Belt-type tape cartridge with increased magnetic tape capacity

Abstract

A tape cartridge comprising a base plate and a cover fixed to the base plate to define a closed space housing first and second hubs, first and second tape guides, a drive roller and first and second corner rollers all of which are mounted on the base plate. A magnetic tape is unwound from one of the first and second hubs, guided by the first and second tape guides and wound on the other hub. The drive roller is located between the first and second tape guides for driving a drive belt looped on its tape winding surface. The drive belt is also looped on the tape winding surfaces of the first and second corner rollers. The first corner roller is located to hold the drive belt in contact with a peripheral surface of the first hub and the second corner roller is located to hold the drive belt in contact with a peripheral surface of the second hub. The first hub has its rotation axis spaced at a first distance with respect to the tape winding surface of the drive roller and at a second distance with respect to the tape winding surface of the first corner roller. The first distance is substantially equal to the second distance. The second hub has its rotation axis spaced at a third distance with respect to the tape winding surface of the drive roller and at a fourth distance with respect to the tape winding surface of the second corner roller. The third distance is substantially equal to the fourth distance.