JPH0276162A - Cartridge assembled type magnetic tape memory - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To automatically confirm the existence of the installation of a cartridge by elastically fitting a spring between a detecting plate and the bottom part of a storing room and providing a magnetic tape cartridge existence detecting sensor to detect the rotating edge part of the detecting plate for the side of a device body. CONSTITUTION:A detecting plate 6 to abut on a magnetic tape cartridge 2a is provided for a bottom part 4a of a storing room 4 so that the plate 6 can be freely rotated in a vertical direction around the inside of the storing room 4, further, a spring 8 to energize the detecting plate 6 upward is elastically fitted between the detecting plate 6 and the bottom part 4a, and a magnetic tape cartridge existence detecting sensor 9 to detect the rotating edge part of the detecting plate 6 is provided at the side of the device body. When the cartridge 2a is installed in the storing room 4, the detecting plate 6 is pressed by the weight of the cartridge 2a and rotated downward against the repulsive force of the spring 8, and the rotating edge part is detected by the sensor 9. On the other hand, when the cartridge 2a is not installed in the storing room 4, since the detecting plate 6 is pressed by the spring 8, the rotating edge part is not detected. Thus, it can be automatically confirmed whether the cartridge is installed in the storing room 4 or not.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a cartridge assembly type magnetic tape storage device equipped with a cartridge insertion and ejection mechanism for inserting and removing magnetic tape cartridges.

[Conventional technology]

A conventional cartridge assembly type magnetic tape storage device has a cartridge cell (hereinafter simply referred to as a cell) that stores magnetic tape cartridges (hereinafter simply referred to as a cartridge) in multiple layers in a device housing, and a drive that reads and writes information on the magnetic tape of the cartridge. , an accessor for transporting the cartridge, and a cartridge insertion device having a cellular storage chamber on the outer surface of the device housing into which the cartridge is inserted.

An ejection mechanism (hereinafter referred to as an entry/eject) is provided. This type of cartridge assembly type magnetic tape storage device is operated by inserting a cartridge into the cell-shaped storage chamber of the entry/exit. The operator visually checks whether or not a cartridge is inserted into the entry/exit.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, when operating a conventional cartridge-based magnetic tape storage device, the operator has to visually check the presence or absence of a cartridge in the entry/exit each time, which is inconvenient and can lead to an unconfirmed state. When a cartridge is installed in the entry/efgit, if a cartridge is already installed in the entry/efit, it must be removed before a new cartridge can be installed. There was a problem in that it was not possible to quickly insert the cartridge into the device.

[Means to solve the problem]

In the cartridge assembly type magnetic tape storage device according to the present invention, a detection plate having a sliding surface that comes into contact with a magnetic tape cartridge at the bottom of a storage chamber of a device housing is rotated vertically around the inside of the storage chamber. A sensor for detecting the presence or absence of a magnetic tape cartridge, which is freely provided and includes a spring that biases the detection plate upward between the detection plate and the bottom of the storage chamber, and detects the rotating end of the detection plate. is provided on the device housing side.

[For production]

When a magnetic tape cartridge is installed in the storage chamber, the detection plate is pushed by the weight of the cartridge and rotated downward against the spring force Ia; When the rotating end is detected by the sensor for detecting the presence or absence of a magnetic tape cartridge, it is possible to detect that a cartridge is installed in the storage chamber, and if a magnetic tape cartridge is not installed in the storage chamber. In this case, since the detection plate is pushed by a spring, the rotating end portion is not detected by the sensor for detecting the presence or absence of a magnetic tape cartridge, and therefore it is possible to detect that no cartridge is installed in the storage chamber.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the entire cartridge assembly type magnetic tape storage device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view showing an entry/exit cell storage chamber, and FIG. 3 is an operation of the detection plate. FIG. 11A is a side view of the detection plate showing a state in which no cartridge is inserted, and FIG. 2B is a side view of the detection plate showing a state in which the cartridge is inserted. In these figures, reference numeral 1 denotes a housing of a cartridge assembly type magnetic tape storage device, and inside this housing 1 are cells 3 that house cartridges 2 in multiple stages and layers, and a drive (not shown) that reads and writes information on the cartridges 2. , and an accessor (not shown) for transporting the cartridge 2. Further, on the outer surface 1a of the housing 1, an entry/exit 5 is provided in which a plurality of cellular storage chambers 4 into which cartridges 2a are inserted are formed. Reference numeral 6 denotes a detection plate for detecting whether or not the cartridge 2a is installed in the storage chamber 4. The detection plate 6 is formed in a cross-shaped shape when viewed from the side, and is arranged in each storage chamber 4. With the short side directed downward, the long side end is connected to the bottom 4a of the storage chamber 4 by a pin 7, and is attached to the storage chamber 4 so as to be rotatable in the vertical direction. In addition, this detection plate 6
The upper surface 6a of the long side is formed to be smooth because it comes into sliding contact with the cartridge 2a, and the rotating end of the detection plate 6, in other words, the tip of the short side has a light shielding plate that blocks the optical path of the sensor, which will be described later. The plate 6b is integrally formed. 8 is the detection plate 6
This is a leaf spring that biases the leaf spring 8 to rotate upward.
One end is fixed to the bottom 4a of the storage chamber 4, and the other end is slidably pressed against the lower surface of the long side of the detection plate 6. Reference numeral 9 denotes a sensor for detecting the rotational movement of the detection plate 6. This sensor 9 has a groove 9a into which the light shielding plate 6b of the detection plate 6 is inserted. A sensor (not shown) is built-in and fixed to the housing 1 side.

In order to install the cartridge 2a into the entry/exit 5 configured in this way, the front end of the cartridge 2a should face the inside of the storage chamber 4 from the outside of the device, and the cartridge 2a should be pushed down by the cartridge 2a to push down the detection plate 6. may be inserted into the storage chamber 4. At this time, as shown in FIG. 3(b), the detection plate 6 is rotated by the weight of the cartridge 2a against the elastic force of the leaf spring 8, and the light shielding plate 6b is inserted into the groove 9a of the sensor 9. inserted. Then, the optical path of the photosensor is cut off by the light shielding plate 6b, and the rotational movement of the detection plate 6 is detected, so that it is detected that the cartridge 2a is installed in the storage chamber 4.

Furthermore, when the cartridge 2a is removed from the entry/exit 5, the detection plate 6 is pushed by the leaf spring 8, and the light shielding plate 6b is moved above the sensor 9, as shown in FIG. 3(a). , the photosensor of the sensor 9 is irradiated with light again, and it is detected that the detection plate 6 has been rotated upward.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, the detection plate having the sliding surface that comes into contact with the magnetic tape cartridge at the bottom of the storage chamber of the device housing is rotatable in the vertical direction centering on the inside of the storage chamber. and a spring for biasing the detection plate upward between the detection plate and the bottom of the storage chamber, and a sensor for detecting the presence or absence of a magnetic tape cartridge for detecting the rotating end of the detection plate. Because it is installed on the housing side, when a magnetic tape cartridge is installed in the storage chamber, the detection plate will be pushed by the weight of the cartridge and rotated downward against the elastic force of the spring, causing When the detection plate is rotated, its rotating end is detected by the sensor for detecting the presence or absence of a magnetic tape cartridge, and it is possible to detect that a cartridge is installed in the storage chamber. If the magnetic tape cartridge is not installed in the storage chamber, the rotating end is not detected by the sensor for detecting the presence or absence of a magnetic tape cartridge because the detection plate is pushed by the spring, and therefore it is detected that no cartridge is installed in the storage chamber. be able to. therefore,
Since it is possible to automatically check whether or not a cartridge is installed in the storage chamber without relying on an operator, operability can be improved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the entire cartridge assembly type magnetic tape storage device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view showing an entry/exit cell storage chamber, and FIG. 3 is an operation of the detection plate. FIG. 11A is a side view of the detection plate showing a state in which no cartridge is inserted, and FIG. 2B is a side view of the detection plate showing a state in which the cartridge is inserted. 1... Housing, 2a... Cartridge, 4...
・Storage chamber, 4a...bottom, 6...detection plate, 6a
...Top surface, 6b...Shade plate, 8...Leaf spring, 9...Sensor. Patent applicant: NEC Corporation Agent
Yamakawa administration (2 others) Figure 3 (Q) (b)

Claims (1)

[Claims] In a cartridge assembly type magnetic tape storage device, a plurality of storage chambers having openings for inserting and removing magnetic tape cartridges are formed on the outside of the device housing, and magnetic tape cartridges are transferred into and out of the device through the storage chambers, A detection plate having a sliding surface that comes into contact with the magnetic tape cartridge is provided at the bottom of the storage chamber so as to be rotatable in the vertical direction centering on the inside of the storage chamber, and the detection plate and the bottom of the storage chamber are connected to each other. A cartridge assembly type, characterized in that a spring is loaded to bias the detection plate upward between the two, and a sensor for detecting the presence or absence of a magnetic tape cartridge is provided on the device housing side to detect the rotating end of the detection plate. Magnetic tape storage device.