pinch roller

[′pinch ‚rō·lər] (electronics) A small, freely turning wheel that presses the magnetic tape against the capstan in order to move the tape.

A small, freely turning wheel in a tape drive that pushes the tape against a motor-driven wheel (the capstan) in order to move it.

Pinch Roller Mechanism

This diagram shows how the pinch roller moves the tape in a helical scan tape drive. The pinch roller is on the right hand side pulling the tape from the supply reel to the take-up reel. See helical scan.