JPH10340560A - Tape cassette recording/reproducing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a tape-like recording medium and a recording/reproducing device easily to be accessed. SOLUTION: The 1st tape-like recording medium T1 wound round between a 1st reel 1 and a 2nd reel 2 through guide poles 6, 7 and the 2nd tape-like recording medium T2 wound round between a 3rd reel 3 and a 4th reel 4, the diameters of which are smaller than those of the 1st and 2nd reels 1, 2, through guide poles 8, 9, are housed in a tape cassette casing 5, while disposing the 1st, 2nd reels 1, 2 inside the cassette casing 5 in the longitudinal direction and the 3rd, 4th reels 3, 4 inside the cassette casing 5 in the direction orthogonally crossed with the longitudinal direction. By reproducing the information being recorded on the 1st tape-like recording medium T1 in succession of the reproduction of a top part of the information being recorded on the 2nd tape-like recording medium T2, the plural recorded informations being recorded in series on the tape-like recording medium are selected and reproduced in a short time.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording / reproducing apparatus for performing a recording / reproducing operation using a band-shaped record carrier (tape-shaped recording medium), for example, a tape cassette used in a VCR (video cassette recorder) or a streamer, and the like. And a recording / reproducing apparatus for performing a recording / reproducing operation using the tape cassette of the present invention.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a recording / reproducing apparatus having a configuration capable of recording / reproducing an information signal to be recorded / reproduced using a band-shaped record carrier (tape-shaped recording medium), a tape-shaped recording medium is used. Using a tape-shaped magnetic recording medium (magnetic tape) as a medium, a tape recorder capable of recording and reproducing an audio signal, and recording and reproducing a video signal (or a video signal and an audio signal accompanying the video signal). Video Tape Recorder (VT
R), a streamer for storing data for a computer, and the like have been conventionally used. The magnetic tape is housed in a container having a special structure in order to facilitate the operation of attaching / detaching the magnetic tape to / from the magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus such as the tape recorder, VTR, and streamer, and to ensure the protection of the magnetic tape. It has been widely practiced to use cartridge tapes and cassette tapes in such a state.

As a video cassette recorder (VCR) configured to perform a recording / reproducing operation using a cassette tape as described above, for example, a VHS (registered trademark) system widely known worldwide. In addition to the VCR configured according to the standard of the so-called 8 mm video system, there are a VCR configured according to the standard of the so-called DVC system, and the like. The above-mentioned VCR rotates a rotating drum provided with a pair of rotating magnetic heads having opposite azimuth angles at 180-degree symmetrical positions at a predetermined number of rotations, and rotates the rotating surface of the drum. The magnetic tape running at a predetermined running speed in a state where the position of the reference edge of the magnetic tape obliquely wound on at least a part of the magnetic tape is regulated by the guide portion provided on the drum is rotated by the pair of rotating magnetic tapes. When helical scans are sequentially and alternately performed by the heads, 18
The helical scan type magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus is configured so that sequential recording traces can be sequentially formed adjacent to the magnetic tape in correspondence with the rotation every 0 degree.

[0004] Tape cassettes each having a specific configuration in accordance with the individual standards for each of the above-described methods have a predetermined length used for recording and reproducing information signals to be recorded and reproduced. A reel for incorporating at least two reels on which a magnetic tape is to be wound and a reel lock mechanism for locking the reel when not in use, and for releasing the locked state of the reel by the reel lock mechanism And a tape cassette housing having a bottom provided with a reel lock release hole into which the lock release member is to be inserted.

[0005] A plurality of programs are serially arranged on a time axis by a recording / reproducing apparatus which performs recording / reproduction using a tape-shaped recording medium, including a magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus which performs recording / reproducing operations using a magnetic tape. As the most common recording format in a recorded recording medium on which is recorded, a recording area for each program in a plurality of programs is arranged in series in the longitudinal direction of a magnetic tape. . Therefore, in a conventional magnetic recording / reproducing device,
When a specific program is selected and reproduced from the recorded magnetic tape T on which a plurality of programs are recorded, a magnetic program is reproduced from the part where the first part of the specific program is recorded. It is necessary to fast-forward or rewind the tape at a high speed to perform cueing. Therefore, it is difficult to select a specific program from a plurality of programs in a short time. Naturally, it has not been possible to confirm the contents of the plurality of programs in a short time. Is widely known as a problem in recording and reproducing information signals using a tape-shaped recording medium.

As means for solving the above problems, a recording / reproducing apparatus capable of quickly reading out specific information from recorded information, for example, recording / reproducing of various discs having a recording / reproducing function. The apparatus is used as an auxiliary recording / reproducing apparatus, and only the head of each program in a plurality of programs to be reproduced by a magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus (VCR) used as a main recording / reproducing apparatus is used as the auxiliary recording / reproducing apparatus. V is used as a main recording / reproducing apparatus, which reproduces in advance by a recording / reproducing apparatus and reproduces a part following a head part of a program.
In the case where the CR takes over, the switching between the reproduction output from the auxiliary recording / reproducing apparatus and the reproduction output from the VCR is performed using the address information recorded on the magnetic tape. As a result, a specific program can be selectively played back in a short time,
Is disclosed in JP-A-4-16079, JP-A-7-123346, and the like.

[0007]

However, in the above solution, a magnetic tape of a VCR and a semiconductor memory are used in combination. However, only semiconductor memories with small storage capacity can be used as semiconductor memories attached to the tape cassette housing.
There is a problem that the head part of many numbers cannot be memorized. In addition, since the VCR magnetic tape and the semiconductor memory are used in combination as described above, the operating power for operating the semiconductor memory installed in the tape cassette housing is supplied by a battery or a recording medium. The power must be supplied from the playback apparatus main body, and it is necessary to provide a connector for supplying power for operation to the semiconductor memory in the tape cassette housing, which causes a problem that the cost increases. In the above-mentioned solution, a recording / reproducing apparatus is configured by using a storage device using a disk medium in addition to using a magnetic tape of a VCR in combination with a semiconductor memory.

However, it is difficult to combine a storage device using a disk medium and a recording / reproducing device using a magnetic tape to form an integrated recording / reproducing device.
Therefore, if the storage device using the disk medium and the recording / reproducing device using the magnetic tape are configured separately, there arises a problem that the usability is poor and the management is difficult. A recording / reproducing device for a disk medium;
Since it is composed of a VCR that uses a magnetic tape as a recording medium, the recording / reproducing device has a complicated configuration, becomes large, and has a problem of high price. The above point is
The same applies whether a storage device using a hard disk is used as a disk medium or a storage device using an optical disk is used as a disk medium. Therefore, the appearance of a recording / reproducing apparatus free from the above-mentioned various problems has been desired.

[0009]

Means for Solving the Problems The present invention provides at least:
A first reel, a second reel, and the first and second reels.
And the first and second guide poles provided between the first and second reels.
A first tape-shaped recording medium wound around the first and second reels; and a third and fourth tape medium having a smaller diameter than the first and second reels.
And a guide pole provided between the third and fourth reels, and a third and fourth reel wound around the guide poles between the third and fourth reels. And a second tape-shaped recording medium, wherein the first and second reels are disposed in the longitudinal direction in the casing of the tape cassette, and the third and fourth reels are disposed in a longitudinal direction in the casing of the tape cassette. The tape is disposed in a direction perpendicular to the direction, and an open surface for recording / reproducing operations on the first tape-shaped recording medium and the second tape-shaped recording medium is provided on a side surface of a casing of the tape cassette. A cassette, and a tape cassette mounting unit for mounting the tape cassette as described above;
A recording apparatus comprising a recording / reproducing unit for individually performing recording / reproducing operations on a first tape-shaped recording medium and a second tape-shaped recording medium in a tape cassette from the open side of the tape cassette. A playback device is provided.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The specific contents of the tape cassette and the recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 1 and 4 and FIG.
FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a part of a configuration example of a recording / reproducing apparatus for recording / reproducing information signals using the tape cassette of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the recording / reproducing apparatus illustrated in FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the recording / reproducing apparatus illustrated in FIG. In each of FIGS. 1, 4 and 6, TC is the overall code of the tape cassette of the present invention.

The tape cassette TC is, for example, a tape cassette in a VHS VCR or an S-VH
Like various tape cassettes that have been conventionally used, such as a tape cassette in an S-type VCR or the like, a cassette housing for storing a tape-shaped recording medium wound on a reel has an upper cassette half. It consists of a lower cassette half. The cassette housing is provided with a cassette lid to be opened when used, an insertion slot for a loading guide, and a reel lock mechanism for locking the reel when not in use. A reel unlocking hole into which a reel unlocking member for unlocking the reel by the reel lock mechanism is to be inserted is provided at the bottom, and further provided on a cassette housing provided in the recording / reproducing apparatus. And an erroneous insertion prevention groove corresponding to the erroneous insertion prevention mechanism, a direction regulating groove, and the like. The above tape cassette TC
Is inserted into a cassette housing provided in the recording / reproducing apparatus at the time of use. The tape cassette TC shown in FIGS. 1, 4 and 6 has tape reels 1 to 4 and a tape-shaped recording medium T for simplicity.
1, only T2, a guide pole, and a frame 5 showing the cassette housing 5 are shown.

The tape cassette TC shown in FIG.
The tape cassette TC shown in FIG. 4 is a tape cassette that uses magnetic tapes made of a ferromagnetic recording material as the tape-shaped recording media T1 and T2. The recording / reproducing apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 uses a rotating drum provided with a pair of rotating magnetic heads having opposite azimuth angles at 180 ° symmetric positions at a predetermined rotational speed. The magnetic tape running at a predetermined running speed while being wound around a part of the peripheral surface of the rotating drum and a part of the peripheral surface of the fixed drum is sequentially and helically scanned by the rotating magnetic head. This is a magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus configured to include a component for performing a magnetic recording / reproducing operation.

The tape cassette TC shown in FIG. 6 is used as tape-shaped recording media T1 and T2, for example.
This is a tape cassette using a tape-shaped recording medium including a magneto-optical recording material. The recording / reproducing apparatus shown in FIG. 6 utilizes a change in magnetic properties of the magneto-optical recording material due to heat to irradiate a laser beam to the magnetic layer of the magneto-optical recording material in the tape-shaped recording medium. The recording of information is performed by causing a change in magnetization corresponding to the recording information, and the state of the change in magnetization corresponding to the recording information in the magnetic layer of the magneto-optical recording material in the tape-shaped recording medium is irradiated with laser light. Is a recording / reproducing apparatus configured to be able to read using an optical effect accompanying magnetism such as the Faraday effect and the Kerr effect.

In each of the tape cassettes TC shown in the above-described drawings, a first tape-shaped recording medium T1 is provided between a first reel 1 and a second reel 2. 1st reel 1 via guide poles 6 and 7
And the second reel 2, and the second tape-shaped recording medium T <b> 2 is passed through the guide poles 9 and 8 provided between the third reel 3 and the fourth reel 4. 3 reels 3
And the fourth reel 4, the diameter of the first and second reels 1 and 2 is larger than the diameter of the third and fourth reels 3 and 4. is there.

Therefore, the first and second reels 1,
The length of the first tape-shaped recording medium T1 that can be wound around 2 is
The length is larger than the length of the second tape-shaped recording medium T2 that can be wound on the third and fourth reels 3 and 4 described above. Also,
The use of a tape-shaped recording medium thicker than the first tape-shaped recording medium T1 as the second tape-shaped recording medium T2 having a shorter length than the first tape-shaped recording medium T1 is more effective. This is a preferred embodiment for the second tape-shaped recording medium T2 which is desired to be transported at a higher speed. The first and second reels 1 and 2 are arranged in the longitudinal direction in the housing 5 of the tape cassette, and the third and fourth reels 3 and 4 are mounted on the tape cassette. It is housed in the tape cassette housing 5 in a state arranged in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction in the housing 5.

In the tape cassette TC shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, a first reel (supply reel) 1 and a second reel 1 are provided.
Two-dot chain line connecting between the guide poles 6 and 7 provided between the third reel (supply reel) 3 and the fourth reel (take-up reel) 4. The two-dot chain line connecting between the guide poles 8 and 9 provided between
When the tape cassette TC is not used, that is, when the tape cassette TC is not mounted on the recording / reproducing device, the first and second tape-shaped recording media T1 and T2 (hereinafter, the first and second magnetic tapes T1 and T2). T2). The tape cassette TC shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 shows a state where the tape cassette TC is mounted on the recording / reproducing apparatus.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, when the tape cassette TC is mounted on the recording / reproducing apparatus, a cassette lid (shown in FIG. 1) provided on one specific side surface of the housing 5 of the tape cassette. (Not shown) is opened, and an individual loading mechanism provided in the recording / reproducing apparatus is inserted into an insertion opening (not shown) of a loading guide provided in the tape cassette TC. First, FIG.
In the recording / reproducing apparatus shown in (1), the first magnetic tape T1 and the second magnetic tape T2 pulled out from the tape cassette TC mounted thereon by an individual loading mechanism are:
By the operation of the individual loading mechanisms described above, one rotary drum Du provided in the recording / reproducing apparatus is wound around predetermined different portions on the outer peripheral surface thereof, and is stretched on predetermined tape running paths. The recording / reproducing operation is performed on each magnetic tape.

In the state where the loading operation by the loading mechanism is completed, the first magnetic tape T1 drawn from the first reel (supply reel) 1 in the tape cassette TC mounted on the recording / reproducing apparatus.
Are the guide poles 6 and 11 → the inclined pole 12 → a part of the outer peripheral surface of the rotating drum Du (and the fixed drum not shown) → the inclined pole 13 → the guide pole 14 → the capstan 15 and the pinch roller 16 → the guide pole 7 → The second reel (take-up reel) 2 is set in a stretched state along the traveling path.

Further, the second magnetic tape T2 pulled out from the third reel (supply reel) 3 in the tape cassette TC mounted on the recording / reproducing apparatus is set at the end of the loading operation by the loading mechanism. 3 reel (supply reel) 3 → guide pole 10 → inclined pole 17
→ Rotating drum Du (and fixed drum not shown)
Part of the outer peripheral surface of → tilt pole 18 → guide pole 19 →
Capstan 20 and pinch roller 21 → guide pole 8
→ The fourth reel (take-up reel) 4 is set in a stretched state along the traveling path. The second magnetic tape T2 also
The vehicle travels along the traveling route in a traveling state determined by an operation mode of the recording / reproducing apparatus.

By the loading operation of the loading mechanism, the first and second magnetic tapes T1 and T2 wound on different portions of the outer peripheral surface of the rotary drum Du have a central angle of about 90 degrees. Are wound around different portions of the outer peripheral surface of the rotating drum (and a part of the outer peripheral surface of the fixed drum, not shown) corresponding to the above range. In the recording / reproducing apparatus shown in FIG. 1, Hp1, Hm1, Hp2, and Hm2 are rotary magnetic heads, and the rotary magnetic head
1, Hp2, the first and second rotating magnets having a magnetic gap in which the azimuth angle of the magnetic gap is set to a predetermined angle α of 90 degrees or less clockwise with respect to the width direction of the recording trace. Shows the head. On the other hand, in the rotating magnetic heads Hm1 and Hm2 with the subscript m, the azimuth angle of the magnetic gap is 9 in a counterclockwise direction with respect to the width direction of the recording trace.
The third and fourth rotating magnetic heads have a magnetic air gap set at a predetermined angle α of 0 ° or less.

The rotating magnetic head Hp1 and the rotating magnetic head Hp2 have a center of symmetry about the center axis of the drum.
The rotary magnetic head Hm1 and the rotary magnetic head Hm2 are provided at positions symmetrical with respect to each other with respect to the center axis of the drum.
The four rotating magnetic heads Hp1, Hm1,
Hp2 and Hm2 are provided at positions obtained by dividing the circumference of the rotating drum Du into four equal parts, and the angle between two adjacent rotating magnetic heads and a straight line connecting the center of the rotating drum is 90 degrees. Note that the arrangement of the rotating magnetic heads shown in FIG. 1 is such that one rotating magnetic head is provided at every 90 degrees at the central angle in the rotation locus circle of the rotating magnetic head. However, the recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention is configured such that the four rotating magnetic heads in the above-described arrangement are used as one rotating magnetic head group and N (N is a natural number) rotating magnetic head groups are used. May be implemented.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a part for controlling the operation of each part of the recording / reproducing apparatus shown in FIG. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 37 denotes an input terminal of data to be recorded / reproduced in the recording / reproducing apparatus, and 38 denotes an output terminal of output data from the recording / reproducing apparatus. Reference numeral 39 denotes a supply terminal for a control input supplied from an operation unit having an input device for setting various operation modes of the recording / reproducing apparatus, and other control inputs. Reference numeral 26 denotes a control unit and a signal processing unit of the recording / reproducing apparatus including, for example, a microprocessor, a read-only memory, a random access memory, and the like. Reference numeral 27 denotes an external buffer memory, The processing unit 26 performs a control operation of the entire recording / reproducing apparatus and an input / output signal processing operation.

In the input / output signal processing operation of the control unit and the signal processing unit 26, during a recording operation, an information signal to be recorded is converted into a recording signal suitable for the recording operation and supplied to a recording / reproducing circuit. During the reproducing operation, a signal processing operation such as inversely converting the reproduced signal reproduced from the magnetic tape into the original information signal is performed. In the input / output signal processing operation of the control unit and the signal processing unit 26 when the recording / reproducing apparatus is a digital VTR, AD conversion, D
CT block formation, DCT calculation processing, quantization and variable length coding, addition of error correction code, waveform equalization signal processing, error correction, variable length decoding, inverse DCT calculation processing, and other necessary digital signal processing Do.

Reference numerals 28 to 31 denote recording / reproducing circuits.
During the recording operation, the recording / reproducing circuit 28 (29, 30, 31) transmits the information signal to be recorded to the attached rotary magnetic head Hp1 (Hm1, Hp2, Hm).
According to 2), recording is performed on a predetermined magnetic tape of the first and second magnetic tapes, and at the time of reproducing operation, the attached first and second magnetic tapes are rotated by the attached rotating magnetic head Hp1 (Hm1, Hp2, Hm2). The information signal reproduced from a predetermined magnetic tape among the two magnetic tapes is transmitted to the control unit and the signal processing unit 26.
To supply.

By the way, in the recording / reproducing apparatus shown in FIG. 1, the center angle of the outer peripheral surface of the rotary drum Du corresponds to a range of about 90 degrees, and is wound around a portion having the drum axis as the center of symmetry. As described above, the recording / reproducing operation for the first magnetic tape T1 and the second magnetic tape T2 is performed by the four magnetic drums provided at positions obtained by dividing the circumference of one rotary drum Du into four equal parts. Rotating magnetic heads Hp1, Hm1, Hp
2 and Hm2, the rotation locus of each of the rotary magnetic heads Hp1, Hm1, Hp2, and Hm2 is the same as that of the first and second magnetic tapes T1 and T2. On T2, the rotation trajectory of the rotating magnetic head Hp1 → the rotation trajectory of the rotating magnetic head Hm1 → the rotation trajectory of the rotating magnetic head Hp2 → the rotation trajectory of the rotating magnetic head Hm2 → the rotation trajectory of the rotating magnetic head Hp1 → sequentially. In a state of being aligned.

The control unit and the signal processing unit 26 shown in FIG.
(29, 30, 31) and the rotating magnetic head Hp1 (Hm1, Hp2, Hm2) attached thereto are selected from those to be used for the recording operation or the reproducing operation, and sequentially selected on the time axis. The control operation is performed such that a switching operation is performed or a plurality of necessary elements are simultaneously operated. The tracking control operation in the magnetic tape running system is performed, for example, by using a tracking control signal recorded on a magnetic tape, or by using a dedicated fixed control head for tracking control. Any of the technical means described above may be appropriately selected and used.

The drum rotation control system 33 in FIG.
The rotation number and the rotation phase of the rotating drum Du are controlled based on the control data supplied from the control unit and the signal processing unit 26. 35 is a tape running control circuit for the first magnetic tape T1, and 36 is a tape running control circuit for the second magnetic tape T2. Capstan control is performed so that the magnetic tapes T1 and T2 run at a predetermined tape running speed, and at the time of reproduction operation, capstan control is performed based on, for example, tracking information recorded on the magnetic tape. Then, the magnetic tape is caused to travel at a tape traveling speed such that the rotating magnetic head can track the recording mark of the magnetic tape.

FIG. 3A is a diagram showing an example of the recording of a plurality of pieces of program information on the first magnetic tape T1, and FIG. 3B is a diagram showing the first magnetic tape T1. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a recording mode of a plurality of pieces of program information performed on a second magnetic tape T2 having a shorter length than the magnetic tape T1. At the head of the recording area of the second magnetic tape T2, as shown in FIG. 3B, management data (for example, management data of the entire tape, first and second magnetic tapes T1, The start address of the recording area for each piece of program information at T2, the title of each piece of program information, recording date and time, etc.) are recorded.

The management data recorded at the head of the second magnetic tape T2 is read and used each time one of a plurality of pieces of program information recorded on the magnetic tape is reproduced. Alternatively, at the start of the operation of the recording / reproducing device, the management data recorded on the second magnetic tape T2 is reproduced and stored in the memory of the control unit and the signal processing unit 26 in the recording / reproducing device, In the subsequent operation of the recording / reproducing apparatus, the search time can be reduced by using the management data. Subsequent to the recording area of the management data on the second magnetic tape T2, start portions in the sequential program information are sequentially recorded.

In the example of FIG. 3, the first magnetic tape T1
Has a tape length capable of continuous recording for six hours (360 minutes), the one-hour program information can be sequentially recorded for six programs on the first magnetic tape T1. . Then, the recording / reproducing device is
If fast-forwarding (rewinding) at 0 × speed is possible, the entire first magnetic tape T1 can be rewound in about 3 minutes. Therefore, as exemplified in FIG. 3B, the information for three minutes at the start of each of the six pieces of program information recorded on the first magnetic tape T1 is transferred to the second magnetic tape T2. Is recorded successively following the recording area of the management data in the first magnetic tape T1, and the three-minute portion of the start portion of each program to be recorded on the second magnetic tape T2 as described above is recorded on the first magnetic tape T1. Except for this, the program information is sequentially recorded for six programs (total of 342 minutes) of the program information for 57 minutes.

In the above example, the six pieces of one-hour program information are composed of a first magnetic tape T1 having a tape length of 342 minutes and a tape having a tape length of 18 minutes. Recording can be performed on the second magnetic tape T2. The second magnetic tape T2 having the recording time (same as the normal reproduction time) of 18 minutes has a tape length corresponding to a recording time of 20 minutes including the recording time of the management data of 2 minutes. Even if it had, it would take about 10 seconds to rewind the whole at 120x speed.

That is, in the case of only the first magnetic tape T1 recorded for 360 minutes as in the above-described example, it is assumed that the magnetic tape can be fast-forwarded (rewinded) at a speed of 120 times the running speed. However, it is necessary to anticipate that an access time for any program information recorded on the first magnetic tape T1 will require about 3 minutes or more. However, in the present invention, as described above, for each start portion of each program information, for example, three minutes of program information corresponding to the entire rewinding time of the first magnetic tape T1 is written to the second magnetic tape T2. In the case where any of the program information is desired to be reproduced, the program information is reproduced from the second magnetic tape T2 for 3 minutes, and the program information is reproduced. During the time period of 3 minutes, program information desired to be reproduced in the first magnetic tape T1 is searched, and the program information desired to be reproduced is set in a standby state for starting a reproducing operation, and is reproduced from the second magnetic tape T2. When the program information reproduced from the first magnetic tape T1 is smoothly switched and reproduced following the start portion of the program information, any program information can be accessed. The can be 10 seconds.

As described above, following the start of the program information reproduced from the second magnetic tape T2, the program information reproduced from the first magnetic tape T1 is smoothly switched and reproduced. For example, an information identification signal (for example, for the same program information, the second magnetic tape T2 is located at the boundary of the recording area of the sequential program information on the first and second magnetic tapes T1 and T2) The same address is assigned to the switching portion between the reproduction signal from the first magnetic tape T1 and the reproduction signal from the first magnetic tape T1, and the reproduction signal from the second magnetic tape T2 and the first signal from the first magnetic tape T1 are recorded. The switching reproduction with the reproduction signal from the magnetic tape T1 may be performed at the position where the information identification signal is reproduced from the first and second magnetic tapes.

Further, following the start of the program information reproduced from the second magnetic tape T2, the first magnetic tape T
In order to smoothly switch the program information to be reproduced from 1, the second
The end portion of the start portion of the program information reproduced from the magnetic tape T2 is also recorded in the first portion of the program information reproduced from the first magnetic tape T1, and the second magnetic tape T2 and the first portion are recorded. During a period in which a reproduction signal having the same content in the same program information is obtained from both of the magnetic tape T1 and the second magnetic tape T1, both the second magnetic tape T2 and the first magnetic tape T1 are run, and The switching operation may be performed.

Next, the recording / reproducing apparatus shown in FIG. 4 uses a first magnetic tape T pulled out from a tape cassette TC mounted on the recording / reproducing apparatus by an individual loading mechanism.
1 and the second magnetic tape T2 are wound around predetermined one outer peripheral surfaces of the rotating drums Du1 and Du2 individually provided in the recording / reproducing apparatus by the operation of the individual loading mechanism. Each of the magnetic tapes is set to be in a state of being stretched on a predetermined tape running path so that recording and reproducing operations are performed on each magnetic tape. That is, when the loading operation by the loading mechanism is completed, the first magnetic tape T1 pulled out from the first reel (supply reel) 1 in the tape cassette TC mounted on the recording / reproducing apparatus is driven by the guide pole. 6
→ guide pole 22 → guide pole 11 → inclined pole 1
2 → part of the outer peripheral surface of the first rotating drum Du1 (and a fixed drum not shown) → inclined pole 13 → guide pole 14 → capstan 15 and pinch roller 16 → guide pole 7 → second reel (winding) The take-up reel 2 is stretched in the running path.

The second magnetic tape T2 pulled out from the third reel (supply reel) 3 in the tape cassette TC mounted on the recording / reproducing apparatus is set at the end of the loading operation by the loading mechanism. 3 reel (supply reel) 3 → guide pole 10 → guide pole 2
3 → inclined pole 17 → part of the outer peripheral surface of the second rotating drum Du2 (and a fixed drum not shown) → inclined pole 18 → guide pole 19 → capstan 20 and pinch roller 21 → guide pole 8 → fourth In the running path of the reel (take-up reel) 4. The second magnetic tape T2 also travels along the travel path in a travel state determined by the operation mode of the recording / reproducing apparatus.

That is, in the recording / reproducing apparatus shown in FIG.
The first magnetic tape T1 pulled out of the tape cassette TC by the loading operation by the loading mechanism described above has a center angle of slightly more than 180 degrees on the outer peripheral surface of the first rotating drum Du1 provided in the recording / reproducing apparatus. And a part of the outer peripheral surface of the rotating drum (and a part of the outer peripheral surface of the fixed drum not shown) corresponding to
The second magnetic tape T2 pulled out of the tape cassette TC by the loading operation by the loading mechanism
Is a second rotating drum D provided in the recording / reproducing apparatus.
It is wound around a part of the outer peripheral surface of the rotating drum (and a part of the outer peripheral surface of the fixed drum not shown) corresponding to a range of the central angle on the outer peripheral surface of u2 that is slightly over 180 degrees.

In the recording / reproducing apparatus shown in FIG.
1, Hm1, Hp2, Hm2 are rotary magnetic heads,
The rotating magnetic heads Hp1 and Hp with the subscript p
2 is a first and second rotating magnetic head having a magnetic gap in which the azimuth angle of the magnetic gap is set to a predetermined angle α of 90 degrees or less clockwise with respect to the width direction of the recording mark. Is shown. On the other hand, in the rotary magnetic heads Hm1 and Hm2 with the subscript m, the azimuth angle of the magnetic gap is set to a predetermined angle α of 90 degrees or less counterclockwise with respect to the width direction of the recording trace. The third and fourth rotating magnetic heads having the magnetic gaps are the same as those described above with reference to FIG. The rotating magnetic head Hp1 and the rotating magnetic head Hm1 are in the first position.
Are provided at 180-degree symmetrical positions about the center axis of the rotating drum Du1.
2 and the rotating magnetic head Hm2 are provided at 180-degree symmetric positions about the center axis of the drum as a symmetric center.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a part for controlling the operation of each part of the recording / reproducing apparatus shown in FIG. The configuration of the part for controlling the operation of each unit of the recording / reproducing apparatus shown in FIG. 5 is different from the configuration described above with reference to FIG. 2 in that a drum rotation control circuit is shown in FIG. Although only one 33 is shown, only two drum rotation control circuits 33 and 34 are provided in FIG. This is because the recording / reproducing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 has only one rotating drum Du, whereas the recording / reproducing apparatus shown in FIG. 5 has two rotating drums Du1 and Du2. is there.

Next, the tape cassette TC shown in FIG. 6 is stored in the tape cassette TC even if the tape cassette TC is not used or is mounted on the recording / reproducing apparatus. The tape-shaped recording medium T1 and the second tape-shaped recording medium T2 are not pulled out from the tape cassette housing 5 to the outside. Then, the first tape-shaped recording medium T1 in the tape cassette TC mounted on the recording / reproducing apparatus is transferred from the first reel (supply reel) 1 to the second reel (take-up reel) via the guide poles 6, 7.
2, and the second tape-shaped recording medium T2 is transferred from a third reel (supply reel) 3 to a fourth reel (take-up reel) 4 via guide poles 9 and 8.
Follow the traveling route up to. Reference numeral 24 in FIG. 6 denotes a first magneto-optical recording / reproducing unit provided opposite to an open surface provided on one specific side surface of the housing 5 of the tape cassette.
The magneto-optical recording / reproducing unit 24 of the first tape-shaped recording medium T1
Perform recording and reproduction operations for. Reference numeral 25 denotes a second magneto-optical recording / reproducing unit provided opposite to an open surface provided on another specific side surface of the housing 5 of the tape cassette. The recording and reproducing operations for the second tape-shaped recording medium T2 are performed.

As for the recording / reproducing apparatus described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 6 as well, the recording / reproducing apparatus described with reference to FIG. For each start portion of each piece of program information, the program information for each time corresponding to the entire rewind time of the first magnetic tape T1 is sequentially added to the recording area of the management data on the second magnetic tape T2. No matter which program information is desired to be reproduced, first, the reproduction of the program information from the second magnetic tape T2 over the time corresponding to the entire rewind time of the first magnetic tape T1 is performed. An operation is performed to search for program information desired to be reproduced in the first magnetic tape T1 during the above-mentioned time, and the program information desired to be reproduced is set to a standby state for starting a reproduction operation. After the start of the program information being reproduced from the second magnetic tape T2, the program information reproduced from the first magnetic tape T1 is smoothly switched to be reproduced. Access time to information can be significantly reduced.

Next, for each of the recording / reproducing apparatuses described above with reference to FIGS. 1, 4, and 6, the recording operation on the first tape-shaped recording medium T1 and the second tape-shaped recording medium T2 is performed. However, the first tape-shaped recording medium T1 and the second tape-shaped recording medium T2 as a whole are in a state similar to an endless tape by performing the above-described steps repeatedly and alternately without any cuts. Will be used. That is, the first tape-shaped recording medium T1
In a state where the recording operation is being performed on one of the two tape-shaped recording media, namely, the second tape-shaped recording medium and the second tape-shaped recording medium T2, the other tape-shaped recording medium is wound by a rewinding operation. The tape-shaped recording medium is rewound to the end, and the tape-shaped recording medium is set in a standby state so that the recording operation can be started from the start position of the winding, and when the recording operation is performed up to the end of the one tape-shaped recording medium, The recording operation on the tape-shaped recording medium is stopped, and the recording operation on the other tape-shaped recording medium in a standby state is started. By repeatedly repeating the tape-shaped recording medium T2 in turn,
The first tape-shaped recording medium T1 and the second tape-shaped recording medium T2 can be used in the same state as an endless tape as a whole.

The recording operation on the first tape-shaped recording medium T1 and the second tape-shaped recording medium T2 is sequentially and alternately repeated, for example, by the first tape-shaped recording medium T1 and the second tape-shaped recording medium T2. Using the information identification signal (for example, address) recorded near each end of
This is performed by the control unit and the signal processing unit 26 in the recording / reproducing apparatus. When the first tape-shaped recording medium T1 and the second tape-shaped recording medium T2 stored in the tape cassette TC are used in the same state as an endless tape, a recording / reproducing apparatus is, for example, a monitoring apparatus. It can be used effectively as a recording device for recording and a reproducing device of a recorded recording medium for demonstration in a store.

[0044]

As is apparent from the above description, the tape cassette and the recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention have a disadvantage that the access is slow even if a large storage capacity can be obtained at low cost. Can be recorded / reproduced in a state where the access is quick.
By providing reels for winding the tape-shaped recording medium in an optimal arrangement, it is easy to provide a small-sized tape cassette, and the management information is recorded on the shorter tape, and the information is used for access. Can be used efficiently. Also,
The program information for each time length corresponding to the time required for rewinding the entire long first tape-shaped recording medium stored in the tape cassette is stored in the management data recording area of the short second tape-shaped recording medium. Then, the program information is sequentially recorded, and no matter which program information is desired to be reproduced, first, each program information is reproduced from the second tape-shaped recording medium.
During the time when the reproduction operation of each program information is being performed from the second tape-shaped recording medium, program information desired to be reproduced in the first tape-shaped recording medium is searched. In a standby state for starting the reproducing operation, the program information reproduced from the first tape-shaped recording medium is smoothly switched and reproduced following the start portion of the program information reproduced from the second tape-shaped recording medium. By doing so, it is possible to shorten the access time to arbitrary program information, and to use a thicker tape for the shorter second tape-shaped recording medium, thereby achieving even higher speeds. By enabling the transfer, the search time can be easily reduced, and furthermore, any one of the two tape-shaped recording media of the first tape-shaped recording medium and the second tape-shaped recording medium In the state where the recording operation is being performed, the other tape-shaped recording medium is rewound to the winding start end by the rewinding operation, and the tape-shaped recording medium is in a standby state so that the recording operation can be started from the starting position. When the recording operation is performed up to the end of the one tape-shaped recording medium, the recording operation on the tape-shaped recording medium is stopped, and the other tape-shaped recording medium in a standby state is stopped. The recording operation such as starting the recording operation is sequentially and alternately repeated for the first tape-shaped recording medium and the second tape-shaped recording medium, so that the first tape-shaped recording medium and the second tape-shaped recording medium are repeated. By using the entire tape-shaped recording medium in the same state as the endless tape, it can be effectively applied to a monitoring device or the like.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a configuration example of a part of a recording / reproducing apparatus for recording / reproducing an information signal using a tape cassette of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the recording / reproducing apparatus illustrated in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a recording mode of a plurality of pieces of program information.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a configuration example of a part of a recording / reproducing apparatus for recording / reproducing an information signal using the tape cassette of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the recording / reproducing apparatus illustrated in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a part of a recording / reproducing apparatus for recording / reproducing an information signal using the tape cassette of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

TC: tape cassette, T1: first tape-shaped recording medium, T2: second tape-shaped recording medium, Du: rotating drum, Hp1, Hm1, Hp2, Hm2: rotating magnetic head, 1 ... first reel (supply Reel), 2 ... second reel (take-up reel), 3 ... third reel (supply reel), 4 ... second reel (take-up reel), 5 ... tape cassette housing, 6-11, 14, 19 ... guide poles, 12, 13, 17, 18 ... inclined poles, 15, 20
... Capstan, 16, 21 ... Pinch roller, 26 ... Control unit and signal processing unit of recording / reproducing device, 27 ... External buffer memory, 28-31 ... Recording / reproducing circuit, 33 ... Drum rotation control system, 35 ... First Tape running control circuit of the magnetic tape T1, 36 ... Tape running control circuit of the second magnetic tape T2, 37 ... Input terminal of data to be recorded / reproduced in the recording / reproducing device, 38 ... Data output from the recording / reproducing device An output terminal 39, a control input supplied from an operation unit including an input device for setting various operation modes of the recording / reproducing device, and a supply terminal for other control inputs;

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] April 3, 1998

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Brief description of drawings

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a configuration example of a part of a recording / reproducing apparatus for recording / reproducing an information signal using a tape cassette of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the recording / reproducing apparatus illustrated in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a recording mode of a plurality of pieces of program information.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a partial configuration example of a recording / reproducing apparatus for recording / reproducing information signals using the tape cassette of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the recording / reproducing apparatus illustrated in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a part of a recording / reproducing apparatus for recording / reproducing an information signal using the tape cassette of the present invention.

[Description of References] TC: tape cassette, T1: first tape-shaped recording medium, T2: second tape-shaped recording medium, Du: rotating drum, Hp1, Hm1, Hp2, Hm2: rotating magnetic head, 1 ... first 1 reel (supply reel), 2 ... second reel (take-up reel), 3 ... third reel (supply reel), 4 ... second reel (take-up reel), 5 ... case of tape cassette , 6-11, 14, 19 ... guide pole, 12, 13, 17, 18 ... inclined pole, 15, 20
... Capstan, 16, 21 ... Pinch roller, 26 ... Control unit and signal processing unit of recording / reproducing device, 27 ... External buffer memory, 28-31 ... Recording / reproducing circuit, 33 ... Drum rotation control system, 35 ... First Tape running control circuit of the magnetic tape T1, 36 ... Tape running control circuit of the second magnetic tape T2, 37 ... Input terminal of data to be recorded / reproduced in the recording / reproducing device, 38 ... Data output from the recording / reproducing device An output terminal 39, a control input supplied from an operation unit including an input device for setting various operation modes of the recording / reproducing device, and a supply terminal for other control inputs;

Claims (17)

[Claims] At least a first reel, a second reel, a guide pole provided between the first and second reels, and a guide pole between the first and second reels , A first tape-shaped recording medium wound around first and second reels, a third reel, a fourth reel, and a guide provided between the third and fourth reels. A pole and a second tape-shaped recording medium wound around the third and fourth reels via the guide pole between the third and fourth reels are housed in a tape cassette housing. Tape cassette. 2. A guide pole provided between at least a first reel, a second reel, the first and second reels, and a guide pole between the first and second reels. A first tape-shaped recording medium wound around first and second reels via the first and second reels; a third and fourth reel having a smaller diameter than the first and second reels; 3,
A guide pole provided between the fourth reel and a second tape-shaped recording medium wound around the third and fourth reels via the guide pole between the third and fourth reels,
The first and second reels are disposed in a longitudinal direction in the housing of the tape cassette, and the third and fourth reels are disposed in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction in the housing of the tape cassette. And a tape cassette housed in a tape cassette housing. 3. An open surface for recording / reproducing operations on a first tape-shaped recording medium and a second tape-shaped recording medium is provided on a side surface of a housing of the tape cassette. Tape cassette. 4. An open surface for recording and reproducing operations on a first tape-shaped recording medium and a second tape-shaped recording medium,
3. The tape cassette according to claim 1, wherein the tape cassette is provided on one specific side surface of a housing of the tape cassette. 5. The tape cassette according to claim 1, wherein the first tape-shaped recording medium and the second tape-shaped recording medium have different lengths. 6. A tape recording medium having a shorter length among two tape recording media having different lengths, wherein the tape recording medium having a shorter length is thicker than the other tape recording medium. 6. The tape cassette according to claim 5, wherein: 7. At least a first reel, a second reel, a guide pole provided between the first and second reels, and a guide pole between the first and second reels. A first tape-shaped recording medium wound around first and second reels via the first and second reels; a third and fourth reel having a smaller diameter than the first and second reels; 3,
A guide pole provided between the fourth reel and a second tape-shaped recording medium wound around the third and fourth reels via the guide pole between the third and fourth reels,
The first and second reels are disposed in a longitudinal direction in the housing of the tape cassette, and the third and fourth reels are disposed in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction in the housing of the tape cassette. A tape cassette mounting section for mounting a tape cassette provided with an open surface for recording and reproducing operations on the first tape-shaped recording medium and the second tape-shaped recording medium; and an open surface of the tape cassette. From the side
A recording / reproducing apparatus including a recording / reproducing unit for individually performing recording / reproducing operations on a first tape-shaped recording medium and a second tape-shaped recording medium in a tape cassette. 8. The recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein a recording / reproducing unit that operates according to a magneto-optical recording / reproducing method is used. 9. The recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein a recording / reproducing unit that operates according to a predetermined magnetic recording / reproducing method is used. 10. A drum assembly having a rotating magnetic head assembly for performing a recording / reproducing operation on a first tape-shaped recording medium in a tape cassette, and a rotating magnetic body for performing a recording / reproducing operation on a second tape-shaped recording medium in a tape cassette. 10. The recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the recording / reproducing unit has a configuration in which a drum assembly having a head assembly is separately provided. 11. A recording and reproducing operation for a first tape-shaped recording medium in a tape cassette and a recording and reproducing operation for a second tape-shaped recording medium in a tape cassette are performed by a rotating magnetic member provided on one drum structure. 10. The recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein a recording / reproducing unit configured to be performed by a head assembly is used. 12. A first tape-shaped recording medium is wound around an outer peripheral surface of a drum corresponding to a central angle range of about 90 degrees,
Further, the outer peripheral surface of the drum corresponding to a range of about 90 degrees with a symmetric central angle with respect to the outer peripheral surface portion of the drum around which the first tape-shaped recording medium is wound with the central axis of the drum as a symmetric axis. A second tape-shaped recording medium is wound around the surface, and four rotating magnetic heads arranged at positions at every 90 degrees at the central angle in the rotation locus circle of the rotating magnetic head are combined with one rotating magnetic head set. 12. The recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a recording / reproducing unit configured using N sets (N is a natural number) of rotating magnetic head sets. 13. A first tape-shaped recording medium is wound around an outer peripheral surface of a drum corresponding to a range of a central angle of about 90 degrees,
Further, the outer peripheral surface of the drum corresponding to a range of about 90 degrees with a symmetric central angle with respect to the outer peripheral surface portion of the drum around which the first tape-shaped recording medium is wound with the central axis of the drum as a symmetric axis. The second tape-shaped recording medium is wound around the surface, and the drum axis is symmetrically centered on the four rotating magnetic heads arranged at every 90 degrees at the central angle in the rotation locus circle of the rotating magnetic head. And the azimuth angle of the magnetic air gap is the same for the rotating magnetic heads at 180-degree symmetric positions,
A recording / reproducing unit configured by using N sets (N is a natural number) of four sets of rotating magnetic heads in which adjacent magnetic heads have different azimuth angles of magnetic air gaps. The recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 7 or claim 9 or claim 11, further comprising: 14. At least a first reel, a second reel, a guide pole provided between the first and second reels, and a guide pole between the first and second reels. To be wound around the first and second reels via the first
A third recording medium, a third reel, a fourth reel, a guide pole provided between the third and fourth reels, and a tape longer than the first tape recording medium. And the second tape-shaped recording medium wound around the third and fourth reels via the guide poles between the third and fourth reels is housed in a tape cassette housing. A recording / reproducing apparatus using a tape cassette in which management information of the tape-shaped recording medium is recorded on a second tape-shaped recording medium of the tape cassette. 15. At least a first reel, a second reel, a guide pole provided between the first and second reels, and a guide pole between the first and second reels. To be wound around the first and second reels via the first
A third recording medium, a third reel, a fourth reel, a guide pole provided between the third and fourth reels, and a tape longer than the first tape recording medium. And the second tape-shaped recording medium wound around the third and fourth reels via the guide poles between the third and fourth reels is housed in a tape cassette housing. A head portion of a series of recording information to be continuously recorded on the first tape-shaped recording medium and the second tape-shaped recording medium in the tape cassette is recorded on the second tape recording medium. A recording / reproducing device using a tape cassette. 16. At least a first reel, a second reel, a guide pole provided between the first and second reels, and a guide pole between the first and second reels. To be wound around the first and second reels via the first
A third recording medium, a third reel, a fourth reel, a guide pole provided between the third and fourth reels, and a tape longer than the first tape recording medium. And the second tape-shaped recording medium wound around the third and fourth reels via the guide poles between the third and fourth reels is housed in a tape cassette housing. When reproducing recorded information continuously recorded on the first tape-shaped recording medium and the second tape-shaped recording medium in a tape cassette, the first tape-shaped recording medium and the second tape-shaped A recording device comprising means for performing switching reproduction between a reproduction signal from the second tape-shaped recording medium and a reproduction signal from the first tape-shaped recording medium by using the information identification signal recorded on the recording medium. Playback device. 17. At least a first reel, a second reel, a guide pole provided between the first and second reels, and a guide pole between the first and second reels. To be wound around the first and second reels via the first
Tape-shaped recording medium, a third reel, a fourth reel, a guide pole provided between the third and fourth reels, and a guide pole between the third and fourth reels A tape cassette mounting section for mounting a tape cassette in which a second tape-shaped recording medium wound around third and fourth reels via a tape cassette is accommodated in a tape cassette housing; And a recording / reproducing unit for individually performing recording / reproducing operations on the first tape-shaped recording medium and the second tape-shaped recording medium. When the recording operation on the second tape-shaped recording medium is being performed near the end of one tape-shaped recording medium, recording is started near the beginning of the other tape-shaped recording medium. And alternately And a means for returning the one tape-shaped recording medium to the starting end when the recording operation is completed up to the end of the one tape-shaped recording medium and waiting for the recording operation to be completed. Recording and playback device.