JPH01130359A - Automatic processor for information disk - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make a structure simple and light-weight and to stably and surely carry a cartridge by moving a carrier only in a transverse direction and interposing and carrying the cartridge from a stacker to a deck by a carrying roll mechanism. CONSTITUTION:An elevating device is operated by the instruction of a controller so that a designated cartridge 2 is set to the same height as the insertion/ ejection hole of a deck 42; and when the cartridge 2 reaches this position, it is pushed out to a carrying roll mechanism 10a in a carrier 10 held in front of a stacker 3 by a pushing-out means and is interposed between upper and lower holding rolls 13 rotated by roll driving means. Simultaneously, the carrier 10 is moved to the front limit position near the deck 42 by a driving device 20, and the held and carried cartridge 2 is quickly loaded into the insertion/ ejection hole of the deck 42, and the disk stored in the cartridge 2 is read in the deck 42. Thus, the cartridge 2 is smoothly and stably inserted/ejected and carried.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention provides a method for storing a plurality of cartridges containing information recording disks such as optical disks such as video disks and magnetic disks in a stacker. A desired item can be taken out from the disc and automatically placed on a deck that reads information recorded on the disc, or conversely, it can be taken out from the deck and automatically returned to its original position in the stacker. The present invention relates to an information disc automatic processing device.

[Conventional technology]

For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 60-19797 related to the prior art
Japanese Patent No. 5 discloses an automatic video disc playback device equipped with this type of automatic processing device for information discs.

This conventional device includes a vertically multi-stage stacker that stores a plurality of information discs (video discs) horizontally, a deck for playing back the information discs, and a gripping mechanism that grips the information discs. It also includes a carrier that is movable in the vertical and longitudinal directions between the stacker and the deck, and a disk transport device that includes a drive means for moving the carrier in the vertical and longitudinal directions.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

In the above-mentioned conventional device, the carrier, which must be moved vertically and longitudinally, must be provided with a gripping arm, which is complex in structure and heavy, and its opening/closing drive means, which places a heavy burden on the carrier.

Furthermore, when taking out a desired disc from the stacker, it is necessary to grasp both sides of the disc at symmetrical positions on the circumference of the disc using gripping arms that can be opened and closed. In this case, since the weight is further added to the gripping arm, etc., there is a problem that the gripping state of the cartridge becomes unstable.

If the gripping condition is not stable, the cartridge transported by the transport device may not smoothly enter the deck, or the cartridge may not be stored in its original position in the stacker after completion of regeneration, which may hinder the recycle transport work. There is a possibility that it will come.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it simplifies the structure and reduces the weight, and also allows cartridges to be inserted and removed in stackers and decks, and to be transported smoothly and stably between stackers and decks. The object of the present invention is to provide an information disk automatic processing device that can perform the following operations.

[Means for solving problems]

A means for solving the above problem is to have an insertion/ejection opening for a cartridge that accommodates an information recording disk, and to read information recorded on the disk in the cartridge inserted into the insertion/ejection opening. and a stacker that supports multiple cartridges in multiple stages.

an elevating device that raises and lowers the stacker so that a desired cartridge in the stacker is at the same height as an insertion/ejection opening of the deck; and a carrier that is provided horizontally movably between the deck and the stacker.

a drive device for horizontally moving carriers between the deck and the stacker;

A pair of upper and lower nipping rollers provided on the carrier and at the same height as the loading/unloading port of the deck, gripping the cartridge from above and below and reciprocating horizontally toward the loading/unloading port and the stacker; and a conveyance roller mechanism including a roller drive means for rotating either.

A pushing means pushes out cartridges housed in the stacker that are at the same height as the loading/unloading opening of the deck toward the conveyance roller mechanism, and a push-out means that pushes out cartridges that have been conveyed to the stacker by the conveyance roller mechanism into the stacker. The invention is characterized by comprising a return means for pushing back.

[For production]

According to the device of the present invention, the elevating device is operated in accordance with instructions from a separate control device such as a microcomputer so that the specified cartridge is at the same height as the loading/unloading port of the deck, and when the cartridge reaches the above-mentioned position. The cartridge is pushed out by the push-out means to a conveyance roller mechanism in a carrier waiting in front of the stacker, and is held between upper and lower holding rollers rotated by a roller drive means.

At the same time, the carrier is moved by the drive device to the front end position close to the deck, and the cartridge that has been clamped and conveyed is quickly installed in the loading/unloading port of the deck.
The deck reads the disc contained in the cartridge.

After the work on the deck is completed, the cartridge is again held between the holding rollers in the conveyance roller mechanism, and is taken out from the deck by the reversal drive of the holding rollers, and by the backward movement of the drive device, the carrier approaches the stacker to the rear limit position. When the cartridge is moved, the returned cartridge is returned to its original position in the stacker by the operation of the return means.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a video disc automatic playback device to which the present invention is applied.

At the rear (right side in the figure) of the video disc automatic playback device (hereinafter abbreviated as playback device) (1), there are a plurality of cartridges (1) (2
) is provided in a stacker (3) that can be inserted into and removed from a forward opening (not shown) and accommodates in a multi-tiered manner in the vertical direction.

The stacker (3) is a lifting platform (
5), and the extending rear part of the lifting platform (5) is fixed to an lifting member (5a) which is threadedly engaged with a screw (6) facing in the vertical direction.

A driven gear (7) fixed to the upper shaft end of the screw screw (6) meshes with a driving gear (9)' fixed to a rotating shaft (8a) of a motor (8) capable of forward and reverse rotation. By doing so, the stacker (3) is rotated in forward and reverse directions, and the stacker (3) is raised and lowered so that the desired cartridge (2) in the stacker (3) is positioned at a predetermined reference position.

In this way, the lifting platform (5), the screw (6), the gears (7), (9), the motor (8), etc. allow the lifting bag W! 1
(4) is formed.

A carrier (10) serving as a conveying device is provided approximately in the center of the reproducing device (1).

The carrier (10) includes a conveyance roller mechanism (10a) disposed in the upper space of left and right side plates (11) that are spaced apart from each other. At the front and rear of the
).

The vertically opposing pinching rollers (13) are spaced apart from each other by a distance approximately equal to the thickness of the cartridge (2), and the distance between the two is approximately equal to the height of any cartridge (2) stopped at the reference position. It is intended to be high.

The shaft (1) of the gripping roller (13) (13) located below
2) The endless belt (14) is hooked and turned around (12),
By rotating the shaft (12) of one of the clamping rollers (13) with the driven belt (16) hooked between it and the shaft (15a) of the motor (15), both clamping rollers (13) can be rotated. are designed to rotate synchronously.

On the front and rear edges of the lower part between the side plates (11).

A support plate (17) is fixed, and this support plate (17) includes:
A pair of left and right slide shafts (19) oriented in the front-rear direction and installed parallel to each other pass through a support (18) which is provided below the carrier (lO) and has a U-shape in side view.

As a result, the carrier (lO) is supported by the slide shaft (19) and is guided by the slide shaft so that it can reciprocate up to the first and second extreme positions.

A drive bag M (20) is provided at the rear of the carrier (10) for reciprocating the carrier.

As details are shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, this drive device (20) has an upward protrusion (21) at its tip that can come into contact with the rear support plate (17) in the carrier (io); The carrier (20) is provided with a hook (22) that can enter between the side plates (11) and engage with the inside of the rear support plate (17), and a chevron-shaped cam is provided at approximately the middle and rear part of the upper surface. (23a) and (23b) are integrally formed and a rack (24) is formed in the longitudinal direction on the lower surface of the slider (25), and a base (25) on which the slider is placed and guided in the front-back direction.
26) and a drive gear (27) that meshes with the rack (24).
a motor (28) that can rotate forward and backward, and a guide plate (29) having a cam surface (29a) formed on the upper surface to engage and disengage the hook (22) from the carrier (20).
It consists of

The slider (25) has its lower surface fitted with a guide rail (not shown) formed on the upper surface of the base (26), thereby preventing rattling in the left-right direction, and A guide pin (30a) protruding in the left and right directions.
(30b) engages with the elongated hole (25a) formed in the longitudinal direction of the slider (25), thereby preventing rattling in the vertical direction and allowing smooth sliding.

The hook (22) is always connected to the third
The shaft (2
2a) It is designed to be able to rotate around.

As shown in Fig. 2, on the left side of the stacker (3), there is a rotation locus that allows the required amount of movement into the stacker (3) through the opening (3a) formed at the rear corner of the stacker (3). A push-out lever (32) with a push-out lever (32) and a return lever (33) with a rotation trajectory up to a position where it abuts or approaches the front edge of the stacker (3) are provided as horizontally rotatable. The vertical positions of the levers (32) and (33) are set to be approximately at the same height as the reference position.

The push lever (32) and return lever (33) are
As shown in Figures 3 to 5, each link mechanism (
34) A cam (23a) formed on the slider (25) in the drive device (2o) via (36) (2
3b) respectively.

The pushing lever (32), the link mechanism (34), and the cam (23a) constitute the pushing means, and the returning lever (33), the link mechanism 41 (36), and the cam (23b) constitute the returning means.

The link (35a) in the link mechanism (34) is interlocked only when the link (35b) is rotated clockwise,
On the other hand, the link (37a) in the link mechanism (36) is designed to interlock only when the link (37b) rotates counterclockwise.

(3g) (39) is a roller that can be freely moved along the upper edge of the 5 slider (25), and includes links (35b) and (37).
b) to rotate smoothly by the cams (23a) (23b).

Each of these a-ra (38) (39) is a slider (25)
When the cam (23
a) and cams (23b) (see Figure 3), - (40) (41) are "tension coils" which return each lever (32) (33). It's a spring.

The cartridge (
A deck (42) is provided for loading and regenerating 2).

In this embodiment, the deck (42) is a known side-loading type video disc player or a known disc drive unit in which the cartridge (2) is inserted and ejected through an opening (43) formed at the rear. It is.

(44) is a disk guide, and the transport roller mechanism (10a
) in parallel with the front and rear nipping rollers (13), and the insertion/removal opening (44a) is arranged so that it is approximately at the same height as the height of the separation part between the upper and lower nipping rollers (13), that is, the height of the above-mentioned reference position. It is arranged. , (45)
is a lid member that opens and closes the opening (43), and an opening/closing lever (46) is disposed above the lid member.

The opening/closing lever (46) is connected to a gear (
47) is a drive gear (49) connected to a motor (48).
) and an intermediate gear (5o) that meshes with the intermediate gear (5o) to rotate the lid member (45) up and down, thereby opening and closing the lid member (45).

Note that the rear edge of the lid member (45) is notched forward, as shown in FIG. 2, to allow the carrier (10) to approach the disc guide (44) as much as possible.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be explained.

First, the stacker (3) is raised and lowered to search for a desired cartridge from among the plurality of cartridges (2) housed in the stacker (3).

The stacker (3) can be raised, lowered, and searched by commands from an input device (not shown) or signals issued therefrom, as well as position detection sensors (when shown) provided on the stacker (3) and appropriate fixed parts facing it. etc., the motor (
8) is automatically driven forward and backward.

When the desired cartridge (2) reaches the reference position, the stacker (3) stops.

Next, a control device (not shown) issues a reverse rotation signal (counterclockwise in FIG. 3) to the motor (28), and as shown in FIG. 20), the slider (25) in gear (27)
and a rack (24).

During this forward movement, the protrusion (21) at the tip of the slider (25) comes into contact with the stopper (51) and the carrier (10) waiting at a predetermined position at the rear corner. , push-out lever (32) and additional link (35b)
As shown in Figure 4, the cam (23a) moves the
That is, it is rotated clockwise, and the link (35a) linked therewith also rotates clockwise as shown by the arrow in the figure, thereby horizontally rotating the push-out lever (32) forward. .

As a result, the cartridge (2) is pushed forward by the required amount, that is, to the position where it comes into contact with the rear upper and lower holding rollers (13) in the conveyance roller mechanism (10a).
(See Figure 2).

At this time, the link (37b) on the return lever (33) side only idly rotates forward along the cam (23b), so the return lever (33) does not operate.

When a detection signal indicating that the cartridge (2) has been pushed out by the required amount is issued, the motor (1) in the carrier (10) is activated.
15) immediately rotates in reverse, and the gripping roller located below (
13) (13) are rotated counterclockwise in synchronization, and the pushed out cartridge (2) is held between the front and rear and upper and lower holding rollers (13) and moved forward.

During this time, the carrier (10) continues to move forward from the standby position. (25), the cartridge (2) is moved on the slide shaft (19) to the front limit position where it abuts the stopper (as shown), and the cartridge (2) is pushed onto the deck (42).
) into the insertion/ejection opening (44a) of the disc guide (44), and then insert the lid U (45
) and stop at a position where it does not interfere with opening/closing.

After the cartridge (2) is inserted into the disk guide (44), the lid member (45) is automatically closed by starting the motor (48).

Note that the cartridge (
The following two methods can be considered as the transportation method 2), and either of them may be used.

That is, the drive of the lower clamping rollers (13) is temporarily stopped when each clamping roller (13) completely clamps the cartridge (2), and restarted when the carrier (10) reaches the front corner. , the cartridge (2) is inserted into the disk guide (44), or the lower gripping roller (13) is continuously driven in synchronization with the moving speed of the slider (25) to remove the gripped cartridge. (2) is advanced together with the carrier (10) and inserted into the disc guide (44) at the same time as the carrier (10) reaches the front corner.

The latter allows for faster transportation.

When the detection means (as shown) detects that the cartridge (2) is inserted into the disk guide (44),
The motor (15) immediately stops, and at the same time the slider (2
5), the detection means detects the forward limit position of the carrier (10) and the disc guide (44) of the cartridge (2).
It stops when it detects the end of insertion into the carrier (
lO) is kept on standby at the front limit position.

When the regeneration work of the cartridge (2) in the deck (42) is completed, the motor (48) is activated by a command from the control device (when shown), automatically opens the lid member (45), and the disc guide (44) ) leads to the position shown in FIG.

Then, the motor (15) is operated to rotate forward (clockwise in Figure 1) and the motor (2B) is operated to rotate reversely (counterclockwise in Figure 1), so that the conveyance roller mechanism (10a) is rotated backward. In the operating state, the carrier (10), which has been waiting a little behind, is moved to the forward limit position.

When the carrier (lO) reaches the front limit position, the cartridge (2) in the disk guide (44) is held between the upper and lower holding rollers (13) and conveyed rearward in the reverse operation as described above.

Further, when the carrier (10) reaches the front limit position, the motor (28) is rotated in the normal direction and the slider (25) is moved rearward.

When the slider (25) starts to move back, the slider (25)
In the forward movement of the guide plate (29), the cam surface (29a
), the hook ( ) rotates clockwise and the hook (
22) engages with the inner surface of the rear support plate (17) of the carrier (10), and the carrier (lO) retreats as one while being pulled by the slider (25) (see FIG. 5).

When the carrier (10) reaches the rear corner, the cartridge (2) that has been pinched and conveyed is moved as shown in FIG. 1 or 2.
The required amount is inserted into the original position in the stacker (3) and released from being held by the conveyance roller mechanism (10a).

At this time, the motor (15) stops and the pinching roller (13)
) also stops driving.

On the other hand, at the same time when the carrier (10) contacts the stopper (51) and reaches the rear corner, the hook (22)
9) is forcibly rotated counterclockwise by the cam surface (29a), and the engagement with the carrier (10) is released.

After that, only the slider (25) continues to retreat to the rear limit position and returns to the original standby state, but during this retreat, the cam (23b) formed on the top surface of the slider (25) When the roller (39) at the tip of the link (37b) located at the rear comes into contact with the link (37b), the link (37b) is rotated backward, that is, in the counterclockwise direction, and is linked with the roller (39). Links (3)
7a) are integrally rotated counterclockwise as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 5, thereby horizontally rotating the return lever (33) backward.

By rotating this return lever (33), the stacker (3)
The cartridge (2) which remains protruding from the front of the stacker (3) is completely accommodated in the stacker (3).

Almost simultaneously with this accommodation, the slider (25) is located at the rear corner as shown in FIG. 3, and the motor (28) is automatically stopped.

Then, the return lever (33) returns to its original position because the link (37b) climbs over the cam (23b) and is located on the opposite side.

Note that while the return lever (33) is in operation, the push-out lever (32) does not operate because the link (35b) only idles in the direction of the arrow in Figure 5 along the cam (23a). .

By repeating the series of operations described above, the designated desired cartridges (2) can be conveyed one after another. Furthermore, since the carrier (10) linearly reciprocates between the stacker (3) and the deck (42), the cartridge (2) can be transported quickly.

Further, the cartridge (2) is attached to upper and lower gripping rollers (13).
), the cartridge (2
) is large and heavy, there is no risk of instability like in the conventional gripping system using arms.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, but can take various embodiments.

For example, by arranging two or more pairs of nipping rollers (13), one pair at the top and one at the front and back, it becomes possible to transport a larger cartridge (2).

In addition, when the cartridge (2) is small, etc., by providing a rotatable auxiliary roller between the lower clamping rollers (13), the negative side of the cartridge (2) can be moved between the upper and lower clamping rollers (13). 13), the horizontal state can be maintained and stable transportation can be achieved even if the container is separated from the container.

In addition to using a mechanical method using a link mechanism and a cam as described above to push out and return the cartridge (2), a push lever (32) and a return lever (33) are used.
) may be connected to an electromagnetic solenoid, for example, and an electrical method using a control device may be used.

In this case, the hook (22) provided on the slider (25)
) and the guide plate (29) for operating it can be eliminated, and the carrier (10) and slider (25) can be kept connected at all times.

The two left and right holding rollers (13) may be one long roller.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the device of the present invention, the carrier moves only in the lateral direction, and the carrier is provided with a conveyance roller mechanism consisting of a pair of upper and lower nipping rollers, so that the conveyance of the cartridge between the stacker and the deck is carried out. By using a roller mechanism for clamping and conveying.

The structure is simplified and lightweight, reducing the burden on the carrier and the cartridge.

It has the advantage of being able to be transported stably and reliably, regardless of its size and weight.

Further, by continuously rotating the nipping roller while the carrier is moving, the cartridge can be transported quickly.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway schematic side view showing an example of a video disc automatic playback device to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view showing the conveyance state of the cartridge.゛Figures 3 WI to 5 show details of the drive device, carrier and extrusion means during reciprocating movement of the drive device. It is a schematic explanatory view showing the engagement relationship with a return means. (2) Cartridge (3) Stacker (4
)lift device! (5) Lifting platform (6)
Screw screw (8) (15) (2g
) (48) Motor (lO) carrier
(10a) Conveyance roller mechanism (11) Side plate
(12) Axis (13) Sandwiching roller
(14) (16) Belt (17) Support plate
(18) Support body (19) Slide shaft
(20) Drive device (21) Protrusion
(22) Hook (23a) (23b) Cam
(24) Rack (25) Slider
(25a) Long hole (26) Base (
27) Drive gear (29) guide plate (
30a) (30b) Guide pin (32) Push lever (33) Return lever (34) (36) Link mechanism (38) (39) Roller (42)
Detsuki (44) Disc guide (
45) Lid member (46) Opening/closing lever (
51) Stoppa

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) A plurality of decks each having an insertion/ejection opening for a cartridge that accommodates an information recording disk and capable of reading information recorded on the disk in the cartridge inserted into the insertion/ejection opening. a stacker that supports cartridges in multiple stages; a lifting device that raises and lowers the stacker so that a desired cartridge in the stacker is at the same height as an insertion/ejection opening of the deck; and a lifting device that moves horizontally between the deck and the stacker. a drive device that moves the carrier in a horizontal direction between the deck and the stacker; and a drive device that is provided on the carrier and that moves the cartridge up and down at the same height as the insertion/ejection opening of the deck. a conveying roller mechanism comprising a pair of upper and lower nipping rollers that are held together and horizontally reciprocated toward the insertion/ejection port and the stacker, and a roller drive unit that rotates either of the nipping rollers;
A pushing means for pushing out cartridges housed in the stacker that are at the same height as the loading/unloading opening of the deck toward the conveyance roller mechanism; An information disk automatic processing device comprising: a return means for pushing back the information disk. (2) The information disc automatic processing apparatus according to claim (1), wherein the pushing means is linked to a drive device so as to operate prior to movement of the carrier toward the deck. (3) The information disc automatic according to claim (1) or (2), wherein the return means is linked to the drive device so as to be activated after the movement of the carrier toward the stacker is completed. Processing equipment.