JP2824600B2 - Safety mechanism in recording media cartridge library device - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a safety mechanism in a recording medium cartridge library device, and more particularly, to a case where a detachable feed mechanism is removed from a recording medium cartridge entrance of the library device. The present invention relates to a device capable of reliably preventing an operator's hand or the like from entering a transport path.

[Conventional technology]

A magnetic tape library device is a device that stores and drives a magnetic tape cartridge (hereinafter, referred to as a cartridge), and includes a cartridge introduction port (hereinafter, referred to as an entry port) and a cartridge introduced through the entry port. A storage rack capable of storing a large number of cartridges, a drive for driving (reading or reading / writing) cartridges, and a cartridge outlet (hereinafter referred to as an exit port) for discharging cartridges used in the library device to the outside of the device. That)
And a transfer robot that transfers the cartridge between the entry port, storage rack, drive, and exit port along a predetermined transfer path. The transfer robot, for example, transfers the cartridge inserted and set in the entry port to the storage rack, transfers the cartridge to be driven from the storage rack to the drive, and then returns the cartridge driven by the drive to the storage rack. Or transporting a cartridge to be discharged from the library apparatus to an exit port.

Further, a feed mechanism for sending out a cartridge inserted and set in the port to the transfer robot is detachably attached to the entry port. Further, a feed mechanism for taking the cartridge conveyed by the transfer robot into the exit port is detachably attached to the exit port.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

However, in the conventional magnetic tape library apparatus of this type, when the feed mechanism is removed from an entry port or an exit port, a relatively large communication port from the outside of the apparatus to the transfer path at the entry port or the exit port. A cavity will be created. For this reason, an accident may occur in which an operator (operator) erroneously thrusts a hand or the like from the cavity into the transfer passage, and the transfer robot traveling in the transfer passage may damage the hand or the like. Therefore, when the feed mechanism is removed from each port for repair or replacement, the transfer operation by the transfer robot must be temporarily stopped, which is not efficient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and has a safety in a recording medium cartridge library apparatus which can surely prevent an operator's hand or the like from entering a conveyance path when a feeding mechanism is removed from a recording medium cartridge entrance / exit portion. The purpose is to provide a mechanism.

[Means for solving the problem]

The safety mechanism in the recording medium cartridge library device according to the present invention includes a cartridge entrance for introducing or ejecting a recording medium cartridge, a housing for accommodating a plurality of the cartridges introduced from the entrance, and A drive unit for performing at least reading, a transport unit for transporting the cartridge between the entrance, the storage unit, and the drive unit; and the cartridge between the entrance and the transport unit detachably attached at the entrance. And a feed mechanism for transferring the media, the feed mechanism cuts off the space between the transport path and the entrance as the feed mechanism is removed from the entrance, and the feed mechanism connects the entrance and exit. As it is attached to the part Shutter means for releasing a blockage between the transfer passage and the entrance / exit portion so as to prevent an operator's hand or the like from entering the transfer passage when the feed mechanism is removed. It was made.

[Action]

According to the present invention, when the feed mechanism is attached to the cartridge entrance, the shutter means
This is maintained at an open position for communicating the transport passage with the cartridge entrance / exit portion. Since the shutter means is at the open position in this manner, it is possible to transfer the cartridge between the transport means that has moved along the transport path to the position of the entrance and the entrance. When removing the feed mechanism from the cartridge entrance
For example, in response to a suitable detecting means detecting the removal of the feed mechanism, the shutter means is moved to and maintained at a blocking position for blocking between the transport path and the entrance.
Since the shutter means is in the shut-off position,
By removing the feed mechanism, it is possible to reliably prevent a situation in which a hand or the like of the operator OP enters the transport path from a cavity created at the cartridge entrance / exit portion. Therefore, even when the feed mechanism is removed from the cartridge entrance / exit portion, there is no need to stop the transport operation by the transport unit.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a safety mechanism in a recording medium cartridge library device according to one embodiment of the present invention.
In this embodiment, a magnetic tape library device as shown in FIG.
This is performed at the entry port 2 of the MLU. The magnetic tape library device includes an entry port 2 for introducing a cartridge 1 into the device, a storage rack 4 for storing, for example, thousands of cartridges 1 in respective storage positions 4a, and a drive for driving the cartridge 1. 5 and an exit port 6 for discharging the cartridge 1 used in the library device to the outside of the device.
And a transfer robot 8 which can move up and down and left and right along the transfer path P and transfers the cartridge 1 between the entry port 2, storage rack 4, drive 5 and exit port 6. The entry port 2 and the exit port 6 are open at both ends toward the operator OP and the transport path P. The entry port 2 is provided with a feed mechanism (hereinafter, referred to as an entry unit) EU for sending the cartridge 1 inserted and set into the port 2 by the operator OP to the transfer robot 8.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the entry unit EU is connected to a base 10 and a base B which are set by the operator OP to set a plurality of cartridges 1 to be introduced into the library apparatus. And axis
A swing arm 11 for moving the pedestal 10 toward and away from the transfer robot 8 via 12, and only the lowermost cartridge 1 a of the plurality of cartridges 1 set on the pedestal 10 is transferred to the transfer robot 8 together with the pedestal 10. In order to make the cartridges 13b approach each other, the cartridges 1b... 1n above the lowermost cartridge 1a are swung until the claw portion 13a protrudes between the lowermost cartridge 1a and the second lowermost cartridge 1b. It includes a supporting member 13, a feed roller (not shown) for sending out the lowermost cartridge 1 a approached to the transfer robot 8 together with the pedestal 10 toward the transfer robot 8, and the like. The entry unit EU is detachably attached to the entry port 2 by fixing an entry unit frame (not shown) to a frame (not shown) of the library device with a screw or the like. Each locking body 13 is swingably connected to a vertically movable support arm 14 by a shaft 15, and the support arm 14 is slidably fitted to a long hole 16a of a link arm 16 at a circular projection 14a. doing. Link corresponding to each locking body 13
16 are connected by link arms 17, 19, and 20. The link arm 19 is fitted to the groove 18a of the cylindrical cam 18 at the upper end projection 19a, and is swingable about a shaft 19b as the cylindrical cam 18 rotates. When the link arm 19 swings in this way, the link arms 16 approach each other via the link arms 17 and 20,
Move in the direction of separation. Therefore, the locking body 13 swings about the shaft 15 when the support arm 14 is pressed by the edge of the elongated hole 16a at the circular projection 14a.

When introducing the cartridge 1 into the library device, the operator OP sets the plurality of cartridges 1 in a state of being stacked on the base 10. Next, as the support arm 14 is raised by appropriate means and the cylindrical cam 18 is simultaneously rotated, the locking body 13 is rocked while being raised, so that the claw portion 13a is brought into contact with the cartridge 1a at the lowermost end. The cartridge 1b, which projects from the lowermost cartridge 1a, slightly rises above the lowermost cartridge 1a. In this way, only the lowermost cartridge 1a is supported on the base 10 while being separated from the other cartridges 1b... 1n. Next, after the pedestal 10 and the lowermost cartridge 1a are moved to a position close to the transfer robot 8 by rotating the swing arm 11 by appropriate means, the cartridge 1a is moved by the feed roller. It is sent from 10 to the transfer robot 8. When the feeding of the cartridge 1a is completed in this manner, the pedestal 10 also returns to the initial position by the swing arm 11 rotating back to the initial position, and the locking body 13 moves down to the initial position,
The claw 13a rotates so as to retreat from the second cartridge 1b from the bottom. Thus, the cartridges 1b... 1n are released from the locking body 13 and the second cartridge
1b is placed on the pedestal 10 in a state where it is located at the lowermost end. Thereafter, by repeating the above operation,
The cartridges 1b to 1n are sequentially sent out to the transfer robot 8 at the lowermost end.

As shown in FIG. 2, at entry port 2,
A partition wall 24 that partitions the entry port 2 and the transport path P is fixedly provided at a boundary portion with the transport path P.
The lower end of the partition wall 24 is formed with a passage port 24a through which the lowermost cartridge 1 among the cartridges 1 set in a stacked state on the pedestal 10 as described above passes when the cartridge 1 is sent to the transfer robot 8. . Accordingly, the transfer robot 8 moves to the position of the passage port 24a along the transfer path P, and receives the cartridge 1 at the lowermost end. Further, on the front surface side (that is, the operator OP side) of the partition wall 24 in the entry port 2, the passage port 24a is opened and closed by moving along the partition wall 24 by the rotation of the swing arm 25 driven by a motor or the like. A shutter S1 is provided. Further, the entry port 2 is provided with a sensor (not shown) such as an optical sensor for detecting the entry and exit of the entry unit EU from the entry port 2. When the entry unit EU is attached to the entry port 2, the shutter S1 is maintained at an open position that opens the passage port 24a. Since the shutter S1 is at the open position, the transport path P and the entry unit 2 communicate with each other through the passage opening 24a, and the cartridge 1 can be sent from the entry unit 2 to the transport robot 8. When the entry unit EU is removed from the entry port 2, the swing arm 25 pivots downward in response to the detection by the sensor and the shutter is released.
S1 descends to a closing position for closing the passage opening 24a. When the shutter S1 comes to the closing position in this manner, the transport path P is shut off from the entry port 2. For this reason, it is possible to reliably prevent a situation in which the operator OP's hand or the like enters the transport path P from the cavity formed in the entry port 2 by removing the entry unit EU. Therefore, even if the entry unit EU is removed from the entry port 2 in order to repair or replace the entry unit EU, the storage robot 4 and the drive 5
And the transfer operation between the exit ports 6 can be continued.

Further, the present invention is applicable not only to the entry port 2 but also to the exit port 6. That is, although not shown, a feed mechanism (exit unit) is provided in the exit port 6 for taking the cartridge 1 conveyed by the conveyance robot 8 into the exit port 6.
Is detachably attached. Exit port 6
Cartridge 1 taken into port 6 from above
Are stacked one by one on a pedestal, and the pedestal is successively lowered by a distance equal to the thickness of the cartridge 1 each time one of the cartridges 1 is supported. The operator OP can collectively take out the plurality of cartridges 1 set in a stacked state from the exit port 6 in this manner. Such loading of the cartridge 1 is performed through a passage opening formed in a partition wall that separates the exit port 6 and the transport path P. And
The exit port 6 is also provided with a shutter S2 having the same configuration and operation as the shutter S1 for opening the passage port. That is, the shutter S2 opens the passage when the exit unit is attached to the exit port 6, and closes the passage in response to the removal of the exit unit from the exit port 6. I have.

The present invention is not limited to an entry port or an exit port for setting a plurality of cartridges in a stacked state as described above, but may be applied to an entry port or an exit port for setting only one cartridge. Further, the present invention is not limited to a magnetic tape cartridge library device, and can be used in a library device that handles other types of recording medium cartridges such as an optical disk cartridge.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, the present invention shuts off the space between the transport passage and the entrance as the feed mechanism is removed from the cartridge entrance and exits the transport passage as the feed mechanism is attached to the cartridge entrance and exit. The shutter means for releasing the blockage between the cartridge and the entrance is provided, whereby the hand or the like of an operator can be reliably prevented from entering the transport passage when the feed mechanism is removed from the cartridge entrance. To play. For this reason, even when the feed mechanism is removed, the carrying operation by the carrying means can be continued.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a safety mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing a magnetic tape library apparatus employing the safety mechanism according to the embodiment, and FIG. It is a front view which shows an example of the feed mechanism in a port. 1 ... cartridge, 2 ... cartridge introduction port (entry port), 4 ... storage rack, 5 ... drive,
6 ... Cartridge outlet (exit port), 8 ...
... Transport robot, EU ... Feed mechanism (entry unit), P ... Transport path, S1, S2 ... Shutter.

Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Yoichi Abe 2880 Kozu, Odawara City, Kanagawa Prefecture Inside the Odawara Plant of Hitachi, Ltd. (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) G11B 17/22-17/30 G11B 15/68

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A cartridge entrance for introducing or ejecting a recording medium cartridge, a storage body for accommodating a plurality of the cartridges introduced from the entrance, and
A drive unit that reads at least the cartridge, a transport unit that transports the cartridge along the transport path between the entrance, the storage unit, and the drive unit; and the entrance that is detachably attached at the entrance. A recording medium cartridge library device comprising: a feeding mechanism for transferring the cartridge to and from a transporting means; wherein the feeding mechanism is disconnected from the entrance to shut off a space between the transport path and the entrance. And shutter means for releasing a cut-off between the transport passage and the entrance as the feed mechanism is attached to the entrance. When the feed mechanism is removed by the shutter, The hand and the like of the operator can be prevented from entering the transfer passage. Safety mechanism.