JPH11339265A - Slave cart - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a slave cart in which the supplying of a recording medium for recording to a slave deck, the recovering of a prerecorded recording medium, the separating and discharging of a nondefective product/defective product of the prerecorded medium and the supplying and recovering of a cleaning medium are all automated without requiring a worker. SOLUTION: A cassette tape for recording 17 is supplied to a slave deck 1 by a loader 2, a handler 3 and a handler transfer part 4 and also a prerecorded cassette tape 18 is recovered from the slave deck 1 to be discharged to a nondefective product discharging conveyer 8 or to a defective product discharging conveyer 9. Moreover, a cleaning cassette 10 is supplied and recovered from a station for cleaning cassette 11 to and from a slave deck in which a fault is generated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for automatically supplying and automatically collecting recording media necessary for a slave deck for duplicating a supplied master signal on a plurality of recording media, and inspecting the quality of recorded recording media. The present invention relates to a slave cart that automatically sorts and discharges non-defective / defective products according to a result, and also automatically supplies a cleaning medium to a slave deck to clean the slave deck.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A method of duplicating a magnetic recording tape employs a method of reproducing a master tape by using one master reproducing apparatus and recording reproduced signals on a plurality of slave decks. Conventionally, the supply of a recording cassette tape to a slave deck, the collection of a recorded cassette tape, and the supply and collection of a cleaning cassette are all performed manually by an operator. The quality inspection and sorting of the recorded cassette tape is performed in another process.

[0003]

With the goal of improving production efficiency and being unmanned, it has been a problem how to automate the above-mentioned work, which has conventionally been performed manually.
Therefore, the present invention automates the supply of the recording medium for recording to the slave deck and the collection and recovery of the recorded recording medium, and the supply and collection of the cleaning medium, all of which have been performed manually by the operator, and the recording of the recorded recording medium. The purpose is to provide a slave cart that also automates the sorting of good and bad products.

[0004]

Therefore, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention records a master signal on a recording medium for recording, and after recording, reproduces the recorded recording medium to check the recording quality. A plurality of loaders each having a supply unit (13) for supplying the recording medium for recording to a plurality of slave decks (1) to be performed and an ejection unit (14) for ejecting the recorded recording medium. 2), a supply arm (15) for supplying the recording medium for recording or the cleaning medium (10) to a supply section of the loader, and collecting the recorded recording medium or the cleaning medium from the discharge section of the loader; The collected recording medium that has been collected is separated and discharged into non-defective products and defective products based on the recording quality inspection results of the slave deck, and the collected cleaning medium is used as a cleaning medium switch. A handler (3) having a collection arm (16) for returning to the compartment (11), a handler transport section (4) for moving the handler between the slave decks, and a recording medium for recording conveyed from outside. Supply one by one to the supply arm of the handler,
Alternatively, a supply unit (6) for supplying the cleaning medium from the cleaning medium station to a supply arm of the handler, and a non-defective product transport line for transferring a non-defective product of the recorded recording medium separated and discharged from the collection arm of the handler. The defective recording medium is discharged to (8), and the defective recording medium is transferred to an external defective conveyance line (9).
And a discharge unit (7) for discharging to a slave cart.

[0005]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment uses a video cassette tape as a recording medium. In FIG. 1, only four of the plurality of loaders are shown, and other loaders are omitted. Also, only one of the four loaders shown in the drawing specifically shows the configuration. The slave cart is equipped with a plurality of loaders 2 for supplying and collecting cassette tapes to each slave deck 1. The slave cart has a handler 3 having a supply arm 15 for supplying a cassette tape to each loader 2 and a collection arm 16 for collection, a handler transport unit 4 for moving the handler 3, and a cleaning cassette for setting the cleaning cassette 10. A supply unit 6 for supplying the cassette tape one by one from the station 11, an external supply conveyor 5 to the supply arm 15 of the handler, or a supply unit 6 for supplying the cleaning cassette 10 from the cleaning cassette station 11, and a separate discharge from the collection arm 16 of the handler. The discharge unit 7 discharges the set cassette to an external good product discharge conveyor 8 or an external defective product discharge conveyor 9. Furthermore, a touch switch type display panel 12 is provided, and the operation and status of the slave cart (manual operation, the presence or absence of a cassette tape, the presence or absence of a cleaning tape, the operation status of the handler, the quality inspection result, the alarm, the alarm history,
Other) can be monitored.

The supply unit 13 of the loader has a function of stocking one recording cassette tape, and supplies the recording cassette tape 17 to the slave deck 1. The discharge unit 14 of the loader has a function of storing one recorded cassette tape 18 discharged from the slave deck 1. Each slave deck 1 is located behind each loader 2, and a plurality of slave decks 1 are arranged so as to correspond to each loader 2.

Next, the operation of the slave cart will be described. The recording cassette tape is supplied to the supply arm 15 of the handler 3 by the supply unit 6 from the supply conveyor 5 on the upper side of the main body. At this time, the handler 3 has been moved to the uppermost position by the handler transport unit 4.

The supply unit 6 is shown in FIG. Arrow (A)
The direction is the supply operation of the recording cassette tape 17, and the direction of the arrow (B) is the supply operation of the cleaning cassette 10. As shown in FIG.
7 is pushed out from the supply conveyor 5 by the supply pusher 19, and the supply slider 20 is slid to supply the supply arm 15 to the supply arm 15 of the handler 3. At the same time, the slide roller 36 exits from the lower part of the supply slider 20 so that the supply is smoothly performed without hitting the supply roller 22 that is inclined in the supply arm 15. Next, as shown in FIG. 2B, after the recording cassette tape 17 arrives at the supply arm 15, the slide roller 36 returns, and the recording cassette tape is held by the cassette stopper 21 in the supply arm 15. The supply pusher 19 avoids the recording cassette tape on the supply conveyor 5 to be supplied next,
The ascending cylinder 34 ascends the support portion 35 as a fulcrum and returns. The supply of the cleaning cassette 10, which will be described later, is moved to the supply slider 20 by the station driving unit 33 of the cleaning cassette station 11 (see FIG. 1), and as shown in FIG. In order not to supply the recording cassette tape, the supply pusher 19 is raised obliquely around the support portion 35 by the lifting cylinder 34 to supply the cleaning cassette 10 to the supply arm 15 of the handler 3. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 2D, the supply pusher 19 returns as in the case of supplying the recording cassette tape. In this way, the supply unit 6 can supply two systems in one common unit.

The recording cassette tape transported into the supply arm 15 of the handler 3 by the supply unit 6 is
It is held by the cassette stopper 21 and moved to the position of the slave deck 1 operable by the handler transport unit 4. Here, the recording cassette tape is supplied to the supply unit 13 of the loader by releasing the cassette stopper 21 in the supply arm 15.

FIG. 3 shows an operational relationship between the loader 2 and the handler 3. FIG. 4 shows the supply arm 15 viewed from the AA direction in FIG. Since the supply arm 15 is inclined with respect to the loader supply unit 13, the recording cassette tape 17 is supplied to the supply unit 13 of the loader so as to slide under its own weight by releasing the cassette stopper 21. Supply rollers 22 are provided at both ends on the outlet side of the supply arm 15 to further facilitate the supply operation. As described above, the supply arm 15 is connected to the recording cassette tape by the supply roller 2.
Since it is only mounted on 2, it can be easily taken out and replaced, and it has a structure that considers workability and cost.

When the recorded cassette tape is discharged to the discharge portion 14 of the loader simultaneously with the supply of the recording cassette tape to the loader 2 by the supply arm 15,
The collection arm 16 moves in the direction (a) of FIG. 3 to pinch and grip the recorded cassette tape 18, and moves again in the direction (b) to take out the recorded cassette tape. And
The handler 3 collects the recorded cassette tape 1
6 while being sandwiched between them, it is moved to the lowest position by the handler transport unit 4 and, according to the result of the quality inspection of the slave deck 1, the recorded cassette tape 18 is separated and discharged to the non-defective product discharge conveyor 8 or the defective product discharge conveyor 9. I do.
FIG. 5A shows the collection arm 16 viewed from the direction BB of FIG. Since the driving hand 24 is driven obliquely with respect to the fixed hand 23 and handles the recorded cassette tape while dragging it, the loader 2 does not interfere with the recorded cassette tape. Further, as shown in FIG. 5 (b), by supporting the fixed hand 23 at three points with reference, reliable and stable handling can be performed. Also,
The drive hand 24 is opened and closed by using a single-acting cylinder 25 when it is opened and a spring 26 when it is closed, so that even if the air from the drive source is no longer supplied, the cassette once sandwiched is not dropped. Further, since the spring 26 holds the cassette tape, the recorded cassette tape can be easily removed manually.

In this embodiment, the operation of supplying the recording cassette tape by the supply arm 15 of the handler 3 and the operation of collecting the recorded cassette tape by the collection arm 16 are performed in parallel for each loader. Supply,
Collection time can be reduced. Here, the supply arm 15 and the collection arm 16 are connected in an L-shape to form the handler 3, and the collection arm 16 is positioned in the direction in which the handler transport unit 4 is positioned (in (a) and (b) of FIG. 3). The reason for sliding in the direction is that space in the movement of the handler and efficient handler operation are taken into consideration. That is, the supply arm 1
5 and the collection arm 16 are connected in an L-shape, so that the handler 3 and the supply unit 13 and the discharge unit 14 of the loader 2 do not interfere with each other, and the collection operation (sandwich) space of the collection arm 16 is provided. And a space for moving the handler 3 up and down efficiently. Furthermore, the position of the collection arm 16 that sandwiches the recorded cassette corresponds to the position of the defective product discharge conveyor 9 (see FIG. 1).
Corresponds to the position of the non-defective product discharge conveyor 8 when the handler 3 is moved. Therefore, the position control of the collection arm 16 in the collection / movement / separation / discharge of the cassette tape is performed in the direction in which the handler transport unit 4 is positioned (FIGS. 3A and 3B).
Direction), a common operation of sliding in one direction can be performed, and position control can be performed efficiently. Further, since the normal discharge of the recorded cassette tape is performed to the non-defective product discharge conveyor 8, the position of the collection arm 16 when the handler 3 is moved and the position of the collection arm 16 when the cassette tape is discharged to the non-defective product conveyor 8 are identical. Therefore, there is no useless movement of the collection arm 16.

When ejecting the recorded cassette tape from the collection arm 16, if there is a cassette tape being conveyed to the discharge conveyors 8, 9, the collection arm 17 and the cassette tape being conveyed interfere with each other, so that the handler conveyance is performed. Part 4
Operation is paused. Therefore, the discharging unit 7 is provided so that the recorded cassette tape can be discharged from the collection arm 17 even when there is a cassette tape being transported. The structure is shown in FIG. The collection arm 16 once discharges the recorded cassette tape to the inclined cassette stocker 27 of the discharge unit 7. At this time, the discharge arm 28 is in the horizontal direction, and the discharge roller 31 plays a role of holding the cassette. Next, the presence / absence of the cassette tape being transported on the discharge conveyors 8 and 9 is detected by the photoelectric switch 29, and when there is a cassette tape being transported, the discharge of the recorded cassette tape is stopped by the stopper 30. When the cassette being transported under the discharge arm 28 is exhausted, the discharge arm 28 is lowered by the discharge cylinder 37, and the cassette tape is discharged by its own weight by the discharge rollers 31 provided on the cassette stocker 27 and the discharge arm 28. With the above structure, the recorded cassette tape can be ejected from the collection arm 16 regardless of the presence or absence of the cassette tape being transported, and the handler transport section 4 can transport the handler 3 efficiently.

When the ejection of the recorded cassette tape from the collection arm 16 is completed, the handler 3 is again moved to the highest position by the handler transport section 4 and supplies the cassette tape for recording to the slave deck 1 by the same operation as described above. (When the recording cassette tape is supplied to the loader 2 by the supply arm 15 and the recorded cassette tape is not discharged to the loader discharge unit 14, the handler 3 is immediately moved to the highest position by the handler transport unit 4 immediately after the supply operation is completed. The slave cart repeats this operation, and supplies a cassette tape for recording to all the operable slave decks 1. In this way, when the supply of the recording cassette tape to all the operable slave decks 1 is completed, the slave decks 1 perform dubbing. This is one dubbing.

When one dubbing operation is completed, each slave deck 1 rewinds and reproduces the recorded cassette tape, performs a quality inspection, and determines a non-defective product or a defective product. In accordance with this determination result, the handler 3 operates the slave cart as described above, and the non-defective product is transferred to the non-defective product discharge conveyor 8, and
Defective products are separated and discharged to a defective product discharge conveyor 9.

Here, in this embodiment, the slave deck 1
If it is determined in the quality inspection of the above that the product is defective, the cleaning unit 10 provided in the cleaning cassette station 11 is supplied by the supply unit 6 according to the content of the defect (for example, in the case of a defect due to head clogging). Slave deck 1 with automatic failure
To supply. As a result, the recording condition of the slave deck 1 is restored. In this operation, first, a self-diagnosis result signal to supply the cleaning cassette 10 from the slave deck control device 32 shown in FIG. 1 is supplied to the slave cart. Then, the handler 3 is moved to the highest position by the handler transport unit 4, and the cleaning unit 10 is supplied to the supply arm 15 of the handler by the supply unit 6. Next, the handler 3 is moved to the position of the slave deck that has become defective by the handler transport unit 4, and the cleaning cassette 10 is supplied from the supply arm 15 to the supply unit 13 of the loader.
The slave deck automatically regenerates the cleaning cassette 10, performs cleaning, and discharges the cleaning cassette 10 to the loader discharge unit 14. The ejected cleaning cassette 10 is collected by the collection arm 16 and moved to the highest position by the handler transport unit 4, and the cleaning cassette station 1
Returned to 1. As a result, the recording state of the defective slave deck is restored. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the defect of the slave deck that can be recovered only by the head cleaning can be automatically solved without manual operation.

FIG. 7 shows an embodiment in which two slave carts having the same structure as the above-mentioned embodiment are provided in series. By providing two sets with the handler transport unit 4 interposed therebetween, the handler 3 can be shared and two slave carts can be similarly controlled, so that it is easy to use two sets. Furthermore, the vertically long slave carts can be adjacent to each other, and can be connected in two rows while maintaining space saving. By using two slave carts, the number of recording cassette tapes that can be supplied in one supply operation is doubled, and dubbing can be performed more efficiently. Of course, it is easy to connect more slave carts in the lateral direction. (In this case, the handler becomes longer in the horizontal direction.)

[0018]

As described above, the slave cart of the present invention is
Since the supply of the recording medium for recording to the slave deck and the collection of the recorded recording medium, the separation and discharge of non-defective / defective products of the recorded recording medium, and the supply and recovery of the cleaning medium are all automated, efficient dubbing can be performed. Further, according to the second aspect, the supply unit can be reduced in size and cost. According to the third aspect, the handler can be transported more efficiently.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an entire slave cart according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the operation of a supply unit according to one embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an operation of the handler according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of an operation of a supply arm according to one embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of the operation of the collection arm according to one embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the discharge unit according to one embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Slave deck 2 Loader 3 Handler 4 Handler transporting unit 5 Supply conveyor 6 Supply unit 7 Discharge unit 8 Good product discharge conveyor 9 Defective product discharge conveyor 10 Cleaning cassette 11 Cleaning cassette station 13 Supply unit 14 Discharge unit 15 Supply arm 16 Collection arm

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A master signal is recorded on a recording medium for recording.
And, after recording, a supply unit for supplying the recording medium for recording to a plurality of slave decks for reproducing the recorded recording medium and inspecting the recording quality, and a discharging unit for discharging the recorded recording medium. And a supply arm for supplying the recording medium for recording or the cleaning medium to a supply unit of the loader; and collecting the recorded recording medium or the cleaning medium from the discharge unit of the loader. A handler having a collection arm that separates and discharges the recorded recording medium into non-defective products and defective products based on the recording quality inspection result of the slave deck, and returns the collected cleaning medium to a cleaning medium station; and A handler transport unit for moving between the slave decks, and a A supply unit that supplies recording media one by one to a supply arm of the handler, or a supply unit that supplies the cleaning medium from the cleaning medium station to a supply arm of the handler; and a supply unit that is separately discharged from a collection arm of the handler. A slave cart, comprising: a discharge unit that discharges a non-defective product of a recorded recording medium to an external non-defective product transport line and discharges a defective product of the recorded recording medium to an external defective product transport line. 2. The slave cart according to claim 1, wherein the supply unit supplies the recording medium for recording and the cleaning medium to a supply arm of the handler by a common unit. 3. A stocker for temporarily stocking the recorded recording medium before discharging the recorded recording medium to the external non-defective product transport line or the external defective product transport line, and the recorded recording medium to the stocker. The slave cart according to claim 1, further comprising a discharge arm that performs holding and discharging.