Abstract: A starting mechanism for an ejection mechanism of a cassette tape deck, particularly, a compact cassette deck which may be used for automotive applications and which is automatically operated in response to stopping of rotation of a reel unit of the cassette deck. A power lever is mounted to be reciprocal in a predetermined direction by a reel unit drive motor of the deck when the reel unit stops rotating. A selection lever, having an operator-actuable end, is juxtaposed with the power lever and movable reciprocally in the same predetermined direction to engage the power lever to move therewith when a head base of the deck is in an advanced position. Thereby, the selection lever is reciprocal between positions of engagement and disengagement with and from the power lever with one end thereof as the center.

Abstract: A cassette loading mechanism for a cassette deck which contributes to the compactness of the deck. The loading mechanism includes a movable member which engages a cassette and which is movably mounted to slide in directions in which the cassette is inserted and ejected. The movable member is biased in the ejecting direction. A cassette holder is movable between a raised position where the inserted cassette is held and a lowered position where the cassette as held is set in a play position, the cassette holder being biased in the direction of the lowered position. A control arm, which is rotatably mounted on a frame, controls the movement of the cassette holder towards the lowered position. A lock arm, rotatably mounted on the control arm, locks the movable member when the movable member is moved a predetermined distance in the insertion direction of the cassette. A single biasing device biases the control arm in a control direction and the lock arm in a locking direction.