JPH03269860A - Tape cassette gripping device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve reliability when a tape cassette is inserted to a housing rack or a VTR by providing cassette position correcting means at right and left positions of the tape cassette. CONSTITUTION:When the tape cassette is gripped with a lug 1 for cassette capture, plates 17, 18 provided at the right and left positions of the cassette correct a cassette position. When a gripping device movable part is retreated to the most rearward part, the plates 17, 18 are erected at the tip of the cassette, and following that, the lug 1 is opened, and the cassette is started to move from a tip part downward. A descending direction at that time is regulated in a constant direction by the cassette position correcting means. The lug is closed again, and the tape cassette is held with the gripping device, which easily enables a holding state to be corrected. A size discrimination arm 19 is pressed down by the cassette, and the plates 17, 18 for position correction are erected selectively corresponding to the size of the cassette. By employing such constitution, it is possible to efficiently and surely grip the tape cassette, and to take out and insert it in spite of the size.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an improvement of a cassette grasping device for an automatic cassette changing device used for broadcasting stations or other commercial purposes.

[Prior Art] Automatic cassette exchange devices capable of storing a large number of tape cassettes are increasingly being used for automatic program broadcasting at broadcasting stations and for automatic video service at museums and libraries.

Various types of tape cassette grasping devices used in automatic cassette exchange devices have been proposed in the past.

An example of a conventional cassette grasping device will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 10 shows the configuration of a conventional cassette grasping device.

In Fig. 10, 1 is a claw for grasping the cassette, 2 is a coil spring, 3 is a cam for opening and closing the claw, 4 is a gear, 5 is a motor for opening and closing the claw, 6 is the base of the movable part of the cassette grasping device, and 7 is the movable part movement. motor, 8 is belt, 9 is rail, 10
is based on a cassette grasping device.

The operation of the conventional technology configured as described above will be described below.

The pawl 1 for grasping the cassette is always urged in the closing direction by a coil spring 2, and the pawl is opened and closed by a pawl opening/closing motor 5 rotating a cam 3 through a gear 4. Further, the cassette grasping section 1.2.3, 4.
5 is configured on a cassette grasping device movable part base 6,
The movable part can be moved forward and backward on the rail 9 by the motor 7 for moving the movable part.

FIG. 11 is an example of an operation in which the cassette grasping device takes out or stores a tape cassette from a tape cassette storage rack. 11 is a tape stock storage rack, and 12 is a tape cassette.

With the above configuration, the cassette grasping device can be attached to a tape cassette storage rack or a video tape recorder (hereinafter referred to as V
If the tape cassette 12 is moved to a predetermined position in front of the tape cassette 12 (referred to as TR), it can be stored and taken out from the tape cassette storage rack LL or VTR regardless of its size. Since the tape cassette is securely gripped by the tape cassette, there is no need to worry about the tape cassette falling.

Although there are other examples of configurations other than those described above, it is said that a tape cassette grasping device with a simple structure and a configuration that can reliably store and take out tape cassettes is considered good.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the configuration of the prior art described above, due to the inclination of the tape cassette that occurs when the tape cassette is taken out from the tape stock storage rack or the VTR,
The positioning accuracy of the tape cassette deteriorates, and in the worst case, there is a possibility that the entire system will stop due to incorrect insertion of the tape cassette into the tape stock storage rack.

In order to solve the problems of the prior art described above, the present invention corrects the holding state of the tape cassette so that it is in a fixed position when the tape cassette is taken out. It is an object of the present invention to provide a tape cassette grasping device which prevents serious accidents such as the entire system from stopping and which has a simple structure. Another object of the present invention is to provide the above-mentioned tape cassette grasping device regardless of the size of the tape cassette.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the tape cassette grasping device of the present invention includes claws for grasping the tape cassette that sandwich the top and bottom surfaces of the tape cassette stored in the tape stock storage rack; An automatic cassette exchange device having a mechanism for opening and closing the amount up and down, and a mechanism for moving the mechanism in the tape cassette storage and removal direction of the tape stock storage rack, wherein the tape stock storage rack has a claw for grasping the tape cassette. The present invention is characterized in that correction means for correcting the position of the tape cassette when grasping the tape cassette are provided at left and right positions of the tape cassette.

In the configuration of the present invention, it is preferable that a plurality of correction means be provided depending on the size of the tape cassette.

[Function] According to the configuration of the present invention, correction means for correcting the position of the tape cassette when grasping the tape cassette with the claws for grasping the tape cassette are provided at the left and right positions of the tape cassette. When the movable part of the gripping device grips the tape cassette and retreats to the rearmost position, the tape cassette position correction plate stands up at the tip of the gripped tape cassette, and then moves the tape cassette gripping claw that grips the tape cassette. When the tape cassette is opened, the tape cassette starts to fall downward from the leading end of the tape cassette, and the downward direction of the tape cassette at this time is regulated in a fixed direction by the tape cassette position correction means. Then, by closing the tape cassette gripping claw again, the tape cassette is gripped by the cassette gripping device at the normal position, and the cassette holding state can be easily corrected.

In the preferred configuration of the present invention, a plurality of correction means are provided depending on the size of the tape cassette, so that the tape cassette can be taken out and inserted regardless of its size.

[Embodiment] A cassette grasping device used in an automatic VTR tape feeder according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 9(A) and 9(B) show a VTR tape automatic feeder using the present invention. FIG. 9(A) is a plan view of an automatic cassette exchange device in which the cassette grasping device of this embodiment is arranged, and FIG. 9(B) is a front view of the same.

In Figures 9(A) and (B), 11 is a tape cassette storage rack, ↓2 is a tape cassette, 13 is a VTR, 1
4 is a cassette grasping device, and 15 is an XY robot.

The operation of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 9(A) and 9(B) constructed as above will be described below.

The tape cassette 12 positioned in the tape stock storage rack 11 is gripped by the cassette grasping device 14, and the VTR 13 is moved by the xY robot 15 that moves the cassette grasping device.
A predetermined tape cassette 12 is supplied to and stored in a predetermined VTR 13 based on a preprogrammed command or a requested command using a device for supplying the tape to a predetermined VTR 13, thereby playing back the tape in the cassette and automatically broadcasting.

Next, FIG. 2 shows a cassette grasping device in one embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, 1 is a claw for grasping the cassette, 2 is a coil spring, 7 is a motor for moving the movable part of the cassette grasping device, 10 is the base of the cassette grasping device, 16 is a barcode reader, 17 is a full-size tape cassette (hereinafter referred to as a large cassette) tape cassette position correction plate for
18 is a position correction plate for a small size tape cassette (hereinafter referred to as a small cassette), and 19 is an arm for determining the cassette size.

Note that the device of this embodiment shown in FIG. 1 has the same components as the conventional device shown in FIG. 10 with the same reference numerals, and detailed explanation thereof will be omitted.

Next, FIG. 2(A) is a plan view of the large cassette position correction plate 17 of this embodiment, FIG. 2(B) is a sectional view from the front side,
FIG. 3(A) is a plan view of the small cassette position correction plate 18 of the same embodiment, and FIG. 3(B) is a sectional view from the front.

In FIGS. 2(A) and 3(B), 20 is a correction plate body, 21 is a spring, 22 is an arm, and 23 is a shaft. Correction plate body 2
0 is connected to the shaft 4 against the arm 22 by the spring 21.
It is biased in the direction of arrow B as shown in FIG. Further, the small cassette position correction plate is provided with a hole 40 for catching the cassette size discrimination arm.

FIG. 4(A) is a plan view of the cassette size determining arm 19 of this embodiment, and FIG. 4(B) is a front view thereof.

The operation of the cassette grasping device constructed as described above will be explained below with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7.

FIG. 5 shows the rising operation state of the tape cassette position correction plate. When the cassette grasping device movable part 6 moves rearward, the arm 24 is pushed. The above arm 24
is connected to the arm 22 of the tape cassette correction plate, and the arm 22 rotates about a shaft 23, and in conjunction with the arm 22, the tape cassette position correction plate 20 stands up.

FIG. 6 shows the correction operation of the tape cassette held by the cassette holding device. That is, FIG. 6(A) is a plan view illustrating the operation during position correction by the tape cassette position correction plate of this embodiment, and FIG. 6(B) is a front sectional view thereof. Figure 6 (A).

In (B), tape cassette position correction plate 2
0 corresponds to the front tip of the tilted tape cassette.

Furthermore, the arm 24 and the correction plate 20 are connected via a spring, and are also provided with an inclination that allows the tip of the tape cassette 12 to slide down, so that the claw 1 for grasping the tape cassette is opened. In some cases, the tape cassette 12 has a tape cassette position correction plate 20.
It is regulated in the front-back direction along. Furthermore, plates are attached to both ends of the correction plate 20, and the plates are perpendicular to the plate 20 and have an angle such that the width narrows toward the bottom of the plate, and a claw l for grasping the tape cassette is opened. This makes it possible to adjust the tape cassette in the left-right direction.

7 and 8 respectively show an example of the operation of the small cassette plate when grasping a large cassette and an example of its operation when grasping a small cassette. That is, FIG. 7(A) is a plan view illustrating the operation of the small cassette position correction plate when grasping the large cassette of this embodiment, FIG. 7(A) is a sectional view taken along the line CC, and FIG. 8(A) 8 is a plan view illustrating the operation of the small cassette position correction plate when grasping a small cassette in the same embodiment, and FIG. 8(B) is a sectional view taken along line DD in the same embodiment. In FIGS. 7 and 8, when the cassette I grasping device grasps a large cassette, the cassette size determination arm 19 is pushed by the large cassette and is brought down, hooking the tip of the small cassette position correction plate 18. to fix the position correction plate 18 for the small cassette. For this reason, the position correction plate 19 for small cassettes does not stand up, and only the position correction plate 18 for large cassettes/sorts can stand up. On the other hand, when the cassette grasping device grasps a small cassette, the cassette size discrimination arm 19 is not knocked down by the tape cassette, so the small cassette position correction plate 18 stands up.

Although this embodiment shows an apparatus compatible with two types of tape cassettes, it goes without saying that three or more types of cassette sizes may be used.

According to one embodiment of the present invention described above, there is provided a tape cassette gripping claw that grips the tape cassette by pinching the top and bottom surfaces of the tape cassette stored in the tape stock storage rack of the automatic cassette exchange device; A mechanism for opening and closing the claws up and down, a mechanism for moving the mechanism in the tape cassette storage/retrieval direction of the tape stock storage rack, and for correcting the position of the tape cassette grasped by the tape cassette grasping device. By providing this correction mechanism, it is possible to reliably insert and remove tape cassettes into and out of a tape stock storage rack in an automatic cassette exchanger or a VTR. In particular, by correcting the position of the tape cassette with the cassette grasping device, reliability when inserting the tape cassette into a tape cassette storage rack or VTR can be greatly improved.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, correcting means for correcting the position of the tape cassette when the tape cassette is grasped by the claws for grasping the tape cassette are provided at the left and right positions of the tape cassette. Therefore, an excellent effect can be achieved in that the tape cassette can be efficiently and reliably gripped by the cassette gripping device.

Further, in the preferred configuration of the present invention, since a plurality of correction means are provided depending on the size of the tape cassette, it is possible to achieve the effect that the tape cassette can be taken out and inserted regardless of its size.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cassette grasping device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2(A) is a plan view of a large cassette position correction plate of the same embodiment, and FIG. cross section,
FIG. 3(A) is a plan view of the small cassette position correction plate of the same embodiment, FIG. 3(B) is a sectional view taken along the line CC, and FIG.
A) is a plan view of the cassette size discrimination arm of the same embodiment, FIG. 4(B) is a front view of the same, and FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the rising operation of the tape cassette position correction plate of the same embodiment.
FIG. 6(A) is a plan view for explaining the operation during position correction by the tape cassette position correction plate of the same embodiment, FIG. 6(B) is a front sectional view of the same, and FIG. 7(A) is FIG. 7(A) is a plan view for explaining the operation of the small cassette position correction plate when grasping the large cassette of the same embodiment.
8(A) is a plan view for explaining the operation of the small cassette position correction plate when grasping the small cassette of the same embodiment; FIG. 8(B) is a sectional view taken along line DD of the same embodiment; Figure 9 (A
) is a plan view of the automatic cassette changing device in which the cassette grasping device of the same embodiment is arranged, FIG. 9(B) is a front view of the same, and FIG.
The figure is a front sectional view of a conventional cassette grasping device, and FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the conventional cassette grasping device. 1... Claw for grasping the cassette, 2... Coil spring, 3... Cam for opening/closing the claw, 4... Gear, 10.
...Cassette grasping device base, 16...Barcode checker, 17...Large cassette position correction plate,
18... Position correction plate for small cassette, 19...
・Arm for determining cassette size. Figure 4 (B'1 Figure 6 CB+ Figure 7 (Bl Figure 7 fAl Figure 8 (Al Figure 9 fA+ 4 Procedural amendment (method) June 28, 1990 Procedural amendment 1990 9 May 4, 1, Display of the case 1990 Patent Application No. 71685 2, Name of the invention Tape cassette grasping device 3, Person making the amendment Relationship to the case Patent applicant address 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture Name (58
2) Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Representative: Akio Tanii 4, Agent address: 4-9-2-5 Nishitenma, Kita-ku, Osaka 530, Date of amendment order: June 26, 1990 (procedural amendment order issued) 6. “Brief explanation of drawings column” of the specification subject to amendment 7. “Figure 7 (A) J Heisei 2
Patent Application No. 71685 2, Name of the invention Tape cassette grasping device 3, Relationship with the case of the person making the amendment Patent applicant address 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture Name (58
2) Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Representative: Akio Tanii 4, Agent address: 210 Nishitenma Building, 4-9-2 Nishitenma, Kita-ku, Osaka 530, Ikeuchi Patent Office -75, Date of amendment order: Voluntary action 6, Subject of amendment “Detailed description of the invention” section of the specification 7. Contents of amendment

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) It has a claw for grasping the tape cassette that pinches the top and bottom surfaces of the tape cassette stored in the tape stock storage rack, and a mechanism that opens and closes the claw up and down, and the mechanism is connected to the tape cassette in the tape stock storage rack. The automatic cassette changing device is equipped with a mechanism for moving the tape cassette in storage and removal directions, and the tape cassette is equipped with a correction means for correcting the position of the tape cassette when the tape cassette is grasped by the tape cassette grasping claw. A tape cassette grasping device characterized by being provided at left and right positions. (2) The tape cassette grasping device according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of correction means according to the size of the tape cassette.