Tape cartridge positioner

Claim 1

A combination tape cartridge and tape recording and/or reproducing machine comprising: a tape cartridge comprising: an upper shell and a lower shell defining a box-like enclosure having spaced side walls and connecting edge walls with first and second openings in the fAce of one edge wall, said shells having their juncture along said edge walls, said face of said one edge wall being formed with means defining four spaced nonlinear reference points, two of said reference points being defined on each said shell, guide members supported by said side walls of said shells and positioned with respect to said reference points, said guide members defining a tape path within said enclosure along said face of said one edge wall and across said first opening, and pin means supported by said shells within said enclosure for engagement through said second opening by cartridge drawing means; and a tape recording and/or reproducing machine comprising: means defining a cavity for receiving said cartridge, a capstan rotatably mounted adjacent said cavity for driving said tape along said tape path, a transducer supported adjacent said cavity for engaging said tape as it moves across said first opening in the face of said one cartridge edge wall, means defining abutments supported adjacent said cavity for engaging said spaced reference points defined at said face of said one cartridge edge wall, said abutments being positioned with respect to said capstan and said transducer to position said guide members defining said tape path when said abutments engage said spaced reference points for positioning said tape moving along said tape path in alignment with said capstan and said transducer, and cartridge drawing means movably supported adjacent said abutments for engaging said pin means through said second opening when said cartridge is inserted into said cavity, said cartridge drawing means being movable to pull on said pin means to draw said spaced reference points defined at said face of said one cartridge edge wall against said abutments to assure the alignment of said tape with said capstan and said transducer to afford uniform movement of said tape past said transducer.