Cassette and recording/reproducing apparatus and method using the same

A recording and reproducing apparatus for recording and reproducing data on and from first and second tape-like recording media contained in a cassette, comprising:

• first and second reels housed in the cassette, both having a first diameter, at least a first tape guide provided between the first and second reels, the first tape-like recording medium being wound around the first and second reels via the first tape guide, the first and second reels being arranged in a first direction in the cassette;
• third and fourth reels both having a second diameter shorter than the first diameter, at least a second tape guide provided between the third and fourth reels, the second tape-like recording medium being wound around the third and fourth reels via the second tape guide, the third and fourth reels being arranged in a second direction in the cassette;
• a first recording and reproducing mechanism for recording and reproducing data on and from the firs tape-like recording medium, the first recording and reproducing mechanism recording and reproducing the data on and from the first tape-like recording medium through an opening formed on a side face of the cassette in the first direction;
• and
• a second recording and reproducing mechanism for recording and reproducing data on and from the second tape-like recording medium, the second recording and reproducing mechanism recording and reproducing the data on and from the second tape-like recording medium through another opening formed on another side face of the cassette in the second direction.

A recording and reproducing apparatus comprising at least one recording and reproducing mechanism used for recording and reproducing data on and from a first and a second tape-like recording medium contained in a cassette, comprising:

• first and second reels housed in the cassette, both having a first diameter, at least a first tape guide provided between the first and second reels, the first tape-like recording medium being wound around the first and second reels via the first tape guide;
• third and fourth reels housed in the cassette, both having a second diameter shorter than the first diameter, at least a second tape guide provided between the third and fourth reels, the second tape-like recording medium being wound around the third and fourth reels via the second tape guide;
• and
• a recording and reproducing mechanism for recording and reproducing data on and from the first and second tape-like recording media, including a rotary drum, in recording and reproduction, the first tape-like recording medium being wound around a first outer surface of the rotary drum, the second tape-like recording medium being wound around a second cuter surface of the rotary drum, the first and second outer surfaces being symmetrical with respect to a central axis of the rotary drum, each of the first and second outer surfaces corresponding to a range covered by a 90 degree-central angle.

A method of reproducing data from a first and a second tape-like recording medium, comprising the steps of:

• reproducing one of head fields of a plurality of main data each head field being recorded after a sub discriminating data on the second tape-like recording medium;
• searching one of main discriminating data identical to the sub discriminating data, such main discriminating data being recorded in front of the main data on the first tape-like recording medium, the first and second recording media being contained in a cassette such that the second tape-like recording medium is shorter in length than the first tape-like recording medium;
• switching reproduction from the second tape-like recording medium to the first tape-like recording medium when the reproduction of the head field is complete;
• and
• reproducing main data that following the searched main discrimination data.

A method of reproducing data from a first and a second tape-like recording medium, comprising the steps of:

• reproducing one of head fields of a plurality of tape-like recording medium, the first and second tape-like recording media being contained in a cassette such that the second tape-like recording medium is shorter in length than the first tape-like recording medium;
• searching a first end portion identical to a second end portion of the head field which is being reproduced, while the second end portion is being reproduced, the first end portion being recorded at a head of each of the main data recorded on the first tape-like recording medium;
• switching reproduction from the second tape-like recording medium to the first tape-like recording medium when the reproduction of the second end portion is complete;
• and
• reproducing main data that follows the searched first end portion.

A cassette comprising:

• first and second reels, both having a first diameter;
• at least a first tape guide provided between the first and second reels;
• a first tape-like recording medium wound around the first and second reels via the first tape guide;
• third and fourth reels, both having a second diameter shorter than the first diameter;
• at least a second tape guide provided between the third and fourth reels;
• and
• a second tape-like recording medium wound around the third and fourth reels via the second tape guide, the first and second tape-like recording media being different in length from each other;
• wherein the first and second reels are arranged in a first direction in the cassette and the third and fourth reels are arranged in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction in the cassette.