Patent ID: 8199430

Claim:
A tape device having a cleaning structure for removing dust adhering to a surface of a tape, the cleaning structure being placed on a running path of the tape, wherein the cleaning structure comprises: a guiding member having a sliding surface which guides the surface of the running tape while coming in contact with the surface of the running tape; and a vacuum supply source for effecting a vacuum pressure on a suction space inside the guiding member, wherein the guiding member includes: a suction port opened to make the suction space communicate with an external space on the sliding surface of the guiding member, and a guiding wall fixed to the guiding member, the guiding wall coming in contact with only one of the tape edges of the running tape, wherein the suction port which effects a suction pressure on the tape surface through the suction space and an opening edge of the suction port located on a downstream side in a tape running direction are provided as a first dust removal portion for removing dust on the tape surface, and the guiding wall which regulates a running position of the only one of the tape edges of the running tape while being brought in contact with the only one of the tape edges, is provided as a second dust removal portion for removing dust adhering to the tape edge.