechanism that is configured to automatically load a tape cartridge by moving a tape cartridge holder that holds the tape cartridge inserted therein. 
   Accordingly, in order to enable use of the new tape cartridge as is described above, the tape cartridge holder has to be capable of properly holding the current tape cartridge as well as the new tape cartridge so that both the current tape cartridge and the new tape cartridge may be selectively inserted therein. 
   However, a tape cartridge holder of a conventional tape cartridge automatic loading mechanism is only capable of holding a tape cartridge of one size. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   According to one embodiment of the present invention, a tape cartridge holder is provided that is capable of properly holding a current tape cartridge and a new tape cartridge that are selectively inserted therein. 
   According to one specific embodiment of the present invention, a cartridge holder is provided into which one of a first cartridge and a second cartridge having a greater dimension than the first cartridge is selectively inserted, the cartridge holder including: 
   a cartridge supporting member having a horizontal plate portion, a first side plate portion, and a second side plate portion that is configured to support a bottom face, a first side face, and a second side face of an inserted cartridge corresponding to one of the first cartridge and the second cartridge; 
   a cartridge upper face holding member configured to hold down an upper face of the inserted cartridge which cartridge upper face holding member is normally positioned at a first height position for holding down an upper face of the first cartridge; 
   a cartridge upper face holding member supporting mechanism configured to support the cartridge upper face holding member and move the cartridge upper face holding member in a direction for changing the height position of the cartridge upper face holding member with respect to the cartridge supporting member; and 
   a lock mechanism configured to lock the cartridge upper face holding member in the first height position; 
   wherein the cartridge supporting member and the cartridge upper face holding member define a cartridge accommodating space for accommodating the inserted cartridge; 
   the lock mechanism is configured to remain locked when the first cartridge is inserted, and be unlocked when the second cartridge is inserted; and 
   when the second cartridge is inserted, the cartridge upper face holding member is moved to a second height position that is higher than the first height position, and the size of the cartridge accommodating space is changed to correspond to the size of the second cartridge. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a diagram showing a streamer apparatus that uses a tape cartridge holder according to an embodiment of the present invention, a current tape cartridge, and a new tape cartridge; 
       FIGS. 2A-2C  are skeleton diagrams of a tape cartridge holder according to a first embodiment of the present invention,  FIG. 2A  showing an initial state,  FIG. 2B  showing a state in which the current tape cartridge is inserted, and  FIG. 2C  showing a state in which the new tape cartridge is inserted; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the tape cartridge holder according to the first embodiment; 
       FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of the tape cartridge holder showing a first lock lever and a second lock lever; 
       FIG. 5  is a front view of the tape cartridge holder according to the first embodiment; 
       FIG. 6  is a side view of the tape cartridge holder according to the first embodiment; 
       FIG. 7  is a plan view of the tape cartridge holder according to the first embodiment; 
       FIG. 8  is a front view of the tape cartridge holder according to the first embodiment showing where a tape cartridge accommodating space is enlarged; 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the tape cartridge holder according to the first embodiment where the current tape cartridge is inserted; 
       FIG. 10  is a side view of the tape cartridge holder according to the first embodiment as shown in  FIG. 9 ; 
       FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the tape cartridge holder according to the first embodiment where the new tape cartridge is inserted; 
       FIG. 12  is a side view of the tape cartridge holder according to the first embodiment as shown in  FIG. 11 ; 
       FIGS. 13A-13C  are skeleton diagrams of a tape cartridge holder according to a second embodiment of the present invention,  FIG. 13A  showing an initial state,  FIG. 13B  showing a state in which the current tape cartridge is inserted, and  FIG. 13C  showing a state in which the new tape cartridge is inserted; 
       FIG. 14  is a perspective view of the tape cartridge holder according to the second embodiment where the current tape cartridge is inserted; 
       FIG. 15  is a side view of the cartridge holder according to the second embodiment as shown in  FIG. 14 ; 
       FIG. 16  is a perspective view of the tape cartridge holder according to the second embodiment where the new tape cartridge is inserted; 
       FIG. 17  is a side view of the cartridge holder according to the second embodiment as shown in  FIG. 16 ; 
       FIGS. 18A-18C  are skeleton diagrams of a tape cartridge holder according to a third embodiment of the present invention,  FIG. 18A  showing an initial state,  FIG. 18B  showing a state in which the current tape cartridge is inserted, and  FIG. 18C  showing a state in which the new tape cartridge is inserted; 
       FIG. 19  is a perspective view of the tape cartridge holder according to the third embodiment where the current tape cartridge is inserted; 
       FIG. 20  is a side view of the cartridge holder according to the third embodiment as shown in  FIG. 19 ; 
       FIG. 21  is a perspective view of the tape cartridge holder according to the third embodiment where the new tape cartridge is inserted; and 
       FIG. 22  is a side view of the cartridge holder according to the third embodiment as shown in  FIG. 21 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   In the following, preferred embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
   Embodiment 1 
   [Streamer Apparatus  30 , Current Tape Cartridge  10 , and New Tape Cartridge  20 ] 
     FIG. 1  is a diagram showing a streamer apparatus  30  that uses a tape cartridge holder according to an embodiment of the present invention, a current tape cartridge  10 , and a new tape cartridge  20 . It is noted that in the following drawings, directions X 1 -X 2  represent width directions, directions Y 1 -Y 2  represent depth directions, and directions Z 1 -Z 2  represent height directions. 
   The streamer apparatus  30  includes a rotating drum  31 , a magnetic tape loading mechanism  34  configured to pull out a magnetic tape from an inserted tape cartridge and load the magnetic tape into a predetermined tape path, reel shafts  32  and  33 , and a tape cartridge holder  50  that is capable of properly holding a first cartridge corresponding to the current tape cartridge  10  and a second cartridge corresponding to the new tape cartridge  20 . 
   The current tape cartridge  10  has outer dimensions of length A×width B×height C. The current tape cartridge  10  includes a cartridge main frame  13  having a box structure  11 , a front side lid  12 , and a bottom slide plate (not shown); a magnetic tape  14  accommodated inside the main frame  13  and having a width W 1  of 4 mm, the magnetic tape  14  being wound around a supply reel  15  and a winding reel  16  and forming a tape path  17  along the inner face of the lid  12 ; and a pole accommodating space  18  at the front face side of the bottom plate of the main frame  13  that is configured to open when the current tape cartridge  10  is loaded. 
   The new tape cartridge  20  has outer dimensions of length A×width B×height C 1 . The new tape cartridge  20  includes a cartridge main frame  23  made of a box structure  21 , a front side lid  22 , and a bottom slide plate (not shown); a magnetic tape  24  accommodated inside the main frame  23  and having a width W 2  of 8 mm, the magnetic tape  24  being wound around a supply reel  25  and a winding reel  26  and forming a tape path  27  along the inner face of the lid  22 ; and a pole accommodating space  28  at the front face side of the bottom plate of the main frame  23  that is configured to open when the new tape cartridge  20  is loaded. It is noted that the length A and the width B of the new tape cartridge  20  is the same as the length A and the width B of the current tape cartridge  10 , and the height C 1  of the new tape cartridge  20  is 1.5 times the height C of the current tape cartridge  10 . 
   [Tape Cartridge Holder  50 ] 
     FIG. 2A  is a skeleton diagram of a tape cartridge holder  50  according to an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 2B  is a diagram showing a state in which the current tape cartridge  10  is inserted into the tape cartridge holder  50 .  FIG. 2C  is a diagram showing a state in which the new tape cartridge  20  is inserted into the tape cartridge holder  50 . 
     FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the tape cartridge holder  50  in an initial state.  FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of the tape cartridge holder  50  of  FIG. 3  showing first and second lock members  82  and  91 .  FIG. 5  is a front view of the tape cartridge holder  50  in the initial state.  FIG. 6  is a side view of the tape cartridge holder  50  in the initial state.  FIG. 7  is a plan view of the tape cartridge holder  50  in the initial state.  FIG. 8  is a front view of the tape cartridge holder  50  showing where a tape cartridge accommodating space is enlarged. 
   It is noted that the tape cartridge holder  50  is configured to be symmetrical with respect to a center line extending in the Y 1 -Y 2  directions; that is, the X 1  side configuration and the X 2  side configuration of the tape cartridge holder  50  are substantially identical. Accordingly, in the following, the X side configuration of the tape cartridge holder  50  is described. 
   As is shown in the drawings, the tape cartridge holder  50  includes a cartridge supporting member  51 , a cartridge upper face holding member  60 , a cartridge upper face holding member supporting mechanism  70 , and a double lock mechanism  80 . The double lock mechanism  80  includes a first lock mechanism  81  and a second lock mechanism  90 . 
   The cartridge supporting member  51  is configured into a U shape when viewed from the Y 2  side, and includes a horizontal plate portion  52 , and side plate portions  53  and  54  arranged at the sides of the horizontal plate portion  52 . The horizontal plate portion  52  includes an overhanging portion  52   a  that extends in the Y 2  direction. 
   The cartridge upper face holding member supporting mechanism  70  includes a first suspending member  71  and a second suspending member  72  that are suspended between the side plate portions  53  and  54  so that their respective side ends are rotatably supported by the side plate portions  53  and  54 . The first suspending member  71  is supported by a shaft supporting portion  73 , and the second suspending member  72  is supported by a shaft supporting portion  74 . The first suspending member  71  is arranged into a reverse U shape viewed from the Y 2  side, and includes arm portions  71   a  and  71   b  extending in the Z 2  direction that are respectively arranged at the X 1  side and the X 2  side of the first suspending member  71 . Similarly, the second suspending member  72  is arranged into a reverse U shape viewed from the Y 2  side, and includes arm portions  72   a  and  72   b  extending in the Z 2  direction that are respectively arranged at the X 1  side and the X 2  side of the second suspending member  72 . The arm portions  71   a,    71   b,    72   a,  and  72   b  are disposed at positions corresponding to the corners of a rectangle when viewed from the Z 1  side. 
   The cartridge upper face holding member  60  is arranged into a rectangular shape and is supported by the edges of the arm portions  71   a,    71   b,    72   a,  and  72   b.  Specifically, corner portions of the cartridge upper face holding member  60  are rotatably coupled to the arm portions  71   a,    71   b,    72   a,  and  72   b.    
   The first and second suspending members  71  and  72  are configured to rotate in a pendulum-like manner, and in turn, the cartridge upper face holding member  60  is configured to move between an initial height H 1  as is shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B  and a raised height H 2  as is shown in  FIG. 2C . It is noted that the initial height H 1  corresponds to the height of the current tape cartridge  10 , and the raised height H 2  corresponds to the height of the new tape cartridge  20 . 
   As is shown in  FIG. 5 , in the initial state, a current tape cartridge accommodating space  100  having dimensions corresponding to the dimensions of the current tape cartridge  10  is defined by the cartridge supporting member  51  and the cartridge upper face holding member  60 . The current tape cartridge accommodating space  100  has a rectangular inlet portion  101  arranged at the Y 2  side. The inlet portion  101  has four corners; namely, a (X 1 , Z 2 ) side corner  102 , a (X 1 , Z 1 ) side corner  103 , a (X 2 , Z 2 ) side corner  104 , and a (X 2 , Z 1 ) side corner  105 . 
   As is shown in  FIG. 8 , when the cartridge upper face holding member  60  moves up to the raised height H 2 , the current tape cartridge accommodating space  100  is enlarged in the Z 1  direction to realize a new tape cartridge accommodating space  110  having dimensions corresponding to the dimensions of the new tape cartridge  20 . 
   As is shown in  FIG. 4 , the cartridge upper face holding member  60  includes a lock pin  61  arranged at its X 1  side. The lock pin  61  is arranged to extend through a long trench  53 a formed at the side plate portion  53  and protrude from the X 1  side of the side plate portion  53 . It is noted that a force in the Y 2  direction is applied to the lock pin  61  by an arm portion of a torsion coil spring member  75  that is attached to the side plate portion  53 . 
   Also, the first lock mechanism  81  includes a first lock lever  82 . The first lock lever  82  includes a hook portion  83  arranged on one side, and a cartridge detecting pin  84  arranged on the other side. The first lock lever  82  also includes a hole  85  that engages a shaft  86  arranged on the side plate portion  53 . A force in the clockwise direction is applied to the first lock lever  82  by a spring member  87  so that the hook portion  83  engages the lock pin  61  from the Z 1  side. The cartridge detecting pin  84  is disposed at the (X 1 , Z 2 ) side corner  102  of the inlet portion  101  of the current tape cartridge accommodating space  100  as is shown in  FIG. 5 , and extends in the X 2  direction. 
   Similarly, the second lock mechanism  90  includes a second lock lever  91 . The second lock lever  91  includes a hook portion  92  arranged on one side, and a cartridge detecting pin  93  arranged on the other side. The second lock lever  91  also includes a hole  94  that engages a shaft  95  arranged on the side plate portion  53 . A force in the counterclockwise direction is applied to the second lock lever  91  by a spring member  96  so that the hook portion  92  engages the lock pin  61  from the Z 2  side. The cartridge detecting pin  93  is disposed at the (X 1 , Z 1 ) side corner  103  of the inlet portion  101  of the current tape cartridge accommodating space  100  as is shown in  FIG. 5 , and extends in the X 2  direction. 
   It is noted that a first lock mechanism  81 A and a second lock mechanism  90 A are arranged at the X 2  side of the tape cartridge holder  50 , and their corresponding cartridge detecting pins  84 A and  93 A are respectively disposed at the (X 2 , Z 2 ) side corner  104  and the (X 2 , Z 1 ) side corner  105  of the inlet portion  101  of the current tape cartridge accommodating space  100 . 
   As can be appreciated from the above descriptions, in the initial state, the cartridge upper face holding member  60  is double locked at its X 1  side and X 2  side. 
   [Insertion of Current Tape Cartridge  10 ] 
   An operator may hold a rear side portion of the current tape cartridge  10  to insert the front side portion of this current tape cartridge  10  into a loading slot  121  of a front panel  120 . 
   In turn, the front portion of the current tape cartridge  10  pushes open flaps  125  and  126  (see  FIG. 10 ) and slides across the overhanging portion  52   a  of the horizontal plate portion  52  to be inserted into the current tape cartridge accommodating space  100  via the inlet portion  101  from the Y 2  side. Thus, the current tape cartridge  10  may be held within the tape cartridge holder  50  while being supported by the horizontal plate portion  52  with its sides being held in place by the side plate portions  53  and  54 , and its upper face  10   a  being held by the cartridge upper face holding member  60  as is shown in  FIGS. 2B ,  9  and  10 . 
   When the current tape cartridge  10  passes through the inlet portion  101 , the lower face of the current tape cartridge  10  pushes down the cartridge detecting pins  84  and  84 A in the Z 2  direction and the first lock lever  82  is rotated in the counterclockwise direction so that the hook portion  83  is unlatched from the lock pin  61  and the first lock mechanism is unlocked. However, the second lock mechanism  90  remains locked, and the cartridge upper face holding member  60  is maintained at its initial position. Accordingly, the current tape cartridge  10  may be properly inserted into the tape cartridge holder  50  to be properly accommodated within the current tape cartridge accommodating space  100 . 
   Then, a tape cartridge automatic loading mechanism (not shown) is operated so that the tape cartridge holder  50  may be moved to a predetermined position. In turn, the current tape cartridge  10  is moved along with the tape cartridge holder  50  to the predetermined position to be loaded into the streamer apparatus  30 . In this process, the lid  12  is opened by a lever  129  (see  FIG. 3 ). 
   [Insertion of New Tape Cartridge] 
   An operator may hold a rear side portion of the new tape cartridge  20  to insert the front side portion of this new tape cartridge  20  into a loading slot  121  of a front panel  120 . 
   In turn, the front portion of the current tape cartridge  10  pushes open the flaps  125  and  126  and slides across the overhanging portion  52   a  in the Y 2  direction. At this point, the lower face of the new tape cartridge  20  pushes down the cartridge detecting pins  84  and  84 A in the Z 2  direction, and the upper face of the new tap cartridge  20  pushes up the cartridge detecting pins  93  and  93 A in the Z 1  direction. Accordingly, the first lock lever  82  is rotated in the counterclockwise direction and the second lock lever  91  is rotated in the clockwise direction so that the hook portions  83  and  93  are unlatched from the lock pin  61  and the first lock mechanism and the second lock mechanism are unlocked. In turn, the cartridge upper face holding member  60  moves in the Y 1  direction. 
   It is noted that the front end face, the upper face, and the corner edges of the new tape cartridge  20  hit against the Y 2  side end of the cartridge upper face holding member  60  so that the cartridge upper face holding member  60  is pushed in the Y 1  direction by the new tape cartridge  20 . Accordingly, the cartridge upper face holding member  60  moves in the direction between the Y 1  direction and the Z 1  direction while being supported by the first and second suspending members  71  and  72  that are configured to rotate in a pendulum-like manner. When the cartridge upper face holding member  60  moves up to be positioned higher than the upper face of the new tape cartridge  20 , the new tape cartridge  20  moves underneath the lower face of the cartridge upper face holding member  60  to be inserted into the new tape cartridge accommodating space  110 . Thus, the new tape cartridge  20  may be held within the tape cartridge holder  50  while being supported by the horizontal plate portion  52  with its sides being held in place by the side plate portions  53  and  54 , and its upper face  20 a being held by the cartridge upper face holding member  60  as is shown in  FIGS. 2C ,  11  and  12 . 
   Then, a tape cartridge automatic loading mechanism (not shown) is operated so that the tape cartridge holder  50  may be moved to a predetermined position. In turn, the new tape cartridge  20  is moved along with the tape cartridge holder  50  to the predetermined position to be loaded into the streamer apparatus  30 . In this process, the lid  22  is opened by the lever  129 . 
   It is noted that when the first and second suspending members  71  and  72  rotate in a pendulum-like manner, the arm portions  71   a  and  71   b  are configured to move in sync with each other, and the arm portions  72   a  and  72   b  are configured to move in sync with each other. In this way, the cartridge upper face holding member  60  may be maintained in a horizontal position while being moved, and the new tape cartridge accommodating space may be created smoothly. 
   [Preventive Measures Against Inappropriate Insertion of Current Tape Cartridge  10 ] 
   It is noted that the loading slot  121  of the front panel  120  is arranged to be in conformity with the dimensions of the new tape cartridge  20 . Therefore, the height at which the current tape cartridge  10  is inserted cannot be controlled by the loading slot  121  of the front panel  120  and the insertion position of the current tape cartridge  10  may vary. Accordingly, arrangements are made so that when the current tape cartridge  10  is inserted from a high position to be near the upper side of the loading slot  121  of the front panel  120 , the cartridge detecting pins  93  and  93 A are pushed so that the second lock mechanism  90  is unlocked but the cartridge detecting pins  84  and  84 A are not pushed so that the first lock mechanism  81  remains locked. In such a case, even when the current tape cartridge  10  is inserted with force, the current tape cartridge  10  hits against the Y 2  side end of the cartridge upper face holding member  60  so that it may be prevented from being inserted further. In this way, inappropriate insertion of the current tape cartridge  10  may be prevented. 
   It is noted that the loading slot  121  is normally closed by the flaps  125  and  126 . 
   Embodiment 2 
     FIGS. 13A-13C  are skeleton diagrams of a tape cartridge holder  50 A according to a second embodiment of the present invention.  FIGS. 13B ,  14 , and  15  are diagrams showing a state in which the current tape cartridge  10  is inserted into the tape cartridge holder  50 A, and  FIGS. 13C ,  16 , and  17  are diagrams showing a state in which the new tape cartridge  20  is inserted into the tape cartridge holder  50 A. 
   The tape cartridge holder  50 A of the present embodiment includes a cartridge upper face holding member  60 A and a cartridge upper face holding member supporting mechanism  70 A that differ from the cartridge upper face holding member  60  and the cartridge upper face holding member supporting mechanism  70  of the tape cartridge holder  50  according to the first embodiment. It is noted that other components of the tape cartridge holder  50 A that are identical to those described in relation to the first embodiment are given the same numerical references. 
   As is shown in  FIGS. 13A ,  14 , and  15 , the cartridge upper face holding member supporting mechanism  70 A is configured to rotatably support the Y 2  side of the cartridge upper face holding member  60 A to the side plate portions  53  and  54  of a cartridge supporting member  51 . The cartridge upper face holding member supporting mechanism  70 A is realized by a shaft supporting portion  130  disposed near the loading slot  121  that supports the cartridge upper face holding member  60 A. The cartridge upper face holding member  60 A is locked in place in a diagonal position with its Y 1  side tilted downward in the Z 2  direction. 
   In the case where the current tape cartridge  10  is inserted into the tape cartridge holder  50 A, the first lock mechanism  81  is unlocked but the second lock mechanism remains locked, and the cartridge upper face holding member  60 A in the diagonally oriented position holds down the upper face of the current tape cartridge  10  as is shown in  FIGS. 13B ,  14 , and  15 . In this way, the current tape cartridge  10  may be properly inserted and held inside the tape cartridge holder  50 A. 
   In the case where the new tape cartridge  20  is inserted, both the first lock mechanism  81  and the second lock mechanism  90  are unlocked, and the cartridge upper face holding member  60 A is pushed by the new tape cartridge  20  to thereby rotate in the counterclockwise direction to be at a substantially horizontal position as is shown in  FIGS. 13C ,  16 , and  17 . In this way, the new tape cartridge may be properly inserted and held inside the tape cartridge holder  50 A. 
   Embodiment 3 
     FIGS. 18A-18C  are skeleton diagrams of a tape cartridge holder  50 B according to a third embodiment of the present invention.  FIGS. 18B ,  19 , and  20  are diagrams showing a state in which the current tape cartridge  10  is inserted into the tape cartridge holder  50 B, and  FIGS. 18C ,  21 , and  22  are diagrams showing a state in which the new tape cartridge  20  is inserted into the tape cartridge holder  50 B. 
   The tape cartridge holder  50 B of the present embodiment includes a cartridge upper face holding member  60 B and a cartridge upper face holding member supporting mechanism  70 B that differ from the cartridge upper face holding member  60  and the cartridge upper face holding member supporting mechanism  70  of the tape cartridge holder  50  according to the first embodiment. It is noted that components of the tape cartridge holder  50 B that are identical to those described in relation to the first embodiment are given the same numerical references. 
   As is shown in  FIGS. 18A ,  19 , and  20 , the cartridge upper face holding member supporting mechanism  70 B is realized by two pairs of parallel guide holes  140 ,  141 , and  150 ,  151  that are respectively arranged at side plate portions  53  and  54  of a cartridge supporting member  51  and are diagonally oriented such that their Y 1  sides tilt upward in the Z 1  direction. The cartridge upper face holding member  60 B is supported by rods  160  and  161  the ends of which rods  160  and  161  are engaged with the guide holes  140 ,  141 ,  150 , and  151  so that the cartridge upper face holding member  60 B may be moved while being guided by the guide holes  140 ,  141 ,  150 , and  151 . 
   In the case where the current tape cartridge  10  is inserted into the tape cartridge holder  50 B, the first lock mechanism  81  is unlocked but the second lock mechanism remains locked, and the cartridge upper face holding member  60 B disposed at its initial position holds down the upper face of the current tape cartridge  10  as is shown in  FIGS. 18B ,  19 , and  20 . In this way, the current tape cartridge  10  may be properly inserted and held inside the tape cartridge holder  50 B. 
   In the case where the new tape cartridge  20  is inserted, both the first lock mechanism  81  and the second lock mechanism  90  are unlocked, and the cartridge upper face holding member  60 B is pushed by the new tape cartridge  20  to thereby move along the upper diagonal direction of the guide holes  140 ,  141 ,  150 , and  151  as is shown in  FIGS. 18C ,  21 , and  22 . In this way, the new tape cartridge  20  may be properly inserted and held inside the tape cartridge holder  50 B. 
   Further, it is noted that the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described above, and variations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
   The present application is based on and claims the benefit of the earlier filing date of Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-175549 filed on Jun. 15, 2005, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.