JPH0454291B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a recording medium inspection device for inspecting recording media such as floppy disk cartridges and optical disk cartridges.

[Prior Art] There is a strong demand for automation of such recording medium inspections from the viewpoint of reducing inspection costs and improving inspection efficiency.

Therefore, conventionally, such a recording medium inspection apparatus has been used to perform recording operations such as supplying a recording medium to an inspection unit that records and reproduces information on the recording medium for inspection of the recording medium, and ejecting the recording medium after inspection. Equipped with a mechanism to automatically handle media.

Conventionally, this recording medium handling mechanism has a recording medium carrier capable of conveying the recording medium in both directions, and the recording medium carrier is commonly used for both feeding and ejecting the recording medium.

[Problems to be Solved] Now, in a recording medium inspection device, the efficiency of handling the recording medium, such as supplying the recording medium to the inspection unit and ejecting the recording medium after inspection, depends on the efficiency of the handling of the recording medium. The efficiency of the entire inspection process is greatly affected.

However, in the conventional recording medium inspection apparatus, since the recording medium is supplied and ejected using a common recording medium carrier as described above, each operation of recording medium feeding, recording medium inspection, and recording medium ejection is performed in a single manner. performed independently and sequentially. As a result, the time required for supplying and discharging the recording medium is relatively long, leading to a decrease in the efficiency of the entire inspection process.

Furthermore, depending on the type of recording medium, the content of the inspection, etc., the processing time of the inspection unit for one recording medium becomes considerably long. However, since conventional recording medium inspection apparatuses generally have only one inspection unit, there is a problem that a sufficient inspection processing speed cannot be achieved in the case of recording media or inspection contents that require a long processing time such as recording and reproduction.

[Object of the Invention] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a recording medium inspection apparatus that improves the conventional problems and improves the inspection processing speed.

[Means for solving the problem] The characteristics of the recording medium inspection device of the specific invention for achieving such an object are that A plurality of recording medium inspection units are arranged such that the recording medium transfer positions coincide in a second direction perpendicular to the inspection unit (for example, the vertical direction), and the recording medium transfer side is opposite to the recording medium transfer side of the inspection unit. a vertically movable hopper for supplying recording media before inspection, a horizontally movable stacker for storing recording media after inspection, and a plurality of inspections; a supply carrier disposed between the unit and the hopper and stacker, reciprocating in a first direction, receiving the recording medium from the hopper side and supplying it to the inspection unit side; an ejection carrier that is arranged a predetermined distance apart in the first direction, moves in the first direction, receives the recording medium from the inspection unit side, and ejects it to the stacker side; and the supply carrier and the ejection carrier are both moved by the predetermined distance. a first moving means for selectively positioning one of these at a position for receiving the recording medium of the inspection unit; a second moving means for positioning a hopper at a recording medium delivery position of a supply carrier to be placed; and a record of an ejection carrier placed a predetermined distance away when the supply carrier is positioned in the inspection unit by the first moving means. A third moving means for positioning the stacker at the medium delivery position is provided, and handling of the recording medium by the supply carrier and the discharge carrier is performed in parallel.

Furthermore, the characteristics of the recording medium inspection device of the related invention are as follows:
The above-mentioned hopper and stacker are replaced with a belt conveyance mechanism, and in the case of belt conveyance, recording media are not stacked, so the recording medium delivery position remains constant.

[Function] In this way, a carrier mechanism for handling the recording medium is interposed between the inspection unit and the hopper and stacker or the belt conveyance mechanism, and this carrier mechanism is composed of a supply carrier and an ejection carrier, and furthermore, the ejection carrier is supplied. It is arranged at a predetermined distance from the carrier and configured to move together by a predetermined distance, and the recording medium transfer position of the hopper or stacker (or belt conveyance mechanism) is located relative to the recording medium transfer position of the inspection unit. Since the two carriers are arranged to match the positional relationship of the predetermined distance described above, one carrier is positioned in the inspection unit while the other carrier is positioned in the hopper or stacker (or belt conveyance mechanism). As a result, the entire system, including not only the inspection unit but also the hopper and stacker (or belt conveyance mechanism), can efficiently perform the feeding and discharging of recording media continuously and in parallel.

Furthermore, the supply carrier and the discharge carrier are not provided independently for each inspection unit, but the configuration is such that a common supply carrier and discharge carrier are used for supplying and discharging recording media to a plurality of inspection units. Larger and more complex mechanisms for handling recording media;
This can prevent the control from becoming complicated.

Furthermore, recording and reproduction of the recording medium can be performed in parallel using a plurality of inspection units.

Therefore, together with the reduction in recording medium handling time, a significant improvement in inspection processing speed can be achieved.

[Embodiments] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an embodiment of a recording medium inspection apparatus according to the present invention.

In this figure, 10a, 10b, 10c, 1
0d is a multi-shelf magazine capable of accommodating a large number of recording media (eg, floppy disk cartridges, optical disk cartridges, etc.).

Among them, the leftmost magazine 10a is for storing recording media to be inspected, and is hereinafter referred to as a hopper.

The other magazines 10b to 10d are for storing inspected recording media, and are hereinafter referred to as stackers. Among them, the stacker 10b is used to store recording media that passed both sides, the stacker 10c is used to store recording media that passed one side, and the stacker 10d is used to store recording media that failed both sides. used.

12a is an elevator on which the hopper 10a is placed, and 12b to 12d are stackers 10b to 10d.
This is an elevator in which a car is placed.

The elevator 12a includes an elevator stand 14 to which the hopper 10a is fixed, a guide shaft 16 for guiding the elevator stand 14 up and down, a screw shaft 18 for driving the elevator stand 12a up and down, and a screw shaft 18 fixed to the screw shaft 18. A motor 24 for rotating the gear 22 that meshes with the provided gear 20, a brake 26 for stopping the rotation of the gear 22, and a hopper 10a (not shown).
It consists of a chuck mechanism and the like for fixing the elevator on the elevator platform 14.

With such a configuration, when the motor 24 operates, its rotation is transmitted to the screw shaft 18 via the gears 20 and 22, so that the elevator platform 14 is raised or lowered. The stopping position of the elevator platform 14 is precisely controlled by operating the brake 26.

Since the other elevators 12b to 12d have the same structure, the description of the structure and the reference numbers of each part will be omitted.

Reference numerals 30a and 30b each indicate an inspection unit, which performs recording and reproduction of information on a recording medium in order to inspect the recording medium.
This inspection unit 30 may be, for example, similar to a drive unit for a target recording medium, and has a built-in eject mechanism for pushing out the recording medium.

A supply carrier 32 takes in the recording medium from the hopper 10a at the take-in position and supplies it to the inspection units 30a and 30b. Therefore, this supply 32 is provided with openings at the front and back for loading and unloading the recording medium, and inside thereof, although not shown, there are a conveyor belt and a pressure roller that nip and convey the recording medium, and the conveyor belt. and a pusher for pushing the recording medium conveyed by the pressure roller toward the inspection units 30a and 30b.

In order to assist the recording medium taking-in operation by the supply carrier 32, there is a pusher in the hopper 10a that pushes the recording medium toward the supply carrier 32, but it is not shown.

Reference numeral 34 denotes a discharge carrier, which takes in the inspected recording medium from the inspection units 30a and 30b, discharges it at a discharge position corresponding to the inspection result, and stores it in the stackers 10b to 10d located at that position. be. The internal structure of this discharge carrier 34 is similar to the internal structure of the supply carrier 32.

36 and 38 are respectively supply carriers 32
and a transmission shaft for transmitting power to the conveyor belt of the discharge carrier 34. Each transmission shaft 36, 38 has a movable frame 40,
42, and is rotatably driven directly by motors 44, 46 fixed to movable frames 40, 42, or indirectly via a belt or the like.

48 and 50 are respectively supply carriers 32
and a screw shaft for moving the discharge carrier 34 in the horizontal direction. Each screw shaft 48, 50 is rotatably supported at both ends by the movable frames 40, 42, and has motors 52, 54 fixed to the movable frames 40, 42.
It is designed to be rotationally driven either directly by a belt or indirectly through a belt or the like.

The movable frames 40, 42 are guided by guide shafts 56-62, respectively, and are movable in the vertical direction.

64 is a rotary actuator for raising and lowering the movable frames 40, 42, and is fixed to a fixed part (not shown). The lower end of an arm member 68 is attached to a member 66 fixed to the rotating shaft of the rotary actuator 64 by a pin 70, and the upper end of this arm member 68 is attached to a movable frame 40 by a pin 72. is attached to.

74 is a rotating shaft for transmitting the rotation of the rotary actuator 64 to the other movable frame 42 side. On the movable frame 42 side,
The end of the rotating shaft 74 is rotatably supported by a fixed part (not shown), and a member (not shown) similar to the member 66 is fixed to the end. Although not shown, the lower end of an arm member similar to the arm member 68 is attached to this member by a pin, and the upper end of the arm member is attached to the movable frame 42 by a pin. ing.

With this configuration, when the rotary actuator 64 is actuated, its rotation is transmitted to the movable frames 40, 42 as a vertical movement, and as a result, the movable frames 40, 42 move up and down.

Note that the motors 24 of the elevators 12a to 12d
and brake 26, motors 44, 46, 52,
54, rotary actuator 64, and means for controlling the operation of inspection units 30a, 30b are naturally provided, but are not shown.

In addition, in connection with such control, sensors for detecting the positions of the supply carrier 32, the discharge carrier 34, the hopper 10a, the stackers 10b to 10d, etc.
Sensors for detecting the presence or absence of a recording medium in the hopper 10a and the stackers 10b to 10d, the presence or absence of a storage space, sensors for detecting the presence or absence of a recording medium in the supply carrier 32 and the discharge carrier 34, a jam, etc. is naturally provided, but is omitted from the figure.

FIG. 2 is a time chart showing an example of the operation of this recording medium inspection apparatus. The operation will be explained with reference to this time chart.

Immediately after the inspection operation by one of the inspection units 30a is completed at the point in time, the rotary actuator 64 is activated and the movable frames 40, 42 are lowered to the lowered position. This causes the discharge carrier 34 to descend to the same height as the inspection units 30a, 30b.

Also, the motor 54 operates, and the discharge carrier 34
is moved horizontally to the same horizontal position as the inspection unit 30a.

At the end of such vertical and horizontal movement, the motor 46 is activated and the ejection carrier 3
4 begins to take in the recording medium from the inspection unit 30a.

At that point, rotary actuator 64 is actuated to raise movable frames 40, 42 to the raised position (the height shown in FIG. 1). As a result, the supply carrier 32 is connected to the inspection units 30a, 3
Move to the same height as 0b.

At the same time, the motor 54 is activated, and the discharge carrier 34 is loaded into a stacker (10b to 10d) corresponding to the inspection result of the recording medium that has been taken into the discharge carrier 34.
) is moved horizontally to a horizontal position.

From the point in time, the motor 44 starts operating, and the feeding operation of the recording medium (already taken in) by the supply carrier 32 to the inspection unit 30a begins.

From the point in time after the end of this supply operation, the supply carrier 32 moves the recording medium to the hopper 1 at the take-in position.
Start the capture operation from 0a.

At the same time, the motor 46 operates and the discharge carrier 34
The ejecting operation of the recording medium (which has already been taken in) starts, and the inspected recording medium is stored in the stackers 10b to 10d located immediately before that.

Almost simultaneously with this operation, the inspection unit 3
0a starts the inspection operation.

After the loading and unloading of the recording media is completed, the elevator 12a and the elevators 12b to 12d corresponding to the stackers 10b to 10d in which the recording media are stored begin to rise, and stop when they have risen by one hopper and stacker level. do.

Immediately after the inspection operation by the other inspection unit 30b is completed, the rotary actuator 64 and the motor 44 are activated, the supply carrier 32 and the discharge carrier 34 are lowered, and the discharge carrier 34 is moved to the inspection unit 30.
It is moved to the same horizontal position as b.

From the point in time, the discharge carrier 34 takes in the recording medium from the inspection unit 30b.

Thereafter, from the point in time, the supply carrier 32 and the discharge carrier 34 are raised. At the same time, the discharge carrier 34 is moved horizontally to the position of the stackers 10b to 10d where the received recording media are to be stored, and the supply carrier 32 is moved horizontally to the position of the inspection unit 30b.

From the point in time, the supply carrier 32 starts supplying the recording medium to the inspection unit 30b.
At the point in time, the supply carrier 32 is connected to the inspection unit 30a.
(the horizontal position of the hopper 10a).

From the point in time, the supply carrier 32 starts taking in the recording medium, and at the same time, the discharge carrier 3
Step 4 starts the ejection and storage operation of the recording medium. Almost simultaneously, the inspection operation of the inspection unit 30b begins.

Thereafter, the recording medium inspection process is continuously executed by repeating the same operation.

In this way, the handling of the recording medium, the related lifting and lowering of the supply carrier 32 and the discharge carrier 34, and the horizontal movement of the discharge carrier 34 are efficiently performed in parallel. Further, the inspection operation is also performed in parallel by the two inspection units 30a and 30b, with almost no interruption.

Therefore, compared to conventional recording medium inspection devices, the efficiency of the entire inspection process is greatly improved.

Although one embodiment has been described above, the present invention is not limited thereto.

For example, the vertical relationship between the supply carrier and the discharge carrier can be reversed from that of the above embodiment,
Even in this case, the recording medium can be handled efficiently as well.

Furthermore, in the embodiments described above, the supply carrier and the discharge carrier are arranged one above the other and are moved up and down integrally, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

In another embodiment of the invention, not shown, both carriers are arranged at the same height and only their horizontal movement takes place. It is clear that even with such a configuration, similar efficient handling of recording media is possible.

Furthermore, three or more inspection units may be provided.

The number of stackers may be increased or decreased. For example, increase the number of stats to 4, pass each one on both sides, and
It is possible to allocate storage for recording media that pass one side, pass B side, and fail both sides. If such differentiated storage is not performed, it is possible to use only one stacker.

Further, in the above embodiment, the recording medium is taken in from a multi-shelf magazine and stored therein, but it is also possible to take in the recording medium from a conveyor belt or discharge the recording medium onto the conveyor belt. It is possible.

However, when processing recording media such as floppy disks and cassettes whose cases are not welded,
When a multi-shelf magazine is used as in the above embodiment, there is an advantage that the case is less likely to be disassembled.

The present invention may be implemented with various modifications to other device configurations and operations without departing from the spirit thereof.

[Effects of the Invention] As described in detail above, according to the present invention, the recording medium can be handled efficiently, and recording and reproduction of the recording medium can be performed with almost no interruption by the plurality of inspection units. By doing this, the inspection processing speed of recording media can be greatly improved,
In addition, a common supply carrier and a common discharge carrier are used to supply and discharge recording media to and from a plurality of inspection units, thereby realizing a recording medium inspection apparatus in which the recording medium handling mechanism is relatively small and simple.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a simplified structure of an embodiment of a recording medium inspection apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a time chart showing an example of the operation of the embodiment. 10a... hopper, 10b, 10c, 10d... stacker, 12a-12d... elevator, 30a,
30b...Inspection unit, 32...Supply carrier, 3
4...Discharge carrier, 52...Motor for horizontal movement of the supply carrier, 54...Motor for horizontal movement of the discharge carrier, 64...Rotary actuator for lifting and lowering the carrier.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. Inspection of the recording media arranged in parallel in a first direction so that the positions at which the recording media are delivered coincide in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. a plurality of units, a hopper which is provided at a predetermined distance apart such that the recording medium delivery side faces the recording medium delivery side of the inspection unit and is movable in a second direction for supplying the recording medium before inspection; a stacker movable in a second direction that stores the recording medium after inspection; and a stacker that is disposed between the plurality of inspection units and the hopper and the stacker, moves back and forth in the first direction, and moves from the hopper side to the stacker. a supply carrier that receives the recording medium and supplies it to the inspection unit side; and a supply carrier that is arranged a predetermined distance away from the supply carrier in a second direction, moves back and forth in the first direction, and supplies the recording medium to the inspection unit side. an ejection carrier that receives the recording medium from the stacker and ejects it to the stacker side; and moves both the supply carrier and the ejection carrier by the predetermined distance, and moves one of them to the recording medium of the inspection unit. a first moving means selectively positioned at a receiving position; and a recording medium delivery position of the supply carrier located at the predetermined distance when the discharge carrier is positioned at the inspection unit by the first moving means. a second moving means for positioning the hopper at the recording medium transfer position of the ejection carrier, which is located a predetermined distance apart when the supply carrier is positioned at the inspection unit by the first moving means; A recording medium inspection apparatus, comprising: a third moving means for positioning the stacker, wherein handling of the recording medium by the supply carrier and the discharge carrier is performed in parallel. 2. A plurality of recording medium inspection units arranged in parallel in a first direction so that the recording medium delivery positions coincide in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; and A recording medium supply belt transport mechanism is provided at a predetermined distance so that a medium delivery side faces the recording medium delivery side of the inspection unit, and stores a recording medium supply belt conveying mechanism that supplies the recording medium before inspection and the recording medium after inspection. a recording medium ejection belt conveyance mechanism, disposed between the plurality of inspection units, the recording medium supply belt conveyance mechanism, and the recording medium ejection belt conveyance mechanism, and reciprocating in a first direction; a supply carrier that receives the recording medium from the conveyance mechanism side and supplies it to the inspection unit side; An ejection carrier that receives the recording medium from the inspection unit side and ejects it to the recording medium ejection belt conveyance mechanism; and a reciprocating movement of both the supply carrier and the ejection carrier by the predetermined distance; A recording medium inspection apparatus comprising: a moving means for selectively positioning the inspection unit at a position for receiving the recording medium, and handling of the recording medium by the supply carrier and the discharge carrier is performed in parallel.