Tape-forwarding means

Claim 2

A tape-forwarding means, comprising: a case within which a tape is stored; a pinch roller within said case, the tape being wound over said roller, said roller being adapted to cooperate with a rotatable capstan of a tape player in order to forward said tape; a tape-storing portion for temporarily gathering the portion of tape overfed by said roller and capstan whenever there is an interruption or slowdown in said case relative to the normal winding of the tape as it is forwarded by said roller and capstan, said storing portion comprising an opening in said case adjacent to said roller and capstan for permitting the overfed tape portion to loop outwardly of said case through said opening, a tape passageway extending normal to the wall of said case through which extends said opening, the centerline of said opening extending through said passageway, a main tape stOrage compartment which is spaced from said case and said capstan, an auxiliary tape storage compartment which is adjacent to said passageway and to said case, and means to restrict the movement of said tape portion exteriorly of said case.

Claim 3

The tape-forwarding means of claim 11, said storing portion including a wall extending substantially parallel to the wall of said case through which said opening extends, the distance between said walls being at least 6.5 N wherein N is the distance between said case wall and the inflection point of the tape loop.

Claim 4

A tape-forwarding means, comprising: a case within which a tape is stored, a pinch roller within said case, the tape being wound over said roller, said roller being adapted to cooperate with a rotatable capstan of a tape player in order to forward said tape, a tape-storing portion for temporarily gathering the portion of tape overfed by said roller and capstan whenever there is an interruption or slowdown in said case relative to the normal winding of the tape as it is forwarded by said roller and capstan, said storing portion comprising an opening in said case adjacent to said roller and capstan for permitting the overfed tape portion to loop outwardly of said case through said opening, and said storing portion including means to restrict the movement of said tape portion exteriorly of said case, further including a tape-anticoiling means for preventing coiling of the tape around said capstan, said anticoiling means comprising a member substantially in contact with said capstan and having a surface thereof disposed along a line substantially normal to the wall of said case through which said opening extends at the delivery side of said capstan.

Claim 5

A tape-forwarding means, comprising: a case within which a tape is stored, a pinch roller within said case, the tape being wound over said roller, said roller being adapted to cooperate with a rotatable capstan of a tape player in order to forward said tape, a tape-storing portion for temporarily gathering the portion of tape overfed by said roller and capstan whenever there is an interruption or slowdown in said case relative to the normal winding of the tape as it is forwarded by said roller and capstan, said storing portion comprising an opening in said case adjacent to said roller and capstan for permitting the overfed tape portion to loop outwardly of said case through said opening, and said storing portion including means to restrict the movement of said tape portion exteriorly of said case, further including a tape-anticoiling means for preventing coiling of the tape around said capstan, said anticoiling means comprising a member substantially in contact with said capstan and having a surface thereof disposed along a line substantially normal to the wall of said case through which said opening extends at the delivery side of said capstan.

Claim 6

The forwarding means of claim 12, including means to resiliently urge said anticoiling member against said capstan.