Abstract: Disclosed is a loading gear supporting apparatus of a video cassette recorder which can assemble a loading gear supporting member which supports a pole base loading gear, a first loading gear, and a second loading gear to a deck more simply. To this end, a locking protrusion and a locking groove are respectively formed at the deck and the loading gear supporting member to elastically engage the locking protrusion to the locking groove.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improvement in a tape guide device having an inclined post and a guide roll rising upright on its base for guiding and directing a length of recording tape to the rotary drum on the deck of a video recorder. The base is made of a synthetic resin material, and has an axle hole made therein for press-fitting the axle of the guide roll. The upper end of the axle hole is tapped, and the axle hole has at least one rib projecting inward from its inner circumference. The axle is threadedly engaged with the upper end of the axle hole, and is press-fitted in the axle hole with the rib or ribs pressed and slightly deformed. Thus, the axle can be positively held in the axle hole of the base, preventing the guide roll to shake in the axle hole, still permitting adjustment of the height of the guide roll. Thanks to such ribs the tight insertion of the axle in the axle hole is assured without the necessity of machining or molding with high precision.

Abstract: A tape loading apparatus having a first swinging arm. When a loading pin of the first swinging arm is elastically pressed against a positioning stopper at a loading position by an elastic force of a spring member, a joint portion of the first swinging arm maintains bent attitude having an angle smaller than 180° and no-tooth portion of a loading gear is in contact with a no-tooth portion of a mode gear. Even in case where a reactive force of the spring member causes the loading gear to generate a rotation force, the rotation force is received by a shaft member supporting the mode gear.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved video recorder housing having a main-and-auxiliary pivoting gate assembly to open and close its front cassette slot. The housing has a chamfered cassette guide extending inward from the lower edge of the cassette slot. The housing has a horizontal pin positioned inside and above the cassette slot. The main gate is attached to rotate about the horizontal pin and is spring-biased toward its closing position. The main gate has a sub-horizontal pin and an inverted “L”-shaped lever both operatively connected to control the degree of opening of the auxiliary gate. The auxiliary gate is spring-biased toward its closing position, and can be rotated about the sub-horizontal pin while the inverted “L”-shaped lever rolls on the ceiling of the housing. With this arrangement, the main gate is kept half open with its lower edge caught by the upper surface of a videocassette loaded inside the video recorder.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improvement in a tape guide device having an inclined post and a guide roll rising upright on its base for guiding and directing a length of recording tape to the rotary drum on the deck of a video recorder. The base is made of a synthetic resin material, and has an axle hole made therein for press-fitting the axle of the guide roll. The upper end of the axle hole is tapped, and the axle hole has at least one rib projecting inward from its inner circumference. The axle is threadedly engaged with the upper end of the axle hole, and is press-fitted in the axle hole with the rib or ribs pressed and slightly deformed. Thus, the axle can be positively held in the axle hole of the base, preventing the guide roll to shake in the axle hole, still permitting adjustment of the height of the guide roll. Thanks to such ribs the tight insertion of the axle in the axle hole is assured without the necessity of machining or molding with high precision.

Abstract: A pole base assembly for a magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus for guiding a tape drawn from a reel through a predetermined path in parallel or substantially in parallel toward a lead surface of a head drum. The pole base assembly comprises a pole base disposed to approach and retreat from a side of the head drum when the tape is loaded and unloaded, respectively, a sloping pole disposed to be sloped on the pole base, to be parallel or substantially parallel to the lead surface of the head drum, for guiding the tape fed to the head drum at a predetermined angle, to be parallel to the lead surface, and a supporting holder disposed on the pole base, and having a sloping part to support the sloping pole to be inclined at a predetermined angle.

Abstract: A tape loading device for loading a tape from a first state, in which the tape is mounted on a chassis, to a second state, in which a tape running path is formed as a result of a tape guide post pulling out and winding the tape at a prescribed position is provided. The tape loading device includes a transportation member having the tape guide post thereon; a forward wall integrated with the transportation member and disposed rearward to the tape guide post and inclined so that normal thereto is directed forward and obliquely upward; and a pressure-contact member, which is in pressure-contact with the forward wall in the second state, for urging the transportation member forward and obliquely upward.

Abstract: A tape guide device for a magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus includes a pole base assembly to guide a tape supplied from a supply reel and passed through a predetermined path to be moved horizontally to a read surface of a head drum. The pole base assembly includes a pole base installed adjacently to or separately from one side of the head drum during a loading/unloading operation of the tape. The pole base assembly also includes a pole unit including a spiral flange inclined to the pole base to be in a horizontal direction to the read surface of the head drum, to guide the tape entering the head drum to be inclined at a predetermined angle and positioned in the horizontal direction to the read surface.

Abstract: A tape drive uses a single-reel type tape cassette, and includes a pull-back guide shaft for pulling back a tape-shaped recording medium at a predetermined position and a pair of moveable guide pins, whereby the tape-shaped recording medium is positioned between the paired guide pins is wound around the drum. A tension device applies a predetermined tension when the tape-shaped recording medium has been drawn out and a tape path has been formed. A non-winding fast feed mode is set in which the tape-shaped recording medium is fed at high speed under a predetermined tension wherein the tape-shaped recording medium is not wound around the drum. The tension device has a tension regulator lever having two guide shafts for both winding feed mode and non-winding feed mode.

Abstract: A magnetic recording and reproduction apparatus includes a tape guide element guiding member for guiding a tape guide element; a bendable chain-like driving member having a first end and a second end, the chain-like driving member being connected to the tape guide element guiding member at the first end, and the second end of the chain-like driving member being pulled or pushed so as to produce a reciprocating movement of the tape guide element guiding member; and a chain guiding member for guiding the chain-like driving member. The chain-like driving member includes a plurality of flexures for facilitating a bending movement of the chain-like driving member. The chain-like driving member causes a reciprocating movement of the tape guide element while being bent during a loading operation and an unloading operation.

Abstract: A pole base assembly driving device for a tape recorder is disclosed. Manufacturing of decks becomes simpler and at lower cost. The pole base assembly driving device has a loading gear rotatably disposed on the deck, and rotated by a driving force which is transmitted from a driving source installed on the deck. The pole base assembly further comprises an elastic rod connected by one end to the loading gear, and connected by the other end to a link member which is connected with the pole base assembly. The elastic rod is preferably made of a material which is elastically bendable by an external force, and preferably comprises a deformation restricting means for restricting a deformation of the elastic rod when the elastic rod is deformed by the rotation of the loading gear, such as protrusions on the concave side of the rod when deformed and a reinforcement member. As a result, the number of parts and manufacturing cost is reduced, and deterioration of durability due to breakage of parts can be avoided.

Abstract: A driving apparatus for loading/unloading a pair of pole-base assemblies that are reciprocated along a guide rail formed on a main deck to move a magnetic tape to contact to a head drum. The driving apparatus includes a first and a second link member, each connected with one end to each pole-base assembly, a first and a second loading gears, each connected to the other end of the first and the second link member, and being rotated in association with each other; and a main gear which is rotated by the power received from a driving motor mounted on the main deck and selectively engaged with the first loading gear upon rotation thereof. The main gear is rotated in association with one of the loading gears within a desired rotational range upon rotation thereof, so as to transfer power for loading/unloading the pole-base assembly.

Abstract: A magnetic recording/reproducing device of the present invention in which a tape drawn from a cassette wraps around a rotary head cylinder at a prescribed angle for recording information on or reproducing information from the tape includes: a substrate on which the rotary head cylinder is provided; a tape guide post for drawing the tape from the cassette and causing the tape to wrap around the rotary head cylinder; a tape guide post drive section for driving the tape guide post; and a post stopper for placing the tape guide post at a prescribed position, the substrate including a reinforcing wall in the vicinity of the rotary head cylinder, the reinforcing wall being in a vertical plane with respect to a horizontal plane of the substrate, and the post stopper being provided on the vertical reinforcing wall.

Abstract: A tape loading apparatus comprises a base, a roller post about which a tape is wrapped for tape loading, and a carrying member for carrying the roller post. The roller post includes a rotation shaft and a roller rotating about the rotation shaft, and a shaft engagement member is provided on the base for holding the roller post at a predetermined position, the shaft engagement member directly contacting and pressing one or both ends of the rotation shaft.

Abstract: In a tape loading device, a loading drive gear rotates about a shaft. The loading drive gear includes a U-shaped groove in which the shaft is disposed and a spring accommodating portion disposed continuously to the U-shaped groove. The first and second arms are rotated by the rotation of the loading drive gear, whereby sliders are moved along guide openings so as to wind a tape around a drum. When the tape has been loaded, the sliders are stopped by catchers. When the loading drive gear is further rotated, the shaft thereof is moved to the spring accommodating portion, and an energizing force is generated to a spring and exerted on the first and second arms in a direction where the sliders are pressed against the catchers. With this operation, the positions of the sliders are fixed so that the tape can stably travel. Since the spring is contained in the loading drive gear, the number of parts can be reduced as well as the tape loading device can be arranged simply and assembled easily.

Abstract: A tape recording and reproduction apparatus includes a post base with a tape guide post, a leaf spring member pressing the post base against a post base catcher, and a leaf spring member control part. The leaf spring member control part presses the leaf spring member so that a gap is formed between the post base catcher and the leaf spring member, and removes the press on the leaf spring member so that the leaf spring member presses the post base against the post base catcher. The leaf spring member control part presses the leaf spring member so as to form the gap when the post base moves to the side of the post base catcher opposing the leaf spring member. The leaf spring member control part removes the press on the leaf spring member when the post base enters the gap.

Abstract: A pinch roller unit of a magnetic recording/reading apparatus disposed on a main deck on which a head drum and a capstan are disposed to move in association with a sub-deck which is disposed to slide on the main deck. The pinch roller unit operates to bring a tape into close contact with the capstan, and comprises a pivoting lever rotatably disposed on the main deck to pivot towards the capstan in relation to movement of the sub-deck being loaded, a pinch roller rotatably disposed at an end of the pivoting lever and brought into contact with the capstan at the time of loading process, and a torsion spring stressed by being pushed by the sliding member sliding along the left and right directions of the main deck for pushing the pivoting lever towards the capstan.

Abstract: A tape reel assembly including a hub, opposing upper and lower flanges, a plurality of reel teeth, and three engagement features. The opposing upper and lower flanges extend in a radial fashion from opposing sides of the hub. The reel teeth extend axially outwardly relative to the hub. The three engagement features are equidistantly spaced within the reel teeth and are configured to provide a dominant mating surface relative to surfaces of the plurality of reel teeth. With this configuration, the three engagement features mate with teeth of the tape drive clutch, and prevent meshed engagement with the remaining reel teeth. Thus, the three engagement features dictate the plane of contact between the tape reel assembly and the drive clutch, with the reel teeth serving as general guide surfaces that facilitate this interaction. The engagement features can be pronounced drive teeth or reduced-sized valleys.

Abstract: A magnetic tape recording/reproducing apparatus for recording information to and reproducing information from a magnetic tape extracted from a cassette loaded in the apparatus, the magnetic tape recording/reproducing apparatus having a tape guide post mechanism having a tape guide post provided on a rotatably supported tape guide post arm which rotates until pressing against a stopper, the tape guide post extracting a magnetic tape from the cassette loaded in the apparatus; and a contacting part provided on a portion of the arm, the contacting part contacting a bottom surface of the loaded cassette when the arm is rotated so as to extract the magnetic tape from the cassette and the arm restricting a tilting of the arm in a direction in which the tape guide post tilts in a state in which the arm presses against the stopper.

Abstract: An intermittent gear member, which intermittently rotates alternately in first and second opposite rotational directions within an angular range of 360° or less, includes a disk part, a gear part formed over a predetermined angular range on the circumferential surface of the disk part, and a rotation stopper cam part formed on the toothless part of the circumferential surface of the disk part so as to protrude therefrom, the toothless part corresponding to the range other than the range over which the gear part is formed. The gear part and the rotation stopper cam part are provided in the same plane.

Abstract: A magnetic recording and reproduction apparatus includes a tape loading mechanism including a driving ring gear member, first and second ring gear members for shifting first and second tape guide posts, respectively, and first, second, and third gear members engaging the driving ring gear member and the first and second ring gear members, respectively. Each of the first through third gear members includes a gear part and a cam part in the same plane. The cam part of the first gear member has an arcuate shape. The cam part of the second gear member engages the cam part of the third gear member so as to transmit rotation during the operation of the tape loading mechanism, and is pressed against the circumferential surface of the arcuate cam part of the first gear member in a state where the operation of the tape loading mechanism is completed.

Abstract: A recording and reproducing apparatus includes a guide post for pulling out a tape-shaped recording medium from a cassette and wrapping the tape-shaped recording medium around a rotary drum, a guide base which supports the guide post, the guide base being movable between a first position in which the cassette can be loaded and a second position in which a recording or reproducing action can be performed with the tape-shaped recording medium wrapped around the rotary drum at a predetermined angle, and an elastic member for, after the guide base moves from the first position to the second position, urging the guide base toward the second position to position the guide base at the second position. The elastic member is disposed on an upper surface of the guide base.

Abstract: A recording and reproducing apparatus includes a guide post for pulling out a tape-shaped recording medium from a cassette and wrapping the tape-shaped recording medium around a rotary drum, a guide base which supports the guide post, the guide base being movable between a first position in which the cassette can be loaded and a second position in which a recording or reproducing action can be performed with the tape-shaped recording medium wrapped around the rotary drum at a predetermined angle, and an elastic member for, after the guide base moves from the first position to the second position, urging the guide base toward the second position to position the guide base at the second position. The elastic member is disposed on an upper surface of the guide base.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improvement in a tape pulling-out member which can move in a guide slot made in the deck of a magnetic recording-and-reproducing apparatus, thereby pulling a length of recording tape out of the winding or unwinding reel of a tape cassette. The tape pulling-out member comprises a base, an inclined post and a guide roll both rising upright on the base for guiding and directing the length of recording tape fed from the winding or unwinding reel to the rotary drum on the deck of the magnetic recording-and-reproducing apparatus, and a nose formed on the forward end of the base. The nose is so convergent or iron-like in shape that it may be put in linear contact with the opposite sides of the V-shaped end of the guide slot. Thus, the contact area is substantially increased, and accordingly the pressure per unit area of the nose is decreased.

Abstract: An improved magnetic tape guiding device for use with a magnetic tape transport system of a tape recorder and the like, and a method for using the same. The magnetic tape guiding system of the tape recorder transport system has a supply reel pole base assembly having a slant pole with a first guide unit having portions formed at both ends of the slant pole to function as a conventional roller for regulating upward and downward movement of the upper and lower edges of a moving magnetic tape, and a tension pole assembly having a tension pole with a second guide unit having portions formed at both ends of the tension pole to function as a conventional impedance roller for regulating upward and downward movement of the upper and lower edges of the moving magnetic tape. This arrangement can thus achieve 2-dimensional plane-traveling of the magnetic tape while also reducing the number of the parts of the guiding system.

Abstract: A helical scan tape drive (20) has a cartridge compartment (24) for accommodating a single reel cartridge (26) of magnetic tape (56), and a take-up reel (50) which, with respect to a threading path (42), is not coplanar with the cartridge compartment. A threading system (40) grasps an end of the magnetic tape in the cartridge and transports the magnetic tape through the threading path. The threading path is configured such that the magnetic tape is at least partially wrapped around a rotatable scanner (30) before the end of the magnetic tape is attached to the take-up reel. The rotatable scanner has one or more elements (180, 182) for transducing information relative to the magnetic tape. The take-up reel is situated at a location either above or below the cartridge compartment for reducing footprint of the drive. In one embodiment, the take-up reel and the compartment are in an at least partially overlapping relationship.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improvement in a record player for turning the information stored on a cassette tape or a compact disc back into the original forms including a recording medium loading mechanism and an associated loading motor. It comprises means responsive to insertion of the recording medium for rotating the loading motor, thereby allowing it to generate the counter electromotive force, and a detection-switching device responsive to generation of the counter electromotive force for changing its conductive condition. Then, the loading motor is allowed to start and pull in the cassette or compact disk until it has been put in the loading position.

Abstract: A tape loading apparatus having a first swinging arm. When a loading pin of the first swinging arm is elastically pressed against a positioning stopper at a loading position by an elastic force of a spring member, a joint portion of the first swinging arm maintains bent attitude having an angle smaller than 180° and no-tooth portion of a loading gear is in contact with a no-tooth portion of a mode gear. Even in case where a reactive force of the spring member causes the loading gear to generate a rotation force, the rotation force is received by a shaft member supporting the mode gear.

Abstract: A helical scan transport apparatus for reading and writing data on to a magnetic recording tape which is wound on a supply reel rotatably mounted within a removable tape cartridge includes a chassis having a front end portion and rear end portion. An elevator assembly is mounted on the chassis at the front end. The elevator assembly is configured to receive the tape cartridge and to position the tape cartridge in a loaded position. A take-up reel assembly is coupled to the chassis at the rear end position. A helical deck is mounted on a central portion of the chassis between the elevator assembly and the take-up reel assembly. The helical deck includes a rotary read/write head, a substantially linear tape loading path between the elevator assembly and the take-up reel assembly, and a movable guide for the seizing the tape from the tape loading path and for at least partially wrapping the tape around the rotary head.

Abstract: A magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus includes guide posts arranged to pull out a tape-shaped recording medium from a cassette and wrap the tape-shaped recording medium around a drum, guide members arranged to support the guide posts, arms arranged to move the guide members, and arm driving parts arranged to cause the arms to swing, wherein the arms and the arm driving parts are disposed respectively on different sides of a chassis.

Abstract: A capstan motor for a magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus comprises a stator including a coil; a rotor having a magnet to correspond the coil and rotated; and a capstan shaft rotated integrally with the rotor and installed so that one side of the capstan shaft is cohered with a pinch roller taking a tape therebetween to drive the tape with the pinch roller, wherein the magnet of a predetermined shape is provided to apply magnetic force of the magnet eccentrically for an electromagnetic force generated on the coil so that a predetermined thrust can be applied to the capstan shaft toward one direction between upper and lower directions of the shaft direction, therefore, a constant thrust in length direction of the capstan shaft is generated to minimize vibration of the tape, and thereby reliability for reproducing and recording of the magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus can be improved.

Abstract: A height adjusting mechanism for a tape guide pin has a tape guide arm, a plate spring member, and a height adjusting screw. The tape guide arm is supported by a VCR chassis in a swingable and vertically movable manner, and the tape guide pin is attached to one end of the arm. In the plate spring member, one end is fixed to the VCR chassis, the other end is a free end, and the upper face of the free end butts against the lower face of the tape guide arm. The height adjusting screw is screwed with the free end of the plate spring member, and the tip end of the screw is pressingly contacted with the VCR chassis by the elastic force of the plate spring member, and a head portion of the screw vertically overlaps with the other end of the tape guide arm.

Abstract: A recording and/or reproducing apparatus (1) can hold a magnetic-tape cassette (2), which accommodates a supply reel (3) including a first magnetic circuit element (42) and has a disc-shaped drive member (47) including a second magnetic circuit element (49), the two magnetic circuit elements (42, 49) forming magnetically acting holding means (43) for holding the supply reel (3) in the apparatus (1) and the disc-shaped drive member (47) having magnetic-force-of-attraction limiting means (51) which serve to and are adapted to cooperate with the first magnetic circuit element (42) and which enable the magnetic force of attraction produced between the two magnetic circuit elements (42, 49) to be limited.

Abstract: A magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus includes guide posts arranged to pull out a tape-shaped recording medium from a cassette and wrap the tape-shaped recording medium around a drum, guide members arranged to support the guide posts, arms arranged to move the guide members, and arm driving parts arranged to cause the arms to swing, wherein the arms and the arm driving parts are disposed respectively on different sides of a chassis.

Abstract: A tape loading apparatus comprises a base, a tape guide post for guiding running of a tape, a carrier for carrying the tape guide post and conveying the tape for tape loading, a post engagement member provided on the base for fixing the position in the plane of an end portion of the tape guide post by being engaged with the end portion of the tape guide post, and an inclination adjusting portion for continuously and variably shifting the post engagement member in the plane to adjust the inclination of the tape guide post.

Abstract: A tape loading apparatus comprises a base, a tape guide post about which a tape is wrapped for tape loading, and a post end contact member provided on the base for fixing the height of the tape guide post by contacting and pressing an end surface of the tape guide post.

Abstract: A magnetic recording/reproducing device of the present invention in which a tape drawn from a cassette wraps around a rotary head cylinder at a prescribed angle for recording information on or reproducing information from the tape includes: a substrate on which the rotary head cylinder is provided; a tape guide post for drawing the tape from the cassette and causing the tape to wrap around the rotary head cylinder; a tape guide post drive section for driving the tape guide post; and a post stopper for placing the tape guide post at a prescribed position, the substrate including a reinforcing wall in the vicinity of the rotary head cylinder, the reinforcing wall being in a vertical plane with respect to a horizontal plane of the substrate, and the post stopper being provided on the vertical reinforcing wall.

Abstract: A magnetic recording/reproducing device of the present invention records information on or reproduces information from a tape provided in a cassette by winding the tape around a rotary head cylinder at a prescribed angle after the tape is drawn out from the cassette including a supply reel and a take-up reel by tape guide members. The device is characterized in that: a first tape guide member is located downstream in the tape running direction with respect to the supply reel; the first tape guide member is followed by a second tape guide member, a third tape guide member and the rotary head cylinder; and only the first tape guide member, the second tape guide member and the third tape guide member are provided between the supply reel and the rotary head cylinder.

Abstract: A tape loading device for loading a tape from a first state, in which the tape is mounted on a chassis, to a second state, in which a tape running path is formed as a result of a tape guide post pulling out and winding the tape at a prescribed position is provided. The tape loading device includes a transportation member having the tape guide post thereon; a forward wall integrated with the transportation member and disposed rearward to the tape guide post and inclined so that normal thereto is directed forward and obliquely upward; and a pressure-contact member, which is in pressure-contact with the forward wall in the second state, for urging the transportation member forward and obliquely upward.

Abstract: A magnetic recording and reproduction apparatus includes a tape guide element guiding member for guiding a tape guide element; a bendable chain-like driving member having a first end and a second end, the chain-like driving member being connected to the tape guide element guiding member at the first end, and the second and of the chain-like driving member being pulled or pushed so as to produce a reciprocating movement of the tape guide element guiding member; and a chain guiding member for guiding the chain-like driving member. The chain-like driving member includes a plurality of flexures for facilitating a bending movement of the chain-like driving member. The chain-like driving member causes a reciprocating movement of the tape guide element while being bent during a loading operation and an unloading operation.

Abstract: A magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus includes guide posts arranged to pull out a tape-shaped recording medium from a cassette and wrap the tape-shaped recording medium around a drum, guide members arranged to support the guide posts, arms arranged to move the guide members, and arm driving parts arranged to cause the arms to swing, wherein the arms and the arm driving parts are disposed respectively on different sides of a chassis.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved video recorder housing having a main-and-auxiliary pivoting gate assembly to open and close its front cassette slot. The housing has a chamfered cassette guide extending inward from the lower edge of the cassette slot. The housing has a horizontal pin positioned inside and above the cassette slot. The main gate is attached to rotate about the horizontal pin and is spring-biased toward its closing position. The main gate has a sub-horizontal pin and an inverted “L”-shaped lever both operatively connected to control the degree of opening of the auxiliary gate. The auxiliary gate is spring-biased toward its closing position, and can be rotated about the sub-horizontal pin while the inverted “L”-shaped lever rolls on the ceiling of the housing. With this arrangement, the main gate is kept half open with its lower edge caught by the upper surface of a videocassette loaded inside the video recorder.

Abstract: A magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus, having a driving source; a main chassis on which the driving source is mounted; a sub chassis which is disposed to the main chassis so as to be slid in a front and rear direction, and which is provided with various tape running elements; a head drum device which is mounted on the main chassis; a loading system provided with a supply side pole base driving device and a winding side pole base driving device which loads a tape depending on the moving operation of the sub chassis in the front and rear direction; a running system which runs the tape in a desired direction at a desired speed; a main power transmitting unit which selectively transmits a power of the power source to the loading system or the running system; a cam gear which is rotated by the main power transmitting unit and transmits the power to each mode; a slider which is disposed between the main chassis and the sub chassis so as to be slid in a left and right direction and interlocked with the cam gear

Abstract: A tape drive features a smaller size and improved feeding stability. The tape drive uses a single-reel type tape cassette, and includes a pull-back guide shaft for pulling back a tape-shaped recording medium at a predetermined position in the vicinity of an outlet of a case of the cassette, and a pair of movable guide pins located such that they are spaced away from each other in the circumferential direction of the drum, wherein the tape-shaped recording medium is pulled back in sequence by the pull-back guide shaft and the pair of guide pins so that the tape-shaped recording medium positioned between the paired guide pins is wound around the drum. Furthermore, the tape drive is provided with a tension detecting device for applying a predetermined tension to the tape-shaped recording medium in a state wherein the tape-shaped recording medium has been drawn out and a tape path has been formed.

Abstract: The present compact tape drive for reading and writing data on single reel magnetic tape cartridges that functions to implement the tape drive in a minimum predefined volume. The compact tape drive comprises a tape threading mechanism that extracts the leader block from the magnetic tape cartridge and threads the leader block into a takeup reel that is located juxtaposed to the loaded magnetic tape cartridge. The read/write head is located adjacent to the takeup reel and the loaded magnetic tape cartridge. A separate magnetic tape wrap mechanism comprising a plurality of cooperatively operative tape wrap arms is also provided to position the magnetic tape around a set of tape guides and the read/write head. The magnetic tape wrap mechanism functions both to thread the magnetic tape around the takeup reel, spanning the space in front of the read/write head, and then to wrap the magnetic tape around the read/write head.

Abstract: A tape guide device for guiding tape includes a base in which a hole is formed, and a guide post having at one end thereof a smaller-diameter portion than another portion, at least part of the smaller-diameter portion being fitted in the hole of the base, and the guide post and the base being fused to each other in the smaller-diameter portion.

Abstract: A recording/reproducing apparatus is provided in which an increase in recording density is achieved and in which the tape loading mechanism is simplified. A recording/reproducing apparatus of the type which uses a tape cassette which has a tape reel in a cartridge and in which a tape including a tape-shaped recording medium is wound around the tape reel, includes a take-up reel adapted to take up the tape-shaped recording medium and having a height equal to that of the tape reel of the tape cassette attached to the recording/reproducing apparatus, and a rotary head for recording and/or reproducing information on and/or from the tape-shaped recording medium by a helical scan system.

Abstract: A recording and/or reproducing apparatus for recording and/or reproducing data by drawing a tape from a cassette and winding the tape onto a rotating drum including a head, includes a non-rotatable inclined post for changing the position of the tape in a direction crossing the running direction of the tape and along the axis of the inclined post, and a tapered part disposed in the vicinity of an end of the inclined post, for restricting the position of the tape in a direction crossing the running direction by being in contact with the tape when the tape is loaded.

Abstract: A magnetic tape recording/reproducing apparatus has a tape loading mechanism which performs a tape loading operation by moving a post from an original position to a loading position so as to extract a magnetic tape from a loaded cassette and a tape unloading operation to return the magnetic tape to within the cassette, the tape loading mechanism comprising a spring member, the spring member being disposed so as to deform during the tape unloading operation, the tape unloading operation terminating after the spring member deforms, the deformed spring member urging the post to return to the original position. The tape unloading operation terminates after the cam plate returns to an original position and the drive cam plate moves relative to the cam plate while the spring member deforms. Hence, the post is urged by the spring and securely returns to its original position.

Abstract: A tape loading apparatus suitable for reducing the size of a magnetic recording/reproducing device. The apparatus moves a movable carriage having a tape guide pin imbedded therein along a guide channel using a toggle mechanism comprising a first arm and a second arm; causing the movable carriage to come in contact with a turntable disposed rotatably about an axle proximate to an end of the guide channel the movable carriage turns in a direction so that the tape guide pin gets close to a head cylinder by turning the turntable with a force for moving the movable carriage, and places a magnetic tape at a predetermined angle equal to or greater than 180° around the head cylinder.