JPH04302846A - Video cassette reproducing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To exchange a video cassette in a short time and to execute reproduction and output by providing a program searching means to perform the program searching of the video cassette. CONSTITUTION:In a bin 1, a large number of video cassettes 2 are housed. A robot 3 is guided by a guide 4, a prescribed cassette is taken out from the bin 1 and loaded into any one of VTRs 5-8 by the robot. In the robot 3, a program searching device 20 performing easily the program searching of the cassette 2 is incorporated. In a memory 10, the schedule of a commercial publicity to broadcast at the day is stored. Further, in the memory 11, the number of the commercial publicities of the respective cassettes and the starting time and the finishing time of the commercial publicity are stored and simultaneously the data of the present tape positions of the respective cassettes are stored. A control circuit 10 exchanges the video cassette in more shorter time to attain reproduction and output according the schedule stored in the memory 10.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a video cassette playback device that selects a desired video cassette from among a plurality of video cassettes and plays the selected video cassette.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art Automatic commercial sending devices are used in broadcasting stations and the like. In this commercial automatic sending device, a large number of video cassettes on which predetermined commercials are recorded are prepared and housed. The robot selects a desired video cassette from among the stored video cassettes, transports it, and mounts it on the VTR. The VTR locates the beginning of the loaded video cassette and starts playback at a predetermined timing. When playback is finished, the robot takes out the cassette from the VTR, transports it back to its original position, and stores it. A plurality of VTRs are prepared and can automatically reproduce and output a predetermined commercial at a predetermined timing.

0003

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] In this way, in the conventional device, since the VTR performs the cue operation of the video cassette, it is difficult to sequentially change over many commercials and make the timing for playback output too short. I couldn't do it. Of course, by increasing the number of VTRs, you can prepare other video cassettes while one video cassette is being played, which frees up time and shortens the switching time. become. However, VTRs for business use are extremely expensive and are disadvantageous in terms of cost.

The present invention has been made in view of the above situation, and it is an object of the present invention to enable video cassettes to be switched and reproduced in a short period of time without significantly increasing costs.

[0005]

[Means for Solving the Problems] A video cassette playback device of the present invention includes a storage means for storing a plurality of video cassettes, a playback means for playing back the video cassettes, and a video cassette playback device for storing a plurality of video cassettes between the storage means and the playback means. It is characterized by comprising a conveying means for conveying the video cassette and a cueing means for cueing the video cassette.

[0006]

[Operation] In the video cassette playback device having the above structure, the video cassette is cued by the cueing means. Therefore, when the video cassette is attached to the reproducing means, the time required to perform more accurate cueing is shortened, and it becomes possible to replace and reproduce many video cassettes in a short period of time.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of a video cassette playback apparatus of the present invention. A large number of video cassettes 2 are stored in the bin 1. The robot 3 is guided by a guide 4 and can take out a predetermined cassette from the bin 1 and mount it on any of the VTRs 5 to 8. For example, a control circuit 9 consisting of a computer or the like has memories 10 and 11. memory 1
0 stores the schedule of commercials to be broadcast on that day. The memory 11 also stores the commercial number, start time and end time of each cassette contained in the bin 1, as well as data on the current tape position of each cassette.

The robot 3 has a built-in cue device 20 for roughly cueing the video cassette 2 as shown in FIG. The cueing device 20 includes a mounting table 21 on which the cassette 2 is placed, reel engaging shafts 22 and 23 that fit into the reel shafts 2a and 2b of the cassette 2, and a drive that rotates the reel engaging shafts 22 and 23. It has a section 24. The drive unit 24 incorporates a motor, a gear, etc. that reduces the rotation speed of the motor and transmits it to the reel engagement shaft 22 or 23.

Next, its operation will be explained. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the memory 10 stores a schedule to be broadcast on that day. In this example, 1
Commercial CM1 will be broadcast for 15 seconds from 0:00, then CM1 will be broadcast.
Commercial 6 will be broadcast from 0:00:15 to 10:00:45. Furthermore, a schedule is set, such as broadcasting commercial CM4 from 10:00:45 to 10:01:30.

The control circuit 9 reads this schedule and loads the necessary video cassettes into the VTRs 5 to 8 (playback means). That is, in the case of this embodiment, since the video cassette with number C1 is broadcasted first,
The control circuit 9 outputs a control signal to the robot 3 (transporting means), and the video cassette 2 with number C1 in the bin 1 (accommodating means)
The robot 3 is moved to the position where the robot 3 is stored. Then, the robot 3 is made to take out the video cassette, convey it to the position of the VTR 5, and mount it on the VTR 5. Thereafter, in the same way, the video cassette numbered C3 is loaded into the VTR 6, and the video cassette numbered C2 is loaded into the VTR 7, respectively. In this way, the four VTRs 5 to 8 are loaded with predetermined video cassettes.

When the built-in timer clocks 10 o'clock, the control circuit 9 controls the VTR 5 and outputs the number C1.
The commercial with number CM1 recorded on the video cassette 2 of is started to be played. The time is 10:00:15
When the second is reached, the control circuit 9 controls the VTR 5 to stop the playback operation, controls the VTR 6, and controls the VTR 6 to stop the playback operation.
The reproduction of the commercial number CM6 recorded on the video cassette 2 of No. 3 is started. At this time, the control circuit 9
It also controls the robot 3 to transport and accommodate the video cassette ejected from the VTR 5 to a predetermined position in the bin 1. Then, the video cassette whose number is to be played next on the VTR 8 is taken out from the bin 1 and loaded into the VTR 5. In this way, predetermined commercials are sequentially switched and output from the VTRs 5 to 8.

By the way, the magnetic tape of the video cassette ejected from each VTR is usually in a state where the beginning has not been located. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the video cassette numbered C1 is ejected after the commercial numbered CM1 is played, so that the end of the commercial numbered CM1 is cued. The memory 11 always stores the current position of the magnetic tape of each video cassette. That is, when the VTRs 5 to 8 play back each video cassette, they read the time code recorded therein and send the time code to the control circuit 9.
The data are sequentially stored in the memory 11 via the . As a result, the current position data of the magnetic tape of each cassette is stored in the memory 11 as shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 4, the memory 11 also stores commercials recorded on each cassette and time codes indicating the start and end positions of the commercials.

For example, after the cassette with the number C1 is once stored in the bin 1, when it is next scheduled to play back the commercial with the number CM3, the cassette with the number C1 is stored in the bin 1 again at a predetermined timing. It will be taken out from the VTR and mounted on any of the VTRs 5 to 8. However, as described above, the cassette with number C1 is cued to the end of number CM1. Therefore, the control circuit 9 controls the number CM1 of the cassette number C1.
The time code of the end of the commercial and the number CM3
The difference between the time code and the commercial start position is calculated and output to the robot 3. The robot 3 has a cueing device 20
While the video cassette 2 with the number C1 is being conveyed from the bin 1 to any of the VTRs 5 to 8, the magnetic tape is fast-forwarded or wound by the drive unit 24 for a time corresponding to the calculation. let it go back. As a result, in this case, the magnetic tape is fast-forwarded, and a rough cue for the commercial with number CM3 is performed.

[0015] In this manner, the time for fast forwarding or rewinding the magnetic tape is calculated by taking into consideration the winding diameter of the magnetic tape, changes in the torque in the drive unit 24, and the like. However, since the control in the cueing device 20 is simple control based only on the energization time of the motor, the cost can be reduced, but accurate positioning is difficult. Therefore, accurate cueing is performed while reading the time code in each VTR when installed in the VTRs 5 to 8. As a result, accurate cueing is performed on a frame-by-frame basis.

However, since the rough cueing has already been performed, the time required for this cueing can be shortened.

In the above, the cueing device 20 as a cueing means is built into the robot 3 as a conveying means, but the bin 1 as a storing means and the V as a reproducing means are built into the robot 3 as a conveying means.
It is also possible to provide them separately and independently between TRs 5 to 8. Furthermore, the information recorded on each video cassette is not limited to commercials, but may also be predetermined programs. Furthermore, although the cueing operation is performed during the conveyance from the bin 1 to the VTR, it may also be performed during the conveyance from the VTR to the bin 1, or during both conveyances.

[0018]

As described above, according to the video cassette playback device of the present invention, since the beginning of the video cassette is searched before loading the video cassette into the playback device, the video cassette can be replaced within a shorter time. It becomes possible to reproduce and output.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of a video cassette playback device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the configuration of an embodiment of the cue device in the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the contents stored in the memory 10.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the contents stored in the memory 11.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the contents stored in the memory 11.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Bottle (containing means) 2 Video cassette 3 Robot (transport means) 5 to 8 VTR (playback means) 9 Control circuit 10,11 Memory 20 Cue device (cue means)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A storage means for accommodating a plurality of video cassettes, a playback means for playing the video cassettes, a transport means for transporting the video cassette between the storage means and the playback means, and a transport means for transporting the video cassette. A video cassette playback device comprising: cueing means for cueing.