JPH1027405A - Cartridge changer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a transporting mechanism applicable for an auto-loader to handle cartridges in the quantity level less than 10 volumes and capable of miniaturizing, in a cartridge changer of a recording/reproducing device. SOLUTION: In a housing rack 7, cartridge groups of 1st and 2nd rows laminating a plurality of cartridges 9 are arranged in two front and rear rows against the depth direction of the cartridge changer and also the cartridges 9 in each row are housed in the same direction as the one in inserting the cartridge to a recording/reproducing device. Also, a horizontal moving mechanism of cartridge for moving the cartridges in parallel from one cartridge group to another cartridge group and a vertical moving mechanism of cartridge for vertically moving the cartridge in the cartridge group of the same row are arranged. The transporting means is arranged facing on the cartridge group of 1st row in the housing rack 7 so that an optionals cartridge is selectable from only the cartridge group of 1st row.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cartridge changer having a function of automatically exchanging a plurality of cartridges housed in a device in a data streamer or a VTR using a cartridge.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a cartridge changer type recording / reproducing apparatus, an operator who has data of a volume that cannot be recorded in one volume by a cartridge exchange mechanism can automatically back up data without manually replacing the cartridge.

[0003] The cartridge changer requires means for transporting the cartridge from a storage rack for storing the cartridge to a recording / reproducing apparatus. Generally, as shown in FIG. 3, the storage rack has cartridges arranged in a line. The recording / reproducing device is arranged alongside the storage rack, and the cartridge transport mechanism disposed adjacent to the storage rack and the recording / reproducing device moves parallel to the storage rack and the recording / reproducing device. In this case, the transport mechanism
It can be realized only by combining the two functions of the linear operation from the storage rack to the recording / reproducing device and the cartridge transfer mechanism between the storage rack or the recording / reproducing device and the transport mechanism.

[0004]

The conventional method is suitable for a library that handles a large number of cartridges, but if it is applied to an autoloader that handles cartridges of less than about 10 turns, it is difficult to reduce the size. For example, the height of the recording / reproducing apparatus is about 41 mm, the height of the cartridge changer is about 146 mm, and the height of the cassette is about 15 m.
Assuming that the distance between the cassette and the cassette is 2 mm, only about five cartridges can be stored.

[0005]

A storage rack comprises a first group and a second group of cartridges in which a plurality of cartridges are stacked, which are arranged in front and rear two rows in the depth direction of a cartridge changer, and the cartridges in each row are arranged. Is stored in the same direction as the direction in which the cartridge is inserted into the recording / reproducing drive. Further, a cartridge horizontal movement mechanism for moving the cartridges in parallel from one cartridge group to the other cartridge group and a cartridge vertical movement mechanism for moving the cartridges up or down in the cartridge groups in the same row are arranged. Further, the transporting means is arranged so as to face the cartridge group in the first row of the storage rack so that an arbitrary cartridge can be selected from only the cartridge group in the first row.

The storage rack is formed by stacking cartridge cases for individually storing cartridges. The total number of cartridge cases in the first and second rows is equal, and the first and second rows have one cartridge case. Are arranged so as to be different from each other in the cartridge case stacking direction by a thickness corresponding to the thickness of the cartridge case. When moving a cartridge from one cartridge group to the other cartridge group, the outermost end of the cartridge group is horizontally moved by a horizontal movement mechanism.

A guide portion for guiding the movement path of the cartridge case is provided on the side surface of the storage rack, the cartridge case can be moved only along the guide portion, and the cartridge case vertical movement mechanism always holds the cartridge group in one direction. An urging means for urging is arranged. When a cartridge is moved from one cartridge group to the other cartridge group, the cartridge case is first moved horizontally, and when the horizontal movement is completed, the cartridge case is moved vertically by the restoring force of the urging means.

A cartridge case moving member and a cartridge case stopper provided with a taper are arranged on the cartridge storage rack, and the cartridge case moving member and the cartridge case stopper have a structure capable of moving on the same axis. After the cartridge case moving member starts moving,
After a certain time, the cartridge case stopper starts moving. At this time, the cartridge case moves horizontally to the other cartridge group together with the cartridge case moving member, and the cartridge case stopper moves to the next expected movement path of the cartridge case adjacent to the moving cartridge case. After the horizontal movement is completed, when the cartridge moving member and the cartridge case stopper return to the initial position, the tapered portion of the cartridge case stopper returns while being in contact with the cartridge case. The amount of vertical movement is determined.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1A shows a cartridge storage rack of a cartridge changer according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1B shows the cartridge position in the state of FIG. 1A. The storage rack 7 is configured by stacking a plurality of cartridge cases 1. The cartridge cases 1 are stacked in two rows in the storage rack 7. The same number of stacked cartridge cases are arranged in the front and rear rows, and the leaf springs 10a, 10b
To the top plate or bottom plate 4 of the storage rack 7. At this time, the leaf springs 10a and 10b are arranged in the front row and the rear row from the opposite cartridge case as shown in the drawing. In this embodiment, the leaf springs 10a and 10b correspond to the vertical movement mechanism of the cartridge case. In this state, the cartridge groups in the front and rear rows are shifted by about one cartridge case thickness. Guide pins 8 are provided on the cartridge case.
a and 8b, and a guide pin 8 is provided on the side plate 4 of the storage rack 7.
A guide groove 11 for guiding a and 8b is arranged. The cartridge case 1 can move only in the path of the guide groove 11.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a cartridge case. The cartridge 9 is mounted on the cartridge case 1 so that the tape drawer side is at the back as shown in the figure.
Since the cartridge case 1 is provided with a chuck portion 19 for the cartridge removing means 21 of the transport means 20 to reliably chuck the cartridge 9 when the cartridge 9 is transported to the recording / reproducing drive, the cartridge 9 is provided in the cartridge case 1. The chuck 19 is notched so that the cartridge can be chucked even when the cartridge is mounted.

Also, the cartridge case guide pins 8a,
8b are arranged in the cartridge thickness direction as shown in the figure. The guide pins move along the guide grooves of the storage rack. At this time, by using two guide pins, rotation around the guide pins can be restricted, and the posture when the cartridge case moves can be stabilized. I can do it. If the number of guide pins is one, the cartridge case can rotate around the guide pins, and the stability when the cartridge case moves is deteriorated. The guide pins may be rectangular or elliptical. A storage rack is formed by stacking a plurality of the cartridge cases 1. The guide pins and the guide grooves are means for moving the cartridge case only in a required and stable direction, and may be a combination of the side plate side convex and the cartridge case side concave. Also, the combination of the guide pins and the guide grooves need not be the same as long as the cartridge can be guided.

FIGS. 1 and 4 to 7 show how the cartridge case 1 in the storage rack 7 moves. FIG. 1 shows the initial state, and the position of the normal cartridge case has the arrangement shown in FIG. When the cartridge case is moved, the cartridge case 1 on which the cartridges 9a and 9b are mounted is horizontally moved to the other cartridge case group as shown in FIG. The cartridge case 1 starts moving along the top plate and the bottom plate 4 of the storage rack 7. Next, when the cartridge case 1 is further horizontally moved as shown in FIG. 5, the cartridge case 1 pushes and contracts the leaf springs 10a and 10b. Next, as shown in FIG. 6, when the guide pins 8a and 8b of the cartridge case 1 complete the horizontal movement of the guide groove 11, the cartridge cases in the front row start to move downward by the restoring force of the leaf springs 10a and 10b. The rear row of cartridge cases moves upward. Then, as shown in FIG. 7, the cartridges 9a and 9b are replaced in front and rear rows, and the movement is completed. When a plurality of objects are moved, the above operations can be repeated to realize the operation. The transport means for transporting the cartridge from the storage rack to the recording / reproducing drive selects the cartridge only from the front row of the storage rack, but all the cartridges in the storage rack can be moved in the front and rear rows as in the present embodiment, so that all Cartridge selection becomes possible. In addition,
In this embodiment, a spring is used as a vertical movement mechanism for moving the cartridge upward or downward. However, the vertical movement mechanism is not limited to this, and any means that can move the cartridge, such as using a driving force by a motor, is used. Any may be used.

Referring to FIG. 8, one embodiment of the horizontal movement mechanism of the cartridge case 1 will be described. FIG. 8A is an enlarged view of the upper part of the storage rack 7. Storage rack 7
At the upper part, a cartridge case moving member 6 and a cartridge case stopper 5 are arranged. The cartridge case moving member 6 includes a guide pin moving member 12, a spring 13, and a stopper 14. This guide pin moving member 12
Is rotatable about a fulcrum. The guide pin moving member 12 is urged counterclockwise in FIG. 8 by the spring 13 and stops at the position of the stopper 14. The cartridge case stopper 5 is urged rearward by a spring 15. Here, the cartridge case guide pin is pushed and moved by the cartridge case moving member 6, and the cartridge case stopper 5 moves to the cartridge case guide groove 11 so that the next cartridge case does not move upward. First, as shown in FIG. 8B, the cartridge case moving member 6 moves in the direction of moving the cartridge case from the state of FIG. 8A. At this time, the cartridge case stopper 5 has not yet started moving. When the guide pin moving member 12 comes into contact with the cartridge case guide pins 8a and 8b, the guide pin moving member 12 does not rotate because the stopper 14 is present, and the cartridge case 1 moves together with the cartridge case moving member 6. After the cartridge case moving member 6 has moved a certain distance, the cartridge case stopper 5 starts moving in the same direction and comes on the guide groove 11 of the guide pin of the next cartridge case. By this operation, the cartridge case does not start rising even if the top cartridge case moves to the other row. (FIG. 8C) In this state, the cartridge case moving member 6 moves the cartridge case 1 to the front row, and the horizontal movement of the cartridge case is completed. (FIG. 8D) When the cartridge case moving member 6 starts to move in the reverse direction, the cartridge stopper 5 moves in synchronization with the cartridge case moving member 6 by the restoring force of the spring 15. (FIG. 8E) When the guide pin comes to the tapered portion of the cartridge case stopper 5, the leaf springs 10a, 10a pressing the cartridge case are pressed.
The cartridge case starts to rise along the taper due to the restoring force b. (FIG. 8F) Guide pin moving member 12
8 comes into contact with the rising guide pin of the cartridge case, the guide pin moving member 12 can rotate in the clockwise direction in FIG. 8 and escapes the guide pin (FIG. 8 (g)) and stops at the initial position (FIG. 8 (g)). h)).

The time difference operation between the cartridge case moving member 6 and the cartridge case stopper 5 at this time will be described with reference to FIG. The storage rack top plate and the bottom plate 4 are provided with guide grooves 18 for guiding the cartridge case moving member 6 and the cartridge case stopper 5. The cartridge case stopper 5 is also provided with a guide groove 17. The guide pin 1 is provided on the cartridge case moving member 6.
6a and 16b are provided. The guide pin 16a is fitted in a guide groove 18 of the storage rack top plate and the bottom plate 4. The guide pin 16b is fitted in the guide groove 17 of the cartridge case stopper 5, and the guide groove 18 of the storage rack top plate and the bottom plate 4. FIG. 9 shows a state in which the cartridge case moving member 6 and the cartridge case stopper 5 are at the initial position.
(A). The guide pin 16b enters the guide groove 17 of the cartridge case stopper 5, and the position at this time is located rearward in the direction in which the cartridge case moving member 6 advances. When the cartridge case moving member 6 starts moving as shown in FIG. 9B, the guide pins 16a and 16b also start moving. At this time, since the cartridge case stopper 5 is pulled backward by the spring 15 as shown in FIG.
Do not move. Next, when the cartridge case moving member 6 further moves to the position shown in FIG.
Contacts the end of the guide groove 17, and the cartridge case moving member 6 moves while pulling the cartridge case stopper 5. By providing the guide groove 17 in the cartridge case stopper 5 and providing the guide pin in the cartridge case moving member 6 in this manner, the cartridge case moving member 6 and the cartridge case stopper 5 can be moved with a time difference.

The reason why the cartridge case moving member 6 and the cartridge case stopper 5 are separately formed and moved with a time difference is to save the depth of the storage rack 7 itself. When there is enough depth, the same effect can be obtained by forming the cartridge case moving member and the cartridge stopper with one piece and keeping a distance from the guide pin moving member of the cartridge case moving member to the taper of the cartridge case stopper. Can be done. However, by using the embodiment of the present invention, the distance from the guide pin moving member to the taper of the cartridge case stopper can be saved,
The depth of the storage rack can be reduced.

FIGS. 10 and 11 are an assembly view and a perspective view of the storage rack 7 incorporating the above embodiment. The synchronous arm 3 has a rotation fulcrum on the cartridge storage rack side plate 2 and is connected to a cartridge case moving member 6 mounted above and below the storage rack. Since the upper and lower cartridge case moving members 6 move almost at the same time, if the synchronous arm 3 is arranged, only the movement of one cartridge case moving member 6 enables the movement of the other.

FIG. 12 shows the dimensions of a cartridge changer to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 12 shows the storage rack 7 and the recording / reproducing drive 22 of the above embodiment arranged horizontally. Here, the cartridge 9 is a type using an 8 mm tape and is approximately 15 × 95 mm.
Is about 41.3 x 10 if a 3.5 inch drive is used
1.6 mm. The cartridges 9 are arranged on the storage rack 7 at intervals of 2 mm, and considering the volume occupied by the horizontal and vertical movement mechanisms (the size occupied by the cartridge) is approximately 9.7 to 10 mm, the cartridge 5
When the windings are arranged, the cartridge autochanger housing 2
3 is approximately 124 × 146 even considering the thickness of the housing itself of 1 mm.
mm. In this embodiment, since the storage racks are arranged in two rows in the front and rear by being shifted by one turn of the cartridge, the number of storage turns at this time is eight. The 5-inch half-height size drive used for personal computers is approximately 146 x 41.3 mm, and this space is
When used individually, the cartridge changer of this embodiment can be incorporated. On the other hand, in the conventional structure, the number of cartridge storage turns is limited to five, so that the number of storage turns in the present embodiment is about 1.5 times that of the conventional case.

[0019]

According to the above-described cartridge changer, the number of windings of the cartridge can be increased without increasing the size of the apparatus. Specifically, approximately 1
In a 24 × 146 mm cartridge changer, eight cartridges of approximately 95 × 15 mm using 8 mm tape can be stored.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a view showing one embodiment of the present invention, and is a view showing a storage rack of a cartridge changer.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a cartridge is taken out of a cartridge case by a cartridge transport unit.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the configuration and operation of a conventional cartridge changer.

FIG. 4 is a view showing one embodiment of the present invention, and is a view for explaining a cartridge moving operation of a storage rack.

FIG. 5 is a view showing one embodiment of the present invention, and is a view for explaining a cartridge moving operation of a storage rack.

FIG. 6 is a view showing one embodiment of the present invention, and is a view for explaining a cartridge moving operation of a storage rack.

FIG. 7 is a view showing one embodiment of the present invention, and is a view for explaining a cartridge moving operation of a storage rack.

FIG. 8 is a view showing one embodiment of the present invention, and is a view for explaining the operation of the cartridge horizontal movement mechanism.

FIG. 9 is a view showing one embodiment of the present invention, and is a view for explaining the operation of the cartridge horizontal movement mechanism.

FIG. 10 is a view showing one embodiment of the present invention, and is a view showing components of a storage rack.

FIG. 11 is a view showing one embodiment of the present invention, and is a view showing the appearance of a storage rack.

FIG. 12 is a view showing one embodiment of the present invention, and is a view for explaining dimensions of a cartridge changer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Cartridge case, 2 ... Cartridge storage rack side plate, 3 ... Synchronization arm, 4 ... Cartridge storage rack top plate, bottom plate, 5 ... Cartridge case stopper, 6 ... Cartridge case moving member, 7 ... Cartridge storage rack, 8a, 8b ... Cartridge case guide pins, 9: cartridge, 10a, 10b: leaf spring, 11: cartridge case movement guide groove, 12: guide pin movement member, 13: spring, 14: stopper, 15: spring, 16a, 16b: guide pin, 17: guide groove, 18: guide groove, 19: cartridge chuck section, 20: cartridge transport means, 21: cartridge removal means, 22: recording / reproducing drive, 23: cartridge changer housing.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A recording / reproducing drive for recording / reproducing on / from a recording medium contained in a cartridge, a storage rack for accommodating a plurality of cartridges, and an optional cartridge being selected to be used between the storage rack and the recording / reproduction drive. Wherein the storage rack includes a first row and a second row of cartridges in each of which a plurality of cartridges are stacked, which are arranged in two front and rear rows with respect to the depth direction of the cartridge changer. The cartridges in each row are accommodated in the same direction as the cartridges are inserted into the recording / reproducing drive, and a cartridge horizontal movement mechanism for moving the cartridges from one cartridge group to the other cartridge group in parallel, To move the cartridge up or down A cartridge vertical movement mechanism; and the transporting means is arranged to face a first row of cartridge groups of the storage rack, and selects an arbitrary cartridge from only the first row of cartridge groups. Cartridge changer. 2. The storage rack according to claim 1, wherein the storage racks are formed by stacking cartridge cases for individually storing cartridges, wherein the total number of cartridge cases in the first and second rows is equal. The rows are arranged so as to differ in the cartridge case stacking direction by the thickness of one cartridge case, and when moving a cartridge from one cartridge group to the other cartridge group, the outermost end of the cartridge group is horizontally moved by the cartridge. A cartridge changer characterized by being horizontally moved by a mechanism. 3. The cartridge vertical movement mechanism according to claim 2, wherein a guide portion for guiding a movement path of the cartridge case is provided on a side surface of the storage rack, and the cartridge case is movable only along the guide portion. When a cartridge is moved from one cartridge group to the other by arranging urging means for constantly urging the cartridge group in one direction, the cartridge case first moves horizontally,
A cartridge changer wherein the cartridge case moves vertically by the restoring force of the urging means when the horizontal movement is completed. 4. The cartridge rack according to claim 2, wherein a cartridge case moving member and a cartridge case stopper provided with a taper are disposed on the storage rack, and the cartridge case moving member and the cartridge case stopper can move on the same axis. The cartridge case stopper starts to move after a predetermined time after the cartridge case moving member starts moving, and the cartridge case moves horizontally to the other cartridge group together with the cartridge case moving member; The case stopper moves to the next expected movement path of the cartridge case adjacent to the moving cartridge case, and after the horizontal movement is completed, when the cartridge moving member and the cartridge case stopper return to the initial position,
A cartridge changer wherein the tapered portion of the cartridge case stopper returns while being in contact with the cartridge case, whereby the vertical movement amount of the cartridge case is determined according to the movement amount of the cartridge stopper.