JP3225661B2 - Automatic cassette changer - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic cassette exchange apparatus used for transmitting commercials and programs for broadcasting.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An automatic cassette changing apparatus is used for saving labor in a broadcasting station by applying a computer and a robot to automate the transmission of commercials and programs.

The operation of the conventional automatic cassette changing apparatus will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 shows an example of a conventional automatic cassette changing apparatus. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 3 denotes a cassette storage shelf for accommodating cassettes, 4 denotes a cassette to be sent out, 5 denotes a VTR which is housed in a part of the automatic cassette exchange device and sends out the cassette, and 6 denotes a bar code attached to the cassette. A bar code reader, 7 a robot for moving the cassette, 8 a control device for controlling the VTR and the robot, 9
Is the door.

In the conventional automatic cassette changing apparatus, a cassette 4 sent out by an operator in advance is loaded into a cassette storage shelf 3 from a front door 9 and the unnecessary cassette 4 is discharged. After the completion, the control device 8 controls the robot in accordance with the instruction of the operator, reads the barcodes of the cassettes on all the shelves with the barcode reader 6 attached to the robot 7, and updates the information on the shelf positions of the cassettes.
Then, by controlling the robot, cassettes according to the transmission list are sequentially inserted into the VTR, and a program or a commercial or the like is automatically transmitted.

[0005]

In such a cassette automatic exchanging apparatus, since the bar code of every cassette storage shelf is read each time a cassette is loaded and unloaded, a long time is required for loading and unloading. I need it. In addition, since the control device cannot determine whether the door has been opened for entry / exit or whether the door has been opened for maintenance or the like, the operator has to judge whether to check the entry / exit, There is a problem that human error may occur and automation cannot be performed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problem by performing the loading / unloading of the cassette in a short time and automatically checking the loading / unloading.

[0007]

According to the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, a sensor for detecting the loading / unloading of cassettes is provided commonly to a group comprising a plurality of cassette storage shelves. It is.

[0008]

According to the above means, the cassette automatic exchange apparatus of the present invention can read / write a bar code of only the cassette storage shelves of a group in which a cassette has been loaded / unloaded at the time of loading / unloading the cassette, so that loading / unloading can be completed in a short time. Things.

[0009]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an automatic cassette changing apparatus according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numerals 1a to 1c denote light-emitting portions of a transmission-type infrared sensor for detecting passage of a cassette due to loading and unloading of a cassette storage shelf in each row, reference numerals 2a to 2c denote light-receiving portions of the transmission-type infrared sensor, and reference numeral 3 denotes a cassette. , A cassette for sending the cassette, a VTR for sending the cassette, a bar code reader for reading a bar code attached to the cassette, a robot for moving the cassette, a VTR and a robot for the cassette A control device 9 for controlling is a door provided on the front surface of the cassette storage shelf 3.

The operation of the thus configured automatic cassette changing apparatus will be described below. The operator opens the front door 9 and loads the cassette 4 to be sent out into an optional cassette storage shelf 3 and removes the unnecessary cassette from the cassette storage shelf 3. After the entry / exit is completed, the operator closes the door 9. By the control command of the control device 8,
Transmissive infrared sensor light emitting section 1a and sensor light receiving section 2 by loading and unloading cassette 4 with door 9 open
The passage of the cassette 4 during a is detected, and when the door 9 is closed, the bar code of the cassette in the cassette storage shelf in the automatically detected row is read. As a result, the cassette position information in the cassette storage shelf can be updated and transmitted according to the transmission list.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is sufficient to read the bar code of the cassette only in the cassette storage shelf in the row corresponding to the portion detected by the sensor, so that the cassette loading / unloading process can be performed in a short time. Can be. Further, by providing the sensors for the rows of the cassette storage shelves, there is an effect that the number of sensors can be reduced as compared with the case where the sensors are provided for the individual cassette storage shelves.

In the above-described embodiment, the sensors are provided for each column of the cassette storage shelf. However, the present invention is also effective when the sensors are provided commonly for other groups such as for each row.

[0014]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is sufficient to read the bar code of only the cassette storage shelves in the group corresponding to the portion detected by the sensor, so that the loading and unloading of cassettes can be performed in a short time. Can be. Also, by providing sensors for groups of cassette storage shelves,
There is an effect that the number of sensors can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an automatic cassette changing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a conventional cassette automatic exchange device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1a-1c Transmission type infrared sensor light emitting section 2a-2c Transmission type infrared sensor light receiving section 3 Cassette storage shelf 4 Cassette 5 VTR 6 Barcode reader 7 Robot 8 Control device 9 Door

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus for accommodating a plurality of cassette storage shelves for accommodating cassettes, a sensor for detecting insertion / removal of the cassettes into / from the cassette storage shelves, and a magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus for recording / reproducing the cassettes A device storage unit, a robot that moves the cassette between the cassette storage shelf and the magnetic recording and reproducing device, a barcode reader attached to the robot to read a barcode affixed to the cassette, An automatic cassette exchanging device comprising a control unit for controlling the robot and the magnetic recording / reproducing device, wherein the sensor detects insertion / removal of a cassette from / to a plurality of cassette storage shelves in common. Cassette automatic exchange device. 2. A bar code reader according to claim 1, wherein, when the cassette is taken out and put in, the bar code reader reads only the bar code attached to the cassette in the cassette storage shelf corresponding to the sensor that has detected the cassette taking in and out. An automatic cassette changing device, characterized in that: 3. A cassette according to claim 1, further comprising a door for opening and closing a portion of the cassette storage shelf, wherein when the door is open, a sensor detects insertion and removal of the cassette. Wherein the bar code reader reads the bar code when the door is closed.