Tape cartridge

A tape cartridge comprising:

• a tape housing having an upper wall and a lower wall defining a tape housing therebetween, the lower wall having a circular opening defined therein through which a drive shaft can access;
• a first reel member positioned in the tape housing and supported by the upper wall for rotation about an axis extending through a center of the circular opening;
• a second reel member positioned in the tape housing and having an outer peripheral surface extending around the axis for winding the tape therearound;
• a connecting and biasing member connecting between the first and second reel members so that a rotation of the second reel member causes a rotation of the first reel member and biasing the second reel member toward the lower wall;
• a first engaging means provided on an inner surface of the lower wall;
• and
• a second engaging means provided on a lower surface of the second reel member so that the second engaging means can engage with the first engaging means due to a biasing force caused by the connecting and biasing member to prevent a rotation of the second reel member and can disengage from the first engaging means when the drive shaft accesses the second reel member through the opening and forces the second reel member toward the first reel member against the biasing force of the connecting and biasing member.