Abstract:
A tape loading device for loading a tape from a first state, in which the tape is mounted on a chassis, to a second state, in which a tape running path is formed as a result of a tape guide post pulling out and winding the tape at a prescribed position is provided. The tape loading device includes a transportation member having the tape guide post thereon; a forward wall integrated with the transportation member and disposed rearward to the tape guide post and inclined so that normal thereto is directed forward and obliquely upward; and a pressure-contact member, which is in pressure-contact with the forward wall in the second state, for urging the transportation member forward and obliquely upward.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a tape loading apparatus used for a magnetic recording and reproduction apparatus. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     According to a general tape loading mechanism used in a conventional magnetic recording and reproduction apparatus, a tape is pulled out from a tape cassette and wound around a rotational head cylinder. Transportation members and tape guide posts are positioned as follows. 
     First, the transportation members having the tape guide posts projecting therefrom are transferred and positioned by a plurality of links or arms, which are pivotally engaged with a pivoting shaft of each transportation member. 
     Then, the tape guide posts, which are provided on the transportation members with a high level of precision, are positioned by putting the transportation members into pressure-contact with positioning members provided on the chassis by a separate pressure-contact device. In this manner, the positions of the tape guide posts in the planar direction and in the height direction, and the angle of inclination of the tape guide posts are determined. 
     A tape loading mechanism of a conventional magnetic recording and reproduction apparatus will be described. 
     First, a conventional transportation mechanism for transporting transportation members to prescribed positions will be described. FIG. 12 is a plan view of a magnetic recording and reproduction apparatus 1200 described in Japanese Laid-Open Publication No. 11-273191. In FIG. 12, a tape  2  is not yet loaded. 
     An S (supply-side) boat  39  and a T (takeup-side) boat  40  each serve as a tape drawing member provided on a main chassis  8 . Pins  41 A and  41 B provided on the S boat  39 , and pins  41 C and  41 D provided on the T boat  40 , are in engagement with a long hole  43  of a rail  42 . The S boat  39  and the T boat  40  move along the long hole  43 . An S2 post  44  and an S1 post  45  are provided on the S boat  39 , and a T1 post  46  and a T2 post  47  are provided on the T boat  40 . As the S boat  39  and the T boat  40  move, the posts  44 ,  45 ,  46  and  47  act to wind the tape  2  around a rotational head cylinder  38 . Reference numeral  48  is a rail section provided on the main chassis  8 . 
     FIG. 13 is another plan view of the tape loading mechanism  1200 . FIG. 13 shows a portion of the tape loading mechanism  1200  which is on the main chassis  8 . FIG. 14 is an enlarged view of the S boat  39  and the T boat  40 . In FIGS. 13 and 14, a boat driving arm  73  is supported on the main chassis  8  by a shaft  74 . A driving pin  75  standing on a cam gear  66  contacts an inner cam  76  provided on the boat driving arm  73 . Thus, the boat driving arm  73  is driven by a pivoting movement of the cam gear  66 . 
     A gear  77  of the boat driving arm  73  is in engagement with a pinion  80  integrated with an S load gear  79 , which is supported on the main chassis  8  by a shaft  78 . 
     An S load arm  81  is coaxially supported with the S load gear  79 . An S load link  82  is attached to the S load arm  81  via a shaft  83  so that the S load link  82  is rotatable with respect to the S load arm  81 . The S load link  82  is also attached to the S boat  39  via a pin  41 A so that the S load link  82  is rotatable with respect to the S boat  39 . 
     A T load gear  84  is supported on the main chassis  8  by a shaft  85  and is engaged with the S load gear  79 . A T load arm  86  is coaxially supported with the T load gear  84 . A T load link  87  is attached to the T load arm  86  via a shaft  88  so that the T load link  87  is rotatable with respect to the T load arm  86 . The T load link  87  is also attached to the T boat  40  via a pin  41 C so that the T load link  87  is rotatable with respect to the T boat  40 . 
     The S load arm  81  and the S load gear  79  are usually integrated together with a twisted coil spring (not shown) and are pivoted about the shaft  78 . The S load gear  79 , when rotated clockwise while the S load arm  81  is stopped, is urged counterclockwise by the twisted coil spring. Likewise, the T load arm  86  and the T load gear  84  are usually integrated together with a twisted coil spring (not shown) and are pivoted about the shaft  85 . The T load gear  84 , when rotated counterclockwise while the T load arm  86  is stopped, is urged clockwise by the twisted coil spring. 
     The S load gear  79  and the T load gear  84  are driven by a pivoting movement of the boat driving arm  73 , and thus the S boat  39  and the T boat  40  move on the rail  42  (FIG. 12) via the S load link  82  and the T load link  87 . 
     FIG. 15 is a plan view of the magnetic recording and reproduction apparatus  1200  when the tape  2  is loaded. FIG. 16 shows the boat driving arm  73  when the tape  2  is loaded. 
     The boat driving arm  73  has been rotated at a maximum possible angle counterclockwise. The S boat  39  and the T boat  40  each have moved to a prescribed position on the main chassis  8  via the gear  77 , the S load gear  79 , and the T load gear  84 . A V-shaped edge  143  of the S boat  39  contacts a boat stopper  141  provided on the main chassis  8 , and a V-shaped edge  144  of the T boat  40  contacts a boat stopper  142  also provided on the main chassis  8 . Thus, the S boat  39  and the T boat  40  are positioned. The S load gear  79  and the S load arm  81  are integrally rotated while the S boat  39  is moving. The T load gear  84  and the T load arm  86  are integrally rotated while the e boat  40  is moving. The S link  82  and the S load arm  81  are structured so that the S boat  39  reaches a prescribed position in a certain mode, and the T link  87  and the T load arm  86  are structured so that the T boat  40  reaches a prescribed position in the mode. The boat driving arm  73  rotates the S load gear  79  clockwise and rotates the T load gear  84  counterclockwise, both beyond the prescribed positions. Therefore, a rotation phase difference is generated between the S load gear  79  and the S load arm  81  and between the T load gear  84  and the T load arm  86 . Therefore, the S boat  39  is put into pressure-contact with the boat stopper  141  by a reaction force of a twisted coil spring (not shown), and the T boat  40  is put into pressure-contact with the boat stopper  142  by a reaction force of a twisted coil spring (not shown). 
     Next, a method for positioning tape guide roller posts provided in the transportation members will be described. FIG. 17 is a partial perspective view of a tape loading mechanism  1700  of a magnetic recording and reproduction apparatus described in Japanese Laid-Open Publication No. 4-318361. 
     The tape loading mechanism  1700  includes tape guide roller posts  202 ,  204  and  206 . The tape guide roller post  202  is provided on a boat  208 , and the tape guide roller posts  204  and  206  are provided on a boat  210 . Stoppers  212  and  214  are provided on a chassis  226 . The loading mechanism  1700  further includes a supply-side loading ring gear  216  (for a takeup-side loading ring gear, see FIG. 6 of Japanese Laid-Open Publication No. 4-318361), a supply-side driving shaft  218  provided on the supply-side loading ring gear  216 , a takeup-side driving shaft  220  provided on the takeup-side loading ring gear, a supply-side loading guide  222 , and a takeup-side loading guide  224 . 
     The supply-side loading ring gear  216  is rotated by a separate driving element, and the takeup-side loading ring gear is rotated by a separate driving element. Thus, the boats  208  and  210 , which are respectively engaged with the feed-side driving loading ring gear  216  and the takeup-side loading ring gear, load a tape (not shown) along the loading guides  222  and  224  from a tape cassette. When the loading of the tape is completed, the boats  208  and  210  are respectively put into pressure-contact with the stoppers  212  and  214 . Thus, the tape guide roller posts  202 ,  204  and  206  are positioned. 
     FIGS. 18A through 18D show a positioning mechanism for positioning the supply-side boat  208  (referred to as the “boat  208 ”). FIG. 18A is a plan view of the boat  208 , FIG. 18B is a side view thereof, FIG. 18C is a bottom view thereof, and FIG. 18D is a partial cross-sectional view thereof taken along line T—T of FIG.  18 A. For sake of simplicity, the structure of each element of the boat  208  and the positioning mechanism has been simplified. 
     Reference numeral  486  represents a stopper projecting from the chassis  226  (FIG.  17 ). A conical pressing portion  486   b  is provided on a pin  486   a . Reference numeral  464   a  represents a V-shaped groove provided at a front end of the boat  208 . The V-shaped groove  464   a  has an inclining portion. A reference surface is provided each at the front end (left end in FIGS. 18A through 18C) and a rear end (right end in FIGS. 18A through 18C) of the boat  208 . The reference surfaces contact the reference surface of the chassis  226  which is disposed in the vicinity of the boat  208  in a state where the tape is completely loaded (loading completion state). In this manner, highly precise positioning of the boat  208  is provided. 
     As shown in FIGS. 17 and 18A though  18 D, the boat  208  is guided along the supply-side loading guide  222  as the supply-side ring gear  228  pivots. The stopper  486  contacts the V-shaped groove  464   a  in the loading completion state. Thus, the boat  208  is positioned. In the loading completion state, a driving force is maintained in the direction of arrow J (FIG. 18B) via the supply-side driving shaft  218  by a separate driving element (a swinging plate 45 in Japanese Laid-Open Publication No. 4-318361; not shown here). Therefore, when the stopper  486  contacts the V-shaped groove  464   a , the V-shaped groove  464   a  regulates the position of the boat  208  in the horizontal direction in FIGS. 18A through 18D. Since a force is also maintained upon the boat  208  in the direction of arrow K (FIG.  18 B), the position of the boat  208  is also regulated in the vertical direction in FIGS. 18A through 18D. 
     The above-described conventional devices have the following problems. 
     In the loading mechanism 1200 described in Japanese Laid-Open Publication No. 11-273191, pivoting shafts are required to convey the force from the loading gears  79  and  84  to the boats  39  and  40 . This increases the number of elements. 
     In the positioning mechanism described in Japanese Laid-Open Publication No. 4-318361, the positions and angles of inclination of the tape guide roller posts  202 ,  204  and  206  are determined by positioning the boats  208  and  210  with respect to the chassis  226 . Due to such a construction, it is necessary to guarantee a very high level of precision as to the angle of inclination of the tape guide roller posts  202 ,  204  and  206  with respect to the reference surfaces of the boats  208  and  210 . This requires the shape of the boats  208  and  210  to be extremely precise and complicated, and thus increases the production cost of the boats  208  and  210 . An error in the angle of inclination and position of the tape guide roller posts  202 ,  204  and  206  with respect to the boats  208  and  210  can undesirably cause abnormal running of the tape and damage the tape. 
     As described above, the conventional art requires a large number of elements and a high level of precision of each element, This increases the cost of the loading and positioning mechanisms and makes it difficult to guarantee the required level of quality. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A tape loading device for loading a tape from a first state, in which the tape is mounted on a chassis, to a second state, in which a tape running path is formed as a result of a tape guide post pulling out and winding the tape at a prescribed position is provided. The tape loading device includes a transportation member having the tape guide post thereon; a forward wall integrated with the transportation member and disposed rearward to the tape guide post and inclined so that normal thereto is directed forward and obliquely upward; and a pressure-contact member, which is in pressure-contact with the forward wall in the second state for urging the transportation member forward and obliquely upward. 
     In one embodiment of the invention, the tape loading device further includes a rear wall integrated with the transportation member and provided rearward to the front wall, wherein during a loading operation for transferring from the first state into the second state, the pressure-contact member presses the front wall to drive the transportation member forward, and during an unloading operation for transferring from the second state into the first state, the pressure-contact member presses the rear wall to drive the transportation member rearward. 
     In one embodiment of the invention, the tape loading device further includes an upper stopping member provided above the tape; a lower stopping member provided below the tape; and a height stopping member. In the second state, an upper portion of the tape guide post contacts the upper stopping member so as to determine a position of the upper portion of the tape guide post in a planar direction, a lower portion of the tape guide post or a portion of the transportation member contacts the lower stopping member so as to determine a position of the lower portion of the tape guide post in the planar direction, and a portion of the tape guide post or a portion of the transportation member contacts the height stopping member so as to determine a position of the tape guide post in a height direction. 
     In one embodiment of the invention, the tape guide post includes a roller shaft; a roller rotatably supported by the roller shaft; an upper flange integrated with the roller shaft for restricting an upward movement of the roller; a lower flange integrated with the roller shaft for restricting a downward movement of the roller. A portion of the roller shaft which passes through the upper flange and projects upward from the upper flange is defined as an upper roller shaft portion, and a portion of the roller shaft which passes through the lower flange and projects downward from the lower flange is defined as a lower roller shaft portion. The upper roller shaft portion contacts the upper stopping member, the lower roller shaft portion contacts the lower stopping member, and a top surface of the upper roller shaft portion contacts the height stopping member. 
     Thus, the invention described herein makes possible the advantages of providing a tape loading device which includes fewer elements, with a simpler structure, and thus is lower-cost while providing stable performance. 
     These and other advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying figures. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a plan view of a tape loading device according to an example of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a partial plan-view of the tape loading device shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3A is an enlarged plan view of a chain-like driving member of the tape loading device shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3B is an enlarged side view of the chain-like driving member of the tape loading device shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4A is an enlarged partial plan view of a rail carrying a boat of the tape loading device shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4B is a side view of FIG. 4A; 
     FIG. 4C is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 4B taken along line L—L of FIG. 4B; 
     FIG. 4D is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 4B taken along line N—N of FIG. 4B; 
     FIG. 5A is an enlarged plan view of a gear of the tape loading device shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 5B is a side view of the gear shown in FIG. 5A; 
     FIG. 6A is a side view of the boat, string-shaped driving member and a V-shaped stopper of the tape loading device shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 6A taken along line G—G; 
     FIG. 6C is a view of FIG. 6A seen in the direction of arrow F; 
     FIGS. 7 through 11 are plan views of the tape loading device shown in FIG. 1, illustrating a loading operation and an unloading operation performed by the tape loading device; 
     FIG. 12 is a plan view of a conventional magnetic recording and reproduction apparatus; 
     FIG. 13 is a partial plan view of the conventional magnetic recording and reproduction apparatus shown in FIG. 12; 
     FIG. 14 is an enlarged view of boats of the conventional magnetic recording and reproduction apparatus shown in FIG. 12; 
     FIG. 15 is a plan view of the conventional magnetic recording and reproduction apparatus shown in FIG. 12 when a tape  2  is loaded; 
     FIG. 16 is a boat driving arm of the conventional magnetic recording and reproduction apparatus shown in FIG. 12 when the tape is loaded; 
     FIG. 17 is a partial perspective view of a tape loading mechanism of another conventional magnetic recording and reproduction apparatus; and 
     FIGS. 18A through 18D show a positioning mechanism for positioning a boat in the conventional magnetic recording and reproduction apparatus shown in FIG.  17 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, the present invention will be described by way of illustrative examples with reference to the accompanying drawings. Identical elements in different examples bear identical reference numerals. 
     FIG. 1 is a plan view of a tape loading device  1000  according to an example of the present invention in the state where a tape has not been drawn from a tape cassette  301 . FIG. 2 is a plan view of the tape loading device  1000  in the state where a magnetic tape  322  (hereinafter, referred to as the “tape  322 ”) is drawn from the tape cassette  301  so as to be wound around a rotational head cylinder  2 . With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a structure of the tape loading device  1000  will be described. 
     Fixed (i.e., non-roller) tape guide posts  320  and  321  are provided on a chassis  3000 . A capstan motor shaft  319  and a pinch roller  318   a  hold the magnetic tape  322  therebetween so as to transport the magnetic tape  322 . 
     The pinch roller  318   a  is provided on a pinch arm  318 . The pinch roller  318   a  is pulled from the position shown in FIG. 1 to the position shown in FIG. 2 by a driving element (not shown) and is put into pressure-contact with the capstan motor shaft  319 . 
     A tape pull-out post  316   a  projects from a tape pull-out arm  316 , and a tape pull-out post  317   a  projects from a pull-out arm  317 . The pull-out arms  316  and  317  are provided on the chassis  3000 . The tape pull-out posts  316   a  and  317   a  are moved from the position shown in FIG. 1 to the position shown in FIG. 2 respectively by pivoting movements of the pull-out arms  316  and  317  caused by a driving element (not shown), so as to pull out the tape  322 . A boss  318   b  provided on the pinch arm  318  is slidably engaged with a cam groove  317   b  formed in the pull-out arm  317 . The pull-out arm  317  is driven by the movement of the pinch arm  318 . A tension spring  316   b  is attached to the pull-out arm  316  at one end thereof. The other end of the tension spring  316   b  is fixed, for example, on the chassis  3000 . 
     With reference to FIG. 1, a tape guide roller post  305   a  projects from a boat  303   a  (transportation member), and a tape guide roller post  306   a  projects from a boat  304   a  (transportation member). The boats  303   a  and  304   a  are each guided by a rail  307 , and can each reciprocally move by a driving mechanism (described later) between the position shown in FIG. 1 (when the tape  322  is not loaded) and the position shown in FIG. 2 (when the tape  322  is completely loaded). 
     The positions of the boats  303   a  and  304   a  in FIG. 1 will be referred to as the “unloading positions”, and the positions of the boats  303   a  and  304   a  in FIG. 2 will be referred to as the “loading completion positions”. A state in which the tape  322  is mounted on the chassis  3000  is defined as a first state. A state in which the tape guide roller post  305   a  and  306   a  pull out the tape  322  and wind the tape  322  at a prescribed position so as to form a tape running path is defined as a second state. An operation for moving from the first state to the second state is defined as a loading operation. An operation for moving from the second state to the first state is defined as an unloading operation. 
     Due to the above-described structure, the tape  322  is pulled out from the tape cassette  301  and forms a tape path as shown in FIG.  2 . The tape  322  is run as shown in FIG. 2 by the capstan motor shaft  319 , the pinch roller  318   a , and a reel table (not shown), which is engaged with a reel hub (not shown) in the tape cassette  301  for rotating the reel hub by a driving force of the capstan motor shaft  319 . 
     Next, a method for driving the boats  303   a  and  304   a  will be described. 
     In FIG. 1, reference numerals  308   a  and  309   a  each refer to a chain-like driving member. FIG. 3A is an enlarged plan view of the chain-like driving member  309   a . FIG. 3B is an enlarged side view thereof. The chain-like driving member  308   a  is identical with the chain-like driving member  309   a , and will not be described in detail. The chain-like driving member  309   a  includes a plurality of flexures along the entirety thereof, both in the width direction as represented by reference numerals A1 through A7 (FIG. 3A) and in the thickness direction as represented by reference numerals D1 through D6 (FIG. 3 B). Therefore, the chain-like driving member  309   a  can freely bend in the direction of arrow P (FIG.  3 A), and in the direction of arrow Q (FIG.  3 B). The chain-like driving member  309   a  has a tower-like projection  309   a  at one end thereof, and has a cylindrical boss  309   d  at the other end thereof. 
     The chain-like driving member  309   a  is identical in principle and construction to the chain-like driving member  308   a . Each is made up of a plurality of links which may be formed individually and linked together, or may be integrally joined, e.g., by a “living hinge” arrangement. As a particular example, the chain-like driving members  308   a  and  309   a  are formed from molded resin or the like, although it will be appreciated that other types of materials may be used without departing from the scope of the invention. 
     With reference to FIGS. 4A through 4D, the structure of the boat  304   a , the chain-like driving member  309   a , and the corresponding rail  307  will be described. The structure of boat  303   a , the chain-like driving member  309   a , and the corresponding rail  307  is identical therewith, and will not be described in detail for sake of brevity. 
     FIG. 4A is an enlarged partial plan view of the rail  307  carrying the boat  304   a . FIG. 4B is a side view of FIG.  4 A. FIG. 4C is cross-sectional view of FIG. 4B taken along line L—L of FIG.  4 B. FIG. 4D is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 4B taken along line N—N of FIG.  4 B. 
     The rail  307  is provided from the vicinity of the unloading position of the boat  304   a  to the loading completion position of the boat  304   a  with its height changed, so as to cover a slope  310  (see, e.g., FIG. 6C) which is integrally molded with the chassis  3000 . 
     The boat  304   a  includes a base  304   a  on an opposite side of rail flanges  307   a  of the rail  307 . Thus, the boat  304   a  can slide back and forth along the rail  307  in the direction of arrow M. 
     The chain-like driving member  309   a  is inserted into a space between the rail  307  and the slope  310 , and can also slide in the direction of arrow M. The rail  307  and the slope  310  smoothly meanders laterally and vertically with respect to the chassis  3000 . The chain-like driving member  309   a  is freely bendable laterally and vertically due to the plurality of flexures and thus can smoothly slide between the rail  307  and the slope  310 . 
     The chain-like driving member  309   a  moves only between the rail  307  and the slope  310 . Unlike the conventional structure, there are no spatial restrictions due to a large pivoting movement of the link mechanism. Therefore, the tape loading device  1000  in this example is space saving. 
     The projection  309   a  at one end of the chain-like driving member  309   a  is inserted into a hole  304   d  (FIGS. 4A and 4B) in a rear portion of the boat  304   a  with a prescribed gap. Due to this, a front face  399   d  of the projection  309   a  and an inclining face  304   e  of the boat  304   a  face each other. A rear face  309   e  of the projection  309   c  and a face  304   f  of the boat  304   a  face each other. The face  304   f  is disposed rearward with respect to the inclining face  304   e . While the tape is being loaded, the front face  399   d  pushes the inclining face  304   e , thereby sliding the boat  304   a  forward (to the right in FIG.  4 B). 
     The inclining face  304   e  can be defined as a forward wall, and the face  304   f  can be defined as a rearward wall. The front face  399   d  of the projection  309   a  can be defined as a pressure-contact member. 
     Returning to FIG. 1, gears  311  and  312  are driven by a driving element (not shown). The gears  311  and  312  are respectively rotatably mounted around shafts  3000   a  and  3000   b , which are integrally molded with the chassis  3000 . Coiled is springs  313  and  314  are respectively mounted about the centers of the gears  311  and  312 . The coiled springs  313  and  314  integrally pivot with the gears  311  and  312 , respectively. A movable end  313   a  of the coiled spring  313  is stopped by a stopper  311   b  of the gear  311 . A movable end  314   a  of the coiled spring  314  is stopped by a stopper  312   b  of the gear  312 . 
     FIG. 5A is an enlarged plan view of the gear  312 , and FIG. 5B is a side view thereof with reference to FIGS. 5A and 5B, the structure of the gear  312 , the coiled spring  314  and the chain-like driving member  309   a  will be described. The structure of the gear  311 , the coiled spring  313  and the chain-like driving member  308   a  are identical therewith, and will not be described in detail. 
     The gear  312  is provided between the chassis  3000  and a pressing plate  315 . The chain-like driving member  309   a  can be wound around an outer circumferential surface  312   a  of a partially cut-out arc-shaped projection  312   c . A guide  315   d  (FIG. 1) is provided so as to face the circumferential surface  312   a  with the chain-like driving member  309   a  interposed therebetween. A guide  315   a  (FIG. 1) is provided so as to face a circumferential surface  311   a  of a partially cut-out arc-shaped projection  311   a  of the gear  311 . 
     The movable end  314   a  of the coiled spring  314  is at the same height as that of a pressing face  399   e  of the chain-like driving member  309   a  so that the movable end  314   a  can contact the pressing face  399   e . The pressing plate  315  has a cam groove  315   a , and the boss  309   d  of the chain-like driving member  309   a  is slidably engaged within the cam groove  315   a.    
     In FIG. 1, V-shaped stoppers  326  and  327  are provided for positioning the tape guide roller posts  305   a  and  306   a . The V-shaped stoppers  326  and  327  are integrally formed of sheet metal, and are attached to a wall  3000   c  of the chassis  3000 . 
     FIG. 6A is a side view of the boat  304   a , the string-shaped driving member  309   a  and the V-shaped stopper  327 , in the state where the tape guide roller post  306   a  is in pressure-contact with the V-shaped stopper  327 . FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 6A taken along line G—G. FIG. 6C is a partial view of FIG. 6A seen in the direction of arrow F. With reference to FIGS. 6A through 6C, the structure and function of the V-shaped stopper  327  will be described. The V-shaped stopper  326  has an identical structure function therewith, and will not be described in detail. 
     The tape guide roller post  306   a  includes a roller shaft having an upper portion  306   c  which projects upward from an upper flange  306   f , and a lower portion  306   d  which projects downward from a lower flange  306   g . A roller is supported by the roller shaft between the flanges. The upper portion  306   c  has a top surface  306   e . The V-shaped stopper  327  includes an upper portion  327   c , a lower portion  327   e , and a ceiling portion  327   g . The lower portion  327   e  includes a lower V-shaped portion  327   a  for positioning the lower portion  306   d  of the tape guide roller post  306   a . The upper portion  327   c  includes an upper V-shaped portion  327   b  for positioning the upper portion  306   a  of the tape guide roller post  306   a . The ceiling portion  327   g  includes a ceiling portion  327   d  for positioning the top surface  306   e  of the tape guide roller post  306   a . An attaching screw  318  attaches the V-shaped stopper  327  to the chassis  3000 . The V-shaped stopper  327  is elastically bendable. The ceiling portion  327   g  is bent in the direction of arrow E and secured in that state by a screw  392 . The lower portion  327   e  is bent in the direction of arrow A and secured in that state by a screw  391 . By rotating the screw  392 , the height of the ceiling portion  372   g  can be adjusted relative to the upper portion  327   a . By rotating the screw  391 , the position of the lower portion  327   a  in the direction of arrow A can be adjusted. 
     An operation of the tape loading device  1000  having the above-described structure will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 through 11. 
     FIG. 7 shows the state where unloading is completed. In this state, each roller posts  305   a  and  306   a  are in the opening of the tape cassette (not shown). 
     From this state, the gears  311  and  312  are rotated by a driving element (not shown) in the direction of arrows H and I so as to start loading. In this state, however, the bosses  308   d  and  309   d  of the chain-like driving members  308   a  and  309   a  are guided by linear sections of the cam grooves  315   b  and  315   a , and also the faces  308   f  and  309   f  of the chain-like driving members  308   a  and  309   a  contact outer circumferential surfaces  311   a  and  312   a  of the arc-shaped projections  311   c  and  312   c  of the gears  311  and  312 . Therefore, the chain-like driving members  308   a  and  309   a  do not rotate with the gears  311  and  312 , and thus the boats  303   a  and  304   a  do not move. 
     FIG. 8 shows the state where the gears  311  and  312  further rotate, and the boat  303   a  and  304   a  start loading. 
     In this state, the movable ends  313   a  and  314   a  of the coiled springs  313  and  314  integrally rotatable with the gears  311  and  312  contact the pressing faces  388   e  and  399   e  of the chain-like driving members  308   a  and  309   a , and thus presses the chain-like driving members  308   a  and  309   a  in the directions of arrows H and I. In this state, the relative position between the chain-like driving members  308   a  and  309   a  and the gears  311  and  312  is changed, so that the faces  308   f  and  309   f  of the chain-like driving members  308   a  and  309   a  respectively face the cut-out portions of the arc-shaped projections  311   c  and  312   c  of the gears  311  and  312 . Accordingly, as the gears  311  and  312  rotate, the bosses  308   d  and  309   d  are guided along the cam grooves  315   b  and  315   a  to go inside the gears  311  and  312 , as shown in FIG.  9 . 
     In FIG. 9, the boats  303   a  and  304   a  are being moved. 
     The coiled springs  313  and  314  press the pressing faces  388   e  and  399   e , and the stoppers  311   b  and  312   b  face the engaging surfaces  308   h  and  309   h  of the chain-like driving members  308   a  and  309   a . The bosses  308   d  and  309   d  are in engagement with arc-shaped portions of the cam grooves  315   b  and  315   a , which are concentric with the gears  311  and  312 , The arc-shaped guides  315   d  and  315   a  for guiding the chain-like driving members  308   a  and  309   a  are provided outside the chain-like driving members  308   a  and  309   a . Therefore, the chain-like driving members  308   a  and  309   a  move in the directions of arrows H and I together with the gears  311  and  312  but are not diverted outside. 
     The chain-like driving members  308   a  and  309   a  move while being guided by the slopes  310  between the rails  307  and the chassis  3000 , and thus drive the boats  303   a  and  304   a  to load the tape (not shown). As shown in FIGS. 4A through 4D, the front face  399   d  (in the case of the chain-like driving member  309   a , for example) presses the inclining face  304   e , thereby sliding the boat  304   a  to the right (in FIG. 4B) along the rail  307 . 
     FIG. 10 shows the state of the tape guide roller posts  305   a  and  306   a , the boats  303   a  and  304   a , and the chain-like driving members  308   a  and  309   a  in the state where the tape guide roller posts  305   a  and  306   a  contact the V-shaped stoppers  326  and  327 . 
     In this state, the tape (not shown) is wound around the rotational head cylinder  302 . The tape guide roller posts  305   a  and  306   a  contact the V-stoppers  326  and  327  as shown in enlarged view of FIG.  6 A. 
     In FIG. 10, the stoppers  311   b  and  312   b  of the gears  311  and  312  still face the engaging surfaces  308   h  and  309   h  of the chain-like driving members  308   a  and  309   a.    
     FIG. 11 shows the state where the gears  311  and  312  further rotate in the directions of arrows H and I. The coiled springs  313  and  314  are bent. The reason is that since the tape guide roller posts  305   a  and  306   a  contact the V-shaped stoppers  326  and  327 , the boats  303   a  and  304   a  and the chain-like driving members  308   a  and  309   a  do not move. 
     In FIG. 11, the coiled springs  313  and  314  respectively apply forces in the directions of arrows U and V to the chain-like driving members  308   a  and  309   a . The chain-like driving members  308   a  and  309   a , which are freely bendable, tend to slide along the rails  307  and the slopes  310 . Thus, the chain-like driving members  308   a  and  309   a  convey the forces in the directions of arrows U and V to the boats  303   a  and  304   a , so as to put the tape guide roller posts  305   a  and  306   a  into pressure-contact with the V-shaped stoppers  326  and  327 . 
     The pressure-contact mechanism will be described with reference to FIG.  6 A. FIG. 6A is a side view of the boat  304   a , the chain-like driving member  309   a  and the V-shaped stopper  327  in the state shown in FIG. 11. A force V (FIG. 11) conveyed to the chain-like driving member  309   a  by the coiled spring  314  urges the chain-like driving member  309   a  in the direction of arrow B shown in FIG.  6 A. The tower-like projection  309   c  of the chain-Like driving member  309   a  contacts the inclining face  304   e  and thus urges the boat  304   a  in the direction of arrow C shown in FIG.  6 A. 
     In this state, the lower portion  306   d  of the tape guide roller post  306   a  contacts the lower V-shaped portion  327   a  of the V-shaped groove  327 . The upper portion  306   c  of the tape guide roller post  306   a  is guided along guides  327   c  of the upper portion  327   c  and contacts the upper V-shaped portion  327   b . The top surface  306   e  of the tape guide roller post  306   a  is guided along the ceiling portion  327   g  and contacts the ceiling portion  327   d . The lower portion  306   d  is pressured in the direction of arrow C 1 . The upper portion  306   c  is pressured in the direction of arrow C 2 . The top surface  306   e  is pressured in the direction of arrow C 3 . Thus, the tape guide roller post  306   a  is positioned at a prescribed angle and height. In this manner, the tape loading is completed 
     As described above, the V-shaped stopper  327  is adjusted to be ideally positioned in the directions of arrows A and E by the screws  391  and  392 . The center shaft of the tape guide roller post  306   a  is directly put into pressure-contact with the lower V-shaped portion  327   a , the upper V-shaped portion  327   b  and the ceiling portion  327   d  with no other element interposed therebetween. Therefore, the tape guide roller post  306   a  can be positioned with a very high level of precision. Therefore, the tape can be wound around the rotational head cylinder  302  in an ideal state. 
     The tape is unloaded as follows. When the gears  311  and  312  rotate in the directions of arrows R and S, the coiled springs  313  and  314  return to the state shown in FIG. 10, where the coiled springs  313  and  314  are more relaxed. In FIG. 10, the stoppers  311   b  and  312   b  of the gears  311  and  312  are engaged with the engaging surfaces  308   h  and  309   h  and thus pull the chain-like driving members  308   a  and  309   a  in the directions of arrows R and S. The rear face  309   e  of the chain-like driving member  309   a , (FIG. 6A) contacts the face  304   f  of the boat  304   a , and thus drives the boat  304   a  in the direction of arrow D (FIG.  6 A). 
     Thus, the boats  303   a  and  304   a  are unloaded from the state of FIG. 10 to the state shown in FIG.  9  and then to the state shown in FIG.  8 . In the state shown in FIG. 8, the roller posts  305   a  and  306   a  are accommodated in the opening of the tape cassette (not shown). In this state, the bosses  308   d  and  309   d  of the chain-like driving members  308   a  and  309   a  are guided by the cam grooves  315   b  and  315   a , and the chain-like driving members  308   a  and  309   a  are pulled outside of the gears  311  and  312 . The stopper  311   b  and  312   b  are disengaged from the engaging surfaces  308   h  and  309   h , and thus the chain-like driving members  308   a  and  309   a  are disassociated from the rotation of the gears  311  and  312 . Accordingly, the gears  311  and  312  can be further rotated in the directions of arrows R and S. In a magnetic recording and reproduction apparatus, after the roller posts  305   a  and  306   a  return to the positions in the opening of the tape cassette, the tape needs to be detached by, for example, lifting the cassette lifting device. This operation can be performed by using the above-mentioned further rotation of the gears  311  and  312 . Thus, the magnetic recording and reproduction apparatus  1000  is put into the state shown in FIG.  7 . The unloading of the tape is completed. 
     As described above, In this example of the present invention, the inclining face  304   e  is disposed in a rear portion of the boat  304   a  having the roller post  306   a  projecting therefrom. The normal to the inclining surface  304   e  is directed forward and obliquely upward. During the loading operation, the chain-like driving member  309   a  presses the inclining face  304   e , thereby transporting the boat  304   a  forward (to the right in FIG.  4 B). During the unloading operation, the chain-like driving member  309   a  presses the face  304   f  disposed rearward to the inclining face  304   e , thereby transporting the boat  304   a  rearward (to the left in FIG.  4 B). When the loading is completed, the inclining face  304   e  is pressed so as to put the roller post  306   a  into contact the V-shaped stopper  327  to position the roller post  306   a . In this manner, the loading operation of the magnetic tape can be performed by a simple structure. Thus, a lower-cost tape loading device having a small number of elements is provided. 
     When the loading operation is completed, an upper portion of each of the tape guide roller posts  305   a  and  306   a  is in engagement with the upper stopping member. A lower portion of each tape guide roller post,  305   a ,  306   a  or a portion of each boat  303   a ,  304   a  is in engagement with the lower stopping member. A portion of each tape guide roller post  305   a ,  306   a  or a portion of each boat  303   a ,  304   a  is in engagement with the height stopping member. Thus, the position of each tape guide roller post  305   a ,  306   a  both in the planar direction and the height direction is determined. Therefore, neither the size of each boat  303   a ,  304   a  nor the angle of inclination of the tape guide roller post  305   a ,  306   a  with respect to the boat  303   a ,  304   a  influences the precision of inclination of the tape guide roller post  305   a ,  306   a . The tape guide roller post  305   a ,  306   a  can be set to a prescribed angle with a high level of precision with low-cost elements, without requiring the size of the boat  303   a ,  304   a  or the angle of inclination of the tape guide roller post  305   a ,  306   a  with respect to the boat  303   a ,  304   a  to be extremely precise. Therefore, a low-cost, high performance tape loading device is provided. 
     Especially in the case of the above-described example where the upper portion and the lower portion of the tape guide roller post  305 ,  306   a  are respectively positioned by the upper and lower stopping members, and the top surface of the tape guide roller post  305   a ,  306   a  is positioned by the height stopping member, there is no element disposed between the stopping members and the tape guide roller post  305   a ,  306   a . Therefore, the tape guide roller post  305   a ,  306   a  can be set at a prescribed angle with a higher level of precision. A lower-cost, higher performance tape loading device is provided, 
     As described above, the present invention provides a low-cost and high performance tape loading device for performing loading and unloading operations and positioning tape guide posts, with a small number of elements with a simple structure. 
     Various other modifications will be apparent to and can be readily made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention. Accordingly, it is not intended that the scope of the claims appended hereto be limited to the description as set forth herein, but rather that the claims be broadly construed.