Patent ID: 6057992
Filing Date: 2000-05-02
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
A tape cartridge in which a magnetic tape wound around a pair of tape reels is frictionally driven by a drive belt, the tape cartridge comprising:a base plate;said pair of tape reels around which said magnetic tape is wound, said tape reels being rotatably supported by respective reel shafts standing on said base plate;upper and lower flanges each having a center opening at a center portion;a tape guide including an upper fixing portion that passes through the center opening of said upper flange for having said upper flange secured thereto, a tape guide portion that guides said tape, and a lower fixing portion that passes through the center opening of said lower flange and into a fixing bore formed in said base plate for having both said lower flange and said base plate secured thereto, said tape guide standing on said base plate and guiding at said tape guide portion said magnetic tape between said pair of tape reels, at least one end of the tape guide having a deformable portion that is deformed to secure at least one of the upper and lower flanges;said drive belt guided by a plurality of belt rollers rotatably held by respective roller shafts standing on said base plate, said drive belt frictionally driving said magnetic tape wound around said pair of tape reels;a cover connected to said base plate in such a manner as to cover said magnetic tape on said base plate; anda lid portion arranged to selectively open and close a head insertion opening of said cover in such a manner as to enable a magnetic head to contact said magnetic tapeswherein said fixing bore comprises a portion with a diameter slightly larger than a diameter of said lower fixing portion to allow said lower fixing portion to pass therethrough, and a length of said lower fixing portion is greater than a sum of a thickness of said lower flange and a thickness of said portion of said fixing bore.