The invention permits outwards engagement of a magnetic tape from a conventional audio cassette for processing the tape in a manner to reduce prior art tape-to-head alignment problems. When the cassette is inserted into the apparatus, concurrently a tape engager is inserted into a lateral access opening associated with a cassette well (i.e. a capstan opening or cavity) and is positioned adjacent an inside face of the tape. The tape engager contacts a length of tape, and a head block assembly member is inserted into the well to cooperate with the tape and the tape engager to ensure separation between an outside face of the tape and the cassette, and to reduce contact between an inside face of the tape and a portion of the cassette. In one embodiment, the tape engager is rotatable to displace the tape outwardly with respect to the well. In another embodiment, the tape engager cooperates with a magnetic head to pinch the tape lightly to generate tape tension and contact pressure to ensure proper tape-to-head contact. In another embodiment, the tape engager is fixed to reduce mechanical complexity, and engages the tape passively with only a slight reduction in tape alignment control.

In a tape loading device of the invention, a tape is taken out by tape guides mounted on an inclined loading ring, and the loading ring is rotated to wind the tape on a rotary drum from one side thereof. An auxiliary inclined guide is provided between the rotary drum and the leading tape guide. Only during a loading operation, the auxiliary inclined guide contacts the tape, while angularly moved about the leading tape guide. When the loading operation is completed, the auxiliary inclined guide is disengaged from the tape. With the provision of the auxiliary inclined guide, the tape is prevented from being twisted between the rotary drum and the leading tape guide.

A braking mechanism for use with a tape recorder and reproducer machine including a first chassis having a rotatable head drum provided thereon, and a second chassis connected to the first chassis for sliding movement with respect to the first chassis between first and second positions. The second chassis has a cassette chamber including spool tables for receipt of a tape cassette at the first position of the second chassis. The head drum carries a plurality of heads operable at the second position of the second chassis for recording a signal onto a cassette-type magnetic tape and reproducing a signal from a cassette-type magnetic tape. The brake mechanism comprises a rotary member drivingly associated with one of the spool tables. The rotary member has a brake drum secured thereon. A resilient brake arm is fixed at its one end on the first chassis and provided at the other end thereof with a brake shoe. The brake drum comes into resilient contact with the brake shoe to apply braking to the one spool table with movement of the second chassis to the second position.

A tape loading device includes first and second guides for performing a tape loading operation. First and second assemblies move the first and second guides. A control unit controls the speeds of the first and second assemblies to drive the first assembly at a predetermined speed and to vary the moving speed of the second assembly without varying the predetermined speed of the first assembly.

A head drum protector for a magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus, such as a slide type camera recorder. The head drum protector is preferably integrated and comprises a head drum protecting wall for protecting a rotary head drum, an opening provided at the lower section of the head drum protecting wall to receive a head base of the rotary head drum and to bring the rotary head protector into engagement with the head base. A pair of support blades extend outwardly from opposite sides of the protecting wall to enlarge the head drum protecting area of the head drum protecting wall and to support an opened tape cassette door. A sensor holder is provided at the lower front of the protecting wall to hold a LED sensor used as a tape end sensor. At a lower section between the protecting wall and the support blade, a fixing part is provided in order to mount the head drum protector on the slide base of the deck mechanism.