Patent ID: 7184243

Claim:
A cartridge loading mechanism for loading a cartridge having a lid and an engaged portion, comprising: a base; a carrier movable with respect to said base in a direction parallel to said base between a first position where a cartridge is inserted into said carrier and a second position where said cartridge is mounted onto a reel motor; a lid opening mechanism fixed to said base and having a first engaging portion adapted to engage with said lid of said cartridge to open said lid; a leaf spring mounted on said carrier and having a second engaging portion adapted to engage with said engaged portion of said cartridge, said leaf spring arranged to fix said cartridge to said carrier during movement of said carrier; and a driving mechanism for moving said carrier between said first position and said second position, wherein said leaf spring and said lid opening mechanism are arranged such that, after said second engaging portion of said leaf spring comes into engagement with said engaged portion of said cartridge at a third position during the movement of said carrier from said first position to said second position, said first engaging portion of said lid opening mechanism starts to engage said lid of said cartridge.