JPH0632199B2 - 3,5-inch floppy disk sorting device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION [Outline] A plurality of floppy disks are supplied by utilizing an inclined surface,
The present invention provides an apparatus having an automatic sorting function for taking out one of the floppy disks, transferring the floppy disks to each processing unit, and after processing, sorting and storing in a predetermined storage location.

[Industrial application field]

The present invention automatically and sequentially prints a plurality of floppy disks.
The present invention relates to a floppy disk supply / sorting device that supplies the data to a processing unit, performs processing such as testing for electrical and magnetic characteristics, and stores the data in a predetermined location.

With the development of information processing technology and processing systems, floppy disks of various sizes are used as information storage media that are simpler and more convenient to carry. It is becoming mass-produced.

Therefore, even in the case of a floppy disk, which is becoming widespread as one of storage media, there is an increasing demand for higher-precision storage media.

However, the states of the individual storage media cannot be said to be exactly the same in terms of electrical and magnetic characteristics. Therefore, the electrical and magnetic characteristics of the floppy disk were measured and tested, and depending on the test results, the conditions of use as a storage medium, such as Different restrictions may occur, such as standard density and double density.

Against this background, there is a demand for the development of a sorting device that tests a large number of floppy disks at once and automatically sorts them without taking up an installation space.

In this type of sorting device, a series of devices such as automatic supply, processing and sorting of a copying device for obtaining a plurality of floppy disks from a single floppy disk are also the same.

[Conventional technology]

As an automatic test sorter for floppy disks of this type, there has been proposed a device that conveys floppy disks one by one on a line, supplies the floppy disks to a test section, and ejects them after the test.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

However, since such a device is supposed to be connected to an input line and an output line, the size of the entire device is inevitably large, and it can be used as a single device only for testing. Required a lot of equipment space.

In addition, when dealing with one floppy disk at each part of the floppy disk supply section, processing section, and assortment storage section, if the so-called Dharma drop method is used in which the floppy disks are simply stacked and supplied at the supply section, a floppy disk is used. If the floppy disk is damaged due to its own weight, or if the floppy disk is fed to the processing section, it is easy to have trouble inserting it into the processing section. There is a problem that the storage space becomes large.

The present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it is possible to handle a plurality of floppy disks at the same time for supply, processing, and storage, and to move each floppy disk to a predetermined position easily without damage or the like, and in a small size. It is to provide an apparatus in which various processes are automated.

[Means for solving problems]

The present invention will be described with reference to the overall view of the sorting apparatus shown in FIG. 1 (a). In the figure, the present invention is basically a floppy disk supply unit (2) having a mechanism for taking in a plurality of floppy disks (FD) and a floppy disk (FD).
A plurality of processing sections (4) for performing predetermined processing, a floppy disk storage section (3) for distributing and storing floppy disks to predetermined storage locations after the processing in the processing section (4), and a supply section. (2) The processing section (4) and the storage section (3) are composed of a transfer means (5) for transferring one of the floppy disks.

Furthermore, as a specific feature, firstly, an inclined type conveyance path (floppy disc feed belt 21) for stacking a plurality of floppy discs obliquely and sequentially feeding the floppy disc supply section (2), and the inclined type conveyance. It is composed of a separating means (a floppy disk stopper claw 23) for separating the floppy disk at the lowermost part of the path and a supplying means (a suction plate 210 and a rotary actuator 211) for supplying the floppy disk separated by the separating means to the transfer means. There is something I did.

Secondly, when the transfer means (5) is attached to the hand part (clamping arm 51) for holding the floppy disk and the floppy disk held by the hand part in the processing part (4), Equipped with insertion means (cylinder 52 for inserting floppy disk, etc.) for pushing in to a predetermined position, and a hand moving mechanism (transport rail 56, transport belt 57) for moving the hand portion and the insertion means to a predetermined position of the processing portion. Especially.

Thirdly, the storage section (3) is composed of a plurality of stockers for stacking and storing floppy disks from bottom to top, and a drop chute 6 provided corresponding to each stocker 3.
The floppy disk processed by the processing section is transferred to a predetermined drop chute position by the transfer means, dropped, and stored in the stocker corresponding to the drop chute so that the floppy disk is sorted. is there.

[Action]

First of all, in the present invention, the floppy disks (FD) are stacked obliquely on the slanted floppy disk transport path (21), and the floppy disks (FD) are separated from the lowest one and taken out. Due to the configuration, it is necessary to prevent damage between the floppy disks due to the weight of the floppy disks (FD) and to prevent the floppy disks waiting to be processed from falling over when the floppy disks are simply supplied in parallel vertically. The supply unit is downsized by eliminating the need for a mechanism.

The transfer of the floppy disk has a mechanism for rotating and taking out the floppy disk (FD) from the lower end of the inclined surface. Therefore, the hand section 51 of the transfer means moves to grasp the floppy disk and the driver of the processing section. 4 (five in the illustrated example) can be installed in the same manner as the floppy disk, and the hand belt is moved by the conveyor belt 57 to the guide rail 56
Therefore, the movement is reciprocal on a substantially straight line and is simplified.

In addition, since multiple drop chutes 6 are individually located between the hand part 5 and the insertion opening of the floppy disk driver 4, the processing (test, etc.) of the floppy disk (FD) loaded by the floppy disk driver 4 is completed. After that, the floppy disk (F
When D) is pulled out as it is, it can be easily sorted and stored by dropping it onto the drop chute 6 located at a predetermined position.

In this example, the storage stocker 3 is arranged in the portion for storing the sorted floppy disks. However, the storage stocker can be removed and linked with other devices by a conveying means such as a belt conveyor (3 '). Becomes

〔Example〕

 The present invention will be described below based on examples.

FIG. 7 is a plan view (a), a front view (b), and a side view (c) showing an external view of the floppy disk sorting apparatus of the present invention.
In the figure, 1 indicates a sorting device, 2 indicates a slant type floppy disc feeding unit 2 which is a floppy disc feeding unit.
Is. The operating unit 9 is out of the device 1.

On the other hand, the device 1 has a plurality of floppy disk drivers 4, a plurality of stockers 3 for storing the processed floppy disks, and a hand section 5 as a means for transferring the floppy disks. The drop chute 6 is provided between them.

The floppy disks dropped from the drop chute 6 to the stocker 3 are located at the lowest position of the stocker 3, and are sequentially stacked from bottom to top by the floppy disk pushing mechanism 30.

Also, a sequencer 7 that manages and controls the operation of the entire device, a processing device 8 that executes test items by program control, etc.
Is stored inside.

After processing the floppy disks, the stocker 3 that sorts and stores them is removable, and can be connected to other processing devices using a conveyor belt.

As described above, FIG. 1 (a) shows a perspective view of the entire main part of the sorting apparatus of the present invention, and the housing, control unit, etc. of the apparatus are omitted. Figures 1 (b) and 1 (c) are enlarged views of a part of Figure 1 (a).

In the following, the same reference numerals, including FIG. 7, indicate the same objects.

The hand portion 5 of the floppy disk transfer means includes a floppy disk clamp arm portion 51, a hand portion longitudinal drive cylinder 52, a floppy disk insertion cylinder 53,
It consists of a floppy disk clamp cylinder 54 and the like.This hand part 5 can be moved from any position of the suction plate 210 along the guide rail 56 to any position of each driver 4 by a conveyor belt 57 and a pulley 55 using a timing belt. It is movable. The timing belt 57 is driven by a mechanism connected to the pulse motor 13 (Fig. 6).
(See (b)).

A commercially available product can be basically applied to the floppy disk driver 4 for testing the electric and magnetic characteristics of the floppy disk, and the floppy disk eject cylinder 41 ( It is for unlocking and taking out the floppy disk).

As described above, the floppy disk supply unit 2 basically has a floppy disk feed belt 21 that forms the inclined transport path (2) and a separating claw 23 that also functions as a stopper for separating one floppy disk. And a suction plate 210 that can be rotated by a rotating mechanism (rotary actuator) 211.
Cylinder 2 for opening and closing stopper and separating claw 23
2. A floppy disk erroneous insertion prevention pin 24 and the like, and a one-way (one way) clutch 26 are provided above the feed belt 21. Details of this supply unit will be further clarified in Fig. 2.

The stocker 3 for storing the floppy disk is shown in Fig. 1.
As shown in (b), a handle 31 is provided on the upper portion and a protective cover 32 is provided on the lower portion, so that the handle can be carried. Floppy disks are configured to be stacked and stored from bottom to top,
A tongue piece 32 having a spring property is formed on both side surfaces of the stocker 3 and a floppy disk receiving piece 33 is attached to the inside of the tongue piece 32 (Fig. 1 (c)).

Therefore, the floppy disk pushed up from below is maintained by the cooperation of the spring elasticity of the tongue piece 32 and the floppy disk receiving piece 33.

A drop chute 6 is interposed between the lower end of the stocker 3 and the hand portion 5 that holds the floppy disk.

Figure 2 shows the structure of the floppy disk supply section. (A) is a perspective view of the entire supply section, (b) is a perspective view with the outer frame of the supply section removed, and (c) is a suction plate. Is a side view for explaining the operation of the supply unit, and (e) is an external shape view of a floppy disk contained in a hard case as an example to which the supply unit is applied.

In FIG. 2, in the supply unit 2, a floppy disk is placed vertically on an inclined surface on an inclined conveyor belt 21. A cylinder 25, a connecting piece 263, and a connecting pin 264 connect the shaft 261 to the upper part of the inclined surface, and a pulley 26 with a built-in one-way clutch feeds the conveyor belt in one direction at a constant pitch.

The floppy disk at the lowermost end of the inclined surface is a suction plate 210 that is rotated by a rotating mechanism (rotary actuator) 211.
, And suck it in the suction hole 212, and take out one sheet.

At this time, the floppy disk is separated by opening and closing the shutter 220 connected to the cylinder 22 in the direction of the arrow to open and close the floppy disk stopper / separation claw 231 and the rubber pad 222 to open and hold the floppy disk.

When the suction plate 212 is located on the floppy disk surface, the shutter 23 opens to adsorb the floppy disk and to prevent the next floppy disk from popping out.
23 closes. This repetition is synchronized with the clutch feeding of the conveyor belt 21.

The floppy disk FD is housed in a hard case, as shown in Fig. 2 (e), with notches F1, F2,
F3 is provided, and the notches F2 and F3 wait for a gap between the floppy disks when a plurality of floppy disks are stacked. The gap of this notch is the stopper and separation claw
It can be supplied separately by engaging the 231 and separating one floppy disk. In addition, the notch F1 is used to detect an incorrect insertion of a floppy disk at pin 24 and raise an alarm. This type of floppy disk has an opening / closing window F4, and when it is installed in the floppy disk drive, the window F4 is used for writing / reading the storage medium.
Is to be opened.

Fig. 3 is an exploded view of the mounting part of the floppy disk driver. In the figure, a base plate 45 fixed to the device
The mounting plate 42 for mounting the floppy disk driver 4 with the guide pin as a reference is fixed by sandwiching the anti-vibration rubber 43, and the floppy disk driver 4 is fixedly mounted on the mounting plate 42. The eject cylinder 41 is attached to the lower side of the base plate 45 corresponding to 46. This cylinder 41
When the eject button 46 of the floppy disk driver 4 is pressed by the pressing piece 411 connected to, the floppy disk is taken out.

The operation of inserting and ejecting the floppy disk into the floppy disk driver 4 will be described with reference to the floppy disk supply process explanatory diagram of FIG.

In FIG. 4, (a) is a plan view, (b) is a side view,
The arm portion 51 for clamping the floppy disk of the hand portion is opened and closed by the cylinder 54 and the connecting portion 541. Floppy disk FD to floppy disk driver 4
The operation of supplying and discharging to / from the cylinder 52 is performed. The cylinder 52 is fixed to a base plate 523, and the cross tables 521 and 522 are caused to interact with each other by a rack and a pinion so that a hand portion placed on the upper part of the cross table 522 can be moved left and right in the drawing. Clamp arm 51 is floppy disk FD
Grip and insert the floppy disk driver 4
When the floppy disk is inserted into the floppy disk 1 for a certain distance, the insertion rod 531 attached to the tip of the floppy disk by the cylinder 53 pushes the floppy disk into the floppy disk driver 4.

On the other hand, when ejecting the floppy disk, the hand part is moved closer to the floppy disk driver 4 side by the operation of the cylinder 52, and the pressing piece 411 is pressed against the eject button 46 by the operation of the cylinder 41 arranged under the floppy disk driver 4. The floppy disk is ejected. Then, both side surfaces of the floppy disk are gripped by the arm portion 51 of the hand portion.

The entire hand part is the conveyor belt 57 attached to the base plate 523.
Is moved on the guide rail 56.

The floppy disks can be sorted and stored by opening the clamp arms 51 at the entrance of a predetermined drop chute 6 to drop the floppy disks and store them in the stocker.

Fig. 5 shows a side view of the structure of the floppy disk storage unit. In the figure, below the stocker 3, a base plate 34 connected to a cylinder 35 for pushing up a floppy disk is attached. The floppy disk dropped from the drop chute 6 rides on the base plate 34, and when the floppy disk is detected by a photocoupler (not shown), it moves up by the operation of the cylinder 35, and the spring elastic section 32 and the receiving piece (first section) (See the drawing), the floppy disk is locked on the upper part of the receiving piece 33.

In addition, 1'in FIG. 4 shows a housing wall of the apparatus.

FIG. 6 (a) is an operation explanatory diagram of the floppy disk sorting apparatus described above, and shows the operation of each part in a time chart in which time is plotted along the horizontal axis. In Figure 6 (b),
Figure 1 shows a schematic view of Fig. 1 seen from above. In the figure (a), the related part and the related code are given in the vertical axis direction. In the horizontal axis direction, the floppy disk supply operation and discharge / sort operation are partially omitted.

Hereinafter, FIG. 6 (a) will be described with reference to FIG. 6 (b) and FIG. Floppy disk transport hand 5 has a pulse motor 57
Driven by and moves to the supply device (supply unit (2)).
The floppy disk FD supply belt (feed belt 21) and the stopper 23 are driven by the cylinder 22 to feed the floppy disk on the inclined surface at a distance of the width of one floppy disk.

At approximately the same time as this floppy disk feed, the suction plate (convum) 210 sucks the lowermost floppy disk by vacuum suction. The take-out rotation is performed by a rotating mechanism (rotary actuator) 211, and the hand moves forward by the operation of the cylinder 52 to grip the floppy disk and move backward.
The grip of the floppy disk is performed by closing the clamp arm 51 by the operation of the cylinder 54. The hand unit 5 moves to a predetermined position of the empty floppy disk driver 4 under the control of the pulse motor 57, and the hand unit advances to insert the floppy disk into the floppy disk driver 4. At this time, the insertion rod 531 pushes the floppy disk by the operation of the floppy disk insertion cylinder 53. After that, the floppy disk driver 4 tests the floppy disk for writing and reading. This test is performed for standard, double density, and double-sided, and after the test, the hand unit is moved to the position of the relevant floppy disk driver 4 by the sorting signal output of the device control unit. The hand moves forward and the clamp arm 51 is inserted into the insertion slot of the floppy disk driver 4.
To bring. The floppy disk is ejected by the operation of the ejecting cylinder 41 of the floppy disk. When the clamp arm 51 grips the floppy disk and reaches the position of the predetermined drop chute 6, the clamp arm 51 is opened and the floppy disk is stored in the predetermined stocker 3. The storage in the stocker 3 is performed by pushing up the floppy disk by the push-up cylinder 30 and storing it.

The above operation is sequentially performed for each floppy disk supplied.

Assortment is, for example, an acceptable product with a predetermined signal level in the writing / reading test, a double-density double-sided pass, a single-sided double-density pass, a double-sided standard density pass, and a single-sided standard density pass. The items are classified into those that are rejected and those that are rejected. According to the test results, it is stored in the storage stocker 3 corresponding to these levels via the drop chute 6.

By the above operation, the stacked floppy disks are sequentially incorporated, a test is performed by a predetermined floppy disk driver, and after the test is completed, the stockers are sorted and stored in the stocker according to the test result.

The basic configuration of the sorting apparatus according to the present invention can be applied to a floppy disk with a hard case and a floppy disk with a soft case.

However, considering the self-weight of the floppy disks stacked vertically in the floppy disk supply section, the present invention supplies the floppy disks on the inclined surface, which is particularly effective for floppy disks in a hard case without bending. Is.

Also, in the case of a floppy disk contained in a hard case, it will not bend by grasping both ends with hands,
Can be inserted into a floppy disk driver.

In the above example, the test sorting of the floppy disk was described, but in addition, one floppy disk in which information is stored is attached to one floppy disk driver and unused for other empty floppy disk drivers. It should be added that it can also be applied as a sorting device for a floppy disk copy device that mounts and copies a floppy disk.

〔effect〕

As described above, according to the present invention, as a floppy disk sort, miniaturization is achieved as a single device,
Further, it is possible to obtain a sorting device which eliminates the occurrence of floppy disk supply trouble (jammy) and the like, and it can be provided as a simple device which can be easily incorporated into a production line as a single device.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 (a), (b), and (c) are perspective views showing the entire main part of the sorting apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a view showing the configuration of a floppy disk supply section. (a) is a perspective view of the entire supply unit, (b) is a perspective view with the outer frame of the supply unit removed, (c) is a perspective view of the suction plate, and (d) is a diagram for explaining the operation of the supply unit. Side view, (e) is an external shape diagram of a floppy disk in a hard case as an example of application, Fig. 3 is an explanatory view of the mounting part of the floppy disk driver, and Fig. 4 is a description of floppy disk supply processing Is a figure,
Figure (a) is a plan view, (b) is a side view, Figure 5 is a side view of the configuration of the floppy disk storage section, and Figure 6 (a) is the floppy disk sorting device shown in Figure 1. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the operation, showing the operation of each part in a time chart in which time is plotted on the horizontal axis, FIG. 6 (b) is a schematic view of FIG. 1 seen from above, and FIG. 7 is a floppy disk of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a plan view (a), a front view (b), and a side view (c) of an external view of a disc sorting device. FD: Floppy disk 2: Floppy disk supply unit 3: Stocker 4: Floppy disk driver 51: Clamp arm 56: Conveyor rail 57: Conveyor belt 6: Drop chute

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (72) Masahiro Tomatsu Masahiro Tomatsu 654 Kawawa-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Within Fujitsu Kasei (56) References JP-A-58-182173 (JP, A) JP-A-SHO 59-60777 (JP, A) JP-A-60-50781 (JP, A)

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of 3.5 inch floppy disks (FD)
And a separation means (23) for separating the lowermost floppy disk of the inclined transfer path by means of a slanted transfer path (21) for stacking the sheets obliquely and sequentially and a claw (231) fitted in a concave portion on the side of the floppy disk. ), And a floppy disk supply unit (2) for supplying the floppy disk separated by the separating means to the transfer means, and a plurality of horizontally arranged floppy disks for performing a predetermined process. A processing section (4), a floppy disk storage section (3) for storing floppy disks sorted and stored in a predetermined storage location after the processing section has finished processing, the supply section, the processing section, A 3.5-inch floppy disk sorting device, comprising a transfer means (5) for horizontally transferring the floppy disks one by one to and from the storage section. 2. The supply means (210) of the supply section (2) transfers the floppy disk separated and supplied at the lowermost position of the inclined transfer path (21) to the transfer means by a rotation mechanism (210, 211). Claims characterized by supplying
3.5-inch floppy disk sorter described in item (1). 3. The transfer means includes a hand portion (5) for holding a floppy disk, an insertion means for pushing the floppy disk held by the hand to a predetermined position when the floppy disk is mounted on the processing portion, and A hand moving mechanism (56, 5) for moving the hand part and the inserting means to a predetermined position of the processing part.
7) The 3.5-inch floppy disk sorting apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that 4. The storage section comprises a plurality of stockers for stacking and storing the floppy disks from bottom to top, and a drop chute section provided corresponding to each stocker, and the floppy disk processed by the processing section. Is transferred to a predetermined drop chute position by the transfer means and dropped, and is stored in a stocker corresponding to the drop chute, 3.5 according to claim (1).
Inch floppy disk sorting device.