Importance

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Abstract

A magnetic-tape-cassette apparatus has a loading device which prevents improper insertion of a digital audio tape cassette having a slide for closing the cassette openings. The cassette has a U-shaped slide which, in the closed position, defines one side of a slot extending halfway up to opposite side wall of the cassette housing and across the bottom wall of the cassette housing. The loading device has two positioning elements, a respective one near each side of the loading device bottom section, arranged so that the positioning elements engage the parts of the slot extending up the side walls when the cassette is properly inserted on the bottom section of the loading device. When the loading device moves the cassette toward the apparatus interior, the positioning elements are withdrawn from engagement in the slot, the cassette slide is unlatched, and the slide is then moved with respect to the rest of the cassette to an open slide position which permits the cassette cover to be opened so that the cassette tape can be threaded and played. The slot in the cassette is disposed a shorter distance from the cassette rear wall than from the cassette front wall, so that the cassette cannot be fully received on the loading device if it is improperly oriented. A cassette detector detects the presence of the cassette only if it is so inserted that the projections engage the slot portions extending up the side walls of the cassette.

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First Claim