Abstract: A chassisless tape apparatus includes a housing on which the operative components of the tape transport are mounted and which includes protective ridges extending outwardly therefrom to protect the external operation mechanism recessed within the ridges. A slide assembly mounted to the housing and on which the play back head is mounted serves to advance the drive mechanism between play back and rewind positions as well as actuate an electrical switch for activating the electrical circuits thereby providing single slide control of the tape apparatus.

Abstract: A pinch roller cooperating with the drive capstan of a tape playback apparatus includes a spool on which there is mounted a resilient tire member to selectively engage the capstan with a magnetic tape held between the tire and the capstan when in a driving position. The tire includes a circumferentially extending recess formed therein having a crowned surface for self-centering of the tape thereon, and a pair of annular shoulders spanning opposite sides of said recess for positively engaging the capstan on opposite sides of the tape thereby transmitting drive forces from the capstan to the side of the tape opposite the capstan through the tire. The spool includes slots communicating with the inner surfaces of the tire permitting a bonding agent to securely bond the tire to the spool.

Abstract: A manually operated tape playback apparatus includes a drive shaft which is manually rotated and means coupling the drive shaft to a self-contained generator for supplying power to an electrical amplifier coupled to a tape pickup head and including a speaker for reproduction of information recorded on the tape. The rotor of the generator is also coupled to a flywheel in turn coupled to a tape capstan for controlling the tape playback speed. The pickup head is mounted to a control arm movable between playback and rewind positions which arm is coupled to forward and reverse spindle drive means and to the drive shaft for controlling the movement of tape between reels and across the pickup head during playback and at an increased speed for rewinding the tape.