JPH05109028A - Head-clog restoration apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To restore a head clog automatically. CONSTITUTION:A tape is rewound up to a prescribed position when a clog is distinguished by means of a head-clog discrimination device 26. At this time, this apparatus is provided with a system controller 100 which controls a reel motor 34 so that the tape travels in a state that it has been brought into contact with a head.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for recording or reproducing information on a tape by a head, for example, a head clog repair apparatus suitable for a video tape recorder.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When a video tape recorder is used for a long period of time, head clogs may occur and normal recording and reproduction may not be possible. Whether or not such a head clog has occurred is determined by, for example, setting the recording pause state, rewinding the tape a small amount, and detecting the reproduction signal level. When the head clog is determined, a warning is displayed and the user is prompted to replace the cleaning tape.

[0003]

As described above, it is a troublesome task for the user to replace the cleaning tape with a warning message every time the head clog is displayed.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a head clog repairing device capable of automatically repairing a head clog when it is determined that a head clog has occurred. And

[0005]

A head clog repair device according to a first aspect of the present invention comprises a head clog discriminating means (for example, a head clog discriminating device 26 of the embodiment) for discriminating whether or not a clog has occurred in a head. In response to the determination of the clog by the determination means, the tape is rewound to a predetermined position and then the feeding means (for example, the reel motor 34 of the embodiment is used so as to run the tape in contact with the head. ) Is controlled by the control means (for example, the system controller 100 of the embodiment).

A head clog repairing device according to a second aspect of the present invention reproduces information recorded on a tape by a head,
Head clog determining means for determining whether or not a clog is generated in the head based on the reproduction signal level (for example,
The head clog discriminating device 26) of the embodiment, a storage unit (for example, an internal memory of the system controller 100 of the embodiment) that stores the position of the tape when the discriminating unit discriminates that a clog has occurred, and In response to the determination of the clog by the determining means, the tape is rewound to a predetermined position, then the tape is moved in contact with the head, and then the tape is transferred to the position stored in the storage means. Feeding means (eg,
The reel motor 34 of the embodiment is provided with control means (for example, the system controller 100 of the embodiment).

According to a third aspect of the head clog repair apparatus, the tape has a cleaning tape portion, and the predetermined position where the tape is rewound is the starting position of the cleaning tape portion.

According to a fourth aspect of the head clog repair apparatus, a head clog discriminating means (for example, the head clog discriminating apparatus 26 of the embodiment) for discriminating whether or not a clog has occurred in the head, and a tape is a cleaning section. A tape type discriminating unit (for example, the cleaning tape-attached tape discriminating device 64 of the embodiment) that discriminates whether or not it has been discriminated, a clog discriminating unit discriminating it as a clog, and a type discriminating unit discriminating that the tape has a cleaning section. In response to this, after rewinding the tape to a predetermined position, the control means (for example, the system controller 100 of the embodiment) that controls the feeding means so that the tape is run in contact with the head. It is characterized by being provided.

[0009]

In the head clog repair apparatus having the structure according to the first aspect of the invention, since the tape is rewound to a predetermined position in response to the fact that the head clog is discriminated, the tape runs while in contact with the head. Since the head is cleaned by the tape, the head clog can be automatically repaired (if the tape after the predetermined position is a cleaning tape, of course, if the tape is not a cleaning tape, When running in contact, the tape has a cleaning effect on the head, which may allow the head clog to be repaired).

According to another aspect of the head clog repair apparatus of the present invention, whether or not clogs are generated in the head is determined based on the reproduction signal level of the head, and the tape of the tape when it is determined that clogs are generated. Since the position is stored and the tape is rewound to a predetermined position in response to the determination that it is a clog, the tape runs while being in contact with the head, so that the head clog can be automatically repaired. Further, since the tape is moved to the position stored in the storage means after the tape has run while being in contact with the head, there is no need to search the original tape position during reproduction or recording.

In the head clog repair apparatus of the third aspect, the tape is rewound to the starting position of the cleaning tape section, and thereafter, the cleaning tape section travels in a state of contacting the head, so that the head clog is surely carried out. To be repaired.

In the head clog repair device having the structure of the fourth aspect, not only is it determined as the head clog, but
When the tape is judged to have a cleaning section, the tape is rewound to a specified position and then runs with the tape in contact with the head. It is possible to eliminate the waste of performing the operation.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows the construction of an embodiment of the head clog repairing apparatus of the present invention. This embodiment is an example in which the present invention is applied to 8 mm video. In FIG. 1, the cassette 2
The magnetic tape 4 drawn out from the magnetic tape 4 is guided by the guide pins 6 and 8 and is, for example, 22
It is spirally wound around once and run at a predetermined speed by a capstan and a pinch roller (not shown). Of the 221 degrees, 185 degrees are for video signals and 36 degrees are for audio signals.

Two magnetic heads 12 and 14 having different azimuth angles are attached to the rotary drum 10 at intervals of 180 degrees. The rotary drum 10 is driven by a drum motor (not shown) so that the magnetic heads 12 and 14 rotate once in one frame, and the magnetic head 12 is driven in an odd field (first channel).
Scans the magnetic tape 2, and the magnetic head 14 scans the magnetic tape 2 in an even field (second channel).

The recording signal processing device 16 receives the color video signal and the audio signal, separates the color video signal into a color signal and a luminance signal, forms a low frequency conversion color signal from the color signal, and frequency-modulates the luminance signal. And an audio signal is frequency-modulated to be an intermediate frequency FM-modulated audio signal, which is recorded on the magnetic tape 4 via the amplifier 18 and the magnetic heads 12 and 14, respectively.

The reproduction signal processing device 22 includes a magnetic head 12
And 14 and the signal read from the magnetic tape 4 via the amplifier 20 are processed in the reverse of the recording signal processing device 16 to reproduce a color video signal and an audio signal. The reproduction signal detection device 24 is a reproduction signal processing device 22.
The color video signal and the audio signal reproduced by are received, the levels of these reproduced signals are detected, and the detection result is output to the head clog discrimination device 26. The head clog detection device 26 determines the magnetic head 12 from the reproduction signal level.
Or determine whether or not 14 has a clog,
The determination result is output to the system controller 100.

The system controller 100 uses the head clog discriminator 26 to detect the magnetic head 12 or 14.
When it is determined that a clog has occurred in the head clog warning generating device 62, a warning generating device 64 is generated.
Of the parts corresponding to the magnetic heads 12 and 24, a warning is displayed on the part of the head determined to be the head clog. Further, when it is determined that the head clog is detected, the system controller 100 causes the buzzer 66 to generate a warning sound via the head clog warning display device 62.

The system controller 100 also supplies to the motor drive device 32 speed signals according to the recording, reproducing, rewinding and fast-forwarding modes. Motor drive device 32 drives reel motor 34 at the speed indicated by the speed signal received from system controller 100. The reel motor 34 drives the supply reel and the take-up reel of the magnetic tape 4 stored in the cassette 2.

The reel rotation position detecting device, that is, the tape rotation position detecting device 42 detects the rotation position of the reel motor 34, that is, the position of the magnetic tape 4, and outputs the detection result to the system controller 100. This tape position detection result is recorded in the system controller 100,
Used as information for switching between play, fast forward and rewind modes.

The cassette eject drive device 52 receives the eject signal from the system controller 100,
The cassette 2 is ejected from the video tape recorder.

FIG. 2 shows a tape with a cleaning tape which is preferably used in the embodiment of FIG. This tape is composed of a cleaning tape portion C in a section of Δc from the initial position, and is composed of a magnetic tape portion M after that. An area P of the magnetic tape portion M is an area extending over a length Δt between a start point A of a recording temporary stop operation described later and a rewind end point B.

FIG. 3 shows an operation example of the embodiment shown in FIG.
The operation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 will be described below with reference to FIG.
First, in step S1, it is assumed that a recording pause signal is supplied to the system controller 100 by a user operation. In response to this, the system controller 10
For 0, the current position of the tape 4 indicated by the output of the reel rotation position detecting device 42, that is, the recording pause start point A is stored in the internal memory (step S2). Then, the system controller 100 outputs a speed signal corresponding to the rewind mode to the motor drive device 32, and the motor drive device 3
2 drives the reel motor 34 to drive the magnetic tape 4
Is rewound by Δt, and the rewind end point B is stored in the internal memory (step S3). The system controller 100 then uses a cleaning counter (not shown).
Is reset to 0 (step S4).

Next, the system controller 100 supplies a speed signal corresponding to the reproduction mode to the motor drive device 32 to drive the region P of the magnetic tape 4 at the reproduction speed by the reel motor 34, and then the reproduction processing device 22. Output the reproduced color video signal and audio signal (step S
5). Then, the reproduction signal level detection device 24 detects the level of the reproduction signal output from the reproduction processing device 22, and outputs the detection result to the head clog discrimination device 26 (step S6).

When the reel rotation position detecting device 42 detects that the current position of the magnetic tape 4 is the recording pause start point A (YES in step S7), the system controller 100 causes the head clog discriminating device 26 to operate. It is inquired whether or not the reproduction signal level is normal, that is, whether or not head clog has occurred. If the reproduction signal level is normal (YES in step S8), the system controller 100 has not issued a warning from the head clog generator 62 (NO in step S9).
It stands by for the next operation, that is, the recording operation (step S11).

In step S7, when the head clog discriminating device 26 determines that the reproduction signal level is not normal, that is, when the head clog occurs, the system controller 100 checks whether the value N of the cleaning number counter is 2. Since N is 0 now, the system controller 100 proceeds to step S13,
From the output of the head clog discrimination device 26, the first and second
Check for clogs on both the channels or magnetic heads 12 and 14. If clogs are generated in both heads 12 and 14 (YES in step S13), clogs are generated in the first and second channels on warning display device 64, that is, both heads 12 and 14 via head clog warning generation device 62. Is displayed. If no clog has occurred in both heads 12 and 14 (NO in step S13), the channel or head in which clog is occurring is displayed on the warning display device 64 via the head clog warning generation device 62 (steps S15, 16 and 17).

Next, the system controller 100 sends a speed signal corresponding to the rewinding mode to the motor driving device 32.
And the reel motor 34 rewinds the magnetic tape 4 to the initial position (step S18). Subsequently, the system controller 100 outputs a speed signal corresponding to the reproduction mode to the motor drive device 32, and the tape 4
The tape 4 from the first position of the magnetic tape to the magnetic head 1
2 and 14 are made to contact and it is made to run (step S19
And S20). When the magnetic tape 4 has the cleaning tape portion C as shown in FIG. 2 by the tape running in the reproduction mode, the heads 12 and 14 are surely cleaned and have no cleaning portion. In this case as well, the magnetic tape 4 runs in contact with the magnetic heads 12 and 14 so that the magnetic tape 4 acts on the heads 12 and 14 as a cleaner, albeit slightly.

Thereafter, the system controller 100
The motor drive device 32 outputs the speed signal corresponding to the fast-forward mode.
And the magnetic tape 4 is fast-forwarded by the reel motor 34 (step S21). When the reel rotation position detecting device 42 detects that the current position of the magnetic tape 4 is the recording temporary rewind point B (step S2).
If YES in step 2), the system controller 100 increments the value N of the cleaning number counter by 1, and performs the processes in steps S5 to S8 again.

When the head clog discriminating device 26 discriminates in step S8 that the head clog is still present, the system controller 100 again returns to step S8.
After the processes of 12 to S17 are performed to display the magnetic head in which the clogs are generated, the steps of S18 to S2 are performed again.
The process of 2 is performed to clean the heads 12 and 14, and the value N of the cleaning number counter is incremented by 1 in step S23 (thus, N becomes 2). After that, the system controller 100 performs the processes of steps S5 to S8 described above again. Then, in step S8, when the head clog determining device 26 determines that the head clog is still present, the current value of the cleaning number counter is 2 (YES in step S12), so the system controller 100 causes the head clog warning generating device 62 to operate. A warning sound is generated from the buzzer 66 via the buzzer 66 (step S24), an eject command is output to the cassette eject drive device 52, and the tape cassette is ejected (step S25).

In step S8, if the head clog discriminating device 26 discriminates that the head clog has disappeared,
The system controller 100 releases the warning (YES in step S9 and step S10), and stands by for the next operation, that is, the recording operation (step S11).

The operation of FIG. 3 is performed in the area P of the magnetic tape of FIG.
It is assumed that the signal is recorded in. Area P
If no signal is recorded in the area P, the level of the reproduction signal obtained from the area P is 0, and the head clog discrimination device 2
6 is determined to be a clog though no clog has occurred. FIG. 4 shows the operation of the embodiment in which when the signal is not recorded in the area P, the signal is recorded so that it can be correctly discriminated that the head clog has occurred.

4, the processing of steps S1 to S21 is the same as that of FIG. 3, and the processing of steps S31 to S33 between steps S14 and S18 is the same as that of FIG.
Is a part different from. That is, in the operation of FIG. 3, the cleaning operation is started immediately after the warning that the clogs are generated in both channels, that is, both the heads in step S14, but in the embodiment of FIG. 4, in the embodiment of FIG.
After the warning is displayed, in step S31, the system controller 100 outputs a speed signal corresponding to the rewind mode to the motor drive device 32, and the reel motor 34 rewinds the magnetic tape 4 by Δt, that is, to the position B. Subsequently, the system controller 100 outputs a speed signal corresponding to the recording mode to the motor driving device 32, causes the reel motor 34 to run the magnetic tape 4 in the recording mode, and causes the recording signal processing device 16 to output a color video signal and an audio signal. A signal is supplied and the signal is recorded on the magnetic tape 4 via the amplifier 18 and the magnetic heads 12 and 14 (step S33).

When the reel rotation position detecting device 42 detects that the current position of the magnetic tape 4 is the recording temporary stop start point A (YES in step S33), the system controller 100 corresponds to the rewinding mode. The speed signal is output to the motor driving device 32, and the reel motor 3
4 to rewind the magnetic tape 4 (step S1)
8).

As described above, after the signal is recorded in the area P, it is checked in step S8 whether the reproduction signal level is normal, so that it is not erroneously determined to be a head clog.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 3 and the embodiment of FIG. 4, the magnetic tape 4 is wound to the initial position regardless of whether the magnetic tape 4 has the cleaning tape portion C as shown in FIG. After returning, the magnetic tape 4 is run in contact with the magnetic heads 12 and 14, but when the cleaning tape portion C is not provided, the cleaning effect given to the magnetic heads 12 and 14 is small and the clog cannot be restored. In many cases. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, only when the magnetic tape 4 has the cleaning tape portion C, the magnetic tape 4 is rewound to the initial position and then brought into contact with the magnetic heads 12 and 14 to run the magnetic tape 4 for cleaning. This is an example of performing an operation.

In FIG. 5, components designated by the same reference numerals as in FIG. 1 are the same as those in the embodiment of FIG. The embodiment of FIG. 5 is characterized in that a cassette hole detecting device 62 and a tape discriminating device 64 with a cleaning tape are provided. The cassette hole detection device 62 detects that the hole 200 indicating the tape with the cleaning tape is formed in the cassette 2 shown in FIG. 6, and outputs the detection result to the tape determination device 64 with the cleaning tape. To do. The discriminating device 64 discriminates whether or not the magnetic tape 4 is a tape with a cleaning tape according to the output from the detecting device 62, and outputs the discrimination result to the system controller 100. System controller 100
When receiving a determination result that the magnetic tape 4 is not a tape with a cleaning tape, the head clog warning generation device 62 displays a warning on the display device 64 and the buzzer 66 generates a warning sound.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, it is possible to eliminate the waste of carrying out the repair operation even though there is no possibility or possibility that the head clog will be repaired.

Although the above embodiments relate to 8 mm video, the present invention is not limited to this and can be applied to various video tape recorders.

The present invention is not limited to recording or reproducing video signals and audio signals, but can be applied to recording or reproducing either one of the signals or various other information signals.

[0039]

As is apparent from the above description, claim 1
According to the head clog repair device, the tape is rewound to a predetermined position according to the head clog discrimination, and then the tape is run in a state of being in contact with the head, so that the head is cleaned by the tape. ,
The head clog can be automatically repaired (if the tape after the specified position is a cleaning tape, of course, even if it is not a cleaning tape, the tape will be There is a cleaning action on the head, so it may be possible to repair the head clog).

According to the head clog repair device of the second aspect, the position of the tape when it is discriminated as the head clog is stored, and after the tape is rewound to the predetermined position in accordance with the discrimination as the clog, Since the tape was run with it in contact with the head, and then the tape was transferred to the position stored in the storage means, the head clog can be automatically repaired and the original playback or recording is in progress. There is no need to search the tape position.

According to the head clog repair apparatus of the third aspect, the tape is rewound to the starting position of the cleaning tape portion, and then the cleaning tape portion is made to run in a state of being in contact with the head. It can be reliably repaired.

According to the head clog repair device of the fourth aspect, not only the head clog discrimination but also the tape having the cleaning portion is discriminated, and after the tape is rewound to a predetermined position, the tape is brought into contact with the head. Since the vehicle is made to travel in the state in which the head clog is repaired, it is possible to eliminate the waste of carrying out the repairing operation even if there is no possibility of repairing the head clog.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of a head clog repair device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a magnetic tape having a cleaning tape portion.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation example of the embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation example of another embodiment of the head clog repair device of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of another embodiment of the head clog repair device of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a rear view showing an example of the tape cassette used in the embodiment of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 4 magnetic tape 12, 14 magnetic head 24 reproduction signal level detecting device 26 head clog discriminating device 42 reel rotation position detecting device (tape position detecting device) 52 cassette eject operation device 62 cassette hole detecting device 64 tape discriminating device with cleaning tape 100 system controller

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A head clog discriminating means for discriminating whether or not a clog has occurred in the head, in a device having a feeding means for feeding a tape, wherein the head records or reproduces information on the tape. A control means for controlling the feeding means so that the tape is rewound to a predetermined position and then the tape is run in contact with the head in response to the fact that the tape is judged to be a clog by the judging means. A head clog repairing device comprising: 2. An apparatus having a feeding means for feeding a tape, wherein the head records or reproduces information on the tape, wherein the head reproduces the information recorded on the tape to obtain a reproduction signal level. A head clog discriminating means for discriminating whether or not a clog has occurred in the head based on the head, a storing means for storing the position of the tape when the clog is discriminated by the discriminating means, and a clog for the discriminating means. According to the determination, after rewinding the tape to a predetermined position, the tape is run in a state of being in contact with the head, and then the tape is transferred to a position stored in the storage means. And a control means for controlling the feeding means as described above. 3. The tape according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the tape has a cleaning tape portion, and the predetermined position is a start position of the cleaning tape portion.
The head clog repairing device according to 1. 4. A head clog discriminating means for discriminating whether or not a clog is generated in the head in an apparatus having a feeding means for feeding a tape and recording or reproducing information on the tape by a head. , The tape type discriminating means for discriminating whether or not the tape has a cleaning portion, the clog discriminating means discriminating as a clog, and the type discriminating means discriminating that the tape has a cleaning portion. Accordingly, after rewinding the tape to a predetermined position, the head is provided with control means for controlling the feeding means so as to run the tape in a state of being in contact with the head. Clog repair device.