JPH0452542B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to a transport device for transporting tape cassettes (including tape cartridges) for magnetic recording and reproduction, for example.

BACKGROUND TECHNOLOGY AND PROBLEMS Conventionally, automatic performance devices have been released that are capable of continuing automatic performance while automatically exchanging tape cassettes in magnetic recording and reproducing devices such as video tape recorders and audiotape recorders. ing. In this type of automatic performance device, a cassette automatic changer is used to take out tape cassettes stored in a cassette storage section one by one and load them into a magnetic recording/reproducing device.

By the way, in a conventional cassette automatic changer, for example, tape cassettes stored individually in a cassette storage shelf are sorted and taken out one by one and loaded into a magnetic recording/playback device. If the tape cassette is then removed and returned to its original position on the cassette storage shelf, the tape cassette is mechanically gripped, such as by a mechanical handling mechanism or hooked on to the cassette storage shelf or magnetically. It was attached to and detached from the recording/playback device. The structure of the handling mechanism and the locking claw mechanism is complicated, and the cost is extremely high. In addition, it is easy to make mistakes in attaching and detaching the tape cassette, or the tape cassette falls off during transportation, resulting in a lack of reliability. Furthermore, because of the slow operation and the large mass of the cassette transfer body, there were problems in the tape cassette attachment/detachment operation and in increasing the transfer speed. Furthermore, so that the tape cassette can be gripped securely,
The shape of the tape cassette also required a special shape, such as providing a prohibition part such as a locking claw on the tape cassette itself.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a tape cassette transfer device that is most suitable for application to the above-mentioned cassette automatic changer and the like, and is capable of correcting the above-mentioned holes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has a transport body that is transported along a predetermined route, a storage chamber for tape cassettes is provided in the transport body, and the tape cassettes are moved into and out of the storage chamber by taking in and taking out air in the storage chamber. This is a tape cassette transfer device configured to take in and take out tape cassettes, which has an extremely simple structure and can attach and detach tape cassettes without mistakes and at high speed.

Embodiments Hereinafter, embodiments of a cassette automatic changer in which the present invention is applied to an automatic performance device of a magnetic recording/reproducing device such as a video tape recorder or an audio tape recorder will be described with reference to the drawings.

First, a first embodiment will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5.

First, in FIGS. 1 and 2, a magnetic recording/reproducing device 2 is mounted on a base 1, and a cassette insertion slot 3 is provided in the front of the magnetic recording/reproducing device 2. As shown in FIG. At the top of the magnetic recording/reproducing device 2, directly above the cassette insertion slot 3, there is a cassette storage shelf 4.
The cassette storage shelf 4 is provided with a plurality of upper and lower shelves 5, and each shelf 5 stores a tape cassette 6 horizontally. Further, a pair of guide rails 7 are installed on the base 1 on the left and right sides of the cassette storage shelf 4 on the front side of the magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus 2.
A transporting body 8 is installed between both guide rails 7, and this transporting body 8 is configured to move up and down along both guide rails 7 by a drive source (not shown) such as a motor. .

Next, as shown in FIG. 3, the transport body 8 holds a cassette storage case 9, and the cassette storage case 9 has an internal volume that allows the tape cassette 6 to be stored with a small gap. A cassette storage chamber 10 is provided. And this cassette storage room 10
The end on the cassette storage shelf 4 side is configured as an open end 10a, and the end on the opposite side is configured as a closed end 10b. A supply/exhaust port 11 is provided at the closed end 10b, and a supply/exhaust pipe 12 is connected to the supply/exhaust port 11. The pipe 12 is made of a flexible pipe such as a vinyl tube.
The other end is connected to a supply/exhaust pump (none of which is shown) through a supply/exhaust switching valve. The cassette housing 9 held by the transport body 8 is configured to be able to move slightly back and forth in the directions of arrows a and b with respect to the transport body 8 by a drive source (not shown) such as a plunger. When the cassette storage case 9 is moved forward a little in the direction of arrow a, the connection member 13 provided at the open end 10a of the cassette storage chamber 10 connects the outer periphery of the end of the tape cassette 6 stored in the cassette storage shelf 4. It is configured to be connected elastically and with as little gap as possible. The connecting member 13 is made of an elastic material such as rubber, and has, for example, a bellows-shaped cylindrical body 14 as shown in FIG. A flat plate-shaped frame 16 or the like having a frame 15 formed thereon can be used.

The first embodiment is constructed as described above and operates as follows.

First, based on an exchange command signal for the tape cassette 6, the transfer body 8 is driven by a motor or the like and is transferred in the vertical direction along both guide rails 7 to the cassette storage shelf as shown by solid lines in FIGS. 1 and 2. 4 is positioned in front of a predetermined shelf 5.

Next, the cassette storage case 9 held by the transfer body 8 is driven by a plunger or the like and moved forward a little in the direction of arrow a in FIG. It is lightly connected to the outer periphery of the end of the stored tape cassette 6.

Subsequently, the supply/exhaust switching valve is switched, and the air in the cassette storage chamber 10 is discharged at high speed from the supply/exhaust port 11 through the pipe 12 by the supply/exhaust pump in the direction of arrow c. At that moment, the inside of the cassette storage chamber 10 becomes negative pressure, and the tape cassette 6 inside the shelf section 5 is vacuum-suctioned in the direction of arrow b and pulled out, as shown by the imaginary line in FIG. 3 or 4. The cassette is immediately sucked into the cassette storage chamber 10.

Next, the cassette storage case 9 is placed in the third position relative to the transfer body 8.
After being moved back a little in the direction of arrow b in the figure or Figure 4,
The transporting body 8 is moved downward along both guide rails 7 and is positioned in front of the cassette insertion opening 3 of the magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus 2, as shown by the imaginary line in FIG.

Next, the supply/exhaust switching valve is switched again, and this time air is supplied into the cassette storage chamber 10 from the supply/exhaust port 11 through the pipe 12 by the supply/exhaust pump from the direction of arrow d in FIG. 3 or 4. Ru. Then, the tape cassette 6 that has been stored in the cassette storage chamber 10 and transferred downward opens its open end 10.
a and is automatically inserted into the cassette insertion slot 3 of the magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus 2. Subsequently, the tape cassette 6 is loaded by the magnetic recording/reproducing device 2, and the tape cassette 6 is automatically played.

After the performance (playback) of the tape cassette 6 is completed, the magnetic recording/reproducing device 2 plays the tape cassette 6.
After the cassette storage chamber 10 is ejected, the air in the cassette storage chamber 10 is exhausted in the same manner as described above.
The tape cassette 6 is pulled out from the cassette insertion port 3 and sucked into the cassette storage chamber 10. After the transfer body 8 is raised and positioned in front of the original shelf section 5, the cassette storage chamber 1 is moved in the same manner as described above.
By supplying air into the tape cassette 6, the tape cassette 6 is pushed out from the cassette storage chamber 10 and stored in the original shelf 5.

By repeating the above operations, the tape cassette 6 is automatically replaced and automatic performance continues.

Next, a second embodiment will be explained with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7.

In this case, first move the cassette storage shelf 4 to the transfer body 8.
The magnetic recording/reproducing device 2 is disposed facing the front of the magnetic recording/reproducing device 2 across the vertical movement path of the magnetic recording/reproducing device 2 . Next, both the front and rear ends of the cassette storage chamber 10 of the cassette storage case 9 are configured to have open ends 10a, 10a', and a pair of shutters 18, 19 that are reversibly opened and closed are provided at both of the open ends 10a, 10a'. ing. Further, a pair of supply and exhaust ports 20 and 21 are provided near both opening ends 10a and 10a' of the cassette storage chamber 10, and pipes 22 and 23 are connected to these supply and exhaust ports 20 and 21, respectively.
A supply/exhaust pump is connected to the other end through the supply/exhaust switching valve as described above. Also in this case, the cassette storage case 9 is constructed so that it can move slightly back and forth in the directions of arrows a and b with respect to the transport body 8, and has a reversible switching mechanism 24 for both shutters 18 and 19. . Also, both open ends 10a, 1
A connecting member 13 is provided at both 0a'.

This second embodiment is constructed as described above and operates as follows.

First, based on a command signal for replacing the tape cassette 6, the transfer body 8 is transferred vertically in the same manner as described above and is positioned in front of a predetermined shelf 5 as shown by the solid line in FIG.

Next, in the same manner as described above, the cassette storage case 9 is moved forward a little in the direction of the arrow a with respect to the transfer body 8, and the connecting member 13 at one open end 10a is lightly connected to the outer periphery of the end of the tape cassette 6 on the shelf section 5. Ru.

Subsequently, one shutter 18 is opened and the other shutter 19 is closed, as shown by the solid line in FIG. Subsequently, the air in the cassette storage chamber 10 is discharged at high speed in the direction of the arrow c through the pipe 23 in the same manner as described above. At this time, since the inside of the pipe 22 is closed, the inside of the cassette storage chamber 10 becomes negative pressure at that moment, as described above, and the tape cassette 6 inside the shelf 5 moves toward the arrow as shown by the imaginary line in FIG. It is vacuum-suctioned in direction b and is instantly drawn into the cassette storage chamber 10.

Next, the cassette storage case 9 is moved back a little in the direction of arrow b with respect to the transfer body 8 in the same manner as described above, and then the transfer body 8
is transferred downward and positioned in front of the cassette insertion opening 3 of the magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus 2, as shown by the imaginary line in FIG.

Next, as shown by imaginary lines in FIG. 7, one shutter 18 is closed and the other shutter 19 is opened. Subsequently, air is supplied from the pipe 22 into the cassette storage chamber 10 from the direction of the arrow d in the same manner as described above. Then, the tape cassette 6 that has been stored in the cassette storage chamber 10 and transferred downwards is opened at the other open end 10.
a' and is automatically inserted into the cassette insertion slot 3 of the magnetic recording/reproducing device 2 in the same manner as described above.
An automatic performance similar to that described above will be performed.

After the performance of the tape cassette 6 is completed, the operation described above is reversed, and the tape cassette 6 is
is extracted from the cassette insertion slot 3 of the magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus 2 and stored in the original shelf section 5 of the cassette storage shelf 4 in the same manner as described above.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, various modifications can be made based on the technical idea of the present invention.

For example, when using a plurality of magnetic recording/reproducing apparatuses 2, while one magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus 2 is playing a tape cassette 6, the next tape cassette 6 may be loaded into another magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus 2. and then
It is also possible to use a large number of tape cassettes 6 to play continuously without interruption.

In addition, a plurality of cassette storage shelves 4 are arranged horizontally so that the plurality of cassette storage shelves 4 and/or transport bodies 8 can be moved laterally (horizontally).
It is also possible to automatically select and take out the tape cassettes 6 from among the multiple shelves 5.

Application Examples The present invention is not limited to automatic changers for tape cassettes and tape cartridges in magnetic recording and reproducing devices such as video tape recorders and audio tape recorders, but is also applicable to various other recording and reproducing devices, information processing devices, and It can be widely applied as a transfer device in manufacturing lines for tape cassettes and tape cartridges.

Effects of the Invention The present invention provides a transport body that transports tape cassettes while being guided by a guide rail, and includes a cassette storage chamber that is open at one end and closed at the other end.
The air in the cassette storage chamber is taken in and out from the closed end side by a supply/exhaust means connected via a flexible pipe to the air supply/exhaust port formed on the closed end side of the cassette storage chamber, thereby increasing the air pressure. The tape cassette is inserted into and taken out of the cassette storage chamber from the open end using the cassette storage chamber, and the tape cassette is guided by a combination of this movement of taking the cassette into and out of the cassette storage chamber and the movement of the transfer body along the guide rail. Because the tape cassette is transported along a rail, unlike the conventional method, in which the tape cassette is mechanically gripped and transported by hooking the tape cassette onto the transport body using a mechanical handling mechanism or a locking claw, There is no need to provide complicated mechanisms or devices on the transfer body, and there is no need to provide complex mechanisms or devices such as mechanical handling mechanisms or locking claws on the transfer body. It is only necessary to provide an air supply/exhaust port, and the transfer body can be made extremely lightweight, which increases the speed at which the tape cassette is transferred along the guide rail and allows the transfer operation of the tape cassette between the transfer body and any device. Therefore, the tape cassette can be transferred at high speed by the transfer body. Since air pressure is used to move tape cassettes into and out of the cassette storage chamber of the transfer unit, a mechanical handling mechanism or a device that mechanically grips the tape cassette with a locking claw simply needs to be provided with an air supply/exhaust port. Therefore, the structure of the transport body can be made very simple and costs can be reduced. Since tape cassettes are moved in and out of the cassette storage chamber of the transfer body using air pressure, there is no mistake when inserting or removing tape cassettes, and the tape cassettes can be stably stored in the cassette storage chamber and moved by the transfer body. Since the tape cassette can be transferred, it is possible to prevent the tape cassette from falling off during the transfer by the transfer body, and the tape cassette can be transferred with high safety and reliability. Tape cassettes can be quickly taken in and out of the cassette storage chamber of the transfer body using air pressure, and unlike conventional tape cassettes, a special shape such as a locking part is machined to ensure mechanical gripping. There is no need for tape cassettes, and the versatility of the tape cassette is great.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a cassette autochanger, in which FIG. 1 is a front view of the first embodiment, FIG. 2 is a side view of FIG.
Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the main parts of the same as above, Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view similar to Fig. 3 showing a modified example, and Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the same as Fig. 4.
Figure 6 is a front view of the second embodiment, Figure 7 is a side view of the second embodiment, and Figure 7 is a side view of the second embodiment.
The figure is an enlarged sectional view of the main parts same as above. Further, in the symbols used in the drawings, 2...magnetic recording/reproducing device, 3...cassette insertion slot, 4...cassette storage shelf, 5...shelf section, 6...tape cassette, 7...
Guide rail, 8... Transfer body, 9... Cassette storage case, 10... Cassette storage chamber, 11... Supply/exhaust port, 1
2... Pipe, 13... Connection member.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1: a guide rail; a transfer body that is guided and transferred by the guide rail; and a transfer body that is formed on the transfer body, and has one end formed as an open end and the other end formed as a closed end. A tape cassette storage chamber is formed on the closed end side of the cassette storage chamber, and the tape cassette can be taken in and out of the cassette storage chamber from the open end by letting air in the cassette storage chamber in and out from the closed end side. A tape cassette transfer device comprising: an air supply/exhaust port connected to the air supply/exhaust port via a flexible pipe, and supply/exhaust means for supplying and discharging air to and from the cassette storage chamber.