Abstract: A tape drive apparatus includes a pair of reel holder gears respectively provided in reel shafts which are respectively engaged with a pair of reels around which a tape is wound, a switching operation portion for switching at least a fast-forwarding operation and a rewinding operation, and a running mechanism for transporting the tape in the positive direction and in the reverse direction by selectively driving the pair of reel holder gears based on the direction in which the switching operation portion is moved. When the tape is transported in the positive direction, if the switching operation portion is moved in one direction, then the tape is transported at a high speed in the positive direction to fast-forward the tape. If the switching operation portion is moved in the other direction reverse to the one direction, then the tape is transported at a high speed in the reverse direction to thereby rewind the tape.

Abstract: A tape recorder including a limiter gear mechanism having a torque limiter; a driving device for rotationally driving the limiter gear mechanism in a forward or reverse direction; a swing lever swingably provided between a pair of reel bed gears, and having a gear train adapted to be rotated by the limiter gear mechanism; a magnetic head supporting member for supporting a pair of magnetic heads selectively operable according to a tape travelling direction, one of the magnetic heads between an operative position in contact with a tape and an inoperative position in separation from the tape; a direction lever for selecting the tape travelling direction and controlling movement of the magnetic head supporting member so as to selectively restrict movement of the other magnetic head to the operative position; and a mode lever movable among a neutral position, a record position and a playback position, and biasing the magnetic head supporting member to the operative position of one of the magnetic heads when the mo

Abstract: A cassette tape recording and reproducing apparatus comprises a first movable head support that takes selectively an operative position in which it causes a recording and reproducing head supported thereby to come into contact with a tape contained in a tape cassette through an opening formed in a case of the tape cassette and an inoperative position in which it holds the recording and reproducing head on the outside of the tape cassette. A second movable head support takes selectively a first position in which it causes an erase head supported thereby to come into contact with the tape contained in the tape cassette through the opening formed in the case of the tape cassette together with the recording and reproducing head and a second position in which it holds the erase head on the outside of the tape cassette. A first operational mode selector sets a reproducing operational mode by causing the first and second movable head supports to take the operative position and the second position, respectively.