Patent ID: 7170710

Claim:
A magnetic recording and reproduction apparatus, comprising: a cylinder for recording information to and/or reproducing information from a magnetic tape having a magnetic surface and a non-magnetic surface; a first chassis section having the cylinder provided thereon; a second chassis section movable with respect to the first chassis section, on which a cassette accommodating a supply reel for supplying the magnetic tape is mountable; and at least three tape guide members including a first tape guide member, a second tape guide member and a third tape guide member; wherein: the second chassis section is movable between a first position and a second position; the first position is the position at which the information recording to and/or information reproduction from the magnetic tape is possible; the second position is the position at which the information recording to and/or information reproduction from the magnetic tape is not possible; when the second chassis section is in the first position, the supply reel, the first tape guide member, the second tape guide member, the third tape guide member and the cylinder are arranged in this order, such that only the first tape guide member, the second tape guide member and the third tape guide member guide the magnetic tape between the supply reel and the cylinder; and when the second chassis section is in the first position, the first tape guide member is in contact with the magnetic surface, the second tape guide member is in contact with the non-magnetic surface, and the third tape guide member is in contact with the non-magnetic surface, and the magnetic tape is wound around the second tape guide member over an angle of 100 degrees or greater and 200 degrees or less, and the magnetic tape is wound around the third tape guide member over an angle of 45 degrees or greater and 135 degrees or less.