JPS61170953A - Cartridge changing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To retrieve and change a cartidge at a high speed by loading and unloading the cartridge on and from an auxiliary cartridge storage part when the cartridge is transported along a path. CONSTITUTION:The auxiliary cartridge storage part 60 is placed outside a main cartridge storage part 50 and fixed to the fixation part of a device body, and this part has the 1st section chamber 61 for storing a cartridge to be used next and the 2nd section chamber 62 for storing a cartridge after use. A hand 58 facing the storage part 50 is moved up or down to put a hand 8 opposite either of the storage parts 50 and 60 selectively, and while the microfilm in a cartridge sent to a reader printer is used, a cartridge clamping mechanism 51 returns the used cartridge to the original storage part 50 and also transports and stores a cartridge to be used next at the auxiliary storage part 60 independent of the storage part 50. Consequently, the retrieval time of cartridges is shortened.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a cartridge exchange device, i.e., a cartridge exchange device, in which a large number of cartridges are housed and stored in a storage section, a cartridge is searched for and grasped, and transported and loaded into a cartridge loading type device. [Technical Background and Objectives of the Invention] For convenience, a microfilm system device will be described as an example.

Microfilm is excellent as a large-capacity recording medium for materials such as documents and drawings (a roll of roll microfilm can contain a large amount of information, for example, about 6000 frames), and is useful for long-term preservation of materials and storage space. Banko is used in many ways to save money.

On the other hand, in order to utilize such microfilm efficiently, many functions have been added and auxiliary equipment has been developed for devices that handle microfilm such as readers and reader printers (hereinafter referred to as readers). .

For example, an automatic search mechanism is provided to streamline the search for a desired frame on microfilm set in a reader, or microfilm is made into a cartridge to simplify film setting for leagues and the like.

Furthermore, when a user has a large number of microfilm cartridges (hereinafter abbreviated as cartridges), searching and extracting the cartridges themselves becomes a problem. In other words, it is troublesome to manually search for a cartridge containing desired information among a large number of stored cartridges, and it also takes a considerable amount of time. A cartridge exchange device as described above has also been developed that automatically performs all operations from transporting and loading the cartridge into the machine, to returning it after use.

The cartridge exchange device has a cartridge storage section that accommodates and stores a large number of cartridges, and a designated specific cartridge is removed from the storage section, transported and loaded into the cartridge loading section of this machine such as a reader, and then returned to the storage section. car)
Incidentally, in a conventional cartridge exchange device, a used cartridge is stored in its original position and then replaced with another cartridge. Therefore, it takes time to store and take out the cartridge, and it takes time to search for the microfilm.The object of the present invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks, and to remove the cartridge at high speed. An object of the present invention is to provide a cartridge exchange device capable of searching and exchanging cartridges.Embodiments 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 or J for commanding various operations.

A moss screen 4 is provided on the front side of the upper machine box 1.

Inside the upper machine box 1, as shown in FIG. 2, there is a cartridge receiving member 11 that holds in a predetermined position a cartridge 1o that is automatically selected from a cartridge storage section in the lower machine box 2, which will be described later. An illumination unit 15 for illuminating the microfilm sent out from 10, an imaging lens 16, an image sensor 17, a take-up reel 18, and the like are arranged. The lighting section 15 includes a lamp 20. Consisting of a condenser lens 21 and a mirror 22, the lamp 2
Light from 0 is projected via a condenser lens 21 and a mirror 22 onto a microfilm F placed between a pair of glass plates Gl and G2. The light transmitted through the microfilm passes through the imaging lens 16, is reflected by mirrors 26 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 CCD, and converts the image on the microfilm into an electrical signal. image senna 1
After being processed by a signal processing circuit, the output image signal is sent to a known printer such as a laser beam printer, and an image of the subject is obtained by the printer. When using the above device as a reader, a.
^Sen tτ1M=61 Alone in the gallery, project onto screen 4 and observe the microfilm image on the screen. Incidentally, instead of the image sensor 17, a known photoreceptor may be placed at this position to perform copying.The microfilm in the cartridge 10 is fed through a predetermined path, and the glass plate G1. Take-up reel 1 passes between G2
You will be guided to 8. A film guide plate (not shown) is provided along the passage number ζ, and the film is guided along a predetermined passage by the film guide plate.

35 is a film feed roller, and 37 is a film guide roller.

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 10 placed at a predetermined position and a position away from the film.

When using the IJ Tsuji 10, the roller 65 rotates according to the search command ζζ and moves to a position where it contacts the microfilm in the cartridge 10, and o - la'<
Fs! rr h fJ-to 11 Tsuji 10 IL Lr
-r The leading edge of the microfilm is fed out, and this film F is fed to the take-up reel 18 through a predetermined path. The take-up reel 18 is driven by a motor when a search command is issued, and when the leading edge of the microfilm is fed, it automatically winds up the leading edge of the film. When the leading end of the microfilm is wound around the take-up reel 18, the rotation of the row 265 is stopped and the roller 65 is moved to a position away from the film. Thereafter, the film is pulled out from the cartridge by rotation of the take-up reel and wound onto the take-up reel. When rewinding the microfilm into the cartridge 10, a winding shaft within the cartridge 10 is rotated in the winding direction by a motor (not shown).

Inside the lower machine box 2, as shown in FIG. 6, there is a main cartridge storage section 50 that stores a large number of cartridges 10, and one of the cartridges in the storage section 50 is selected and taken out and placed in a predetermined position. A cartridge gripping and transporting mechanism 51 for transporting the cartridge up to the storage part 50, and an auxiliary cartridge storage part (standby storage part) 60 for storing the cartridge to be used next and the used cartridge taken out from the storage part 50 are arranged. The main cartridge storage portion 50 includes drums 50A to 50 that store a large number of cartridges 10 in radial alignment.
0F are stacked at predetermined intervals, and each drum 50A~
50F begins to rotate around the central axis 52°
[There is.

Each drum is of identical construction, with radial compartments for separately housing each cartridge.

The cartridge gripping and transporting mechanism 51 is connected to the cartridge storage section 5.
An elevating member 56 that overflows a pole 55 vertically installed near the point 0 and moves up and down in the direction of arrow A;
A retracting moving member 57 and a moving member disposed at the tip of the moving member 57, *) 'J'/y Gen T
6 '゛'F' 58 h b' b g e 8
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The elevating member 56 can move up and down from the top to the bottom of the ball 55. The moving member 57 is connected to the storage section 50
The zero ball 55 is designed to reciprocate between a forward end position where the cartridge inside can be gripped by the hand 58 and a backward end position where the IJ joint is located outside the storage section 50. can be rotated in both directions, and by rotating the pole 55, the
0 node 5 that can direct the node 58 toward the collecting section 50 or toward the cartridge receiving member 11.
As shown in FIG. 2, reference numeral 8 has a claw structure capable of gripping the cartridge stored in the storage portion 50, so that the cartridge can be gripped and released.

The elevating member 56 is connected to a motor via a wire (not shown), and when the motor is driven, the elevating member 56 moves up and down via the wire, and when the elevating member 56 reaches a predetermined position, the motor stops. However, the elevating member 56 is held stopped at a predetermined height position by a wire. This motor consists of a step motor, and when the motor stops, it is energized to hold the elevating member in a predetermined cylindrical position. The member may be held at a predetermined height.

Ball 55 is rotatably supported by substrate 60.

Normally, the hand 58 is placed at a predetermined cartridge selection position facing the main cartridge storage section 50, and when the moving member 57 is moved forward in this state, it is possible to grip the cartridge in the drum facing the hand 58. Move the hand 58 to the current position.

The auxiliary cartridge storage section 60 is the main cartridge storage section 5.
A first compartment 61 is placed outside of the device and is fixed to a fixed part of the device body, and stores the cartridge to be used next.
and a second compartment 62 for storing used cartridges. The first compartment 61 is arranged above the second compartment 62.

Each of the compartments 61 and 62 is provided above the cartridge retrieval position of the main cartridge storage section. That is, the compartments 61 and 62 are located at positions corresponding to the compartments of the storage section 50 facing the hand 58, and by moving the hand 58 facing the storage section 50 up and down, the hand 58 can be moved to the storage section 50, 60. In other words, the auxiliary cartridge storage section 60 can selectively face any one of the compartments.
The cartridges of each of the drums 50A to 50F are placed at the same position in the vertical direction as the removable position.

In the above configuration, in the initial state, the movable member 57 is at the retreat end position shown in FIG.
The elevating member 56 is located at a cartridge selection position opposite to the
4 shows the bottom of the ball 55. FIG. 4 shows a plan view of the cartridge gripping and transporting mechanism 51 and the car in the initial state. .60, and when the elevating member 56 is raised or lowered in this state, the hand 58 faces either of the drum compartments 50A to 50F and the first and second compartments 61, 62. can be placed in position.

Now select the desired cartridge (first cartridge) on the keyboard of the operation panel 6.
When the user enters the number of a desired cartridge) and the number of a desired piece in this cartridge and instructs to start a search, the elevating member 56 moves up and down to the position of the drum containing the desired cartridge, and the drum rotates. Then, the drum compartment housing the desired cartridge is located at No. 1 and 58.
By grip”Tffi2″′″;5 m K!c's
9 Y 6"'"0-""1-, and the desired cartridge and hand 5B face each other.

Next, the moving member 57 is advanced to the forward end position, and when the hand 58 comes into contact with a desired cartridge, the hand is operated to grip the cartridge.

After gripping the cartridge, the moving member 57 is moved backward, and when the moving member 57 reaches the retreating end position, the elevating member 56 is raised and the ball 55 is rotated by half a rotation. ball 55
The hand 58 is turned toward the cartridge receiving member 11 by rotating half a rotation.

When the elevating member 56 rises to a position facing the cartridge receiving member 11, the elevating member stops. Next, the moving member 5
7 moves forward, and the cartridge gripped by the hand is loaded into the cartridge receiving member 11 and held at a predetermined position. When the cartridge 10 is held in the cartridge receiving member 11, the hand 58 releases the cartridge.

Next, while the feed roller 35 rotates, the cartridge 1 is
Microphone 0 is placed outside the cartridge by contacting the film inside the cartridge.
The film is sent out and a desired frame is searched for on the microfilm. Then, the microfilm F of the cartridge 10 is used in a part of the reader or a part of the printer.
When the image of the desired frame on the microfilm is read on a part of the reader, -f ll, -A fi
-! %-/II %-L+2 F LzkJ-7
%m 1. Next, when searching for and using the first cartridge 10, enter the number of the second cartridge to be used and the desired slot number in this cartridge on the keyboard of the operation panel 3. When a search start command is issued, the second cartridge is gripped by the hand 58 and taken out from the storage section 50 in the same manner as described above. When the hand 58 holding the second cartridge returns to the retraction end position, the elevating member 56 rises without the ball 55 rotating. When the hand 58 reaches a position facing the first compartment 61, the elevating member 56 stops, and then the movable member 57 advances, and when the forward end position is reached, the hand 58 releases the second cartridge. If the cartridge is “first compartment 6”
It is stored in 1. In this way, the next car to be used)
The IJ azalea is temporarily stored in the first compartment 61.

When the second cartridge is stored in the first compartment 61, the ball 55 rotates half a turn, and the hand 58 is placed in a position facing the cartridge-judge receiving member 11.

If you use the microfilm F of the cartridge 10 of Chiku 1 between the main collar of the cartridge 1 of Chikku 9 and the cartridge 10 of Chiku 9, and command to rewind it after use, the microfilm F will rewind to the cartridge 1.
Rewind to 0. The second cartridge is inserted into the first compartment 61.
and after finishing rewinding the first cartridge,
When the moving member 57 placed in a position facing the cartridge receiving member 11 moves forward and reaches the forward end position, the no.
8 grips the used first cartridge 10 and then retreats. Next, when the ball 55 moves away from the rear end position, the ball 55 rotates half a turn and the elevating member 56 descends.

When the elevating member 56 descends to a position where it can face the second compartment 62, it stops. At this time, the node 58 is the second
The moving member 56 moves forward in this state, and when it reaches the forward end position, the hand 5B
releases the first cartridge and the first cartridge 10
is stored in the second compartment 62. In this way, the used cartridge is temporarily stored in the second compartment 62. When the first cartridge is stored in the second compartment 62, the elevating member 56 rises and the hand 58 moves into the first compartment 62.
It stops when it reaches a position facing the Next, the moving member 57
moves forward, and the hand 58 grips the second cartridge. When the hand 5B grips the second cartridge, the moving member 57 retreats and the ball 55 rotates half a rotation. When the hand 58 comes to a position facing the cartridge receiving member 11, the movable member 57 moves forward, and the second
The cartridge is inserted into the cartridge receiving member 11. When the second cartridge is held at a predetermined position on the cartridge receiving member 11, the hand 5 releases the second cartridge and the moving member 57 retreats.

Thereafter, the microfilm in the second cartridge is fed out in the same manner as described above, and a desired frame is retrieved.

On the other hand, the second cartridge is inserted into the cartridge receiving member 11, and the second cartridge is inserted into the node 58 or the backward path A(e!jCFj!6).
,! : ′-″55 #1’?’@E5・“4”
J material 56 descends. When the elevating member 56 descends to a position facing the second compartment 62, it stops.

At this time, the hand 58 is in a position facing the second compartment 62, and in this state, the moving member 57 moves forward, and the hand 58
8 grips the used first cartridge. hand 5
8 grips the first cartridge, the moving member 57 retreats, and when it reaches the end position of the retreat, the elevating member 56 descends.

Once the lifting member has lowered to the original drum position to return the first cartridge, the moving member 57 advances and returns the spent first cartridge to the original drum compartment. - During or after returning a used cartridge, if a command is given to search for the sixth cartridge to be used next, the third cartridge is temporarily stored in the first compartment 611 in the same way as described above. Ru. Thereafter, by repeating the above-mentioned operations, a large number of cartridges can be automatically replaced and used.While using the microfilm of the cartridge sent to the reader printer in this way, the cartridge gripping and transporting mechanism The cartridge 50 returns the used cartridge to the original storage section 50, and the cartridge to be used next is auxiliary stored separately from the storage section 50, thereby shortening the time required to search for the cartridge. Furthermore, since the auxiliary storage section 60 is provided along the cartridge transportation path of the cartridge gripping and transportation mechanism and is provided at a fixed position, cartridge replacement, removal, and return operations can be performed between the auxiliary storage section and the main storage section. can be done quickly.

FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the invention.

Hereinafter, parts that are the same as those in the embodiment described above are given the same reference numerals.

A large number of cartridges 10 are stored in a bookshelf-type main cartridge storage section 150 in rows and columns.
0 is movable in the direction of the arrow. The auxiliary cartridge storage section 60 is provided above the cartridge retrieval position of the storage section 150, and is fixed at a fixed position.

By moving the storage section 150 in the direction of the arrow and moving the elevating member 56 up and down, the hand 58 can face the desired cartridge and take it out, and the cartridge taken out from the storage section 150 by the hand 58 is gripped and transported. It is temporarily stored in an auxiliary storage section 60 placed in the middle of the transportation route of the mechanism 51.

Note that the mechanism for selecting the car stored in the storage section is not limited to the embodiment, and the mechanism for selecting the IJ
A tri-grip selection mechanism can be used.

In addition, in the embodiment, the auxiliary cartridge storage section is provided with two compartments, but six or more compartments are provided to store two or more used cartridges or two or more cartridges to be used sequentially.
More than one cartridge may be temporarily stored in the auxiliary cartridge storage.

＠Figure 6 shows still another embodiment of the present invention, in which a first compartment 61 for accommodating an IJ cartridge (to be used next) is provided above the cartridge retrieval position of the main cartridge accommodating portion 50, and is used. A second compartment for storing finished cartridges.
The compartment 62 is provided on the same plane as the first compartment 61 and along the rotation path of the hand 5B. 1st
- Second compartment and car) The IJ joint receiving member 11 is provided on the same plane. When the hand 5B is at the retreat end position and the hand 58 is in a position facing the cartridge receiving members 1, 1, the ball 55 is rotated in the direction of arrow C, so that the hand 58 faces the second compartment 62. When the rotation of the ball 55 is stopped and the moving member 57 is then moved forward, the used car (IJ) held by the hand can be loaded into the second compartment 62. After storing the used cartridge in the second compartment 62, rotate the ball, stop the rotation of the ball when the hand faces the first compartment 61, and then move the moving member forward. The next cartridge to be used stored in the chamber can be taken out by hand. After this, by rotating the ball in the opposite direction to that described above and then moving the hand forward, the cartridge to be used next can be loaded into the IJ joint receiving member 11.
- Note that the first compartment and the second compartment may be provided in a relationship opposite to that shown in FIG.

[Effects of the present invention]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the auxiliary storage section for storing the next cartridge to be used and the used cartridge is provided outside the main storage section, searching for and replacing cartridges can be performed quickly. This has the effect of significantly shortening the waiting time when replacing cartridges.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is an external view of a film reader printer equipped with the device of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the inside of the upper machine box, Fig. 6 is a side view of the IJ joint storage section and the cartridge gripping and transporting mechanism, and Fig. FIG. 4 is a plan view of the device shown in FIG. 6, and FIGS. 5 and 6 are plan views showing other embodiments of the present invention. 10... Cartridge, 15... Lighting section, 16...
e Imaging lens, 18.0 take-up reel, 50...main cartridge storage section, 51...car) IJ Tsuji gripping and transporting mechanism, 60...
Auxiliary car) IJ-judge storage section.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A main cartridge storage section that stores a plurality of cartridges, a cartridge transporting means for selecting and transporting a cartridge in the main cartridge storage section to a predetermined position and returning a used cartridge to the storage section, and a cartridge to be used next. and an auxiliary cartridge accommodating part for storing a used cartridge, the auxiliary cartridge accommodating part being located outside the main cartridge accommodating part, and the cartridge being moved from the main cartridge accommodating part to the predetermined position by the cartridge transporting means. A cartridge exchange device, wherein the cartridge exchange device is arranged along a conveying path, and the cartridge conveying means is capable of inserting or removing a cartridge into the auxiliary cartridge storage section when conveying the cartridge along the passage.