PURPOSE: To ensure an accurate detection time and also obtain a detection time in accordance with the tape travelling mode, by using a counter in place of the conventional time constant circuit when the tape end is detected.

CONSTITUTION: When the rotation of the tape take-up device is stopped, the preset counter starts a down-count. When the preset count value receives a complete down-count, the output is caused at the borrow terminal to set the tape end detecting circuit 10. With this set output, the plunger 9 is driven to stop the take-up device. Thus the tape end is detected after a down-count is given to the count value which is detected previously according to the mode. The detection of the tape end is held thereafter until the mode switching circuit 10 is reset by an external operation.