LIMITED INITIAL SPECIAL USE TAPE CASSETTE WITH UNLIMITED CONVENTIONAL USE THEREAFTER

摘要

A limited use tape cassette comprising a housing (2) enclosing a tape spooled to pass from a rotatable supply reel (4) to a rotatable take-up reel (6) during tape play, and from the take-up reel (6) to the supply reel (4) during tape rewind. A follower arm (32) is pivotally mounted on the housing (2) and is biased to engage spooled tape on the one of the reels, preferably the supply reel. An erase arm (46) is pivotally mounted on the housing and is movably and releasably connected to the follower arm (32). The erase arm (46) has an erase head (50) thereon and is biased toward the take-up reel (6). Upon predetermined movement of the follower are (32) which results from predetermined tape movement between the reels, the erase arm (46) is released from the follower arm (32) to move the erase head (50) into engagement with the tape on the take-up reel (6) to erase it as it is being rewound onto the supply reel (4). After the erased tape is rewound onto the supply reel (4) the erase arm (46) moves the erase head (50) to an inoperative position to enable the erased tape to be reused.