Magnetic recording and/or reproducing apparatus

An automatic tape loading and unloading device for a magnetic tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus includes a cylindrical tape guide drum having at least one rotary magnetic head which moves in a circular path substantially coinciding with the circumferential surface of the drum. The tape used in the apparatus is stored on supply and take-up reels having the tape wound thereon in a tape holder such as a cassette or cartridge and in use the holder positions the tape supply at a relatively lower level with respect to the tape guide drum. The device further includes a first tape engaging member, for example, tape guide pins, carried by levers which are rotatable about a fixed pivot to draw the tape from the tape supply reel in a diagonally upward direction to the tape guide drum where it is helically wrapped about at least a portion of the circumferential surface of the drum and a second tape engaging member to draw the tape from the tape supply reel in a horizontal direction opposite to the direction of movement of the first tape engaging member.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates generally to a magnetic recording and/or reproducing 
apparatus such as a Video Tape Recorder (VTR) and, more particularly, is 
directed to an improved automatic tape loading and unloading device for 
such apparatus. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
Existing video tape recording and reproducing apparatus generally comprise 
a tape guide drum having a rotary magnetic head assembly associated 
therewith to record or reproduce video signals on or from a magnetic tape 
which is usually wound on supply and take-up reels with the tape between 
such reels being wrapped about a portion of the circumferential surface of 
the drum and being driven by cooperation of capstan and pinch roller and 
by suitable rotation of the take-up reel. In preparing such a video tape 
recording and reproducing apparatus for operation, the tape extending 
between the supply and take-up reels must be placed around at least a 
portion of the drum circumference so that the tape will be guided thereby 
with respect to the rotary magnetic head assembly. Conventionally two 
types of automatic tape loading and unloading devices are used for video 
signal recording and/or reproducing apparatus. 
One type of automatic tape loading and unloading device is called "U-type 
loading device" and is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,821,805 assigned to 
the same assignee as this application. As shown in this patent, the 
loading device is provided with a loading ring on which plural tape 
drawing guides are mounted which are inclined to the circumferential 
surface of a rotary head drum. The tape drawing guides are moved along the 
circumferential surface of the rotary head drum with the rotation of the 
loading ring. The tape is drawn from a tape cassette, and is wrapped on 
the rotary head drum substantially in a U-shape. 
In the above-described tape loading and unloading device a pinch roller and 
a capstan for driving the tape are positioned between the tape exit of the 
rotary head drum and the tape drawing guide around which the tape turns. 
The fine tape vibration, which is apt to occur at the tape turning point 
where the tape wrap angle is large, is intercepted by the tape pinching 
point between the capstan and the pinch roller and, therefore, such 
vibration is prevented from being transmitted to the rotary head drum and 
the tape is smoothly transported. Guides for regulating tape transport at 
the tape exit and entrance of the rotary head drum can be fixed. 
Accordingly, the tape runs very smoothly and the adjustment of the tape 
path is relatively easy. Accuracies of guides of the like arranged in the 
tape downstream with respect to the pinching point between the capstan and 
pinch roller have little influence on tape transport. Accordingly, the 
positioning accuracy of the tape drawing guide for tape turning is not 
required to be high. As a result, the apparatus can be of simplified 
construction. 
However, in the U-type loading apparatus the fixed guides for tape entrance 
and exit, the capstan, a sound/control head and an erasing head must be 
arranged within the loading ring. Accordingly, the outer diameter of the 
loading ring is very large. The area required for the whole tape loading 
apparatus must be increased in proportion to the outer diameter of the 
loading ring. Further, the loading ring is mounted on a chassis at such an 
angle to the horizontal surface that is about twice as large as the 
loading angle of the tape to the rotary head drum. Accordingly, the height 
of the whole tape loading apparatus becomes relatively large. 
As above described, this U-type loading apparatus has the drawback that the 
whole apparatus is unnecessarily large in size. 
The other automatic tape loading and unloading device, which is called 
M-type loading device, is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,122,506 issued Oct. 
24, 1978. In this type loading device two sets of tape drawing guides are 
horizontally moved at both sides of a rotary head drum. The tape is 
horizontally drawn out from a tape cassette and is wrapped on the rotary 
head drum substantially in an M-shape. The capstan is vertically arranged 
on a horizontal chassis but the rotary head drum is inclined at an angle 
that is about twice as large as the loading angle of the tape to the 
rotary head drum. Thus, the height of the tape loading apparatus is little 
influenced by the tape loading ring. Accordingly, the height of the M-type 
loading device may be reduced to some extent. 
However, in the M-type loading device the two sets of the tape drawing 
guides, after being moved to both sides of the rotary head drum, are fixed 
at the tape exit and entrance of the rotary head drum for regulating tape 
transport to the rotary head drum. With this arrangement it is difficult 
to position the tape drawing guides with a high degree of accuracy. 
Accordingly, it is difficult for the tape to run smoothly. Further, the 
construction for fixing the tape drawing guides is complicated resulting 
in a relatively higher cost of manufacture. 
In addition, a slant guide for changing the path of the tape must be 
arranged between the tape pinching point of the capstan and pinch roller 
and the tape exit of the rotary head drum. The tape is wrapped on the 
slant guide over a considerably large extent and fine tape vibration is 
apt to be transmitted to the rotary head drum. To avoid the fine tape 
vibration an impedance roller is provided. However, this requires a more 
complicated construction. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a magnetic 
recording and/or reproducing apparatus with an automatic tape loading 
an/or unloading device which avoids all of the disadvantages of the 
devices previously proposed for the stated purposes. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide an automatic tape 
loading and unloading device which is relatively compact so as to minimize 
the space required for such device. 
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an automatic 
tape loading and unloading device that may be adapted for use in 
connection with a magnetic recording and/or reproducing apparatus 
employing a magnetic tape contained in a cassette or cartridge. 
In accordance with an aspect of this invention, an automatic tape loading 
and unloading device for a magnetic recording and/or reproducing apparatus 
comprises a cylindrical tape guide drum having at least one rotary 
magnetic head which moves in a circular path substantially coinciding with 
the circumferential surface of the drum. A holder such as a cassette or 
cartridge is provided for receiving the tape supply, for example supply 
and take-up reels having tape wound thereon. In use the tape holder is 
positioned at a relatively lower level with respect to the guide drum. The 
device further includes a first tape engaging member in the form of tape 
guide pins carried by levers which are rotatable about a fixed pivot to 
draw the tape from the tape supply in a diagonally upward direction so as 
to helically wrap the tape about at least a portion of the circumferential 
surface of the tape guide drum and a second tape engaging member to draw 
the tape from the tape supply in a horizontal direction opposite to the 
first tape engaging member with respect to the drum. 
The above and other objects, features and advantages of this invention, 
will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description of 
illustrative embodiments thereof which is to be read in connection with 
the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
A tape loading and unloading device according to one embodiment of the 
present invention as used in a magnetic recording and/or reproducing 
apparatus, such as a VTR, will be described with reference to the 
accompanying drawings. Initially, an outline of the tape loading and 
unloading device will be described with reference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 4. 
In this embodiment of the invention a tape cassette 1 is provided which 
includes side by side tape supply reel 2 and a take-up reel 3. Magnetic 
tape 4 is wound on supply reel 2 and take-up reel 3. Tape cassette 1 is 
horizontally positioned on a horizontal chassis 5 by a positioning 
mechanism or cassette holder which is not shown here. Supply reel 2 and 
take-up reel 3 are engaged with a supply reel mount 6 and a take-up reel 
mount 7, respectively, which are arranged on chassis 5. 
A rotary head drum 9 having a rotary magnetic head (not shown) is arranged 
on chassis 5 at a relatively higher level than cassette 1. Drum 9 is 
located at a position lower than the height h.sub.1 of a front lid 10 
which is opened upwardly upon insertion of tape cassette 1 into the 
operative position and drum 9 is inclined at a small angle which 
corresponds to the loading angle .theta..sub.1 of the tape 4 to drum 9, as 
shown in FIG. 4. 
A first tape drawing mechanism 12, arranged at the tape exit side of drum 
9, and a second tape drawing mechanism 13, arranged at the tape entrance 
side of drum 9, are provided with the first tape drawing mechanism 12 
mainly constituted by a tape guide roller 14 and second tape drawing 
mechanism 13 mainly constituted by four tape guide pins 15a to 15d. Tape 4 
is horizontally withdrawn from tape cassette 1 by tape guide roller 14 and 
a pinch roller 16 to drive tape 4 is provided so as to move with tape 
guide roller 14. Tape guide pins 15a to 15d are designed so as to draw 
tape 4 at an upwardly inclined path of movement from tape cassette 1 with 
respect to a bottom surface of tape cassette 1 and tape guide pins 15a and 
15d are rotated around the drum 9. The path of tape 4 is directed about 
tension regulating pin 18. 
A pair of guide pins 20a and 20b fixed in cassette 1 are arranged at both 
sides of the frontal opening 21 of tape cassette 1 and tape guide pins 22a 
and 22b fixed on chassis 5 are arranged at the tape entrance and exit to 
drum 9. The loading angle of tape 4 to drum 9 and the running direction of 
tape 4 are regulated by tape guides 22a and 22b. A capstan 23, a 
sound/control head 24, an erasing head 25 and tape guide members 26a and 
26d are also arranged on chassis 5. 
Before a cassette 1 is inserted in the apparatus, tape guide roller 14, 
pinch roller 16, tape guide pins 15a to 15d and tension regulating pin 18 
are located at their original or rest positions shown by dot-dash lines in 
FIG. 1. With the apparatus in that condition, when a tape cassette 1 is 
moved downward by the holder and is engaged with reel mounts 6 and 7, tape 
guide roller 14, pinch roller 16, tape guide pins 15a to 15d and tension 
regulating pin 18 are inserted at the back side of the tape 4 extending as 
shown by the dot-dash line in opening 21 of tape cassette 1. 
When the loading operation starts tape guide roller 14 and pinch roller 16 
are horizontally moved to their operative positions as shown in solid line 
in FIG. 1 in the direction indicated by arrow A. Tape 4 is caught by the 
leading tape guide roller 14 and is horizontally drawn to the tape exit 
side of drum 9 from the tape cassette 1, as shown in FIG. 2. 
At the same time, tension regulating pin 18 is first horizontally moved to 
its operative position shown by solid loine in FIG. 1, in the direction 
indicated by arrow B and tape 4 is caught by the tension regulating pin 18 
and is horizontally drawn from the tape cassette 1 to the position shown 
by the dotted line in FIG. 1. When tape 4 is in this position, tape guide 
pins 15a to 15d are moved to their operative positions, shown in solid 
lines in FIG. 1 in the direction indicated by arrow C. Tape 4 is caught by 
tape guide pins 15a to 15d in sequence and is drawn upwardly at an 
inclined path into the tape entrance side of drum 9 from tape cassette 1, 
as shown in FIG. 3. 
In the completion of the loading operation, tape 4 is helically wound or 
wrapped about more than a 180.degree. portion of the drum 9 and is guided 
by tape guides 22a and 22b at the tape entrance and exit of drum 9. At the 
tape exit side tape 4 is in contact with capstan 23, sound/control head 24 
and tape guides 26c and 26d while at the tape entrance side tape 4 is in 
contact with an erase head 25 and tape guides 26a and 26b. 
The drum 9 is inclined at an angle corresponding to the loading angle 
.theta..sub.1 of tape 4 to drum 9 in the tangential direction X--X of the 
tape 4 at a point P.sub.2 at which tape 4 starts to be separated from the 
drum 9. Accordingly, tape 4 is horizontally threaded from the cassette 1 
to tape separation point P.sub.2 of the drum 9 through tape guide roller 
14. Tape 4 gradually rises from the tape separation position P.sub.2 and 
is thus wound helically on the drum 9. The tape entrance position P.sub.1, 
at which point tape 4 begins to contact drum 9, is substantially higher, 
by the width of tape 4, than the tape separation position P.sub.2. Thus 
tape 4 extending from entrance guide 22a to tape guide pin 15a is inclined 
at an angle which is about twice as large as the loading angle 
.theta..sub.1 of tape 4 to drum 9. Tape 4 is gradually lowered from tape 
guide pin 15a to tape guide pin 15d and it is again on a horizontal path 
for threading from tape guide pin 15d to tape cassette 1. 
After the loading operation of the tape 4 has been completed the forward 
push button (not shown) of the apparatus is pushed. This moves pinch 
roller 16 to press tape 4 against capstan 23 through a plunger-solenoid 
mechanism (not shown) to run the tape 4 for a desired record or 
reproduction mode. 
The unloading operation of the tape 4 after pinch roller 16 is separated 
from capstan 23 is effected in the reverse order to the loading operation 
of tape 4. Tape guide roller 14, pinch roller 16, tape guide pins 15a to 
15d and tension regulating pin 18 are moved to their original positions 
shown by in dot-dash lines in directions opposite to the directions shown 
by the arrows A, B, and C, respectively. At the same time tape 4 is wound 
up by supply reel 2 and/or take-up reel 3. 
Referring now to FIGS. 5 to 7 as well, the first tape drawing mechanism 
will be described. As seen in FIG. 5, an arcuate slide 29 is horizontally 
supported by a plurality of guide rollers 30 mounted on chassis 5 so as to 
be movable in the direction shown by the arrow A. A guide support arm 31 
is rotatably supported at one end by a support pin 32 fixed on slide 29. 
Tape guide roller 14 and pinch roller 16 are rotatably supported by pins 
33 and 34, respectively, fixed on guide support arm 31. A torsion spring 
35 urges guide support arm 31 in the counter-clockwise direction (FIG. 5) 
about pin 32 and the lower end of pin 34 contacts a recess 36 formed in 
the side wall of the slide 29 to restrict the rotation of guide support 
arm 31. A rack 37 is formed on the inner side of arcuate slide 29 as 
clearly shown in FIG. 7 and a drive gear 38 mounted on chassis 5 engages 
rack 37. Preferably, the drive force for capstan 23 is transmitted through 
a reversible clutch mechanism to drive gear 38. Drive gear 38 is rotated 
in the forward and reverse directions by the reversible clutch mechanism 
and a friction mechanism. Alternatively, a special electric motor may be 
used for driving drive gear 38 instead of the drive force for capstan 23. 
In the unloading mode of tape 4 tape guide roller 14 and pinch roller 16 
carried by the arcuate slide 29 are located at their initial positions 
shown in the dot-dash lines of FIG. 5. During loading of tape 4, drive 
gear 38 is rotated in the forward direction to move arcuate slide 29 
through rack 37 in the direction indicated by arrow A in FIG. 5. 
At the completion of the tape loading operation, tape guide roller 14 and 
pinch roller 16 reach their operative positions shown in solid lines in 
FIG. 5 and arcuate slide 29 contacts a stopper block 39 fixed on chassis 5 
to stop slide 29 there. In this position arcuate slide 29 is fixed in 
position by a positioning mechanism 40, as shown in FIG. 6. 
In operation, when the forward button is depressed a pressing lever 41 is 
driven by a plunger-solenoid mechanism (not shown) to push the guide 
support arm 31 through a roller 42, as shown by the solid line in FIG. 6. 
Guide support arm 31 is rotated in the clockwise direction about pin 32 
(FIG. 5) against the spring force of torsion spring 35 and pinch roller 16 
is pressed against tape 4 which is pressed against capstan 23. When the 
stop button is depressed, pressing lever 41 is separated from guide 
support arm 31, as shown in the dot-dash line in FIG. 6, and guide support 
arm 31 is rotated back in the counter-clockwise direction (FIG. 5) to its 
original position under the urging of torsion spring 35 and pinch roller 
16 is separated from capstan 23 so no driving force is imparted to tape 4. 
In the unloading operation of tape 4, drive gear 38 is rotated in the 
reverse direction and arcuate slide 29 is moved through rack 37 in the 
direction opposite to the direction indicated by arrow A in FIG. 5. Tape 
guide roller 14 and pinch roller 16 are moved back to their original 
positions as shown in dot-dash lines in FIG. 5. Although not shown, 
arcuate slide 29 is positioned there by a positioning mechanism similar to 
that shown in FIG. 6. 
Reference is now made to FIGS. 8 to 14 for a description of a second tape 
withdrawing means. In this mechanism a rotary ring 45 is provided 
horizontally arranged on chassis 5 under tape guide drum 9 and is 
supported by plural guide rollers 46 mounted on chassis 5 so as to be 
horizontally rotatable about an axis which is almost aligned with the 
central axis of drum 9. Four ring plates 47a to 47d are arranged one above 
the other on rotary ring 45 and these ring plates are pressed against 
rotary ring 45 at a predetermined pressure by three pressure members 49a, 
49b and 49c which are fixed on an upper surface of an inner ring 48 formed 
integrally with rotary ring 45. Ring plates 47a to 47d and rotary ring 45 
are frictionally rotatable relative to each other. Projections 50a to 50d 
are formed integrally on the outer edges of ring plates 47a to 47d, 
respectively, and supporting blocks 51a to 51d are fixed on projections 
50a to 50d, respectively. Pins 52a, 52b and 52c are fixed on supporting 
blocks 51a, 51b and 51c, respectively, and are inclined at predetermined 
angles. Pins 52a, 52b and 52c are slidably fitted into hollow tape guide 
pins 15a, 15b and 15c and a fourth tape guide pin 15d is fixed on 
supporting block 51d and is inclined at a predetermined angle. Tape guide 
pins 15a to 15d are designed so as to be rotated along the circumferential 
surface of tape guide drum 9 almost concentrically with the latter. Guide 
pins 15a and 15b have flanges 53a and 53b formed integrally on their lower 
ends and a pin 54 is formed integrally with and extends outwardly from the 
lower end of tape guide pin 15c. 
As shown in FIG. 8, leaf springs 55a to 55d are fixed to supporting blocks 
51a to 51d, respectively. A leader drive pin 56 is fixed on the upper 
surface of rotary ring 45 and a return pin 57 is fixed on the end of the 
lower surface of one of the pressing members 49a. Three drive pins 58a, 
58b and 58c spaced from each other by predetermined distances are fixed on 
the lower surface of the uppermost ring plate 47a. Leader drive pin 56 is 
so designed as to be contactable with leaf spring 55a for driving leader 
tape guide pin 15a and the other drive pins 58a, 58b and 58c are designed 
so as to be contactable with leaf springs 55b, 55c and 55d, respectively. 
Return pin 57 fixed on pressing member 49a is designed so as to be 
contactable with projection 50a on ring plate 47a and arcuate cut-out 
portions 59a, 59b and 59c are formed in the outer edges of the lower 
three ring plates 47b, 47c and 47d so that ring plates 47b, 47c and 47d 
are rotated by leader drive pin 56. 
As shown in FIG. 9, a gear 60 is formed on the circumferential surface of 
rotary ring 45 and is engaged with a drive gear 61 which is mounted on 
chassis 5. In the same manner as drive gear 38, described above, drive 
gear 61 is driven through a reversible clutch mechanism and a friction 
mechanism by the drive force for capstan 23 or may be driven by a separate 
electric motor. 
Four stopper pins 62a to 62d are fixed on chassis 5 in order to position 
tape guide pins 15a to 15d in the position shown by the solid lines in 
FIG. 8. A ring 63 is fixed on the lower surface of rotary ring 45 and a 
pair of recesses 64a and 64b are formed in the outer edge of ring 63. A 
pair of positioning rollers 65a and 65b are mounted on chassis 5 to 
selectively engage within recesses 64a and 64b to position rotary ring 45 
at two fixed positions. A partial gear 66 segment is formed on a part of 
the outer edge of ring 63 near recess 64a as shown in FIG. 10. 
An upstanding arcuate guide block 68 is fixed on chassis 5 and it is curved 
along the rotational locus of the tape guide pins 15a, 15b and 15c. Two 
slant guide grooves 69 and 70 are formed in the inside wall of the arcuate 
guide block 68 (see FIG. 11 as well) and the grooves 69 and 70 gradually 
ascend towards the tape entrance point. Grooves 69 and 70 receive the 
flanges 53a and 53b and pin 54, respectively, to guide pins 15a to 15c 
during their rotational movement. 
In the tape unloading mode, tape guide pins 15a to 15d are located at their 
original positions by rotary ring 45 as shown by the dot-dash lines in 
FIG. 8. In the tape loading mode, drive gear 61 is rotated and through 
gear 60 to move rotary ring 45 in the direction indicated by arrow C in 
FIG. 8. Leader drive pin 56 fixed on rotary ring 45 contacts leaf spring 
55a to push ring plate 47a in the clockwise direction. Thus, tape guide 
pin 15a is first rotated in the direction indicated by arrow C. Then drive 
pins 58a, 58b and 58c come into contact with leaf springs 55b, 55c and 55d 
in order, and thereby ring plates 47b, 47c and 47d are driven in sequence 
and tape guide pins 15b, 15c and 15d are moved in the direction indicated 
by arrow C one after another to load tape 4. Tape guide pins 15a to 15c 
are horizontally rotated until they reach guide block 68 while the 
remaining tape guide pin 15d is horizontally rotated to the end. 
When tape guide pins 15a, 15b and 15c reach guide block 68 flanges 53a and 
53b and pin 54 go into slant guide grooves 69 and 70 and upon further 
rotation of rotary ring 45 flanges 53a and 53b and pin 54 are guided 
upwardly by guide grooves 69 and 70. While tape guide pins 15a, 15b and 
15c are rotated in the direction indicated by arrow C they are slid 
upwardly along the respective inner pins 52a, 52b and 52c which are 
slidably fitted within guide pins 15a, 15b and 15c. When all of the tape 
guide pins 15a to 15d reach their operative positions as shown by the 
solid lines in FIG. 8, the tape loading operation ends. It is thus seen 
that tape guide pins 15a to 15d are positioned by the fact that supporting 
blocks 51a to 51d contact stopper pins 62a to 62d and rotary ring 45 is 
positioned by the fact that recess 64a is engaged by roller 65a. In the 
loaded condition of the tape 4 the three tape guide pins 15a, 15b and 15c 
are located at predetermined upper levels, as shown in FIG. 11 to FIG. 14, 
respectively. Further in the loaded condition of tape 4 flanges 53a and 
53b and pin 54 are located at horizontal positioning portions 71a and 71b 
of guide groove 69 and a horizontal positioning portion 72 of guide groove 
70. Thus, tape guide pins 15a, 15b and 15c are stably positioned at their 
respective operative positions. 
Tape 4 is horizontally drawn until leader tape guide pin 15a reaches guide 
block 68 and then tape 4 is obliquely and upwardly led with the rise of 
tape guide pin 15a to be helically wrapped about tape guide drum 9. 
For tape unloading, drive gear 61 is rotated in the reverse direction and 
through gear 60 drives rotary ring 45 in the direction opposite to the 
direction indicated by arrow C. Tape guide pins 15a to 15d are then moved 
back to their original positions as shown by the dot-dash lines in FIG. 8. 
At that time tape exit guide 22b is also used as a stopper for positioning 
tape guide pins 15a to 15d at their original positions. 
In the unloading operation of tape 4 tape guide pin 15d supported by 
supporting block 51d first comes into contact with tape exit guide 22b to 
stop pin 15d there. Then supporting blocks 51c, 51b and 51a supporting 
tape guide pins 15c, 15b and 15a contact each other in order to stop 
there. Finally, return pin 57 comes into contact with projection 50a on 
ring plate 47a and pushes projection 50a to position tape guide pins 15a 
to 15d at their original positions as shown by the dot-dash lines in FIG. 
8. Rotary ring 45 is positioned at its original position by roller 65b 
engaged within recess 64b. 
Reference is now made to FIG. 15 for a description of a mechanism for the 
tension regulator pin 18. As seen there, a tension regulator lever 74 is 
rotatably supported on chassis 5 by a support pin 75. Tension regulator 
pin 18 is fixed on the upper end of tension regulator lever 74 which is 
urged by a tension regulator spring 76 in the direction indicated by the 
arrow B. One end 77a of a band brake 77 is pivoted to tension regulator 
lever 74. Band brake 77 is wound about the circumferential surface of 
supply reel mount 6 and its other end 77b is fixed to chassis 5. 
A rack slide 78 which includes a pair of oblong holes 83 is slidably 
supported on chassis 5 by means of a pair of guide pins 82 fixed on 
chassis 5 and engaged within oblong holes 83. Rack slide 78 includes rack 
segments 79 and 80 formed on opposite sides. Rack segment 79 engages 
partial gear 66 on rotary ring 45 and rack segment 80 engages a sector 
gear 81 fixed on tension regulator lever 74. 
In the unloaded condition of tape 4 tension regulator pin 18 fixed on lever 
74 is located at its original position as indicated by the two-dot dash 
line in FIG. 15 and tension regulator lever 74 is urged in the 
counterclockwise direction as indicated by arrow B. However, rack segment 
79 is engaged with partial gear 66 on rotary ring 45 which is positioned 
at its original position as described above. Accordingly, rack slide 78 is 
stopped at its original position. Thus, tension regulator lever 74 is 
restrained from rotating in the direction B. 
In the loading operation of tape 4 rotary ring 45 is rotated in the 
direction indicated by arrow C as described above and rack slide 78 is 
moved to the left as viewed in FIG. 15 through engagement of rack segment 
79 by partial gear 66 and by spring action of spring 76 and tension 
regulating lever 74 is rotated in the direction indicated by arrow B 
through rack segment 80 and sector gear 81. Thus, tension regulator pin 81 
is instantaneously moved to its operative position as shown by the solid 
line and rack slide 78 stops at the position where rack segment 80 is 
separated from sector gear 81. At that time, a projection 85 extending 
from a positioning leaf spring 84 is engaged with a positioning hole 86 
formed in rack slide 78 to fix rack slide 78 in this position and partial 
gear 66 is separated from rack segment 79 upon further rotation of the 
rotary ring 45 in the direction indicated by arrow C. 
Thus, tension regulator pin 18 is disconnected from rack slide 78 in the 
operative position shown by the solid line. In the recording or 
reproducing operation tension regulator pin 18 functions to regulate 
tension of tape 4 by action of the spring 76. 
In the unloading operation of tape 4 rotary ring 45 is rotated in the 
direction opposite to the direction indicated by arrow C. Partial gear 66 
engages rack segment 79 and rack slide 78 is moved in the rightward 
direction. Rack segment 80 engages sector gear 81 and tension regulating 
lever 74 is rotated in the direction opposite to the direction indicated 
by arrow B against the action of spring 76. As a result, tension regulator 
pin 18 is moved back to its original position shown by the two-dot dash 
line from the operative position shown by the solid line. Tension 
regulator pin 18 is positioned at its original position due to the fact 
that rotary ring 45 is also positioned at its original position as above 
described. 
In the above description tension regulator lever 74 is driven with rotary 
ring 45. However, the drive of tension regulator lever 74 does not always 
need to be synchronized with rotary ring 45. For example, a special drive 
mechanism such as a plunger-solenoid mechanism may be used for driving 
tension regulator lever 74. 
In the above described embodiment, the tape running path extending from the 
tape exit P.sub.2 of tape guide drum 9 into tape cassette 1 is parallel to 
the horizontally disposed chassis 5 and it is at the same level as the 
tape contained in tape cassette 1. Accordingly, exit guide 22b tape guides 
26c, 26d, capstan 23, reel mounts 6, 7 and the sound/control head 24, as 
shown in FIG. 1, are vertically mounted on chassis 5. 
In the tape running path extending from supply reel 2 through entrance 
guide 22a and the portion of the circumference of drum 9 to exit guide 
22b, the level of tape 4 rises gradually from the level of tape 4 
contained in tape cassette 1 to its highest level at tape guide pin 15a at 
which point tape 4 turns. Thus, tape 4 is wound for about a 180.degree. 
portion of the tape guide pin 15a and it extends at a slant downwardly to 
drum 9. Tape 4 is wound at a slanted angle about drum 9 at the loading 
angle from the tape entrance P.sub.1 and the level of tape 4 lowers 
gradually until it becomes equal to the level of tape 4 contained in tape 
cassette 1 at the tape exit P.sub.2. Tape 4 runs in the upper space with 
respect to the level of the tape contained in the tape cassette 1. On the 
other hand, in the conventional U-type tape loading device, the tape 
extends horizontally from the tape cassette to the tape entrance of the 
drum and the level of the tape lowers gradually on the circumference of 
the drum until it reaches its lowest at the tape turning point and it 
rises gradually from the tape turning point into the tape cassette. Thus, 
in the U-type tape loading device the tape runs in the lower space with 
respect to the level of the tape contained in the tape cassette. As shown 
in FIGS. 2 and 3, the upper space h.sub.2 over tape cassette 1 required 
for front lid 10 to be opened is not used for tape running in the 
conventional U-type tape loading device but is utilized for the tape 
loading operation in the embodiment of this invention. Accordingly, the 
height of the whole tape loading device can be of smaller size in 
comparison with the conventional tape loading device. 
Further, tape guide pins 15a to 15d are so designed as to rotate relatively 
close to the circumferential surface of drum 9. Accordingly, the spaced 
required for the whole tape loading device can be of smaller size in 
comparison with the conventional tape loading device having a much larger 
loading ring. 
As above described, the height and space requirements of the tape loading 
device according to this invention can be smaller in size in comparison 
with the conventional tape loading device of the U-type. Moreover, the 
tape loading device according to this invention has the additional merit 
of the U-type tape loading device that the fine vibration of the tape 
which is apt to occur at the tape turning point is not transmitted to the 
drum side. Thus, the tape runs smoothly and the position accuracy of the 
tape drawing member at the tape turning point does not need to be so high. 
Additionally, the construction of the tape loading mechanism is simple and 
there is not the problem inherent in the conventional tape loading device 
of the M-type which is of more complicated construction in that the tape 
loading device according to this invention is not hard to run smoothly. 
While preferred embodiments have been described, variations thereto will 
occur to those skilled in the art within the scope of the present 
inventive concepts which are delineated by the following claims. 
For example, in the above described embodiment, the first tape drawing 
member 12 and the second tape drawing member 13 are moved with the slide 
29 and the rotary ring 45, respectively. However, they may be moved with 
arms which are respectively swung. 
Further, in the above-described embodiments, rotary ring 45 is horizontally 
rotated and the three hollow tape guide pins 15a to 15c are moved upwardly 
and downwardly with the rotation of rotary ring 45. However, rotary ring 
45 may be designed so as to be rotated along a slant surface connecting 
the level of the tape contained in tape cassette 1 with the level of the 
tape at the tape entrance P.sub.1. In that case, the tape guide pins 15a 
to 15c do not need to be moved upwardly and downwardly. 
Further, the plan arrangement of the tape loading device is not limited to 
that of FIG. 1. Any plan arrangement may be used in the tape loading 
device of this invention if the tape is horizontally drawn from tape 
cassette 1 at the tape exit side and it is drawn downwardly from the tape 
cassette 1 to helically wind the tape on drum 9. For example, although the 
erasing head 25 is arranged at the side of the tape entrance guide 22a in 
FIG. 1 it may be arranged at the tape downstream side of tension regulator 
pin 18.