Patent ID: 7377460
Filing Date: 2008-05-27
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
1. A compatible type tape cartridge capable of recording and reading out large and small tape cartridges with different widths in common with a same tape driver, comprising: a pair of right and left hubs for winding a tape arranged in a case of a main body, said pair of hubs being designed so that tape wound off from one hub is wound around the other hub via tape guides arranged on the front, right, and left of said case of said main body and also being connected with start and terminal ends of said tape via leader tapes, a passage for light injection and a passage for light ejecting of a tape end detection light opened respectively on a side wall of said case of said main body facing a tape traveling path between said tape guide and said hub, and an optical path inverted body facing said passages and across a tape traveling path arranged in said case of said main body, wherein defining one of upper and lower surfaces of said case of said main body as a reference surface, the passages for light injection and light ejecting in the large and small tape cartridges are formed at a prescribed distance from said reference surface, and upper and lower adjacent spaces between the passages for light injection and light ejecting in the large and small tape cartridges are set at substantially the same distance.