Recording and reproducing system with automatic tape threading

Claim 1

In a magnetic recording or reproducing system including a pay-off reel having a winding of magnetic tape whose leading end is attached to a leader tape having a rigidity and width greater than that of the magnetic tape; means for rotating said pay-off reel to transport said leader tape, means for defining a magnetic tape traveling way of a circular arc like form, a take-up reel for taking up the leader tape and magnetic tape, a leader tape guide means disposed along and outside of said circular arc traveling way and having along its length a first slot for sliding therethrough said leader tape, said leader tape guide means having an opening along said length and inside of said tape guide means to face said traveling way, said opening having a width greater than the magnetic tape but smaller than said leader tape whereby the latter must travel through said first slot but the former can be brought thereout, and said guide means having one end portion positioned in the vicinity of said pay-off reel and the other end portion posiTioned in the vicinity of said takeup reel for receiving said leader tape or sending the same out of said first slot, said traveling way dedining means including guide posts and magnetic heads positioned opposite to said opening to be in contact with the magnetic tape brought out through said opening; the improvement comprising means for changing the way of tape travel, said changing means having an outer peripheral surface portion shaped with a small curvature, said surface portion further having a second slot portion of width greater than the magnetic tape but smaller than said leader tape, said changing means being positioned with said surface portion positioned in the vicinity of said other end portion and opposite to the opening of said guide means, said changing means projecting outside of said magnetic tape traveling way and with said small curvature portion positioned on the way of travel of said leader tape sliding through said first slot for guiding said leader tape, wherein when said leader tape comes out of said first slot of said guide means and is guided on said small curvature portion the magnetic tape is caused to go out through said opening of said guide means to travel on said magnetic tape traveling way.