Abstract: The data transmission device is used for transmitting data sent from a first apparatus to a second apparatus through a system interface and/or for receiving data sent from the second apparatus to the first apparatus through the system interface. The data transmission device comprises a cutting off unit for substantially cutting off a path between the first apparatus and the system interface while a signal being output from the first apparatus has a first predetermined signal level.

Abstract: A recording/reproducing apparatus within which tape cassettes of different sizes are installable includes a tension regulator arm, pivotably supported by a base plate, and in elastic contact with the magnetic tape withdrawn from the tape cassette, and a tension regulating belt, attached to the tension regulator arm at one end thereof, and in slidable contact with a reel mount to apply a braking force thereto, the braking force being altered according to the position of the reel mount. The braking force applied by the tension regulating belt to the reel mount is less when a smaller sized tape cassette is positioned in the apparatus as compared to when a larger sized tape cassette is positioned therein.

Abstract: A set of tape cassettes of different sizes which each includes electric information representing terminals and which are used with a common recording and/or reproduction apparatus and a recording and/or reproduction apparatus with which those tape cassettes can be selectively used are improved in that information represented by the electric information representing terminals is read by a detection arrangement common to the tape cassettes of the different sizes. The electric information representing terminals are disposed at equal distances on the tape cassettes from corresponding outer side faces of the tape cassettes.

Abstract: In a tape cassette having a case with a mouth for receiving a magnetic head drum of a recording/reproducing apparatus and containing a recording tape wound on rotatable reels and including a tape run extending across the mouth; a front lid is pivotally supported on side walls of the case so as to be movable between a closed position covering a front opening of the mouth and opened position to uncover the tape run, and upper lid is pivotally joined at its front edge to the upper edge portion of the front lid so as to be movable between a closed position to covering a top opening of the mouth and opened position to uncover the top opening, and a slide shutter is supported on the case for sliding between a closed position covering a bottom opening of the mouth and opened position to uncover such bottom opening. The mouth across which a run of the recording tape extends can be closely covered by the front lid, the upper lid and the slide shutter when the tape cassette is not in use.

Abstract: A cassette having a recording medium contained therein for use with a recording/reproducing apparatus. The cassette includes a storage device for storing information pertaining to the recording medium and/or the cassette; a plurality of terminals coupled to the storage device and adapted to be coupled to the recording/reproducing apparatus when the cassette is being used therewith so as to transfer the stored information to the recording/reproducing apparatus; and an accidental-erasure prevention switch member located in close proximity to the terminals for inhibiting recording of an information signal onto the recording medium and inhibiting erasing of a previously recorded information signal from the recording medium. At least one hole and a window are provided in the cassette so as to provide access to the terminals and the accidental-erasure prevention switch member. Such at least one hole and window may be arranged so as to provide a relatively large area for fastening a label.

Abstract: A tape cassette including a cassette case having a pair of tape reels having a recording tape wound therebetween and having an opening for providing access to the recording tape; a main lid pivotably mounted on opposite side faces of the cassette case; a top lid pivotably mounted on the main lid; and a guide apparatus. Upon opening or closing the main lid so as to provide access to the magnetic tape, the top lid is respectively moved rearwardly from a position in which the top lid covers an upper portion of the opening or forwardly so as to cover the upper portion of the opening. The guide apparatus guides the top lid during such movement thereof so as to avoid sliding or rubbing of a lower face of the top lid on an upper face of the cassette case.

Abstract: A tape cassette has a substantially rectangular, box-shaped casing with a recess in a front portion of the casing having openings facing forwardly and downwardly, respectively, and with a bottom wall of the casing having an undersurface including cassette height determining portions adjacent the front and back of the casing and a slide surface portion therebetween which is planar and recessed relative to at least the cassette height determining portions adjacent the back of the casing. A lid is pivotally mounted on the casing for movements between a closed position extending across the opening facing forwardly from the recess and a raised opened position uncovering the forwardly facing opening, and a tape is wound about reels rotatable in the casing and extends between the reels in a path including a run extending across the forwardly facing opening so as to be disposed in back of the lid in its closed position.

Abstract: A recording medium cassette being easily miniaturized if necessary, and a recording and/or reproducing apparatus, such as a VTR, adapted to use the same recording medium cassette. The recording medium cassette includes a printed wiring board having a plurality of information indicating contacts and which is fixed to the bottom wall of a case of the recording medium cassette so that the information indicating contacts are accessible from outside through slots formed in the bottom wall. The recording and/or reproducing apparatus is provided with a plurality of information detecting contacts respectively corresponding to the information indicating contacts of the recording medium cassette. The information detecting contacts may respectively contact the information indicating contacts upon insertion of the recording medium cassette into the recording and/or reproducing apparatus so as to enable information to be transferred therebetween.

Abstract: A magnetic recording apparatus comprises a time base compressing portion for causing a video signal to be subjected to time base compression, a recording signal producing portion for forming a recording video signal based on the video signal with compressed time base, a tape guide cylinder, a rotary magnetic head device disposed in the tape guide cylinder, and a recording signal supplying portion for supplying the rotary magnetic head device with the recording video signal, wherein assuming that .alpha. represents the diameter of a standard tape guide cylinder employed in a standard apparatus, .beta. represents a tape wrapping angle on the standard tape guide cylinder, .gamma. represents the revolving speed of a standard rotary magnetic head device disposed in the standard tape guide cylinder, and .delta. represents the number of magnetic gap portions of the standard rotary magnetic head device, the diameter of the tape guide cylinder is selected to be X.multidot..alpha.

Abstract: A tape cassette comprises a case body having a mouth formed in the front portion thereof, a front lid pivotally supported thereon so as to cover the open front side of the case body, and a back lid pivotally joined to the front lid so as to cover a space extending behind the substantially lower half of an exposed portion of a magnetic tape in the mouth. The front lid includes a front wall covering the front opening of the mouth, side walls extending backward from the opposite side edges of the front wall, an upper wall covering the upper opening of the mouth, and a back wall extending downward from the upper wall. The side wall is provided with two guide grooves with two round projections projecting from the inner surface of the side wall being respectively received therein. Each of the two guide grooves has the shape of an arc of a circle having its center at the center of an imaginary circle at one end of the other guide groove.

Abstract: A tape supplying and taking up apparatus is capable of use with either large or small size tape cassettes containing reels which can be of different diameters and rotated with a high degree of accuracy by reel spindles of simple structure. Each tape cassette for use with the apparatus has a shutter of the slide type for closing access holes in the bottom wall of the cassette casing.Each of the reel spindles has a large size cassette receiving portion for receiving a tape reel of a large size tape cassette coaxial with a small size cassette receiving portion for receiving a tape reel of a small size tape cassette. The small size cassette receiving portion is smaller in diameter and disposed at a higher position than the large size cassette receiving portion. The diameter of a lower end of a reel spindle engaging hole provided in each reel hub of the small tape cassette is smaller than the outer diameter of the small size cassette receiving portion of the reel spindle.

Abstract: Described is a magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus wherein a magnetic tape is placed on and adapted to travel along the outer periphery of a tape guide drum which is provided with rotary magnetic heads for recording image signals or the like information signals on the magnetic tape or reproducing such signals already recorded on the magnetic tape. A loading ring for winding the magnetic tape about the guide drum and a loading lever unit for shifting tape guide means for pulling and placing the tape along a predetermined tape route are driven by common rotational driving means so that the overall size of the apparatus may be reduced. In addition, the operation of the loading ring and that of the loading lever unit are adapted to occur in two separate stages of operation in such a manner that the magnetic tape is unloaded first of all from the tape guide drum and then unloaded from the remaining tape guide means for preventing an injury to the magnetic tape during tape unloading.