JPH0429151B2 - - Google Patents

Description

Claim 1: An apparatus for loading a tape for use into a cassette located at a selected loading position, each comprising first and second rotatable hubs and a leader coupled to and extending between the hubs. a cassette storage magazine for storing cassettes to be loaded with tapes; a device for feeding C-0 type cassettes one at a time from said magazine to said loading position; a cassette handling mechanism comprising a device for holding the cassette in the loading position and ejecting the cassette from the loading position after the cassette has been loaded with tape; a carriage comprising first and second rotatable and parallel spindles spaced from each other so as to be engageable at the same time and adapted to rotate the engaged hubs therewith; an assembly; a first motor device that drives the first spindle in a rotational direction selected by a command; and a second motor device that drives the second spindle in a selected rotational direction; coupling the spindle of the first motor device to the first motor device, the first motor device being released when the first motor device is deenergized so that the first spindle can freely rotate when the first motor device is deenergized; a first position in which the spindle is spaced from a cassette located in the selected loading position; and a first position in which the spindle engages a hub of a cassette located in the selected loading position; a device for supporting said carriage for movement between said first and second positions; and a device for moving said carriage from one of said first and second positions to the other on command. A device featuring:

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said clutch is an electromagnetic clutch and is engaged only when said first motor is energized.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means for simultaneously energizing said first motor arrangement to engage said clutch.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means for energizing the second motor arrangement while the first motor arrangement is deenergized and the clutch is deenergized.

5. Claim 1, further comprising a device for energizing said first or second motor device only when said carriage is in said second position.
Apparatus described in section.

6 splicing for supporting the working tape to be loaded and the leader tape attached to the two hubs of the cassette to be loaded;
A block assembly is further provided, and the splicing
The block assembly includes a first block having first and second tape guide devices for supporting the leader tape, and a third block for supporting the working tape.
a second block having a tape guide device, wherein the first block has a tape guide device with respect to the second block;
a first splicing location aligned with the third tape guide device; and a second splicing location aligned with the third tape guide device.
a block support device for supporting said first and second blocks so as to be movable between said first and second tape guide devices; 2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising means for effecting relative movement between said blocks to selectively place them in alignment with said blocks.

7 further comprising a panel and means for attaching said splicing block assembly to the front side of said panel, said means for holding a cassette to be loaded in said selected loading position further comprising a clamping member and said splicing block assembly; means for movably mounting said clamping member in front of said panel in a selected loading position of said panel; and means for moving said clamping member into a clamping relationship with said cassette in said selected loading position. 7. The device according to claim 6, characterized in that:

8. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a leader extraction device attached to said carriage.

9 when the leader extractor is engageable with the leader of the cassette in the loading position and the first splicing block is in the first splicing position, extracting the leader and placing it in the first splicing position; 9. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising first and second movable leader extraction members movable in different directions away from the cassette so as to be disposed in first and third guideways. .

10 further comprising a positioning device supported by the carriage for locating a cassette placed in the loading position such that the hub of one of the cassettes is aligned with the spindle; 8. The device of claim 7, wherein the device is adapted to move into one or more selected recesses in the cassette when moved to the second position.

11 (1) a door portion pivotable between a first closed position and a second open position and for sealing the leader tape when it is in said first closed position; 2) The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the tape to be used is loaded into a cassette having a releasable fixing device for fixing the door part, wherein the fixing device of the cassette is released to the loading position. a cassette door release device for causing the cassette door release device to release the cassette door portion disposed in the loading position; and a device for causing the cassette door release device to release the door portion of the cassette placed in the loading position; The apparatus further comprises a door opening device supported by the carriage for opening the released door of the cassette.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said cassette door portion includes a member movable parallel to the plane of said panel.

13. Claim 1, wherein the door release device is supported by the carriage.
The device according to item 1.

14. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said door release device is supported by said device for holding a cassette in said loading position.

15 the panel is vertical and the first
8. Apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that said first and second blocks are arranged such that said first and second guideways extend vertically.

16 a support plate to which the second block is fixed, and a support plate configured to rotate about a first axis extending parallel to the first and second guideways an apparatus for mounting said first block; and first and second guideways, wherein said first and second guideways are respectively aligned with said third guideway.
a device for rotating the first block on the first axis between splicing positions;
and a second limit position for attaching the support plate to the panel for rotation about a second axis extending parallel to the first axis between the support plate and a second limit position; 8. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising means for rotating said support plate relative to said panel between first and second limit positions.

17. The invention further comprises a tape splicer forming a splicing tape attachment member reciprocating along a third axis extending perpendicularly to the first and second axes. 16
Apparatus described in section.

18. Claim 16, further comprising a tape cutter mechanism comprising a cutter that reciprocates along an axis extending perpendicular to the second axis and perpendicular to the panel. Apparatus described in section.

19. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the panel has an opening therein, and the support plate is disposed within the opening.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising a control device for actuating all of said devices in a selected order for loading a working tape into a cassette located at said selected loading position. In the apparatus of the present invention, the actuation cuts the leader into first and second parts and cuts the working tape into the first and second parts.
splicing the first leader and a selected amount of the used type into the cassette, and using the used tape to provide a trailing edge to the used tape wound into the cassette. A method comprising the steps of: cutting and splicing the trailing end to the second leader section.

21. An apparatus used for loading working tapes into cassettes, comprising a first splicing block having a first guideway for receiving the first tape, and second and third splicing blocks.
a second block having second and third guideways for receiving the tape and a movable splicing block;
a splicing block support; and means for mounting the splicing block support for movement about a first axis extending parallel to the first, second and third guideways; means for attaching the first block to the splicing block support such that the block and the support can move together about the first axis; a device for attaching the second block to the support so that it can rotate on a second axis extending parallel to the axis of the block, and the second and third guideways are the second splicing position between first and second splicing locations, each aligned with the first guideway;
A splicing block assembly comprising: a device for rotating the second block about the axis of the splicing block; and a device for rotating the support about the first axis between first and second limit positions. and; a tape splicer comprising a movable splicing tape attachment member, wherein the movement of the splicing tape attachment member is such that: (a) the support is in one of its restricted positions and (b) when the block is in its first splicing position it is perpendicular to said first and second guideways; and (b) said support is in said one limiting position and a tape splicer disposed perpendicular to the first and third guideways when the tape splicer is in its second splicing position; a selected loading position adjacent the splicing block assembly; a first and second spindle for engaging and rotating two rotatable hubs of the cassette disposed in said selected loading position; a first motor having an output shaft; a first spindle; a clutch coupling the first motor to the first spindle; and a clutch for rotating the second spindle. a second motor for energizing the clutch; a device selectively actuated to energize the first motor; a device selectively actuable for energizing the second motor; engaged when the first motor is energized and disengaged when the second motor is energized, thereby allowing the second spindle to freely rotate when the second motor is deenergized. a first position in which said spindle is incapable of engaging a cassette disposed in said selected loading position; and a first position in which said spindle is incapable of engaging a cassette disposed in said selected loading position; a second position for engaging two hubs of the invention; and a carriage for moving said carriage from a second position for engaging said two hubs.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said first and second motors are energized only when said carriage is in said second position.

23 (a) activating said second motor immediately after said carriage has been moved to said second position so as to place said spindle into engagement with two hubs of a cassette disposed in said selected loading position; (b)
22. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising a controller that energizes the first motor after the second motor is deenergized.

24. Apparatus according to claim 21, characterized in that the second spindle is arranged above the first spindle.

25. There is further provided a cassette leader extractor supported by the carriage, the leader extractor being movable into the cassette supported in the selected loading position when the carriage is moved to the second position. at least one extraction pin; and a mechanical device for moving the at least one extraction pin into position for extracting a leader from the cassette and engaging the leader with the first and third tracks. and a device for activating the mechanical device after the second motor is deenergized and before the first motor is energized. The device described.

Description The present invention relates to a device for splicing and winding tape, and more particularly to a device for loading a cassette with a length of flexible information recording material. Although the present invention has been developed to facilitate the loading of magnetic tape, tapes for other uses such as strips of photographic film can also be loaded into the cassette according to the present invention.

[Background of the invention]

Various magnetic tape cassettes have been developed that utilize two rotatable hubs or spools with magnetic tape coupled to opposite hubs and wrapped around one or both hubs. Typically, the cassette has a leader tape section attached to each spool or hub, and the magnetic tape spliced or glued to two leaders at each end.
This type of cassette has been developed for both audio and video magnetic tape. For magnetic tape cassettes for audio, U.S. Patent No.
No. 3423038, No. 3753835, No. 3797770, No. 3167267, and No. 4062719. Video cassettes are more complex than audio cassettes and generally have a door that is normally closed to conceal the magnetic tape and reader. When using a video tape cassette, this door is opened to allow the tape to be fed through the read/write magnetic head of a VCR (video tape cassette recorder) device.

Two types of VCR devices have had substantial commercial success. One type, known as a VHS format device, includes a door section pivoted along one side and a first releasable door on a first side of the cassette body for holding the door section closed. A cassette having a first releasable hub locking device and a second releasable hub locking device to prevent rotational movement of the hub of the cassette is used. A second type of commercially successful VCR device, known as a Betamax format device, used a cassette similar to the VHS format cassette, but with different dimensions, and was placed on a second or opposite side of the cassette. A cassette is used which has a door fixing device and a hub fixing mechanism which is opened together with the door.

Cassettes loaded with a selected amount of magnetic tape are generally manufactured by one of two methods. The first method is to first fix a length of leader tape to two hubs and extend between them, cut this leader tape into two parts, and then Wrapping a selected length of magnetic tape over this first huff by splicing the magnetic tape to a portion of the leader that is bonded to a second hub; splice the rear end of the magnetic tape to the cassette and then insert the two hubs into the body of the cassette. This type of loading is commonly referred to as "hub loading." A second common method is to load the magnetic tape directly into a C-0 cassette. A "C0 type cassette" consists of a cassette body and a cassette that is rotatably attached to the cassette body.
It consists of two hubs and a length of leader tape that connects the two hubs. This type of cassette loading, commonly referred to as "in-cassette loading," also involves cutting the leader tape to form two separate leaders, with the leader tape joined to the first cassette hub. The method includes splicing one end of the magnetic tape to a first hub, wrapping the magnetic tape around a first hub, and splicing a trailing end of the magnetic tape to a second leader portion. When performing an in-cassette loading method, the process also involves loading the rear end of the magnetic tape into the cassette after the second splice is applied, so that the magnetic tape and rear leader are completely retracted into the cassette. It involves a separate process of wrapping it loosely inside.

Previously, in-cassette loading methods for video tape cassettes were limited to VHS and Betamax cassettes that (a) had leaders that were both relatively short and had different lengths, and (b) had different dimensions. Implementation has been hampered by the fact that they also use different fixation mechanisms. The relatively short leader and the fact that splicing tape must be attached to the inner surface of the leader when forming the splice affect the equipment used to pull the leader from the cassette and the leader during splicing and wrapping operations. This has become a constraint on the design of equipment that supports this. The structure of in-cassette video tape loading devices has become more complex, with video cassette manufacturers requiring that the length of the leader at one or both ends of the magnetic tape be within certain predetermined limits. become. Also, because of the relatively high cost of video tape cassettes, manufacturers are very concerned about the appearance of the cassettes, which may disfigure the cassettes, cause uneven loading of the magnetic tape, or damage the tape. Dislike the use of loading devices that may cause harm.
As a result, state of the art video tape internal cassette loading equipment is capable of loading one type of cassette, thus requiring the purchase of two different equipment for loading VHF cassettes and Betamax cassettes. Other limitations of state-of-the-art video tape in-cassette loading equipment include relatively small production volumes and the ability to extract the leader from the cassette and remove the leader from the cassette.
The equipment for placing the leader in position for cutting and splicing the magnetic tape to be loaded into a cassette is slow and complex. Another problem with prior art loading devices is that the various tape handling elements are disjointed such that the devices are relatively large and have low speeds. State of the art cassette loading equipment is also relatively expensive.

Still other disadvantages, problems and limitations of current in-cassette video tape loading devices are well known to those skilled in the art. Such deficiencies, problems, and limitations may affect the use of certain manufacturers of video tape cassette hub loading equipment, even though such hub loading equipment requires more manual labor. be.

[Summary of the invention]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a new and improved winding device that avoids the aforementioned disadvantages of conventional intracassette loading devices.

A particularly important object of the present invention is to provide a cassette loading system with an improved apparatus for moving the leader tape from one of the two cassette hubs of a C-0 cassette to the other before the leader tape is cut. The provision of a device ensures that the leader is always cut the same distance from the hub at the bottom of the cassette.

Another object is to be fully automatic, compact, capable of winding the tape into the cassette without causing any damage to the tape, and which is similar to conventional video tape in-cassette loading equipment. The object of the present invention is to provide a device of the above type which is adapted to operate more rapidly than the state of the art.

Another important object of the invention is that it can be configured for loading tapes directly into either of two different types of cassettes, such as Betamax or VHS style cassettes, with relatively quick and easy replacement of parts. Video configured to allow
The present invention provides a device for loading tape into a cassette.

For the above and other purposes, the panel and the first and second
a splicing block assembly including a splicing block, a support for said block on said panel, and one block pivoted relative to the other about a first axis fixed to said support. means for pivoting the support portion together about a second axis fixed relative to the panel; and retaining the cassette in a selected loading position adjacent the splicing block assembly. a splicing device mounted to the panel at the front of the splicing block assembly for engaging and disengaging the two hubs of the cassette in the loading position; first and second spindles movable to rotate the hub; and first and second spindles for rotating the spindle so that the hub rotates.
a selectively engageable clutch coupling the first spindle to the first motor, the clutch being released to transfer the leader from one hub to the other; a device for deenergizing the second motor; a selectively operable device for energizing the first motor; and a device for energizing the clutch when the first motor is energized. This is accomplished by providing equipment.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be described and become apparent in the following detailed description, which should be considered in conjunction with the drawings, in which like numbers refer to like parts.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front view of a video cassette loading device constituting a preferred embodiment of the present invention for VHS format cassette loading; FIG. 2 is a front view of the splicing block assembly and leader ejection mechanism; A front view of the same device with some parts removed for clarity of detail (such as the storage magazine and splicer); Figure 3 is a similar view to Figure 2 with the VHS adapter plate removed; Figure 4 is an elevational view of the rear panel of the same device; FIG. 5 is a splicing block in its first position, with a section of the two splicing blocks cut away to show the three tape receiving tracks and the associated internal suction chamber; a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken along line 5--5 of FIG. 3 showing the splicing block assembly and the support therefor; FIG. 6 shows the support of the splicing block assembly in a first position; FIG. 7 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken along line 6--6 of FIG. 5 showing the mechanism for rotating the three-dimensional removable block; FIG. Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 6 showing the splicer placed on its support; Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 6 showing the splicing process in the second position;
Figures 10 and 11, which are longitudinal cross-sectional views similar to Figure 5 showing the support of the block assembly, show the carriage for the tape take-up spindle in the rearward (retracted) and forward (extended) positions, respectively. showing,
Figure 12 is a side view of the front panel of the apparatus with the cassette feed mechanism omitted;
2-12; FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 5 with the addition of a tape cutting mechanism and the rotatable splicing block in different positions; FIG. 14 shows details of the splicing mechanism. Figure 15 is an end view of the same splicer; Figure 16 is a partial side view showing the cassette feeding and ejection mechanism used when loading VHS cassettes; Figure 17 is a side view with the door closed. FIG. 18 is a partial perspective view of the same cassette with the door open; FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram of the control system for the device shown in FIG. 1; FIG. FIG. 21 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing the Betamax adapter plate; FIG. 21 is a view similar to FIG. 22 and 23 are similar views to FIGS. 16 and 17 showing details of a Betamax type cassette.

[Detailed description of the invention]

First, in Figures 1 and 2, the C-0 type
A device for loading magnetic tape directly into a VHS style cassette is shown. As will be disclosed below, the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is capable of intercassette loading of Betamax cassettes by replacing certain parts. It can also be applied to load other types of tapes, such as a predetermined length of photographic film.

1-3, the illustrated cassette tape splicing and winding apparatus includes a control panel 2 having a front panel 4 supporting a splicing block assembly 5, and a splice for supplying adhesive tape. It comprises a mechanism 6, a rotatable hub 7 for holding a reel of magnetic tape 8 used in loading cassettes, and a cassette storage and supply mechanism 9. Also mounted on the front panel 4 are a plurality of fixed guide rollers 10 and a guide roller 12 mounted on a shaft 14 on a swinging arm 13 (FIG. 4) that cooperate with the splicing block from the hub 7. A counter wheel 11 is attached which determines the path of movement of the tape 8 up to the assembly. Counter wheel 11 forms part of an electro-optic transducer assembly 15 (FIG. 4) that produces the pulses that count the number of feet of tape. The transducer assembly 15 and counterwheel 11 are well known in the art and therefore need not be described in detail.
(See U.S. Pat. No. 4,061,286).

In addition, Figures 2 to 4, Figure 10, and Figure 1
In Figure 1, the device includes a cassette feeding mechanism 9.
a servo for driving a rotatable take-up spindle 20 for engaging and driving one of the hubs of a cassette (not shown) located at a selected loading position at the front of the apparatus; - Includes a carriage 16 supporting a motor 18 and a carriage support assembly 17. The device also includes a panel 4 for driving the hub 7 of the supply reel.
It also has a servo motor 19 mounted behind it. The servo motor 18 is an oscillating arm 1 according to the invention described in U.S. Patent Application No. 290,417 to J.P. Deyesso et al.
It is controlled by the motion of 3. The shaft 14 extends through a curved slot 27 in the panel 4, and the arm 13 is connected to the working shaft of a rotary potentiometer 21 mounted at the rear of the panel 4. Potentiometer 21 is coupled to the control circuit of servo motor 18. Arm 13
is biased against the splicing block assembly by a biasing mechanism consisting of a small motor 33 and a thread 35 extending between the output shaft of the motor 33 and the arm 13. The motor 33 rotates the arm 13 against the right end (in FIG. 1) of the slot 37 when the sensor motors 18 and 19 are OFF.
A predetermined tension is applied to the thread 35 that is sufficient to cause the movement. During operation of the device, the tension on the tape 8 will vary, causing the arm 13 to move as the tension changes. The output signal of the potentiometer will change with the movement of arm 13.

Next, in FIGS. 1 to 3 and 5 to 9, a splicing block assembly 5 is shown.
includes two vertically spaced splicing blocks 22,24. Both blocks are mounted to a support plate 26 located in an opening 28 formed in the front panel 4. The support plate 26 is attached to the front panel 4.
A pair of pivot projections 30 (FIGS. 3 and 5);
It is pivotally connected to the front panel 4 by a second pair of pivot studs 32 attached to the plate 26 and a pair of pivot studs 34 joining each pair of adjacent projections 30, 32. ing.

Splicing block 22 is connected to this plate 2.
6 are mounted directly to the plate 26 so that they can move together. However, splicing block 24 is pivoted to plate 26. For this purpose, the plate 26 has a pair of spaced apart pivoting projections 3.
6 (FIG. 3), the splicing block 24 has lateral extensions 38 for mating movement between the projections 36, and the pivot studs 40 hold the splicing block 24 against the plate 26. It extends through an opening in projection 36 and extension 38 for pivoting. For convenience, splicing 22
and 24 are hereinafter referred to as "stationary" and "movable" splicing blocks;
It should be understood that this is only used to indicate that movement is possible relative to 6.

As shown in FIGS. 5, 9-11, the stationary splicing block 22 has a single track 42 containing the leader or working tape.
has. Additionally, block 22 is hollow to define a suction chamber 43 (FIG. 5). truck 32
The bottom surface of the tape is provided with a plurality of elongated openings 44 which communicate with a low pressure source through suction chambers 43 to provide suction to retain the tape in the track 42. Movable splicing block assembly 24 has the same width and depth as track 42.
It has two tracks 46 and 48. truck 46
and 48 extend parallel to each other and also to the track 42. Block 24 has two internal suction chambers 47, 49 and also has two internal suction chambers 47, 49.
6, 48 also have chambers 47, 49 so as to selectively create a suction action to hold the tape in its tracks.
An elongated opening 44 is provided which communicates with a respective low pressure source through the . As shown in FIGS. 5-10, the tracks 46, 48 are approximately
They are placed at a 30° angle. Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 6-8, the splicing block 24 is prismatic in cross-section with two flat surfaces 50, 52 which also extend at an angle to each other. Surfaces 50, 52 are arranged such that when making a splice, buffer 24 is rotated about its pivot axis 40, the distance of rotation being limited by the engagement of surfaces 50 or 52 with the front surface of plate 26. Placed. When surface 52 engages plate 26, track 46 is connected to splicing block 2.
2, and when surface 50 engages plate 26, track 48 is in exact alignment with track 42, and track 48 is in exact alignment with track 42 when surface 50 engages plate 26.
The flat bottom of the track 42 is offset by 30 degrees from the bottom of the track 42.

The rotational movement of splicing block 24 relative to support plate 26 is controlled by a pneumatic actuator 54 mounted on the rear side of plate 26. It will be appreciated that a number of actuating devices may be used in embodiments of the invention. Although electrical solenoid, hydraulic or hydraulic actuators can be used in the present invention, pneumatic actuators each having one cylinder and one movable piston/piston rod assembly are preferred. , this type of actuating device is used in the illustrated embodiment of the invention. Such pneumatic actuators are either single-acting, in which the piston/piston-rod assembly is biased in one direction by a spring and driven in the opposite direction by a supply of high-pressure air, or alternatively, pressurized air is selectively applied. Added to one end of the cylinder and the piston/
It may be of the double-acting type to produce movement of the piston and rod assembly in one direction or the other. The type of actuator used is a matter of choice.

In this case, the piston rod 5 of the actuating device 54
6 is attached to a bifurcated yoke 57. This yoke is splicing block 2
It is pivotally connected to an arm 58 fixed to 4. Arm 58 extends through an elongated opening 59 (FIG. 4) in plate 26 and has an elongated slot 60 (FIG. 6) that receives a pivot pin 61 that is locked to yoke 57.
has. Arm 58 passes through slot 63 in yoke 57 and is captured by pivot pin 61. Because of the shape of slot 60, arm 58 can pivot and move longitudinally relative to pivot pin 61. As a result, when actuator 54 is operated to extend its piston rod 56, yoke 57 swings arm 58 in an arc so that splicing block 24 rotates on its pivot pin. to bring track 48 into alignment with track 42. When piston rod 56 is retracted, splicing block 24 pivots in the opposite direction until its face 52 again engages plate 26, placing track 46 in alignment with track 42.

Next, in FIGS. 2 to 9, the support plate 26
This is the normal position, that is, the resting position of the front panel 4.
When it is in the same plane as During operation of the apparatus, the support plate 26 is pivoted through an angle of approximately 50 DEG to align the tracks 42 of the stationary block 22 with the splice mechanism 6. Pivotal movement of the plate 26 is effected by an actuating device 64 whose cylinder is mounted on the rear side of the panel 4 and whose yoke 68 is fixed relative to its piston rod 66. One end of the link 70 is pivotally connected to the yoke 68, and the other end is pivotally connected to an L-shaped bracket 72 bolted to the rear side of the plate 26. When the piston rod 66 is retracted, the plate 26 lies flat against the panel 4. When the piston rod 66 is extended, the plate 26 is pivoted at an angle of 50 DEG relative to the panel 4. Plate 26 is piston rod 66
When pivoted by the retraction movement of the plate 26, the plate 26 is stopped and is now flat, i.e., flush with the panel 4 by engagement with the splicer retention assembly 94 described below. Board 26 is panel 4
A mechanical stop 74 on the rear side of the panel 4 stops the movement of the plate 26 when it is at an angle of 50 DEG to the splicer 6, but in this position it is parallel to the support arm 90 of the splicer 6. To be more precise,
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 9, the mechanical stop 74 has a recess 75 characterized by a vertical surface 74 extending at an angle of 50 DEG to the panel 4. As shown in FIGS.
The stopper member 74 stops the piston of the actuating device 64.
When the rod 66 is extended, the plate 26
and is arranged to be engaged with and thereby stopped. When plate 26 is swung into its tilted position by extension of actuator 64, track 42 of splicing block 22 is aligned in the same plane as plunger 134, which will be described below with respect to splice mechanism 6. At the same time, either track 46 or track 48 will be aligned with track 42 as actuator 54 is retracted or extended.

Next, in Figure 3, static splicing
The block 22 is provided with a fitting 82 by which its suction chamber 43 is connected by a hose (not shown) to a suitable vacuum source (not shown) located behind the front panel 4. be able to.
Similarly, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5,
The splicing block 24 has two hose fittings 83, 84 which allow the suction chamber 4
7, 49 are each connected by suitable hose lines (not shown) to a vacuum source (also not shown) located behind the front panel 4. The provision of suction chambers joining through holes in tape guide tracks is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,737,358;
No. 4,062,719 and other patents mentioned therein are known in the art.

Next, in FIGS. 1-3, 6-8, and 10-11, the splice mechanism 6 is assembled into a splicer holding assembly including a block 94 fixed to the front side of the panel 4. It is attached to a support arm in the form of a long bar 90 which is removably connected to the device by a body 92.
The block 94 consists of an upper part having a front face 95 extending parallel to the panel 4 and a lower part having a front face 96 extending at an angle of 50 DEG to the panel 4. The lower portion of block 94 has a slot 97 cut into its face 96. slot 97
has a top surface, a bottom surface, and a rear surface defined by right-angled flat surfaces, the front surface of which is open. A large thumbscrew 98 is inserted into the screw hole 99 of the block 94.
(FIG. 3), the underside of its head is adapted to engage the bar 90 and hold it tightly within the groove 97 to hold the splicer 6 in a fixed position.

The splicer does not form part of the invention. Furthermore, various types of splicers can be used in the present invention. Accordingly, the splicer shown in the drawings will be described in the text only to the extent necessary for an understanding of the operation of the invention.

D. Kincheloe U.S. Patent Application No. 183472 and
It is preferred to use a conventionally known splicer of the type shown in the drawings, which is substantially the same as the splicer shown in US Pat. No. 3,753,835 to JLKing.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 8, 14 and 15, the splicer has a back plate 110 that includes a one-way cracking mechanism 112 (see FIG. 1) having an actuating arm 114. ) is installed. The actuation arm 114 is a pneumatic actuation device 1 fixed to a plate 111 attached to the plate 110.
Piston rod 117 is pivotally connected to the end of 18 piston rods 117. Actuator 118 normally has its piston rod in the retracted position shown in FIGS. 1 and 14. Each time actuator 118 is pressurized with air through hose fitting 120 (FIG. 14), arm 114 is moved through an arc of predetermined length. piston rod 1
The rotational movement of arm 114 due to extension of arm 17 causes clutch 112 to actuate a ratchet gear 122 on the front surface of plate 110 which is concentrically connected to clutch 112 and feed gear 124. The feed gear is for feeding the adhesive splicing tape from a supply roll (not shown) mounted on the hub 126 to a location where the tape can be cut and applied to the two tapes to be spliced. It is.

As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the splicer includes a pair of parallel members 128, 130;
and a header plate 131 defining a channel 132 in which is mounted a hollow plunger 134 which is attached to plate 110 and reciprocated therein. This plunger is attached to a piston rod 137 of a pneumatic actuator 135 which is attached to a plate 131. Attached to the side of the plunger is a cutter blade that reciprocates the plunger. The bottom of the plunger has a resilient pad 140 with an opening 141 that communicates with an opening (not shown) in the bottom of the plunger, which provides suction to hold a piece of splicing tape to the pad. can be given. Vacuum action is applied to the interior of the plunger and the opening in pad 140 through a hose fitting 142 that is attached to the plunger and is used to couple the splicer plunger to a vacuum source.

Parallel member 130 has an opening (not shown) through which splicing tape from a supply roll mounted on hub 126 is fed into channel 132 . The supply of splicing tape is provided by a feed wheel 124 and a relatively small feed wheel 144, as well as a "pick up device" which guides the free end of the splicing tape through an opening in member 130 on the underside of plunger 134.
This is done by the cooperative action of a guide member 146 known as A small gear 148 coupled to the feed wheel 144 meshes with the gear 122 so that the feed wheel 144 rotates with the feed wheel 124 when the actuator 118 is extended. Therefore, the merm 114 is the actuator 118
(The unidirectional action of the crank 112 retracts the piston rod of the actuator 118.) (At this time, no forward motion of the splicing tape occurs). Additionally, each time the actuator 135 is actuated, the cutter
Plunger 134 is moved along chain 132 sufficiently for blade 136 to cut a piece of splicing tape extending below pad 140 from the remaining portion of the splicing tape. The cut pieces of splicing tape are transferred to splicing block 2.
It will adhere to this pad by suction until splicing occurs between the leader and the portion of magnetic tape that is deposited on 2, 24 and held by these blocks. The vacuum action exerted through the opening 141 of the pad 140 ends when said pad presses the splicing tape into contact with the two tapes to be spliced, so that the plunger returns to its original retracted position. When returning, the splicing tape tends to remain with the spliced tape instead of adhering to the resilient pad.

Next, Figures 2 to 4 and Figures 10 to 1
2, the carriage 16 for the motor 18 and tape take-up spindle 20 includes a carriage plate 152 and is connected to the carriage support assembly 1.
7 includes four long rods 156, screws 157 (FIGS. 4, 10 and 11), and screws 159.
A plate 15 fixed at the back of the front panel 4 parallel to it by (FIGS. 2 and 3)
It has 4. Screws 157 and 159 are threaded into threaded holes in the rear and front ends of rod 156, respectively. The carriage plate 152 is the fourth
It has four bushing assemblies 158 attached to the four corners. These butching assemblies are
The carriage plate is mounted in a smooth sliding connection on the rod 156 for smooth movement between the plate 154 and the front panel 4.

The carriage plate 152 has two openings 153 and 15.
5. The aperture 153 is longitudinally elongated and the aperture 155 has two radially extending slots 14.
7 and 149. A servo motor 18 is secured to the rear side of the carriage plate 152 for movement with the carriage plate 152 as it moves along the rod 156. The motor 18 is provided with an output shaft to which an electromagnetic clutch 160 is connected. clutch 160
shows a housing 1 that houses a field coil, a rotor 16 having a hub 163 fixed to the output shaft 23 of the motor 18, and an armature assembly 164 having a hub 156 to which a take-up spindle 20 is fixed.
61 is preferred. Winding spindle 20
has a front end shape that allows it to easily enter a recess on the rear side of the lower hub of a VHS cassette in the loading position, causing the hub to rotate therewith. The field coil housing 161 is
The hub 165 of the armature assembly 164 surrounds and is rotatably mounted to the hub 163 .
is rotatably mounted on the output shaft of the motor 18. The head of a screw 167 threaded into a threaded hole in the end of shaft 23 holds armature assembly 164 on shaft 23. Housing 161 has a radial protrusion 166 used to secure it against rotation. Therefore, housing 1
61 is fixed against rotation so that as long as the field coil is deenergized, armature assembly 164 and rotor 162 are free to rotate relative to each other, so that if the field coil is deenergized the motor 18 is energized. If so, the rotor will rotate together with the output shaft 23, but
Spindle 20 does not rotate. However, if the field coil is energized, the resulting magnetic field forces the armature into frictional engagement with the rotor, such that the armature and rotor are engaged together. . Therefore, if motor 18 is energized at the same time as the clutch field coil, spindle 20 will be driven by motor 18. Control system of this device (described below)
is configured such that clutch 160 and motor 18 are deenergized simultaneously.

A radially extending slot 147 in the carriage plate 152 receives a radial projection 166 in the housing 161 so that the plate 152 secures the housing 161 against rotation. A radial extension 149 of the carriage plate 152 accommodates the conductors (not shown) of the motor 18.

The carriage plate 152 is attached to the plate 154 and its piston rod 168 is attached to the carriage plate 15.
It is movable toward and away from the panel 4 by means of a pneumatic actuator 169 connected to the panel 2. The function of actuator 169 is to drive spindle 20 into and out of engagement with one of the hubs of the C-0 cassette in the loading position described below.
and exercise 200. In this regard, the front panel 4 is provided with an irregularly shaped enlarged opening 180 (FIG. 3) located directly in front of the servo motor carriage 16. In FIG. 10, piston rod 168 of actuator 169 is shown in its retracted position. In this position, the front ends of spindles 20 and 200 do not protrude from the front side of panel 4. In FIG. 11, the piston rod of actuator 169 is shown in its extended position. In this position, spindles 20 and 200 protrude through opening 180 and will be engaged with the hub of the cassette if it is in the loading position. As seen in FIGS. 10 and 11, the piston rod 168 is secured to the carriage plate 15 by a bracket 170 secured to the rear of the piston rod and motor 18.
It is indirectly connected to 2. The forward limiting position of plate 152 is determined by its engagement with the rear side of panel 4, while its rear or rear limiting position is determined by the engagement of bracket 170 with plate 154. is desirable.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the front side of carriage plate 152 serves as a support for adapter plate 182, which is configured to facilitate loading of VHS video cassettes.

Adapter plate 182 is removably attached to the front of carriage plate 120 by two screws 184 and has a large opening 188 near its bottom end for concentric relation to spindle 20 and clutch 160. It is provided. This opening 1
The clutch 88 is slightly larger than the clutch 160. Mounted to project forwardly from the plate 182 are three cassette positioning pins 190, 192 and 194 and a cassette door release pin 195. pin 190
The free (forward) ends of and 192 terminate in a tapered end and have a shoulder 193 spaced aft of the tapered forward end by the same amount. The free (forward) end of pin 194 terminates in a flat plane that is in the same plane as shoulder 193 . Adapter plate 18 directly above opening 188
Mounted on the rear side of 2 is a reader switching assembly that includes a small motor 198 with a spindle 200 mounted on its output shaft. The function of motor 198 is to remove excess leader tape from the bottom hub of the cassette being loaded to ensure that the section attached to the bottom hub has a predetermined length when the leader is cut. The goal is to ensure that it is delivered. motor 19
8 protrudes from an opening 152 in the carriage plate 152, while the spindle 200 protrudes from a slightly larger opening in the adapter plate 182. spindle 200
The front end is shaped to easily enter a recess in the rear side of the upper hub of a VHS cassette placed in the loading position, causing the hub to rotate therewith. Spindle 200 also assists in centering the cassette in the loading position. A cassette with its upper and lower hubs engaged by spindles 200 and 20, respectively, is considered to be in the cassette loading position.

The cassette adapter plate 182 also supports a flat, forwardly projecting arm 204 located adjacent the upper left corner of the adapter plate to act as a door opening member for the VHS cassette in the cassette loading position.

The adapter plate also supports a lower leader extraction assembly in the form of a pneumatic actuator 210 having an enlarged extraction pin support member 214 secured to the end of its piston rod 212. The pin support 214 is slidably keyed to a guide 212 attached to the actuating device 210 and is therefore restrained from rotating on its axis. Pin support member 214 supports a forwardly projecting pin 216 that is used to extract the leader adjacent the bottom hub of the cassette in the loading position.
Pin 216 has a constant diameter except that it has a forward end that exhibits a cylindrical taper. pin 21
6 extends at right angles to the adapter plate and panel 4.

The second leader extractor assembly includes a carriage plate 1
52 for movement. This second leader extractor assembly has an actuator 232 (FIGS. 2-4, FIG. and FIG. 11). This second leader extractor assembly also includes an extraction pin support guide 236. Actuator 232 is mounted at an angle and its piston rod 237 supports an extractor pin support member that is slidably keyed to guide 236 and therefore cannot rotate on its axis. There is. The pin holding member 238 is fixed at one end to the member 238 by a screw 244, and a leader extraction pin 248 supports a small flat bar 242 (FIG. 3) projecting forward from the opposite end. There is. Pin 248 has a constant diameter except that it has a cylindrical taper at its front (free) end. A pin 248 extends perpendicularly to the adapter plate and closes opening 1 when the carriage is moved forward.
80 so that it can protrude through it.
A flat bar 242 extends forward of the extractor pin support guide 236 and its angle relative to the piston rod is such that it can be rotated by releasing the screw 244 and pivoting it around the screw 244, and then tightening the screw 244 again to rotate it. can be adjusted by holding it in its new position.

The angular position of bar 242 is set depending on whether a VHS or Betamax cassette is being loaded. In FIGS. 2 and 3, bar 242 is in the required position for loading a VHS cassette.

In this regard, it will be appreciated that VHS and Betamax cassettes differ in size, particularly in the spacing between the hubs of these cassettes. To accommodate this difference in cassette size, the carriage support assembly 17 is vertically displaced by an amount sufficient to permit the machine to handle either type of cassette. This feature is illustrated in FIGS. 2-4, 10 and 11, in which the front panel 4 is shown above two irregular openings 180;
Two are shown having four vertically elongated openings 250 disposed below them to accommodate screws 159 for securing sliding rod 156 to said panel. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a bevel is formed around the opening 250 to form a countersink 251 in the front surface of the panel 4 for seating the head of the screw 159. By loosening screw 159, carriage support assembly 17 can be raised or lowered as needed for handling VHS or Betamax style cassettes. The aperture 250 is configured to load a VHS cassette when the screw 159 moves to the bottom end of the aperture (FIGS. 2 and 3), and when the screw 159 moves to the top end of said aperture (FIGS. 2 and 3). When transported (FIG. 18), the device is sized such that it is configured for loading a Betamax cassette.

The leader taper of the C-0 type cassette and the cutting of the magnetic tape wound on this cassette are performed by a knife mechanism, which is shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, 10, 11, and As shown in FIG. 13, it has a bracket 270 attached to the rear side of the panel 4. Attached to the bracket 270 is an actuator 272 having a piston rod 274 to which a coupling arm 276 is attached. This arm is also coupled to the rear end of a slide rod 278 which slidably extends through two bushings 280 attached to the two lateral extensions of the bracket 270. The front end of sliding rod 278 supports a knife holder 282. knife blade 28
4 (FIGS. 2 and 3) is removably fixed to the holder 282 by a screw 286. Sliding rod 278, when reciprocated by actuator 272, reciprocates so that the knife blade moves in and out of a narrow gap 290 (FIGS. 5 and 13) located between splicing blocks 22, 24. A movement is carried out which causes the magnetic tape or leader tape extending across the gap to be cut by the knife. Since such cutters are well known in the art and a variety of forms of knife assemblies can be used in the practice of the present invention, further detailed description of this knife assembly is not considered necessary.

The cassette feeding mechanism 9 shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 4, and 16 holds a plurality of VHS type C-0 type cassettes to be loaded and transports these cassettes one at a time. It is designed to be fed to the loading position one by one. The mechanism includes a mounting plate 300 that is removably attached to the front panel 4 by suitable screw fasteners (not shown). Two cassette guide bars 302 and 303 and one magazine support bar 3 for the main body 300
04 are fixed one after the other. Guide bars 302 and 303 have the same width and are mutually aligned so that their inner edges lie in a common vertical plane and form a right hand guide for the cassette. Bars 302 and 303 are separated from each other by a spacer 305 so as to provide a side opening 306 for accommodating an arm 412 of a pusher type cassette feeder assembly described below. Fixed to one side of the plate 300 and to the bar 304 are two lateral parts 30 with bottom flanges 312, 314 joined by two transverse bars 318, 319, respectively.
The magazine assembly 307 consists of 8,310 pieces. The side portions 308 are arranged so that the inner surface of the bar 304 is flush with the inner surfaces of the bars 302 and 303.
It is fixed to the inner edge of 04. The lateral portion 310 is the left edge of the plate 300 (in FIG. 1).
Fixed against. Bottom flanges 312 and 314 act as cassette support floors for the magazine.

The magazine assembly also includes a block 322 secured to the bar 319 and a block 322 secured to the bar 319.
a lever arm 324 disposed in a groove of the block 322 and pivotally connected by a pivot pin 326; a pin 328 fixed to the block 322 and extending through a larger hole in the arm 324; A cassette holder consisting of a compression spring 330 that presses the arm 324 so as to pivot counterclockwise in FIG. Contains equipment. The roller 332 is
It extends upwardly between magazine flanges 312 and 314 and is positioned to support a cassette (first) within the magazine against the front surface of plate 300.

Attached to the sides of the side portions 308 is a support bracket 338 having a bifurcated yoke portion 340 which is pivoted to enclose an L-shaped cassette clamp 342 by a pivot pin 344. Also attached to bracket 338 by collar 345 is the cylinder of a small pneumatic actuator 348. The free end of the piston rod of actuator 348 is provided with a circular head 350 positioned to actuate clamp 342. The clamp has a first portion 352 extending laterally of the side portion 308 in a position to be engaged by the head 350 and is aligned with a slot in the side portion 308 relative to the first portion 352. and a second portion 354 extending at right angles. Clamp 342 is positioned so that gravity forces it into the rest position shown in FIG. 1 when the piston rod of actuator 348 is in the retracted position. In this retracted position, portion 354 of clamp 342 does not protrude relative to the magazine. However, when the actuator 348 is actuated to extend its piston rod, the circular head 350
2 to pivot it in a counterclockwise direction (in FIG. 1), so that portion 354 projects into the magazine so that the cassette in its pivoting path moves further within the magazine toward the front panel. Prevent it from falling towards 4.

Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 16, a pair of parallel sliding rods 370, 372 are mounted to extend forwardly at right angles from plate 300. Attached to the forward ends of rods 370, 372 by screws 377 is a stop plate 376. Attached to the stop action plate 376 is a pneumatic actuator 380 having a piston rod extending through an oversized opening in the plate and slidably supported by rods 370, 372. cassette support/ejection platform 386. The platform 386 has a rod 37 inside it.
0.372 having a pair of parallel openings around which suitable bushings (not shown) are disposed to slidably engage. Actuator 380 is configured to move, in response to commands, into a first position in which it is engaged with plate 300 and in a second position in which it is engaged with stop action plate 376.
(Figure 15)
86. Travel of platform 386, plate 300 and stop action plate 37
The distance of travel between 6 and 6 is such that when the platform is moved into engagement with stop action plate 376, gravity causes the cassettes to fall from the loading position to the appropriate receiving station or conveyor, causing the loader to move. larger than the wall thickness of the cassette to be loaded with the appropriate amount so that it can be carried away.

Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 16, the platform 386 has a cassette retaining mechanism comprising an L-shaped pivot support block 392 and a cassette retaining arm 394 pivotally attached to the block 392 by a pivot pin. It supports an upright plate 390 to which the assembly is mounted. A pin 398 coupled to block 392 extends through an elongated oversized opening in arm 294. pin 3
98 is surrounded by a compression spring 400 that presses the arm 394 against the support 392.
A platform 386 is rotatably attached to the upper end of the arm 394.
Roller 402 is sized and positioned such that when moved to its inward limit position relative to 00, the roller engages the cassette being dropped to the loading position and forces it firmly against plate 300. The L-shaped cassette guide member 404 (FIG. 1) is attached to the bar 304.
It is fixed to the roller 402 and protrudes to the side of the roller 402. The side of the member 404 facing the pin 4 is provided with a resilient covering layer 406 dimensioned and positioned to engage and slow down the falling movement of the cassettes as they fall from the magazine onto the platform 386. It is being A second embedded resilient layer 408 on the top surface of platform 386 cushions the cassette as it falls onto platform 386.

1, 2, 4 and 16, the cassette storage and feed mechanism 9 is also movable with a carriage block 414 (FIG. 15) located behind the front panel 4. Arm 4
Includes 12 configurations of cassette pushers. The carriage block 414 has a tongue 4 projecting through a vertical slot 418 in the front panel 4.
16, one end of the arm 412 has a tongue 416
is installed against. The arm 412 extends through the space 306 and has a first upwardly projecting (and preferably transparent) vertical cassette restraint plate 420 attached to its front face, with a small protrusion 422 extending from the arm 412. It is attached so that it suspends from the free end of the. The protrusion 422 acts to release the door of the VHS cassette to be loaded,
Plate 420 allows the second cassette in the magazine to be secured to clamp 34 while the cassette is still in the loading position.
It acts to prevent passage of 2. Protrusion 422 is positioned to engage and actuate a key on the door of a VHS cassette that is pushed toward platform 386 by arm 412.

As shown in FIG. 16, the carriage block 414 rests on two pulleys 428A and 428B supported by a pillow block 420 fixed to the opposite end of the cylinder of the pneumatic actuator 433. It is attached to a U-shaped metal coupling member 424 attached to the ends of two cables 426A and 426B.
Cables 426A and 426B extend through a suitable seal at the opposite end of the actuator cylinder and are attached to the opposite end of the actuator piston (not shown) so that the piston moves in a certain direction. As the cable moves, the cable moves with it, thereby raising and lowering the carriage along the slot 418. At the opposite end of the cylinder of the actuator,
Hose fitting 434 from which high pressure air can be released or released to cause movement of the piston.
A and 434B are provided. A pillow block 430 is attached to two support plates 436A and B, which are fixed to the rear side of the panel 4 and connected to two vertical sliding rods 436A and 436B.
Acts as a fixed support for 38A and B. Carriage 414 has two parallel openings through which slide rods 436A and B extend. The carriage 414 is in slot 4.
18 can be moved along its sliding rod by actuating device 433. When the carriage 414 is in its uppermost position in the slot 418, the arm 412 has sufficient height to allow the first cassette in the magazine to advance from the clamp 342 to the bottom end of the magazine where it abuts the plate 300. and is supported here by rollers 332. When arm 412 is lowered,
This arm engages the cassette and pushes it down against platform 386. roller 3
32 extends sufficiently to allow the cassette to move downwardly from the magazine, but spring 33
2 is strong enough to force rollers 332 to hold the cassette against plate 300. The pressure on roller 332 is applied to pusher arm 4
12, thus avoiding possible damage to the cassette that could result from the impact of a distant free fall onto platform 386. When the carriage 414 reaches the bottom of the slot 418, a cassette restraining plate 420 on the arm 412 prevents the cassette from advancing out of the magazine until it abuts the plate 300 at the lower end of the magazine upwardly, above the flanges 312 and 314 of the magazine. stand out enough to do so.

17 and 18, a typical VHS cassette 440 has top and bottom wall portions 442, 443 and a rear wall portion 444.
and two end portions 445, 446. At its forward end, the cassette has a top wall 448 and an opposite end wall 45.
0.451, and a door or cover member 447 having a front wall surface 452. Cover member 44
7 is pivoted to the end walls 445, 446 of the cassette body and is spring biased to tend to maintain it closed. The cassette also has a spring biased locking pin 458;
Also, when the door portion is in the closed position, the door member 44
A recess 460 in the inner surface of the end 450 of 7 accommodates the fixing pin 458. Spring biased release pin 4
61 projects from the end wall surface 445 into a slot in the edge of the cover portion 450. When the pin 461 is pressed into the cassette, the fixing pin 458 locks into the door portion 447.
comes out of the recess 460 so as to release it. The cassette body also has a number of cavities 463, 464 and 465 and edge slots 471 and 473.

The cassette 440 is also formed with a spindle receiving recess 469 defined by a series of teeth that allows the hub to be fixedly engaged by the two cassette spindles of the VCR device.
It has two rotatable cassette hubs 467, 468.

Cavities 463 and 464 are simply blind holes that receive positioning pins 190 and 192, respectively.
The cavity 465 receives a hub release pin 195 that leads to a hub locking mechanism (not shown) and releases the two hubs.

FIG. 19 shows a schematic of the control system for the device. This control system includes motors 18,1
A microprocessor programmable controller 474 for controlling the actuation sequences of 9 and 198 and pressurized air for several actuators and vacuum conditions for the splicing block assembly and splicer 6 plunger. using multiple solenoid operated valves to control the application of

Although various types of programmable controllers may be used in the practice of the present invention, a programmable microprocessor allows precise control of the timing of the operations that make up the operating cycle of the device, and The programmable microprocessor control system is also desirable because it is highly reliable and occupies relatively little space on a control panel.

FIG. 19 shows a cylinder 5 coupled to a plurality of solenoid operated control valves 474-484 that control the supply of air to the actuators described above.
4,64,118,135,169,219,2
32, 272, 348, 380 and 433 are shown. FIG. 19 also shows splicing block tracks 42, 48 and splicer 6.
solenoid operated valves 485, 48 for controlling the provision of vacuum to plunger 134 of
6,487 and 488 are shown. The air source is typically an electrically powered air compressor (not shown) and the vacuum generator is typically a vacuum pump or bench lily type vacuum device. The microprocessor-based control system has a signal line coupled to the solenoid of the control valve described above, and the method described below controls the control valve for various components in the sequence necessary to operate the system. is programmed to provide pressurized air or vacuum conditions. This control device includes servo circuits 489 and 49, respectively, which control the operation of the motor in response to future signals.
0 to the motors 18, 19. The controller is also connected to reader motor 298, clutch 160 and tension motor 33 for control of operation, and to receive signal outputs of potentiometer 21 and foot counting transducer 15. combined. Additionally, although not shown in FIG. 1, the apparatus is also coupled to a controller 474 and capable of performing certain functions, such as automatic loading of cassettes, or splicing, cutting and moving splicing block 24. - The control device is configured to selectively operate the device in order to cause the device to perform specific operations such as individual tests such as movement of the block support 26.

Controller 474 is programmed to automatically operate the device in the manner described below. To this end, the controller is programmed to run the supply reel motor 19 at a selected speed during tape winding and to smoothly accelerate and decelerate according to a predetermined function. . The controller also operates a servo according to the tension signal output of the potentiometer 21 to maintain a suitable constant tension on the tape 8 as it is being unwound from the supply reel and loaded into the cassette.
It is programmed to control the speed of motor 18. The program for the controller also determines (1) the operation of motor 198 to move the reader in the manner described below, (2) the energization of motor 33 whenever the device is turned on, and (3) the activation of motor 18. (4) operation of the clutch 160 whenever the signal from the transducer 15 reaches a predetermined value representing the length of tape to be loaded into the cassette; control the stopping of

The operation of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1-16 and 19 will now be described.

Motors 18, 19, 33 and 198 of this device
is in the OFF state, no cassette is present in the magazine, the cassette pusher arm 412 is in its uppermost restricted position, the support 26 is flush with the front panel 4 and the tape track 4
With the splicing block assembly in the position shown in FIG. 11 such that tape tracks 42, 46,
48, platform 386
Assume that the plate 300 is engaged with the plate 300. Also, a reel of unused magnetic tape 8 to be loaded into the cassette is attached to the supply hub 7,
Also, the magnetic tape is transferred from the supply reel to idle roller 1.
0, counter wheel 11 and idler 12
Let's assume that it extends to track 48 via . Let us also assume that the leading end of the magnetic tape in track 48 has already been cut into squares by the action of the cutting mechanism and is now flush with the end of track 290 adjacent gap 290. At this time, a plurality of VHS cassettes are loaded into the magazine 309 between the members 308 and 310.
The cassettes are stacked in series in the magazine in a stepped fashion (as shown by phantom lines in FIG. and is supported by rollers 332.

The operation of this device will be described next.

Controller 474 will immediately energize motor 33 to pull tension arm 13 toward the right end of slot 37 (as viewed in FIG. 1).
At the same time, the controller will cause clamp actuator 348 to pivot clamp 342 to tighten the second cassette in the magazine. The controller then causes actuator 433 to drive pusher arm 412 downwardly into engagement with the first cassette in the magazine, forcing it toward platform 386. Pass the roller 332 downward. As the cassette moves freely off the rollers 332 and falls onto the platform 386, the cassette moves rearwardly against the action of the spring 400 to allow it to seat on the platform 386. The speed is reduced by the engagement of the rollers 402.
Once the first cassette reaches platform 386, rollers 402 hold it against plate 300. Since the first cassette is then in the loading position and its door is released because the pin 461 is depressed by the protrusion 422, the controller is able to connect the drive motor to the carriage assembly 1.
7 sufficiently forward, and as a result (a) pin 19
(b) locating pins 190, 192 enter locating holes 463, 464 of the first cassette to hold it against lateral movement; , (c) pin 1
95 enters the hole 465 and connects the two hubs 467, 4.
68 and (d) close the door section 447 and remove its leader tape (numbered 4 in Figure 17) as described below.
The arm 204 engages the edge of the front wall 452 of the door portion 447 so as to cause the drive spindles 20 and 200 to open wide enough to allow retraction (shown in phantom at 49). hub 4
(f) The leader extraction pins 216, 244 enter the slots 471, 473 at the edge of the cassette behind the leader tape 449. At this point, the front side of the first cassette is restrained by plate 404, but the back side of the first cassette is restrained by the end face of pin 294 and pins 190, 192.
is restrained by the shoulder 193 of.

Thereafter, controller 474 energizes motor 198 to unwind the leader from hub 468 and wind the leader onto hub 467 . Motor 198 is turned ON long enough to pay out as much leader as possible without removing it from hub 468. At this time, the control device 474
The actuators 210, 232 are actuated to extend the piston rods of the two leader extractor assemblies so that the extractor pins 216 and 244 (a) engage the leader 449 and (b) (c) Place the reader on the tracks 42, 46. At this time, a vacuum is applied to all tracks of the splicing block assembly, so that the removed leader 449 is held in tracks 42, 46 by suction. The leading end of the tape 8 is similarly held by the track 48 by suction. Once the leader reaches track 4
2,44, the controller returns the leader extraction pins 216,244 to their normal positions and the knife blade 282 reciprocates back and forth within the gap 290 to separate the leader tape into two sections. The cutter actuating device 272 is operated to cut the cutter into pieces.
Controller 474 activates actuator 54 to align the magnetic tape in track 48 with the leader portion in track 23 (FIG. 5) as soon as the cutter blade is retracted to its normal rest position. Movable splicing block 24
Rotate. At this time, controller 474 directs actuator 64 to position tracks 42, 48 in alignment with plunger 134 of splice mechanism 6.
to pivot plate 26 to the position shown in FIGS. 7 and 9. At this time, the controller cuts a length of splicing tape to be pressed onto the leader and the abutting end of the magnetic tape.
The splicer actuator 135 is actuated. As soon as the splicer plunger is retracted to its normal rest position, the controller 474 activates the actuator 6.
4 to return the rocking plate 26 to its original flat position (5th
(Fig.), and as a result, the tracks 48, 4
2 is placed in a plane extending at right angles to the panel 4 and parallel to the plane passing through the axes of the spindles 20, 200 (FIGS. 5 and 6). As soon as the splicing block assembly reaches this parallel position, the controller (a) causes valves 485, 487 to isolate the vacuum lines to tracks 42, 48, (b) actuates clutch 160, and (c) The servo·
The motors 18 and 19 are turned on to wind the tape around the hub 468 of the first cassette.

After a predetermined amount of magnetic tape has been wound into the cassette, as determined by the output from counter transducer 15, controller 474 causes
(a) shut off the servo motors 18, 19, and (b) confirm that the magnetic tape is installed on the tracks 42, 48 by removing the extractor pins 216, 244 of the reader.
and (c) reapply the tape to the tracks 42, 48 so as to tighten it again. At this time, the control device operates the cutter mechanism again to cut the magnetic tape. Thereafter, the controller rotates splicing block 24 to bring the second leader portion of track 46 into alignment with the tape of track 42 (FIG. 6). The controller then causes actuator 64 to again pivot plate 26 to the position shown in FIG. Next, the control device connects the splice mechanism 6 and
A piece of splicing tape is attached to the abutting end of the second leader section and to the end of the magnetic tape being wound into the cassette. Once this is done,
Controller 474 causes actuator 64 to rotate plate 26 to reposition track 42 in a plane that is perpendicular to panel 4 and extends parallel to spindles 20,200. At this time, the controller interrupts the vacuum to the tracks 42, 46 and the take-up motor 18 is re-energized to wind the trailing end and second leader portion of the magnetic tape into the cassette. Controller 474 then stops motor 18 and retracts carriage assembly 17 to release the motor spindle, locator pin, and leader extractor pin from the cassette. When the carriage 16 is retracted, the door portion 44 of the cassette
7 is freely closed under the biasing action of its operating spring. As soon as the carriage is freely retracted from a loaded cassette, the controller moves platform 386 away from plate 300, thereby releasing the loaded cassette from the apparatus by gravity. At this time, controller 474 moves platform 386 back into contact with plate 300 and raises cassette pusher arm 412 to its upper limit position. At or before arm 412 is lifted, the controller releases clamp 342 to lift the second cassette as soon as arm 412 has been moved high enough out of the way of the second cassette. Move forward relative to the plate 300. At this time, the control device 47
4 moves the clamp 342 into fixed engagement with the third cassette in the magazine and lowers the cassette pusher arm 412 again to force the second cassette past the restraining rollers 332. . The cassette falls under the action of pusher 412 onto platform 385, where it is again held in abutment against the panel by rollers 402, when the above-described operation moves the tape against the second cassette. It is repeated for reloading.

If it is desired to load magnetic tape into a Betamax cassette, mechanical modifications are made to the apparatus to adapt it to handling Betamax cassettes. This change replaces the adapter plate 182 with the second adapter plate 182B (second
(Fig. 0). Adapter plate 182
B, due to the fact that the Betamax style cassette is somewhat shorter in length and its hubs are closer together, the lower leader extractor actuator 21
0 and motor plate 198 are in slightly different positions.
Additionally, the upper leader extractor assembly is modified by loosening screws 248 to provide a shorter bar 242 so that its leader extractor pin 244 is in the lower position shown in FIG. This modification also requires loosening control 159 to move the carriage assembly up the entire length of opening 250 and then retightening screw 159 to move take-up motor carriage 16.

A modification for loading Betamax style cassettes is to remove the cassette storage and feed mechanism shown in FIGS. 1 and 16 and replace it with a second feed mechanism as shown in FIG. It further includes. This feeding mechanism is based on the side plate 30 of the magazine.
8,310 and the fact that the Betamax style cassette is somewhat narrower and shorter in length, the travel of arm 412 is adjusted as described above. They are almost the same.

Except for the operation of door release actuator 540, which will be described below, the operation of the apparatus when loading a Betamax type cassette is the same as when loading a VHS type cassette.

See FIGS. 22 and 23, which illustrate Betamax style cassettes. In this case, the cassette does not have a separate hub locking mechanism. instead of,
The cassette has a hub locking mechanism (not shown) that is released upon opening of the cassette door or cover. Betamax style cassette 500 has a small opening 50 on one side that receives a spring biased locking pin 506 extending through a side opening in the body adjacent to the hinge for the cover.
4 has a spring-biased pivoting door portion 502. When the depressed pin 506 is removed from the aperture 504, the door section is freed and simultaneously released for rotation of the two cassette hubs.

Therefore, the adapter plate 182B for the Betamax type cassette has the locating pins 190,1
92 and has only two locating pins 510, 512 that enter openings 514, 516 in the rear end of the cassette. The motor spindles 20, 200 are connected to the hubs 52 of the two cassettes.
It is adapted to fit within the recess 518 of the 0.522 cavity and engage the tooth row 524. Furthermore, this adapter plate has arm 2 to push the door open.
It has a small arm 524 similar to 04. The arm 524 is shaped and shaped to engage the rear edge of the front wall 503 of the door portion 502 near the end opposite the end having the opening 504 when the carriage 16 is moved to its forward position. Has a position.

Locking pin 506 forms part of a pivotally mounted locking member 528 disposed in a recess in the cassette body. A locking member 528 is located behind an opening 530 in the front end of the cassette.
The door portion of the cassette is inserted into the member 5 through the opening 530.
28 and is pushed inwardly enough to release pin 506 from the cover, thereby allowing the cover to be opened by arm 524.

As shown in FIG. 21, the platform 386 has a small actuator 54 attached to the cavity.
has 0. This actuator has a small projection 542 on the end of its piston rod for releasing the Betamax cassette door. Actuator 540 causes opening 504 to engage protrusion 5 when a Betamax cassette is removed from the magazine and pushed onto platform 386.
It is placed directly above 42. Upon engagement of the cassette with the platform, controller 474 causes actuator 540 to force its piston rod upwardly so that projection 54
2 engages locking member 528 and forces the pin 506 into the cassette sufficiently to release the pin 506 from the cassette door 502, thereby releasing the door. Thus, when controller 474 subsequently moves take-up motor carriage 16 forward, arm 524 engages the door portion and pivots it outwardly to expose leader 449. When loading of a Betamax cassette is complete, the carriage 16 is moved rearwardly as described above, and at the same time the cassette door automatically closes under the bias of its spring. Actuator 540 is released as soon as the cassette door is opened or the platform 386
can be released at any time before being moved forward to release the loaded cassette.

The main advantage of the invention is that it makes it possible to ensure that the leader is always cut the same distance from the bottom or the hub ahead of the cassette. If the leaders in a C-0 cassette to be loaded all have the same length, ensuring proper loading position of the cassette relative to gap 190 will also ensure that the leaders are paid out from the hub at the bottom of the cassette. This ensures that the leader is cut at a point equidistant from its ends, so that a loaded cassette will have the same length of leader at both ends of the magnetic tape being loaded. Is possible. The use of clutch 160 allows motor 198 to be relatively small. If there is no clutch, motor 1
98 must be relatively large to allow the leader to rotate the spindle 20 and the output shaft of the motor 18, and increasing the size of the motor 198 means that the motor that makes the leader equal This increases the risk of breaking or peeling it from the bottom hub. Another advantage of clutch 160 is that due to the fact that the carriage rotates freely relative to the take-up motor, when the carriage is moved forward,
The purpose is to help position the spindle 20 on the bottom hub.

It will be obvious that the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described. For this reason, for example,
Support plate 26 can also be pivoted by actuator 64 at the same time, before or after splicing block 24 is pivoted by actuator 54. Different splicers or cassette advance mechanisms or different tape cutter mechanisms may be used without departing from the nature of the invention. Furthermore, if it is desired to dedicate the device to loading only one type of cassette, the adapter plate can be omitted;
The reader motor 198, lower leader extractor and positioning mechanism, and door opening pin can also be mounted directly to the carriage plate 152. Additionally, the device can be modified to handle tapes having different widths or different types of tape. Still other modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art.