JPH0373458A - Cassette changer for magnetic recording and playback equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention provides a method for automatically loading a tape cassette for dubbing into a magnetic recording/reproducing device such as a front-loading video tape recorder (hereinafter abbreviated as VTR). The invention relates to a cassette changer for exchanging, ejecting and inserting cassettes.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, as this type of cassette changer,
As shown in Publication No. 2-231454, VTR
A discharge passageway for sliding down processed cassettes that have been recorded or played back and discharged from the front cassette loading/unloading port, and a cassette insertion passageway for guiding unprocessed cassettes for recording or playback horizontally toward the cassette loading/unloading port. A separator rotatably provided at the intersection of the two passages, which intersects at the front of the cassette loading/unloading port, allows only one of the two passages to communicate with the cassette loading/unloading port, depending on whether the cassette is being ejected or inserted. A device in which the passage can be switched is known.

(Problem to be solved by the invention) However, according to the conventional cassette changer mentioned above,
In front of the separator (on the side opposite to the cassette loading/unloading port side; the same goes for the front-back direction of the cassette changer below), a space that can accommodate at least the processing vessel cassette is required, so the length of the entire changer in the front-back direction That is, the protrusion of the changer from the VTR becomes longer.

For this reason, especially when a large number of VTRs are lined up on both sides of an aisle to perform a large amount of dubbing, the cassette changer can greatly erode the passage's smoothness, making it difficult to perform dubbing operations, or the passageway width increases by the amount of erosion. As a result of expanding the VTR, problems such as a reduction in the installation space for the VTR have arisen.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, the present invention provides a cassette changer for a magnetic recording/reproducing device that can reduce the entire changer's longitudinal dimension to a minimum.

(Means for Solving !!a) The present invention is a cassette changer that is attached to the front of a magnetic recording/reproducing device provided with a cassette loading/unloading port, and is a cassette changer for recording or playing that is inserted into the cassette loading/unloading port. A pre-processing cassette storage section for accommodating unprocessed cassettes, and a processed cassette storage section for accommodating processed cassettes that have been recorded or played and discharged from the cassette loading/unloading port are provided below the unprocessed cassette storage section. At the same time, a switching plate has a cassette ejection position at the boundary between the two accommodating sections, in which only the processed cassette accommodating section faces the cassette loading/unloading port while supporting the cassette in the unprocessed cassette accommodating section, and a cassette ejecting position. The cassette inserting position ε is lowered by the weight of the unprocessed cassette, and only the unprocessed cassette accommodating part faces the cassette loading/unloading port. a spring means for applying a spring force toward the cassette, a switching plate locking means for locking the switching plate at the cassette ejection position at the stage of discharging the processed cassette and releasing the lock at the stage of inserting the unprocessed cassette, and a switching plate set at the cassette ejection position. a cassette ejecting means for feeding the processed cassette into the processed cassette accommodating part from the cassette inlet/outlet in a state where the processed cassette is in the cassette inlet/outlet; It comprises a feeding cassette insertion means, and a driving means for driving these cassette ejection means and cassette insertion means (II hydrophilic ring).

Further, the present invention provides a so-called multi-tier stacking type cassette changer in which cassettes are stacked and stored in a plurality of stages in a pre-release cassette housing section and are sequentially removed, in addition to the above-mentioned basic configuration. A cassette support means is provided that enters below the second stage cassette to support the second and higher cassettes during the cassette insertion stage, and detaches from below the second stage cassette during the cassette ejection stage. Ring 2).

Further, in the present invention, the cassette insertion means is composed of a pair of left and right sliders that move while pressing the cassette from both the left and right sides of the front surface, and the means for driving both sliders is fixed in the front and back direction on both the left and right sides of the pre-processing cassette storage section. a rack gear, a pinion gear attached to both the sliders in mesh with the rack gear, a drive motor, a transmission mechanism that transmits the rotational force of the drive motor to either one of the two pinion gears, and a transmission mechanism that connects the two pinion gears to each other. It is composed of interlocking shafts that are integrally rotatably connected (If
hydrophilic ring).

Further, the present invention provides the above-mentioned multi-tiered cassette changer, in which the cassette insertion means comprises a pair of left and right sliders that move while pressing the cassette from both the left and right sides of the front surface, and the slider is arranged so that the sliders double as cassette support means. The top surface height is set to be equal to or higher than the top surface height of the switching plate at the cassette discharge position (M water ring 4).

Furthermore, the present invention provides that the switching plate locking means includes a protrusion extending from the end of the switching plate on the rotation fulcrum side, a locking position where the switching plate comes into contact with the protrusion from above, and an unlocking position where the switching plate is removed from the protrusion. It consists of a locking member that slides between the two positions, and a locking member driving mechanism that moves the locking member between the above-mentioned repositioning positions (I91 Claim 5).

Further, the present invention provides a locking position in which the switching plate is supported from below at a position facing the end opposite to the rotational fulcrum of the switching plate, and a locking position in which the switching plate is released from the same end. The locking member includes a locking member that moves between the two positions, and a locking member driving mechanism that moves the locking member between the repositioning positions.

[Function] According to the structure of claim 1, unlocking of the switching plate → lowering of the cutting plate (lowering of the processing cassette) → insertion of the cassette → raising and locking of the cutting plate (holding the cassette before the next process!l) → lI! lJI
The cassette is replaced using the procedure for ejecting a used cassette. That is, since the pre-processing cassette accommodating section is provided above the switching plate with the switching plate as a movable bottom wall, compared to a conventional cassette changer in which the pre-processing cassette accommodating section is provided in front of the switching plate. , the size of the entire changer in the front-back direction can be reduced by this accommodation portion.

Further, according to the structure of claim 2, the switching plate is unlocked→
The cassette replacement operation is performed by following the steps of lowering the cutting board → inserting the first cassette while supporting the unprocessed cassettes from the second stage and above → locking the cutting board up and waiting for the second and above cassettes → ejecting the processed cassette. It is done. That is, although the cassettes have a compact structure with small dimensions in the longitudinal direction, smooth cassette exchange operations can be performed even when a so-called multi-tiered stacking method is used.

On the other hand, according to the structure of claim 3, since the pre-processing cassette is pushed from the front side by the pair of left and right sliders and pushed into the cassette loading/unloading opening, it is possible to prevent slips and the like compared to the case where the cassette is placed on a belt conveyor and inserted. There is very little risk of trouble occurring, and the reliability of the cassette insertion operation is high.

Furthermore, since both sliders are driven by meshing rack gears and pinion gears, and both sliders are interlocked by an interlocking shaft, synchronization of both sliders can be ensured even if trouble such as slipping occurs in the transmission mechanism. Therefore,
There is less risk of synchronization loss (phase shift) between both sliders, which would occur when both sliders are driven separately and by transfer rollers. Therefore, post-processing such as recovery when the above-mentioned trouble occurs becomes easy.

Further, according to the structure of claim 4 in which both the sliders are used as cassette supporting means, the structure is more efficient than when the same means are provided separately. Moreover, the slider enters below the second cassette during the cassette insertion stage and leaves from below the second cassette during the cassette ejection stage.
Switching of support for cassettes in stages and above is reliably carried out smoothly.

On the other hand, with the structure of claim 5.6, the switching plate can be reliably locked at the cassette ejection position.

Furthermore, according to the structure of claim 6, since the switching plate is locked in the cassette ejection position on the free end side of the switching plate, the load supporting capacity of the switching plate is high, especially in the case of a multi-stage stacking method. The cassette can be stably supported on the switching plate.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIRST EMBODIMENT (See FIGS. 1 to 8) In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a front-loading VTR having a cassette slot 1a on the front.
Cassette loading/unloading slot 1a1. As is well known, the inserted cassette is sent to the recording/reproducing position by the zeroing mechanism inside the VTR, and after processing is automatically ejected to the cassette loading/unloading port 1a.

Reference numeral 2 denotes a cassette changer mounted on the front surface of the VTR 1. The cassette changer 2 ejects the cassette ejected into the cassette inlet/outlet 1a from the VTR, and sends a new cassette into the cassette inlet/outlet 1a.

The main body 3 of this cassette changer 2 has 1 on both left and right sides!
4.4, an upper frame 5 provided between the upper rear ends of both side walls 4.4, a lower frame 6 provided between the lower parts thereof, and a front frame 7 provided between the middle portions of the front ends thereof. Hooks 5a provided at both left and right ends of the upper frame 5 are fixed to bins ibl and -i provided on the upper surface of the front end of the VTR 1, so that the main body 3 is
It is attached to the front of the TR.

This main body 3 is provided with a guide frame 8 at the front upper part.
A physical cassette storage section S1 is formed surrounded by the guide frame 8, the weight 4.4 on both left and right sides, and the upper frame 5, and
A processed cassette storage section S2 is formed below this unprocessed cassette storage section S1, and a processed cassette storage section S2 is formed in which processed cassettes discharged from the cassette loading/unloading port 1a are accommodated, and a switch is made at the boundary between the re-accommodation sections S1 and 32. Even if board 9 is provided.

The guide frame 8 is provided with a cassette support surface 5atfi that supports the front end of the cassette and slopes downward toward the rear. The processed cassette storage section S2 also includes cassette receivers 10 and 10 that support processed cassettes on both left and right sides.
is provided, and cassette stoppers 10a and lQa are provided at the front end of this cassette holder.

The switching plate 9 is pivoted via a horizontal shaft 9b to a hinge portion 9a and a 9atfi front frame 7, which project forward on both left and right sides of the front end, and is rotated by the imaginary line in FIG. 2, a horizontal cassette insertion position in which the processed cassette storage section S2 is closed and only the unprocessed cassette storage section S1 faces the cassette loading/unloading port 1a;
, 4, etc., the unprocessed cassette accommodating section S1 is closed and only the processed cassette accommodating section S2 is exposed to the cassette loading/unloading port 1a. That is, by this switching plate 9, the re-accommodating section 8
1.82 switching is performed, and when a cassette is ejected, the processed cassette accommodating part S2 is used, and when a cassette is inserted, the unprocessed cassette accommodating part S1 is used as the cassette loading/unloading port 1a.
will be communicated to.

A first guide groove is provided in both the left and right weight walls 4, 4 over almost the entire length in the front and rear direction at a height position facing the pre-processing cassette storage section S1. A weight is provided, and this first guide has a full weight.
In weight, slider 13.13 as cassette insertion means
are engaged so as to be slidable in the front and rear directions. Also, the guide is full weight. A window hole 12°12 is provided at one end of the weight to communicate the inside and outside of the side wall, and in this window hole 12.12 part,
A pair of left and right ejecting rows 51 as cassette ejecting means
4.14 is rotatably arranged around a longitudinal axis 15.15.

The details of the mounting structure and driving means for these slider 13 and take-out roller 14 will be explained next.

(I) Slider 13 As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, the slider 13 includes a guide portion 13a that moves back and forth within the first guide groove weight, and a push claw 13b that presses the unprocessed cassette from the front side. They must be connected together with screws, etc.

This slider 13 has a protrusion 13 at the bottom of the push claw 13b.
C is provided, and the convex portions 13C of the slider 13.13 on both sides,
13c are connected to each other by an interlocking shaft 16 so as to move together.

Both ends of the interlocking shaft 16 pass through second guide grooves 17.17 provided in the front-rear direction in the left and right side walls 4.4 below the full weight of the first guide and are led out to the outside. Pinion gears 18, 18 are fixed to both ends of this interlocking shaft 16, and these pinion gears is, is
However, along the second guide groove 18.18, both left and right walls 4.
It meshes with a rack gear 19.19 fixed to the outer surface of 4.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6, on the outer surface of one wall 4, there is a link 20 that can be bent in a center-folding manner, and a horizontal shaft 20a on the rear end side.
The free end of the link 20 is attached to one end of the interlocking shaft 16.

A driven pulley 21 is attached to the free end of this link 20 in line with the pinion gear 18, a drive pulley 22 is attached to the fulcrum part, and an intermediate pulley 23 is attached to the middle part (center bending point).
are provided respectively, a drive pulley 22 and an intermediate pulley 23
A first belt (timing belt, the same applies to belts hereinafter) 24 is passed between the intermediate pulley 23 and the driven pulley 21, and a second belt 25 is passed between the intermediate pulley 23 and the driven pulley 21.

As shown in FIG. 7, the drive pulley 22 is operatively connected to a drive motor 26 provided at the front lower part of the main body 3 (below the lower frame 6) via a worm gear mechanism 27 and a belt transmission reduction mechanism 28. The rotational force of the drive motor 26 is decelerated and transmitted to one pinion gear 18 through the drive pulley 22, intermediate pulley 23, and driven pulley 21.

Therefore, this pinion gear 18 rotates while meshing with the rack gear 19, that is, moves in the front-rear direction, and the moving force of one pinion gear 18 is transmitted to the other pinion gear 18 via the interlocking shaft 16, so that both side sliders 13 .13 moves back and forth in the same rotation.

Note that the sliders 13.13 on both sides also serve as cassette support means for supporting cassettes in the second and higher stages during the cassette insertion stage, as will be described later. It is set to be the same as or slightly higher than the top surface height at the position.

(■) As shown in FIGS. 5 and 8 of the take-out roller, the weight of the first guide groove on the outer surface of the left and right side walls 4.4. The same weight at the height position facing the weight 1. Roller support arm 29.2 parallel to the weight
9 is provided. This roller support arm 29.29
The front end portions of the two are each pivotally connected to the front end portion of the side wall via a vertical shaft 30, and are capable of swinging in the left-right direction about the vertical shaft 30. The rear end of both roller support arms 29, 29 is connected to a window hole 1 provided at the front end of the first guide groove weight.
2.12, there is a take-out roller 14 at the rear end of this arm.
．． 14 is rotatably mounted about a longitudinal axis 15.15.

In this way, both take-out rollers 14. ．． 14 is arm 29
．． 29, the window hole 12 is opened as shown by the solid line in FIG.
．． 12 to the inside of the side wall (hereinafter, this position will be referred to as the protruding position) and a position where it will retreat to the outside of the side wall as shown by the same imaginary line (hereinafter, this position will be referred to as the retracted position). It looks like this.

Further, a tension coil spring (hereinafter referred to as a roller spring) 31 is stretched between the vertical shafts 15615 of both the take-out rollers 14, 14, and this roller spring 31 causes both the take-out rollers 1
4 and 14 are held at the above-mentioned protruding position.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG.
A pulley 32.3 is attached to the vertical axis 15, which is the center of rotation of 4.
3 is firmly fixed, and a roller belt 34 is stretched between both pulleys 32 and 33. The guide portion 13a of the slider 13 is attached to the roller belt 34 by a stopper 35.
The sliders 13 and 13 are fixed to each other by screws or the like, so that the moving force of the sliders 13 and 13 on both sides is transmitted to the take-out rollers 14 and 14 as rotational force.

In addition, in FIGS. 5 and 8, 36.36 is an idler boot that guides the roller belt 34 on the take-out roller 14.14 side.

Further, in the state shown by the solid line in FIG. 3 where the slider 13.13 is located at the rear end of the weight of the first guide fiIL, the rear end of the roller support arm 29.29 is pushed outward by the slider 13.13. , the take-out rollers 14, 14 are set to the retracted position as indicated by the imaginary line in FIG. 8, and the slider 13.
When the guide groove 13 moves forward, it returns to the protruding position by the spring force of the roller spring 31.

On the other hand, projecting pieces 37, 37 are integrally provided on the left and right hinge parts 9a, 9a of the switching plate 9, and lock members 3 are provided on both left and right sides of the front frame 7 facing the projecting pieces 37, 37.
8.38 is provided so as to be movable back and forth within a certain range. In addition, these projecting pieces 37.37 and locking members 38.38
A tension coil spring 39.39 is provided between the lock member 38.
38 is applied with a spring force in the direction toward the projecting piece 37.37.

With the switching plate 9 set at the cassette ejection position, the locking members 38 on both sides are pulled rearward by the spring force and come into contact with the projections 37 of the switching plate 9 from above, as shown by solid lines in FIG. come into contact with This prevents the upward rotation of the protruding piece 37 (the switching plate 9 is locked at the cassette ejection position).

Further, this locking member 38 is pushed forward by the interlocking shaft 16 and disengaged from the protrusion 37 when the slider 13° 13 reaches the front limit position shown by the imaginary line in FIG. is canceled.

Next, the operation of this cassette changer will be explained.

B. Before starting the operation, the cassette insertion switching plate 9 is at the cassette ejection position as shown by the solid line in FIG. Further, since the locking member 38 is in the locking position in which it abuts the protrusion 37 of the switching plate 9 from above, the switching plate 9 is locked in the cassette ejection position, and the recording or reproducing process is placed on the switching plate 9. The front cassette is supported in a horizontal state and is housed in the unprocessed cassette housing section S1.

In the figure, three cassettes C1, C2, and C3 are set.
The case of a stacked state is illustrated. Hereinafter, the lower cassette C1 will be referred to as a first cassette, the middle cassette C2 will be referred to as a second cassette, and the upper cassette C3 will be referred to as a third cassette.

In this state, when a start signal is input to the ti control section (not shown) by a switch operation or the like, the slider 13 moves to the front limit position as shown by the imaginary line in FIG.
8 to the unlocked position, the switching plate 9 moves the cassette til with the cassettes (, +, C2, and C3 placed thereon).
1 and is automatically set at the cassette insertion position.

The movement of the switching plate 9 to the cassette insertion position is detected by a sensor (not shown), and based on this detection signal, the drive motor 26 rotates forward and the slider 13 starts moving backward, and the slider 13 moves the first cassette to the first cassette insertion position. C1 is pressed from the front and moves backward on the switching plate 9.

At the beginning of the backward movement of the first cassette C1 by the slider 13, the front end of the second cassette C2 is attached to the cassette support surface 8a of the guide frame 8, and the rear end is attached to the first cassette support surface 8a, as shown by the solid line in FIG.
They are respectively supported on the upper surface of the cassette C1. After the middle period of movement of the first cassette C2, the slider 13 moves toward the second cassette C2, as shown in the imaginary line in FIG. 2 and in FIG.
In order to enter the lower surface of the second cassette C2, the second cassette C2 is supported in a slightly raised state by the slider 13 and the cassette support surface 8a.

Furthermore, when the cassette is inserted, the moving force of the slider 13 is transmitted to the take-out roller 14, and the roller 14 rotates in the same direction as the cassette moving direction. The first
The cassette C1 is drawn into the cassette loading/unloading port 1a. That is, the take-out roller 14 also serves as a cassette insertion means when inserting a cassette. Therefore, the slider 13 moves backward to follow the first cassette C1 while the take-out roller 14 is pulling in the cassette, and the roller support arm 29 is pushed outward by the slider 13 so that the take-out roller 14 moves backward. The cassette C1 is pushed into the TR1 from the time it is moved to the retracted position indicated by the imaginary line in Figure 8.

Further, when the first cassette C1 is pushed by the slider 13.13 and removed from the switching plate 9, the switching plate 9 automatically returns to the cassette ejection position by the spring force of the lock spring 39, as shown in FIG. It is locked in the same position by the locking member 38.

After this insertion is completed, the motor 26 reverses and the slider 13 moves backward based on the signal from the sensor that detects that the slider 13 has reached the rear limit position (L), and the signal from the sensor that detects the backward movement of the slider 13 This causes the motor 26 to stop rotating in reverse. As a result, the slider 13 moves forward a little beyond the rear limit position, as shown by the imaginary line in FIG. 3, and is set to a standby position where it does not hit the cassette to be ejected.

When the recording or reproduction of the first cassette C1 is completed and the first cassette C1 is ejected to the cassette loading/unloading port 1a, the motor 26 is reversely rotated based on the signal from the sensor that detects this. As a result, the both-side ejector O-ra 14.14 rotates in the cassette ejection direction, and at the same time the slider 13.1
3 moves along the ship channel.

Before the slider 13.13 moves forward, the take-out rollers 14, 14 are in the retracted position shown by imaginary lines in FIG. It moves to the protruding position shown by the solid line in the figure and presses against both sides of the front end of the cassette C1. This take-out roller 1
4 and 14, the first cassette C1 is pulled out from the cassette loading/unloading port 1a and slid down, as shown in FIG. 4, and is stored in the processed cassette storage section S2.

On the other hand, the slider 13.13 simply moves forward and returns to its original position when the cassette is ejected. and.

As the slider 13.13 moves forward nWA, the rear part of the second cassette C2 is no longer supported by the slider 13.13 and is instead supported by the switching plate 9.

From then on, the above operation is automatically repeated and the second cassette C
The cassette operation is performed as follows: 2 insertion → recording or playback → ejection → third cassette insertion.

In the above explanation, the case where the cassettes are stacked in three stages is taken as an example, but if the upper space can be secured, a guide frame can be provided above the pre-processing cassette storage section S1 and the cassettes can be stacked in four or more stages. The processing may be performed sequentially.

Alternatively, each cassette can be stored in the pre-processing cassette storage section S.
1 may be supplied.

This cassette change t-2 is operated by the switching plate 9 as described above.
An unprocessed cassette storage section S1 is provided above and a processed cassette storage section $2 is provided below, and the switching plate 9 is rotated between a cassette insertion position and a cassette ejection position to insert and eject the cassette. Therefore, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 62-2314
Separator (switching plate) as shown in the 54 bow publication
Compared to a conventional cassette changer in which a storage section for unprocessed cassettes is provided in front of the cassette changer, the longitudinal dimension of the entire changer can be reduced by this storage section.

Further, since the second and higher cassettes are supported by the sliders 13, 13 and secured at the upper position during the cassette insertion stage, it is possible to fully cope with the case where a multi-stage stacking method is used. Moreover, at the beginning of the cassette insertion stage, the second and higher cassettes are supported by the cassette being inserted, and after the middle stage, the support is switched to the slider 13. And it is carried out smoothly without any timing errors.

Furthermore, since the slider 13.13 as the cassette insertion means is also used as the cassette support means, the structure is simpler than when a dedicated cassette support tev is provided separately.

On the other hand, the above configuration in which the cassette is inserted by pushing the left and right sides of the front surface of the cassette with the slider 13.13 is compared to, for example, a means of inserting the cassette by rotating a horizontal arm or a means of inserting the cassette by placing it on a belt conveyor. As a result, the structure is simple, the cassette can be moved over a large stroke, and there is no risk of slipping, so the cassette insertion operation is highly reliable.

Furthermore, since the sliders 13, 13 on both sides are driven by the meshing of the pinion gear 18 and the rack gear 19, there is no risk of slipping occurring, for example, as in the case where both sliders 13.13 are driven in a shifting row manner. Moreover, since the pinion gears 18.18 on both sides are connected by the interlocking shaft 16 and both sliders 13.13 are moved synchronously, the rotational force of the motor 26 is transferred to one pinion gear 18.
Even if a slip occurs in the belt transmission #l (the first and second belts 24.25 and each boot 921.22.23 in FIG. 6), the effect will be on the pinion gears 18.
Spreads equally to 18. However, both pinion gears is, i
s is divided into separate drive systems, slipping occurs in one drive system, and both sliders 1
3. No synchronicity collapse (phase shift) in which only the - side of 13 is in the lead does not occur. Therefore, even when the above-mentioned trouble occurs, both sliders 13, 13 are kept at the same position, which simplifies the recovery process.

Second embodiment (see Figure 9) Only the differences from the first example M will be explained.

At the free end of the switching plate 9, a pair of left and right protrusions (only one side is shown in the figure) 40 is provided in the middle part in the left-right direction, and a lock bin 41 is provided horizontally between the two protrusions. -, slide the lock bin 4 weight back and forth into the middle part of the upper frame 5 in the left and right direction. : A lock member 42 of a locking type that engages and disengages, and an electromagnet 43 that makes the lock member 42 move by weight tllQ from the lock bin 41 are provided, and this Nf
A tension coil spring 44 is provided between the case (fixed part) of the aE43 and the lock member 42, which applies a spring force to the lock member 42 in the direction of engagement with the lock bin 41.

The solid line in FIG. 9 shows a state in which the lock member 42 engages with the lock bin 41 and locks the switching plate 9 at the cassette ejection position. When the weight magnet 43 is energized from this state when inserting the cassette, the lock member 42 moves in the direction of the imaginary line arrow in FIG. 9 due to the operation of the electromagnet 43, and the lock is released. After the switching plate 9 is lowered as shown by the imaginary line due to this unlocking, the energization of the II electromagnet 43 is cut off, and the locking member 42 is returned to its original locking position by the spring 44. After inserting the cassette, when the switching plate 9 returns to the cassette ejection position, the lock bin 41 hits the inclined surface 42a of the locking member 42 and once pushes the member 42 back to the unlocked position, then the locking pin 41 automatically returns to the cassette ejection position as shown in FIG. Return to locked state.

If the switching plate 9 is supported on the M end side in this way, the load supporting capacity of the switching plate 9 will be increased, which is particularly advantageous when using a multi-tiered stacking system.

Note that this configuration in which the locking member is slid between the locking position and the unlocking position using an electromagnet can also be applied when the switching plate locking means is provided on the rotation fulcrum side of the switching plate 9 as in the basic embodiment. can do.

Third Embodiment (See Figure 10) In the third embodiment, when the switching plate locking means is provided on the free end side of the switching plate 9, the driving force of the slider 13 is used to lock the locking member to the locked position. It is configured to move between the release position and the release position.

Similarly to the second embodiment, the lock bin 45 is horizontally attached to the upper surface of the free end of the switching plate 9 via the pair of left and right protrusions 46, 46, and the left and right sides of the main body upper frame (not shown here) are A latch-type lock member 47 that slides in the front-rear direction to engage with and disengage from the lock bin 45 is provided at the intermediate portion in the direction. 48. 48 is a slide guide plate of this locking member 47, and 49 is an O-tsuku spring that holds the locking member 47 in the locked position.

An operating shaft 50 is provided protruding from the upper surface of the locking member 47, and the operating shaft 50 is moved rearward (Fig.
1) to move the locking member 47 to the unlocked position.

The lock release lever 51 is provided horizontally on the upper frame of the main body in a horizontal state with an intermediate portion pivoted by a vertical shaft 52, and one end portion is locked in front of the operating shaft 50.

The other end of this lever 51 is connected to a rear end bent portion 53a of an operating rod 53, which is provided on the outer surface of a main body steel wall (not shown here) so as to be slidable in the front and back direction. The bent portion 53b faces the front of the guide portion 13a of the slider 13. Reference numeral 13a1 denotes an operating rod pushing piece provided integrally with this guide portion 13a, and 54 represents an operating rod return spring that pulls the operating rod 53 rearward.

FIG. 10 shows a state in which the lock member 47 is engaged with the lock bin 45 from below to lock the switching plate 9 at the cassette ejection position.

From this state, when the slider 13 moves to the front limit position when inserting the cassette, each part operates in the direction of the arrow in the figure.

That is, the operating rod 53 is connected to the guide portion 13a of the slider 13.
Because it is pushed forward by the operating lever pushing piece 13a1,
The lock release lever 51 rotates clockwise in the figure and pushes the lock member 47 backward with one end thereof. As a result, the lock member 47 locks into the lock bin 4 as shown by the imaginary line in the figure.
5 and the switching plate 9 is unlocked.

In this state, the switching plate 9 is lowered by the cassette III, and when the slider 13 performs the cassette insertion operation and the switching plate 9 automatically returns to the cassette ejection position, the lock bin 45 is automatically attached to the locking member 47 by the latch action. engage and return to locked state.

According to this configuration, the advantage of the first embodiment is that the operation is highly reliable because no electromagnet is used, and the second advantage is that the load supporting capacity of the switching plate 9 is high because the switching plate 9 is supported on the free end side.
This embodiment combines the advantages of both embodiments.

Fourth Embodiment (Refer to the weight diagram and FIG. 12) In the fourth embodiment, the transmission weight 1Jgl structure that transmits the rotational force of the drive motor to one pinion gear and the structure of the slider 13 are different from those of the first embodiment. It's set.

To explain only the differences from the first embodiment, on the outer surface of one main body side g14, a drive pulley 55 driven by a motor (not shown here) is provided at the lower part, and
Driven pulleys 56 and 5 are located in front and behind the second guide groove 17.
7 is provided. Then, an endless belt (timing belt) 58 is passed over each of these pulleys 55, 56, 57 so as to surround the second guide groove 17, and the second guide groove 17 in this belt 58 is passed. A guide portion 13a of the slider 13 is fixed to a portion parallel to the slider 13. , 59 are tension blocks.

Therefore, in this configuration, the rotational force of the belt 58 is
In the actual droplet example, one pinion gear 18→- slider 1
3, while the other slider 1
3 → is transmitted through the path of one pinion gear 18. Note that in the case of the first embodiment, the rotational force of one pinion gear 18 is transmitted to the other pinion gear via the interlock @ 16, so that the left and right sliders (one not shown) 13 move back and forth in synchronization. is the same as

According to this configuration, in order to transmit the motor driving force to the slider 13 (pinion gear 18) by the belt 58, two belts (24, 25: the seventh
(see figure), the width of the belt 58 can be made larger.

This increases belt strength and reduces the risk of elongation and breakage.

Further, as shown in FIG. 12, a pair of front and rear horizontal rollers (one side not shown) that rotates around a horizontal axis 60 within the first guide weight 1 are attached to the guide portion 13a of the slider 13.
61, and a pair of upper and lower vertical rollers 63, 63 that rotate around a vertical axis 62, 62 along the outer surface of the weight 4.

In this way, the horizontal roller 61 keeps the slider 13 horizontal while reducing its sliding resistance, and the vertical roller 61
3.63, the slider 13 is connected to the roller support arm 29
The contact pressure with the outer surface of II when it is pushed outward is alleviated.

Other Embodiments (a) In the invention of It hydrophilic ring or 2, as the cassette insertion means, for example, a plurality of pairs of rollers are provided on both left and right sides of the pre-processing cassette storage section S1, and a means for inserting the cassette using these rollers is used. You can.

(b) As the cassette ejecting means, in addition to the ejecting rollers 14, 14 shown in the above embodiments, it is also possible to use, for example, means for moving back and forth a chuck member that grips the cassette from both left and right sides.

But that's fine.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, according to the present invention, the unprocessed cassette storage section is provided above the switching plate, and the processed cassette storage section is provided below, and the switching plate is placed between the cassette insertion position and the cassette ejection position. Since the cassettes are inserted and ejected by rotating the switch plate, compared to a conventional cassette changer that has a pre-processing cassette storage section in front of the switching plate, the longitudinal dimension of the entire changer has been reduced by this storage section. Can be reduced.

Therefore, the protrusion dimension of the changer in front of the VTR becomes smaller, which makes it possible to minimize the width of the passageway eroded by the cassette changer, especially when a large number of VTRs are lined up on both sides of the passageway and a large amount of dubbing is performed. can. Therefore, the dubbing operation can be performed without any problem even if the current path remains as it is.

Further, according to the invention of claim 2, the switching plate is unlocked→
Cassette replacement is performed by following the steps of lowering the cutting board → inserting the first cassette while supporting unprocessed cassettes from the second stage and above → locking the cutting board up and waiting for cassettes from the second stage and above → ejecting the processed cassette. It will be done. That is, although the cassettes have a compact structure with small dimensions in the longitudinal direction, smooth cassette exchange operations can be performed even when a so-called multi-tiered stacking system is used.

On the other hand, according to the invention of claim 3, since the unprocessed cassette is pressed from the front side by the pair of left and right sliders and pushed into the cassette loading/unloading opening, slips and the like are more likely to occur compared to the case where the unprocessed cassette is inserted on a belt conveyor. There is very little risk of trouble occurring, and the reliability of the cassette insertion operation is high.

Further, since both sliders are driven by meshing rack gears and pinion gears, and both sliders are interlocked by an interlocking shaft, the opening of both sliders can be maintained even if trouble such as slipping occurs in the transmission mechanism. Therefore,
There is less possibility that the two sliders will fall out of alignment (phase shift) as would be the case when both sliders are driven separately and by transfer rollers. Therefore, post-processing such as recovery when trouble occurs becomes easy.

Further, according to the invention of claim 4, in which both the sliders are used also as cassette support means, the structure is reduced to P! ! It's simple. Moreover, the slider
At the cassette insertion stage, it enters below the second stage cassette,
In the cassette ejection stage, the cassette is removed from below, so that the support for the second and higher cassettes can be reliably and smoothly switched.

On the other hand, according to the inventions of claims 5 and 6, the switching plate can be reliably locked at the cassette ejection position.

Furthermore, according to the invention as claimed in claim 6, since the switching plate is locked at the cassette ejection position on the free end side of the switching plate, the load supporting capacity of the switching plate is high, especially in the case of a multi-stage stacking method. The cassette can be stably supported on the switching plate.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 shows the state of the cassette changer according to the first embodiment of the present invention before starting the cassette insertion operation, FIG. 2 shows the cassette being inserted, FIG. 3 shows the end stage, and FIG. 4 shows the cassette ejecting stage. The longitudinal side view shown in each figure, Fig. 5 is Fig. 1 V-
6 is a partially cross-sectional side view of the cassette changer, FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line ■-■ in FIG. Fig. 9 is a view corresponding to Fig. 1 showing the second embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 10 is a perspective view showing the third embodiment of the present invention, and the weight diagram shows the third embodiment of the present invention. Side view,
FIG. 12 is an enlarged sectional view of the same part. 1...VTR weight a...Cassette loading/unloading port, C1
C2, C3...cassette, Sl...unprocessed cassette storage section, Sl...processed cassette storage section, 9...
Switching plate, 39... Spring that applies spring force to the switching plate toward the cassette ejection position, 13.13... Slider serving as cassette insertion means and cassette supporting means, 13a...
・Guide part of the slider, 13b...Press claw, 14
．． 14... Take-out O-ra as cassette take-out means, 18... Pinion gear that drives the slider, 19.
...Same rack gear, 21, 22.23...Same pulley,
24.25... The same belt, 16... Interlocking shaft that connects the sliders on both sides, 32.33... Pulley of the belt transmission mechanism that extracts the moving force of the slider and transmits it to the row, 34.
...The same belt, 37...Protruding piece of the switching plate constituting the switching plate locking means for locking the switching plate on the rotation fulcrum side, 38.
. . . the same locking member, 41 . . . a lock bin constituting a switching plate locking means for locking the switching plate at the free end sm, 42.
. . . Lock member, 43 . . . N weight stone constituting the lock member drive mechanism, 44 . . . Tension coil spring, 4
5...A lock bin constituting another switching plate locking means,
47... Lock member, 49... Spring constituting the lock member drive mechanism, 51... Lock release lever 5
3... Same operating rod, 54... Operating lever return spring, 13
a1... Pushing piece of the guide portion of the slider that operates the operating rod, 55... Drive pulley that drives the slider, 56.
57... Same driven boot Ki-no, 58... Same belt.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A cassette changer that is attached to the front of a magnetic recording and reproducing device provided with a cassette loading/unloading port, which accommodates unprocessed cassettes for recording or playback that are inserted into the cassette loading/unloading port. An unprocessed cassette storage section and a processed cassette storage section below the unprocessed cassette storage section that stores recorded or played processed cassettes discharged from the cassette loading/unloading port are provided, and both of these storage sections At the boundary part of The switching plate is provided so as to be rotatable between a cassette insertion position and a cassette insertion position in which only the unprocessed cassette accommodating portion is lowered by the cassette opening and exposed to the cassette loading/unloading port, and a spring force is applied to this switching plate toward the cassette ejection position. a spring means; a switching plate locking means for locking the switching plate at the cassette ejection position during the processed cassette ejection stage and releasing the lock during the unprocessed cassette insertion stage; cassette ejecting means for feeding the unprocessed cassette from the unprocessed cassette accommodating part into the processed cassette accommodating part from the cassette inlet/outlet; A cassette changer for a magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus, comprising a cassette ejecting means and a driving means for driving a cassette inserting means. 2. A cassette changer that is installed on the front side of a magnetic recording/reproducing device provided with a cassette loading/unloading port, and a pre-processing cassette accommodating portion for accommodating a pre-processing cassette for recording or reproduction to be inserted into the cassette loading/unloading port; A processed cassette storage section is provided below the unprocessed cassette storage section for storing recorded or played processed cassettes discharged from the cassette loading/unloading port, and a switch is provided at the boundary between these two storage sections. A cassette ejecting position where only the processed cassette accommodating section faces the cassette loading/unloading port while supporting the cassettes stacked in multiple stages in the unprocessed cassette accommodating section, and a cassette ejecting position where the plate supports the cassettes stacked in multiple stages and stored in the unprocessed cassette accommodating section; The switching plate is provided so as to be rotatable between a cassette insertion position that lowers due to the weight of the cassette and exposes only the unprocessed cassette accommodating portion to the cassette loading/unloading port, and a spring force is applied to this switching plate to direct the switching plate toward the cassette ejection position. a switching plate locking means that locks the switching plate in the cassette ejection position at the stage of discharging the processed cassette and releases the lock at the stage of inserting the unprocessed cassette; A cassette ejecting means for feeding the processed cassette into the processed cassette storage unit from the cassette loading/unloading port, and feeding the lowest unprocessed cassette in the unprocessed cassette storage unit to the cassette loading/unloading port with the switching plate set at the cassette insertion position. a cassette inserting means, a means for driving the cassette ejecting means and the cassette inserting means, and a means for moving the cassette inserting means below the second stage cassette to support the second and higher cassettes during the cassette insertion stage; A cassette changer for a magnetic recording/reproducing device, comprising: a cassette support means detached from below a second stage cassette. 3. The cassette insertion means consists of a pair of left and right sliders that move while pressing the cassette from both left and right sides of the front surface, and means for driving both sliders are fixed in the front and back direction on both left and right sides of the pre-processing cassette storage section. A rack gear, a pinion gear attached to both sliders in mesh with the rack gear, a drive motor, a transmission mechanism that transmits the rotational force of the drive motor to either one of the pinion gears, and both pinion gears are rotated together. Claim 1 characterized in that it is constituted by interlocking shafts that can be connected together.
or a cassette changer for a magnetic recording/reproducing device according to item 2. 4. The cassette insertion means consists of a pair of left and right sliders that move while pressing the cassette from both the left and right sides of the front surface, and the height of the top surface of the slider is set at the cassette ejection position of the switching plate so that both sliders also serve as cassette support means. 3. The cassette changer for a magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the cassette changer is set to be equal to or higher than the top surface height. 5. The switching plate locking means is located between a protrusion extending from the end of the switching plate on the rotation fulcrum side, a locking position in which it abuts this protrusion from above, and an unlocking position in which it comes off from the protrusion. 5. A cassette changer for a magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a lock member that slides and a lock member drive mechanism that moves the lock member between the two positions. 6. The switching plate locking means moves between a locking position where the switching plate faces the end opposite to the rotational fulcrum and supports the end from below, and an unlocking position where the switching plate is removed from the end. A cassette changer for a magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising a locking member and a locking member driving mechanism for moving the locking member between the two positions.