Tape cassette

Abstract

A tape cassette having two substantially coplanar reels with tape wound on at least one of the reels and extending along a defined path within the cassette housing to the other reel, the ends of the tape being attached to the respective reels. The path is at least partly defined by guide means comprising a guide member to control the location of one edge of the tape very accurately. The guide member has at least one surface portion with a conical configuration, and the tape makes contact with this conical portion around only a limited arc. The axis of the conical portion of the guide member is substantially parallel to the axis of the adjacent roller, and the included conical angle defined by the conical surface is very small. The guide member has a shoulder that extends substantially perpendicularly outwardly from the conical axis at the constricted end of the conical surface to serve as a guide surface for one edge of the tape. The tape is urged against the shoulder by the force created by longitudinal tension in the tape against the conical section. The two guide members may be provided, one near each reel and both having conical surface portions tapered in opposite directions with respect to each other to permit the cassette to be inverted to allow the tape to travel in both directions while keeping the edge that is moving forward guided.