JPH05205374A - Magnetic recording/reproducing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a magnetic recording/reproducing device equipped with an autochanger function making the other housed tape cassette able to travel even while a recording/reproducing of one tape cassette is done. CONSTITUTION:A tape traveling/driving mechanism 10 having two reels arranged between a specified interval on the bottom part of a cassette holder 3. When the cassette holder 3 is lowered a position where the heights of a cassette housing section 3b and a cassette insertion port 4 are made coincident with each other, a tape cassette in the cassette housing section 3b is loaded on the tape traveling/driving mechanism 10 and a tape traveling is operated by rotating the reel. A cassette housing section driving circuit 5, a cassette insert driving circuit 6 and the tape traveling/driving mechanism 10 are controlled by a control circuit 11, a selected tape cassette is moved to a cassette housing section 3a, the cassette holder 3 is lowered and the tape traveling movement is operated by the tape traveling/driving mechanism 10.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus such as a VTR (Video Tape Recorder) having an automatic changer function for accommodating a plurality of magnetic tape cassettes in the apparatus and recording / reproducing continuously or selectively. It is a thing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A shiftable storage unit for storing a plurality of tape cassettes is provided, and the tape cassettes stored in these storage units are sequentially or arbitrarily selected and supplied to a mechanical position where recording and reproduction are possible. By doing so, a VTR with an automatic changer function is known, which records and reproduces data on and from a plurality of accommodated tape cassettes.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing a schematic structure of a conventional VTR with an auto changer function of this type. In the figure, a plurality of cassette storage portions 3a each capable of storing one tape cassette are provided on the rear surface side of the front panel 2 in the VTR main body generally indicated by reference numeral 1, respectively.
A cassette holder 3 having 3b is arranged so as to be vertically shiftable by a drive mechanism composed of a drive motor or the like (not shown). Reference numeral 4 denotes a cassette insertion port of a cassette carrying / mounting mechanism in the VTR main body 1, and either one of the cassette housing portions 3a and 3b can be positioned at the same height. Further, in FIG. 3, 5 is a cassette housing drive circuit, 6 is a cassette insert drive circuit, and 7 is a drive circuit.
Is a system control circuit, 8 is a tape running drive circuit, and 12 is an external input means. Although these circuit systems are basically included in the VTR, for convenience of illustration,
It is shown outside the VTR body 1.

In the configuration of FIG. 3 described above, for example, when recording or reproducing is performed on the tape cassette housed in the cassette housing part 3a, the cassette housing part drive circuit 5 has a height of the cassette insertion port 4 and the cassette housing part 3a. The drive mechanism is controlled so that the cassette holder 3 is moved up and down so as to match. Then, by the transfer mechanism constituted by a drive motor or the like (not shown) whose operation is controlled by the cassette insert drive circuit 6, the tape cassette can be recorded / reproduced from the cassette storage portion 3a via the position A. Transferred to a position. And B which can be recorded and reproduced
Under the control of the system control circuit 7, the tape cassette mounted at the position of is driven to run by a tape running drive system (not shown) via the tape running drive circuit 8, and a recording / reproducing system (not shown) is driven. The recording or reproducing operation is performed via. Here, the system control circuit 7 has a function of comprehensively controlling the VTR based on the information arbitrarily input by the user of the VTR using an external input means 12 such as an operation button provided on the device or a remote control device. The cassette housing drive circuit 5 and the cassette insert drive circuit 6 are also controlled by the system control circuit 7. When the recording or reproducing of the tape cassette mounted at the position B where recording / reproducing is possible is completed, the system control circuit 7
The cassette insert drive circuit 6 is driven and controlled by the tape cassette, and the tape cassette is returned to the original cassette housing portion 3a from the position B where recording and reproduction are possible and the position A.

In the case of continuous recording or reproduction, that is, for example, recording (or reproducing) is performed on the tape cassette stored in the cassette storage portion 3a, and then the tape cassette stored in the cassette storage portion 3b. Considering the case of recording (or playing),
First, recording (or reproduction) is performed on the tape cassette stored in the cassette storage portion 3a. Then, when recording (or reproduction) on this tape cassette is completed,
The tape cassette is returned to the cassette housing portion 3a, and after that, the drive mechanism driven and controlled by the cassette housing portion drive circuit 5 operates so that the heights of the cassette insertion port 4 and the cassette housing portion 3b are matched. Cassette holder 3
Moves up and down. Subsequently, the transfer mechanism, which is driven and controlled by the cassette insert drive circuit 6, transfers the tape cassette housed in the cassette housing portion 3b to a recordable / reproducible position B and mounts it, and the system control circuit 7 carries out the recording / reproducing operation. Recording (or reproduction) is performed on the tape cassette mounted at the possible position B. When recording (or reproduction) is completed, the tape cassette is returned to the original cassette housing portion 3b by the transfer mechanism in the same manner.

Also, when performing fast-forwarding and rewinding operations of the tape cassette, fast-forwarding or rewinding is performed at the position B where any tape cassette can be selected and recorded / reproduced, as in the case of recording or reproducing. ..

A VTR having a mechanism similar to this type of auto changer mechanism is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-63.
-2111555 publication is mentioned.

[0008]

By the way, in the above-mentioned prior art, the cassette housing portion functions only as a storage place for the tape cassette, and is merely for housing the tape cassette. Therefore, even when the tape cassette is simply rewound or fast-forwarded, it is necessary to perform the tape cassette selection operation and transfer the tape cassette to a recordable / reproducible position, as in the case of recording / reproducing. The operation was relatively troublesome for the user and was inconvenient.

Further, when performing the continuous recording (or reproducing) operation, the recording (or reproducing) operation is interrupted during the exchange operation of the tape cassette, so that the exchange operation cannot but be performed as soon as possible. There was no choice but to use a system in which the operation of exchanging the second tape cassette is performed immediately (without rewinding the first tape cassette) when the recording (or reproducing) operation to the tape cassette is completed. Therefore, the first tape cassette simply returns to a predetermined position in the cassette housing portion after the recording (or reproducing) operation is completed,
In order to rewind this tape cassette to the recording start position or the tape start end, it is necessary to select this tape cassette again and move it to a position where recording and reproduction are possible, which is a troublesome operation. ..

Furthermore, the continuous recording (or reproduction)
When performing the operation from the tape start end of each tape cassette, it is necessary to rewind the stored tape of each tape cassette to the tape start end in advance, and the tape cassette selection and transfer operations are performed for each tape cassette, and the rewind operation is performed. However, the operation is complicated and it is not easy to use.

Therefore, the technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems in the prior art, and the purpose thereof is to put the tape cassette housed in the cassette housing part into a stored state. The object of the present invention is to provide a magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus with an easy-to-use autochanger function that can be rewound or fast-forwarded.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a cassette storing portion capable of storing at least two tape cassettes at a position different from a recordable / reproducible position in an apparatus, Selection means for selecting an arbitrary one from a plurality of tape cassettes housed in the cassette housing part, and transfer of the selected tape cassette from the cassette housing part to the recordable / reproducible position and recording / reproduction. It has a transfer means for transferring it from the position to the cassette storage portion, and a first control means for controlling the selection means and the transfer means, and can continuously or selectively record / reproduce on any tape cassette stored. In a magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus, two reels arranged at a predetermined interval from the cassette housing portion, a driving means for driving the reels, and the driving means are controlled. 2 control means is provided, and the drive means can drive and drive the tape of the tape cassette stored in the cassette storage portion regardless of the tape drive driving means of the tape cassette at the recordable and reproducible position. It is composed as follows.

[0013]

The two reels arranged at a predetermined distance from the cassette housing engage with the hub of the tape cassette and rotate in the same direction so that the magnetic tape in the tape cassette runs. By rotating this reel at a predetermined speed, the tape can be rewound or fast forwarded. The pair of reels constitutes a part of a second tape running drive mechanism including a drive motor and a gear that transmits the rotation of the drive motor to the reel, and is rotated by the motor. This second tape running drive mechanism is independent of the first tape running drive mechanism (provided at a position where recording and reproduction is possible) provided to put the tape in a running state when recording and reproducing to and from the tape cassette. The drive control is performed via the drive circuit for the second tape running drive mechanism based on the command information from the second control circuit. The second control circuit controls the drive circuit for the second tape running drive mechanism based on the operation command information input by the user of the apparatus using operation information input means such as operation buttons provided in the apparatus. This controls the operating state of the second tape running drive mechanism independently of the above-mentioned first control circuit (regardless of the operating state of the first tape running drive mechanism). ..

In this way, the second tape running drive mechanism for enabling tape running is provided at a position different from the tape running drive mechanism for recording / reproducing, and the operation control of the second tape running drive mechanism is performed. By making the control circuit system independent, for example, even while the first tape cassette is recording or reproducing, the tape stored in another stored second tape cassette, for example, is rewound or fast-forwarded. be able to.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing a schematic structure of a VTR having an autochanger function according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, members and parts equivalent to those of the conventional structure of FIG. , The explanation is omitted to avoid duplication. In the figure, 9 is a tape running drive circuit (second drive circuit), 10 is a tape running drive mechanism (second tape running drive mechanism), and 11 is a control circuit (second control circuit). Note that in FIG. 1 as in FIG. 3, the cassette housing drive circuit 5, the cassette insert drive circuit 6, the system control circuit (first control circuit) 7, the tape running drive circuit (first drive). The circuit 8), the external input means 12, the tape running drive circuit 9 and the control circuit 11 are included in the VTR.
It is written on the outside of the TR body 1.

In the configuration shown in FIG. 1, among the tape cassettes stored in the cassette storage portions 3a and 3b, the tape cassette selected for recording or reproduction is
Although the tape cassette is transferred to the position B where recording / reproduction is possible, the other tape cassette is stored in the cassette storage portion. For example, a tape cassette (hereinafter referred to as tape b) stored in the cassette storage unit 3b is moved to a position B where recording / reproduction is possible, and the tape cassette (hereinafter referred to as tape a) stored in the cassette storage unit 3a remains as it is. It is assumed to be in a stored state.

At this time, the tape b mounted at the position B where recording / reproduction is possible, has a tape running drive mechanism (not shown) (first tape running drive) whose operation is controlled by the tape running drive circuit 8 at the position B. Mechanism) performs tape running during recording and reproduction and tape running such as rewinding and fast-forwarding. As described above, the tape running drive circuit 8 is
The operation is controlled by a command signal from the system control circuit 7, and the system control circuit 7 is an operation that the user of the apparatus arbitrarily inputs by using an external input means 12 such as an operation button provided on the apparatus or a remote control device. Based on the command information, overall control of the VTR device is performed.

On the other hand, below the cassette holder 3, the tape running is constituted by two reels, a motor, and a gear for transmitting the rotation of the motor to the reel, which is fixed to the frame of the apparatus. A drive mechanism (second tape running drive mechanism) 10 is provided. The two reels of the tape running drive mechanism 10 are two reels in the tape cassette.
The hub is rotated by rotating the reel by arranging the hub at the same interval as that of the hub and meshing with the irregularities provided on the hub, and by rotating the reel with the tape cassette loaded on the reel. It is configured to run.

Further, in the tape running drive mechanism 10, when the cassette holder 3 is lowered to a position where the height of the cassette storage portion 3b and the height of the cassette insertion opening 4 are the same, the tape stored in the cassette storage portion 3a. a is loaded on the tape running drive mechanism 10, and the reel provided on the tape running drive mechanism 10 is arranged at a position where it meshes with the hub of the tape a. The tape running drive mechanism 10 is drive-controlled by the tape running drive circuit 9 controlled by the control circuit 11. The control circuit 11 has a configuration independent of the system control circuit 7, and like the system control circuit 7, the tape running drive circuit 9, based on the information input by the user of the apparatus using the external input means 12. It also controls the cassette housing drive circuit 5 and the cassette insert drive circuit 6. The cassette housing drive circuit 5 and the cassette insert drive circuit 6 are also controlled by the system control circuit 7 as shown in the conventional example, and when the control from both sides overlaps, an operation command from the system control circuit 7 is issued. It is supposed to take precedence.

Here, as described above, consider the case where the tape b is moved to the recording / reproducing position B and the tape a is in the cassette housing portion 3a. At this time, the cassette storage unit 3
The cassette holder 3 is lowered to a position where the heights of b and the cassette insertion opening 4 coincide with each other.
The tape is loaded on the tape running drive mechanism 10.
When the user of the apparatus inputs the information from the external input means 12 in order to run (for example, rewind) the tape a stored in the cassette storage portion 3a, the tape traveling command signal Ts is sent from the control circuit 11 as the tape traveling. It is sent to the drive circuit 9 and the rewinding operation is started. When the tape rewinding is completed, the information Ee from the detection means such as the tape end detection means, which is provided in the tape running drive mechanism 10 and includes a photo sensor or the like (not shown), is sent to the control circuit 11. In response to this, the control circuit 11 sends an operation stop signal Te to the tape running drive circuit 9 to stop the rewinding operation. Also,
Even when the tape rewinding is not completed, when the stop information is input from the external input means 12 by the operation of the user of the apparatus, the control circuit 11 similarly sends the operation stop signal Te to the tape running drive circuit 9, Rewind operation stops.

On the other hand, let us consider a case where the tape a is transferred to the recording / reproducing position B and the tape b is in the cassette housing portion 3b. At this time, the cassette holder 3 is raised to a position where the heights of the cassette housing portion 3a and the cassette insertion opening 4 are the same. When the user of the apparatus performs an operation of running (for example, rewinding) the tape b, this information is sent to the control circuit 11 from the external input means 12, and the control circuit 11 sends the operation command signal Cs ₁ of the cassette holder. It is sent to the cassette storage unit drive circuit 5. As a result, the cassette holder 3 is lowered to a position where the heights of the cassette housing portion 3b and the cassette insertion opening 4 are the same. Next, a cassette transfer signal Tc ₁ is sent from the control circuit 11 to the cassette insert drive circuit 6, and the tape b is transferred from the cassette storage section 3b to the position A of the transfer section. When the tape b is transferred to the section A, the control circuit 11 causes the cassette holder operation command signal Cs ₂
To the cassette storage unit drive circuit 5, and the cassette storage unit 3
The cassette holder 3 is lifted to a position where the height a and the height of the cassette insertion opening 4 are the same. When the heights of the cassette housing portion 3a and the cassette insertion opening 4 match, the control circuit 11 again
A cassette transfer signal Tc is supplied to the cassette insert drive circuit 6.
₂ , the tape b is transferred from the A section to the cassette storage section 3a. Here again, the control circuit 11 sends the operation command signal Cs ₃ of the cassette holder to the cassette housing portion drive circuit 5, and the cassette holder 3 descends to the position where the heights of the cassette housing portion 3b and the cassette insertion opening 4 are the same. .. As a result, the tape b is stored in the cassette storage portion 3b.
3a to 3a and the cassette holder 3 is in the lowered position, the tape running drive mechanism 10 is loaded. As described above, the tape traveling command signal Ts is transmitted from the control circuit 11 to the tape traveling driving circuit 9, and the tape traveling driving mechanism 10 performs the rewinding operation. The command signal from the control circuit 11 is transmitted when each circuit performs a predetermined operation and the movement of the cassette holder 3 or the tape cassette is completed in each stage.
This is because the position of the cassette holder 3 or the tape cassette is mechanically or electrically detected by a detection unit such as a sensor (not shown), and the information is sent to the control circuit 11.
It can be detected by the control circuit 11.

Further, in the above description, one of the tape cassettes is in the recordable / reproducible position B, but both tape cassettes may be housed in the cassette housing portion. For example, when the tape a is driven by the tape running drive mechanism 10, if the cassette holder 3 is at the lowered position, that is, the cassette housing portion 3b and the cassette insertion port 4 are at the same height, the control circuit is similar to the above. The tape a can be run by an operation command from 11. Further, in the case of the tape b, the tape a can be moved to the position B where the recording and reproduction can be performed once, so that the tape can be run by the above-described method.

The case where two tape cassettes are stored in the tape cassette has been described above with reference to FIG.
The case where there are more than one winding can be similarly explained. FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of the present invention applied when there are three tape cassettes. In FIG. 2, the same components and functions as those in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals. The cassette holder 3 includes cassette storage portions 3a, 3b, 3c,
And 3z are provided. The cassette storage 3z is
It is located at the bottom of the cassette holder 3 and is provided to allow the tape running drive mechanism 10 to run the tape, not to store the tape cassette at all times. The tape cassette includes cassette storage units 3a, 3b,
It is stored in 3c. Further, when the cassette holder 3 is lowered to the lowest level, that is, when the cassette holder 3 is lowered to a position where the heights of the cassette storage portion 3c and the cassette insertion opening 4 are the same, the tape cassette stored in the cassette storage portion 3z moves the tape. The drive mechanism 10 is configured so as to be in a loaded state in which it can travel.

In the above structure, a case where the tape b accommodated in the cassette accommodating portion 3b is made to run by the tape running drive mechanism 10 will now be described. First, the operation command signal Cs ₁ for the cassette holder 3 is sent from the control circuit 11 to the cassette housing drive circuit 5. As a result, the cassette holder 3 moves up and down to a position where the heights of the cassette housing portion 3b and the cassette insertion opening 4 match. next,
A cassette transfer command signal Tc ₁ is sent from the control circuit 11 to the cassette insert drive circuit 6, and the tape b is transferred from the cassette housing portion 3b to the position A shown in the figure. Tape b
Is transferred to the position A, the control circuit 11 sends an operation command signal Cs _{2 for the} cassette holder to the cassette storage unit drive circuit 5, and the cassette storage unit 3z and the cassette insertion port 4 are inserted.
The cassette holder 3 is moved up and down to a position where the heights of the two match. Thereafter, the tape transfer command signal Tc ₂ is sent from the control circuit 11 to the cassette insert drive circuit 6 again, and the tape b is transferred from the A section to the cassette storage section 3z. At this time, the control circuit 11 sends a cassette holder operation command signal Cs ₃ to the cassette housing section drive circuit 5 to lower the cassette holder 3. As a result, the tape b is loaded on the tape running drive mechanism 10, the tape running command signal Ts is transmitted from the control circuit 11 to the tape running drive circuit 9, and the tape running drive mechanism 10 is moved to the running state ( For example, the rewinding state). It should be noted that the tape traveling drive mechanism 10 can also be used to drive the tapes of other stored tape cassettes in the same manner, and even if any tape cassette is at the recording / reproducing position B, the same applies. The tape cassette that has been stored as described above can be brought into a running state by the tape running drive mechanism 10.

Here, the configuration of the above-mentioned second embodiment,
If the method is adopted, the case where the number of tape cassettes to be stored is two is different from the method of the first embodiment, and the cassette storage unit 3 for storing the normal tape cassette is similar to the case of the above-described three.
In addition to a and 3b, it is possible to provide a cassette housing portion 3z at the bottom of the cassette holder 3 and perform tape running in the same manner. Furthermore, 4 tape cassettes
When there are more than one winding, it is obvious that this can be dealt with only by increasing the cassette storage portion of the cassette holder 3.

As described above, according to each of the embodiments of the present invention, in the magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus having the automatic changer function capable of accommodating a plurality of tape cassettes and arbitrarily recording / reproducing the tape cassettes, A second tape running drive mechanism, which is different from the tape running drive mechanism (first tape running drive mechanism) for recording / reproducing, and a control circuit for controlling the recording / reproducing operation are provided under the cassette holder. By providing a dedicated control circuit system for controlling the second tape running drive mechanism, even in the recording / reproducing state, the tape cassette housed in the cassette housing section is arbitrarily selected so that the second tape running drive mechanism can be used. A tape running operation such as rewinding or fast-forwarding can be performed.

[0027]

As described above, according to the present invention, a magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus having an automatic changer function capable of accommodating a plurality of tape cassettes, arbitrarily selecting the tape cassettes, or continuously recording / reproducing. In the above, since the running operation such as rewinding or fast-forwarding can be performed by arbitrarily selecting another stored tape cassette even when one tape cassette is recording or reproducing, the time required for rewinding or fast-forwarding It is possible to eliminate the troublesomeness in use. Further, for example, in the case of continuously recording or reproducing a plurality of tape cassettes, it is not necessary to perform a tape cassette exchange operation for rewinding the tape cassettes as in the conventional case, and when the first tape cassette is finished, Since the second tape cassette can be exchanged and the second tape cassette is recording or playing back, the recorded or played back first tape cassette can be rewound. It is possible to greatly improve the property. Furthermore, the tape cassette can be rewound and fast forwarded at two places, the tape storage part and the mounting position for recording / reproducing, and the time can be greatly shortened when rewinding a plurality of tape cassettes. A user-friendly device can be provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a main part of a VTR having an autochanger function according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a main part of a VTR having an autochanger function according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a conventional VTR having an autochanger function.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 VTR main body 2 Front panel 3 Cassette holder 3a, 3b, 3c, 3z Cassette storage part 4 Cassette insertion port 5 Cassette storage part drive circuit 6 Cassette insert drive circuit 7 System control circuit 8 Tape running drive circuit 9 Tape running drive circuit 10 Tape Travel drive mechanism 11 Control circuit 12 External input means

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A cassette storage part capable of storing at least two tape cassettes is provided at a position different from a recordable / reproducible position in the apparatus, and any one of a plurality of tape cassettes stored in the cassette storage part is provided. Selecting means for selecting one of them, transferring means for transferring the selected tape cassette from the cassette housing portion to the recordable and reproducible position and for transferring from the recordable and reproducible position to the cassette housing portion, and the selecting means And a first control means for controlling the transfer means and capable of continuously or selectively recording / reproducing information in / from any tape cassette accommodated therein. Two reels arranged at an interval, drive means for driving the reels, and second control means for controlling the drive means are provided and stored in the cassette storage portion. Magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus characterized by the tape in the state of the tape cassette and the travel drive, possible. 2. The magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the drive means operates independently of the tape running drive means of the tape cassette at the recordable / reproducible position.