Multiple-deck magnetic information recording reproducer

• US 5,426,534 A
• Filed: 05/27/1994
• Issued: 06/20/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Kamimura, Yoko, Nakata, Shingo
• Primary Examiner(s): Sniezek, Andrew L.
• Application Number:
  US08/250,632
• Time in Patent Office: 389 Days
• Field of Search: 360/71, 360/13, 360/15, 358/335, 358/310, 358/311
• US Class Current: 360/15
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/00 Driving, starting or stopping record carriers of filamentary or web form; Driving both such record carriers and heads; Guiding such record carriers or containers therefor; Control thereof; Control of operating function driving or guiding heads G11B3/00 - G11B7/00, G11B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/026 by using processor, e.g. microcomputer
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/103 electrically operated
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/455 said record carriers being in one device and being used as primary and secondary/backup media, e.g. HDD-DVD combo device, or as source and target media, e.g. PC and portable player
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/90 Tape-like record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/91 Helical scan format, wherein tracks are slightly tilted with respect to tape direction, e.g. VHS, DAT, DVC, AIT or exabyte
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/024 on tapes G11B27/028, G11B27/029 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/028 with computer assistance
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/86 Re-recording, i.e. transcribing information from one magnetisable record carrier on to one or more similar or dissimilar record carriers by varying the order of the information G11B27/029, G11B27/036

Abstract

A double-deck video tape recorder has two tape cassette slots defined in a front panel thereof for inserting and ejecting respective magnetic tape cassettes therethrough. The double-deck video tape recorder also has a pair of drive mechanisms disposed in a housing for recording information on and reproducing information from the magnetic tape cassettes inserted in the respective drive mechanisms through the tape cassette slots. When an edit direction key is pressed, a control system places one of the drive mechanisms in a playback mode and another of the drive mechanisms in a recording mode. When a start/pause key is pressed, the control system starts to operate the one of the drive mechanisms to reproduce recorded information from the magnetic tape cassette inserted therein and also to operate the other drive mechanism to record the reproduced information in the magnetic tape cassette inserted therein.

Claims

1. A multiple-deck magnetic information recording and reproducing apparatus comprising:

a housing having a plurality of slots for inserting and ejecting respective magnetic recording mediums therethrough;

a plurality of drive mechanisms disposed in said housing for recording information on and reproducing information from the magnetic recording mediums inserted in the respective drive mechanisms through said slots;

control means for placing one of said drive mechanisms in a playback mode and another of said drive mechanisms in a recording mode in response to a first input signal from a first control key, and for starting to operate said one drive mechanism to reproduce recorded information from the magnetic recording medium inserted therein and to operate said other drive mechanism to record the reproduced information on the magnetic recording medium inserted therein, in response to an input signal from a second control key; and

said control means further comprises means for changing sad one of said drive mechanisms from said playback mode to a record mode and changing said another of said drive mechanisms from said recording mode to a playback mode all in response to a second input signal from said first control key.

2. A multiple-deck magnetic information recording and reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means includes means for returning the magnetic recording mediums inserted in said one and other drive mechanisms back to start positions thereof before said one and other drive mechanisms start to operate.

3. A multiple-deck magnetic information recording and reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means includes means for starting to operate said one drive mechanism a predetermined period of time after said other drive mechanism starts operating.

4. A multiple-deck magnetic information recording and reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said magnetic recording mediums comprise magnetic tape cassettes.

5. A multiple-deck magnetic information recording and reproducing apparatus comprising:

a housing having a plurality of slots for inserting and ejecting respective magnetic recording mediums therethrough;

a plurality of drive mechanisms disposed in said housing for recording information on and reproducing information from the magnetic recording mediums inserted in the respective drive mechanisms through said slots;

control means for placing one of said drive mechanisms in a playback mode and another of said drive mechanisms in a recording mode in response to a first input signal from a first control key, and for starting to operate said one drive mechanism to reproduce recorded information from the magnetic recording medium inserted therein and to operate said other drive mechanism to record the reproduced information on the magnetic recording medium inserted therein, in response to an input sisal from a second control key;

said control means further comprises means for changing said one of said drive mechanisms from said playback mode to a record mode and changing said another of said drive mechanisms from said recording mode to a playback mode all in response to a second input signal from said first control key; and

indicator means responsive to said first and second signals from said first control key to indicate which of said drive mechanisms is placed in said, playback mode and which of said drive mechanisms is placed in said recording mode.

6. A multiple-deck magnetic information recording and reproducing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said control means includes means for returning the magnetic recording mediums inserted in said one and other drive mechanisms back to start positions thereof before said one and other drive mechanisms start to operate.

7. A multiple-deck magnetic information recording and reproducing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said control means includes means for starting to operate said one drive mechanism a predetermined period of time after said other drive mechanism starts operating.

8. A multiple-deck magnetic information recording and reproducing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said magnetic recording mediums comprise magnetic tape cassettes.

9. A multiple-deck magnetic information recording and reproducing apparatus comprising:

a housing having a plurality of slots for inserting and ejecting respective magnetic recording mediums therethrough; and

a plurality of drive mechanisms disposed in said housing for recording information on and reproducing information from the magnetic recording mediums inserted in the respective drive mechanisms through said slots;

control means for placing one of said drive mechanisms in a playback mode and another of said drive mechanisms in a recording mode in response to a first input signal from a first control key, and for starting to operate said one drive mechanism to reproduce recorded information from the magnetic recording medium inserted therein and to operate said other drive mechanism to record the reproduced information on the magnetic recording medium inserted therein, in response to an input signal from a second control key;

said control means further comprises means for changing said one of said drive mechanisms from said playback mode to a record mode and changing said another of said drive mechanisms from said recording mode to a playback mode all in response to a second input signal from said first control key;

indicator means responsive to said first and second input signals from said first control key to indicate which of said drive mechanisms is placed in said playback mode and which of said drive mechanisms is placed in said recording mode;

said control means further comprises;

means for returning the magnetic recording mediums inserted in said one and other drive mechanisms back to start positions thereof before said one and other drive mechanisms start to operate;

means for starting to operate said one drive mechanism a predetermined period of time after said other drive mechanism starts operating;

said magnetic recording mediums comprise magnetic tape cassettes;

said one of said drive mechanisms comprises a VHS format video tape deck; and

said other of said drive mechanisms comprises an 8 mm format video tape deck.