JP3806595B2 - Cartridge storage device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus for storing a plurality of cartridges vertically, and more particularly to a stocker used in a disk recording or reproducing apparatus.
[0002]
[Prior art]
FIG. 9 is a plan view of a known cartridge (6). The cartridge (6) accommodates the disk (60) rotatably, and the disk (60) is exposed by opening a shutter (61) slidably provided on the upper surface.
FIG. 7 is a side view of the stocker (1) that houses a plurality of cartridges (6) and (6) in the upper and lower stages. The stocker (1) is provided with a plurality of holders (2) for holding the cartridge (6) in a box (10) placed on the chassis (7). The cartridge (6) is provided from the outside of the stocker (1). The holder (2) is inserted horizontally. In the following description, the direction in which the cartridge (6) is inserted into the holder (2) is the front, and the reverse direction is the rear. The position where the cartridge (6) is housed in the box (10) is the Home position, the front end of the cartridge (6) enters the holder (2), and the rear end protrudes out of the holder (2). This position is called the discharge position.
The stocker (1) is used for a disk recording or reproducing device. As will be described later, a cartridge (6) advanced from the stocker (1) is accommodated in a recording / reproducing unit (4) to record or reproduce signals. it can.
[0003]
FIG. 8 is a side view of another stocker (1). The stocker (1) is disposed so as to be rotatable in a plane perpendicular to the chassis (7) including the insertion direction of the cartridge (6). When the cartridge (6) is inserted, the front end portion is inclined so as to face downward. Since the cartridge (6) is inserted into the stocker (1) obliquely downward, the user can easily insert the cartridge (6). With the cartridge (6) inserted, the stocker (1) rotates counterclockwise and assumes a horizontal posture.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the conventional stocker, when a plurality of cartridges (6) and (6) are discharged from the stocker (1) all at once, the cartridges (6) and (6) are close to each other. When removing 6), there was a problem that a finger hits an adjacent cartridge (6) and it is difficult to remove. In addition, when one cartridge (6) protrudes from the holder (2) to the discharge side, the holder (2) can be inserted even when the cartridge (6) is not inserted into the adjacent empty holder (2). There is also a problem that it is difficult to insert the finger into the cartridge (6) protruding from the cartridge.
An object of the present invention is to improve workability when a desired cartridge is inserted into a stocker or discharged from the stocker.
[0005]
[Means for solving the problems]
The cartridge storage device includes a drive mechanism (100) for moving the holder (2) between a home position where the holder (2) is stored in the box (10) and a discharge position retracted from the box (10).
Switches ( SW 1) ( SW 3) for detecting the drive position of the drive mechanism (100);
Located between the box (10) and each holder (2), as the holder (2) moves, the chassis (7) includes the direction of insertion of the cartridge (6) into the box (10). A cam mechanism (8) for changing the position of the holder (2) in a vertical plane;
By the cam mechanism (8), the plurality of cartridges (6) and (6) are disposed substantially parallel to each other at the Home position, and are inclined at a discharge position so that the distance between the rear ends of the cartridges is widened. ,
The drive mechanism (100) includes a switch operation plate (5) for switching the switches (SW1) and (SW3) according to the position of the holder (2) in the box (10), and the switch operation plate (5). A slide member ( 9 ) connected to
When the slide member ( 9 ) has one switch ( SW 3) in one state and the switch operation plate ( 5 ) has the other switch ( SW 1) in the other state, the holder ( 2 ) is in the discharge position. Located in
The slide member (9) is one switch (SW 3) to the other state, in switch control panel (5) has the other switch (SW 1) and one state position, the holder (2) provided Home Position Located in.
[0006]
[Action and effect]
Ejection position At the ejection position, the cartridges (6) and (6) arranged in the upper and lower stages are inclined in the box (10), and the interval between the rear end portions is wide. Thereby, when taking out the desired cartridge (6) discharged from the stocker (1), there is less possibility of a finger hitting the adjacent cartridge (6), and workability when taking out the cartridge (6) is improved. Become. Further, when a desired cartridge (6) is inserted into the stocker (1), the possibility of a finger hitting the adjacent cartridge (6) is reduced.
Home position
In the Home position, the plurality of cartridges (6) and (6) are arranged substantially parallel to each other. The cartridge (6) is held by the holder (2), and the holder (2) is housed in the box (10) at the Home position, but the cartridges (6) and (6) are arranged substantially parallel to each other. Therefore, the box (10) can be lowered. That is, it is possible to reduce the size of the stocker (1) and the entire disk recording or reproducing apparatus including the stocker (1).
[0007]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
(overall structure)
Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of a disk recording or reproducing apparatus. In the cabinet (70), there are provided a stocker (1) mounted on a chassis (7), a lifting carriage (3) positioned in front of the stocker (1), and a recording / reproducing unit (4). The stocker (1) is configured by arranging a plurality of holders (2) and (2) respectively holding the cartridge (6) in the box (10) in the upper and lower stages, as in the prior art. The cartridge (6) moves together with the holder (2).
A drive mechanism (100) for conveying the cartridge (6) and the holder (2) is provided on the top plate of the box (10), and the cartridge (inserted into the holder (2) by the drive mechanism (100) ( 6) reaches the sending / receiving position (see FIG. 6) protruding from the front surface of the holder (2) after reaching the Home position. At the sending / receiving position, the cartridge (6) is drawn into the lift carriage (3) by a feed mechanism (not shown) in the lift carriage (3), and the lift carriage (3) is lowered toward the recording / reproducing unit (4). To do.
[0008]
FIG. 2 is a sectional side view of the elevating carriage (3) and the recording / reproducing unit (4). The shutter (61) of the cartridge (6) is opened in the elevating carriage (3). The recording / reproducing unit (4) has a recording head (41), a pickup (42), and a turntable (43) on a base (40) as is well known, and is installed in a cartridge (6) housed in a lifting carriage (3). The disc (60) is rotated by a turntable (43), and a signal is reproduced by a pickup (42). The recording head (41) is in contact with the disk (60) through the transparent window (30) provided in the elevating carriage (3), and a signal is recorded while the pickup (42) irradiates the beam.
[0009]
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the stocker (1) and the drive mechanism (100). The first and second horizontal grooves (88a) and (88b), the first cam groove (80), the second cam groove (81) and the third cam groove are formed on the side surface of the box (10) constituting the stocker (1). (82), a fourth cam groove (83), a fifth cam groove (84), and a sixth cam groove (85) are opened. Inside the box (10), the holder (2) and the slide member ( 9) is deployed. The holder (2) is arranged inside the slide member (9). Although only one holder (2) is shown in FIG. 3, three stages are actually provided.
The slide member (9) protrudes the leg pieces (91) (91) downward from both ends of the flat plate (90) facing the top surface of the box (10), and each leg piece (91) has a vertical hole (92 ) Has been established. The flat plate (90) is provided with a rack (93), a protrusion (94), and a protruding shaft (95).
Projections (20) and (21) protrude from the front and rear end portions of the side surface of the holder (2), and the protrusions (20) at the front end portion are connected to the first to third cam grooves (80), (81) and (82). The projection (21) at the end portion fits into the fourth to sixth cam grooves (83), (84) and (85) through the vertical hole (92) of the slide member (9). The first to sixth cam grooves (80) (81) (82) (83) (84) (85) and the cam mechanism (8) for changing the inclination of the holder (2) by the protrusions (20) (21) Constitute. The slide member (9) is fitted in the first and second horizontal grooves (88a) and (88b), and is only allowed to move back and forth.
[0010]
The top plate of the box (10) is covered with the long hole (14) through which the protruding shaft (95) passes, the opening (11) through which the rack (93) passes, and slides to the left and right over the opening (11). A switch operation plate (5) is provided. A changeover switch (SW1) (SW2) (SW3) is provided on the side of the switching path of the switch operation plate (5), and the three switches (SW1) (SW2) (SW3) are turned on and off as described later. The front and rear positions of the holder (2) are determined.
The top plate of the box (10) is provided with a motor (M) and a gear train (12) connected to the motor (M), and the gear (13) at the downstream end of the gear train (12) is opened. The slide member 9 passed through (11) meshes with the rack (93) of the slide member (9) and the rack (50) formed on the switch operation plate (5). The motor (M), the gear train (12), the slide member (9), and the switch operation plate (5) constitute a drive mechanism (100).
A concave groove (51) is formed on the back surface of the switch operation plate (5), and a protrusion (94) protruding from the flat plate (90) of the slide member (9) passes through the top plate of the box (10). Fits into the groove (51). The motor (M), the gear train (12), and the slide member (9) form a drive mechanism (100) that moves the holder (2) between the send / receive position, the home position, and the discharge position.
[0011]
Discharge position Fig. 4 (a) is a plan view of the stocker (1) at the discharge position, and Fig. 4 (b) is a right side view of Fig. 4 (a). In FIG. 4 (a), for convenience of explanation, the gear train (12) other than the gear (13) is omitted, the box (10) is indicated by a one-dot chain line, and the top plate of the box (10) is shown. The slide member (9) arranged below is shown by a solid line.
The first to third cam grooves (80), (81), and (82) include a first horizontal portion (86a), an inclined portion (86b) extending obliquely upward from the front end of the first horizontal portion (86b), The second horizontal portion (86c) extending forward from the upper end of the inclined portion (86b) is provided and is formed in substantially the same shape. The fourth cam groove (83) is formed substantially horizontally, and the fifth cam groove (84) and the sixth cam groove (85) are both the third horizontal portion (87a), the inclined portion (87b), and the fourth cam groove (85). Although it has a horizontal part (87c), the inclination of the inclined part (87b) is different. Specifically, the inclined portion (87b) of the fifth cam groove (84) is gentler than the inclined portion (87b) of the sixth cam groove (85), and the first horizontal of the second cam groove (81). The height H from the portion (86a) to the third horizontal portion (87a) of the fifth cam groove (84) is from the first horizontal portion (86a) to the sixth cam groove (85) of the third cam groove (82). Higher than the height h up to the third horizontal portion (87a). The height L from the first horizontal portion (86a) of the first cam groove (80) to the fourth cam groove (83) is higher than the height H.
[0012]
As shown in FIG. 4 (a), the concave groove (51) of the switch operation plate (5) has a front / rear recess (52) extending forward and a rightward direction from the front end of the front / rear recess (52) to the front. An inclined first inclined recess (53), a left and right recess (54) extending rightward from the tip of the first inclined recess (53), and a second inclined rightward toward the front from the left and right recess (54) An inclined recess (55) is provided.
In the discharge position, the rack (93) of the slide member (9) meshes with the gear (13), and the rack (50) of the switch operation plate (5) is separated from the gear (13). Further, the protrusion (94) of the slide member (9) is fitted to the rear end of the front and rear recesses (52) of the recess groove (51).
[0013]
In this state, as shown in FIG. 4B, each holder (2) has protrusions (20) and (21) at the rear ends of the first to third cam grooves (80), (81) and (82), and It is located at the rear end of the fourth to sixth cam grooves (83) (84) (85). Here, the first to third cam grooves (80), (81), and (82) are formed in substantially the same shape, and the first cam groove (80) from the first horizontal portion (86a) to the fourth cam groove ( The height L up to 83) is higher than the height H, and the height H is higher than the height h. Therefore, the holder (2) located at the uppermost end has a large inclination and the holder located at the lowermost end. The inclination of (2) is small.
That is, at the discharge position, the cartridges (6) and (6) arranged in the upper and lower stages are widely spaced from each other at their rear ends. Thereby, when taking out the desired cartridge (6) discharged from the stocker (1), there is less possibility of a finger hitting the adjacent cartridge (6), and workability when taking out the cartridge (6) is improved. Become. Further, when a desired cartridge (6) is inserted into the stocker (1), the possibility of a finger hitting the adjacent cartridge (6) is reduced.
In the discharge position, as shown in FIG. 4 (a), the switch operation plate (5) is located on the right side of the two changeover switches (SW1) (SW2), and the changeover switches (SW1) (SW2). Are both OFF. The changeover switch (SW3) is turned on by being pushed into the projecting shaft (95) of the slide member (9).
[0014]
Home position When the motor (M) rotates from the discharge position and the gear (13) rotates counterclockwise, the slide member (9) moves forward. The projecting shaft (95) moves away from the changeover switch (SW3), and the changeover switch (SW3) is turned off. Since the protrusion (21) of the holder (2) is fitted in the vertical hole (92) of the slide member (9), the holder (2) also advances as the slide member (9) advances. The protrusion (94) of the slide member (9) advances in the groove (51) and pushes the side wall of the first inclined recess (53). The switch operation plate (5) moves to the left, and the rack (50) meshes with the gear (13). Since the gear (13) rotates counterclockwise, the switch operation plate (5) moves to the left. When the switch operating plate (5) pushes in the right changeover switch (SW1) and turns it on, the motor (M) stops. The slide member (9) and the holder (2) reach the home position shown in FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b).
In the Home position, the protrusions (20) and (21) of the holder (2) are the second horizontal portions (86c) of the first to third cam grooves (80), (81) and (82), and the fourth to It reaches the fourth horizontal portion (87c) of the sixth cam grooves (83) (84) (85). Each holder (2) is in a horizontal state, and the cartridges (6) and (6) are arranged substantially parallel to each other. As a result, the box (10) can be lowered, and the overall size of the stocker (1) and the disk recording or reproducing apparatus including the stocker (1) can be reduced.
[0015]
Send / receive position
When the motor (M) further rotates from the home position, the switch operation plate (5) moves to the left as shown in FIG. 6 (a). The second inclined concave portion (55) of the concave groove (51) pushes the protrusion (94) of the slide member (9) to advance, thereby disengaging the rack (93) of the slide member (9) and the gear (13). The switch operation plate (5) is turned on by pressing both changeover switches (SW1) and (SW2) to stop the rotation of the motor (M).
The slide member (9) reaches the sending / receiving position, and the cartridge (6) protrudes forward from the box (10) as shown in FIG. 6 (b). As described above, the cartridge (6) is pulled into the elevating carriage (3) at the transmission / reception position, and the elevating carriage (3) is lowered toward the recording / reproducing unit (4) to record or reproduce signals. .
In order to eject the cartridge (6) from the lifting carriage (3), the reverse operation is performed.
[0016]
The above description of the embodiments is for explaining the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting the invention described in the claims or reducing the scope thereof. In addition, the configuration of each part of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the technical scope described in the claims.
In the above example, the cartridge (6) containing the disk (60) is illustrated as being stored in the stocker (1), but other card-like recording media may be used.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of a disk recording or reproducing apparatus.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view of an elevating carriage and a recording / reproducing unit.
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a stocker and a drive mechanism.
4A is a plan view of a stocker at a discharge position, and FIG. 4B is a right side view of FIG. 4A.
5A is a plan view of a stocker at a Home position, and FIG. 5B is a right side view of FIG. 5A.
6A is a plan view of a stocker at a transmission / reception position, and FIG. 6B is a right side view of FIG.
FIG. 7 is a side view of a stocker that houses a plurality of cartridges in the upper and lower stages.
FIG. 8 is a side view of another stocker.
FIG. 9 is a plan view of the cartridge.
[Explanation of symbols]
(2) Holder
(6) Cartridge
(7) Chassis
(8) Cam mechanism
(10) Box

Claims (1)

In a cartridge storage device in which a plurality of holders (2) and (2) each holding a cartridge (6) are placed in a box (10) placed on a chassis (7) in the upper and lower stages,
A drive mechanism (100) for moving the holder (2) between a home position where the holder (2) is housed in the box (10) and a discharge position retracted from the box (10);
Switches ( SW 1) ( SW 3) for detecting the drive position of the drive mechanism (100);
Located between the box (10) and each holder (2), as the holder (2) moves, the chassis (7) includes the direction of insertion of the cartridge (6) into the box (10). A cam mechanism (8) for changing the position of the holder (2) in a vertical plane;
By the cam mechanism (8), the plurality of cartridges (6) and (6) are disposed substantially parallel to each other at the Home position, and are inclined at a discharge position so that the distance between the rear ends of the cartridges is widened. ,
The drive mechanism (100) includes a switch operation plate (5) for switching the switches (SW1) and (SW3) according to the position of the holder (2) in the box (10), and the switch operation plate (5). A slide member ( 9 ) connected to
When the slide member ( 9 ) has one switch ( SW 3) in one state and the switch operation plate ( 5 ) has the other switch ( SW 1) in the other state, the holder ( 2 ) is in the discharge position. Located in
The slide member (9) is one switch (SW 3) to the other state, in switch control panel (5) has the other switch (SW 1) and one state position, the holder (2) provided Home Position An apparatus for storing a cartridge, wherein

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