Abstract: A tape cassette having a clutch mounted therein to permit rotation of the base reel and take-up reel in a first direction below a predetermined speed and prohibit rotation of the reels in the first direction above the predetermined speed. The tape comprises a cassette housing, a base reel, a take-up reel and a clutch mounted in the housing. In one embodiment, a spline member is slidably mounted within a sleeve of the take-up reel. The spline member has inwardly extending splines to engage the reel table and outwardly extending guide projections to engage slots formed in the sleeve. The spline member engages the reel table during an operation of the cassette below a predetermined speed. However, upon operation of the tape at a speed faster than the predetermined speed, the spline member moves axially within the sleeve away from the reel table to disengage the take-up reel from the reel table. In a second embodiment, a pawl is pivotally mounted in the housing.

Abstract: Dust free tape cassette comprises a cassette case and a front lid for holding protectively therein a magnetic tape being wound on reels which are supported by a pair of shafts stationary provided in the cassette case. A loading pocket being open at a bottom of the cassette case for accepting tape drawing members and reel driving members of tape recording/playback apparatus, is provided behind the front lid. The loading pocket has a rear wall which partitions the reels off the loading pocket, wherein reel flanges which may have gear portions partly protrude into the loading pocket through windows provided on the rear wall so that the magnetic tape housed in the cassette case is well protected from dust invasion and abuse thereof when not loaded into the apparatus, and when loaded the reel driving members enter into the loading pocket and engage with the flanges at their protruded portions to drive thereof. A slidable dust shield is provided for closing and exposing the loading pocket.

Abstract: A constant force spring system having a coil spring with first and second arms, a ramp for the second arm to contact and a pin mounted on a base. The coil spring is mounted on the pin and the ramp is positioned such that the second arm of the spring contacts the sloped surface of the ramp. When a force is applied to the first arm of the spring it tends to move the second arm up the sloped ramp. This interaction of the second arm and sloped surface produces a reaction force. The slope angle and ramp configuration is configured such that there are equal and opposite forces produced by the spring system.

Abstract: A tape cartridge having a housing structure. The housing structure includes a base plate and a cover having an open-ended box shape and secured to the base plate. The cover includes a top wall, a front wall and a side wall which extend substantially perpendicular to each other to define a corner portion of the cover. A notch is formed at the corner portion of the cover to be thereby prevented from failing to be detected.

Abstract: A data cartridge of the type in which magnetic recording tape is reversibly driven from one spool to another by an endless elastic drive belt contacting the periphery of the tape spools, a drive roller, and two located rollers at opposite corners of the cartridge. Tape tension and drive force are controlled by predetermined drag resulting from magnetic brakes built into the corner rollers.

Abstract: A tape cartridge including an improved housing is disclosed. The housing has a base plate on which tape packs are rotatably mounted and a cover secured to the base plate and having an opening. A transparent panel is fitted to the opening of the cover and allows a light to pass from an outside to an inside of the housing. The transparent panel has on peripheral portions thereof projections engageable with grooves which are formed on peripheral portions of the cover adjacent the opening.

Abstract: A data tape cartridge is formed on a baseplate of polymeric material which supports mounting pins and tape guides thereon for supporting tape components in rigid and dimensionally-stable manner using integrally formed bosses to support the mounting pins and guides. Additional stability against flexure is achieved using a matrix pattern of integrally-formed webs or ribs and sidewalls in the baseplate and by attaching a top plate substantially about the entire perimeter of the sidewalls. Lateral forces exerted against rotatable components on the mounting pins are transferred to the baseplate and top plate by the mounting pins that are supported in both plates. A midguide support is integrally formed in the baseplate to support a guide pin at critical location adjacent the location along the tape path in the cartridge at which a tape transducer interacts with tape.

Abstract: A tape alignment device for a tape cartridge having a tape head opening in its front wall is a one-piece guide member having spaced guide surfaces for guiding tape in a predetermined path between the guide surfaces. The guide surfaces are connected together in a fixed orientation relative to one another by a rigid connecting piece. A securing mechanism such as one or more mounting posts is provided on the guide member for mounting the guide member in a tape cartridge with the guide surfaces positioned one on each side of the tape head opening and in a fixed orientation relative to the base of the cartridge.