Tape magazine and recording and/or playback machine with improved magazine locating and loading structure

In combination

• a magazine comprising:
• a support member comprising a generally cylindrical hub portion having a central opening and having a slot extending axially across its full width and communicating with said central opening;
• an endless length of strip material having a major portion wound in a coil about said hub portion and a minor portion extending from the innermost wrap of the coil through said slot, partially across said central opening and around the side surface of the coil to the outermost wrap of the coil;
• and
• a case enclosing said support member and endless length of strip material, said case including a base wall portion overlaying the side of said support member, said base wall portion having three openings in predetermined spaced locations adjacent said support member;
• and
• a recording and/or playback machine comprising:
• means defining a station for releasably receiving said magazine in a predetermined position on said machine, said means for releasably receiving comprising three spaced support pins having terminal end portions adapted for entering the openings in said case to engage and support a surface of said support member;
• drive means having members adapted to be positioned within the central opening of said magazine when said magazine is positioned in said station for making driving engagement with said strip material to pull said strip material through said slot from said coil with the edges of said strip material between said drive means and said slot generally coplanar with the edges of said coil;
• a transducer adapted to be positioned within said central opening along said strip material between said drive mechanism and the slot in said hub portion when said magazine is positioned at said station;
• and
• an edge guide for said strip material adapted to be positioned within said central opening adjacent said transducer to guide said strip material past said transducer along a predetermined path;
• the terminal end portion of said support pins being positioned at a precise location with respect to said edge guide to precisely position said support member so that said coil can shift axially on said hub to align the edges of said coil with the edges of said strip material at said edge guide.