JPH05198067A - Automatic changer for cassette - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To surely and smoothly put a video replaced right before being broadcast like in news cast, etc., on the air by changing reproduction order at any time before reproduction even after a cassette tape is loaded in a VTR device. CONSTITUTION:When a next button 12 is pressed before the reproduction of the cassette tape 10 loaded in the VTR device 11, cassettes 10 between a cassette tape 10 which is currently reproduced and a cassette tape 10 corresponding to the next button 12 are excluded from a reproduction schedule. When an ejection button 13 is pressed, the cassette tape 10 corresponding to the ejection button 13 is excluded from the reproduction schedule.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cassette autochanger for sequentially taking out and reproducing unit video signals recorded in each tape cassette.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a broadcasting station or the like, a cassette auto changer is used to sequentially select each cassette tape and reproduce it to display a unit video signal such as news recorded on each cassette tape. Often on air.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of such a cassette automatic changer (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 14457/1990).

The cassette autochanger shown in this drawing has a plurality of cassette storage containers 101 and a cassette shelf block 103 having a storage detector 102 provided for each cassette storage container 101, and a drive signal when this drive signal is supplied. A drive device 104 that generates an elevator drive signal based on the signal, a slide shaft 105 arranged along the cassette shelf block 103, and a motor 106 that operates based on the elevator drive signal output from the drive device 104, It is driven by the motor 106 and slides along the slide shaft 105 to move the cassette tape 10 from the cassette storage container 101.
7 is taken out and set in a VTR device (not shown), or returned to the original cassette storage container 101, an elevator main body 108, a bar attached to a cassette tape 107 placed on the elevator main body 108. An elevator section 110 having a bar code sensor 109 for reading a code, a keyboard having various keys (not shown), a console 111 having a CRT for displaying various information (not shown), and this operation A system controller 112 is provided which controls the drive unit 104 and the VTR unit based on various commands output from the desk 111 and the outputs of the storage detectors 102.

After the cassette tape 107 has been set in any of the cassette storage containers 101 constituting the cassette shelf block 103, when a list creation command is input from the console 111, the elevator main body of the elevator section 110. This elevator body 1 is driven by 108.
Each cassette tape 107 set in each cassette storage container 101 by 08 is sequentially taken out and its contents are checked, and then this cassette tape 107 is returned to the original cassette storage container 101, and this operation is repeated thereafter. Then, an event list is created based on the contents of the check.

After that, when a reproduction command is input from the console 111, the elevator main body 108 of the elevator section 110 is driven based on the event list so that the cassette tapes 107 set in the cassette storage containers 101 are removed. It is sequentially taken out, set in the VTR device, and reproduced in an order based on the event list.

[0007]

By the way, in the above-mentioned conventional cassette automatic changer,
After a cassette tape 107 is set in each cassette storage container 101, a reproduction command is input from the console 111 and the cassette tape 107 set in each cassette storage container 101 is loaded in the VTR device.
There is a problem that the reproduction order of the cassette tape 107 cannot be changed.

In view of the above circumstances, the present invention can change the reproduction order at any time even after the cassette tape is loaded in the VTR device and before it is reproduced, so that it can be changed just before broadcasting such as news. It is an object of the present invention to provide a cassette auto changer that can reliably and smoothly perform on-air video replacement.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, a cassette autochanger according to the present invention comprises:
Multiple cassette storage containers for storing cassette tapes,
A VTR device for reproducing a video signal from a magnetic tape in each cassette tape, a transporter for selectively loading each cassette tape stored in each cassette storage container into the VTR device, and a cassette tape for the VTR A cassette autochanger provided with a memory for storing data indicating a loading order of the apparatus, and a controller for controlling the transporter based on the data stored in the memory, provided in each cassette container. A plurality of switches and an updating unit that updates the data stored in the memory according to the on / off state of each of the switches are provided.

[0010]

In the above structure, the updating section updates the data indicating the loading order of the cassette tapes stored in the memory, based on the on / off state of each switch provided in each cassette container. Based on the data, each cassette tape is loaded in the VTR device and reproduced.

[0011]

1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a cassette autochanger according to the present invention. The cassette autochanger shown in this figure includes a cassette shelf block unit 2, a drive unit 3, an elevator unit 4, a VTR unit 5, a selection unit 6, an operation console 7, and a system controller 8. After a cassette tape 10 is set in any of the cassette storage containers 9 that form the block unit 2, and when a reproduction command is input, the cassette tapes 10 set in the upper cassette storage container 9 are sequentially It is taken out and set in the VTR section 5, and is sequentially reproduced and aired. Even after the cassette tape 10 is loaded in the VTR section 5, the playback order can be changed at any time as long as it is not played back, so that images such as news that can be replaced immediately before broadcasting can be reliably and smoothly played. It is possible to be on air.

The cassette shelf block 2 is provided with a casing 14 formed in a rectangular shape, a plurality of cassette storage containers 9 attached to the casing 14, and a cassette storage container 9 for each of these cassette storage containers 9. When the cassette tape 10 is set in the cassette storage container 9, a plurality of storage detectors 15 for detecting the cassette tape 10, a next button 12 provided for each cassette storage container 9, and each cassette storage container 9 are provided. When the cassette tape 10 is set in each cassette storage container 9, it is detected by the storage detector 15 attached to the cassette storage container 9 and the detection result is described above. When the next button 12 is supplied to the system controller 8 and any one of the next buttons 12 is pressed, the pressed next button 1
2 is generated and supplied to the system controller 8, and when any one of the eject buttons 13 is pressed, the eject information indicating the pressed eject button 13 is generated and this is output. It is supplied to the system controller 8.

The drive unit 3 also generates an elevator drive signal based on the control signal from the system controller 8 and supplies it to the elevator unit 4.

The elevator section 4 includes a slide shaft 16 arranged along the longitudinal direction of the cassette shelf block section 2,
An elevator main body 17 slidably inserted into the slide shaft 16, and provided in the elevator main body 17,
A motor 18 that operates based on an elevator drive signal output from the drive device 3 to slide the elevator body 17, and the motor 18 is provided in the elevator body 17.
Each cassette storage container 9 is provided by the elevator main body 17.
When the cassette tape 10 is taken out from the cassette tape 10, the barcode sensor 19 for reading the barcode attached to the cassette tape 10 is provided.
Based on the elevator drive signal output from the motor 1
8 operates to slide the elevator main body 17 along the slide shaft 16 and stops the elevator main body 17 at a designated position, and the cassette storage container 9 at the stop position by an actuator (not shown).
The cassette tape 10 is taken out from the cassette tape 10 and the bar code sensor 19 reads out the bar code of the cassette tape 10. The bar code information obtained by this reading operation is supplied to the system controller 8 and the taken-out cassette tape 10 is removed from the VTR section. Of the VTR devices 11 that make up the VTR device 5, the designated VTR device 1
Set to 1.

The console 7 is a keyboard having various keys (not shown) and a CR for displaying various information.
T is provided (not shown), and when the display information is output from the system controller 8, the display information is output as C
When it is displayed on the RT and the keyboard is operated, a command signal, data and the like corresponding to the operation contents are generated and supplied to the system controller 8.

Further, the VTR unit 5 includes a plurality of VTR devices 11
When the cassette tape 10 is delivered from the elevator section 4, each VTR device 1 is loaded with the cassette tape 10.
1 is set in the designated VTR device 11, and when a reproduction command is output from the system controller 8, the cassette tape 10 that has been set is reproduced and the video signal obtained by this reproduction operation is selected. Supply to the device 6. In addition, the system controller 8
When the eject command is output from, the set cassette tape 10 is ejected.

The selecting device 6 selects a video signal output from each VTR device 11 based on a selection command from the system controller 8 and supplies the selected video signal to the system controller 8 as a monitor output. The video signal that was made is aired.

The system controller 8 includes a microprocessor (not shown) for performing various processes,
A ROM (not shown) in which a program for defining the operation of the microprocessor and various constant data are stored, a RAM (not shown) used as a work area of the microprocessor, and the like, Each cassette tape 1 created by a microprocessor
And a memory 20 for storing the cassette storage indicating the 0 position.

Then, the cassette storage position data is created based on the respective detection results output from the cassette shelf block section 2 by operating in accordance with various commands output from the operator console 7, and the cassette storage position is stored. A control signal is generated based on the data and is supplied to the drive device 3, or the loading order is determined based on the bar code information output from the bar code sensor 19 of the elevator section 4 and the cassette storage position data. Alternatively, the loading order is changed based on the next information or the eject information output from the cassette shelf block section 2, or the elevator section 4 is controlled to take out the cassette tape 10 from each cassette storage container 9 and To the VTR device 11 or to the cassette set in the VTR device 11. Or to regenerate the tape 10, each V
The cassette tape 10 is ejected from the TR device 11 or the selector device 6 is controlled to control each VTR device 11
You can select the video signal output from the device and turn it on air.

Next, the reproducing operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to the block diagram shown in FIG. 1 and the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, when the console 7 is operated and a reproduction command is input, the output of the storage detector 15 attached to each cassette storage container 9 is taken in by the system controller 8 and the cassette tape 10 is stored. The cassette storage position data indicating the position of the cassette storage container 9 is created, and the loading order of the cassette tapes 10 is determined based on the cassette storage position data in the order in which they are set on the upper side. 20 is registered (step ST1).

Thereafter, the system controller 8 checks whether any of the next buttons 12 is pressed (step ST2), and which next button 12 is selected.
If neither is pressed, it is checked whether any one of the eject buttons 13 is pressed (step S
T4).

If none of the eject buttons 13 is pressed (step ST4), a control signal is generated by the system controller 8 based on the cassette storage position data and is supplied to the driving device 3, which is then driven. Among the cassette storage containers 9 in which the elevator main body 17 is driven based on the elevator drive signal output from the cassette tape 10 and the cassette tape 10 is set, the cassette storage container 9 at the highest position of the cassette storage position data.
The cassette tape 10 is taken out from each VTR.
Of the devices 11, it is set to the highest VTR device 11.

Thereafter, this operation is repeated, and among the cassette storage containers 9 recorded in the cassette storage position data, the cassette tapes are sequentially taken out from the cassette storage container 9 which is the upper side, and the remaining VTR device 11 is provided.
Is set (step ST6).

Thereafter, the system controller 8 causes the VTR device 1 which is the higher order side among the VTR devices 11
While sequentially reproducing from 1, the selector device 6 is controlled to select the video signal obtained by the reproducing operation of the VTR device 11, which is taken in as a monitor output and displayed on the console 7, and The video signal is on air.

Before the reproduction of the last cassette tape 10 is completed, one of the next buttons 12 is pressed,
If the cassette tape 10 stored in the cassette storage container 9 corresponding to the next button 12 has not been reproduced (step ST2), it is scheduled to be reproduced next to the cassette tape 10 currently being reproduced. Cassette tape 1
The cassette tape 10 between 0 and the cassette tape 10 corresponding to the pressed next button 12 is removed from the reproduction schedule (step ST3).

As a result, if the cassette tape 10 removed from the reproduction schedule is already set in the VTR device 11, the system controller 8 causes the elevator section 4 to move.
Is controlled so that the cassette tape 10 which is not scheduled to be reproduced is removed from the VTR device 11 and returned to the original cassette container 9.

Before the reproduction of the last cassette tape 10 is completed, one of the eject buttons 13 is pressed, and the cassette tape 10 stored in the cassette storage container 9 corresponding to the eject button 13 is reproduced. If it is before (step ST4), the cassette tape 10 corresponding to the eject button 13 is removed from the reproduction schedule (step ST5).

As a result, if the cassette tape 10 removed from the reproduction schedule has already been set in the VTR device 11, the system controller 8 causes the elevator section 4 to move.
Is controlled so that the cassette tape 10 is removed from the VTR device 11 in which the cassette tape 10 is set and returned to the original cassette storage container 9.

When the reproduction of the last cassette tape 10 to be reproduced is completed, the elevator 4 is controlled by the system controller 8 to control each VTR.
The cassette tapes 10 set in the apparatus 11 are sequentially taken out and returned to the original cassette storage container 9 (step ST7).

Thus, in this embodiment, the VT
If the cassette tape 10 set in the R device 11 is not yet reproduced, when the next button 12 is pressed, the cassette between the cassette tape 10 currently being reproduced and the cassette tape 10 corresponding to the next button 12 is pressed. Tape 1
When 0 is removed from the playback schedule and the eject button 13 is pressed, the cassette tape 10 corresponding to the eject button 13 is removed from the playback schedule.
Even after the cassette tape 10 is loaded in the device 11, the playback order can be changed at any time as long as it is before playback, so that images such as news that can be replaced immediately before broadcasting can be reliably and smoothly played. Can be on air.

[0032]

As described above, according to the present invention, V
Even after the cassette tape has been loaded into the TR device, the playback order can be changed at any time before playback, so that images that are replaced just before broadcasting, such as news, can be reliably and smoothly performed. Can be on air.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a cassette auto changer according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of a reproducing operation of the cassette auto changer shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing an example of a conventionally known cassette automatic changer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 4 Elevator Unit (Conveyor) 8 System Controller (Control Unit, Update Unit) 9 Cassette Storage Container 10 Cassette Tape 11 VTR Device 12 Next Button (Switch) 13 Eject Button (Switch) 20 Memory

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of cassette storage containers each storing a cassette tape, a VTR device for reproducing a video signal from the magnetic tape in each cassette tape, and each cassette tape stored in each cassette storage container. And a memory for storing data indicating the order of loading cassette tapes in the VTR device, and controlling the carrier based on the data stored in the memory. A cassette autochanger including a control device for controlling a plurality of switches provided in each of the cassette storage containers, and an updating unit for updating the data stored in the memory according to an on / off state of each of the switches. A cassette auto changer, which is provided with.