JP2000100028A - Accessing device for recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a specified ejection position by pressing a recording medium and ejecting out of a device by an ejecting means after a medium attaching means transfers the recording medium from an information accessing position to an open position. SOLUTION: An opening end detecting means 8 abuts a protruded detecting pin 14 on an arm 9 regulated by a holder pin 11 when a recording medium holder 7 is roughly in an open position. In the open position, the detecting pin 14 is pressed and further pushed in to be energized, and the arrival of a recording medium on the open position is recognized by the energizing of the opening end detecting means 8. Then, a control circuit drives, a push-out driving source 4 thereby generating the force of actuating the push-out driving source 4, and a push-out member 6 is slid through a transmission mechanism 5. The push-out member 6 enters the recording medium holder 7, pushed out the case of a recording medium 1, and then completes its ejecting operation. Thus, the recording medium 1 is ejected to a specified ejecting position.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an apparatus for accessing a recording medium. More specifically, the present invention relates to a recording medium access device which obtains a predetermined discharge position by pressing a recording medium by an extruding means and discharging the recording medium to the outside of the apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a device for taking a recording medium into a housing and performing recording and / or reproduction, a spring is used for a mechanism for ejecting the recording medium from the device, and the recording medium is guided to a predetermined position by an electric mechanism. After that, the recording medium is ejected by applying a pressing force to the outside by the spring.

[0003]

However, according to the above-mentioned conventional technology, the spring used for the discharging mechanism has a problem that the elastic force decreases with the lapse of time.
There is a problem that a predetermined discharge position cannot be obtained.

Further, in order to obtain a large discharge position, it is necessary to increase the movable range of the spring, and as a result, there is a problem that the apparatus becomes large. The present invention has been made to reduce such problems.

[0005]

That is, the first aspect of the present invention solves the above-mentioned problems by providing an access device for a recording medium provided with a pushing means for pushing a recording medium housed in a case to the outside of the apparatus. Is what you do.

Here, the pushing means presses and ejects the recording medium from the inside of the apparatus, and also works so as to obtain a predetermined ejection position.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording medium access device including a recording medium pushing unit, a medium attaching unit, and an opening completion detecting unit.

Here, the medium attaching means functions to transfer the recording medium between the information access position and the open position. Here, the information access position refers to a position where a member that reads and / or records information recording material contained in the recording medium case is in a state of performing its function. The open position refers to a position where a member for reading and / or recording can be transported outside the apparatus without interfering with a recording medium. Hereinafter, the information access position and the release position follow this definition. The open end detecting means functions to detect that the recording medium has moved to the actual open position.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a so-called library device is constructed by utilizing the above-mentioned invention, and a recording medium storage section for storing a recording medium stored in a plurality of cases; And a medium transport unit for selecting a recording medium from the above and transporting the medium to the medium attaching means.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, and 6. FIG. (1) First Embodiment First, a first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

(1-1) Description of Configuration According to First Embodiment First, in this embodiment, an access apparatus 1 for a recording medium will be described.
The configuration of the main part 3 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the main part.

The recording medium 1 is housed in a case and contains a material having a recording function based on, for example, a magnetic material. The recording medium 1 is moved to an information access position by an access device 13 and the information is transferred to the material. Recording and / or reproduction can be performed. Specifically, for example, a tape cartridge for computer data backup, which includes a magnetic recording tape wound around the cartridge and is mounted on a recording / reproducing device to record or reproduce the data as necessary. It is used for It is sufficient for the type of recording to be approximately informational, such as video, music, and programs. The recording medium 1 is an optical disk cartridge, a magneto-optical recording disk cartridge,
It may be a medium such as a semiconductor memory card or a compact cassette, on which signals and data can be recorded and reproduced, or a medium on which signals and data have been recorded in advance.

The side plates 2-1 and 2-2 are, for example, metallic flat plates, and are adapted to fix the mechanical elements located on the side of the apparatus and located inside.

The pushing mechanism holding plate 3 is, for example, a metal flat plate, is mounted on the side plates 2-1 and 2-2, and supports a pushing mechanism described later.

The pushing mechanism includes a pushing drive source 4 described below.
A transmission mechanism 5 and an extruding member 6 The extrusion drive source 4 is, for example, a DC motor, and
Under the control of a control circuit (not shown). It should be noted that any device that generates a force under control may be used, and an AC motor or the like may be used. Further, it is desirable that a larger force be generated on the output shaft by using a speed reduction mechanism. In the present embodiment, the installation position of the extrusion drive source 4 is disposed on the extrusion mechanism holding plate mounted on the side plates 2-1 and 2-2. It may be fixed to any part of the device.

The transmission mechanism 5 includes, for example, an extrusion drive source 4
In the case of generating a driving force by rotating a shaft, a pinion gear is used. And the transmission mechanism 5
Is attached to the extrusion drive source 4 and acts so that the force generated by the extrusion drive source 4 is changed to the operation of the extrusion member 6 described later.

The push-out member 6 is, for example, a rod-shaped body provided with a rack on the upper side of the drawing, and is slidably supported in the longitudinal direction by a support (not shown) on the push-out mechanism holding plate 3. The recording medium case is engaged with the transmission mechanism 5 and is slid by the force generated by the extrusion drive source 4 so that the recording medium case can be extruded from the recording medium holder.
The pushing member 6 only needs to be able to push the recording medium case from the recording medium holder, and its shape is, for example, a rod shape, a plate shape, or the like.
Any shape such as a cylindrical shape may be adopted. The material may be a hard material, such as metal or synthetic resin, or a material that is slightly elastically deformed, such as wood, plastic, or hard rubber. The number of the pushing members 6 may be any. Further, the length of the pushing member 6 may be a length sufficient to push the recording medium from the recording medium holder.

Next, the medium attaching means will be described. In the present embodiment, the medium attaching means is constituted by a mechanism (not shown) for driving the recording medium holder 7, the side plate opening 15, the holder pin 11, and the like.
The recording medium holder 7 is, for example, a rectangular parallelepiped-like cylinder having one surface opened and an opening provided in a part of the opposite surface, and is configured to store a recording medium case therein. Has become. After the recording medium 1 case is stored, the recording medium case can be moved in the apparatus by moving the recording medium holder 7 by a drive mechanism (not shown). The reason why the opening is provided in a part of the facing surface is that the pushing member 6 can be inserted from the opening and the stored recording medium case can be pushed out of the recording medium holder 7. In order to Therefore, the opening shape may be such that the pushing member can be inserted, and the opening may extend over the entire surface.

The open end detecting means 8 is a relay called, for example, a microswitch, and can detect that the recording medium holder 7 is at least in the open position. The micro switch exemplified in the present embodiment has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped outer shape, and the detection pin 14 protrudes from one surface. When the detection pin 14 is pressed in a direction to enter the inside, the microswitch is energized. The opening completion detecting means 8 only needs to be able to detect that the recording medium holder 7 is at the open position, and the power supply mode is not normally open as described above, but is normally closed. You may. Further, a pulse may be generated when the recording medium holder 7 reaches the open position. For this reason, it is also possible to use a reed relay that reacts with a magnetic field, instead of a so-called microswitch.

The arm 9 is, for example, a metal plate having a substantially rectangular shape, and is rotatably supported by an arm support shaft 10 provided on a part of the side plate 2-2. On the opposite side of the position in the longitudinal direction, an arm opening 12 of a long hole having a longitudinal direction in the same direction as the longitudinal direction of the arm is provided.

The holder pin 11 is a projection attached to the recording medium holder 7, protrudes outward through a side plate opening 15 provided in the side plate 2-2, and is further provided on the arm 9. In the arm opening 12. And
When the holder pin 11 moves in the elongated hole along the side plate opening 15, the arm 9 is swung about the arm support shaft 10 accordingly.

The side plate opening 15 is a substantially L-shaped opening provided in the side plate 2-2 so that the movement of the holder pin 11 is guided by the side plate opening. For this reason, the recording medium holder 7 is guided from the open position 17 to the inside of the apparatus in parallel with the top and bottom, and when guided to a predetermined position, moves down to the next information access position.
Alternatively, the opposite operation can be performed.

The reinforcing member 16 is, for example, a metal rod, is mounted on the side plates 2-1 and 2-2, and is combined with the pushing mechanism holding plate 3 to form the side plates 2-1 and 2-2. The positional relationship is maintained.

(1-2) Description of Operation According to First Embodiment Next, an operation according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described. For convenience of explanation, the description will be made from the position where the recording medium 1 is loaded into the recording medium holder 7 and at the information access position. Here, the recording medium holder 7 is moved to the open position 17 by a control circuit and a drive mechanism (not shown) in response to a control sequence or a command from the operator. At this time, since the holder pins 11 provided on the recording medium holder 7 are guided according to the side plate openings 15,
The recording medium holder is once moved upward in the plane of the paper and then moved leftward in the plane of the paper. At this time, since the holder pin is also engaged with the arm opening 12 provided in the arm 9, the arm 9 rotates counterclockwise about the arm support shaft 10.

On the other hand, the release completion detecting means 8 is provided so that the protruding detection pin 14 comes into contact with the arm 9 regulated by the holder pin 11 when the recording medium holder 7 is at the substantially open position. The detection pin 14 in the open position.
Is depressed and further depressed to be in an energized state. The control circuit (not shown) includes the open end detecting means 8.
Of the recording medium, and recognizes that the recording medium has reached the open position by the energization of the open end detecting means 8.

Next, a control circuit (not shown) includes an extrusion drive source 4
Is driven, whereby the driving force of the pushing drive source 4 is generated, and the pushing member 6 is slid through the transmission mechanism 5. Then, the pushing member 6 enters the recording medium holder 7 through the opening provided in the recording medium holder 7, pushes out the case of the recording medium 1, and the discharging operation is completed. As a result, the recording medium 1 has been discharged to the predetermined discharge position.

By adopting the configuration of the present embodiment as described above, for example, the access device 1
In the case where a library system or the like having a robot hand or the like is provided outside the device of No. 3, the margin necessary for the hand to grip the recording medium case can be accurately secured, and a stable library operation can be obtained. Will be able to do it.

Even when the access device 13 is used alone, the recording medium is pushed out of the housing by a predetermined length, so that a sufficient margin can be ensured, and the operator can easily access the recording medium. An object of the present invention is to provide a device that can easily hold a recording medium.

Here, it is desirable to additionally provide a discharge end detecting means (not shown). The discharge completion detection means detects when the pushing member 6 has almost completely pushed the recording medium to a predetermined position, whereby the control circuit surely confirms the discharge of the recording medium 1. There is an advantage that the intended operation is accurately achieved, for example, by returning the pushing member 6 to the position before the start of the operation.

(1-3) Modification of First Embodiment The pushing mechanism including the pushing drive source 4, the transmission mechanism 5, and the pushing member 6 generates a force in the direction of pushing the recording medium case. For good reason, these may be combined and replaced with another method, for example, a linear motor. Here, using a linear motor has advantages such as a reduction in the number of parts.

When the pushing drive source 4 generates a driving force by rotating the shaft, an eccentric substantially elliptical pressing cam 18 as shown in FIG. The recording medium 1 may be extruded. Here, FIG. 2 is a structural diagram of a modification around the extrusion member. In this case, for example, a D provided with a speed reduction mechanism as the extrusion drive source 4
In addition to using the C servomotor, the recording medium holding member 7 may be provided with a notch 19, and the recording medium may be pushed out so that the pressing cam enters the recording medium holding member. Although a space for the cam operation is required in this way, the pressing mechanism can be simplified, so that there is an advantage in a housing design having a relatively large space factor.

Further, an L-shaped pushing arm 62 as shown in FIG. 6 may be used as the pressing means. FIG. 6 is a structural diagram of a modification of the pushing mechanism according to the first embodiment. Here, the extrusion drive source 63 is, for example, a DC motor and is supported on an extrusion mechanism holding plate 64, as in the first embodiment, and is driven under the control of a control circuit (not shown). It is designed to generate force. The bevel gear 60 is attached to the rotating shaft of the pressing drive source 63 and meshed with the bevel gear 61. The bevel gear 61 is pivotally supported on a pushing mechanism holding plate 64, and one end of a pushing arm 62 is attached to a rotating shaft thereof. The control procedure in this case may be exactly the same as in the first embodiment.

By the way, in the above embodiment, the release completion detecting means 8 is provided, and it is confirmed from the state detected here that the recording medium is at the release position. If the mechanism for moving the holder 7 is realized by a position grasping mechanism that can detect the state, such as using a servomotor, the opening completion detecting means 8 is not provided, and the opening completion is performed using the position grasping mechanism. May be detected. However, in a mechanical system, it is usual to provide a margin for elasticity and play, and there is an advantage that a more stable operation can be obtained by positively employing the opening completion detecting means 8 as in the present embodiment. is there. Further, in the above-described embodiment, a motor is exemplified as the extrusion drive source 4 of the recording medium 1, but a plunger, a pressure pump, or the like can be used, for example, and can be selectively used depending on a position where the ejection of the recording medium 1 is completed.

(2) Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. (2-1) Configuration According to Second Embodiment The configuration of the main part of the library device according to the present embodiment will be described.

The library device is a device having a mechanism for inserting and removing a plurality of recording media, and an access device having less than the number of the recording media so that the plurality of recording media can be accessed collectively. Thus, recording and / or reproduction of a large amount of information as a whole can be performed. If the library device is configured based on the access device shown in the first embodiment, the time required for data search is generally slower than that of a hard disk device or the like, but its recording capacity is smaller than that of a hard disk device or the like. Then, it can be large.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram of a main part of the apparatus. The information access unit 20 is the access device described in the first embodiment of the present invention, and is a device that reads and / or records a recording medium.

The index table 22 is, for example, a disk-shaped table, and its phase angle can be controlled by the sequence controller 25 described above. A plurality of recording medium holders 21 are provided radially thereon, and a specific recording medium holder can be transferred to a predetermined position. Further, the recording medium holder can take out the recording medium from the center of the turntable toward the outer edge.

The drive unit 23 is, for example, a DC servomotor whose drive shaft is engaged with the rotating mechanism of the index table 22 and is under the control of the sequence control unit 25. Accordingly, the index table 22 is rotated, and a desired recording medium holder disposed on the index table is transferred to a predetermined position.

The recording medium setting section 24 pushes out the recording medium stored in the recording medium holder 21 with the pressing rod 26 under the control of the sequence control section 25, for example, and moves the recording medium to the open position in the information access section 20. It is set to move. The recording medium setting unit 24 and the recording medium holder 21 may have any configuration as long as the recording medium in the recording medium holder 21 is transported to the open position. Is provided in the front direction of the paper surface (that is, in the direction normal to the rotation surface of the index table), and the recording medium is gripped from the recording medium holder at a predetermined position on the index table using the hand of the articulated robot. It may be taken out and transported to the open position of the information access unit 20.

Next, the electrical connection according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is an electrical diagram according to the second embodiment. Sequence control unit 2
5 includes an information access unit 20 and a drive unit 23. The recording medium setting units 24 are connected, and each is under the control of the sequence control unit. Further, information to be written to the recording medium from the sequence control unit and / or information read from the recording medium to the sequence control unit can be transmitted to the information access unit 20.

The host computer 30 is, for example, an information processing device typified by a personal computer generally distributed in the market.
And the address of the information to be read, the read information, and the information to be written can be transmitted.

(2-2) Description of Operation According to Embodiment of Second Invention Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. For the sake of explanation, the description starts assuming that the recording medium 57 is already mounted on the information access unit 20. FIG. 5 is a state transition diagram illustrating one cycle from unloading one recording medium 57 already stored in the information access unit 20 to loading another recording medium 58.

Pressing rod 2 provided in recording medium setting section 24
Reference numeral 6 denotes a state in which the index table 22 is stored in the recording medium setting unit to prevent contact when the index table 22 rotates (state 51).

In response to a command from the host computer 30 (not shown), the sequence controller 25 (not shown) issues an operation command to the drive unit 23. As a result, the index table 22 starts rotating, and the empty recording medium holder 56
Continue to rotate until the position becomes a position facing the information access unit 20. Thereafter, the sequence control unit 25 stops the index table.

Next, the sequence control unit 25 issues an unloading command to the information access unit 20 when the index table has completed the rotation operation (state 5).
2).

The information access unit 20 performs the operation of pushing out the recording medium 57 and stores the recording medium 57 in the empty recording medium holder 56.
Is pressed (state 53).

Then, the sequence control section 25 controls the drive section 23 so that the next selection recording medium holder 59 holding the next selection recording medium 58 to be recorded / reproduced next faces the information access section 20. An instruction is issued to rotate the index table 22 (state 54), and the rotation of the index table 22 is stopped when the next selected recording medium holder 59 faces the information access unit 20.

The recording medium setting section 24 pushes out the next selection recording medium 58 mounted on the next selection recording medium holder 59 by the pressing rod 26, and inserts the next selection recording medium 58 into the information access section 20. That is, in the present embodiment,
This means that the recording medium setting unit 24, the index table 22, and the driving unit 23 serve as a medium conveyance unit.

Here, the index table 22 is configured to rotate, but it is sufficient that the recording medium and the information access unit 20 can be inserted facing each other. For example, a mechanism for moving and transporting the recording medium in the horizontal or vertical direction is used. The recording medium may be transferred by a so-called pick and place mechanism. Further, the information access unit 20 may be not only one but also two or more. In this case, two or more recording medium setting units 24 may be installed to face these.

As described above, in the information access unit 20,
By adopting a mechanism capable of further pushing out from the open position, each operation timing is controlled independently, and furthermore, a margin when the recording medium comes out of the information access device is taken out. Since it is possible to secure the recording medium accurately, it is possible to stably insert and remove the recording medium from the information access unit, and to achieve a reduction in a series of operation times in the library device.

In addition, by adopting the above-described configuration, the recording medium setting section 24 can also securely attach / detach the recording medium to / from the recording medium holder 21 only by using a mechanism for pushing out the recording medium. Therefore, the entire apparatus can be simplified. In the present embodiment, data is transmitted to the host computer 30 via the sequence control unit 25.
However, in order to improve the access speed, it is also possible to exchange the data by direct bus connection or the like without using the sequence control unit 25.

[0052]

As described above, according to the present invention, a so-called recording medium access device having a pushing means for pushing out a case containing a recording medium is provided. As a result, the case can be stably positioned for discharge.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a main part of an embodiment of the first invention.

FIG. 2 is a structural diagram of a modification of an extruding member according to a main part of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram according to a main part of a second embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an electric diagram according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a state transition diagram according to a second embodiment showing an example from unloading of one recording medium to loading of another recording medium.

FIG. 6 is a structural diagram of a modification of the pushing mechanism according to the first embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Recording medium (case), 2 ... Side plate, 3 ... Extrusion mechanism holding plate, 4 ... Extrusion drive source, 5 ... Transmission mechanism, 6 ... Extrusion member,
7 Recording medium holder, 20 Information access unit, 21 Recording medium holder, 22 Index table, 24 Recording medium setting unit

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An apparatus for accessing a recording medium having a function of storing and discharging a recording medium stored in a case, wherein the recording medium is transported between an open position and an information access position of the recording medium, and the information is transferred. Medium attaching means capable of being fixed at the access position; and extruding means for extruding the recording medium to the outside of the apparatus after the medium attaching means transfers the recording medium from the information access position to the open position. An apparatus for accessing a recording medium, comprising: 2. A recording medium access device having a function of storing and discharging a recording medium stored in a case, wherein the recording medium is transported between an open position and an information access position of the recording medium, and the information is transferred. Medium attachment means capable of being fixed at the access position, open end detection means for detecting the end of movement from the information access position to the open position, and the medium attachment means for accessing the recording medium for information access And a pushing means for pushing the recording medium out of the apparatus when the opening completion detecting means detects that the recording medium has been transferred from the position to the opening position. 3. A recording medium storage means capable of storing a recording medium stored in a plurality of cases, a medium transport means for selecting a recording medium from the recording medium storage means and transporting the selected recording medium to the medium attaching means. The access device for a recording medium according to claim 2, comprising: