Tape winding control for magnetic tape cassettes

Claim 1

A tape-winding control for a magnetic tape cassette, having a head compartment containing a pair of tape rolls and connecting guide means disposed adjacent the base of the cassette which direct a substantially straight run of tape from one of the rolls to the other adjacent the base, comprising track means within the head compartment disposed substantially parallel to the base and spaced therefrom between the largest diameter of the rolls and the base, a substantially rigid one-piece bow-shaped member having a substantially straight midportion and a pair of arcuate ends, the curvature of the arcuate ends being large enough to receive the largest diameter of the rolls within them, the tip section of the arcuate ends engaging and guiding the tape to and from the rolls, movable connecting means coupling the substantially straight midportion of the bow member to the track means whereby the bow member may be caused to longitudinally slide back and forth along the track means, and the distance between the arcuate ends of the bow member being equal to at least the sum of the axial interval between the two winding rolls and twice the average radius of the rolls of tape whereby the bow member is caused to shift longitudinally parallel relative to a line through the axis of the rolls of tape for moving the tip sections of the bow member adjacent the periphery of the rolls to smoothly guide the tape on and off the rolls as their diameters vary.