Patent attributes
A tape cartridge capable of reliably identifying difference in type among tape cartridges without causing a tape drive side to have increased costs is provided. On the outer surface of a main case, an identification indicator is formed in a stripe shape having a grain printed portion and a mirror surface portion arranged alternately toward a loading direction of a magnetic tape cartridge onto a tape drive. An indicator format of the identification indicator on the magnetic tape cartridge, which is displaced and moved in the loading direction when loading operation of the magnetic tape cartridge onto the tape drive is conducted, is read by an optical reader mounted on the tape drive. This makes it possible to obtain type information on the magnetic tape cartridge on the tape drive side.
