JP4521378B2 - Recording medium container and recording medium cartridge - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording medium container that accommodates a recording medium so that it can be automatically inserted and removed by a drive device, and a recording medium cartridge that accommodates the recording medium in the recording medium container.

For long-term data storage applications, recording tape cartridges with high capacity and low cost per capacity are mainly used. Also, a portable cartridge that can be handled by a library device common to such a recording tape cartridge has been considered (for example, see Patent Document 1).
JP-T-2004-525475 JP-A-10-208424

  However, the former recording tape cartridge using a long magnetic tape as a recording medium has problems that random access is not possible, and that the storage space increases because the cartridge case is stored for long-term storage. On the other hand, the latter portable cartridge is configured to accommodate a magnetic disk, a motor for rotating the disk, a head, and the like in the cartridge, and therefore is wasteful for data storage and has room for improvement.

  An object of the present invention is to obtain a recording medium container and a recording medium cartridge suitable for data storage in consideration of the above facts.

  In order to achieve the above object, a recording medium container according to the first aspect of the present invention is a case for accommodating a recording medium constituted by covering a recording medium with a casing so that the recording medium can be taken in and out from the opening; A holding unit provided in the case and holding the recording medium in the case; and writing information to the recording medium or reading information recorded on the recording medium provided in the case Loading mechanism for projecting at least a portion of the recording medium where information is written or read to the outside of the case through the opening when the case is loaded in the drive device And.

  The recording medium container according to claim 1, wherein a recording medium is accommodated in the case, and when reading / writing information on the recording medium, the case, that is, the recording medium container in which the recording medium is accommodated is driven. Load into the device. Then, at least a part of the recording medium protrudes from the case when the loading mechanism is operated by the drive device (for example, electrically or mechanically operated by the drive device). The drive device accesses a recording area of the recording medium or moves the recording medium to an information reading unit or writing unit to read / write information from / to the recording medium of the recording medium.

  Here, the recording medium container for detachably storing the recording medium can adopt a common outer shape (including a case where the shape of the identification portion is different) for different recording media. Thus, for example, during a period when information can be read and written, a plurality of recording media are stored in a common library device (a plurality of recording media containers containing recording media are stored in the storage unit, and the selected recording medium containers are stored in the storage unit. It can be appropriately handled by a drive device (a device that corresponds to the recording medium) and a device that transports between the storage unit. On the other hand, when the recorded information is stored for a long period of time, the recording medium is taken out from the recording medium container and stored, and the storage space of the recording medium container can be made unnecessary. Thereby, the handleability at the time of information reading / writing and the space saving at the time of storage are securable.

  Thus, the recording medium container according to claim 1 is suitable for data storage applications.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the recording medium container according to the first aspect, wherein the case is provided with a holding recess in each of the pair of wall portions along the loading direction to the drive device. The gripping recess is configured to be gripped by a transport device for transporting the recording medium container that stores the recording medium between a storage unit and a drive device.

  In the recording medium container according to the second aspect, the gripping recess of the case grips the transport mechanism and transports it between the storage unit and the drive device. Thereby, the recording medium container is conveyed in an appropriate posture. And, for example, if the relative position of this gripping recess is shared with a recording medium container for storing different recording media or an existing recording medium cartridge, even between these recording medium containers and an existing recording medium cartridge A common library apparatus can be used. In other words, it can be handled by the library device for existing recording media cartridges.

  A recording medium container according to a third aspect of the present invention is the recording medium container according to the first or second aspect, wherein the case is communicated inside and outside only at the opening.

  In the recording medium container according to the third aspect, since the opening does not exist in the case other than the opening for inserting and removing the recording medium, the dustproof property is good. This configuration is based on a configuration in which the drive device reads / writes information from / to the recording medium protruding outside the case, in other words, the drive device side parts and devices do not need to access the recording medium in the case. Realized.

  A recording medium container according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the recording medium container according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the case is flattened in the flat direction of the recording medium. A pair of plate portions facing each other, a peripheral wall connecting the pair of plate portions and having the opening formed in a part of the circumferential direction, and on one of the outer surfaces of the pair of plate portions, A reference surface serving as a position reference in the flat direction of the recording medium with respect to the drive device is formed.

  5. The recording medium container according to claim 4, wherein the recording medium having a flat shape (having a casing) is orthogonal to the flat direction in a state where the case is positioned in the flat direction of the recording medium with respect to the drive device on the reference plane. By moving in the direction, it protrudes from the case through an opening formed in the peripheral wall of the case. Thereby, in this recording media container, high positional accuracy with respect to the drive device can be ensured. Moreover, the opening part area of the opening part provided in a case (periphery wall) can be restrained small, and it can be set as the structure which does not have the opening part which connects a case inside and outside in a pair of board part which comprises a case.

  A recording medium container according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is the recording medium container according to the fourth aspect, wherein the opening is formed on a surface of the peripheral wall on the loading side to the drive device. .

  In the recording medium container according to claim 5, when the case is loaded into the drive device, the recording medium (a part of the recording medium) is outside the case from the leading portion (opening portion) in the loading direction of the peripheral wall in the drive device. Protrusively. For this reason, the structure of the drive device can be simplified.

  A recording medium container according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is the recording medium container according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, further comprising a closing member for closing the opening so as to be opened and closed.

  In the recording medium container according to the sixth aspect, since the opening of the case can be closed by the closing member, the recording medium in the case can be protected from dust and the like.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the recording medium container according to the sixth aspect, the closing member is biased to a closing position for closing the opening by a biasing member, and the drive The opening is opened by being pressed by a pressing member of the apparatus and displaced inward of the case.

  In the recording medium container according to the seventh aspect, the state in which the closing member normally closes the opening of the case by the urging force of the urging member is maintained. When this case is loaded in the drive device, the closing member is pressed by the pressing member and displaced inward (for example, pivoted so as to fall), thereby opening the opening. The recording medium protrudes from this opening.

  A recording medium container according to an eighth aspect of the present invention is the recording medium container according to the sixth or seventh aspect, wherein the closing member is locked at a closed position of the opening, and the case is attached to the drive device. A lock mechanism for releasing the locked state in a positioned state is further provided.

  In the recording medium container according to the eighth aspect, normally, the closing member is locked at the closing position by the lock mechanism, and the opening is prevented from being inadvertently opened. Thereby, the recording medium in the case can be more effectively protected from dust and the like. Then, in a state where the case is loaded in the drive device, the locked state by the locking mechanism is released (allowed), and displacement of the closing member, that is, opening of the opening is allowed.

  A recording medium container according to a ninth aspect of the present invention is the recording medium container according to any one of the first to eighth aspects, wherein the case has a plurality of the recording media from the common opening. The holding means configured to be able to be inserted and removed is configured to be able to hold the plurality of recording media independently, and the loading mechanism can project the plurality of recording media independently from the case. It is configured.

  In the recording medium container according to claim 9, since a plurality of recording media can be accommodated in the case, the entire recording medium (per one recording medium container) is recorded according to the number and capacity of these recording media. The capacity can be set. In addition, since each loading medium independently held by the holding means can be projected out of the case by the loading mechanism, information can be read and written independently for each recording medium.

  A recording medium container according to a tenth aspect of the present invention is the recording medium container according to the ninth aspect, wherein the holding means includes the plurality of recording media each formed in a flat shape, in a flat direction of the recording medium. It is designed to hold it while facing it.

  In the recording medium container according to claim 10, the plurality of flat recording media are accommodated in the case while being held by the holding means so as to face each other in the flat direction (stacked in a non-contact manner). . Thereby, a plurality of recording media can be accommodated with good space efficiency. Further, since the positions other than the flat direction with respect to the cases of the plurality of recording media substantially coincide, the access to the drive device of each recording medium is also good. In particular, it is preferable to adopt a configuration dependent on claims 4 and 5.

  The recording medium container according to an eleventh aspect of the present invention is the recording medium container according to the tenth aspect, wherein the case has a length of 100 mm along the direction in which the case is loaded into the drive device. The width in the orthogonal direction is 105 mm, the height in the direction orthogonal to the length and width broadcasting method is 20 mm, and the outer diameter dimension has a tolerance of ± 5 mm for each dimension. Up to three recording media formed in a flat shape can be held.

  In the recording medium container according to the eleventh aspect, one to three recording media can be accommodated in the case of the above dimensions so as to face each other in the flat direction.

  A recording medium container according to a twelfth aspect of the present invention is the recording medium container according to the tenth aspect, wherein the case has a length of 125 mm in the direction along the loading direction to the drive device, and extends in the length direction. The width in the orthogonal direction is 110 mm, the height in the direction orthogonal to the length and width broadcasting method is 25 mm, and the outer diameter dimension has a tolerance of ± 5 mm for each of the dimensions. Up to four recording media formed in a flat shape can be held.

  In the recording medium container according to the twelfth aspect, one to four recording media can be accommodated in the case of the above dimensions so as to face each other in the flat direction.

  In the recording medium cartridge according to the thirteenth aspect of the invention, the recording medium in which the recording medium is covered and protected by the casing is accommodated in the recording medium container according to any one of the first to twelfth aspects. ing.

  In the recording medium cartridge according to the thirteenth aspect, the recording medium is accommodated and held in each of the recording medium containers. Therefore, this recording media cartridge is suitable for data storage applications.

  As described above, the recording medium container and the recording medium cartridge according to the present invention have an excellent effect of being suitable for data storage applications.

  A recording medium container 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. For convenience of explanation, the direction in which the recording medium container 10 is loaded into the drive device (the arrow A direction as appropriate in each drawing) is the front direction, and the arrow B and arrow C directions perpendicular to the arrow A are the left direction. The upward direction.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the internal structure of the recording medium container 10 as viewed from above, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the internal structure of the recording medium container 10 as viewed from below. It is shown. In FIG. 2, the illustration of components (disk chassis 62 and the like) that are fixed to the lower case 22 described later is omitted. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the recording medium container 10. FIGS. 4 and 5 are perspective views of the appearance of the recording medium container 10 as viewed from the upper side and the lower side, respectively. Has been.

  As shown in these drawings, the recording medium container 10 accommodates the recording medium 12 in a case 14 so that the recording medium 12 can be inserted into and removed from the case 14, and the case 14 holds the recording medium 12 in a predetermined position. A portion 16 and a loading mechanism 18 for projecting the recording medium 12 out of the case 14 in accordance with the request of the drive device are provided. A recording medium cartridge 11 in the present invention is a recording medium containing and holding the recording medium 12 in the recording medium container 10.

(Configuration of recording media)
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the recording medium 12 is configured by housing a recording medium 12A such as a magnetic disk, an optical disk, or a memory in a medium housing 12B. As a result, the recording medium 12A is protected against dropping impact, dust adhesion, and the like by the media housing 12B. The recording medium 12 as a whole is formed in a substantially flat rectangular parallelepiped shape (in each drawing, a square shape or a rectangular shape when viewed from a flat direction that coincides with the vertical direction). In this embodiment, the recording medium 12 has a dimension (not limited to a square shape) in a range from approximately 30 mm (1.2 inches) square to approximately 40 mm (1.5 inches) square in plan view. As a structure for the drive device in the media housing 12B to access (drive, read / write information, etc.) the recording medium 12A, various structures including known structures can be appropriately employed.

(Case structure)
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the case 14 is formed in a substantially flat rectangular shape as a whole (a square shape or a rectangular shape when viewed from the flat direction). As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, in this embodiment, the flat direction of the case 14 matches the flat direction (vertical direction) of the recording medium 12. This will be specifically described below.

  The case 14 is configured by joining the upper case 20 and the lower case 22. In the upper case 20, a peripheral wall 20B is erected (hanging down) from the periphery of the top plate 20A formed in a substantially rectangular shape and opens downward, and the lower case 22 is in a substantially rectangular shape corresponding to the top plate 20A. A peripheral wall 22B is erected from the bottom plate 22A formed at the bottom and opens upward. The upper case 20 and the lower case 22 are joined in a state where the opening end of the peripheral wall 20B and the opening end of the peripheral wall 22B are in contact with each other, so that the case 14 having a space for accommodating the recording medium 12 therein is formed. It is configured. In this embodiment, the upper and lower cases 20 and 22 are fastened and joined with screws (not shown) at screw bosses 24 erected from the top plate 20A and the peripheral wall 20B.

  The case 14 is provided with an opening 25 for taking in and out the recording medium 12. The opening 25 is provided in the front wall 14A facing the loading direction (front side) to the drive device on the peripheral wall constituted by the peripheral wall 20B and the peripheral wall 22B. In this embodiment, the opening 25 is formed in a rectangular shape that is long in the left-right direction when viewed from the front across the upper and lower cases 20 and 22 by cutting out both the peripheral wall 20B and the peripheral wall 22B from the end of the opening. Yes.

  The opening 25 is opened and closed by an opening / closing mechanism 26 as a closing member. The opening / closing mechanism 26 includes a pair of upper and lower flappers 28 and 30 for opening and closing the opening 25. The lower flapper 28 opens and closes the lower half of the opening 25, and the upper flapper 30 opens the opening. The upper half of 25 is opened and closed. As shown in FIG. 3, the flappers 28 and 30 are rectangular flat flapper bodies 28A and 30A that can close the corresponding portions of the opening 25, respectively, and the width direction of the flapper bodies 28A and 30A (up and down in the closed state of 25). Direction) having a pair of left and right support shafts 28B and 30B extending in the longitudinal direction from both ends in the longitudinal direction.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6, a pair of left and right bearings 32 having an upward opening project from the bottom plate 22 </ b> A outside the left and right edges of the opening 25 in the lower case 22. The flapper 28 is rotatably supported around the support shaft 28B with respect to the lower case 22 (case 14) by fitting the support shaft 28B corresponding to each bearing 32. The flapper 28 is rotated around the support shaft 28B to stand along the peripheral wall 22B to close the lower half of the opening 25, and lying on the bottom plate 22A to open the lower half of the opening 25. It is set as the structure which can take the open position to switch (switch).

  Although not shown in the drawings, a pair of bearings that are opened downward so as to be vertically symmetrical with the bearings 32 protrude from the left and right sides of the opening 25 in the top plate 20A of the upper case 20. By fitting the support shaft 30B corresponding to the bearing, the flapper 30 is supported to be rotatable about the support shaft 30B with respect to the upper case 20 (case 14). The flapper 30 is rotated around the support shaft 30B to close the upper half of the opening 25 along the peripheral wall 20B, and to open the lower half of the opening 25 along the bottom surface of the bottom plate 22A. It can be taken (switched).

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, return springs 34 as urging members are disposed between the flapper 28 and the lower case 22 and between the flapper 30 and the upper case 20, respectively. 34 biases the flappers 28 and 30 to the closed position by the respective urging forces. In this embodiment, the return spring 34 is a torsion coil spring, and the support shaft 28B or the support shaft 30B is inserted into the coil portion 34C formed between the case engaging portion 34A and the flapper engaging portion 34B. Are arranged.

  The flappers 28 and 30 positioned at the closed position are held at the closed position by bringing their respective peripheral edges into contact with the inner surface of the front wall 14A (the peripheral walls 20B and 22B). Further, the flappers 28 and 30 positioned at the closed position allow the end portions in the width direction farther from the respective support shafts 28B and 30B to be in contact with or very close to each other, so that dust and the like enter 14 from the gaps between them. Is to prevent. Moreover, you may comprise so that a part of upper and lower flappers 28 and 30 located in a closed position may be piled up back and forth.

  The opening opening / closing mechanism 26 described above has an open position against the urging force of the return spring 34 by the flappers 28 and 30 being pressed from the front to the back by the flapper pressing member 102 (see FIG. 10) of the drive device. Displacement (angular displacement).

  The recording medium container 10 also includes a lock mechanism 36 for holding the flappers 28 and 30 of the opening opening / closing mechanism 26 in the closed position. The lock mechanism 36 includes a locked portion 30 </ b> C provided on the flapper 30. As shown in FIG. 3, the locked portion 30 </ b> C is integrally formed as an extending portion that protrudes from the left and right ends of the flapper 30 in the width direction (downward at the closed position) and in the longitudinal direction.

  The lock mechanism 36 includes a lock member 38. A pair of locking members 38 are provided corresponding to the left and right locked portions 30C. Each lock member 38 includes a rod-shaped lock portion 38A that can be engaged with the locked portion 30C, and an annular connecting portion 38B provided at one end of the lock portion 38A. An unlocking member 40 is connected to each.

  Each unlocking member 40 is supported by a cylindrical lock boss portion 42 projecting upward from the front end and the left and right ends of the bottom plate 22A of the lower case 22 so as to be slidable in the vertical direction and connected to the connecting portion 38B. It is prevented from falling off. The lock member 38 is configured such that the lock position and the lock release position can be switched according to the vertical position of the lock release member 40 with respect to the case 14 (lock boss portion 42).

  Specifically, each lock member 38 is locked to the rear side of the locked portion 30C of the flapper 30 at which the connecting portion 38B is placed on the lock boss portion 42 as shown in FIG. The locking position is to engage the portion 38A, and the backward movement of the locked portion 30C, that is, the displacement of the flapper 30 to the open position is prevented. On the other hand, the position where the lock member 38 moves upward from the lock position together with the lock release member 40 and the lock portion 38A is offset upward with respect to the locked portion 30C is the unlock position where the flapper 30 is allowed to move to the open position. It is said that.

  A lock spring 44 is disposed between each lock release member 40 and the lock boss portion 42, and the lock release member 40, that is, the lock member 38 is biased to the lock position by the urging force of the lock spring 44. Yes. In this locked state, as shown in FIG. 5, the lower end portion 40A of the unlocking member 40 is exposed in the vicinity of the downward opening end portion 42A of the lock boss portion 42, and the lower end portion 40A of the unlocking member 40 is pressed upward. As a result, the lock member 38 is switched to the unlock position.

  In the recording medium container 10 according to the present embodiment, the lower end portion 40A of the unlocking member 40 is pressed upward by the unlocking member of the drive device as it is loaded into the drive device. Although an example in which the locked portion 30C is provided only in the upper flapper 30 is shown, the locked portion may also be provided in the flapper 28. In this case, it is necessary to configure so that the locked portion and the locked portion 30C do not interfere with each other.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5, a pair of left and right positioning holes 46 and 48 are opened near the front end of the bottom plate 22 </ b> A of the lower case 22. The pair of positioning holes 46 and 48 are formed through the bottom plate 22A (see FIG. 6 for the positioning hole 46), and are closed from the inside of the case 14 by disk chassis 62 and 63 described later. The positioning hole 46 on one side (drive mechanism side described later) has a substantially square shape as viewed from the bottom and circumscribes the positioning pin of the drive device. It is a corresponding slot.

  As a result, when the recording medium container 10 is loaded in the drive device and the positioning pins are inserted into the positioning holes 46 and 48, the recording medium container 10 is accurately placed in the horizontal direction (left and right and front and rear) in the drive device. It is designed to be positioned. Further, the lower end portion 40A of the unlocking member 40 is pushed upward while the above-described unlocking member enters the lock boss portion 42 as the positioning pin enters the positioning holes 46 and 48 (relative lowering with respect to the drive device). It is supposed to be configured.

  Further, the bottom surface of the bottom plate 22A around the positioning holes 46 and 48 is a positioning reference surface 50 and 52 that is finished more smoothly than other portions (design surfaces). The positioning reference surfaces 50 and 52 come into contact with the positioning surfaces provided around the positioning pins in the drive device in a state where the positioning pins are inserted into the positioning holes 46 and 48. Thereby, the recording medium container 10 is also configured to be positioned in the vertical direction in the drive device.

  As shown in FIG. 4, a recognition recess 54 is formed at the left front corner of the upper case 20 such that the substantially upper half is cut out in a substantially triangular shape in plan view. The library apparatus 200 described later recognizes (identifies) the difference between the recording tape cartridge 500 and the recording medium container 10 by the presence of the recognition recess 54 or the inclination angle of the inclined wall 54A constituting the recognition recess 54 with respect to the front-rear direction. Is provided.

  In addition, the case 14 is formed with a gripping notch 56 as a gripping concave portion to be gripped (engaged) by a robot hand of a transport robot as a transport device constituting the library device 200. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a pair of left and right gripping notches 56 are provided at the rear of the lower case 22 so as to open downward and laterally (outside in the left-right direction). Each of the gripping notches 56 is configured to receive a retaining member of the holder unit 202 when it is held by the holder unit 202 of the library apparatus 200.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5, a positioning notch 58 having a shape similar to the gripping notch 56 is disposed in front of the gripping notch 56 in the case 14. The downward surface of the positioning notch 58 is a positioning reference surface 58A that serves as a positioning reference in the vertical direction with respect to the drive device together with the positioning reference surfaces 50 and 52.

  In the case 14, as shown in FIG. 5, the length L, the width W, the height H of the case 14 itself, the interval W1 between the right and left gripping notches 56, and the length from the rear wall 14B of the case 14 to the gripping notches 56. The height H1 from the predetermined mounting surface (the lower surface of the bottom plate 22A) to the gripping notch 56 is set to a predetermined dimension.

  Specifically, the case 14 has a length L = 100 [mm] ± 5 [mm], a width W = 105 [mm] ± 5 [mm], and a height H = 20 [mm] ± 5 [mm]. Has external dimensions. This outer dimension is almost the same as the outer dimension of the so-called linear tape open (LTO) type recording tape cartridge 500 (see Standard ECMA-319) shown in FIG. To supplement the recording tape cartridge 500, the recording tape cartridge 500 is configured such that a single reel 504 wound with a magnetic tape 502 as a recording medium is housed in a case 506 so as not to be taken out. The magnetic tape 502 is pulled out from an opening 510 provided in the case 506 so that it can be opened and closed. A leader pin 512 that is normally held in the case 506 and that is pulled out by the pulling means of the drive device is attached to the tip of the case 14. The case 506 of the recording tape cartridge 500 has gripping notches 514 on the left and right sides. In this case 506, the distance along the front-rear direction from the rear wall 506A to each gripping notch 514 is L2, and the height from the mounting surface of the case 506 to the gripping notch 514 is H2.

  In the case 14, the dimensions, that is, the length L1 and the height H1 relating to the gripping notch 56 are the same as the length L2 and the height H2 in the case 506 within a predetermined tolerance. Further, the width W of the case 14 is substantially coincident with the corresponding width of the case 506 on the rear side of the gripping notch 56.

(Configuration of holding part and loading mechanism)
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, in the case 14, there are a holding portion 16 for holding the recording medium 12 in a predetermined position, and a loading mechanism 18 for projecting the recording medium 12 to the outside of the case 14. It is arranged. In this embodiment, the holding unit 16 can accommodate and hold a plurality (three) of recording media 12 within the 14, and the loading mechanism 18 can independently (selectively) store the plurality of recording media 12. It is comprised so that it can be made to protrude outside. Since the holding unit 16 and the loading mechanism 18 include inseparable components, these will be described together.

  In the holding unit 16, each recording medium 12 is held in the case 14 via a disk loading arm 60 and disk chassis 62 and 63. As shown in FIG. 3, one disk loading arm 60 is provided for one recording medium 12, and includes a disk support portion 60 </ b> A formed in a substantially “U” shape opening forward in plan view. Yes. The left and right guide arm portions 60B constituting the disc support portion 60A are formed with guide grooves 60C that allow the peripheral edge portion of the recording medium 12 to slide in. As a result, the recording medium 12 is supported by the disc loading arm 60 with the peripheral portion entering the guide groove 60 </ b> C, and is removed from the disc loading arm 60 by moving forward relative to the disc loading arm 60. ing.

  The disc loading arm 60 is provided with a driven portion 60D along the left guide arm portion 60B of the disc support portion 60A. The driven portion 60D is configured by forming a left side guide arm portion 60B and a driven side rack 64 in a portion extending rearward from the guide arm portion 60B. In addition, a stopper portion 60E is formed to protrude rightward from the rear end of the driven portion 60D, and a spring locking portion 60F is formed below the tip of the stopper portion 60E.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, the disk chassis 62 and 63 are provided so as to sandwich the disk loading arm 60 from the left and right so as to face in the left-right direction. In this embodiment, the disk chassis 62 and 63 are disposed on the bottom plate 22A of the lower case 22. It is fixed. As the fixing structure, ultrasonic welding, adhesion, screwing, or the like can be employed. The disc chassis 62 and 63 fixed to the bottom plate 22A close the positioning reference surfaces 50 and 52. In addition, the front and rear ends and side surfaces of the disk chassis 62 and 63 are separated from the peripheral walls 20B and 22B, respectively.

  In these disc chassis 62 and 63, guide grooves 66 for allowing the left and right guide arm portions 60B of the disc loading arm 60 to slidably enter are formed over the entire length in the front-rear direction. Three guide grooves 66 are provided so as to be spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction, corresponding to the three disk loading arms 60 that independently support the three recording media 12. Accordingly, in the holding portion 16 and the loading mechanism 18, the three disc loading arms 60 are independently supported by the pair of left and right disc chassis 62 and the disc chassis 63 so as to be manually operable in the front-rear direction.

  That is, each disk loading arm 60 includes a storage holding position for holding the recording medium 12 at a fixed position in the case 14, and a read / write unit (not shown) of the drive device 100 by protruding the recording medium 12 from the case 14. The delivery position for delivery can be taken independently. In the storage and holding position, the stopper portion 60E of the disc loading arm 60 is in contact with a stopper receiver 67 protruding from the peripheral walls 20B and 22B.

  The holding unit 16 includes a disk holding spring 68 for biasing the disk loading arm 60 to the storage holding position. As shown in FIG. 1, the disk holding spring 68 is a torsion coil spring. One end 68A is locked to a spring receiving member 70 fixed to the bottom plate 22A, and the other end 68B is a disk loading arm. It is latched by 60 spring latching portions 60F. In this embodiment, the spring receiving member 70 is disposed behind the right disk chassis 63.

  Further, the intermediate coil portion 68 </ b> C of the disc holding spring 68 is inserted through a post 72 erected from the bottom plate 22 </ b> A behind the spring receiving member 70. One disk holding spring 68 is provided for one disk loading arm 60. The holding portion 16 is configured to bias the corresponding disc loading arm 60 to the accommodation holding position by the urging force of the disc holding spring 68 as described above.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the left disc chassis 62 that guides the left guide arm portion 60B of the disc loading arm 60 in the guide groove 66 is notched in the middle in the front-rear direction. A driven side pinion 76 is engaged with a driven side rack 64 of the disk loading arm 60. One driven-side pinion 76 is provided for each disk loading arm 60, and is rotatably supported on a support shaft 78 projecting from the bottom plate 22A.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, each driven pinion 76 is provided with a driving pinion 80 coaxially and integrally (so as to rotate). In this embodiment, the drive-side pinion 80 has the same number of teeth as the support shaft 78 and a small diameter (small pitch). Each drive-side pinion 80 is engaged with a different drive rack 82.

  As shown in FIG. 1, each drive rack 82 is slidable in a different guide groove 86 of a pair of rack chassis 84, 85 that oppose each other in the left-right direction on the left side of the disk chassis 62. It is possible to move to. As shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, the left rack chassis 84 extends in front of and behind the drive-side pinion 80, and the right rack chassis 85 is positioned only on the rear side of the drive-side pinion 80. is doing. Similarly to the disk chassis 62 and 63, the rack chassis 84 and 85 are fixed to the bottom plate 22A and are separated from the peripheral walls 20B and 22B.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the drive rack 82 in the state where the disk loading arm 60 is located at the storage and holding position (positioned at the initial position) has a drive-side pinion 80 at the rear side of the middle part in the longitudinal (front-rear) direction. Are meshing with each other. As a result, in the loading mechanism 18, the drive rack 82 is moved rearward, whereby the drive side pinion 80 rotates in the same direction as the driven side pinion 76, and the disk loading arm 60 having the driven side rack 64 moves forward. It is like that. The pitch ratio between the driven-side pinion 76 and the driving-side pinion 80 is determined so that the disk loading arm 60 reaches the delivery position as the driving rack 82 moves from the initial position to the rearward movement limit. The rearward movement limit of the drive rack 82 may be determined by a contact position (stopper) with respect to the case such as the drive-side pinion 80 and the disk loading arm 60, and the movement limit of the rack pressing member 106 of the drive device 100 may be determined. It may be decided as.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a pressed portion 82 </ b> A is formed as a forward wall at the front end of the drive rack 82. The drive rack 82 is moved rearward by being pressed from the front to the rear by the rack pressing member 106 of the drive device. The pressed portion 82A of each drive rack 82 is disposed so as to face the right end portion of the opening portion 25 when viewed from the front, and the flappers 28 and 30 are located at the open position from the right end portion of the opening portion 25. It is pressed by the rack pressing member 106 that has entered the case 14 along the front-rear direction.

(Configuration of drive device)
An operation mechanism of the opening opening / closing mechanism 26 and the loading mechanism 18 in the drive device 100 for loading and reading information from / into the recording medium 12 (whichever is acceptable) will be described.

  FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the drive device 100 in a state where the recording medium container 10 is loaded. As shown in this figure, the drive device 100 includes a flapper pressing member 102 for pressing the flappers 28 and 30 of the opening opening / closing mechanism 26 backward. The flapper pressing member 102 is formed in a flat plate shape having a length in the front-rear direction and a thickness direction aligned with the left-right direction, and its width (height) is slightly smaller than the opening height of the opening 25. It is said that.

  The flapper pressing member 102 is driven by, for example, a motor or the like in a state where the recording medium container 10 that has been accessed from above is positioned on the drive device 100 positioning unit 104 (the lock by the lock mechanism 36 is released). While moving backward, the vicinity of the left end of the flappers 28 and 30 (a position that does not interfere with the disk loading arm 60 protruding from the case 14) is pressed backward.

  Further, the drive device 100 includes three rack pressing members 106 arranged in parallel in the vertical direction in order to independently press the three driving racks 82 arranged in the vertical direction backward. The rack pressing member 106 is formed in a rod shape that is long in the front-rear direction, and can be moved forward and backward with respect to the left side portion of the flapper pressing member 102 at 25 when the flapper pressing member 102 is opened. Each rack pressing member 106 is independently driven by a motor, for example.

  Therefore, when the upper rack pressing member 106 is moved rearward, the upper recording medium 12 of the recording medium container 10 is moved to the delivery position (see FIG. 10), and when the middle rack pressing member 106 is moved rearward, the recording medium is received. When the middle recording medium 12 of the body 10 moves to the delivery position and the lower rack pressing member 106 moves rearward, the lower recording medium 12 of the recording medium container 10 moves to the delivery position. The recording medium container 10 includes a memory card (not shown) disposed in the case 14, and the drive device 100 is a recording medium 12 that reads and writes information by communication with the memory card, that is, a rack pressing member to be driven. 106 is selected. For example, the capacity of each recording medium 12 is recorded in the memory card in advance, and the remaining capacity is recorded each time information is written or erased in the drive device 100, for example.

  The drive device 100 described above automatically loads (draws) the recording medium 12 positioned at the transfer position into a read / write unit (recording / playback unit) (not shown), and automatically loads the recording medium 12 after reading / writing is completed. (Returned to the disk loading arm 60). Various known structures can be employed for this configuration.

(Configuration of library device)
Next, an example of the library apparatus 200 for handling a large number of recording media containers 10 will be described. As shown in a schematic perspective view of FIG. 11, the library apparatus 200 includes a storage shelf 204 having a plurality of holders (magazines) 202 each capable of storing the recording medium storage body 10, and one or more (this embodiment). The recording / reproducing unit 206 in which the four drive devices 100 are installed, and the robot hand (chucking mechanism) 208 capable of gripping the rear end side portion of the recording medium container 10 are connected to each holder unit 202 and each drive device. And a transfer robot 210 that can move between the two.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the robot hand 208 of the transfer robot 210 is provided with a claw portion 214 that can enter (engage) the gripping notch 56 at the tip of the pair of left and right arms 212. By driving, the left and right claw portions 214 can be brought into and out of contact with each other. Thereby, the robot hand 208 accesses the recording medium container 10 accommodated in each holder part 202, and grips the recording medium container 10 with the claw portions 214 inserted into the right and left gripping notches 56. Can be transported.

  In the library apparatus 200 described above, the recording medium container 10 to be used is extracted from the holder unit 202 by the transfer robot 210 and loaded into the drive device 100 of the recording / reproducing unit 206, and the used recording medium container 10 is transferred to the transfer robot. 210 is extracted from the drive device 100 by 210 and accommodated (loaded) in the holder 202 of the accommodation shelf 204. As a result, a plurality (large number) of recording media containers 10 can be automatically and quickly attached to and detached from the drive apparatus 100, and a large-scale (large capacity) information backup system is constructed.

  The library apparatus 200 described above can be configured by diverting the library apparatus for the recording tape cartridge 500. That is, the recording medium container 10 has substantially the same external dimensions as the recording tape cartridge 500, and the relative position of the gripping notch 56 coincides with the relative position of the gripping notch 514. The recording medium container 10 can be gripped and conveyed to the drive device 100. The library apparatus 200 is configured by installing the drive apparatus 100 (recording / reproducing unit 206) instead of the drive apparatus for the recording tape cartridge 500.

  The library apparatus 200 may be configured to handle both the recording medium container 10 and the recording tape cartridge 500 (at least a part of other recording medium cartridges including the recording medium cartridge 10). Since the recording medium container 10 and the recording tape cartridge 500 have almost the same size and shape, the transport robot 210 can be shared. When shared in this way, the library apparatus 200 can identify the recording medium container 10 and the recording tape cartridge 500 in each holder unit 202 in accordance with the presence / absence and inclination angle of the recognition recess 54 described above. Further, a memory card (IC chip) for media identification may be mounted in the recording media container 10 and the media may be identified by communication with a card reader provided in the robot hand 208.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

  The recording medium container 10 configured as described above is stored in each holder unit 202 of the library apparatus 200 during a period when information can be read from or written to the recording medium 12. When reading / writing information from / to the recording medium 12, the recording medium container 10 is taken out from each holder unit 202 while being gripped by the right and left gripping notch 56 transport robot 210 and loaded into the drive device 100. .

  With this loading operation (lowering), positioning pins are inserted into the positioning holes 46 and 48 of the case 14, and the positioning reference surfaces 50, 52, and 58A come into contact with the positioning surfaces and reference surfaces of the drive device, and recording is performed. The media container 10 is positioned on the drive device 100 in the horizontal and vertical directions. As the recording medium container 10 is loaded into the drive device 100, the lower end portion 40A of the unlocking member 40 is pressed by the unlocking member, and the locking member 38 moves upward with respect to the locked portion 30C (offset). ) And the flappers 28 and 30 are unlocked.

  Next, the drive device 100 drives the flapper pressing member 102. Then, the flapper 28 and the flapper 30 pressed by the flapper pressing member 102 moving backward are switched from the closed position to the open position, and the opening 25 is opened. Furthermore, the drive device 100 drives one rack pressing member 106 corresponding to the recording medium 12 to which information is to be read and written, among the three rack pressing members 106. Then, the drive rack 82 moves rearward together with the rack pressing member 106 to rotate the drive side pinion 80 together with the driven side pinion 76, and the driven side rack 64, that is, the disk loading arm 60 engaged with the driven side pinion 76 is moved forward. Move.

  When the rack pressing member 106 reaches the rearward movement limit, the disk loading arm 60 reaches the transfer position together with the recording medium 12 that is supported, and the recording medium 12 that has reached the transfer position is automatically transferred to the read / write unit of the drive device 100. Loaded. When the reading / writing of information with respect to the recording medium 12 is completed, the recording medium 12 is returned to the delivery position by the drive device, and delivered to the disk loading arm 60 waiting at the delivery position. When the rack pressing member 106 is retracted forward, the disk loading arm 60 returns to the storage and holding position together with the recording medium 12 by the urging force of the disk holding spring 68.

  When reading / writing information from / to another recording medium 12, the rack pressing member 106 corresponding to the other recording medium 12 is driven, and the above-described operation is performed again. When the reading / writing of information with respect to the recording medium 12 of the recording medium container 10 is completed, the drive device 100 retracts the flapper pressing member 102 forward. Then, the flappers 28 and 30 are returned to the closed position by the urging force of the return spring 34. Further, when the recording medium container 10 is lifted from the drive device 100 positioning portion 104 (according to the ejection operation), the lock release member comes out of the lock boss portion 42 and the lock member 38 returns to the lock position by the urging force of the lock spring 44. .

  In this state, the recording medium container 10 is ejected from the drive device 100. Then, the transport robot 210 of the library apparatus 200 holds the recording medium container 10 in a predetermined holder unit 202 while holding the recording medium container 10 at the right and left gripping notches 56.

  When there is no longer a request for reading / writing information on the recording medium 12 of the recording medium container 10, the information recorded on the recording medium 12 may be stored together with the recording medium 12. In this case, the recording medium 12 is taken out from the recording medium container 10 and stored in a recording medium storage unit for storing the recording medium 12.

  Here, the recording medium container 10 can accommodate the recording medium 12 formed in a simple flat rectangular shape and can be handled by the library apparatus 200. As a result, the recording medium 12 can be automatically loaded into the drive device 100 and necessary information can be written or read. Further, the recording medium 12 is effectively protected from a drop impact or the like by the case 14 during handling in the library apparatus 200.

  When the recording medium 12 having the recording medium 12A covered with the medium housing 12B is stored as an information recording medium, the recording medium 12A is taken out from the recording medium container 10 and stored in a compact storage space that does not require a storage space for the case 14. can do. That is, it is not necessary to store the magnetic tape 502 (wrapped 504) with the case 506 like the recording tape cartridge 500, so that the space efficiency for storing information is high.

  In the recording medium container 10, the gripping notch 56 securely grips the transport robot 210 of the library apparatus 200 and transports the transport path between the holder unit 202 and the drive apparatus 100 in an appropriate posture. The outer dimensions of the recording medium container 10 (length L, width W, height H) and the relative dimensions of the gripping notch 56 (length L1, height H1, and the gripping notch 56 on the rear side) Since the width W) is shared with the corresponding dimension of the recording tape cartridge 500, the library apparatus of the recording tape cartridge 500 is diverted to form the library apparatus 200, or the library apparatus 200 is configured with the recording tape cartridge 500. It becomes possible to share.

  Further, in the recording medium container 10, there is no opening that can be opened other than the opening 25 provided on the front wall 14A and opened and closed by the opening opening and closing mechanism 26. Compared to the recording tape cartridge 500 having a reel access hole in the bottom plate for rotationally driving the 504 by a drive device, higher dust resistance, rigidity, and impact resistance can be achieved. In addition, since the flappers 28 and 30 of the opening / closing mechanism 26 are biased to the closed position by the return spring 34, the opening 25 is prevented from being inadvertently opened, and the locking mechanism 36 is particularly provided. Therefore, it is possible to effectively prevent the opening 25 from being inadvertently opened, and to obtain a better dustproof effect.

  Furthermore, in the recording medium container 10, since the recording medium 12 moves forward from the opening 25 provided in the front wall 14A to reach the delivery position, the drive device 100 is not increased in size and has a simple configuration. can do.

  Further, here, the recording medium container 10 accommodates a plurality of recording media 12 so that they can be taken out independently (delivered to the drive device 100). The total recording capacity (per recording medium container 10) can be set to a desired capacity. Further, since the flat recording media 12 are accommodated in the case 14 in parallel in the flat direction, the plurality of recording media 12 can be accommodated with high space efficiency. Furthermore, the delivery of each recording medium 12 to the drive device 100 is good.

  In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the recording medium container 10 has the same outer dimensions as the recording tape cartridge 500 shown in FIG. 13 is shown, but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, shown in FIG. The external dimensions may be substantially the same as the recording tape cartridge 600 (the library device can be diverted or shared). If the recording tape cartridge 600 is supplemented with a portion different from 500, the recording tape cartridge 600 draws the magnetic tape 502 from an opening 602 formed by cutting out the corners of the case 601. The part 602 is closed by mounting a leader block 604 provided at the tip of the magnetic tape 502.

  Corresponding to the external dimensions of the recording tape cartridge 600 (see JIS X-6123), the recording medium container 10 according to the modified example has a length L = 125 [mm] ± 5 [mm] and a width W = 110 [ mm] ± 5 [mm] and height H = 25 [mm] ± 5 [mm]. The built-in recording medium 12 is changed from 35 [mm] square to 70 [mm] square, and is stored and held in the case 14 while facing the flat direction. The structures of the holding unit 16 and the loading mechanism 18 are the same as those in the above embodiment.

  The recording tape cartridge 600 (recording tape cartridge having the same size as the recording tape cartridge) has a notch corresponding to the gripping notch 514 and a cartridge having the gripping notch 514. The recording medium container 10 according to the example includes a gripping notch 56. The rear end of the 600 not having a notch is gripped from above and below by a robot arm, and the rear end of the recording medium container 10 can also be gripped by this robot arm.

It is the perspective view seen from the upper side which shows the internal structure of the recording media container which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is the perspective view seen from the lower side which shows the internal structure of the recording media container which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a disassembled perspective view of the recording media container according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is the perspective view seen from the upper side which shows the external appearance of the recording media container which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is the perspective view seen from the lower side which shows the external appearance of the recording media container which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the lower case which comprises the recording media container which concerns on embodiment of this invention, and a fixing component to this lower case. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a lower case constituting the recording medium container according to the embodiment of the present invention and a fixing part to the lower case, as seen from a direction different from FIG. 6. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a lower case constituting the recording medium container according to the embodiment of the present invention and parts fixed to the lower case, as seen from a direction different from FIGS. 6 and 7. FIG. 5 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing a locked state of a trumpet attached by a lock mechanism constituting the recording medium container according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view which shows the recording media loading state in the drive device of the recording media container which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the library apparatus which handles the recording media container which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which expands and shows the robot hand of the library apparatus which handles the recording media container which concerns on embodiment of this invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a recording tape cartridge that can share a library apparatus with a recording medium container according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view of the recording tape cartridge which can share a library apparatus with the recording media container which concerns on the modification of embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Recording media container 12 Recording media 12B Media housing 12A Recording medium 14 Case 16 Holding part (holding means)
18 Loading mechanism 25 Opening 28/30 Flapper (closing member)
36 Locking mechanism 56 Gripping notch (gripping recess)
100 drive device 102 flapper pressing member (pressing member)
210 Transfer robot (transfer device)

Claims (13)

A case for accommodating a recording medium constituted by covering the recording medium with a housing so that the recording medium can be taken in and out from the opening; and
A holding means provided in the case and holding the recording medium in the case;
In response to a request from the drive device when the case is loaded in a drive device provided in the case for writing information to the recording medium or reading information recorded on the recording medium. A loading mechanism for projecting at least a portion of the recording medium where information is written or read out to the outside of the case through the opening;
A recording medium container. The case is provided with a holding recess in each of a pair of wall portions along the loading direction to the drive device,
The recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the gripping concave portion is configured to be gripped by a transport device for transporting the recording medium container that stores the recording medium between a storage unit and a drive device. Container.   The recording medium container according to claim 1, wherein the case is communicated only inside and outside at the opening.   The case has a pair of plate portions facing in the flat direction of the recording medium formed in a flat shape, and a peripheral wall connecting the pair of plate portions and forming the opening in a part of the circumferential direction. 4. The recording according to claim 1, wherein a reference surface serving as a position reference in a flat direction of the recording medium with respect to the drive device is formed on one of the outer surfaces of the pair of plate portions. Media container.   The recording medium container according to claim 4, wherein the case has the opening formed on a surface of the peripheral wall on a loading side to the drive device.   The recording medium container according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a closing member that closes the opening so as to be openable and closable.   The closing member is biased to a closing position for closing the opening by an urging member, and is pressed by the pressing member of the drive device to be displaced inward of the case so as to open the opening. The recording medium container according to claim 6, which is configured as follows.   The recording medium according to claim 6, further comprising a lock mechanism that locks the closing member at a closing position of the opening, and the lock state is released when the case is positioned on the drive device. Container. The case is configured to accommodate a plurality of the recording media so as to be able to be taken in and out from the common opening,
The holding means is configured to be able to hold the plurality of recording media independently,
The recording medium container according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the loading mechanism is configured so that the plurality of recording media can independently protrude from the case.   The recording medium container according to claim 9, wherein the holding unit holds the plurality of recording media each formed in a flat shape while facing the recording medium in a flat direction. The case has a length in a direction along the loading direction to the drive device of 100 mm, a width in a direction orthogonal to the length direction of 105 mm, and a height in a direction orthogonal to the length and width broadcasting method is 20 mm. And having an outer diameter dimension with a tolerance of ± 5 mm for each dimension,
The recording medium container according to claim 10, wherein the holding unit is capable of holding up to three recording media formed in the flat shape. The case has a length in a direction along the loading direction to the drive device of 125 mm, a width in a direction orthogonal to the length direction of 110 mm, and a height in a direction orthogonal to the length and width broadcasting method is 25 mm. And having an outer diameter dimension with a tolerance of ± 5 mm for each dimension,
The recording medium container according to claim 10, wherein the holding unit is capable of holding up to four recording media formed in the flat shape.   The recording medium cartridge in which the recording medium in which the recording medium is covered and protected by the casing is accommodated in the recording medium accommodating body according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

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