Patent ID: 6865047

Claim:
A single-reel tape cartridge comprising one tape reel and a tape-like recording medium wound around a periphery of the tape reel, the tape reel and the tape-like recording medium being contained inside a cartridge housing so that an outer end of the tape-like recording medium is extracted from the cartridge housing through a tape-passage hole formed in the cartridge housing, wherein a leader block is connected to the outer end of the tape-like recording medium placed at the periphery of the tape reel, and wherein the leader block has one of a positioning groove and a positioning projection used for guiding and positioning the leader block when the leader block is inserted into a take-up reel that winds the tape-like recording medium and has one of a restraining recess and a restraining projection used for positioning the leader block in the take-up reel, wherein one of the positioning groove and the positioning projection provided in the leader block is formed such that an end thereof has a V shape, wherein the leader block is further provided with one of a second positioning groove and a second positioning projection used for guiding and positioning the leader block when the leader block is inserted into the cartridge housing, and one of a second restraining recess and a second restraining projection used for positioning the leader block in the cartridge housing, and wherein an opening formed in the cartridge housing is provided with one of a positioning projection and a positioning groove which becomes engaged with one of the second positioning groove and the second positioning projection provided in the leader block so as to guide and position the leader block when the leader block is inserted into the cartridge housing, and one of a restraining projection and a restraining recess which becomes engaged with one of the second restraining recess and the second restraining projection provided in the leader block so as to position the leader block in the cartridge housing.