Editing apparatus

Abstract: An editing apparatus for sequentially reproducing information signals from a plurality of recording media and recording the reproduced signals on a recording medium in accordance with predetermined editing data, comprising: a recording-media array means (2) for arraying a plurality of recording media therein; a first memory means (28) for storing identification data of the recording media in the recording-media array means (2) and also array position data of the recording media in the array means (2); playback means (4B, 4C, 4D) for playing back the recording media to reproduce the information signals therefrom; a recording means (4A) for recording on a recording medium the information signals supplied from the playback means (4B, 4C, 4D); a second memory means (32) for storing the identification data of the recording media loaded in the playback means (4B, 4C, 4D); a recording-media carry means (8) for carrying the recording media from the array means (2) and loading the same in the playback means (4B, 4C, 4D); a data renewal means (30) for renewing the storage contents of the first and second memory means (28, 32) in response to the operation of the recording-media carry means (8); and a control means (34) for controlling the carry means (8) in accordance with the editing data, the data stored in the first memory means (28) and the data stored in the second memory means (32) in such a manner that desired recording media are carried to the playback means (4B, 4C, 4D). The above constitution is capable of eliminating the manual recording-media loading and ejecting procedure usually performed by an operator, hence attaining enhancement in the efficiency of an editing operation.

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an editing apparatus for sequentially reproducing information signals from a plurality of recording media and recording the reproduced signals on a predetermined recording medium, and more particularly to an editing apparatus capable of automatically loading and ejecting the recording media in and from playback units. 2. Description of the Prior Art In the conventional editing apparatus known heretofore, it is generally customary that desired cuts are spliced to one another in accordance with a prepared editing data list. In an editing operation, therefore, the desired cuts to be edited are sequentially selected by previously monitoring tape cassettes to prepare an editing data list which sequentially includes identification numbers (hereinafter referred to as reel numbers) of tape cassettes relative to the individual cuts, and also time codes representative of in-points and out-points. After preparation of such editing data list, tape cassettes are loaded in an editing video tape recorder for the individual cuts in accordance with the editing data list, and the individual cuts are dubbed. Such conventional editing apparatus is disclosed in, for example, U.S. Patent 4,528,600. When an editing data list is prepared in the editing operation mentioned, it is necessary to repeat the procedure of loading and ejecting the tape cassettes so many times. And in editing desired cuts practically, there exists a disadvantage that the procedure of properly loading and ejecting the tape cassettes needs to be repeated without any mistake in accordance with the prepared editing data list. From US-A-3,938,190 an editing apparatus according to the preamble of claim 1 is known. Said known apparatus for storing and retrieving information-bearing units or modules, such as magnetic tape cassettes, includes a fixed two-dimensional storage array, a fixed processing or play station for extracting information from the units, and a movable selection mechanism, having three degrees of freedom, for retrieving individual modules from the storage area, transferring them to the processing area and then returning them to the storage area after the information contained therein has been extracted. Additionally, the known apparatus includes means for automatically sequencing a series of units, as well as a preprocessing station for cueing up individual units for intra-unit accessing. From EP-A-162 248 an apparatus for automatically suplying and selectively reproducing a tape cassette having a plurality of cassette accommodating racks is known, into which a plurality of tape cassettes are accomodated, a plurality of reproducing apparatus for reproducing the plurality of tape cassettes, a tape cassette transporting apparatus for transporting the plurality of tape cassettes from the tape cassette accomodating racks to the plurality of reproducing apparatus and for transporting the plurality of tape cassettes from the plurality of reproducing apparatus to the tape cassette accomodating racks as well as a control apparatus for controlling at least a sequential order or reproducing the plurality of tape cassettes and a sequential order of a playback mode operation of the plurality of reproducing apparatus. A transmission list is made by using a microcomputer, which list is stored in a memory means of the microcomputer and then read out therefrom. OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefor an object of the present invention to provide an improved editing apparatus which is capable of eliminating the manual recording-media loading and ejecting procedure performed usually by an operator, so as to enhance the efficiency in an editing operation. For the purpose of achieving the object mentioned, the present invention as defined in claim 1 has improvements in an editing apparatus for sequentially reproducing information signals from a plurality of recording media and recording the reproduced signals on a recording medium in accordance with predetermined editing data. The editing apparatus of the present invention comprises a recording-media array means for arraying a plurality of recording media therein; a first memory means for storing identification data of the recording media in the recording-media array means and also array position data of the recording media in the array means; playback means for playing back the recording media to reproduce the information signals therefrom; a recording means for recording on a recording medium the information signals supplied from the playback means; a second memory means for storing the identification data of the recording media loaded in the playback means; a recording media carry means for carrying the recording media from the array means and loading the same in the playback means; a data renewal means for renewing the storage contents of the first and second memory means in response to the operation of the recording-media carry means; and a control means for controlling the carry means in accordance with the editing data, the data stored in the first memory means and the data stored in the second memory means in such a manner that desired recording media are carried to the playback means. The above and other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description which will be given with reference to the illustrative accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary editing apparatus embodying the present invention; and Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a tape cassette applicable to the editing apparatus of the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 shows the entire constitution of an editing apparatus 1, wherein a plurality of tape cassettes are arrayed in s shelf unit 2. The shelf unit 2 consists of 40-step horizontal shelves T1, T2, ...., T39, T40 arranged vertically, and 16 tape cassettes to be edited are arrayed on each of such shelves T1 - T40. Four video tape recorders (VTRs) 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D are installed vertically in combination with the shelf unit 2 and are driven in accordance with control data outputted from a shelf controller 6. A cassette carrier 8 is disposed between the shelf unit 2 and the video tape recorders 4A - 4D so that tape cassettes can be carried between the shelves T1 - T40 and the video tape recorders 4A - 4D in accordance with the control data outputted from the shelf controller 6. Thus, the tape cassettes arrayed on the shelves T1 - T40 are loaded in the video tape recorders 4A - 4D as required, or the tape cassettes ejected from the video tape recorders 4A - 4D are returned to predetermined positions on the shelves T1 - T40. The cassette carrier 8 has a guide member 10 movable horizontally between the shelf unit 2 and the video tape recorders 4A - 4D, and an elevator 12 is shiftable upward and downward while being guided by the guide member 10, so that the elevator 12 can be brought to any desired position of the shelves T1 - T40 and the video tape recorders 4A - 4D. The elevator 12 is equipped with an actuator (not shown) for transferring tape cassettes, and an actuator motor 14 is driven in response to the control data outputted from the shelf controller 6, whereby the tape cassettes taken out from the shelves T1 - T40 or the video tape recorders 4A - 4D are loaded in the video tape recorders 4A - 4D or are arrayed on the shelves T1 - T40 by the elevator 12 shifted. An editor 15 receives input data at a control circuit 18 thereof via a keyboard 16 and supplies the input data, when required, via a buffer circuit 20 to an editing-data list memory circuit 22, the shelf controller 6, a switcher 24 and a special effect device 26. More specifically, at the start of an editing operation, reel number data and tape-cassette array position data inputted via the keyboard 16 are supplied to the shelf controller 6, whereby the data representing the reel numbers and the array positions of the tape cassettes in the shelf unit 2 are stored in an intra-LMS reel number memory circuit 28 of the shelf controller 6. Meanwhile at the time of preparing an editing data list, the reel number data inputted via the keyboard 16 are supplied to the shelf controller 6, and the control data inputted successively are supplied to the shelf controller 6, the switcher 24 and the special effect device 26. In this stage, in-points and out-points are designated together with the predetermined control data, and time codes including such in-points and out-points are stored in the editing data list memory circuit 22 together with the reel number data and the control data supplied to the shelf controller 6, the switcher 24 and the special effect device 26, whereby the above procedure is repeated to sequentially prepare an editing data list. When desired cuts are practically edited, the editing data stored in the editing data list memory circuit 22 are sequentially read out therefrom and then are supplied to the shelf controller 6, the switcher 24 and the special effect device 26. The switcher 24 switches its operation in accordance with the control data obtained from the editor 15 to thereby select video signals outputted from the video tape recorders 4A - 4D and the special effect device 26, and then supplies the selected video signals to the video tape recorders 4A - 4D and the special effect device 26. The special effect device 26 switches its operation in accordance with the control data outputted from the editor 15 and adds special effect to the video signals received from the switcher 24. Meantime in the shlef controller 6, the control data outputted from the editor 15 are received at a control circuit 30, and the tape cassettes in the video tape recorders 4A - 4D are replaced while the operations of the video tape recorders 4A - 4D are selectively switched in accordance with the control data. More specifically, at the start of the editing operation, the control circuit 30 receives the output data from the editor 15 and then stores the data sequentially in the intra-LMS reel number memory circuit 28, whereby the reel numbers of the tape cassettes arrayed in the shelf unit 2 are sequentially stored together with the tape-cassette array position data. Meanwhile at the time of preparing an editing data list, the control circuit 30 takes out tape cassettes from the shelves T1 - T40 in accordance with the control data received from the editor 15 and then loads the tape cassettes in the designated video tape recorders 4A - 4D, whereby the procedure of loading and ejecting the tape cassettes by the operator can be eliminated in the preparation of the editing data list. More specifically, the control circuit 30 searches the intra-VTR reel number memory circuit 32 and makes a decision as to whether the tape cassette of each input reel number is already loaded or not in any of the video tape recorders 4A - 4D. Then the intra-VTR reel number memory circuit 32 stores therein individually the reel numbers of the tape cassettes loaded in the video tape recorders 4A - 4D. Thus, after searching the intra-VTR reel number memory circuit 32, the control circuit 30 is capable of making a decision as to whether the tape cassette of each input reel number is already loaded or not in any of the video tape recorders 4A - 4D. Subsequently, in case the tape cassette of the input reel number is existent in the video tape recorders 4A - 4D, the control circuit 30 supplies control data to the video tape recorders 4A - 4D in accordance with the input control data received successively. Then the operator manipulates the keyboard 16 to play back the tape cassettes loaded in the video tape recorders 4A - 4D, and therefore can prepare an editing data list by sequentially setting in-points, out-points and so forth. To the contrary, in case the tape cassette of the input reel number is not loaded in any of the video tape recorders 4A - 4D, the control circuit 30 searches the intra-LMS reel number memory circuit 28 and drives the tape cassette carrier 8 in accordance with the result of such search. Namely, the control data are supplied to the elevator control circuit 34 in accordance with the result of the above search, and the desired tape cassettes arrayed in the shelf unit 2 are loaded in the designated video tape recorders 4A - 4D. If the preceding tape cassettes are existent in the designated video tape recorders 4A - 4D, the control circuit 30 supplies the control data to the video tape recorders 4A - 4D, so that the tape cassettes are ejected therefrom and, after return of such preceding tape cassettes to the former positions on the shelves T1 - T40, the desired tape cassettes of the input reel numbers are loaded. Subsequently the control circuit 30 renews the contents of both the intra-LMS reel number memory circuit 28 and the intra-VTR reel number memory circuit 32 in response to the carry of the tape cassettes, and then supplies the required control data to the video tape recorders 4A - 4D in accordance with the control data inputted successively. Meanwhile in case any input reel number is not stored in the intra-LMS reel number memory circuit 28 either, the control circuit 30 displays on a predetermined monitor a message which signifies that the desired tape cassette is not existent in the shelf unit 2, and then the circuit 30 is kept waiting for input of subsequent control data. In this stage, the operator needs merely to manipulates the keyboard 16 alone, and the desired tape cassette taken out from the shelf unit 2 is loaded in the designated one of the video tape recorders 4A - 4D. When necessary, the operator repeats playback of the tape cassettes by manipulating the keyboard 16 and thereby sets in-points, out-points and so forth sequentially to prepare an editing data list. Consequently, in preparing an editing data list, it becomes possible to eliminate the procedure of loading and ejecting the tape cassettes by the operator, hence enhancing the editing efficiency. When the editing data list is inputted subsequently to supply of the control data at the start of the editing operation, the control circuit 30 searches the intra-VTR reel number memory circuit 32 and makes a decision as to whether the tape cassette of each input reel number is already loaded in any of the video tape recorders 4A - 4D. In case the tape cassette of the input reel number is existent in the video tape recorders 4A - 4D, the required control data is supplied to the video tape recorders 4A - 4D in accordance with the editing data list, and after special effect is added by the special effect device 26 to predetermined cuts when necessary, such cuts are sequentially recorded in the tape cassettes loaded in the desired video tape recorders 4A - 4D. To the contrary, if the tape cassettes of the input reel numbers are not existent in the video tape recorders 4A - 4D, the control circuit 30 searches the intra-LMS reel number memory circuit 28 and, according to the result of such search, loads the desired tape cassettes, which are arrayed in the shelf unit 2, into the video tape recorders 4B - 4D designated by the editing data list. In this stage, if the preceding tape cassettes are existent in the designated video tape recorders 4B - 4D, the control circuit 30 ejects such tape cassettes therefrom and returns the same to the former positions on the shelves T1 - T40. Subsequently the control circuit 30 renews the contents of both the intra-LMS reel number memory circuit 28 and the intra-VTR reel number memory circuit 32 in response to the carry of the tape cassettes, and then supplies the required control data to the video tape recorders 4A - 4D in accordance with the editing data list. Thereafter desired cuts are recorded in the tape cassette loaded in the video tape recorder 4A for example, and then a subsequent editing data list is inputted. Thus, the operator needs merely to manipulate the keyboard 16 to input an editing start command, whereby the tape cassettes arrayed in the shelf unit 2 are played back in accordance with the editing data list, and predetermined cuts can be recorded in the desired video tape recorders 4A - 4D, hence eliminating the tape-cassette loading and ejecting procedure by the operator. Consequently, it becomes possible to enhance the editing efficiency. Furthermore, the editing apparatus can be driven automatically without the necessity of any operator attended to eventually achieve effective use. In this embodiment, the shelf unit 2 serves as a recording-media array means for arraying a plurality of recording media therein, and the intra-LMS reel number memory circuit 38 serves as a first data memory means for storing both identification data of the recording media arrayed in the recording-media array means and also array position data of the recording media in the array means. Further the video tape recorders 4A - 4D serve as playback means for playing back the recording media, and the intra-VTR reel number memory circuit 32 serves as a second data memory means for storing the identification data of the recording media loaded in the playback means. Besides the above, the tape cassette carrier 8 serves as a recording-media carry means for carrying the recording media from the array means and loading the same in the playback means. And the control circuit 30 serves as a data renewal means for renewing the contents of both the first and second data memory means in response to the action of the recording-media carry means. At the time of preparing an editing data list in the constitution mentioned, the reel number of a tape cassette is inputted via the keyboard 16, so that the intra-VTR reel number memory circuit 32 is searched, and a decision is made as to whether the tape cassette of the input reel number is already loaded or not in any of the video tape recorders 4A - 4D. And in case the result of such decision signifies that the tape cassette is not existent in any of the video tape recorders 4A - 4D, the intra-LMS reel number memory circuit 28 is searched to detect the position of the tape cassette of the input reel number on the shelves of the shelf unit 2. And in accordance with the result of such detection, the desired tape cassette is carried from the shelf unit 2 and then is loaded in the desired one of the video tape recorders 4A - 4D. Thus, it becomes possible to eliminate the procedure of loading and ejecting the tape cassettes by the operator. And the operator can sequentially prepare an editing data list merely by manipulating the keyboard 16 successively and setting in-points, out-points and so forth. When desired cuts are practically edited, the intra-VTR reel number memory circuit 32 is searched in accordance with the editing data list outputted from the editing data list memory circuit 22, and a decision is made as to whether the tape cassette of the input reel number is already loaded or not in any of the video tape recorders 4A - 4D. If the result of such decision signifies that the tape cassette is not existent in any of the video tape recorders 4A - 4D, the intra-LMS reel number memory circuit 28 is searched to detect the position of the tape cassette of the input reel number on the shelves of the shelf unit 2. Thereafter the desired tape cassette is carried from the shelf unit 2 in accordance with the result of such detection and then is loaded in the desired one of the video tape recorders 4A - 4D. Thus, the procedure of loading and ejecting the tape cassette by the operator can be eliminated to consequently attain sequential editing of desired cuts on the basis of the editing data list. According to the constitution mentioned, the intra-LMS reel number memory circuit 28 is searched posterior to search of the intra-VTR reel number memory circuit 32, then the desired tape cassette is carried from the shelf unit 2 in accordance with the result of such search and is loaded in the video tape recorder. Therefore, when preparing an editing data list and editing the desired cuts practically, the procedure of loading and ejecting the tape cassettes by the operator can be eliminated to eventually enhance the operational efficiency. The above embodiment is so contrived that, when preparing an editing data list and editing desired cuts practically, the relevant tape cassett4 is carried from the shelf unit 2 and is loaded in accordance with the result of searching the intra-LMS reel number memory circuit 28. However, the present invention is not limited to such example alone, and the procedure of carrying the tape cassette from the shelf unit 2 and loading the same in the video tape recorder may be executed either in preparing an editing data list or in editing desired cuts practically. Although the above embodiment has been described with reference to an exemplary case of inputting the identification data and the array position data of tape cassettes by means of the keyboard 16, the present invention is not limited thereto alone, and a modification may be so devised that identification data are assigned to individual tape cassettes and, after the tape cassettes are arrayed in the shelf unit, the identification data are read out and inputted automatically. In such modification, as illustrated in Fig. 2, a bar code 42 is attached to the back surface of a tape cassette 40, and a bar code reader is provided on the elevator 12. And the result of a detection by the bar code reader is stored in the intra-LMS reel number memory circuit 28 with respect to each array position in the shelf unit 2. In this case, the bar code reader serves as an identification data read means. Relative to the time codes assigned to individual tape cassettes, the time-representing digits thereof may be set to mutually different values. In this example, the time-representing digits of the time codes are read out by the video tape recorders 4A - 4D for detection of the identification data which are replaced with the time codes. In this case, the video tape recorders 4A - 4D serve as identification data read means. It is also possible to record the identification data by utilizing a user's bit of each time code. The embodiment described above is concerned with an exemplary case of editing tape cassettes. However, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited thereto alone and is widely applicable to editing of recorded information on a variety of video signal recording media such as video discs, and further to editing of music programs and so forth. As described hereinabove, according to the present invention, recording media are arrayed in a recording-media array means, and both identification data and array position data of the recording media are retrieved in accordance with an editing data list. Subsequently the recording media in the array means are taken out therefrom in accordance with the result of such retrieval and then are loaded in playback means so as to be edited. Thus, the procedure of loading and ejecting the recording media by the operator can be eliminated to consequently enhance the editing efficiency. Also according to the present invention, recording media are arrayed in a recording-media array means, and both identification data and array position data of such recording media are retrieved in accordance with input data. And the recording media in the array means are loaded in playback means in accordance with the result of such retrieval, so that in preparing an editing data list, the tape-cassette loading and ejecting procedure by the operator can be eliminated to eventually enhance the editing efficiency. And further according to the present invention, the identification data read out by the identification data read means are stored in the first data memory means, whereby the procedure of inputting the identification data can be simplified to consequently enhance the editing efficiency.

Claims: An editing apparatus for sequentially reproducing information signals from a plurality of recording media and recording the reproduced signals on a recording media, comprising: a) a recording-media array means (2) for arraying a plurality of recording media therein; b) playback means (4B, 4C, 4D) for reproducing the video signals from said recording media (T1, T2, ...); c) a recording means (4A) for recording on a recording media the video signals supplied from said playback means (4B, 4C, 4D); d) second memory means (32) for storing the identification data of the recording media loaded in said playback means (4B, 4C, 4D); e) a recording-media carry means (8) for carrying the recording media from said array means (2) and loading the same in said playback means (4B, 4C, 4D); f) editing data list generating means (16, 18, 20) generating an editing data list including said identification data of the recording media loaded in the playback means (4B, 4C, 4D) and edit points data which are set to the video signals reproduced by said playback means (4B, 4C, 4D), so that said edit points data are associated with said identification data at every desired cuts in response to operation of operator; g) third memory means (22) for storing said editing data list; characterized by h) a first memory means (28) for storing identification data to identify the recording media in said recording-media array means (2) and also array position data indicative of the positions of the recording media in said recording-media array means (2), which first memory means (28) is provided seperately to the third memory means (22); and i) editing means (30, 34) for controlling said carry means (8) in accordance with the data stored in said first memory means (28), the data stored in the second memory means (32) and the data stored in said third memory means (22) in such a manner that desired recording media are carried to said playback means (4B, 4C, 4D) and for controlling said playback means (4B, 4C, 4D) so that said editing means generates edited video signals comprising the video signals of the desired cuts recorded on said plurality of recording media (T1, T2, ...) in accordance with said edit points data, j) wherein said editing means (30, 34) searches said second memory means (32) in accordance with the editing data list, then searches said first memory means (28) successively upon detection that the identification data of the recording media designated by the editing data list is not existent in said second memory means (32), and controls said recording-media carry means (8) in accordance with the result of searching said first memory means (28), and k) the editing means (30, 34) renews the contents of the first and second memory means (28, 32) in response of a carry of said recording media by said recording-media carry means (8). An editing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said editing data represent reel numbers, in-points and out-points. An editing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a signal processing meand (26) for adding special effect to the inforation signal reproduced by said playback means (4B, 4C, 4D) and supplying the processed signal to said recording means (4A). An editing apparatus according to anyone of claims 1 to 3, wherein said playback means consist of a plurality of playback units (4B, 4C, 4D). An editing apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a switching means (24) for selectively supplying to said recording means (4A) the output signal of a desired one of said playback units (4B, 4C, 4D). An editing apparatus according to anyone of claims 1 to 5, wherein the identification data to be stored in said first memory means (28) are recorded (42) additionally on the recording media.

Inventors: KIKUCHI AKIRA, KIZU SOJIRO, NINOMIYA ICHIRO, SAITO YUTAKA, KIKUCHI, AKIRA,, KIZU, SOJIRO,, NINOMIYA, ICHIRO,, SAITO, YUTAKA,, KIKUCHI, AKIRA, C/O SONY CORPORATION, KIZU, SOJIRO, C/O SONY CORPORATION, NINOMIYA, ICHIRO, C/O SONY CORPORATION, SAITO, YUTAKA, C/O SONY CORPORATION
Applicants: SONY CORP, SONY CORPORATION
Application year: 1991
Main classification: G11B27
IPC codes: H04N5, G11B27, G11B15