Tape loading and tensioning device for a recording and/or reproducing apparatus

Claim 1

A tape loading and tensioning device for a recording and/or reproducing apparatus, said tape loading and tensioning device comprising: tape loading means for drawing out a tape from a tape cassette which has a supply reel and a take-up reel, and for loading said tape unto a predetermined tape path in which said tape is wrapped around a predetermined angular range on a peripheral surface of a guide drum; first braking means for braking a supply reel disc which rotates said supply reel; second braking means for braking a take-up reel disc which rotates said take-up reel; first tension control means for controlling a tension in the tape which is drawn out from said supply reel; second tension control means for controlling a tension in the tape which is drawn out from said take-up reel; detecting means for detecting an arrival of said tape loading means at an intermediate position; and control means for making one of said first and second braking means operative and the other of said first and second braking means inoperative during a first half of an operation stage in which said tape is wrapped around the periphery of said guide drum, and for subsequently making said one of said first and second braking means inoperative during a latter half of the operation stage, and for making both of said first and second tension control means operative during the latter half of the operation stage, said first half of the operation stage continuing until said detecting means detects the arrival of said tape loading means at said intermediate position, said latter half of the operation stage starting from an end of said first half of the operation stage and continuing until the tape loading operation is completed, said tape loading means drawing out the tape from only one of said supply and take-up reels which is in correspondence with said other braking means which is made inoperative, during said first half of the operation stage.