Abstract: A plurality of tape guides are moved to wind a magnetic tape on a rotatable cylinder when the magnetic tape is to be loaded. An auxiliary guide mounted on a chassis of a magnetic recording and/or reproducing apparatus in position is made to touch the magnetic tape during a period for which the magnetic tape is being loaded, but it does not touch the magnetic tape when the magnetic tape has been loaded. The auxiliary guide can be protruded toward the magnetic tape from between the tape guides moving to touch the magnetic tape during the period for which the magnetic tape is being loaded so that the magnetic tape can be kept to a predetermined span.

Abstract: A door opening system of the present invention automatically opens or closes the front door of a household electric apparatus, more particularly, a VCR. Up to now, a conventional VCR has a disadvantage that the door opening operation is always performed manually by user. The door opening system comprises sensing means which checks the open state of a door switch or a power switch; pulse generating means which generates a switching pulse; and door opening means which opens the power portion and the front door.

Abstract: A tape loading device for a magnetic tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus, characterized in a mechanism having slidable plates and linkages for urging movable guide posts, movable blocks, guide rollers, a pinch roller, a tension post, and reel brakes in order to extract a length of magnetic tape from a magnetic tape cassette and moving the length of magnetic tape to various positions corresponding to various operation modes of the tape loading device.

Abstract: A tape cassette loading system for wrapping a magnetic tape about a magnetic rotary head drum of a recording and/or reproducing apparatus is provided. The loading system includes two tape guiding elements for withdrawing the tape from a tape cassette towards the rotary head drum and their tape guiding track members provided around the drum in order to define tape loading paths. One of the tape loading path slopes downwardly from a loading stand-by state position. The other tape loading path slopes upwardly from the loading stand-by state position. The movement of the two guiding elements traveling in their loading paths allows the tape to be wrapped helically about the drum. The height drum may therefore be reduced and the recording and/or reproducing apparatus can be made smaller.

Abstract: A tape drive mechanism for magnetic tape apparatus for tapes housed in cassettes has a pressure roller (29) at one end of a press-on lever (35) which is pivotally held on a drive shaft bearing (31) of a drive shaft (30) so that it can be inclined in a vertical plane. Another end of the press-on lever (35) has the guide cavity (37) in which a grade element (38) is held. The guide element is affixed at the end of a bascule lever (40) which is pivoted also on the supporting bearing (31) of the drive shaft (30). The bascule lever (40) is controlled by the progress of a tape threading operation of a tape loading device, the control being in the axial direction of the drive shaft (30).

Abstract: A recording or reproducing apparatus which performs loading and unloading operations of a tape relative to a magnetic head unit and moves tape guide members by rotatably driving two loading rings on which the corresponding tape guide members are mounted. Driving force transmission members are provided for transmitting the rotation of one of the rings to the other ring, and elastic members are provided for driving the transmission members in a predetermined direction. The tape guide member mounted on the one ring is pressed against a locating member by the force of the elastic member during loading of the tape.

Abstract: A magnetic tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus which comprises a tape cassette mounting portion and a rotary head portion which are relatively movable toward to and separating from each other, the rotary head portion being provided with a recording/reproducing head which is adapted to project in the radial direction due to the centrifugal force of the rotation of the head, and the rotary head portion can approach relatively toward the tape cassette mounting portion on which the tape cassette is mounted, and the recording/reproducing head being projected by the centrifugal force contacts with the magnetic tape running within the tape cassette.

Abstract: A video tape recorder having a fast screen detecting device which includes a pinch lever which is driven by a master cam, and a control device comprising a brake lever for driving main brakes. The brake lever has a cam part in contact with the bent part of the pinch lever so that the brake lever is also driven by the master cam. Further, a guide post, driven by the master cam, partially loads video tape to enable control signal detection by a control head; the video tape in the partially loaded condition is not in contact with the head drum so that excessive tape wear is avoided.

Abstract: A magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus according to the present invention is constituted by a chassis on which a rotary head cylinder and a reel frame are provided; a cassette carrier for holding a tape cassette; and cassette carrier moving means for relatively moving/guiding the rotary head cylinder into the tape cassette in a state where the tape cassette is not engaged to the reel frame. The tape cassette and the reel frame are engaged to each other after the rotary head cylinder has been relatively moved/guided into the tape cassette. As a result, the depth of the apparatus can be reduced and as well as the thickness can also be reduced.

Abstract: A tape cassette, which is one of a plurality stored in a cassette magazine and which is adapted when in use to be taken out of the cassette magazine by a cassette changer, has a rack gear portion formed on a lid attached to the front of a cassette housing. The rack gear portion is engaged by a driven pinion gear in a cassette pull-out device of the cassette changer.

Abstract: A tape conveying device of a VCR comprising a supply slant base, a first take-up slant base and a second take-up slant base which are adapted to travel along a supply guide groove, a first take-up guide groove and a second take-up guide groove, respectively. The supply guide groove and the second take-up guide groove are formed in the horizontal chassis surface. The first take-up guide groove has an unloading portion formed in the horizontal chassis surface and a curvedly extending loading portion formed in a downwardly inclined chassis surface extending from the horizontal chassis surface rearwardly of the drum. Respective end portions of the first and second take-up guide grooves corresponding to loading positions of the first and second take-up slant bases extend laterally so that the first and second take-up slant bases extend laterally at their loading positions, respectively. As a result, the space occupled by the take-up slant bases at the rear of drum can be minimized.

Abstract: A tape loading device of a magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus, includes: first and second tape guide posts for taking a tape, extending between a supply side reel and a winding side reel of a tape cassette, from the tape cassette and travelling the tape to a predetermined position located outside the tape cassette; first and second loading guides for respectively guiding travels of the first and second tape guide posts to take out the tape from the tape cassette to the predetermined position; a common guide for joining a part of the first loading guide and a part of second loading guide into the same path so as to guide the first and second loading guides in order; and a branch pointer arm for switching between the common guide and the first and second loading guides, the branch pointer arm being urged to open one loading guide of the loading guides and close the other loading guide thereof, and pressed by one tape guide post of the tape guide posts when the tape guide post, moving along the common guid

Abstract: A tape cassette comprises a housing and a pair of reels mounted for rotation in the housing. A recording tape is wound on the reels and extends therebetween for transport from one of the reels to the other. The housing is formed with an opening through which a transducer can gain access to the recording tape for recording or reproducing signals on or from the recording tape. Front and back lids are connected to the housing and movable between a closed position wherein the front and back lids block the opening and form a channel capable of enclosing the recording medium at a front portion of the housing and an open position wherein the front and back lids are displaced from the opening and from the recording medium. The back lid is formed to leave a pair of gaps near either end thereof capable of accommodating passage of the recording medium therethrough when the front and back lids are in the closed position.

Abstract: A slant post driving device for a video cassette includes a slide member provided integrally to a take-up reel side loading ring and to which slant bases for a guide roller and a slant post, guiding means having an Y-shaped guide slot for guiding both the slant bases, and a guide piece disposed at a branched position of the guide slot to separate the travel of the slant bases being guided by the guide slot, whereby both the slant bases for the guide roller and the slant post are simultaneously moved along the single guide slot comprising a guide slot portion for the guide roller and a branched guide slot portion for the slant post so that it is simple in construction, thereby providing compaction of the product and enhancing accuracy of operation.

Abstract: A magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus which has a loading ring used to draw out a magnetic tape from a cassette mounted at a predetermined position and wind the magnetic tape around a rotary head drum. In the magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus, the loading ring is disposed in a plane intersecting perpendicularly with the drum axis of the rotary head drum, and a plane in which the head of the rotary head drum is rotated is parallel to a plane in which the loading ring is moved.

Abstract: A cassette tape-loading apparatus applied to a magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus using a cassette tape comprises a device for determining the amount of rotation of supply and take-up reels, a device for detecting the rotational direction of the reels, and a device for detecting the amount of tape drawn out of the cassette. Before loading the cassette tape, the ratio of winding diameter between the supply and take-up reels is computed, and the result is used to set the torque of the reel-driving motors and start the loading operation. At the time of loading, on the other hand, the amount of rotation of the two reels is determined, and the winding diameters of the reels computed from the winding diameter ratio and the amount of drawn-out tape thereby to set a proper tension of the magnetic tape.

Abstract: A low-profile magnetic recording and/or reproducing apparatus is disclosed in which a drum is disposed substantially in front of a supply reel disc, a capstan and a pinch roller are disposed substantially in front of a take-up reel disc, a reel clutch mechanism extends from the capstan to a position located between the supply reel disc and the take-up reed disc, and a drive mechanism for driving a tape loading mechanism, a tape tension servo mechanism, a pinch roller displacement mechanism, etc. comprises a gear train disposed in a space extending arcuately along the drum and defined between the drum, supply reel disc, reel clutch mechanism and the capstan. Since the drive mechanism thus arranged does not overlap any of the components which are controlled in thickness by the width of a magnetic tape, a substantial reduction of the overall thickness of the apparatus is possible.

Abstract: A tape cassette including a cassette case; a pair of rotatable tape reels accommodated in the cassette case for winding a magnetic tape therearound; a mouth section formed between and front of the tape reels in the cassette case for receiving a head drum and the like of a recording/reproducing device; a mechanism for allowing pivotal movement of the tape reels to rear corner portions of the cassette, whereby when the tape cassette is loaded into the recording/reproducing device, the tape reels are pivotally moved from an initial position to a retracted position defined at the rear corner portions of the cassette case, thereby expanding the mouth section; and a pair of reel retainers pivotably supported in the cassette case for rotatably supporting the tape reels, respectively, each of the reel retainers having a bottom wall formed with a positioning hole adapted to engage a positioning member provided in the recording/reproducing device.

Abstract: A tape cassette include a housing and a pair of reels for rotation and translation in the housing so that the reels can assume either of first and second relative positions. A recording tape is wound on the reels and extends therebetween for transport from one of the reels to the other. The housing is formed with an opening through which a transducer can gain access to the recording tape for recording or reproducing signals on or from the recording tape. The reels in the first relative position conform to a first arrangement of a drive for driving the reels in rotation and afford a predetermined amount of space for accommodating a transducer within the housing for access to the recording tape and in the second relative position conform to a second arrangement of a drive for driving the reels in rotation and afford an additional amount of space for accommodating the transducer within the housing for access to the recording tape.

Abstract: A tape loading apparatus in which a rotation of a motor is transmitted to a loading ring using a planetary gear arrangement, a loading mechanism is operated as the loading ring is moved to a tape loading position and the loading ring is locked at the tape loading position by a locking mechanism. When the motor is reversely rotated, the lock mechanism releases the loading ring. When the loading ring is released, the gear change action of the planetary gear unit causes, in turn, the rotation of the motor to be transmitted to the loading ring. Thus, the loading ring can be rotated in the unloading direction.

Abstract: Disclosed is a tape loading device of a video tape recorder provided with an inclined video head cylinder and a capstan. The tape loading device includes a first guide member for feeding a tape on a horizontal path to the inclined video head cylinder, a second guide member for taking out the tape from the video head cylinder, and a third guide member for guiding the tape having passed the second guide member. The first, second and third guide members move along the video head cylinder and are in contact with the internal surface of the tape during the tape loading operation. The tape loading device further includes a fourth guide member for restoring the tape from an inclined path to a horizontal path during the tape loading operation by contacting the external surface of the tape, and an auxiliary inclined member for moving the tape inwardly during the tape loading operation so that the tape may be restored from an inclined path to a horizontal path.

Abstract: A tape loading apparatus for a video tape recorder is disclosed. The apparatus adopts a movable plate which rectilinearly moves along a couple of guiders by the swiveling of a lever, instead of a conventional loading gear. Therefore, the present invention effect a simple structure and does not requires high accuracy in assembly, thus provides a tape loading apparatus of low power loss and production cost and high productivity.

Abstract: First and second tape-pulling members comprise slanted posts and guide rollers adapted for engagement with the tape contained in a tape cassette. By the slanted posts and guide rollers, the first and second tape-pulling members pull the tape out of the tape cassette. Each of the guide rollers includes a tape-winding portion around which the tape is to be wound. First and second holding members are provided at positions where the tape loading by the first and second tape-pulling members is completed. Tape control portions, by which the tape disengaged from the guide rollers are controlled, are formed on the first and second holding members, respectively, such that they are located on the tape-outlet sides of the guide rollers of the first and second tape-pulling members, i.e., on the side closer to a cylinder. Each of the tape control portions is substantially at the same level as the corresponding tape-winding portions of the guide rollers.

Abstract: A rotary head type tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus comprises a rotary head drum having a rotary head for recording and/or reproducing information signals onto or from a magnetic tape helically wrapped around the rotary head drum with a predetermined wrap angle and an outer peripheral surface of the drum being free of leads for restricting the movement of the wrapped magnetic tape in the width direction; a pair of tape guides having flange portions which are located near both sides of the rotary head drum and restrict the movement of the magnetic tape in the width direction; and a head drum supporting and moving arrangement for fixing the rotary head drum and the pair of tape guides and moving so as to be in contact with or away from a cassette loading arrangement which loads and supports a tape cassette in which the magnetic tape is enclosed.

Abstract: A cassette ejecting mechanism of a tape player includes a cassette holder having a portion to be locked and a head drum withdrawal lever having a lock portion. When the cassette holder is moved to a loading position, the lock portion of the head drum withdrawal lever prevents the cassette holder from moving toward an ejecting position and locks it at a loading position. When the head drum withdrawal lever is retracted, the lock is released to permit the cassette holder to move to the ejecting position. At the same time, the portion to be locked of the cassette holder is located in front of the lock portion of the head drum withdrawal lever and prevents the head drum withdrawal lever from returning to a forward position, that is, the head drum is locked at the retracted position.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling reel brake operation in which the reel brake operation may be controlled by using power transmitted from a tape loading motor. The apparatus includes a control cam, brake arms operatively engaged with the control cam, a crank and a slide lever connected with one end of the crank. The control cam, which is rotated by the tape loading motor, is mounted on a deck to control the brake operation. The control cam is provided with a geat at an upper center thereof, a transmitting pin erected at one side, reentrants and a projection formed at predetermined positions of a circumferential surface, and a stepped part.

Abstract: The invention relates to a magnetic tape cassette apparatus with a drive mechanism which serves for playing magnetic tape cassettes, has a cassette loading mechanism to which there belongs a cassette tray (15) which accommodates the magnetic tape cassette and is guided by laterally projecting pins (16) in fixed vertical guideways (6) for the purpose of lowering into a playing position and raising into an eject position, the pins (16) reaching in addition through slots (14) of a slide (9) which slope relative to the vertical, the guideways (6) having have only a vertical longitudinal extension for lowering and raising the cassette tray (15) and the draw-in and eject movement of the magnetic tape cassette being taken over by a cassette catch (17) which is movable by an actuating lever (21) between an eject and a draw-in position, the actuating lever (21) pivotably coupled to the slide (9) simultaneously being moved via the displacement movement of the slide for the purpose of drawing in and ejecting the cassett

Abstract: A helical scan magnetic tape recorder includes a rotary magnetic head scanner and a received magnetic tape cassette including spaced coplanar supply and take-up reels having magnetic tape spooled on the reels with a span of magnetic tape extending between the reels. Supply and take-up vacuum cavities are located contiguous to and on respective opposite sides of the scanner. Supply and take-up capstans are spaced from the rotary head scanner located in a tape transport path between the vacuum cavities and the tape cassette. Magnetic tape is initially removed from the cassette and moved to a tape vacuum loading position where it partially contacts the rotary head scanner, by a mechanical threading device. Thereafter, vacuum is applied to the vacuum cavities to draw the tape into contact with the vacuum cavities to substantially wrap the tape around the rotary head scanner. The supply and take-up capstans are rotated during vacuum threading to assist drawing the tape into the vacuum cavities.

Abstract: A helical scan magnetic-tape apparatus (1) including at least three tape guides (2, 25, 27, 28, 29, 30, 32, 33), including a magnetic-head unit (2). The apparatus (1) co-operates with a magnetic tape (8) wound on reels (9, 10) in a cassette (44). The tape-transport path in the apparatus includes at least three path sections (35, 36, 37) in which the tape (8) is twisted through a specific angle to correct for differences in level and inclination arising as a result of the helical path of the magnetic tape (8) around the magnetic-head unit (2).

Abstract: A high speed searching device utilizing a turning A/C (audio control) head capable of carrying out the high speed searching function without giving overstrain to tape by turning and contacting A/C (audio control) head itself to tape during high speed running in a state that the tape being not drawn out from tape cassette. The invention is constituted such that the A/C (audio control) head of head lever turned in accordance with the right or left movement of connecting plate is made possible to be selectively contacted to the one side of tape of unloaded state. According to the invention, the structure of whole device is simplified and the trailing path of tape is minimized so that damage and reduction of searching of tape according to the high speed searching can be prevented at the same time damaging factor of head drum can be excluded.

Abstract: A mechanism for registering the tape contained within a cassette around a helical-scan head drum mechanism includes a sensor for sensing the presence of the tape cassette in a proper position for beginning the process of engagement of the tape in the cassette with the head assembly in the device. A symmetrical engagement mechanism includes two tape extraction roller blocks which sit at a first disengaged position. A tape extraction roller member for engaging the tape is mounted on each tape extraction roller block. When the presence of the cassette is sensed, the tape extraction roller blocks move along a predetermined path to a second, engaged position wherein the tape is correctly positioned around the head assembly. At a predetermined position along the path, a pair of symmetrically positioned entry-and-exit positioning rollers engage the tape and move it into position for passing it by the tape heads.

Abstract: To enable simple and accurate positional adjustment of the various tape loading and driving elements of a cassette tape recorder and/or reproducer, a single mode changing slider controls respective displacements of movable members of a reel base driving mechanism, a pinch-roller transferring mechanism, a brake operating mechanism, a back-tension exerting mechanism, a tape loading mechanism and so forth, which displacements are required whenever an optional mode of the apparatus is selected.

Abstract: A tape loading mechanism used in a recording and reproducing apparatus for extracting a tape from a cassette and for winding it on a tape guide drum on which a rotating head for recording information on or reproducing information from the tape is mounted. A guide base, on which a group of guides for extracting the tape from the cassette are mounted, is rotatably supported by a shaft on a drive member that drives the guide base. An attitude control member is installed along the path of travel of the guide base to engage with the sides of the guide base to control the rotating angle of the latter.

Abstract: A magnetic tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus comprises a rotary cylinder having a plurality of magnetic transducer heads on a cylindrical surface thereof and rotatable about an axis tilted to the vertical for producing obliquely scanned paths on a magnetic tape. A first tape loading mechanism includes a first post movable along a first guide groove extending from a first inital position in which it engages with a tape from a cassette to a first terminal position adjacent the rotary cylinder. A second tape loading mechnism includes a second post movable along a second guide groove extending from a second initial position in which it engages with the tape to a second terminal position adjacent the rotary cylinder. The first and second tape loading mechanisms are driven to that the first and second posts move from the initial positions to the terminal positions to cause the tape to be pulled out of the cassette and form an arc of a predetermined angle on the cylindrical wall of the rotary cylinder.

Abstract: A helical scan magnetic tape recorder includes tape threading and guiding apparatus for threading magnetic tape from a two reel cassette about a rotary magnetic head scanner and for tensioning the tape during tape transport. The threading and guiding apparatus includes supply and take-up compliance elements which are mounted for movement between (1) cassette loading positions behind a tape span in a magnetic tape cassette; (2) tape vacuum loading positions in which the elements draw tape out of the cassette and partially contact it with the rotary head scanner; and (3) operating positions in which the elements draw tape around the respective supply and take-up capstans and tension the tape during tape transport past the rotary head scanner.

Abstract: In a tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus having a head drum and a plurality of rotary elements including at least rotary heads associated with the head drum for recording and/or reproducing information signals on a magnetic tape wrapped around the head drum, a capstan for transporting the magnetic tape at a constant speed, and supply and take-up reel bases for engaging a pair of reels around which the magnetic tape is wound in a tape cassette and for driving the respective reels; a single motor is directly coupled to one of the rotary elements and drives the other rotary elements through a non-slip mechanical transmission for synchronously rotating at least the rotary heads, the capstan and the supply and take-up reel bases.

Abstract: A magnetic tape recording/reproducing apparatus of the type having a tension control mechanism for controlling the tape tension at a constant level, wherein a tension arm having at its distal end a tension pole is pivoted on a support member which is movable along a predetermined path between a plurality of mode positions. The pivot axis of the tension arm is, therefore, movable together with the support member so as to keep the tension arm out of interference with a magnetic tape and loading poles even when a path of travel of the magnetic tape is changed. With this movable pivot axis, a tape traveling system of the apparatus is compact in size and has an increased degree of freedom of the arrangement of various component parts.

Abstract: A recording or reproducing apparatus mounting a cassette housing a magnetic tape wound around a supply reel and a takeup reel, for performing an operation of moving the cassette in a predetermined direction, drawing the magnetic tape out of the cassette and loading the tape on a magnetic head unit, and for performing an operation of moving the cassette in a direction which is reverse to the above-described direction, taking up the tape around the takeup reel in the cassette and withdrawing the tape from the magnetic head unit. The apparatus includes structure for locking the supply reel in the cassette during the withdrawing operation and for releasing the lock during the loading operation. The locking/releasing structure is linked with the movement of the cassette during the loading and withdrawing operations of the magnetic tape.

Abstract: A magnetic tape device which includes a minimized number of motors and can be produced in a reduced size at a reduced cost. The magnetic tape device comprises a capstan motor having a motor shaft operatively connected to a capstan, a motor gear securely mounted on the motor shaft, a cam gear operatively connected to a drive motor to operate a tape loading mechanism, a moving gear for engaging with the motor gear to transmit rotation of the motor shaft of the capstan motor to a cassette loading mechanism, and a first pivotal lever supported for rotation around a fixed axis and having the moving gear mounted for rotation thereon.

Abstract: A tape loading device that draws a tape from a tape cassette and loads it into a tape traveling path by tape loading elements as it is moved from a return position to an advance position has a loading motion and an unloading motion that are mechanically triggered as a result of rotation of a mode motor and in which, in order to load or unload the tape, the tape loading elements undergo reciprocal motion in response to normal or reverse rotation of a capstan motor, whereby it is possible to load and unload the tape at high speed and to miniaturize the tape loading device.

Abstract: Movable members of a tape guide member for tape loading are disposed in plural numbers on both the upstream side and the downstream side of a tape running path with respect to a rotatable cylinder, or are disposed in plural number on at least either the upstream side or the downstream side. The plurality of movable members are disposed offset from each other in the radial direction of the rotatable cylinder. Tilt guides for converting the tape running direction are disposed between the associated movable members, and fixed to the stationary component side. A guide passage forming member along which the movable members are guided is also fixed to the stationary component side. Guide portions of the guide passage forming member are provided in plural number individually associated with the movable members. The guide portion nearer to the rotatable cylinder is set to always have a larger tilt angle than that of the outer guide portion with the plane of a tape cassette being a reference.

Abstract: The magnetic tape cassette of the present invention has the opening portion into which the head drum having the rotary head is inserted. The pair of tape guide members which guide the tape-like record medium so that the record medium is helically wrapped around the head drum are provided in the inside of the opening portion so as to be able to swing independently. Thus, when the head drum is inserted into the opening portion, the two tape guide members are brought in circumferential contact with the peripheral surface of the head drum accurately. Therefore, the recording and/or reproduction can be reliably carried out, which can increase reliability of the magnetic tape cassette.

Abstract: A tape cleaning apparatus for a tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus prevents possible dropping of recording or a possible dropout during recording and/or reproducing operation of a tape while the tape is fed at a low speed and can protect the tape when the tape is fed at a high speed to effect fast feeding or rewinding thereof. The tape cleaning apparatus comprises a blade made of an abrasion resistant material and located on the upstream side of a recording and/or reproducing section of the tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus in a direction in which the tape is fed at the low speed. The tape cleaning apparatus also includes a controller for controlling the blade to assume a first position at which the blade contacts with the tape to remove foreign substance sticking to the tape when the tape is fed at the low speed but to assume a second position at which the blade is spaced apart from the tape when the tape is driven at a high speed.

Abstract: This system makes use of a tape cassette helical scan tape transport and 3480-type magnetic tape cartridge as the data storage media. The merging of these two incompatible elements is accomplished by the use of a novel interface that implements a "virtual tape cassette" using a tape cartridge in a manner that makes this media compatible with the tape transport. The virtual tape cassette is implemented by providing a takeup reel positioned with the magnetic tape cartridge in a relationship that substantially matches the format of a magnetic tape cassette. A short tape threading arm is used to retrieve the leader block from the tape cartridge and thread the magnetic tape over a short tape threading path to the takeup reel. Once the tape is affixed to the takeup reel, the helical scan tape guide arms transport the length of tape that is now exposed between the tape cartridge and the takeup reel to the rotary heads.

Abstract: A tape loading apparatus according to the present invention comprises a cam gear and a first and second arms that are pivotally mounted by a chassis. The second arm has a guiding pin, and engages the first arm through an urging spring mounted between the two arms. The first arm member is provided with a guiding pin at one end portion thereof which engages a cam groove of the cam gear and is guided along the cam groove from a first end to a second end of the groove when the cam is rotated. Before the guiding pin reaches the second end of the cam groove, the pinch roller abuts a capstan and is the pressed against the capstan by an urging force of the spring when the guiding pin reaches the second end of the case cam groove.

Abstract: A slider lock mechanism for locking a slider slidable along a chassis to set a plurality of modes in a tape player comprises a slider drive unit for transmitting a rotational force of a motor to the slider via a plurality of disc gears for moving the slider; spring biasing means for biasing the slider to return when the slider reaches a pressure contact position; and a braking mechanism including an electromagnetic actuator for braking one of the disc gears by energization of the electromagnetic actuator in the pressure contact position.

Abstract: A tape loading mechanism for a magnetic recording and reproducing device to pull out a magnetic tape from a tape cassette containing the magnetic tape to wind the magnetic tape for a predetermined winding angle around a rotating cylinder having a rotating head mounted thereon comprising an incoming-side tape pull-out guide device for pulling out the magnetic tape from the tape cassette to form an incoming-side portion of a tape running path, the incoming-side tape pull-out device having a plurality of tape guides which engage with the magnetic tape; first outgoing-side tape pull-out guide device for pulling out the magnetic tape from the tape cassette and winding the tape for a predetermined angle around the rotating cylinder, the first outgoing-side tape pull-out guide device having a first inclined tape guide to change the running direction of the magnetic tape upwardly; and second outgoing-side tape pull-out guide device for forming an outgoing-side portion of the tape running path in cooperation with the

Abstract: A magnetic tape loading apparatus has a rotatable cylindrical drum, tape guides, tape pulling movable members and guide members. The guide members guide the tape guide and control a posture of the tape guide by changing the position and the inclination.

Abstract: Movable members of a tape guide member for tape loading are disposed in plural numbers on both the upstream side and the downstream side of a tape running path with respect to a rotatable cylinder, or are disposed in plural number on at least either the upstream side or the downstream side. The plurality of movable members are disposed offset from each other in the radial direction of the rotatable cylinder. Tilt guides for converting the tape running direction are disposed between the associated movable members, and fixed to the stationary component side. A guide passage forming member along which the movable members are guided is also fixed to the stationary component side. Guide portions of the guide passage forming member are provided in plural number individually associated with the movable members. The guide portion nearer to the rotatable cylinder is set to always have a larger tilt angle than that of the outer guide portion with the plane of a tape cassette being a reference.

Abstract: A second clutch gear, which serves as a driving gear, receives a driving force from a capstan motor. A first clutch gear, which serves as a driven gear, is arranged coaxial with the second clutch gear, with a friction mechanism interposed therebetween. The first clutch gear receives the driving force which the second clutch gear transmits thereto through the friction mechanism. A directly-coupling gear for directly transmitting the driving force from the second clutch gear to the first clutch gear is provided such that it can be brought into mesh with the first and second clutch gears. The directly-coupling gear includes first and second gears which are arranged coaxial with each other and are designed to provide gaps in the circumferential direction thereof, such the gaps can absorb torsion generated between the first and second clutch gears.