Patent ID: 6991193

Claim:
A tape drive apparatus for recording and/or reproducing information on a magnetic tape extracted from a tape cartridge, comprising: a carrying mechanism for extracting said magnetic tape as a recording medium, from said cartridge where the magnetic tape is stored, and for carrying the magnetic tape to be wound up onto a takeup reel provided on the drive apparatus, characterized in that said carrying mechanism comprises: a carrying section engaging with a leader block provided at the end of said magnetic tape, and carrying the leader block between said cartridge and said takeup reel; and a chucking mechanism for engaging, or releasing engagement with said leader block in conjunction with the movement of the carrying section, wherein the engagement and engagement releasing action of the chucking mechanism is effected by a pair of cams provided on the carrying section that alternately engage a pair of release levers provided on a cartridge mount end and a take up reel end of the tape drive apparatus in conjunction with the movement of said carrying section.