Container for magnetic tape

Claim 1

A tape container for accommodating therein a magnetic tape designed for use in a magnetic recording and/or reproducing apparatus of the type having a container receiving chamber, at least one recording and/or reproducing transducer supported in position for movement between engaged and disengaged positions, and at least one capstan and an idler wheel cooperative with said capstan for driving the magnetic tape, said tape container comprising: a housing of generally rectangular configuration including first and second generally rectangular spaced plate members and a peripheral wall extending between said first and second plate members along three of the sides thereof; a first access opening means, defined in said housing along the fourth side thereof, for allowing access to a portion of the magnetic tape and for receiving the transducer when moved to the engaged position thereof so that the transducer may engage said portion of the magnetic tape; first and second reels to which respective ends of the magnetic tape are secured, said first and second reels being rotatably supported within said housing in spaced relation to each other, each of said first and second reels having at least one radially outwardly extending flange; second and third access opening means defined in said housing along said fourth side thereof and at opposite sides of the first access opening for selectively alternately receiving therethrough, when the tape container is placed within the container receiving chamber, the capstan in readiness for driving the magnetic tape from either of one of the said first and second reels towards the other of said first and second reels in cooperation with the idler wheel; protective covering means, supported by said housing, for movement between a closed position covering said first access opening means and an open position permitting the transducer to extend into said first access opening means and to contact said portion of the magnetic tape, said protective covering means comprising first and second lids pivotally supported by said housing, and means for biasing said first and second lids toward each other to said closed position; and means, formed in one of said three sides of said housing, for operating a switching element forming a part of an electric circuit of the apparatus when said container is placed in the container receiving chamber of the apparatus.