JP3185017B2 - Collective disk unit - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a collective disk drive, and more particularly, to a cartridge transport mechanism for holding, moving, and rotating an optical disk cartridge in a collective optical disk drive.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a collective optical disk device, a storage as a storage for an optical disk cartridge containing an optical disk medium, a drive device for reading / writing to the optical disk medium, a storage and a drive device, And a cartridge transport mechanism for gripping, moving, and rotating the optical disk cartridge during the rotation.

As shown in FIG. 13, the above-mentioned collective type optical disk device has a cartridge transport mechanism 70 for moving and reversing the cartridge 60, a positioning flag (not shown) for each cell, and It is composed of a stocker 63 that is a storage for the cartridge 60 and a drive device 62 that reads and writes the cartridge 60.

The cartridge transport mechanism 70 includes a hand mechanism 76 including a hand drive motor (not shown) for attaching and detaching the cartridge, a P motor 75 for moving the hand mechanism 76 back and forth, and a front-rear direction of the hand mechanism 76. Picker mechanism 73 including a sensor (not shown) for positioning the cartridge and a swivel chassis 78 on which the cartridge 60 is mounted, and a motor 7 for reversing the picker mechanism 73
A slide mechanism 79 including a slide base 77, which is a frame that rotatably supports the picker mechanism 4 and the picker mechanism 73, and a sensor (not shown) for positioning vertically, and a linear rail of the slide mechanism 79. LM guide 80,
The slide base 77 includes a Y motor 71 that is a driving source for vertical movement of the slide base 77, and a belt 72 that converts the rotational force of the Y motor 71 into direct power and transmits the direct power to the slide mechanism 79.

The cartridge 6 stored in the stocker 63
When storing 0 in the cartridge transport mechanism 70, first,
The driving force of the Y motor 71 is transmitted to the slide mechanism 79 by the belt 72, and the slide mechanism 79 is moved up and down.
At this time, in order to match the cartridge insertion opening of the swivel chassis 78 with the height of the cartridge 60 of the stocker 63,
The flag of the stocker 63 is detected by the sensor.

A sensor detects the flag of the stocker 63,
When the cartridge insertion slot of the swivel chassis 78 matches the height of the cartridge 60 of the stocker 63, the P motor 75
By rotating the hand mechanism 76, the cartridge 60
To a place where it can be gripped. Also in this case, the flag provided on the hand mechanism 76 is detected by the sensor,
The cartridge 60 can be stored in the swivel chassis 78 by closing the hand mechanism 76 at the position where the sensor detects the flag and gripping the cartridge 60 and retracting the cartridge 60 together with the hand mechanism 76 in that state.

When the cartridge 60 stored in the swivel chassis 78 is set in the drive device 62, the upper and lower positions are determined in the same manner as described above, and the picker mechanism 73 is set.
Is moved to the front of the drive device 62. Thereafter, by rotating the P motor 75, the hand mechanism 76 is moved forward to move the cartridge 60 to a specified position, and the hand mechanism 76 is released from the cartridge 60 to release the hand mechanism 76.
By retracting only the cartridge 60, the cartridge 60 is inserted into the drive device 62.

As described above, in the conventional cartridge transport mechanism 70, the positioning for moving the hand mechanism 76 and the slide mechanism 79 is provided to the sensors provided in the hand mechanism 76 and the slide mechanism 79 and to the drive device 62 and the stocker 63. Has been done with the flag.

[0009]

In the above-described conventional cartridge transport mechanism, some sensors and dedicated flags are arranged, and movement, storage, insertion, etc. are performed based on the detection results of the sensors. In addition, a sensor driving circuit and the like are required in addition to the sensor and the flag, which leads to an increase in the cost of the apparatus itself. In this case, since it is necessary to mount the sensor near the insertion slot of the cartridge, a power supply and a signal line (particularly, a flexible flat cable having a bend as a cable) from the control unit are required, which increases the cost of the apparatus itself. Inviting.

Further, there is a possibility that a detection error of a sensor, a position error of a flag or the like may occur, and accurate positioning cannot be performed, resulting in a decrease in reliability. That is,
Since it is necessary to accurately match the mounting position of the sensor with the cartridge insertion port of the handling mechanism, adjustment costs and the like also occur.

Further, since the flag is detected by the sensor, it is necessary to accurately attach the flag to the side surface of the stocker, resulting in an increase in cost. In this case, if the stocker and the cartridge transport mechanism are tilted, the detection position will be deviated from the actual position (the height of the center of the cartridge) because the flag and the like are outside the entrance of the cartridge.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a cartridge transport mechanism that solves the above-mentioned problems, enables cost reduction by simplifying the configuration, and improves reliability during empty transport. .

[0013]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, there is provided a collective disk drive comprising: a storage for storing a cartridge containing a storage disk medium; a drive for reading and writing to the disk medium; A cartridge transport mechanism for moving the cartridge to and from the drive device, wherein the cartridge has a predetermined height set in the vicinity of an insertion opening of each of the storage and the drive device. Means for sequentially raising the cartridge by a predetermined height, means for performing an insertion operation of the cartridge into the insertion slot each time the cartridge is raised by the predetermined height, and a step in which the cartridge is initially moved by the insertion operation from a preset reference point. First measuring means for measuring and storing a distance to a position at which insertion can be performed; Means for sequentially lowering the cartridge by a predetermined height by a predetermined distance; means for performing an insertion operation of the cartridge into the insertion slot each time the cartridge is lowered by the predetermined height; and A second measuring means for measuring and storing a distance from a position at which the cartridge can be first inserted in the insertion operation, a measurement result of the first measuring means, and a measurement of the second measuring means. Calculating means for calculating and storing a distance from the reference point to the center position of the insertion slot based on the result, and moving the cartridge based on the position information calculated and stored by the calculating means. Like that.

That is, in the collective disk drive of the present invention, the height at which the cartridge can be inserted is found while moving up and down little by little, and the number of pulses at that time is stored. The positioning of the cartridge can be performed without requiring a sensor or a flag. Therefore, the sensor and the driving circuit of the sensor can be omitted, and the cost can be reduced as compared with the related art.

[0015] Further, since the upper and lower positions of the cartridge are detected and the center value of the cartridge insertion position is stored by the pulse data at that time, even if the stocker and the cartridge transport mechanism are inclined, the error of the center value can be reduced. It can be insignificant.

Further, since the loading position of the cartridge can be reliably stored, the vertical margin can be reduced, and the storage pitch can be reduced, so that the number of cartridges stored can be increased.

[0017]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of one embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, a collective optical disk device 1 includes a cartridge transport mechanism 2, a CPU (central processing unit) 4, motor drivers 5, 8, counters 6, 9, a vertical position measurement storage unit 7, and a front / rear position measurement storage unit. And 10.

The cartridge transport mechanism 2 has a Y motor 24 for vertically moving a cartridge (not shown) for storing an optical disk medium (not shown), and 1000 pulses during one rotation of the Y motor 24. An encoder 24a for transmitting the above pulse signal and a slide mechanism 30 for inserting and removing the cartridge into and out of a stocker (not shown) and a drive device (not shown) are provided. Also,
The slide mechanism 30 is provided with a PAB motor 31 for moving the cartridge in the horizontal direction with respect to the stocker and the drive device, and an encoder 31a for transmitting a pulse signal of 1000 pulses or more while the PAB motor 31 makes one rotation. Have been.

The CPU 4 controls the motor drivers 5 and 8 in response to an instruction from the host device 11, and moves the cartridge by driving the Y motor 24 and the PAB motor 31 by the motor drivers 5 and 8. At that time, CPU
4 is a vertical position measurement storage unit 7 and a front / rear position measurement storage unit 10
The motor drivers 5 and 8 are controlled based on the position information of each cell (insertion port) of the stocker and the insertion port of the drive device and the count values of the counters 6 and 9 which are stored in the storage device. By driving, the picker mechanism (not shown) and the hand mechanism (not shown) of the cartridge transport mechanism 2 are moved.

The counter 6 counts pulse signals from the encoder 24a and outputs the count value to the CPU 4 and the vertical position measurement storage unit 7. The counter 9 counts the pulse signal from the encoder 31a and outputs the count value to the CPU 4 and the front / rear position measurement storage unit 10.

The vertical position measurement storage unit 7 is used when the picker mechanism of the cartridge transport mechanism 2 is moved by driving the Y motor 24 by the CPU 4 and the motor driver 5 according to the activation of the collective optical disc apparatus 1 or an instruction from the host apparatus 11. Based on the count value of the counter 6, the vertical position of each cell of the stocker and the insertion port of the drive device is measured, and the measured value is stored as vertical position information of the insertion port of each cell of the stocker and the insertion port of the drive device.

The front / rear position measurement storage unit 10 is used when the hand mechanism of the cartridge transport mechanism 2 is moved by driving the PAB motor 31 by the CPU 4 and the motor driver 8 in response to activation of the collective optical disc apparatus 1 or an instruction from the host apparatus 11. Based on the count value of the counter 9, the front / rear position of the insertion slot of each cell of the stocker and the insertion slot of the drive device, that is, how far the hand mechanism can be inserted into the insertion slot, is measured, and the measured value is measured for each cell of the stocker. Is stored as the front / rear position information of the insertion slot of the drive device or the insertion slot of the drive device.

FIG. 2A is a sectional view of the collective optical disc apparatus 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2B is a plan view of the collective optical disc apparatus 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2C is a side view including a partial cross section of the collective optical disc apparatus 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

In these figures, a collective optical disk drive 1 is located in front of the apparatus and has a cartridge transport mechanism 2 for gripping, moving and rotating a cartridge 60.
(CAS) which is located on the upper surface of the apparatus and transports the cartridge 60 into the apparatus.
Mechanism 3, a drive device 62 located on the lower surface of the apparatus for reading and writing data of the cartridge 60, and a stocker 63 located at the center of the apparatus for storing the cartridge 65
And a front mask 61 which is located at the front of the apparatus and has an inlet 61a for the cartridge 60 at the top.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the cartridge transport mechanism 2 of FIG. In the drawing, a cartridge transport mechanism 2 includes a hand mechanism 50 for attaching and detaching the cartridges 60 and 65, a picker mechanism 40 on which the hand mechanism 50 is mounted and the cartridges 60 and 65 are mounted, and a rotatably supporting the picker mechanism 40. A slide mechanism 30 having both ends supported so as to be vertically movable and a part of which is coupled to the belt 27 by a belt clamp G28.

The cartridge transport mechanism 2 has a Y linear guide 2 for supporting a slide mechanism 30 so as to be movable up and down.
1 (two) and a belt 2 which is vertically stretched by upper and lower pulleys 25 and 26 and converts rotational power into a vertical force.
7, a top plate 22 located at an upper portion and having a pulley 25 disposed at one end, and a Y motor 24 having a pulley 26 on an output shaft and serving as a driving source for vertical movement of a slide mechanism 30.
And the Y motor 24 and the Y linear guide 2
1 and a lower base 23 that supports the first base 1 and the second base 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the slide mechanism 30 of FIG. In the figure, a slide mechanism 30 is connected to a slide base 37 as a base, a PAB motor 31 fixed to the slide base 37 and having a gear disposed on an output shaft, a gear B32 for transmitting power of the PAB motor 31, and a gear B32. A gear C33, which is rotatably supported together with the gear B32, an AB gear 34, which is arranged around an AB-reversed rotation shaft and transmits the power of the gear C33, and a center of which is rotatably mounted on a slide base 37. A roller 38 is supported at one end, and has an AB detent 35 with a spring 36 coupled to the other end, and a spring 36 arranged to pull one end of the AB detent 35.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the picker mechanism 40 shown in FIG. In the figure, a picker mechanism 40 has a swivel chassis 41 forming a skeleton and supporting each part, and both ends are rotatably supported by the swivel chassis 41 and one end is AB.
The change screw 42 includes a gear D45 meshing with the gear 34, a P linear shaft 43 that is a linear rail of the hand mechanism 50, and a cartridge guide 44 that is an insertion box for the cartridge 60.

The swivel chassis 41 has a support shaft for AB inversion and a AB detent 35 at the front center.
And a disk provided with grooves 46 and 47 in which the rollers 38 are fitted.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the hand mechanism 50 of FIG. In the figure, a hand mechanism 50 is provided with a hand plate 51 that supports each part, two hands 52 that are positioned at both ends of the hand plate 51 and that are arranged symmetrically to grip a cartridge 60, and that are hooked on the two hands 52 and A hand spring 53 for opening and closing the hand 52, a pusher 54 for pushing the cartridge 60, a pusher spring 55 for driving the pusher 54, a bush 56 as a linear bearing for linearly moving the hand mechanism 50; And a change nut 57 for changing the rotational force of the screw 42 into a propulsive force.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a transmission path of the driving force of the PAB motor 31 of FIG. In the figure, PAB motor 3
1 is driven, the gear B32 meshing with the gear of the PAB motor 31 rotates, and the gear C3 coupled to the gear B32
3 rotates.

Since the gear C33 is meshed with the AB gear 34a, the rotation of the gear C33 causes the AB gear 34a to rotate.
Rotates, and an AB gear 34b coupled to the AB gear 34a
Rotates. The gear D45 is meshed with the AB gear 34b, and the rotation of the AB gear 34b causes the gear D45 to rotate.

As the gear D45 rotates, the change screw 42 rotates, and the hand mechanism 50 having the change nut 57 moves linearly. Therefore, PA
By changing the rotation direction of the B motor 31, the hand mechanism 5
Zero advance and retreat can be performed.

FIGS. 8A to 8E are views showing the operation when the hand 52 of FIG. 6 grips the cartridge 60.
FIGS. 9A to 9F are views showing the operation when the hand 52 of FIG. 6 opens the cartridge 60. The gripping and storing operations of the hand 52 and the inserting and releasing operations of the hand 52 will be described with reference to FIGS.

When the holding and storing operations of the hand 52 are performed, the hand mechanism 50 moves forward and the hand 52 comes into contact with the cartridge 60. The hand 52 is opened around the point C along the side surface of the cartridge 60 [FIGS. 8A and 8B].
reference].

When the hand mechanism 50 further advances, the tip of the hand 52 enters the cutout of the cartridge 60 (see FIG. 8C). During this time, since the pulling direction of the hand spring 53 does not exceed the point C, the hand force is always applied in the direction of ccw. When the hand mechanism 50 is retracted in this state, the cartridge 60 is pulled by the hand 52 (see FIG. 8D), and the cartridge 60 is stored in the cartridge guide 44 [see FIG. 8E].

When the insertion and release operations of the hand 52 are performed, the cartridge 60 is pushed by the pusher 54 as the hand mechanism 50 advances, and advances with the hand mechanism 50 (see FIG. 9A). As the hand mechanism 50 continues to advance, the cartridge 60 reaches the insertion completed position.

When the hand mechanism 50 further advances, only the hand mechanism 50 moves, and the hand 52
The cartridge 60 rotates around the point C by contacting the rear side surface of the cartridge 60 and separates from the cutout portion of the cartridge 60 to open the cartridge 60. When the hand mechanism 50 further moves forward, the hand spring 53 passes over the point C, so that the force of the hand spring 53 is applied to the hand 52 in the cw direction [FIG. 9 (b)].
reference].

When the hand mechanism 50 further advances, the hand 52 completely separates from the cutout portion of the cartridge 60 and opens the cartridge 60 (see FIG. 9C). When the hand mechanism 50 is retracted in this state, the hand mechanism 5
Since only 0 moves backward, the cartridge 60 is moved to the stocker 6.
3 (see FIG. 9D).

When the hand mechanism 50 is further retracted, the hand 52 contacts the cartridge guide 44 [FIG.
(E)]. When the hand mechanism 50 continues to be retracted further, the hand 52 rotates in the ccw direction to be in a state before the gripping operation (see FIG. 9F).

FIGS. 10A to 10D and FIGS.
FIG. 12D is a diagram showing a vertical position measurement and storage operation according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a vertical position measurement and storage operation according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the position measurement and storage operation in the front-rear direction according to one embodiment of the present invention. The vertical position measurement and storage operation and the front-back position measurement and storage operation according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

First, when performing the position measurement and storage operation in the vertical direction, the cartridge 60 is loaded from the CAS mechanism 3 (step S1 in FIG. 12), and the CAS mechanism 3 transports the cartridge 60 and stores it in the cartridge transport mechanism 2. (Step S2 in FIG. 12). Thereafter, the CPU 4 moves the slide mechanism 30 (including the picker mechanism 40 and the hand mechanism 50) to the lowermost stage by gravity or the like (this is set as the origin).

Subsequently, the CPU 4 controls the motor driver 5 to drive the Y motor 24, and from the insertion port or the cell (the insertion port of the stocker 63) of the drive device 62 to which the slide mechanism 30 and the picker mechanism 40 are to be transported. Move to a lower position, that is, "the height of the drive device 62 or the stocker 63 for storing" -α (α is a height that is absolutely hooked on the insertion slot) (see FIG. 10A) (step S3 in FIG. 12). .

In this state, the CPU 4 operates the motor driver 8
To drive the PAB motor 31 and the picker mechanism 40
When the cartridge 60 is moved forward, the cartridge 60 is caught by the insertion slot [see FIG. 10B].
(Steps S4 and S5 in FIG. 12). Thereafter, the CPU 4 controls the motor driver 5 to drive the Y motor 24 so that the slide mechanism 30 and the picker mechanism 40 are moved upward little by little, that is, by + β (β is made as small as possible. However, while moving, the cartridge 60 is moved forward by the picker mechanism 40 (steps S5 and S7 in FIG. 12).

By repeating the above operation several times, the cartridge 60 can be inserted into the insertion slot [see FIGS. 10C and 10D]. CPU4 at this height
Drives the PAB motor 31 by controlling the motor driver 8 and moves the cartridge 60 forward by the picker mechanism 40, the cartridge 60 is inserted without being caught in the insertion slot.

During the above operation, since the encoder 24a outputs a pulse signal every time the Y motor 24 is driven, the vertical position measurement storage unit 7 stores the count of the counter 6 for counting the pulse signal from the encoder 24a. The value (the number of pulses from the origin) Y1 is temporarily stored (step S in FIG. 12).
6).

Next, the CPU 4 controls the motor driver 5 to drive the Y motor 24, so that the slide mechanism 30 and the picker mechanism 40 can be transported through the insertion port of the drive device 62 or the cell (the insertion port of the stocker 63). High position, that is, “the height of the drive device 62 or the stocker 63 to be stored”
+ Α (α is a height that is absolutely hooked on the insertion slot) [see FIG. 11A] (step S8 in FIG. 12).

In this state, the CPU 4 operates the motor driver 8
To drive the PAB motor 31 and the picker mechanism 40
When the cartridge 60 is moved forward, the cartridge 60 is caught in the insertion slot [see FIG. 11B].
(Steps S9 and S10 in FIG. 12). Thereafter, the CPU 4 controls the motor driver 5 to drive the Y motor 24 to lower the slide mechanism 30 and the picker mechanism 40 little by little, that is, by -β (β is made as small as possible. The cartridge 60 is moved forward by the picker mechanism 40 while moving (it takes time but the accuracy is improved) (steps S10 and S1 in FIG. 12).
1).

By repeating the above operation several times, the cartridge 60 can be inserted into the insertion slot [see FIGS. 11C and 11D]. CPU4 at this height
Drives the PAB motor 31 by controlling the motor driver 8 and moves the cartridge 60 forward by the picker mechanism 40, the cartridge 60 is inserted without being caught in the insertion slot.

During the above operation, since the encoder 24a outputs a pulse signal every time the Y motor 24 is driven, the vertical position measurement storage unit 7 stores the count of the counter 6 for counting the pulse signal from the encoder 24a. The value (the number of pulses from the origin) Y2 is temporarily stored (step S in FIG. 12).
12).

The vertical position measurement storage unit 7 calculates the center position of the insertion slot, that is, the center value (optimum value) Y of the count values Y1 and Y2, based on the count values Y1 and Y2 of the two counters 6 temporarily stored. (Step S13 in FIG. 12).
That is, the vertical position measurement storage unit 7 stores the count values Y1, Y
The center value Y of 2 is determined by any one of the following equations: Y = Y1 + (Y2-Y1) / 2 Y = Y2- (Y2-Y1) / 2

By performing this series of operations on the CAS mechanism 30 and the drive device 62, the CAS mechanism 30
The number of pulses (height) from the origin of each of the insertion ports of the drive device 62 and the like can be detected. When the processing for storing the position of the insertion slot to be measured ends (step S14 in FIG. 12), the CPU 4 ends the vertical position measurement and storage operation.

When performing the position measurement and storage operation in the front-back direction, the cartridge 60 is loaded from the CAS mechanism 3 (step S21 in FIG. 13), and the CAS mechanism 3 transports the cartridge 60 and stores it in the cartridge transport mechanism 2. (Step S22 in FIG. 13). After that, the CPU 4 controls the motor driver 5 to drive the Y motor 24, so that the slide mechanism 30 and the picker mechanism 40 are to be conveyed to the position of the insertion port or the cell (the insertion port of the stocker 63) of the drive device 62, that is, Move to “Height of drive device 62, stocker 63, etc. to store” (see FIG. 10C) (FIG. 1).
3 steps S23).

At this time, the CPU 4 controls the motor driver 8 to drive the PAB motor 31 to move the hand mechanism 50 to the rearmost position (this position is set as the origin). Then, CPU
4 drives the PAB motor 31 by controlling the motor driver 8, and advances the hand mechanism 50 together with the cartridge 60 [see FIG. 10D] (step S2 in FIG. 13).
4).

When the loading of the cartridge 60 has been completed and the hand mechanism 50 has moved to a position where the hand mechanism 50 can no longer move forward (step S25 in FIG. 13), the front / rear position measurement storage unit 10 counts the pulse signal from the encoder 31a. Count value (number of pulses from the origin) P1
Is temporarily stored (step S26 in FIG. 13).

The front / rear position measurement storage unit 10 includes the cartridge 6
The optimum value to be used when gripping or releasing 0 is calculated based on the count value P1 of the counter 9 temporarily stored and stored (step S27 in FIG. 13). That is, the front / rear position measurement storage unit 10 obtains the optimum value by subtracting the design data of the actual gripping position [see FIG. 8C] from the count value P1 of the counter 9.

By performing this series of operations on the CAS mechanism 30, the drive device 62, and the like, the CAS mechanism 30
Mechanism 50 at the insertion opening of the drive device 62 or the like
The number of pulses (distance) from the origin can be accurately detected. When the processing for storing the position of the insertion slot to be measured ends (step S28 in FIG. 13), the CPU 4 ends the position measurement and storage operation in the front-rear direction.

As described above, the cartridge 60 is sequentially raised by a predetermined height (β) in the vicinity of the insertion opening of the drive device 62, the stocker 63, the CAS mechanism 30, etc., and each time the cartridge 60 is raised by the predetermined height. Cartridge 6
In addition to performing a forward movement operation (insertion operation) to the insertion slot of No. 0 and measuring and temporarily storing the height (the number of pulses Y1) up to the position where insertion is possible first, the drive device 62, the stocker 63, and The cartridge 60 is sequentially lowered by a predetermined height (β) in the vicinity of the insertion opening of the CAS mechanism 30 or the like, and each time the cartridge 60 is lowered by the predetermined height, the cartridge 60 is moved forward to the insertion opening, and The height (the number of pulses Y2) up to the position at which insertion is possible is measured and temporarily stored, and the height (optimum value) from the origin to the center position of the insertion slot is determined based on the temporarily stored measurement results. By calculating and storing in the measurement storage unit 7, the cartridge 60 is stored based on the position information stored in the vertical position measurement storage unit 7.
Can eliminate the need for sensors, flags, and the like required in the conventional cartridge transport mechanism, greatly simplifying the configuration of the apparatus, and reducing the cost of the apparatus.

Further, the distance from the position where the insertion operation is started to the position where the cartridge 60 cannot be advanced in the insertion operation of the cartridge 60 into the insertion opening is measured and stored by the front / rear position measurement storage unit 10 so that the front / rear position is measured. Since the insertion operation into the insertion slot can be performed based on the position information stored in the position measurement storage unit 10, the stocker 63 or C
Since the exact front and rear positions of the AS mechanism 3 and the insertion opening of the drive device 62 can be detected, the cost can be reduced by simplifying the configuration, and the reliability during empty transport can be improved.

In the above-described embodiment of the present invention, the collective optical disk apparatus 1 for reading and writing optical disk media has been described. However, if the cartridge has the same shape as the cartridges 60 and 65 for storing the optical disk medium, the magnetic disk It is also applicable to media and the like.

[0061]

As described above, according to the collective disk device of the present invention, a storage for storing a cartridge containing a storage disk medium, a drive device for reading and writing to the disk medium, and a storage And a cartridge transport mechanism for moving a cartridge between the storage device and the drive device, the cartridge is sequentially raised by a predetermined height in the vicinity of the insertion opening of each of the storage and the drive device. The cartridge is inserted into the insertion slot every time it is raised by height, so that the distance from the preset reference point to the position where the cartridge can be inserted for the first time is measured and stored. In the vicinity of the mouth, the cartridge is sequentially lowered by a predetermined height, and each time the cartridge is lowered by a predetermined height. By performing the insertion operation of the cartridge into the insertion slot, the distance from the reference point to the position where the cartridge can be first inserted is measured and stored, and based on these measurement results, the distance from the reference point to the center of the insertion slot is determined. By calculating and storing the distance to the position and moving the cartridge based on the position information, it is possible to reduce the cost by simplifying the configuration and improve the reliability during empty transport. There is.

Further, according to another collective disk apparatus of the present invention, the distance from the position where the insertion operation is started to the position where the cartridge cannot be advanced in the operation of inserting the cartridge into the insertion slot is measured and stored. By performing the operation of inserting the cartridge into the insertion port based on the measurement result, it is possible to reduce the cost by simplifying the configuration and to improve the reliability at the time of empty transport.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view of a collective optical disc device according to one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2B is a plan view of the collective optical disc device according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 2 is a side view including a partial cross section of the collective optical disc device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the cartridge transport mechanism of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the slide mechanism of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the picker mechanism shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the hand mechanism shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a transmission path of a driving force of the PAB motor of FIG. 4;

FIGS. 8A to 8E are views showing an operation when the hand of FIG. 6 grips the cartridge.

FIGS. 9A to 9F are views showing the operation when the hand of FIG. 6 opens the cartridge.

FIGS. 10A to 10D are diagrams showing a vertical position measurement and storage operation according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 11A to 11D are diagrams showing a vertical position measurement and storage operation according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a vertical position measurement and storage operation according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a position measurement and storage operation in the front-rear direction according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Collective optical disk apparatus 2 Cartridge transport mechanism 3 CAS mechanism 4 CPU 5,8 Motor driver 6,9 Counter 7 Vertical position measurement storage unit 10 Front / back position measurement storage unit 24 Y motor 24a, 31a Encoder 30 Slide mechanism 31 PAB motor 40 Picker Mechanism 50 Hand mechanism 60, 65 Cartridge 62 Drive device 63 Stocker

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A storage for storing a cartridge containing a disk medium for storage, a drive device for reading and writing to and from the disk medium, and moving the cartridge between the storage and the drive device. A collective disk device including a cartridge transport mechanism, means for sequentially raising the cartridge by a predetermined height in the vicinity of an insertion opening of each of the storage and the drive device; and raising the cartridge to the predetermined height. Means for performing an insertion operation of the cartridge into the insertion slot every time the cartridge is raised, and measuring a distance from a preset reference point to a position where the cartridge can be first inserted by the insertion operation. First measuring means for storing and storing the cartridge in the vicinity of the insertion slot at a preset position Means for sequentially lowering the cartridge by height, means for performing an insertion operation of the cartridge into the insertion slot each time the cartridge is lowered by the predetermined height, and wherein the cartridge is first inserted in the insertion operation from the reference point. A second measuring unit that measures and stores a distance to a position where insertion is possible; and the insertion from the reference point based on a measurement result of the first measurement unit and a measurement result of the second measurement unit. Calculating means for calculating and storing the distance to the center position of the mouth,
A collective disk drive wherein the cartridge is moved based on the position information calculated and stored by the calculating means. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a driving unit that sends a plurality of pulse signals at predetermined angles while the cartridge moves up and down and makes one rotation, and wherein the first and second measuring units include a pulse signal from the driving unit. 2. The collective disk drive according to claim 1, wherein the distance from the reference point of a position where the cartridge can be first inserted in the insertion operation is counted by counting the number of times. 3. A third measuring means for measuring and storing a distance from a reference position at which the insertion operation is to be started to a position where the cartridge cannot be advanced in an insertion operation of the cartridge into the insertion opening, 3. The collective disk device according to claim 1, wherein an operation of inserting the cartridge into the insertion slot is performed based on a measurement result of the third measuring unit. 4. A horizontal driving means for transmitting a plurality of pulse signals at a predetermined angle during a horizontal movement and one rotation of the cartridge, wherein the third measuring means receives a pulse signal from the horizontal driving means. 4. The collective disk drive according to claim 3, wherein a count is made to measure a distance from the reference position of a position at which the cartridge can advance in the insertion operation.