US 4,907,889 A · Video cassette library retrieval and sequencing system

Abstract

A retrieval and sequencing system, preferably in the form of a tape cassette library is disclosed for automatically playing magnetic tape cassettes, such as video cassettes in regular television programming as well as spot broadcasting. The system includes a rotary cassette carousel for supporting, guiding and releasably receiving cassettes of the same or different size within cassette pockets. A multi-axis cassette transfer robot with a multi-axis cassette arm and associated gripper elements operates to automatically select and transfer cassettes from the rotary cassette carousel to a video cassette machine for playing or recording on cassettes, all of which are controlled and operated by a computer based programmable control system. One cassette is carried by one of the cassette gripper elements for loading into a video tape machine. The other cassette gripper element is used to remove a cassette from a video tape machine so as to allow the loaded cassette gripper element to then insert a cassette into an empty video cassette machine. The loading and unloading of the video cassette machine takes place in the immediate area of the video cassette machine, thus minimizing the time required for changeover and maximizing the time the video cassette machine can operate. The unloaded cassette is then inserted into the rotary cassette carousel into its assigned position. A mobile cassette storage rack may also be used with the aforementioned equipment to enhance up-dating of the rotary cassette carousel. A separate cassette loading port is included to allow for last minute cassette insertions into the system. The entire system is sufficiently flexible and adaptable to accommodate one or more rotary cassette carousels, mobile cassette storage racks, and video cassette playing machines.

Claims24

Dependent claims

A video cassette library, retrieval and sequencing system comprising:

at least one rotary cassette carousel containing a plurality of cassettes;
a multi-axis cassette transfer robot having a cassette transfer arm and associated pair of cassette gripper elements, each cassette gripper element being at least partially independently operable from each other and from the multi-axis robot, said pair of cassette gripper elements being angularly offset from one another and being operatively mounted on said robot by means providing rotary movement thereof along a predetermined arcuate path and further including means to facilitate cassette unloading with one of said cassette gripper elements and cassette loading with said other cassette gripper element;
at least one video cassette machine for playing cassettes inserted therein;
and
control means for operating said aforementioned components to transfer cassettes from said carousel to said at least one video cassette machine through said robot and cassette transfer arm.

2 more elements

A video cassette library, retrieval and sequencing system comprising:

at least one rotary cassette carousel containing a plurality of cassettes;
a multi-axis cassette transfer robot being rotationally mounted about a vertical axis and including a cassette transfer carriage mounted on said robot for independent movement along a vertical path, means for moving said cassette transfer carriage along said vertical path;
a cassette transfer arm mounted on said cassette transfer carriage for movement along a horizontal path and including a pair of angularly offset cassette gripper elements mounted on said cassette transfer arm and operated by means for rotary movement though various positions along a predetermined arcuate path, each cassette gripper element having independently operable cassette gripper means for gripping cassettes when positioned in proximity relative thereto, each of said cassette gripper means having gripper jaw means and finger means providing limited extension and gripping motions and corresponding retraction and opening motions for gripping and releasing cassettes;
at least one video cassette machine for playing cassettes inserted therein;
and control means for (a) rotating the carousel to present a specific cassette for removal by the robot, (b) positioning one of said cassette gripper elements in proximity relative to said specific cassette and gripping said cassette, (c) moving the cassette gripper elements in proximity to said at least one video cassette machine, (d) re-positioning the cassette gripper elements to enable an unloaded cassette gripper element to grip and remove a cassette ejected from said at least one video cassette machine, and (e) again re-positioning the cassette gripper elements to enable the cassette gripper element loaded with said specific cassette to insert said cassette in said at least one video cassette machine for playing same.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Video cassette library retrieval and sequencing system

Life of this patent

Video cassette library retrieval and sequencing system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims24