Sony Corporation

Katsuaki Ikema

Kazuyoshi Suzuki

Katsunori Takahashi

Toshio Mamiya

Masaki Takase

Akihiro Uetake

Katsuji Akimoto

Tadashi Ozue

Ryoki Honjo

Takeshi Ichimura

Katsuya Arai

Attributes of data recorded on a magnetic tape are stored in an attribute information table saved in an MIC (Memory in Cassette) of a tape cassette accommodated in a tape streamer drive connected to a host computer. The attributes are recorded for every identifier used for identifying a recording unit of the data. For each identifier, the attributes include the name of a file, a title, a file creation date/time, a file updating date/time, the amount of data contained in the file, the type of the data and a compression rate of the data. The attributes include not only those supplied by the host computer but also attributes generated after a data recording operation as information on the recording location of data. The attributes generated after the data recording operation include a group number and an offset from the beginning of the group identified by the group number. For example, the present invention can be applied to the tape streamer drive.

Information-processing apparatus, information-processing method, programs and recording mediums

A tape-loading mechanism of a magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus according to the present invention has a tape travel system in which a magnetic tape drawn out of a supply-side tape reel is helically wound around a drum along a lead thereof by tilted guides respectively provided on inlet and outlet sides of the drum and tape guides respectively provided on inlet and outlet sides thereof, passed via a capstan and wound around a takeup side tape reel. A vertical position of the lead of the drum is set equal to that of a lower edge of the tape in a state immediately before the magnetic tape is loaded onto the drum. The magnetic tape is twisted in the middle of the tape travel system in order to cancel difference in tension between upper and lower edges of the magnetic tape when the magnetic tape is loaded onto the drum.

Tape guide members for a tape travel system for a tape loading mechanism

A recording and/or reproducing apparatus includes a rack mechanism by which a cassette compartment can be easily removed from a mechanical deck regardless of any position at which reel tables are moved. In a recording and/or reproducing apparatus such as a video cassette recorder in which a space between two reel tables can be moved by a reel table movement mechanism and small and large tape cassettes of different size are selectively mounted on the reel tables, a rack mechanism has a pair of parallel racks which can be relatively moved through a pinion, one rack has an engagement recess formed on one end portion thereof, the other rack has an engagement recess formed on one end portion thereof, the engagement recess being positioned over the one rack and a cassette compartment includes a drive lever which is moved in the height direction in response to the insertion of tape cassettes of different size. When the drive lever is lowered, the drive lever is engaged with the engagement recess of the one rack thereby to slidably move the rack member so that the reel tables are moved to the position corresponding to the small tape cassette. When the drive lever is elevated, the drive lever is engaged with the engagement recess of the other rack thereby to slidably move the rack so that the reel tables are moved to the position corresponding to the large tape cassette.

Recording and/or reproducing apparatus having means for selectively

To provide a recording and reproducing apparatus which permits to use tape cassettes different in not only size but also thickness. In order to make the apparatus cope with the tape cassettes different in size and thickness, there is provided a positioning guide mechanism including a pair of positioning guide members so that a small cassette can be guided at both the side faces on a cassette supporting surface of the cassette holder so as to be depressed and projected by a biasing means, and a pair of side plates at its both sides of a cassette holder so that a large cassette can be guided at its both side faces. If a user is not highly skilled in operating such recording and reproducing apparatus which permits to use tape cassettes different in size and thickness, the apparatus will suffer from risk that the cassettes are erroneously inserted or the user carries out malicious operation. In order to avoid a trouble due to such erroneous insertion, malicious operation or the like, the recording and reproducing apparatus further includes a cassette insertion detecting switch mechanism useful for detecting the insertion of the cassette and leading the cassette into the cassette holder and a holder stopper mechanism composed of a holder unlocking member and a lock member.

Positioning guide mechanism and erroneous insertion detecting and

Growing community of inventors

Kanagawa, Japan

Katsuaki Ikema