Cartridge tape recorder system and cartridge therefor

A cartridge type tape transport system comprising in combination:

• (A) a cartridge enclosing a pair of coplanar hubs rotatable about fixed axes and a length of pliable tape carried in rolls on said hubs, and (B) a transport comprising (1) a transducer cooperative with a span of tape intermediate said rolls, and (2) drive means for driving said tape across said transducer onto a first said tape roll from the second said tape roll, said drive means comprising a pair of movable capstans, biasing means for biasing said capstans into driving engagement with the peripheries of said tape rolls when said cartridge is in said transport, and control means for causing the capstan engaging said first tape roll to drive said first tape roll at higher peripheral speed than said second tape roll to generate tension in said span of tape intermediate said rolls;
• wherein the axes of rotation of both said capstans are in all operative positions on a forward side of a line through the axes of said tape rolls, wherein said span of tape is also on the forward side of said line through the axes of said tape rolls, and wherein said transducer is entirely on the forward side of said span, whereby said cartridge may be inserted in said transport with said capstans engaging said tape rolls and said transducer engaging said span entirely by movement of said cartridge forward into said transport, said cartridge further including a pair of doors covering substantially the entire front face of said cartridge when closed, said doors being hinged at the corners of said front face for movement in the plane of said tape rolls, and means tending to hold said doors closed when said cartridge is out of said transport, said doors cooperating with said transport upon movement of said cartridge forward into said transport to open said doors and expose said tape rolls for engagement by said capstans and to expose said span of tape for cooperation with said transducer.

A recording tape cartridge comprising a casing enclosing a pair of coplanar hubs rotatable about fixed axes;

• a length of pliable tape carried in rolls on said hubs with a span of tape intermediate said rolls;
• two tape guides defining said span of tape, said tape guides being positioned adjacent the front face of said cartridge and engaging a rearward face of said tape span, the front edge of at least one of broad upper wall and a broad lower wall of said casing including a central recess for receiving a transducer between said tape guides and a pair of outer recesses for receiving a pair of capstans outboard of said tape guides;
• a pair of doors covering substantially the entire front face of said cartridge when closed, said doors being hinged at the corners of said front face for movement in the plane of said tape rolls, said doors including corresponding ear portions for covering said central recess and said outer recesses in said broad wall of said cartridge;
• and means tending to hold said doors closed when said cartridge is out of said transport