Patent ID: 7222795

Claim:
A loading apparatus for a recording medium having connection terminals, comprising: a holder which holds said recording medium having said connection terminals and which is moved between an insertion/take-out position where said recording medium is inserted or taken out and a completion position where the loading of said recording medium is completed; a chassis for supporting said holder movably between said insertion/take-out position and said completion position; terminal electrodes which are mounted to said holder and to which said connection terminals of said recording medium are connected; a lock lever for locking said holder in said insertion/take-out position, wherein the locking of said holder in said insertion/take-out position by said lock lever is released when said connection terminals of said recording medium are connected to said terminal electrodes; said lock lever is provided with a restricting portion for restricting the movement of said holder from said insertion/take-out position, and said lock lever is turnable between a lock position and a lock release position relative to said holder; a bias spring is provided for biasing said lock lever toward said lock position; said chassis is provided with a restricted portion opposed to said restricting portion of said lock lever when said holder is locked; and a predetermined gap is formed between said restricting portion of said lock lever and said restricted portion of said chassis at said insertion/take-out position.