Recording and/or playback apparatus and cartridge for such apparatus

Claim 2

A tape cartridge for carrying a tape-shaped record carrier for recording and/or reproducing signals having a wide frequency spectrum comprising a casing having two substantially parallel major surfaces and a plurality of lateral surfaces joining said major surfaces, means for supporting said tape within said casing, a cut-away portion in said casing extending from one of said lateral surfaces inwards along said major surfaces, a pair of guide rollers rotatably mounted within said cartridge each on one side of said cut-away portion, an opening in one of said major surfaces aligned with the axis of one of said rollers, and an axial bore provided in said roller aligned with said opening so as to be accessible through said opening for receiving positioning means provided on an apparatus which accommodates said cartridge, said guide roller having said bore being mounted for floating movement in the axial direction and in directions at right angles to its axis of rotation, a ball carried within said bore for axially closing said bore, said opening in the major surface of said cartridge and the bore in said guide roller being provided with increasing diameter funnel shaped portions directed toward the exterior of the major surface of said cartridge so as to provide a guideway for reception of said projection means.

Claim 5

The apparatus according to claim 2 further comprising means carried on said drum for vertically guiding said record carrier, displaceable means carried by said apparatus for vertically guiding said tape-shaped record carrier, and means carried by said apparatus for engaging said tape within said cartridge through an opening in said cartridge for wrapping said tape about said drum, said guide roller having said bore being mounted so as to be axially displaceable and further comprising a flange carried by said roller for causing the record carrier to engage said vertical guides on said apparatus and on said drum.

Claim 6

In an apparatus for recording and/or playing back signals having a wide frequency spectrum on and/or from a tape shaped record carrier, the Combination with a tape cartridge accommodating said record carrier comprising a deck surface for supporting said cartridge, a cylindrical drum supported on said surface at least one guide roller rotably mounted within said cartridge for rotation about an axis for guiding said tape-shaped record carrier, means for engaging and winding said tape externally of said cartridge in a helical path about the outer surface of said cylindrical drum when said cartridge is placed on said surface in a predetermined position with respect to said drum, a portion of said tape-shaped record carrier extending in a straight path directly between said drum and said guide roller when said tape is wound about said drum, the angle of wrap of said tape about said drum thereby being determined by the position of said guide roller, a substantially circular pin carried by said apparatus having a cylindrical projection coaxially arranged on said pin extending from said deck surface, a substantially circular opening in a major surface of said cartridge for receiving said pin, an axial bore extending through said guide roller and aligned with said opening in said cartridge surface, said bore of said roller cooperating with the cylindrical projection of said pin rotatable thereabout for positioning said cartridge on said surface so as to accurately determine the position of said guide roller with respect to said drum thereby determining the angle of wrap of said tape about said drum, said guide roller being mounted within said cartridge so as to permit movement thereof in the axial direction permitting some play when the cartridge is placed on the apparatus with said projection received within said bore, a closure element carried within said bore which bears on the free end of said cylindrical projection, and rotation prevention means carried on the surface of said apparatus for engaging said cartridge so as to prevent rotational movement thereof.

Claim 7

In an apparatus for recording and/or playing back signals having a wide frequency spectrum on and/or from a tape shaped record carrier, the Combination with a tape cartridge accommodating said record carrier comprising a deck surface for supporting said cartridge, a cylindrical drum supported on said surface at least one guide roller rotably mounted within said cartridge for rotation about an axis for guiding said tape-shaped record carrier, means for engaging and winding said tape externally of said cartridge in a helical path about the outer surface of said cylindrical drum when said cartridge is placed on said surface in a predetermined position with respect to said drum, a portion of said tape-shaped record carrier extending in a straight path directly between said drum and said guide roller when said tape is wound about said drum, the angle of wrap of said tape about said drum thereby being determined by the position of said guide roller, a substantially circular pin carried by said apparatus having a cylindrical projection coaxially arranged on said pin extending from said deck surface, a substantially circular opening in a major surface of said cartridge for receiving said pin, an axial bore extending through said guide roller and aligned with said opening in said cartridge surface, said bore of said roller cooperating with the cylindrical projection of said pin rotatable thereabout for positioning said cartridge on said surface so as to accurately determine the position of said guide roller with respect to said drum thereby determining the angle of wrap of said tape about said drum, said guide roller being mounted within said cartridge so as to permit movement thereof in the axial direction permitting some play when the cartridge is placed on the apparatus with said projection received within said bore, a closure element carried within said bore which bears on the free end of said cylindrical projection, and rotation prevention means carried on the surface of said apparatus for engaging said cartridge so as to prevent rotational movement thereof.