Abstract: An arrangement for loading a tape cartridge in a deck of a magnetic tape transport has a motor-driven pair of cams engaging different ones of a pair of pivotally mounted elongated arms disposed beneath the deck with one of the arms mounting a pawl extending through an aperture in the deck. Rotation of the cams causes movement of the pawl-mounting arm enabling the pawl to engage a ridge at the underside of a tape cartridge being loaded in the deck and push the cartridge into the region of an operative position adjacent a magnetic transducer assembly. Movement of the other elongated arm in conjunction with the pawl-mounting arm slides a fork assembly beneath the deck so as to raise three different pins coupled thereto and mounted within the deck.

Abstract: A length of magnetic tape extending between a pair of reels within a cartridge is driven bidirectionally at high speeds with substantially constant tension by a transport having a pair of capstans engaging and movable to accommodate the constantly changing tape packs on the reels. Constant tape tension is achieved by a driving arrangement utilizing pairs of pulleys of slightly different diameter coupled via overriding unidirectional clutches to shafts which mount the capstans and are driven from a common motor by belts coupled to the different pairs of pulleys. The difference in pulley diameter causes the capstan engaging the takeup reel to be driven slightly faster than the capstan engaging the supply reel so as to maintain the constant tape tension. The tape cartridge has a single front door which is automatically raised upon insertion of the cartridge into the transport by opposite bosses on the transport which engage camming levers at the opposite ends of the front door.

Abstract: A length of magnetic tape extending between a pair of reels within a cartridge is driven bidirectionally at high speeds with substantially constant tension by a transport having a pair of capstans engaging and movable to accommodate the constantly changing tape packs on the reels. Constant tape tension is achieved by a driving arrangement utilizing pairs of pulleys of slightly different diameter coupled via overriding unidirectional clutches to shafts which mount the capstans and are driven from a common motor by belts coupled to the different pairs of pulleys. The difference in pulley diameter causes the capstan engaging the takeup reel to be driven slightly faster than the capstan engaging the supply reel so as to maintain the constant tape tension. The tape cartridge has a single front door which is automatically raised upon insertion of the cartridge into the transport by opposite bosses on the transport which engage camming levers at the opposite ends of the front door.