JPH0765466A - Cassette transporting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a cassette transporting device providing the same movement stroke in pushing and moving the cassette by an arm, when the cassette is moved on a stage to a certain position by the arm and subsequently moved to the next certain position in the same direction, independently of whether the cassette is continuously supplied or not. CONSTITUTION:The L-shaped arm 3 consisting of a vertical leg part 3a and a horizontal leg part 3b projecting on the stage 1 through groove holes extendedly located along the moving direction of the cassette VC on the stage 1 whereon the cassette VC housing a tape is moved, is moved by a driving means 4 along the groove holes, and the L-shaped arm 3 is freely turnably supported by a shaft (the shaft is expressed as 3c) around the boundary part between the vertical leg part 3a and horizontal leg part 3b. When the cassette VC is positioned on the horizontal leg part 3b, the cassette VC is pushed by the vertical leg part 3a, and also by this cassette VC, other cassettes VC are pushed and respectively moved on the stage 1, meanwhile when the cassette VC is not positioned on the horizontal leg part 3b, the cassette VC is pushed by a tip part of the horizontal leg part 2b and moved on the stage 1.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cassette carrying device suitable for application to a video cassette loader.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a pancake reel around which a plurality of copies of video software having the same contents are wound is mounted on a reel base, and the copy tape is automatically transferred from the pancake reel mounted on the reel base. A so-called videocassette loader has been proposed in which a copy tape of one piece of video software is automatically stored in the videocassette by being pulled out.

In such a video cassette loader, 1
For example, 100 video cassettes can be made from a roll of pancake reel. A pancake reel on which all copy tapes have been wound is simply removed as a reel (generally called a hub) from the reel stand of the video cassette loader, and a new pancake reel is manually attached to the reel stand. so,
The operation of winding a new video tape into a cassette by the video cassette loader is automatically performed.

In such a video cassette loader, a large number of cassettes (no magnetic tape is stored) are stored in the stocker of the cassette supply device, the cassettes stored in the stocker are discharged one by one, and the cassette transfer device is provided. The cassette tape feeding device receives the cassette from the cassette feeding device at the predetermined position of the video cassette loader, and the copy tape (magnetic tape) wound around the pancake reel is loaded into the loaded cassette. The cassette is wound around the reel of the cassette, and when the reel is finished, the cassette containing the copy tape is ejected.

Next, a conventional cassette carrying device will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. Reference numeral 1 denotes a stage on which a cassette VC containing a magnetic tape is moved by an arm 9 described later. This stage 1
The slot 2 along the moving direction of the cassette VC (FIG. 8).
Has been drilled. Reference numeral 9 denotes an arm that pushes the cassette VC to move it on the stage 1. The arm 9 projects vertically from the groove hole 2 onto the stage 1, is attached to the belt 4a of the belt conveyor 4, and is moved along the groove hole 2. The belt conveyor 4 includes a pair of belt wheels 4b and 4c, a belt 4a stretched between the belt wheels 4b and 4c, and a belt wheel 4b.
It is composed of a motor 4d for driving.

Next, the operation of this cassette carrying device will be described. As shown in FIG. 8, for example, cassettes stored in a stocker (not shown) so as to be aligned in the horizontal direction are discharged one by one, and the arm 9 is at the right end as shown by a broken line in FIG. 7 (A). At that time, the cassette VC is placed on the stage 1, the arm 9 moves leftward while pushing the cassette VC, and when the arm 9 reaches the position (loading position) shown by the solid line in FIG. And the cassette VC stops moving. After that, the belt wheels 4b and 4c reversely rotate and the arm 9 moves to the right, and returns to the original position shown by the broken line in FIG. 7 (A).

Then, a copy tape (a magnetic tape on which a video signal is recorded) fed from a pancake reel (not shown) is fed by a video cassette loader as shown in FIG.
It is wound around the supply reel of the cassette VC shown by the solid line in (A). Both ends of the copy tape are fixed to the supply reel and the take-up reel of the cassette VC, respectively.

When the storage of the copy tape in the cassette VC is completed, another cassette VC is placed on the stage 1 when the arm 9 is at the right end, as shown by the broken line in FIG. 7 (A).
Is placed, the arm 9 moves leftward while pressing the cassette VC, and the position shown by the solid line in FIG. 7A (the loading position)
Arm 9 and the cassette VC are stopped, and at this time, the cassette VC in which the tape is already stored is pushed by the cassette VC and moves to the ejection position. And
The belt wheels 4b and 4c are rotated in reverse, the arm 9 is moved rightward, and returns to the original position shown by the broken line in FIG. 7 (A).

However, when the storage of the copy tape in the cassette VC is completed and there is no subsequent cassette, the arm 9 further moves to the left while pushing the cassette VC, and the solid line in FIG. 7B. The arm 9 and the cassette VC stop when they reach the ejection position indicated by. Then, the belt wheels 4b and 4c are reversed, and the arm 9 returns to its original position and stops as shown by the broken line in FIG. 7 (B).

[0010]

In such a conventional cassette carrying device, when the arm with a cassette is pushed to a certain position and further moved in the same direction to the next certain position, the cassette carrying device has a There is no problem if the cassettes are continuously supplied, but if the cassettes are interrupted, the movement stroke of the arm at that time becomes considerably longer than the movement stroke when the cassettes are continuously supplied. .

In view of the above point, the present invention determines whether or not the cassettes are continuously supplied when the cassette is moved to one place on the stage by the arm and then to the next place in the same direction. In spite of the above, the present invention intends to propose a cassette carrying device in which the movement stroke of the arm pushing and moving the cassette is the same.

Further, the present invention is intended to propose a cassette carrying device which does not disturb the position of the cassette when the cassette is moved to a certain position on the stage by an arm and then returned.

[0013]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a stage 1 to which a cassette VC for storing a tape is moved, and a slot 2 extending along the moving direction of the cassette VC of the stage 1. An L-shaped arm 3 composed of a vertical leg portion 3a and a horizontal leg portion 3b protruding on the stage 1, and a driving means 4 for moving the L-shaped arm 3 along the slot 2.
And the L-shaped arm 3 has a vertical leg 3a and a horizontal leg 3b.
Is rotatably supported by the drive means 4 in the vicinity of the boundary portion (the shaft is 3c), and when there is no cassette VC on the lateral leg portion 3b, the lateral leg portion 3b projects onto the stage 1, and When the cassette VC is present on the lateral leg portion 3b, the lateral leg portion 3b is elastically biased (the spring is 3d) so as not to project onto the stage 1, and the cassette VC is present on the lateral leg portion 3b. At this time, the vertical leg portion 3a allows the cassette V
When C is pushed and the other cassette VC is pushed by the cassette VC to move on the stage 1, respectively, and when there is no cassette VC on the lateral leg portion 3b, the other end portion of the lateral leg portion 3b causes another A cassette carrying device characterized in that the cassette VC is pushed to move on the stage 1.

The second aspect of the present invention is the same as the first aspect of the present invention.
At least when the L-shaped arm 3 is returned by the drive of the driving means 4, the cassette is characterized in that regulating means 1a and 3e are provided so as to regulate the lateral leg portion 3b so as to be positioned lower than the surface of the stage 1. It is a carrier device.

In the third aspect of the present invention, a stage 1 on which a cassette VC for storing a tape is moved, and a slot 2 extending along the moving direction of the cassette VC on the stage 1.
Through the pair of vertical leg portions 5a protruding above the stage 1,
5b and a horizontal leg 5c that connects the lower ends of the pair of vertical legs 5a and 5b, and a U-shaped arm 5 that holds both side surfaces of the cassette VC by the pair of vertical legs 5a and 5b.
A driving means 4 for moving the U-shaped arm 5 along the slot 2, a guide roller 5d attached to the U-shaped arm 5, and a pair of the U-shaped arm 5 when the U-shaped arm 5 is moved. Guide rails 7 having a high height for guiding the guide rollers 5d so that the vertical leg portions 5a, 5b of the pair of vertical leg portions 5 of the U-shaped arm 5 at the time of returning.
a and 5b are located below the surface of the stage 1,
A low guide rail 8 for guiding the guide roller 5d
And the cassette VC is sandwiched by the U-shaped arm 5 to move on the stage 1 and the pair of vertical leg portions 5
The cassette carrying device is characterized in that the vertical leg portion 5b, which is ahead of a and 5b, pushes another cassette VC to move it on the stage 1.

[0016]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the cassette VC is present on the horizontal leg portion 3b, the vertical leg portion 3a pushes the cassette VC and the cassette VC pushes another cassette VC. , Respectively, and when there is no cassette VC on the lateral leg portion 3b, another cassette VC is pushed by the tip of the lateral leg portion 3b and moves on the stage 1.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the cassette VC is present on the horizontal leg portion 3b, the vertical leg portion 3a pushes the cassette VC and the cassette VC pushes another cassette VC. , Respectively, and when there is no cassette VC on the lateral leg 3b, the cassette VC is pushed by the tip of the lateral leg 3b to move on the stage 1, and at least by the drive of the driving means 4. When the L-shaped arm 3 is returned, the lateral legs 3b are regulated by the regulating means 1a and 3e so as to be located at a position lower than the surface of the stage 1.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when the U-shaped arm 5 moves forward, the pair of vertical leg portions 5a, 5 of the U-shaped arm 5 are moved.
guide roller 5d so that b is projected onto the stage 1.
Is guided on a high guide rail 7, and the guide roller 5d has a low height so that the pair of vertical legs 5a, 5b of the U-shaped arm 5 are positioned below the surface of the stage 1 when returning. The cassette VC is sandwiched by the U-shaped arm 5 while being guided on the rail 8, and is moved on the stage 1, and the vertical leg portion 5 which is the leading one of the pair of vertical leg portions 5a and 5b.
Another cassette VC is pushed by b and moved on the stage 1.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. In the video cassette loader, a large number of cassettes (no magnetic tape is stored) are stored in the stocker of the cassette supply device, the cassettes stored in the stocker are discharged one by one, and supplied to the cassette transfer device. The cassette carrying device loads the cassette received from the cassette supply device into a predetermined position of the video cassette loader, and with respect to the loaded cassette,
The copy tape (magnetic tape) wound around the pancake reel is wound around the reel of the cassette, and when the reel is finished, the cassette containing the copy tape is ejected.

1 is a cassette V in which a magnetic tape is stored
C is a stage that is moved by an L-shaped arm 3 described later. The stage 1 is provided with a slot 2 (FIG. 2) along the moving direction of the cassette VC. Reference numeral 3 denotes an L-shaped arm, which is composed of a vertical leg portion 3a and a horizontal leg portion 3b projecting above the stage 1 through the slot 2, and the vertical leg portion 3a.
In the vicinity of the boundary between the horizontal leg portion 3b and the lateral leg portion 3b, it is attached to the belt 4a of the belt conveyor 4 so as to be rotatable about the shaft 3c and moved along the slot 2. The belt conveyor 4 includes a pair of belt wheels 4b and 4c, a belt 4a stretched between the belt wheels 4b and 4c, and a motor 4d that drives the belt wheel 4b.

Further, the L-shaped arm 3 has its lateral leg 3b projecting onto the stage 1 when the cassette VC is not present on the lateral leg 3b, and when the cassette VC is present on the lateral leg 3b. The lateral legs 3b are elastically biased by the springs 3d so as not to project onto the stage 1.

Further, when the cassette VC is pushed by the vertical leg portion 3a with the cassette VC on the horizontal leg portion 3b, at least when the L-shaped arm 3 is returned by the driving of the belt conveyor 4, the horizontal leg portion is pressed. Restriction means for restricting the position of 3b to be lower than the surface of the stage 1,
That is, in the groove 2 of the stage 1, a guide 1a having a thickness below the stage 1 and having a taper on the right end side thereof, and a lateral leg portion of the L-shaped arm 3 guided along the guide 1a. A pin 3e attached to the side surface of 3b is provided.

The timing for making the horizontal leg portion 3b of the L-shaped arm 3 lower than the surface of the stage 1 is during or before the vertical leg portion 3a is pushing the cassette VC to the left, or It may be stopped before the L-shaped arm 3 returns.

Next, the operation of this cassette carrying device will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, for example, a large number of cassettes VC stored in a stocker (not shown) so as to be stacked vertically.
Are sequentially discharged one by one from the bottom, and are guided by the guide plate 10 as shown in FIG. 2, and the L-shaped arm 3 is at the right end as shown by the solid line in FIGS. 1 (A) and 2. Sometimes, the cassette VC is the side leg 3 of the L-shaped arm 3.
It is placed on the stage 1 so as to hold down b, and the L-shaped arm 3 longitudinal leg 3a moves leftward while pushing the cassette VC, and the pin 3e is immediately moved to the guide 1 immediately after the movement is started.
Guided by a, the L-shaped arm 3 slightly rotates counterclockwise in the figure, the lateral leg portion 3b becomes lower than the surface of the stage 1, and the position shown by the broken line in FIG. 1A and FIG. Position), the L-shaped arm 3 and the cassette VC stop their movement, but until then, the pin 3e is still present.
Is guided by the guide 1a, and the lateral leg portion 3b is lower than the surface of the stage 1. After that, the belt wheel 4b,
4c reverses to move the L-shaped arm 3 to the right, and FIG.
Side leg 3 until just before returning to the original position shown by the solid line in (A)
b is lower than the surface of the stage 1, and when it returns to the original position shown by the solid line in FIG.
e is not guided by the guide 1a.

Then, by the video cassette loader,
A copy tape (magnetic tape on which a video signal is recorded) delivered from a pancake reel (not shown) is shown in FIG.
It is wound around the supply reel of the cassette VC at the loading position shown by the broken line in (A). Both ends of the copy tape are fixed to the supply reel and the take-up reel of the cassette VC, respectively.

When the storage of the copy tape in the cassette VC is completed, another cassette VC is placed on the stage 1 when the L-shaped arm 3 is at the right end, as shown by the solid line in FIGS. Placed, arm 9 is a cassette VC
While pressing the button, the arm 9 and the cassette V are moved to the left and reach the position (loading position) indicated by the broken line in FIG.
C stops, and at this time the cassette VC in which the previous tape is already stored is pushed by the cassette VC and moves to the ejection position. Also in this case, since the pin 3e is guided by the guide 1a, the lateral leg portion 3b is lower than the surface of the stage 1. Then, the belt wheels 4b and 4c reversely rotate and the arm 9
1 moves to the right and returns to the original position shown by the solid line in FIG. 1 (A) until the lateral leg 3b is lower than the surface of the stage 1, and then shown by the solid line in FIG. 1 (A). When returning to the original position, the pin 3e is not guided by the guide 1a.

When the storage of the copy tape in this cassette VC is completed and there is no subsequent cassette, since the lateral leg portion 3b of the L-shaped arm 3 does not have the cassette VC, the lateral leg portion 3b is moved by the spring 3d. It rotates so as to project onto the stage 1, and as shown by the solid line in FIG. 1 (B), the tip of the lateral leg portion 3b of the L-shaped arm 3 pushes the cassette VC while the L-shaped arm 3 moves to the position shown in FIG. By moving from the position indicated by the broken line in B) to the loading position indicated by the solid line, the cassette VC containing the copy tape is moved to the ejection position.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Similar to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2,
In the video cassette loader described above, a large number of cassettes (no magnetic tape is stored) are stored in the stocker of the cassette supply device, and the cassettes stored in the stocker are discharged one by one and supplied to the cassette transfer device. Then
The cassette carrying device loads the cassette received from the cassette feeding device into a predetermined position of the video cassette loader, and the copy tape (magnetic tape) wound on the pancake reel is reeled to the loaded cassette. When the tape is wrapped around, the cassette containing the copy tape is ejected.

1 is a U-shaped arm 5 described later,
It is a stage on which a cassette VC containing a magnetic tape can be moved. This stage 1 has a cassette VC
A slot (not shown) is formed along the moving direction of. Reference numeral 5 denotes a U-shaped arm, which is a pair of vertical leg portions projecting on the stage 1 through the slot, that is, a vertical leg portion 5a having a high height,
It is composed of a vertical leg portion 5b having a low height and a horizontal leg portion 5c which connects these at the lower ends thereof, and the horizontal leg portion 5c.
A guide roller 5d is rotatably attached to the.
This U-shaped arm 5 is a belt 4 a of the belt conveyor 4.
It is attached by a pin 4e to and is moved along the slot. The belt conveyor 4 includes a pair of belt wheels 4b and 4b.
c, the belt 4a stretched between the belt wheels 4b and 4c
And a motor (not shown) for driving the belt wheel 4b. Here, belt wheels 4b, 4
In the figure, c is always rotated counterclockwise so that the U-shaped arm 5 reciprocates.

When the U-shaped arm 5 moves to the left in the drawing in the figure, the U-shaped arm 5 is located above the upper and lower running positions of the belt 4a of the belt conveyor 4 and its guide roller 5d is disposed. High guide rail 7
When it is moved to the right when it is returned, the U-shaped arm 5 is located below the upper and lower traveling positions of the belt 4a of the belt conveyor 4, and the guide roller 5d has a low guide rail. You will be guided to 8. Arc-shaped portions 8a and 8b are provided at both ends of the guide rail 8 so that the guide roller 5d smoothly transitions between the guide rails 7 and 8.

Next, the operation of this cassette carrying device will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, for example, a large number of cassettes VC stored in a stocker (not shown) so as to be vertically stacked.
Are sequentially ejected one by one from the bottom, and guided by a guide plate (not shown).
Is on the right end, the cassette VC is placed on the lateral leg portion 5c of the U-shaped arm 5 and the front and rear vertical leg portions 5 are
It is pinched by a and 5b and moves to the left. At this time, the U-shaped arm 5 is located above the upper and lower traveling positions of the belt 4a of the belt conveyor 4, and the guide roller 5d thereof is guided by the high guide rail 7 so that the guide roller 5d shown in FIG.
Come to the loading position shown in.

Then, as shown in FIG. 5, the guide roller 7 is moved to the guide rail 8 having a low height, the cassette VC is left in the loading position, and the U-shaped arm 5 is moved to the right. The U-shaped arm 5 is located below the upper and lower traveling positions of the belt 4a of the belt conveyor 4, and its guide roller 5d is guided by the guide rail 8 having a low height. All of 5a and 5b are below the surface of the stage 1, and do not disturb the loading position of the cassette VC. Then, a copy tape (a magnetic tape on which a video signal is recorded) delivered from a pancake reel (not shown) is wound around the supply reel of the cassette VC at the loading position shown in FIG. Both ends of the copy tape are fixed to the supply reel and the take-up reel of the cassette VC, respectively.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 6, the U-shaped arm 5
Moves to the upper side of the upper and lower running positions of the belt 4a, the guide roller 5d of the U-shaped arm 5 moves to the guide rail 7 having a higher height, and finally returns to the position shown in FIG. A new cassette VC is received and moved to the left. In FIG. 4, the vertical leg portion 5b of the U-shaped arm 5 pushes the cassette VC previously storing the copy tape to move it to the ejection position, and Place the cassette VC in the loading position and return to the right as described above.

In the third embodiment, when the U-shaped arm 5 is driven, it is not necessary to switch the rotation directions of the belt wheels 4b and 4c of the belt conveyor 4, so that the control is easy. or,
When the U-shaped arm 5 returns to the right, the vertical leg 5
Since a and 5b move below the surface of the stage 1, there is no risk of shifting the loading position of the cassette VC.

When the storage of the copy tape in this cassette VC is completed, even if there is no subsequent cassette, the vertical leg portion 5b of the U-shaped arm 5 pushes the cassette VC in which the tape has been stored and moves to the discharge position. Be punished.

The cassette to be carried by the cassette carrying device of the present invention may be either a cassette in which a magnetic tape is not yet stored or a cassette in which a magnetic tape is already stored, and an information signal is recorded on the magnetic tape. May or may not be recorded. Further, when an information signal is recorded, the information signal may be of any type such as a video signal and an audio signal (PCM audio signal). .

[0037]

According to the first, second and third aspects of the present invention described above, when the cassette is moved to a certain place on the stage by the arm and then to the next certain place in the same direction, the continuous operation is performed. Thus, it is possible to obtain a cassette carrying device having the same movement stroke for pushing and moving the cassette regardless of whether or not the cassette is supplied.

According to the second and third aspects of the present invention, it is possible to obtain a cassette carrying device which does not disturb the position of the cassette when the cassette is moved to a certain position on the stage by the arm and then returned. You can

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention and an operation explanation (1) thereof.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment thereof and an operation explanation (2) thereof.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing another embodiment and its operation explanation (1).

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing another embodiment and its operation explanation (2).

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing another embodiment and its operation explanation (3).

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing another embodiment and its operation explanation (4).

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a conventional example and its operation explanation (1).

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a conventional example and its operation explanation (2).

[Explanation of symbols]

 VC cassette 1 stage 1a guide 2 slot 3 L-shaped arm 3a vertical leg 3b horizontal leg 3c shaft 3d spring 3e pin 4 belt conveyor 4a belt 4b, 4c belt wheel 4d motor 5 U-shaped arm 5a vertical leg 5b vertical leg Part 5c Lateral leg 5d Guide roller 7 Guide rail 8 Guide rail

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A stage, to which a cassette containing a tape is moved, and a vertical leg portion and a horizontal leg portion which project onto the stage through a slot extending along the moving direction of the cassette of the stage. An L-shaped arm and a driving means for moving the L-shaped arm along the slot, the L-shaped arm being rotatable with respect to the driving means in the vicinity of the boundary between the vertical leg portion and the horizontal leg portion. It is rotatably supported, and when there is no cassette on the lateral leg, the lateral leg projects onto the stage, and when there is the cassette on the lateral leg, the lateral leg does the stage. When the cassette is on the lateral leg portion, the cassette is pushed by the vertical leg portion and the other cassette is pushed by the cassette, and the cassette is pushed by the cassette. Moves on stage, when there is no the cassette on the Yokoashi portion,
A cassette carrying device, characterized in that the other cassette is pushed by a tip portion of the lateral leg portion to move on the stage. 2. When the L-shaped arm is returned at least by driving the driving means, a regulation means is provided so as to regulate the lateral leg portion so as to be located at a position lower than the surface of the stage. The cassette carrying device according to claim 1. 3. A pair of vertical legs and a pair of vertical leg portions projecting on the stage through a stage to which a cassette containing a tape is moved, and a slot hole extending along the moving direction of the cassette of the stage. A vertical leg part which is a horizontal leg part connecting the lower ends of the vertical leg parts, and a U-shaped arm that holds both side surfaces of the cassette by the pair of vertical leg parts, and the U-shaped arm is moved along the slot. The driving means, the guide roller attached to the U-shaped arm, and the guide roller so that the pair of vertical legs of the U-shaped arm project onto the stage when the U-shaped arm moves forward and backward. A high guide rail for guiding and a low guide for guiding the guide roller so that the pair of vertical legs of the U-shaped arm are positioned below the surface of the stage when returning. And moving the stage by nipping the cassette with the U-shaped arm, and pushing the other cassette by the vertical leg portion preceding the pair of vertical leg portions to move on the stage. A cassette carrying device characterized in that