JPH033153A - Automatic changer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To surely move a cassette between a housing part and a carrying frame by setting the supporting surface of the carrying frame at a lower side in a perpendicular direction or at an upper side in the perpendicular direction to the loading surface of a body. CONSTITUTION:At the time of a movement from a housing part 14 having housing shelves 22 (22a1-22a25), in which plural loading surfaces 24 (24a1-24a25) to load and house a body 12 are set in the perpendicular direction, to a carrying part 20 having carrying frames 32 (32a and 32b) to support the body 12 and to carry it in the perpendicular direction, the setting is executed so as to stop the frame 32 in a position where a supporting surface 74 of the frame 32 is positioned at the lower side in the perpendicular direction to a surface 24 of the shelf 22. Thus, even when an error is generated in a position relation between the housing part 14 and frame 32, the body 12 is surely moved on the surface 74. At the time of moving the body 12 from the carrying part 20 to the housing part 14, the setting is executed so as to stop the frame 32 in the position where the surface 74 of the frame 32 to support the body 12 is positioned at the upper side in the perpendicular direction to the surface 24 of the shelf 22. Thus, the body 12 is surely moved on the surface 24 of the shelf 22.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Objective of the Invention] (Industrial Field of Application) The present invention provides a system for selecting a specified optical disk cassette from a storage section containing a plurality of optical disk cassettes and installing the selected optical disk cassette in an optical disk device. The present invention relates to an automatic cassette exchange device for information storage media which is loaded and automatically takes out a previous disk cassette from an optical disk device and stores it in a storage section.

(Prior Art) For example, an automatic cassette exchange device for information storage media, so-called optical discs, includes a storage part that stores a large number of objects containing optical discs, so-called cassettes, and a storage unit that stores a large number of objects containing optical discs, so-called cassettes. An information processing unit performs information processing such as recording information on an optical disk by irradiating a laser beam or extracting information from an optical disk and reproducing it, and a storage unit transports cassettes between the information processing unit and stores the cassettes. and a transport section that takes in and out of the information processing section.

The transport section is set at a fixed position with respect to the storage section and the information processing section, and has a transport frame that receives a cassette and moves between the storage section and the information processing section. The transport frame moves to a position facing the storage section, selects a designated cassette from among the plurality of cassettes stored in the storage section, and takes in the cassette. This transport frame is then moved to the information processing section, and the transported cassette is supplied to the information processing section.

Further, the transport frame receives a cassette for which information processing has been completed in the information processing section, moves the cassette to a position facing the storage section, and returns the cassette to a predetermined storage location in the storage section.

Such an automatic cassette exchange device can store a plurality of cassettes in the storage section, so it has the advantage of being able to record a large amount of information.

(Problem 8 to be solved by the invention) In the conventional automatic exchange device, when a desired cassette is taken into the transport frame from among the plurality of cassettes stored in the storage shelf of the storage section, The position and the position of the transport frame when pushing the cassette to the storage shelf in order to store the cassette in the storage shelf were set to be the same. In other words, the vertical height of the supporting surface of the transport frame that supports cassettes is set to be equal to the loading surface on which cassettes are loaded in the storage section, and the cassettes are stacked between the storage section and the transport frame. A delivery was taking place.

However, when cassettes are transferred between the storage section and the transport frame by setting the support surface of the transport frame at the same height in the vertical direction with respect to the loading surface of the storage shelf, for example, if the support surface of the transport frame is When storing the cassette in the storage section, the tip of the cassette may be damaged due to errors in position adjustment between the storage section and the transport frame, deformation of the cassette due to environmental changes such as temperature changes, or deflection due to the cassette's own weight. There was a problem in that the cassettes were lower than the loading surface of the storage section and hit the storage shelf body including the loading surface, so that the cassettes were not stored in the storage section.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, the present invention provides an automatic exchange device that can reliably move cassettes when moving cassettes from a transport frame to a storage section or from a storage section to a transport frame.

[Structure of the Invention (Means for Solving the Problems) In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a storage shelf in which a plurality of loading surfaces on which transportable objects can be loaded and stored are set in the vertical direction. a storage section having a storage section; and a transportation section that has a transportation frame that is disposed opposite to the storage section, that can support an object on a support surface and transport it in the vertical direction, and that can take the object in and out of the storage section. When moving an object from the storage section to the transport section in an automatic exchange device equipped with When moving an object from the transport section to the storage section, set the transport frame at a position where the support surface of the transport frame that supports the object is vertically above the loading surface of the storage shelf. An automatic exchange device is provided, characterized in that it is equipped with a control means for setting.

(Function) In the automatic exchange device of the present invention, for example, a plurality of loading surfaces capable of loading and storing transportable objects are arranged from a storage section having a storage shelf set in a vertical direction to a storage section facing the storage section. When moving the object to the transport section, which has a transport frame that supports the object on a support surface and transports the object in the vertical direction, the object can be taken in and out of the storage section. The transport frame is set to stop at a position where the supporting surface of the transport frame is vertically downward relative to the loading surface of the storage shelf.

Therefore, even if there is a shift in the positional relationship between the storage unit and the transport frame due to an error when adjusting the position of the storage unit and the transport frame, the object will not hit the transport frame and the transport frame will be supported. be moved securely onto the surface. Also, when moving an object from the transport section to the storage section, the transport frame is stopped at a position where the supporting surface of the transport frame supporting the object is vertically upward relative to the loading surface of the storage shelf. Set. As a result, even if there is a misalignment in the positional relationship between the storage section and the transport frame due to an error when adjusting the position of the storage section and the transport frame as described above, the object will not hit the storage shelf and will be stored. It is securely moved onto the loading surface of the shelf.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described in detail based on the drawings.

FIG. 2 shows an image information storage and retrieval device to which the automatic exchange device of the present invention is applied. A main control device 100 is arranged approximately in the center of this device. This main control device 100 is connected to a reading device 2°O1 automatic exchange device 300, a keyboard 400, an output device 500, a recording device 600, and a floppy disk device 700, and is configured to perform various image information processing.

The reading device 200 is composed of, for example, a two-dimensional scanning device, and generates electrical signals corresponding to image information on the document by two-dimensionally scanning an original such as a document with a laser beam.

The automatic exchange device 300 includes a storage unit (described later) in which a plurality of cassettes are stored, and an information processing unit (described later) that performs information processing on the information storage medium loaded with the cassettes and stored in the cassette. ), and a conveyance section that conveys the cassette between these storage sections and the information processing section. Then, this automatic exchange device 300 uses a transport unit to take in a desired cassette from among the cassettes stored in the storage unit, this transport unit takes in a cassette loaded in the information processing unit, and this transport unit takes in a cassette loaded in the information processing unit. The part is stored in the storage part.

A keyboard 400 is used to input a unique search code corresponding to image information, various operation commands, and the like.

The output device 500 is composed of a CRT display device, and outputs image information read by the reading device 200 and supplied via the main controller 100, and images read from the automatic exchange device 300 and supplied via the main controller 100. The information is read from the floppy disk device 700 and sent to the main controller 1.
Search code and keyboard 40 supplied via 00
Displays the search code etc. manually entered by 0.

The recording device 600 stores image information read by the reading device 200 and supplied via the main controller 100 or image information read from the automatic exchange device 300 and supplied via the main controller 100 in the form of a hard copy. Output.

The floppy disk device 700 is an information storage medium (described later) into which a search code input using the keyboard 400 and image information corresponding to the search code are input.
Search data for each image information consisting of the above storage address is stored on a floppy disk (not shown). The information storage medium has information forming layers on both sides that can be recorded and reproduced by laser beams, etc., and is housed in a cassette (described later).

Next, the internal configuration of the automatic switching device 300 shown in FIG. 2 will be explained in detail with reference to FIG. 1.

Inside the automatic exchange device 300, there is a storage section 1 that can store a plurality of cassettes 12 containing information storage media.
4 is provided. Further, by loading the cassette 12 below the storage section 14 in the vertical direction (Z direction), the information storage medium 1 accommodated in the cassette 12 can be loaded.
An information processing unit 18 is disposed for the information processing unit 6, which performs information processing such as storing or reproducing information. Further, a conveyance section 2o is provided that faces the storage section 14 and the information processing section 18 and conveys the cassette 12 therebetween.

The storage section 14 has 25 slots (storage shelves) 22al, 2, so as to be able to store, for example, 25 cassettes 12.
2a2, . . . , 22a25 are provided. These slots 22a1 to 22a25 are
The mounting surfaces 24al to 24a25 on which the items 2 are placed are arranged so as to be parallel to each other, and each mounting surface 24al
24a to 25 are configured so that the respective intervals are the same. In addition, each slot 22al to 22a2
5 is constructed so that all widths in the vertical direction (Z direction) in the figure are equal.

The information processing unit 18 consists of two information storage medium recording and reproducing devices 26a and 26b, and since these information storage medium recording and reproducing devices 26a and 26b are well-known devices, a detailed explanation will be omitted. By taking the cassette 12 inside through 27a and 27b and opening the cassette 12 as shown in FIG. 3, the information storage medium 16 is exposed,
Information processing such as storing or reproducing information can be performed on this information storage medium 16.

Here, the cassette 12 and the information storage medium 16 will be explained based on FIG. 3. The cassette 12 is made of plastic and houses an information storage medium 16, a so-called optical disk. As is well known, the optical disc 16 has upper forming layers on both sides that allow recording and reproduction using a laser beam or the like. The cassette 12 is normally closed, but as described above, it is opened inside the recording and reproducing apparatus as shown in FIG. 3 to expose the optical disc 16 inside.

Further, the conveying section 20 includes a carriage 30 attached to a guide rod 28 erected in the Z direction so as to be movable in the Z direction.
They are arranged in a row in the direction. In addition, the transport frame 32a,
3′2b frame portion 33a.

33b and 33c have the same width in the vertical direction (Z direction) in the figure, and this width is equal to the width of the slot 22a1 of the storage section 14 described above.
22a to 22a to 25 are configured to have the same width in the vertical direction (Z direction).

These transport frames 32a and 32b each hold the cassette 12, and an arm (not shown) holds the cassette 12 in the storage section 14 and the optical disk recording and reproducing devices 26a and 26b.
This arm pulls out and accepts the transfer frame 32a.
, 32b is pushed out and delivered to the storage section 14 and the optical disk recording and reproducing devices 26a and 26b.

The carriage 30 attached to the conveying section 20 is moved in the vertical direction (Z direction) in the drawing along a guide rod 28 by a drive motor 34, and this guide rod 28 has an upper end 40a and a lower end 40b. frame 4
2a and 42b.

The frames 42a and 42b also include rollers 44 near the upper end 40a and lower end 40b of the guide rod 28.
a and 44b are pivotally supported, and a belt 46 is stretched between the upper and lower rollers 44a and 44b so as to run endlessly along the guide rod 28. Further, the roller 44b is configured to rotate together with a shaft 48, and an absolute value encoder 50 is attached to one end of the shaft 48. This absolute value encoder 50
When the shaft 4b and the shaft 48 rotate, the position of the axis corresponding to the amount of rotation is displayed as an absolute value, and even if the power is cut off for some reason, the power will be cut off when the power is turned on again. The previous display value is displayed again. Furthermore, this 'absolute value encoder 50 is not affected by errors caused by noise or the like generated when the power is turned off and turned on again. Further, the roller 44b is driven by the driving force of the drive motor 34 on the pulley 52. The signal is transmitted via a belt 54, a pulley 56, a belt 58, and the like. A portion of the belt 46 described above is connected to the carriage 30, and the carriage 30 is moved in the Z direction, that is, in the vertical direction, by rotating the drive motor 34 in forward and reverse directions.

Further, a drive motor 60 is provided at one end of the carriage 30.
is located. This drive motor 60 has a pulley 62. Shaft 6 via belt 64, pulley 66, etc.
8, and the driving force of this drive motor 60 is transmitted to the transport frames 32a, 32b via a shaft 68 and the like. That is, by rotating the drive motor 60 in the forward and reverse directions, the transport frames 32a and 32b are rotated in the forward and reverse directions.

Note that an opening/closing M is provided on one side of the automatic exchange device 300, that is, on a side wall located on the reflective side of the conveyance section 20 with respect to the storage section 14.
38 is provided so that the cassette 12 can be stored into the storage section 14 from the outside.

In the automatic cassette exchange device having such a configuration, when moving the carriage 30 to take out the cassette 12 from the storage section 14 and loading it into the optical disk recording/reproducing devices 26a, 26b, which are the information processing section 18, the Carriage 30. In particular, the first reference position A is the reference stop position of the transport frame central part 70 located in the center of the transport frames 32a, 32b, and the first reference position A is the reference stop position of the transport crushing central part 70 with respect to the optical disk recording and reproducing devices 26a, 26b. The two reference positions B and C are each set independently. That is, the first reference position A of the central portion 70 of the transport frame with respect to the storage section 14 is set to the position of the slot 22alO of the storage section 14.

That is, the height in the Z direction of the mounting surface 24alO of the slot 22a10 of the storage section 14 and the transport frames 32a, 32
The absolute value encoder 50 independently detects this position by combining the heights in the Z direction of the upper surface part 74 of the transport frame central part 70 in b, and sets it as the first reference position A. At this time, the slots 22al to 22a 25 of the storage section 14 have the same spacing between the mounting surfaces 24a1 to 24a25, and the width in the Z direction of the slots 22a1 to 22a 25 and the width of the transport frames 32a, 32b are the same. The widths of the frame portions 33a, 33b, and 33c in the Z direction are configured to be equal.

Therefore, by detecting the position of the slot 22 a 10 of the storage section 14 at the position of the transport frame central part 70 using the absolute value encoder 50, the other slots 22 a
The positions of 22a9 to 22a9 and 22all to 22a25 can be set by the absolute value encoder 50, respectively. In addition, the optical disk recording and reproducing devices 26a, 2
a second reference position B of the central portion 70 of the transport frame with respect to 6b;
C is set independently in each of the optical disk recording and reproducing devices 26a and 26b. That is, the position of the upper surface part 74 of the transport crushing central part 70 is aligned with the position of the lower end 72a in the vertical direction (Z direction) of the loading port 27a of the optical disk recording/reproducing device 26a, and this position is independently determined by the absolute value encoder 50. is detected and set as the second reference position B.

In addition, the absolute value encoder 50 is aligned with the lower end 72b of the loading port 27b of the optical disk recording/reproducing device 26b in the vertical direction (Z direction) and the upper surface 74 of the transport frame central portion 70.
This position is independently detected and set as the second reference position C.

At this time, when moving the transport frames 32a and 32b with respect to the storage section 14, specifically, the cassette 12 stored in the storage section 14 or loaded in the optical disk recording and reproducing devices 26a and 26b is moved between the transport frames 32a and 32b. When importing data into the storage unit 14 or the optical disc recording/reproducing device 26a,
Compared to the height in the vertical direction (two directions) supporting the cassette 12 of the transport frame 32a, 32b, the height of the cassette 12 of the transport frame 32a, 32b is
The transport frames 32a and 32b are
Stop the cassette 12 and take in the cassette 12. In addition, the transport frame 32
The cassettes 12 loaded in cassettes a and 32b are placed in the storage section
storage or optical disk recording and reproducing devices 26a, 26b
When loading the disk into the storage section 14 or the optical disk recording and reproducing device 26a.

Vertical direction (two directions) supporting the cassette 12 of 26b
Compared to the height at
The transport frames 32a, 32
b is stopped and the cassette 12 is pushed out. That is, the cassette 1 is inserted into the slots 22a1 to 22a 25 of the storage section 14 or the optical disk recording/reproducing devices 26a and 26b.
2 is a transport frame 32a.

32b (in this case, for example, the transport frame 32a), the mounting surface 2 of each slot 22a1 to 22a 25
4a1 to 24a25 or the lower end 72a of the loading port of the optical disk recording/reproducing device 26a, 26b.

72b (in this case, for example, the placement 124alO of the slot 22a10)
The transport frames 32a and 32b are stopped at a position slightly (approximately 1 mm) shifted downward in the vertical direction (two directions), and the cassette 12 is taken into the transport frames 32a and 32b. In addition, when storing the cassette 12 taken in the transport frames 32a and 32b into the slots 22a1 to 22a 25 of the storage section 14 or the optical disk recording and reproducing devices 26a and 26b, the cassettes 12 taken in the transport frames 32a and 32b are stored in the slots 22a1 to 22a 25 or loading. A position where the upper surface part 74 of the transport frame central part 70 is slightly (approximately 1 mm) shifted upward in the vertical direction (two directions) with respect to the mouth lower ends 72a, 72b (in this case, for example, the mounting surface 24a20 of the slot 22a20). E this conveyance frame 32a,
32b is stopped, and the cassettes 12 are stored in the slots 22a1 to 22a25. In this way, when loading or storing the cassette 12, the cassette 1
2 from the receiving side (slots 22a1 to 22a25 or the transport frame 32a).
, 32b) is made relatively low in the vertical direction (two directions). As a result, one end of the cassette 12 may be damaged due to positional errors when adjusting the positions of the storage section 14 and the transport frames 32a, 32b, deformation of the cassette 12 due to environmental changes such as temperature changes, or deflection due to the weight of the cassette 12. Even if the cassette) 12
are reliably taken into the transport frames 32a, 32b, and stored in the storage section 14.

As described above, FIGS. 4 to 8 show the automatic cassette changing device for optical discs in which the position on the receiving side of the cassette 12 is set relatively lower in the vertical direction (two directions) than the position on the sending side. This will be explained with reference to the figures.

For example, the cassette 12 placed in the slot 22 a 10 of the storage section 14 is transferred to the optical disc recording/reproducing device 26 .
The operation will be described in the case where the operator inputs a command to load the cartridge a into the computer using the keyboard 400 shown in FIG. 2.

First, in the X route shown in FIG.
) is designed to check the internal status of the That is, it is checked whether or not the cassette 12a remains in the designated optical disk recording/reproducing device 26a, and the cassette 12a is
If cassette 12a remains, it is detected whether or not that cassette 12a is open as shown in FIG. 3, and if it is open, it is closed. Then, the closed cassette 12a is inserted into the loading slot 2 of the optical disk recording/reproducing device 26a.
It is made to wait until 7a to be unloaded and returned.

Furthermore, in the Y route shown in FIG. 4, the transport frames 32a and 32b are controlled. That is, the transport frames 32a and 32b
After detecting the position of the guide rod 28 with the absolute value encoder 50, the carriage 30 is moved to the slot 2.
2 a Specified cassette 12 accommodated in 10
It is moved up and down by the drive motor 34 to a position opposite to the storage location b. At this time, when moving the transport frames 32a and 32b between the slots 22a1 to 22a25, the position of the transport frames 32a and 32b on the guide rod 28 is detected by the absolute value encoder 50. At this time, the mounting surface 24alO of the slot 22a10 is
The position of the upper surface part 74 of the transport frame central part 70 is matched with the position in the vertical direction (Z direction), and the value of the absolute value encoder 50 at this position is detected. Furthermore, since the slots 22a1 to 22a25 are arranged at equal intervals, by setting this distance in advance to a total of 1flll L, the slots 22a t.

The position of each slot 22al to 22a25 can be determined based on the value of the absolute value encoder 50 on the mounting surface 24alO.

In this way, based on the determined position, the transport frame 3
2a and 32b are stopped facing the slots 22a1 to 22a25. When the cassette 12 placed in the slot 22 a 10 is taken into the transport frame 32 a, as shown in FIG. The vertical direction (Z direction) of the upper surface part 74 of the transport frame central part 70
The drive motor 3 is adjusted based on the value detected by the absolute value encoder 50 so that the height at the
4 controls the positions of the transport frames 32a, 32b, and the transport frames 32a, 32b are stopped at positions facing the cassette 12b. This slot 22 a 10. Cassette 12b
A schematic diagram of the transport frames 32a, 32b is shown in FIG. 6(A), and the operation of the transport frames 32a, 32b will be explained. The transport frames 32a and 32b stopped facing the cassette 12b are
It is moved in the direction of arrow P by an arm (not shown) and brought close to the slot 22a 20 as shown in FIG. 6(B').

Next, as shown in FIG. 6(C), the slot 22a10
When the designated cassette 12b stored in the designated cassette 12b is taken into the conveyance frame 32a and the taking-in operation is completed, the designated cassette 12b accommodated in
As shown, the transport frame 32a.

32b is moved in the direction of arrow Q by an arm (not shown).

Next, the transport frames 32a and 32 that have taken in the cassette 12b are
b is moved downward in the vertical direction (Z direction) by the drive motor 34, and is opposed to the optical disk recording/reproducing device 26a (or 26b).

For these optical disk recording and reproducing devices 26a and 26b,
a second reference position B for stopping the transport frames 32a, 32b;
The position of C is detected in advance by the absolute value encoder 50, and the transport frames 32a, 32 are moved based on this previously detected position.
b is stopped facing the optical disk recording and reproducing devices 26a and 26b. At this stopped position, the cassette 12b is transferred from the transport frames 32a, 32b to the optical disk recording/reproducing device 26.
The acceptance is accepted in a26b. Hereinafter, as shown by the Z route in FIG. 4, the optical disk recording and reproducing devices 26a and 26b that received the specified cassette 12b detect that the cassette 12b has been loaded, and transfer the specified cassette 12b to the optical disk recording and reproducing device. The optical discs 26a and 26b are opened as shown in FIG. 3 to expose the optical disc 16, and information is recorded or reproduced by irradiating the optical disc 16 with a laser beam.

Also, the cassette 12c is transferred to the optical disk recording/reproducing device 26a.
, and insert this removed cassette 12C into slot 2.
2al to 22a 25 (in this embodiment, the case where the optical disk is stored in the slot 22a 20 will be explained), the transport frames 32a, 32b and the optical disk are placed in accordance with the route Y in FIG. Recording/playback device 2
6a and 26b are controlled.

That is, the transport frames 32a and 32b are connected to the guide rod 28.
After the absolute value encoder 50 detects the position of the transport frame 32a, 32b, the drive motor 34 moves the transport frames 32a, 32b up and down in the vertical direction (Z direction) to a position facing the optical disk recording/reproducing device 26a or 26b. , the cassette 12c loaded in the optical disk recording/reproducing device 26a or 26b is taken in. Next, the transport frames 32a, 32b are moved up and down in the vertical direction (Z direction) by the drive motor 34 based on the value detected by the absolute value encoder 50, and as shown in FIG. It is stopped at a position opposite to 20. On this occasion,
The drive motor 34 controls the transport frames 32a and 32b while detecting the height in the vertical direction (Z direction) of the upper surface part 74 of the transport frame central part 70 using the absolute value encoder 50. Vertical direction (Z direction)
The transport frames 32a, 3 are at a position where the height of the upper surface part 74 of the transport frame central part 70 is slightly higher (approximately 1 mm) than the height at
Stop 2b. Slot 22 a 20 at this time
．． A schematic diagram of the cassette 12c and the transport frames 32a and 32b is shown in FIG. 8(A).

The operation of 32b etc. will be explained. The transport frames 32a and 32b stopped facing the slot 22a 20 are moved in the direction of arrow R by an arm (not shown) and brought closer to the slot 22a 20 as shown in FIG. 8CB). Next, as shown in FIG.
a When the storage operation is completed, the transport frames 32a and 32b are moved in the direction of arrow S by an arm (not shown), as shown in FIG. 8(D).

As described above, the absolute value encoder 50 detects the position of the storage section 14 and the optical disk recording/reproducing devices 26a and 26b independently at the position of the central portion 70 of the transport frame, and Optical disk recording/playback device 2
The positions of the transport frames 32a and 32b are adjusted with respect to the transport frames 6a and 26b. At this time, when taking the cassette 12 into the transport frames 32a, 32b from the slots 22a1 to 22a25 of the storage section 14, each slot 22a1 to 22a2
The transport frames 32a, 32 are placed at a position where the upper surface part 74 of the transport frame central part 70 is slightly (approximately 1 mm) shifted downward in the vertical direction (Z direction) with respect to the mounting surfaces 24a1 to 24a25 of the transport frames 32a and 32a.
b is stopped, and the cassette 12 is taken into the transport frames 32a and 32b. Moreover, when storing the cassettes 12 taken in the transport frames 32a and 32b into the slots 22a1 to 22a 25 of the storage section 14, each slot 22a
1 to 22a25, the upper surface part 7 of the transport frame central part 70
The transport frames 32a and 32b are stopped at a position E where the cassettes 4 are slightly shifted (approximately 1 mm) in the vertical direction (upward in the Z direction), and the cassettes 12 are stored in the respective slots 22a1 to 22a25. This is especially true for the transport frame 32a, as in the automatic cassette exchange device in this embodiment.

32b can be controlled with an accuracy (resolution) of 1 mm or less, and in fact, the transport frame 32a is
, 32b can be accurately matched in height to move a cassette from the storage section 14 to the transport frames 32a, 32b or from the transport frames 32a, 32b to the storage section 14.

For example, the storage section 14 and the optical disc recorder/player 26a
, 26b to form the transport frame 32a'.

Even if there is an error in the positional relationship of the storage section 14 or the optical disk recording/reproducing devices 26a, 26b with respect to 3/2b, the cassette 12 is moved at a position where the transport frames 32a, 32b are slightly shifted in the vertical direction. Irrespective of this error, the cassette 12 can be accurately taken in and pushed out by the transport frames 32a and 32b with respect to the storage section 14 and the optical disk recording and reproducing devices 26a and 26b.

In this embodiment, only the transport frame 32a is
Although the introduction and removal of the cassette has been described, this is because the same applies to the transport frame 32b. Moreover, since two of these transport frames 32a and 32b are arranged in series, one transport frame 32a or 32b
It is also possible to take in the first cassette 12 and transport it, and then take in the second cassette 12 using the other transport frame 32a or 32b in the slots 22a1 to 22a 25 or the optical disk recording and reproducing devices 26a and 26b.

Furthermore, although this embodiment does not explain the case where the cassette 12 is used with the front and back turned upside down, when the cassette 12 is used upside down, the transport frames 32a and 32b are moved by the drive motor 6.
If the reverse operation is performed at 0, it can be applied to a device that uses the front and back sides of the cassette 12.

Moreover, although two conveyance frames 32a and 32b used in this embodiment are arranged in a row, the present invention is not limited to this, and one conveyance frame may be used. In addition, the slot 22 of the storage section 14
a Align the central part 70 of the transport frame with position 10,
The position of the central portion 70 of the transport frame was detected by the absolute value encoder 50, but the position where the central portion 70 of the transport frame is aligned is slot 2.
The number of slots is not limited to 2a10, and any of the slots 22a1 to 22a25 may be used. Furthermore, although the cassette 12 of the optical disk 16 is used in the present invention, the present invention is not limited to this, and a cassette of a magnetic disk or the like may be used.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, when moving a cassette from a transport frame to a storage section, or when moving a cassette from a storage section to a transport frame, these cassettes can be moved reliably. I can do it.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an automatic cassette exchange device for information storage media showing an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing an image information storage and retrieval device, and Fig. 3 shows a cassette of an information storage medium. A perspective view, FIG. 4 is an operation flowchart of the automatic cassette exchange device for information storage media, and FIGS. 5 to 8 are explanatory diagrams of the operation of the automatic cassette exchange device.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A storage section having a storage shelf with a plurality of stacking surfaces set in a vertical direction capable of loading and storing transportable objects; An automatic exchange device comprising: a transport section that is supported on a support surface and can be transported in a vertical direction, and that has a transport frame that allows the object to be taken in and out of the storage section; When moving the object to the transport section, the transport frame is set at a position where the supporting surface of the transport frame is vertically downward relative to the loading surface of the storage shelf on which the object is loaded. When moving from the transport section to the storage section, the transport frame is set at a position where the support surface of the transport frame supporting the object is vertically above the loading surface of the storage shelf. An automatic exchange device characterized in that it is equipped with a control means for controlling.