JPH053670B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a cartridge loading mechanism for loading a cartridge such as a magnetic tape cartridge into an apparatus, and particularly to a cartridge loading mechanism for loading a cartridge such as a magnetic tape cartridge into an apparatus, and in particular, a cartridge loading mechanism that can reliably load and set a cartridge in the correct direction. This invention relates to a cartridge loading mechanism that can be loaded and set.

Cartridges such as magnetic tape cartridges are
It is used in various fields because it is easy to handle.

For example, a large-capacity storage device that is used as an external storage device for a computer and is capable of large-capacity storage is provided with a storage shelf that stores a large number of magnetic tape cartridges. , take out the magnetic tape cartridge that requires a mechanical hand from the storage shelf, carry the magnetic tape cartridge to the read/write station (recording/playback section), set it, read/write the magnetic tape cartridge, and read/write the magnetic tape cartridge. / Read after writing / It is constituted by a kind of automatic warehouse configured to take out data from a write station and store it in a storage shelf.

Conventionally, special cylindrical magnetic tape cartridges have been used for such magnetic tape cartridges, but in recent years, the use of rectangular magnetic tape cartridges, which are used for video tapes, has been used to reduce costs. something is proposed.

Such an apparatus is provided with a loading mechanism for loading a magnetic tape cartridge from the outside.

[Conventional technology]

Conventional loading mechanisms consist of a simple loading shelf (for example, a slide) that does not use an actuator, and a person performs the loading operation by setting a cartridge on the loading shelf.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

Therefore, with the conventional loading mechanism, it is not guaranteed that the cartridge is loaded into the set position accurately.
When the cartridges are stored in a storage shelf, there is a problem in that the gripping state is not constant and the storage operation becomes unstable, making the post-processing operation of the inserted cartridges unstable.

Furthermore, since the cartridge is inserted by a person, it is not guaranteed that the cartridge is inserted in the same direction, so there is the problem that the tape does not face the recording/playback head during subsequent recording/playback, making it impossible to record/playback. Ta.

[Means for solving problems]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a cartridge loading mechanism that can reliably set a cartridge and can load the cartridge in a constant and correct loading direction.

Therefore, the present invention provides a cartridge loading mechanism for setting an inserted magnetic tape cartridge from a loading position to a set position, which includes a movable cartridge holder for storing the inserted magnetic tape cartridge; a pair of fixed holder support plates that support the cartridge holder and guide the movement of the cartridge holder from the input position to the set position by the insertion operation; and a locking mechanism that locks the movement of the cartridge holder by engaging with the stopper, the engaging portion of the locking mechanism being inserted into the sensor hole of the magnetic tape cartridge housed in the cartridge holder. The cartridge holder is characterized in that the cartridge holder is disengaged from the stopper to release the movement lock of the cartridge holder.

[Effect]

In the present invention, the cartridge holder that stores the magnetic tape cartridge is supported, and the cartridge holder is held at the set position by a pair of fixed holder support plates that guide the movement from the input position to the set position. With this configuration, the cartridge can be reliably loaded and set by the loading operation.

Furthermore, since the sensor hole of the magnetic tape cartridge is used to regulate the feeding direction, the feeding direction of the magnetic tape cartridge can be easily regulated.

Furthermore, a locking mechanism is provided to lock the cartridge holder, enter the sensor hole of the magnetic tape cartridge, and release the lock of the cartridge holder, so that even if the cartridge holder is moved,
It becomes possible to easily and simply regulate the feeding direction.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to Examples.

FIG. 2 is an overall configuration diagram of an embodiment of the device provided with the loading mechanism of the present invention, and shows a mass storage device as an example. In the figure, LG and RG are a left garage and a right garage, respectively. , which are provided at both ends of the device and are provided with a main control circuit, an accessor drive circuit, etc. HF1, 2, and 3 are honeycomb frames, and magnetic tape cartridges 3 are mounted on both walls.
A storage shelf 4 is provided, and guide rails RLU and RLL of accessories described later are provided at the upper and lower parts, and some honeycomb frames
Magnetic tape cartridge 3 set in HF3
A read/write station (not shown) for reading/writing data, an entry station CES for inputting a new magnetic tape cartridge 3 from the outside, and an ejecting unnecessary magnetic tape cartridge 3 (hereinafter referred to as a cartridge) to the outside. An exit station CFS is provided for this purpose. 1A and 1B are left accessors, respectively.
It is a right accessor, and drives the mechanical hands 2 in the vertical (Y) direction and in the rotational direction to access the storage shelves 4 on both sides, and uses the left garage LG and right garage RG as home positions to move the upper and lower rails RLU, 3 along RLL
It moves within three honeycomb frames HF1, HF2, and HF3.

To explain the operation of the embodiment in FIG. 2, the left or right accessor 1A or 1B is driven by the accessor drive circuit in response to a command from the main control circuit, moves in the X direction on the rails RLU and RLL, and further moves the hand 2. Drive in the Y (vertical) direction to position the hand 2 at the position of the cartridge 3 on the desired storage shelf,
At that position, the hand 2 is driven to take out and grasp the cartridge 3, then the accessor 1A or 1B moves to the read/write station and conveys the cartridge 3, and the hand 2 is driven to take the cartridge 3 to the read/write station. Set to After the read/write is completed, the cartridge 3 is similarly taken out from the read/write station by the hand 2, gripped, conveyed in the same manner, and stored in the original storage shelf. The same applies when transporting the cartridge 3 from the entry station CES to the storage shelf 4 and from the storage shelf 4 to the exit station CFS.

Therefore, in the mass storage device, the accessors 1A, 1B use the hands 2 to take out a desired cartridge 3 stored in the storage shelf 4 in the honeycomb frames HF1, 2, 3, and transport it to the read/write station. to set the cartridge 3, read/write the cartridge 3, and after reading/writing, take out the cartridge 3 from the read/write station with the hand 2, and hold it.
The accessors 1A and 1B operate to transport the item and return it to the original storage shelf 4.

FIG. 3 is an overall configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention,
This is an overall configuration diagram of the loading mechanism installed in the entry station CES shown in FIG. 51 and 52 are a pair of holder support plates, each having a pair of inverted L-shaped guide holes 51a and 5.
1b, 52a, 52b are provided, 5
6 is a top plate.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of the cartridge 3 loaded into the loading mechanism configured in FIG.
is the reel shaft hole, and the rectangular cartridge 3
A hole for the tape reel shaft provided in the hole into which the reel shaft for driving the recording and reproducing section is inserted, 32
33 is a center hole for a sensor, into which a sensor (light emitting part) for detecting a tape end is inserted in the recording/reproducing section, and 33 is a tape cover that covers the magnetic tape in the cartridge 3 from the outside.

In the present invention, the center hole 32 for the sensor is used to prevent incorrect insertion.

FIG. 1 is a detailed configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention,
FIG. 1A is a top view of the same, and FIG. 1B is a side view thereof. In the figures, the same parts as shown in FIG. 3 are indicated by the same symbols, and 53 is a cartridge holder. As shown in FIG. 1A, it has a substantially H-shaped bottom surface 53' provided with a stopper 53g, and roller supports 53a, 53b, 53 at the four corners of the top.
c, 53d, and roller supports 53a, 53d.
A roller shaft 53e is provided between the roller supports 53b and 53d, and a roller shaft 53f is provided between the roller supports 53b and 53d. At both ends of each roller shaft 53e, 53f, there are rollers 53e', 53e'', 53, respectively.
f', 53f'' are provided and inserted into guide holes 51a, 51b, 52a, 52b of holder support plates 51, 52.Furthermore, 54a, 54b,
Spring 54c and 54d are suspended between the top plate 56 and the vicinity of both ends of each roller shaft 53e and 53f, and constitute a setting mechanism together with the holder support plates 51 and 52. Reference numeral 55 denotes a set release plate, which includes a pair of release blocks 55a and 55 having an inclined shape.
b, and is supported by support pins 56a, 56b of the top plate 56 via slide holes 55c, 55d, and has an engaging portion 55e that engages with a set release magnet (actuator) to be described later.
It is movable to the right in FIGS. 1A and 1B.
Reference numeral 57 denotes a set release magnet, which is driven when the set is released and drives the set release plate 55 rightward in the figure via the engaging portion 55e. 58 is the hook of the locking mechanism, and the metal fitting 58
The hook 58 is provided on the bottom surface 53' of the cartridge holder 53 by d, and rotates in the direction F around a fulcrum 58a.An engagement roller 58b is provided at one end, and a rod-shaped locking stopper is provided at the other end in case of incorrect insertion. 58
It is formed into a hook shape so that it can be engaged with c. The locking stopper 58c is fixed to the holder support plates 51 and 52. 59a, 59
Reference numeral b designates a magnetic proximity sensor, in which a proximity sensor 59a is provided on the top plate 56 and a proximity sensor 59b is provided on the top surface of the holder 53, to detect movement of the holder 53 to the set position.

In the configurations shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, both ends of the pair of roller shafts 53e and 53f provided on the roller supports 53a to 53d are connected to the holder support plate 51,
52 guide holes 51a, 51b, 52a, 52b
by being inserted into the cartridge holder 5
3 is supported by holder support plates 51 and 52, and has inverted L-shaped guide holes 51a, 51b, 52a, 5.
2b.

Further, the cartridge holder 53 is urged toward the top plate 56 by springs 54a to 54d. On the other hand, the engagement roller 58b of the locking mechanism protrudes into the holder 53 from the bottom surface 53' of the holder 53,
The hook 58 of the locking mechanism is engaged with the fulcrum 5
8a to engage the end of the hook 58 with the locking stopper 58c.

Next, the operation of the embodiment configuration shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 will be explained using the operation explanatory diagrams shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

Before the holder 3 is inserted, it is in the state shown in FIG. 1B.

In this state, the cartridge 3 is manually loaded from the input port 50, and the end surface of the cartridge 3 collides with the stopper 53g on the bottom surface 53' of the holder 53. At this time, if the cartridge 3 is inserted through the inlet 50 in the direction of arrow A in FIG. After entering the center hole 32, the hook 58 maintains the state shown in FIG. 1B as shown in FIG. 5A, and the end of the hook does not engage with the locking stopper 58c.

When the cartridge 3 is further inserted in the direction of the arrow, the cartridge 3 hits the stopper 53g, so as shown in FIG. If you move along the steps and push cartridge 3 further,
As shown in FIG. 5B, it moves upward along the guide holes 51a to 51d by the spring force of the springs 54a to 54d, and reaches the set position at the upper end of the guide holes 51a to 51d. In this state, the cartridge holder 53 is held in the set position by the spring force of the springs 54a to 54d, and the pair of proximity sensors 59a and 59b come close to each other and detect that the cartridge holder 53 is in the set position.

When this set position is detected, the hand portion 2a enters the cartridge holder 53 as shown in FIG. 5C, and the lower hand of the hand portion 2a rises as shown in FIG. 3, and further move the hand portion 2a to the right in the figure as shown in FIG. 5E to remove the cartridge 3.
from the cartridge holder 53.

After the cartridge 3 is removed, when the set release magnet is driven, the set release magnet 57 attracts the engaging portion 55e of the set release plate 55, and moves the set release plate 55 along the slide holes 55c and 55d. Fifth
Move to the right in Figure F (in the direction of arrow D). As a result, the inclined portions of the release blocks 55a and 55b of the set release plate 55 are aligned with the pair of roller shafts 53e and 53 of the cartridge holder 53.
rollers 53e', 53e'', 53f', at both ends of f;
53f'', and its inclined portion resists the spring force of the springs 54a to 54d to move the roller shafts 53e and 53f, that is, the cartridge holder 53 downward along the guide holes 51a and 51b (FIG. 5F). When it is pushed down to the lower ends of the guide holes 51a and 51b, it moves along the guide holes 51a and 51b in the horizontal direction by the spring force of the springs 54a to 54d, as shown in FIG. 5F. and guide hole 51
a, 51b, the drive of the set-release magnet is further released, and the state returns to the initial state shown in FIG. 1B.

On the other hand, if the cartridge 3 is inserted from the input port 50 with the sensor center hole 32 facing upward, as shown in FIG. 6, or in the opposite direction to arrow A in FIG. When the engagement roller 58b of the locking mechanism 58 hits the stopper 53g on the bottom surface 53' of the holder 53, the center hole 32 of the cartridge 3 hits the engagement roller 58b.
The hook 58 is pushed down in the P direction by the cartridge 3, and the hook 58 rotates in the P direction about the fulcrum 58a, and the hook end of the hook 58 engages with the locking stopper 58c. . Since the bottom surface 53' of the cartridge holder 53 is connected to the hook 58 by the metal fitting 58d, no matter how much the cartridge 3 is pushed in, the cartridge holder 53 will not move along the guide holes 51a, 51b and its movement will be locked. be done. Therefore, humans can detect that the insertion direction is different.

In this way, when the cartridge 3 is inserted from the input port 50 in the correct direction, the locking mechanism 58 is released, and the cartridge holder 53 holds the cartridge 3 that has hit the stopper 53g by the loading operation to the set position. If the cartridge 3 is inserted in the wrong direction, the locking mechanism 58 will lock the cartridge holder 5.
3 is locked, and even if the cartridge 3 is pushed in any further, it is prohibited to set it in the set position, so the cartridge 3 cannot be pushed in any further.

In the above embodiment, the fourth cartridge is the cartridge 3.
Using the cartridge shown in the figure, the detection hole for the sensor in the cartridge 3 is used as a shape feature to regulate the insertion direction, but if the cartridge is of another type, other shape features that can detect the insertion direction can be used. It's okay. Furthermore, although the hand section 2a has been described as holding the device at the set position, the hand section 2a may not be provided and the set position may be directly used as the set position of the recording/reproducing section.

Further, although the magnet (solenoid) 57 is used as the actuator for releasing the set, other actuators may be used.

Although the present invention has been described above using one embodiment, the present invention can be modified in various ways according to the gist of the present invention, and these are not excluded from the present invention.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, the following effects are achieved.

A pair of fixed holder support plates are provided to support the cartridge holder and guide it to move from the loading position to the set position, and the cartridge holder is held from the loading position to the set position, so the configuration is simple and the cartridge can be moved by the loading operation. It can be loaded and set reliably.

Since the sensor hole of the magnetic tape cartridge is used to regulate the feeding direction, the feeding direction of the magnetic tape cartridge can be easily regulated.

A locking mechanism is provided to lock the cartridge holder, enter the sensor hole of the magnetic tape cartridge, and release the lock of the cartridge holder, so even if the cartridge holder is moved, it is easy to use in the loading direction. Regulation becomes possible.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is an overall block diagram of an embodiment of a device in which the present invention is used, Fig. 3 is an overall external view of the configuration shown in Fig. Configuration diagram of the cartridge used in the diagram configuration, No. 5
6 are explanatory diagrams of the operation of the configuration shown in FIG. 1. In the figure, 3... Cartridge, 5... Cartridge loading mechanism, 32... Center hole for sensor, 50... Loading port,
51, 52...Holder support plate (setting mechanism), 53
...Cartridge holder, 51a, 51b, 52
a, 52b...Guide hole, 53e, 53f...Roller shaft, 53e', 53e'', 53f', 53f''...Roller, 54a, 54b, 54c, 54d...Spring (set mechanism), 58...Lock mechanism.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A cartridge loading mechanism for setting an inserted magnetic tape cartridge from an loading position to a set position, comprising: a movable cartridge holder for storing the inserted magnetic tape cartridge; a pair of fixed holder support plates that support the cartridge holder and guide the movement of the cartridge holder from the input position to the set position by the insertion operation; and a locking mechanism that locks the movement of the cartridge holder by engaging with the stopper, the engaging portion of the locking mechanism being inserted into the sensor hole of the magnetic tape cartridge housed in the cartridge holder. A cartridge loading mechanism characterized in that the cartridge holder is disengaged from the stopper to release the movement lock of the cartridge holder.