Magnetic recording reproducing apparatus with bottom edge of tape above tape lead groove, before during and after loading of tape onto drum

A magnetic recording reproducing apparatus, for use with a tape cassette, comprising:

• a rotary head drum including a rotating portion having a magnetic head for, in use, recording and reproducing on a magnetic tape traveling from a mounted tape cassette, and a fixed portion having a lead for guiding a lower edge of the traveling magnetic tape;
• a supply side tape guide group and a take up side tape guide group provided on a magnetic tape supply side and a take up side of said rotary head drum for winding the magnetic tape around a prescribed angle of an outer peripheral surface of said rotary head drum, the prescribed angle being the proportion of the outer peripheral surface contacting the magnetic tape when loaded;
• said supply side tape guide group including a supply side guide roller and a supply side inclined guide, arranged in that order when considered in a direction of travel of the tape during recording and reproducing;
• said take up side tape guide group including a first take up side inclined guide, a take up guide roller, and a second take up side inclined guide, arranged in that order when considered in the direction of travel of the tape during recording and reproducing;
• a supply side pole base for supporting said supply side tape guide group;
• a take up side pole base for supporting said take up side tape guide group;
• and
• a guide rail formed such that said supply side and take up side pole bases are moved, at the time of tape loading, in a direction approximately parallel to a reference plane which is a plane formed by the center line of the magnetic tape when the tape is accommodated in the mounted tape cassette;
• wherein
• said lead guides the lower edge of the traveling magnetic tape by contact over the entire prescribed angle and is, in its entirety, lower than a plane formed by the lower edge of the magnetic tape when the magnetic tape is contained in the mounted tape cassette before loading and after unloading.

A recording reproducing apparatus, for use with a tape cassette, comprising:

• a rotary head drum including a head for, in use, recording and reproducing on a tape from a mounted tape cassette, and a lead for guiding a lower edge of the tape;
• a supply side tape guide group and a take up side tape guide group provided on a tape supply side and a take up side of said rotary head drum for winding the tape around a prescribed angle of an outer peripheral surface of said rotary head drum, the prescribed angle being the proportion of the outer peripheral surface contacting the tape when loaded;
• said supply side tape guide group including a guide portion which moves at loading and unloading of the tape;
• a supply side pole base for supporting said guide portion;
• said take up side guide group including a guide member which moves at loading and unloading of the tape;
• and
• a take up side pole base for supporting said guide member;
• a guide rail formed such that said supply side and take up side pole bases are moved in a direction approximately parallel to a reference plane of the cassette, which is a plane formed by the center line of the tape accommodated in the tape cassette, at the loading and unloading of the tape;
• wherein said lead guides the lower edge of the tape by contact over substantially all of the prescribed angle, and a position of said lead is, in its entirety, lower than a first position, the first position being defined as being higher than a position of the lower edge of the magnetic tape, when the magnetic tape is accommodated in the tape cassette before loading and after unloading, by an elevation amount, the elevation amount being equal to an elevation of said supply side and take up side pole bases caused by tape tension at loading and unloading of the tape.