JP3518785B2 - Cartridge transport method and apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention
Carried to the scanner to remove the cartridge, also relates to a cartridge transporting method for returning the cartridge in the storage rack in the opposite and the cartridge transporting device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a microfilm cartridge exchanging device is known in which a large number of microfilm cartridges are stored in a storage shelf, a target cartridge is selected and conveyed to a scanner, and a target image is read by the scanner. Is more.

For example, there is one in which a cartridge is stored in a vertically flat or cylindrical storage shelf so that it can be taken in and out from the front surface or the outer peripheral surface, and the transport section, that is, the carrier of the cartridge is moved on the front surface of the storage shelf. This transport unit is moved to the front of the target cartridge, and this cartridge is taken into the carrier, and is transported to another target position, for example, a scanner for searching and reading an image, and a predetermined process, for example, image searching and reading. Is to do. Conversely, the processed cartridge is carried to the target storage position and returned to the storage rack.

In this case, the carrier returns the cartridge processed by the scanner to the original position again, and selects the next cartridge and carries it to the scanner. During this time, the scanner must stop processing and wait. I won't. Therefore, the processing becomes slow and the operation rate of the scanner is lowered.

Therefore, it has been proposed that the carrier can accommodate two cartridges. This device is provided with a carrier in which two cartridge accommodating chambers are provided and a pickup means which is separately provided for each accommodating chamber.
According to this device, while the scanner is processing, the next cartridge is selected and waits in the vicinity of the scanner, and as soon as the processing is completed by the scanner, the processed cartridge is taken into the carrier and is in another accommodation chamber. The next cartridge can be sent to the scanner.

[0006]

According to this conventional apparatus, since it is necessary to provide a plurality of pickup means on the carrier, the weight of the carrier increases and it becomes difficult to move at high speed.

Further, it was necessary to move the carrier itself when transferring the cartridge to and from the scanner. That is, since the positions of the two accommodating chambers of the carrier are determined, one accommodating chamber on the carrier side is aligned with the cartridge attaching / detaching port on the scanner side, the cartridge is transferred from the scanner to the carrier, and then the carrier is moved. This is because it is necessary to align the other accommodation chamber with the cartridge attachment / detachment port and transfer the next cartridge to the scanner. Therefore, it takes time to replace the cartridge, which makes high-speed processing difficult.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and makes it possible to move the carrier at a high speed by reducing the weight of the carrier, and to shorten the time required for exchanging the cartridge in the scanner, which is suitable for high-speed processing. A first object is to provide a transportation method. A second object is to provide a carrying device used directly for carrying out this method.

[0009]

The first object according to the present invention DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A number of mosquitoes
From the storage rack for accommodating the cartridges, with carrying the scanner extracts goals cartridge <br/>, mosquitoes returning the cartridge finished the predetermined processing in the scanner storage rack
Accommodating the cartridge in the cartridge transfer method
Multiple accommodating chambers with respect to the cartridge loading / unloading direction
Parallel to each other and movable in that direction.
Support for holding the cuffer and the claw member that engages and disengages with the cartridge.
The lower end of the holding plate was provided on the bottom of each storage chamber of the buffer.
Move the cartridge in and out while engaging the groove.
One pick-up for loading and unloading cartridges
Means for connecting the lower end of the support plate to the groove on the bottom surface of the storage chamber.
By moving in a direction generally orthogonal to the loading and unloading direction of the pickup means the buffer the pickup means by escape while being retracted from the accommodating chamber from switches the accommodating chamber in which the pickup means and out of storage was A transport method characterized by the above.

A second purpose is to take out a target cartridge from a storage rack for storing a large number of cartridges.
In a cartridge transporting device for transporting the cartridge to the scanner and returning the cartridge, which has been subjected to a predetermined process by the scanner , to the storage shelf, the storage position of the cartridge and the scan position.
A carrier moving between the Na, a support plate for holding the pawl member engages and disengages the cartridge is provided on the carrier its
Engage the lower end of the groove with the groove provided on the bottom of each buffer chamber
While moving the cartridge, move it in and out of the cartridge
And one pick-up means for loading and unloading the cartridge, the receiving buffer capable of moving, the lower end of the support plate a plurality of storage chambers which are juxtaposed in a direction perpendicular to the loading and unloading direction of the cartridge is formed to the arrangement direction A groove on the bottom of the room
And a transfer controller that moves the buffer in a state where the pickup means is retracted from the storage chamber and switches the storage chamber in which the pickup means puts the cartridge in and out, and a transfer device. It

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a view showing a usage state of a storage / retrieval device for a microfilm cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of its overall structure, FIG. 3 is a plan view of a carrier, and FIG. 4 is a front view of the same, FIG. 5 is a right side view, FIG. 6 is a perspective view for explaining the arrangement of guide rollers, and FIGS. 7 and 8 are front views showing examples of guide roller arrangement for holding the carrier with respect to the moving bar. It is a figure. FIG. 9 is a right side view showing the carrier pickup means, FIG. 10 is a plan view of the same, and FIG.
Is also an exploded perspective view, FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view showing the buffer switching means, and FIGS. 13 and 14 are plan views showing the operation thereof.

1 and 2, reference numeral 10 is a host computer (HOST), which is composed of a personal computer (personal computer) or a workstation. A keyboard 12 and a printer 14 are connected to the host computer 10. Reference numeral 16 is a scanner, which searches the microfilm and reads (scans) the image.

The scanner 16 is connected to the host computer 10 by a bus (BUS) 18 (FIG. 2) based on the SCSI standard. That is, they are connected by the SCSI interface. The scanner 16 is a microfilm control unit (MC for short).
20 and a roll film retrieval unit (abbreviated as RRU) 22.

The MCU 20 has a microcomputer, controls the search operation of the RRU 22, and
The image of the searched frame is read by moving the line sensor and stored in the memory 20A such as a DRAM. The RRU 22 sends a roll microfilm and searches for a desired frame.

24 is a microfilm installation
The system (abbreviated as MIS) accommodates a large number of microfilm cartridges, selects a desired cartridge, and loads it into the RRU 22 of the scanner 16. The MIS 24 is controlled by the MCU 20. That is, when the MCU 20 specifies a cartridge containing a frame to be searched, and the corresponding cartridge is not loaded in the RRU 22, the MCU 20 is
The operation of S24 is performed, and the cartridge is replaced with a corresponding cartridge.

Here, the rectangular case 50 of the MIS 24 accommodates a flat cartridge storage shelf 52. The cartridge storage shelf 52 accommodates a large number of cartridges 54 so that they can be taken in and out from the front surface. The guide rails 56 (56a to 56d) are provided along the four sides of the case 50.
Two guide rails 56 that are fixed to each other and face each other.
A horizontal moving bar 58 is guided by a and 56c to move up and down. In addition, the other two guide rails 56b, 56 facing each other
A vertical moving bar 60 is guided to d and moves in the left-right direction.

The horizontal moving bar 58 and the vertical moving bar 60 have a substantially H-shaped cross section and move up and down and left and right while being orthogonal to each other. A carrier 62 that conveys the cartridge is slidably attached to both moving bars 58 and 60 near the intersection. Horizontal moving bar 5
8 is fixed to a belt 64 stretched around a pair of pulleys located near both ends of the guide rail 56a. The vertical moving bar 60 is fixed to a belt 66 stretched around a pair of pulleys located near both ends of the guide rail 56d.
The belts 64 and 66 travel and are positioned by motors 68 and 70 as bar driving means connected to one pulley.

The carrier 62 is held near the intersection of the moving bars 58 and 60 by nine guide rollers as shown in FIGS. On the plane containing the transfer bars 58, 60, the carrier 62 is shown in FIG.
One guide roller 72 (72a, 72b) rolls on the horizontal moving bar 58, and the other two guide rollers 74 (74
a, 74b) rollingly contacts the vertical moving bar 60.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the guide rollers 72 and 74 are in contact with different traveling contact surfaces of the same moving bars 58 and 60 to restrict the rotation of the carrier 62 in one direction. That is, in the embodiment of FIG. 7, the guide roller 72
a and 72b are in rolling contact with the moving bar 58 so as to restrict the rotation of the carrier 62 to the left (the direction of arrow A), and the guide rollers 74a and 74b rotate the carrier 62 to the left (the direction of arrow B). To contact the moving bar 60 so as to regulate the temperature.

Here, a straight line passing through the centers of the guide rollers 72a and 72b is L1, a straight line passing through the centers of the guide rollers 74a and 74b is L2, and an intersection point between them is P. Both of these guide rollers 72, 74 are held on the carrier 62,
Since it is considered that there is no relative movement, rotation of the carrier 62 to the right (direction A) is restricted by the guide roller 72, and rotation of the carrier 62 to the left (direction B) is restricted by the guide roller 74. Therefore, the carrier 62 is accurately positioned without floating with respect to the moving bars 58 and 60 which always move in an orthogonal relationship.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the guide rails 72 and 7 are provided.
4 is configured to restrict the rotation in the opposite direction to the case of FIG. Therefore, as in the case of FIG. 7, the carrier 62 can be accurately positioned near the intersection of the two moving bars 58, 60 without allowing play.

Further, the movement of the carrier 62 in the front-back direction, that is, the movement in the direction traversing the plane including both the moving bars 58 and 60, causes the guide roller 7 to sandwich the horizontal moving bar 58 from above and below.
6 (76a, 76b) and three guide rollers 78 (78a, 78b, 78) that sandwich the vertical moving bar 60 from the front and rear.
c) and are regulated.

The conventional general method for holding the carrier 62 on the moving bars 58, 60 is to hold the carrier 62 for each moving bar 58, 60 on and orthogonal to the plane containing the moving bars 58, 60. A minimum of six guide rollers were required for each moving bar 58, 60 to prevent tilting in the plane. That is, the moving bar 5
Three guide rollers were required in each of the length direction of 8, 60 and the direction perpendicular to the plane. Therefore, a total of 12 guide rollers are required for both the moving bars 58, 60.

On the other hand, in this embodiment, the moving bar 5
By utilizing the fact that 8 and 60 are always orthogonal to each other, both moving bars 58 and 60 are sandwiched by the guide rollers 72 and 74.
Therefore, the number of guide rollers is greatly reduced, and in this embodiment, it is possible to use only nine guide rollers.

As a result, the horizontal and vertical moving bars 58 and 60 are independently moved by the motors 68 and 70, and the amount of movement is monitored by the MCU 20, whereby the carrier 62 can be moved to an appropriate position. The cartridge storage shelf 52 and the scanner 16 are located within the movable range of the carrier 62. In this embodiment, the scanner 16 is located in the lower right corner of this range of motion.

The carrier 62 is provided in a predetermined cartridge 5 from the cartridge storage shelf 52 on the basis of the instruction of the MCU 20.
4 is taken in, conveyed to the scanner 16 and inserted into the cartridge attaching / detaching port 16a, and the cartridge for which retrieval has been completed is taken in from the scanner 16 and returned to a predetermined position on the cartridge storage shelf 52.

When the image retrieved by the scanner 16 is read,
This image is stored in the memory 20A. The image data is sent to the host computer 10, where appropriate image processing is performed and then output to the printer 14. It is also stored in a memory (not shown) such as another magneto-optical disk or output to another external device.

Next, the structure of the carrier 62 will be described. The carrier 62 has one pickup means 100 and a buffer 102. The pickup means 100 includes a guide rod 104 fixed horizontally and in the front-rear direction on the upper part of the housing of the carrier 62, and two linear bearings 106 slidably held by the guide rod 104.
106 and the groove 10 of the buffer 102 whose upper end is fixed to these linear bearings 106, 106 and whose lower end is described later.
8 has a support plate 110 that slides by engaging with 8, and claw members 112 and 114 attached to the support plate 110.

A belt 120 wound around a pair of pulleys 116 and 118 extends below the guide rod 104. One pulley 116 is rotated in both directions by a gad motor 122 containing a reduction gear. The support plate 110 is fixed in the middle of the belt 120. As a result, when the belt 120 travels in an arbitrary direction by the rotation of the motor 122, the support plate 110 is guided by the belt 120 by the guide rod 104 and moves back and forth.

The claw members 112 and 114 are substantially L-shaped,
The center thereof is rotatably held by the support plate 110 by pins 124 and 126, and one ends of both are connected by a pin 128 and interlock so as to rotate in opposite directions. Claw member 1
The other ends of the reference numerals 12 and 114 are claws that can engage with the engaging recesses 54a and 54b formed on the end surface of the cartridge 54.

Further, one claw member 114 is provided with an arm portion 130 projecting to the side opposite to the claw, and this arm portion 13 is provided.
Rotation of 0 causes the claws of the claw members 112 and 114 to open and close vertically. A push plate 132 is vertically movable on the support plate 110.
Is held, and its lower end is connected to the arm 130. A spring (not shown) imparts a habit of returning upward to the push plate 132, and an angle member 134 having an L-shaped cross section is arranged parallel to the guide rod 104 above the upper end of the push plate 132.

The angle member 134 has parallel slant grooves 138 for engaging at least two pins 136, 136 fixed to the housing of the carrier 62, as shown in FIG.
Holds 138. The angle member 134 is biased to the right in FIG. 11 by the spring 140. That is, the angle member 134 is biased in the direction in which the grooves 138, 138 are guided by the pin 136 and return obliquely upward.
The angle member 134 can be pulled and moved in the opposite direction by the electromagnetic plunger 142. At this time, the inclined groove 138 is guided by the pin 136 and the angle member 134 moves obliquely downward.

Therefore, the angle member 134 is formed in the inclined groove 13.
Move up and down diagonally along 8. The push plate 13
A roller is attached to the upper end of 2, and the roller rolls on the horizontal lower surface of the angle member 134. As a result, no matter where the support plate 110 is located within the range of the guide rod 104, when the angle member 134 returns obliquely upward,
The push plate 132 rises, and the claws of the claw members 112 and 114 open. Further, when the electromagnetic plunger 142 is excited and the angle member 134 is pulled to the left side in FIG. 11, the angle member 1
34 descends diagonally downward. Therefore, the push plate 132 is pushed down, and the claws of the claw members 112 and 114 are opened.

By opening and closing the pawl in this manner, the pawl can be engaged with and disengaged from the engaging recesses 54a and 54b of the cartridge 54. Further, by opening and closing the claws and sliding the entire pickup means 100 on the guide rod 104, the cartridge 54 is placed between the storage shelf 52 and the buffer 102, and between the buffer 102 and the scanner 16.
It can be moved in and out of.

Next, the buffer 102 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the buffer 102 can vertically accommodate two cartridges 54 parallel to the sliding direction of the pickup means 100. On the lower surface of the buffer 102, the guide rail 1 fixed to the housing of the carrier 62 is provided.
Three guide rollers 156 that are in rolling contact with 54 and 154 are attached. The guide rails 154 and 154 are, of course, fixed perpendicularly to the sliding direction of the pickup means 100 and horizontally.

A pin 158 shown in FIG. 12 is provided so as to project near the center of the lower surface of the buffer 102. In FIG. 12, reference numeral 160 denotes a bell crank type drive lever, the vicinity of the center of which is supported by the housing of the carrier 62. A long hole 162 is provided at one end of the drive lever 160,
The pin 158 is engaged with the elongated hole 162. The other end of the drive lever 160 is connected to a crank pin 166 driven by a motor 164 by a link 168.

As a result, when the link 168 is pushed in the direction of the arrow by rotating the motor 164 in the direction of the arrow (clockwise direction) in FIG. 12, the drive lever 160 rotates in the counterclockwise direction. Therefore, the buffer 102 moves to the left in plan view as shown in FIG. On the contrary, when the motor 164 rotates counterclockwise, the drive lever 160 rotates clockwise,
The buffer 102 moves to the right side in plan view as shown in FIG. When the buffer 102 is moved in this way, the pickup means 100 is retracted to the outside (left side in FIG. 9) of the buffer 102 as shown by a virtual line in FIG.

An arcuate and horizontal light-shielding plate 170 is integrally provided near the fulcrum of the drive lever 160. By detecting the notch 172 provided in the light shielding plate 170 with the optical sensor 174, the position of the drive lever 160, that is, the position of the buffer 102 can be detected.

The buffer 102 is open at the upper side, and the lower part of the pickup means 100 is at the accommodation chamber 15.
You can enter 0, 152. That is, the buffer 102
Is on the left side (position in FIG. 14), the right side storage chamber 1
The pickup means 100 can enter the 50, and can enter the left accommodation chamber 152 when the buffer 102 is on the right side (position of FIG. 13).

The pick-up means 100 is provided in each accommodation chamber 1
When entering 50, 152, each accommodation chamber 150, 15
It is as described above that the lower end of the support plate 110 engages with the grooves 108, 108 provided at the bottom of the second slide. By engaging the support plate 110 with the groove 108 in this manner,
The pick-up means 100 is prevented from rolling laterally, and the claw members 112, 1 to the engaging recesses 54a, 54b of the cartridge 54 are provided.
It is possible to accurately engage and disengage 14 .

Next, the operation will be described. The MCU 20 first moves the carrier 62 in front of the selected cartridge 54 in the storage rack 52. At this time, the buffer 102 may be on either side, and the pickup means 100
Has exited the buffer 102. When the carrier 62 reaches the position of the target cartridge 54, the MCU 20 advances the pickup means 100, and passes through one of the accommodating chambers, for example 150, and engages its claw members 112 and 114 with the cartridge 54 in the accommodating shelf 52. Let At this time, the electromagnetic plunger 142 may be excited to temporarily open the pawl, but the pawl may be pressed against the cartridge 54 to open the pawl.

When the electromagnetic plunger 142 is de-excited and the claw is closed and the pickup means 100 is retracted, the cartridge 54 is drawn into one of the accommodating chambers 150. MC
U20 moves the carrier 62 to the front of the cartridge attachment / detachment port 16a of the scanner 16. Then, the pickup means 100 is advanced to move the cartridge 54 in the accommodation chamber 150.
Is pushed out to the cartridge attaching / detaching port 16a. After that, the electromagnetic plunger 142 is excited to open the claw, and the pickup means 100 is retracted.

The scanner 16 performs a predetermined process such as retrieval of the fed cartridge 54 and reading of an image. During this process, the carrier 62 goes to the position of the next cartridge 54 on the storage shelf 52, and either storage chamber, eg, 1
The cartridge 54 is incorporated into the cartridge 50. At this time, the pickup means 100 stores the cartridge 54 in the accommodation chamber 150.
Open, open the claw to release the cartridge 54 from the claw,
After that, only the pickup means 100 further retracts and completely exits the buffer 102.

In this state, the carrier 62 returns to the cartridge attaching / detaching port 16a of the scanner 16, while the buffer 102 slides to the opposite side by the motor 164. In this case, the buffer 102 moves to the right, and the accommodation room 152 comes in front of the pickup means 100. And scanner 1
When the processing of the cartridge 54 that has been processed in 6 is completed, the pickup means 100 advances through the accommodation chamber 152, extracts the processed cartridge 54 from the cartridge attaching / detaching port 16a, and puts it in the accommodation chamber 152. After releasing from the nail, it further retracts and exits from the buffer 102.

The pickup means 100 is a buffer 102.
After exiting from the buffer 102, the buffer 102 slides to the opposite side again, and the accommodation chamber 150 for accommodating the next cartridge 54.
Is placed in front of the pickup means 100. Then, the pick-up means 100 moves forward, pushes the cartridge 54, which is to be processed next, and is to be processed next, while grasping it with the claw and sending it to the cartridge attaching / detaching port 16a. Then, the pickup means 100 is retracted, the buffer 102 is switched, and the carrier 62 is returned to the position where the processed cartridge 54 is returned.
Is moved and returned to the storage shelf 52.

As described above, while one cartridge 54 is being processed by the scanner 16, the next cartridge 54 is processed.
Of the processed cartridge 54 in the carrier 62 and waits in the vicinity of the scanner 16.
After being taken into the vacant storage chamber 150 or 152, the buffer 102 is switched to immediately supply the next cartridge 54 to the scanner 16. Therefore, it is possible to quickly replace the cartridge 54 with respect to the scanner 16.

In the embodiment described above, the carrier 62 has two
Although the buffer 102 having one storage chamber 150, 152 is provided, it may have three or more storage chambers. Also, two or more scanners 16 that perform processing may be provided. FIG. 15 shows 2
It is a figure which shows the operation example in case the scanner 16 of a stand and three accommodation chambers are provided in a buffer.

In this case, the carrier 62A takes in the cartridges to be processed next by the two scanners 16A and 16B, for example, at positions A and B in order, and stands by near one of the scanners 16A or 16B. Then, the cartridge is replaced by the scanner 16A or 16B that has completed the processing, and then the cartridge is replaced by the other scanner 16B or 16A. The carrier 62A that has loaded the processed cartridge is the scanner 16A,
While processing at 16B, these processed cartridges are returned to their original positions, and the cartridge to be processed next is taken in again.

As a result, the carrier 62A is transferred to each scanner 16
The movement amount is smaller than that in the case of operating separately for A and 16B. Therefore, the processing speed can be increased when performing continuous processing.

Although the above embodiment conveys the microfilm cartridge 54, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to a storage shelf for a video tape cassette, a video disc, a compact disc, or the like. You can also Or it may be in the vertical direction by the form of the sliding direction storage rack buffer. FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing such another embodiment.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 16, the buffer 102X can be moved up and down, and the contents such as the video tape cassette 54X are put in and taken out horizontally .

[0052]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the carrier is provided with one pickup means and a buffer having a plurality of accommodating chambers, and the buffer is moved in the direction orthogonal to the direction for taking in and out the pickup means. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a plurality of pickup means on the carrier, and the weight of the carrier can be reduced. Therefore, the carrier can be moved at high speed.

Further, the carrier is carried to the scanner and the cartridge is
When exchanging the bag , only the buffer needs to be moved and the entire carrier need not be moved. For this reason mosquitoes
The time required to replace the cartridge can be shortened. Picka
The holding means holds the claw member which is engaged with and disengaged from the cartridge.
Attach the lower end of the support plate to the groove provided on the bottom of the storage chamber.
Moving the cartridge in the direction
Since the jji is taken in and out, the rolling of the pickup means
To prevent the cartridge and the claw member from engaging and disengaging accurately.
You can

[0054] Here the scanner with a plurality, if and greater than the number of the scanner the number of receiving chambers of the buffer, and waits near the scanner from capture in order buffer cartridge carrying a plurality of scanners, each scanner Cartry
The replacement of the bag can be successively performed in sequence (claim 2). Therefore, in this case, the moving distance of the carrier can be shortened. Further, according to the invention of claim 3, there can be obtained a carrying device directly used for carrying out this method.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a usage state of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the same.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a transport unit.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a transport unit.

FIG. 5 is a right side view of the transport unit.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view for explaining the arrangement of guide rollers.

FIG. 7 is a front view for explaining an arrangement example of guide rollers.

FIG. 8 is a front view for explaining an arrangement example of guide rollers.

FIG. 9 is a right side view showing a carrier and a pickup means.

FIG. 10 is a plan view of the same.

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of the same.

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view showing buffer switching means.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a buffer switching operation.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a buffer switching operation.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an operation example of another embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the buffer.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Host Computer 16, 16A, 16B Scanner 16a Cartridge Attachment / Detachment 20 MCU (Microfilm Control Installation System) as Transport Controller 24 MIS (Microfilm Installation System) 54 Having the Transport Device of the Present Invention 54 Microfilm Cartridge 54X video tape cassette 54Y compact disc 62 carrier 100 pickup means 102, 102X, 102Y buffers 150, 152 accommodating chamber

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Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] From 1. A storage rack for accommodating a plurality of cartridges, the carry to the scanner by extracting target of the cartridge, the cart finished the predetermined processing in the scanner
In the cartridge transportation method that returns the ridge to the storage shelf,
A plurality of storage chambers for storing the cartridges are provided.
Are installed side by side in a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the
The buffer that can be moved in the parallel direction and the cartridge
The support plate for holding the claw member is attached to the buffer at its lower end.
Of the cartridge while engaging with the groove provided on the bottom surface of each accommodation chamber
Of the cartridge by moving it in and out of
Out of one and a pickup unit provided, the pickup means the buffer <br/> the pickup means by escape while being retracted from the accommodating chamber lower end of the support plate from the groove of the storage chamber bottom face to perform A transportation method, characterized in that the pickup means switches the storage chamber in which the picked-up articles are put in and taken out by moving in a direction substantially orthogonal to the direction. 2. There are multiple scanners in close proximity to each other,
Accommodating chamber provided in the carrier is capable of accommodating the cartridge greater number of the scanner, the carrier each scan
2. The transfer method according to claim 1, wherein after the cartridge to be processed next is taken into each accommodation chamber by the printer, the scanners are sequentially moved to exchange the cartridges in order. From wherein storage rack for accommodating a plurality of cartridges, the carry to the scanner by extracting target of the cartridge, the cart finished the predetermined processing in the scanner
In the cartridge transfer device that returns the ridge to the storage shelf,
A carrier that moves between the storage position of the cartridge and the scanner, and a cartridge provided on the carrier.
The lower end of the support plate that holds the engaging and disengaging claw members is
While engaging with the grooves provided on the bottom of each housing chamber of the fa
One pickup means for moving the cartridge in and out of the cartridge to move the cartridge in and out, and a buffer having a plurality of storage chambers arranged in parallel in a direction orthogonal to the cartridge loading and unloading direction and movable in the parallel direction. , The above
The buffer is moved while the lower end of the support plate is made to escape from the groove on the bottom surface of the storage chamber and the pickup means is made to exit the storage chamber, and the pickup means is moved to the cartridge.
Conveying apparatus characterized by comprising a transport controller for switching a receiving chamber for loading and unloading the Tsu di.