JPS61158063A - Cartridge automatic changer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To retrieve a desired cartridge in a short period by arranging plural cartridge storage parts independently on a mobile member in a turnable way and arranging a cartridge grip and carrying means near the mobile member. CONSTITUTION:Drums 50A-50F where lots of cartridges 10 are arranged radially and stored are stacked overlappingly with a prescribed interval in a cartridge storage part 50 and the drums are turned around a shaft 50' provided to a disc 54. Other cartridge storage parts 51-53 are constituted similarly as the storage part 50. A cartridge grip and carrying mechanism 55 consists of a elevating and descending member 58 elevated and descended in the arrow C along a plle 57 provided vertically near the disc 54, the mobile member 59 forwarding/reversing the member 58 in horizontal direction (in the direction of arrow D) provided to the member 58 and a hand 60 provided at the tip of the member 59 and griping the cartridge.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a cartridge autochanger (Cartri
dge Auto Changer), that is, the operation of searching for and grasping the desired cartridge from among the large number of cartridges stored and stored in the storage section, transporting and loading it into a cartridge loading type device, and returning it to the storage section after use for transportation. It relates to an automatic device.

[Conventional technology]

For convenience, the description will be made using a microfilm system device as an example.

Microfilm is excellent as a large-capacity storage medium for materials such as documents and drawings (one roll of roll microfilm can contain a large amount of information, for example, about 30,007 frames), and is useful for long-term preservation of materials and storage space. It is widely used in many ways to save money.

On the other hand, in order to utilize such microfilm efficiently, various functional additions and the development of auxiliary equipment have been made to microfilm handling devices (hereinafter referred to as readers, etc.) such as league leader printers.

For example, in order to streamline the search for required frames in microfilm set in leagues, etc., an automatic required frame search mechanism may be provided, or microfilms may be made into cartridges to simplify film setting for leagues, etc.

Furthermore, when a user has a large number of microfilm cartridges (hereinafter abbreviated as cartridges), searching and extracting the cartridges themselves becomes a problem. That is, it is troublesome to manually search for a cartridge containing the required information from among a large number of storage cartridges, and it also takes a considerable amount of time. Therefore, the above-mentioned cartridge autochanger has been developed, which automatically performs all operations from searching and extracting the IJ cartridge (required car) to transporting and loading the cartridge into the machine such as the reader, and returning the cartridge after use. There is.

The cartridge autochanger (hereinafter abbreviated as CAC device) is roughly divided into two parts: a cartridge storage section that accommodates and stores a large number of cartridges, and a cartridge storage section that takes out designated specific cartridges from the storage section and inserts them into the cartridge of this machine, such as a league. The cartridge is equipped with a cartridge ejecting/transporting mechanism section for transporting and loading the cartridge into the storage section and returning it to the storage section, and a device operation control circuit section including a required cartridge designating means.

In addition, the above-mentioned CAC devices are a combination device that is separate from this machine, such as a league, and is used alongside this machine, a pedestal dual-purpose device that is built into a pedestal where this machine, such as a league, is installed, and a device that is built into a pedestal, such as a league that is built into this machine. The built-in device can be configured in the form of a device or the like.

By the way, problems with conventional CAC devices include: (1) access time is relatively long; In other words, the time from the start of operation of the device based on the cartridge specification operation to the completion of loading the target cartridge into the machine, such as a league, and conversely, the time from when the used cartridge, such as the leader, is returned to its original location in the storage section from the machine side. The time it takes is relatively long.

(2) The device as a whole is quite large, and increasing the capacity will make it even larger.

In the present invention, the device configuration is devised so that the access time can be shortened as much as possible, and the device can be made as compact as possible.

〔Example〕

The present invention will be explained below with reference to illustrated embodiments.

FIG. 1 shows a film reader printer equipped with the present invention, and the entire device is composed of an upper machine box 1, a lower machine box 2, and an operation panel 3 for instructing various operations. A screen 4 is provided on the front of the upper machine box 1.

Inside the upper machine box 1, as shown in FIG. 2, there is a first cartridge receiver that holds a first cartridge 10A automatically selected from a cartridge storage section in the lower machine box 2 in a first position, which will be described later. member 11 and a separate car) a second car that holds a second cartridge IOB automatically selected from the IJ socket storage in a second position; an IJ socket receiving member 13; An illumination unit 15 that illuminates the microfilm, an imaging lens 16, an image sensor 17, and a take-up reel 18.
etc. are arranged. The second cartridge receiving member 13 is installed above the first cartridge receiving member 11.

The illumination unit 15 is composed of a lamp 20, a condenser lens 21, and a mirror 22, and the light from the lamp 20 is transmitted through the condenser lens 21 and the mirror 22 to a microfilm F placed between a pair of glass plates Gl and G2. Projected.

The light transmitted through the microfilm passes through the imaging lens 16, is reflected by mirrors 23 and 24, and is projected onto the image sensor 17. The image sensor 17 is composed of a light receiving element array such as a COD, and converts the image on the microfilm into a signal. After the image signal output from the image sensor 17 is processed by a signal processing circuit, it is sent to a known printer such as a laser beam printer, and a copy image is obtained by the printer. When the above device is used as a reader, the light passing through the imaging lens 16 is projected onto the screen 4 via an optical system (not shown), and the image of the microfilm is observed on the screen. Note that instead of the image sensor 17, a known photoreceptor may be placed at this position to perform copying.

Figure 3 shows the microfilm feeding path.
The microfilm in the cartridge IOA passes through the first passage 31 and the second passage 32, and then passes through the glass plates Gl and G.
The microfilm in the second cartridge 10B passes through the third passage 33, the second passage 32, passes between the glass plates Gl and G2, and is taken up. You will be guided to Room 18. 1st passage 31 and 3rd passage
The passages 33 meet at the second passage 32, and the microfilms of the cartridges IOA and IOB are placed in the common second passage 3.
2 is selectively delivered.

A film guide plate is provided along each path 31 to 33,
Each film is guided along a predetermined path by a film guide plate.

35 and 36 are film feed rollers, 37 is a film guide reeler, and 38 is a mark detector.

The film feed roller 35 is connected to a motor, and is moved by a solenoid (not shown) between a position in which it contacts the microfilm in the cartridge IOA placed at the first position and a position away from the film. Further, the film feeder 36 is connected to a motor, and is moved by a solenoid (not shown) between a position in which it contacts the microfilm in the cartridge IOB placed in the second position and a position away from the film.

When using the first cartridge IOA, the roller 35 is rotated by the film feeding command while the cartridge IOA is being used.
Move to a position where it contacts the microfilm F in the OA,
The leading end of the microfilm is sent out of the cartridge IOA by the roller 35, and the film F is fed to the take-up reel 18 through the first passage 31 and the second passage 32. The take-up reel 18 is driven by a motor when a feeding command is given, and when the leading edge of the microfilm is fed, it automatically winds up the leading edge of the film.

When the leading edge of the microfilm is wound around the take-up reel 18, the rotation of the roller 35 is stopped and the four-roller 35 is moved to a position away from the film. Thereafter, the film is pulled out from the first cartridge by rotation of the take-up reel and wound onto the take-up reel.

When rewinding the microfilm onto the cartridge IOA, a winding shaft within the cartridge IOA is rotated in the winding direction by a motor (not shown).

When using the second cartridge IOB, the roller 36 rotates in response to a feeding command and moves to a position where it contacts the microfilm in the cartridge IOB,
6, the leading edge of the microfilm is sent out from the cartridge IOB, and this film is passed through the third passage 33 and the second passage.
It is fed through the passage 32 to the take-up reel 18 and wound onto the take-up reel 18 in the same manner as described above. When the leading edge of the microfilm is wound around the take-up reel 18, the rotation of the four-roller 36 is stopped and the roller 36 is moved to a position away from the film. After that, the film is rotated by the rotation of the take-up reel.
It is pulled out from the second cartridge and wound onto a take-up reel.

When rewinding the microfilm into the cartridge IOB, a winding shaft inside the cartridge IOB is rotationally driven in the winding direction by a motor (not shown).

The mark detector 38 is for detecting the counting mark attached to the side of each frame of the microfilm, and is composed of a photoelectric conversion element, and is arranged on the opposite side of the illumination section 150 with the film sandwiched therebetween.

The mark on the microfilm has a different density from its surroundings, and when the microfilm is fed, the light incident on the mark detector 38 is interrupted by the mark, so that the mark detector 38 outputs a mark detection signal. The mark detection signal that is output when the mark detector detects a mark is counted by the counting section, and the counted value of the counting section is compared with the address number of the desired frame, and when the two match, the film is stopped. , a desired top can be searched, and the searched top is placed in the projection optical path. The details of this search device are described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 55-15,691, so they will be omitted here.Inside the lower machine box 2, as shown in Fig. cartridge storage sections 50, 51, 52, 53 and a cartridge gripping and transporting mechanism 55 that selects and takes out one of the cartridges in the storage sections 50 to 53 and transports it to the first position or the second position.
is located.

Each of the cartridge storage units 50 to 53 is connected to a motor (not shown), rotates independently in the direction of the arrow, and is arranged on the disk 54 so that the centers of rotation are located on concentric circles. The disk 54 is connected to a motor (not shown) and rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow independently of the storage sections 50 to 53.

The IJ gripping and transporting mechanism 55 is rotatable in the direction of arrow B about a shaft 57, and has a hand 60 that grips the cartridge. When the gripping and transporting mechanism 55 rotates in the direction of arrow B, the hand 60 moves to a position facing the disk 54 and a position facing the cartridge receiving member. Further, when the disk 54 is rotated, the selected cartridge storage section is placed in a position facing the hand 60. In Figure 4,
The cartridge gripping and transporting mechanism 55 is connected to the cartridge storage section 5.
0, and is placed in a position where the hand can take out the cartridge in the storage section 50.

FIG. 5 shows details of the cartridge storage section and the cartridge gripping and transporting mechanism.
Drums 50A to 50F that house a large number of cartridges 10 in radial alignment are stacked at predetermined intervals, and each drum 50A to 50F is connected to a shaft 50 installed on a disk 54.
It rotates around '.

Each drum has the same structure, with a radial main image chamber for storing each cartridge separately. The other cartridge storage units 51 to 53 are configured similarly to the storage unit 50.

The cartridge gripping and transporting mechanism 55 is provided with an elevating member 58 that moves up and down in the direction of arrow C along a ball 57 vertically installed near the disk 54, and an elevating member 58 that moves upward and downward along the elevating member 58 in the horizontal direction ( It consists of a moving member 59 that moves forward and backward in the direction of the arrow) and a hand 60 that is disposed at the tip of the moving member 59 and grips the cartridge.

The elevating member 58 can move up and down from the top to the bottom of the ball 57. The moving member 59 is connected to the storage section 50
It is designed to reciprocate between a forward end position where the cartridge inside can be gripped by the handle 60 and a backward end position where the cartridge gripped by the handle is positioned outside the storage section 50. The ball 57 can rotate in both directions, and by rotating the ball 57, the hand 60 can be directed toward the storage section or toward the cartridge receiving member 11.13. hand 60
As shown in FIG. 2, the gripper has a claw structure capable of gripping the cartridges stored in the storage parts 50 to 53, so that the cartridges can be gripped and released.

In the above configuration, in the initial state, the movable member 59 is at the retreat end position shown in FIG. It is in the middle home position.

Now select the desired cartridge (first cartridge) on the keyboard of operation panel 3.
When the number of the storage section in which the cartridge (2) is stored, the number of the cartridge, and the number of the desired piece in this cartridge are input and a command is given to start the search, the elevating member 58 moves up to the drum position storing the desired cartridge. While moving up and down, the disk 54 and the drum of the storage section in which the desired cartridge is present also rotate. When the desired storage section faces the hand 60 and the main picture chamber containing the desired cartridge in this storage section reaches a position where the hand 60 faces the hand, the elevating member 58 stops, and the disk 54 and drum The rotation of the cartridge stops and the desired cartridge is connected to the node 60.
and face to face. Next, the moving member 59 is advanced to the forward end position, and when the hand 60 comes into contact with a desired cartridge, the hand is operated to grip the cartridge. Grasp the cartridge, move the backward moving member 59 backward, and move the moving member 5
9 reaches the end position of the retraction, the elevating member 58 is raised and the ball 57 is rotated half a turn. When the ball 57 rotates half a turn, the hand 60 moves to the cartridge receiving member 11.
．． It is directed towards the 13th side. The lifting member 58 is the first car) I
The elevating member stops when it rises to a position facing the J-judge receiving member 11. Next, the moving member 59 moves forward, and the gripped first cartridge is loaded into the first cartridge receiving member 11 and held at the first position. 1st
When the cartridge IOA is held in the first cartridge receiving member 11, the hand 6o releases the first cartridge.

Next, the feed roller 35 rotates and comes into contact with the film in the first cartridge IOA placed at the first position to feed the microfilm out of the cartridge, and a desired frame in the microfilm is searched.

While searching for the first cartridge, the number of the storage section where the next desired cartridge (second cartridge) is stored, the IJ number, the number of the desired piece in this cartridge, etc. When a number is input into the keyboard of the operation panel 3 to command a search start, the hand 60 releases the first cartridge IOA, the moving member 59 retreats, and then the ball 57 rotates half a turn in the same manner as described above, and The elevating member 55 descends, and the drum of the storage section in which the disk 54 and the second cartridge are present also rotates. Thereafter, the operation is the same as described above. That is, after the hand 60 grips the second cartridge to be used next, the elevating member 58 rises and the ball 57 rotates half a rotation. When the elevating member 58 rises to a position facing the second cartridge receiving member 13, the elevating member stops. Next, the moving member 59 moves forward, and the second cartridge gripped by the hand is loaded into the second cartridge receiving member 13 and held at the second position. Second
When the cartridge 10B is held in the second cartridge receiving member 13, the hand 60 releases the second cartridge. Therefore, while the first cartridge is being used, the second cartridge to be used next can be selected and transported to the second position.

Then, after using the microfilm F in the first cartridge IOA in part of the reader or part of the printer, when rewinding is commanded, the microfilm F is rewound into the cartridge IOA, and after the rewinding is completed, the second car) The elevating member 58 that was facing the IJ jig receiving member 13 descends to the position facing the IJ jig receiving member 11 (first car), and the elevating member 58
When facing the first cartridge receiving member 11, the moving member 5
9 moves forward and hand 60 is used (first car) IJ
Grasp Tsuji 10A and then retreat. Next, disk 54
The lifting member 58 descends as it rotates half a turn. When the elevating member 58 descends to the position of the drum that returns the first cartridge IOA and the disk rotates to a position where the hand faces the drum that returns the first cartridge IOA, the moving member 59 moves forward and removes the used first cartridge IOA. Return the cartridge to its original front compartment. After or during this return, the second car)
If you give an instruction to search for IJ (the third car to be used after IJ IOB), the above operation is repeated and the cartridge holder 0 member holding the third cartridge (in this case, 1 car) in which the IJ edge receiving member 11 is placed.

On the other hand, when the rewinding of the first cartridge IOA is completed, the feed roller 36 rotates and contacts the microfilm in the second cartridge 10B placed in the second position, and feeds the microfilm out of the cartridge. A search for the desired piece is performed.

After using the microfilm in the second cartridge, when the microfilm is rewound into the second cartridge, after the third cartridge to be used next is loaded into the first cartridge receiving member 13, the cartridge is held and transported. The mechanism 55 returns the second cartridge to the main image chamber of a given drum. While the microfilm in the cartridge is being used in the projection unit in this way, the next cartridge to be used is selected and transported to the projection unit, and the IJ aperture is prepared in a usable position. or return used cartridges. Therefore, while the film of a desired cartridge is being used or the used cartridge is being returned, the microfilm of the cartridge to be used next can be used, so that the projection apparatus can be used efficiently.

In addition, each storage section is arranged in a disk, and there is a car near the disk.
Since the IJudge gripping and transporting mechanism is provided, a desired cartridge in each storage section can be searched for in a short time by rotating the disc and the storage section, and the entire device can be downsized.

In addition, although two cartridge receiving members are provided in the above-mentioned embodiment, only one cartridge receiving member may be provided, or three or more may be provided,
The cartridge transporting means may selectively transport cartridges to each cartridge receiving member and selectively feed the cartridges held by each cartridge receiving member to the common passage.

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of the pond of the present invention, in which a large number of cartridge storage sections 150, 151, 152, . . .
.
The IJ gripping and transporting mechanism 55 is arranged to move the movable member and rotate the storage section in which the desired cartridge is present so that the desired cartridge faces the hand. The cartridges in each storage section are retrieved and grasped by a common hand, transported and loaded into the equipment used, and returned to the place where they are used and restored.

Note that the mechanism for selecting the cartridge stored in the storage section is not limited to the embodiment, and any known cartridge selection mechanism may be used.

〔effect〕

As described above, the present invention arranges a plurality of cartridge storage sections storing a large number of cartridges independently and rotatably on a moving member, selects a cartridge in each cartridge storage section, and transports it to a predetermined position. Since the cartridge gripping means for returning used cartridges to the cartridge storage section is arranged near the moving member, it is possible to search for a desired cartridge in each cartridge storage section in a short time, and the capacity of the cartridge can be reduced. Even if the number of hands increases, there is no need to add more hands, so the device can be downsized.

In the above embodiment, after searching for the desired car (IJ Tsuji) in the first cartridge storage section, the second cartridge storage section is rotated. At the same time, or by rotating the cartridge housing where the second cartridge is present while searching for the first cartridge, some of the operations for searching for the next cartridge to be used are accelerated, thereby increasing the time for the next search. can be shortened.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is an external view of a film reader printer equipped with a cartridge autochanger according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the inside of the upper machine box, Fig. 3 is a side view showing the film feeding passage, and FS4 is FIG. 5 is a top view showing the entire interior of the lower machine box, FIG. 5 is a side view of the cartridge storage section and the cartridge gripping and transporting mechanism, and FIG. 6 is a top view showing another embodiment of the moving member. 10 Cartridge 15 Illumination section 16 Imaging lens 18 Take-up reel

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A plurality of cartridge storage sections storing a large number of cartridges are arranged independently and rotatably on a movable member, and a cartridge in each cartridge storage section is selected and transported to a predetermined position and used. 1. A cartridge auto-changer characterized in that a cartridge gripping and transporting means for returning the cartridge to the cartridge storage portion is disposed near the moving member.