JP2606140B2 - Automatic cassette loading device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method of taking out an arbitrary cassette from a cassette housing block in which a large number of cassettes are housed in order to continuously reproduce various recording media such as video tapes for a long time. The present invention relates to an automatic cassette loading device capable of supplying a cassette to a reproducing device or the like and returning a reproduced cassette to a storage block.

In the automatic cassette loading device of the present invention, a bar code for reading a bar code of a loaded cassette is provided to a cassette transfer device capable of loading and unloading a cassette from the front or rear of a cassette housing portion. Provided is an automatic cassette loading device that is provided with a detector and that can read a cassette number, a title, and the like again in a cassette housing section by moving a barcode reader for a cassette that cannot be read at the time of loading. It is.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a large number of tape cassettes are stored in a video tape recorder (hereinafter referred to as VTR) in accordance with a program.
An automatic cassette loading device that supplies video data to a computer for long-time video reproduction or recording is used in a broadcasting station or the like.
FIG. 7 shows an outline of an automatic cassette loading apparatus (Japanese Patent Application No. 60-287271) proposed earlier by the present applicant, wherein 1 is provided with four VTRs 1A, 1B, 1C and 1D. VTR playback block, 2 is a cassette delivery mechanism,
Reference numerals 3 and 4 denote first and second cassette storage blocks arranged in two rows, respectively. The first and second cassette storage blocks 3 and 4 each store a plurality of cassettes C. Shelf (hereinafter, simply referred to as bin or shelf) 3A, 3B, 3C... 4A, 4B, 4C
... Are formed.

[0005] Reference numeral 5 denotes a cassette transfer drive unit located between the first and second cassette storage blocks 3 and 4. The cassette transfer drive unit 5 includes a cassette transfer device 6 described later in the X direction. Upper and lower guide rails 5A and 5B for moving, and upper and lower guide rails 5A and 5B
A vertical guide rail column 5C is provided, which is guided and moved.

Then, the vertical guide rail post 5C is moved to an arbitrary position in the X-axis direction by a timing belt (not shown), and the cassette transfer device 6 suspended on the vertical guide rail post 5C is moved in the Y-axis direction. Is provided with a drive mechanism for moving the drive mechanism. In addition, a normal opening / closing door is provided on the front surface of the first cassette storage block 3, and a cassette insertion / removal port is provided in a part of the door.

In such a cassette automatic loading apparatus, the numbers (titles) of the cassettes stored in the respective shelves of the first and second cassette storage blocks 3 and 4 and the storage positions thereof are registered in a computer or the like. When the playback order of cassettes is input to the computer, the cassette transfer device 6 sends the bins 3 (A, B, C,...) And 4 at predetermined addresses.
(A, B, C,...) Take out the cassette,
This is transported to a predetermined VTR 1 (A, B, C, D), and the reproduced cassette is returned to the original bin address.

In a broadcasting station or the like, a broadcast program for one day, for example, is successively broadcasted by such a device. However, since it is necessary to insert a commercial program (CM) for several seconds during the broadcast, for example, the number of cassettes is reduced. Thousands are required, and their transfer and conversion speeds are required to be high. The automatic cassette loading apparatus described above has two cassette storage blocks 3 and 4 opposed to each other, and is provided with the cassette transfer device 6 on the opposite surface, so that the number of cassettes stored is increased and the transfer distance is reduced. Has an excellent effect.

In this cassette automatic loading device, the cassette transfer device 6 has first and second cassette storage portions 6A and 6B as shown in FIG. The cassette C is taken in from the block 3 as shown by an arrow a, moved in the direction b, for example, and then moved to the second cassette storage block 4 as shown by an arrow c.
When a cassette C is received from the second cassette storage block 4 or the VTR as shown in FIG. 8 (b), as shown by an arrow a ', Is transported into the second cassette storage section 6B, moves in the direction b ', for example, and is fed into the first cassette storage block 3 as shown by an arrow c'.

[0009]

By the way, the above-described cassette transfer apparatus checks whether or not the cassette is a cassette specified by a program when the cassette is unloaded or loaded from the storage block 3 or 4. For this purpose, a bar code written on the side of the cassette is usually read when taking in the cassette, but in the conventional apparatus, the contamination of the cassette, the stop position of the cassette transfer device and the space between the cassette storage block. The bar code cannot be read at the time of loading the cassette due to steps or the speed of loading the cassette during loading is not constant.In this case, there is a problem that the cassette must be ejected and read again. there were.

As a result, noise generated when the cassette enters and exits the bin from the cassette transfer device increases, and a loss time for exchanging the cassette between the cassette storage blocks 3 and 4 and the cassette transfer device 6 occurs. There is a problem in that the transfer time of the wafer increases. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and increases the degree of freedom in transferring a cassette, and ensures the title, number, etc. of a cassette taken into a cassette transfer device and minimizes time loss. The present invention is to provide a cassette transfer device that can be read as follows.

[0011]

The cassette automatic loading apparatus of the present invention is provided with carry-in belt means for taking in a cassette, and a home position is set at a predetermined position on the side of the loaded cassette. In this case, a bar code detector moving means capable of scanning at least the bar code writing area of the cassette is provided.

[0012]

According to the present invention, a bar code reader is provided which can move along the accommodation portion of the cassette transfer device.
Even if the reading of the barcode fails when the cassette is loaded, the barcode can be read again with the cassette accommodated. Therefore, the transfer speed can be improved, and the selection and distribution of cassettes can be performed more smoothly.

[0013]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a layout of a driving mechanism of a cassette transfer apparatus according to the present invention.
This cassette transfer device is roughly divided into eight blocks A, B, C, D, E, F, G, and H, as indicated by a two-dot chain line, of which the C block and the D block are described above. First and second cassette accommodating portions are formed.

Although not shown, as will be described later, the A block is provided with a drive mechanism for driving the two conveyor belts 10A and 10B mainly disposed in the C block, and the G block is provided with a drive mechanism. A drive mechanism for driving the two conveyor belts 20A and 20B arranged in the D block is provided.

Reference numerals 30A and 30B denote pushing levers for pushing out a cassette (not shown) accommodated in the C block. The shafts 30a and 30b are moved in the direction of the arrow by a driving mechanism provided in the B block described later. When rotated, the push levers 30A and 30B swing in the directions of arrows 30c and 30d, and operate to discharge the cassette accommodated in the C block in either the forward or backward direction.

When the cassette C (shown by a dashed line) housed in the D block is pushed out, it is carried out by lower pushing levers 40A and 40B.
Although not shown, the drive mechanisms of 0A and 40B are mainly provided in the E block. Then, similarly to the upper push levers 30A and 30B, the cassette C housed in the D block is pushed by its rotation.

Reference numerals 50A, 50B and 60A, 60B denote cassette holding members attached to the top plates of the C block and D block forming the first and second cassette accommodating portions, respectively. A, B), 6
0 (A, B) is the transport belt 10 (A, B), 20
It is provided to press and fix the cassette carried in by (A, B) or the like onto the conveyor belt. The cassette holding member has four mechanisms 50 (A1, A2), 50 (B1, B2),
60 (A1, A2) and 60 (B1, B2).

The cassette holding member 50 (A,
B) and 60 (A, B) are always constantly urged downward by a spring (not shown), and especially when the entire cassette transfer device moves, the cassette holding member 50 is used.
The rollers R at the outer ends of (A, B) and 60 (A, B) abut against the end of the cassette in which the rollers R are housed to prevent the cassette from deviating from the cassette housing portion.

Reference numerals 70A and 70B denote kick levers arranged so as to face two storage ports (discharge ports) of the cassette storage section of the D block.
OB is individually activated by a drive mechanism (not shown) in an F block arranged on a top plate of an H block,
The cassette is pulled out from the first cassette storage block 3 and the second cassette storage block 4 described above.

The kick levers 70A and 70B are in the bin 3
(A, B, C, ...), 4 (A, B, C, ...)
When the cassette is taken into the D block from (...), The pressing piece provided at the bin entrance is actuated to cause the cassette to fly out of the bin opening.

The structure of such a bottle is described in detail in the "cassette holding device" previously filed by the present applicant, and its outline is configured as shown in FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b). I have. That is, the cassette C includes the front and rear locking pieces 1 that are pulled together by the spring 100 in the bin 3A.
01a and 101b and the locking pieces 101a and 101b
Are fixed by stoppers 102a and 102b rotatably supported on shafts 103a and 103b.

When the lever 104 formed in the bin 3A is pressed by the kick levers 70A and 70B, the stopper 102b is pushed upward by a mechanism (not shown) as shown in FIG. 2 (b). At the same time, the fixing of the portion where the stopper 102a is pivotally supported is released. Therefore, the cassette C is pushed out in the direction of the arrow E due to the contraction of the spring 100, and enters the storage port of the cassette transfer device 6 located in front of the bin 3A.

Therefore, when the above-described conveyor belt 20 (A, B) rotates in this state, the cassette C is taken into the cassette accommodating portion formed in the block D in FIG. A bar code reader 80 for reading a bar code displayed on the side surface of the cassette C carried into the D block is arranged in the H block in FIG. The bar code reader 80 has a bar code detector 84 attached to a belt 83 stretched over pulleys 81 and 82. By scanning the bar code detection section 84, the cassette number or the title of the cassette is read from the side of the cassette facing the opening 85, and the read data can be input to a computer.

FIG. 3 shows a bin 3 (A, B,
C,...), Or a carry-in belt mechanism for carrying in a cassette C that has entered the accommodation port of the cassette transfer device from the cassette transfer mechanism. In this figure, the cassette C which has entered from the direction of the arrow first has the transport belt 10A,
Photoelectric detectors 17 (A, B) provided in front of 10B (20A, 20B) (18 (A,
B)).

That is, the light output from the light emitting section 17A is cut off by the cassette C, and the output of the light receiving section 17B becomes zero.
Then, the motor 11 rotates forward and rotates the drive gear 15 for driving the pulley of the transport belt via the worm gear 12, worm wheel 13, and intermediate gear 14 in the direction of arrow F. For this reason, the cassette C includes the transport belts 10A and 10B.
Is taken into the upper cassette accommodating section (inside the block). When the rear end of the cassette passes directly below the light emitting unit 17A, the output of the light receiving unit 17B causes the motor 11 to rotate.
Stops, and the loading of the cassette is stopped. In addition, when the taken-in cassette blocks the light output from the light emitting unit 18A provided on the other side at the tip, the light receiving unit 1
The output of 8B becomes 0, and at this time, the motor 11 performs reverse operation, and the cassette can be returned to the normal storage position.

The photoelectric detectors 17 (A, B), 18 (A,
B) can be an interval common to the two stages of cassette housings. Although not shown, a sensor for detecting the presence or absence of a cassette is provided in each of the accommodating sections in the cassette transfer device, and it is always input to the computer which of the two-stage cassette accommodating section the cassette is inserted into. I have.

FIGS. 4 (a), 4 (b) and 4 (c) illustrate the operation of one of the cassette pressing members for pressing the cassette C toward the conveyor belt when the cassette C is carried into the accommodation section of the cassette transfer device. It was done. (Four such cassette holding members are usually provided in one cassette accommodating portion.) The cassette holding member 50 (A1, A2, B1, B2)
Supports a roller 51 and supports a shaft 53 on a plate (not shown).
Supporting the first arm 52 and the roller 54,
The first arm 52 is composed of a second arm 55 that is supported by the first arm 52.
7, and a spring 58 is stretched between the second arm 55 and the second arm 55.

Therefore, as described above, when the cassette C protrudes from the direction of the arrow onto the carry-in belt, the roller 51 is first lifted up against the spring 57 as shown in FIG. As the 52 rotates clockwise, it separates from the stopper 59, and the second arm 55 engaged with the first arm 52 with the protruding piece 55A moves slightly downward. And cassette C
As shown in FIG. 4 (b), the roller 54 also presses the upper surface of the cassette C by the spring 58 as shown in FIG. Therefore, the cassette C is carried into the cassette accommodating portion while being sufficiently pressed on the transport belt. As described above, when the cassette C is completely pulled into the cassette accommodating portion, the rotation of the transport belt stops. At this time, the roller 51 falls to the rear end of the cassette C as shown in FIG. It is set as follows. Therefore, the cassette C can be prevented from deviating from the cassette accommodating portion even when the cassette transfer device is driven. Since the same cassette holding member 50 (B1, B2) is provided at the front end of the cassette C, it goes without saying that the cassette C can be prevented from deviating from the front side.

FIG. 5 shows the cassettes stored in the cassette transfer device in bins 3 (A, B, C,...),
4 (A, B, C,...) Or an extruding lever 30 used for discharging to a cassette transfer mechanism or the like.
A, 30B (or 40A, 40B) of the operating mechanism. In this figure, 31 is a motor that can rotate forward and reverse, 32 is a worm gear, 33a is a worm wheel meshed with the worm gear, and a gear 33b fixed coaxially is meshed with a first gear 34A. .

A second gear 34B coaxially fixed to the first gear 34A has two first reversing gears 35.
A and 37A mesh with each other, and the dowels 3 of the second reversing gears 35B and 37B which are coaxially loosely fitted to the ribs 35a and 37a of the two first reversing gears 35A and 37A.
5b and 37b are in opposition. The driving gears 36 and 38 mesh with the second reversing gears 35B and 37B, respectively.
The pushing levers 30A, 30B are fixed to the driving gears 36, 38, respectively. Note that 39
Reference numerals a, 39b, and 39c denote sensors (photoelectric elements) for detecting the rotational positions of the second gear 34B and the driving gears 36 and 38.

FIG. 6 shows a drive mechanism of the kick levers 70A and 70B housed on the upper surface of the H block in FIG. 1, wherein 71A is a reversible motor, 71B is a drive gear, and 72 is a reverse gear. Gear. Drive gear 71B
Is transmitted to the half-rotating gear 74A via the intermediate gear 73, and then to the driving arm 74B coaxially. Then, the slide plate 75 engaged with the drive arm 74B is moved in the direction of arrow A. The kick lever 70A described above is pivotally supported on the slide plate 75. The rotation of the reversing gear 72 is also performed by the intermediate gear 7.
6. The slide plate 78 is configured to swing in the arrow direction A via the half-rotating gear 77A and the drive arm 77B.

The ribs 74 are provided on the semi-rotating gears 74A, 77A.
a, 77a are formed, and the ribs 74a, 77a
The dowels 74b, 77b formed on the drive arms 74B, 77B are protruding so as to abut against. Therefore, when the motor 71A rotates forward (in the direction of arrow F),
Since the half-rotation gear 74A rotates counterclockwise and the rib 74a presses the dowel 74b, the drive arm 74B also rotates counterclockwise against the spring S2, and the slide plate 75
In the direction of arrow A. Then, this slide plate 75
Kick lever 70A pivotally supported by spring S1
As a result, the tip rotates in the clockwise direction, and the tip projects as shown by the dotted line. In this case, the intermediate gear 76 meshing with the reversing gear 72 and the semi-rotating gear 77A also rotate, but since the rotation direction is clockwise, the rib 77
The dowels 77b move away from the drive arm 77a.
B does not rotate. Therefore, the other kick lever 70
B is a position indicated by a solid line, but when the motor 71A rotates in the reverse direction, the half-rotating gear 77A is driven in a counterclockwise direction.
The dowel 77a is rotated counterclockwise by the rib 77a,
The slide 78 also moves in the direction of arrow A via the drive arm 77B.

As a result, the kick lever 70B is separated from the stopper P, which is in contact with the kick lever 70B.
B is rotated clockwise by a spring S4 urging B clockwise. 79a, 79b, 79c are the rotational position of the drive gear and the drive arms 74B, 77, respectively.
Sensor for detecting the rotational position of B (photoelectric detector)
And, for example, all the sensors 79a, 79
When b and 79c are off, it indicates the home position. Then, when the kick lever 70A is driven, the sensors 79b and 79a change from off to on, and at this point reversely return to the home position. When the kick lever 70B is driven, the sensors 79c and 79a
Is changed from off to on, at which point the motor is controlled to rotate forward and return to the home position.

A horizontally long opening 85 is formed in the side wall of the block H of the cassette transfer device shown in FIG. 1, and a bar code indicating the number, title, etc. of the cassette accommodated therein from the horizontally long opening 85. Is provided. This barcode reader 8
0 is a pulley 8 driven by a motor (not shown)
1, 82, and a belt 83, and a bar code detector 84 moved by the belt 83.

Normally, the bar code detector 84 is controlled so that the insertion side of the cassette to be carried into the cassette accommodating section is set at the home position. The bar code recorded on the side of the cassette is read.

However, the side of the cassette is contaminated,
If the take-in speed or the like changes, reading may not be possible at the stage of housing in such a cassette transfer device. Therefore, the bar code is read by the bar code detector 84.
In the home position, that is, when the data cannot be read at the front position or the rear position of the illustrated cassette storage unit and accurate data is not input to the computer, the motor (not shown) is driven to reciprocate the pulleys 81 and 82, It controls to read the barcode of the cassette stored in the cassette storage part. If the bar code cannot be read by this operation, the loaded cassette is discharged from the front face of the cassette storage block 3 in FIG.

[0037]

As described above, the automatic cassette loading apparatus of the present invention is provided with the loading means for loading the cassette from the cassette storage block, and along the side of the cassette loaded into the cassette transfer device. Since a bar code reader that can move is provided, even when the bar code cannot be read when the cassette is loaded, the side of the cassette stored in the storage unit is read again by the bar code detection device that moves at a constant speed. be able to. Therefore, the reading accuracy of the title, number, etc. of the cassette is improved, and the reading operation of the bar code is facilitated, so that the cassette can be transported more smoothly.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a position of a main drive mechanism in a cassette transfer device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of movement when taking out a cassette from a bin.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a loading mechanism for loading a cassette into a transfer device.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the operation of a cassette holding member.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a cassette pushing mechanism.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a kick lever driving mechanism.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the entire cassette automatic loading apparatus.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a cassette transfer method.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 1 VTR reproduction block 3, 4 First and second cassette storage block 6 Cassette transfer device 10A, 10B, 20A, 20B Conveyor belt 30A, 30B, 40A, 40B Cassette push-out arm 50A, 50B, 60A, 60B Cassette hold-down Member 70A, 70B Kick lever 80 Barcode reader 84 Barcode detector

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A shelf device having a plurality of shelves for accommodating a plurality of cassettes, a plurality of reproducing devices for reproducing an information signal from a recording medium in the cassette, a plurality of shelves and the plurality of reproducing devices, An automatic cassette loading device having a cassette transfer device for carrying and transferring the cassette between the cassette transfer device, wherein a bar code detector is provided on at least one side of a cassette accommodating portion provided in the cassette transfer device; The detector moves the home position
When the above cassette is delivered,
The cassette stored in the storage section of the cassette transfer device
Insert the barcode recorded on the side of
While reading at the home position,
When the home code is not detected,
Along the barcode entry area on the side of the cassette
The cassette stored in the storage section of the cassette.
An automatic cassette loading device controlled to read a set barcode .