JPH0534243B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A. Object of the Invention [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a cartridge auto-changer.

[Conventional technology]

A cartridge automatic changer (hereinafter abbreviated as CAC device) consists of a cartridge storage mechanism that organizes and stores a large number of cartridges by address, and a cartridge hand (grip/release) mechanism. and a device operation control circuit including a means for specifying a required cartridge. It is a device that automatically carries out operations such as transporting used cartridges to the cartridge mounting section of equipment used for cartridge mounting, etc., and returning and re-storing used cartridges. For example, in a microfilm system, when a large number of microfilm cartridges are It is used as an automation device for rational and efficient use.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

There are two types of CAC devices: single-carriage type and multiple-carriage type. The former is a device equipped with one cartridge transport mechanism (carriage) including a cartridge hand mechanism, and the latter is a device equipped with a plurality of devices.

Replacing a cartridge for a machine such as a reader using a conventional single carriage type device involves removing the used cartridge currently installed in the machine such as a reader, transporting the cartridge back to the cartridge storage mechanism, and Re-storing the cartridge to its original storage location, searching for the next cartridge to be used, extracting the cartridge, transporting the cartridge to the reader, etc., and attaching the cartridge to the device, etc. The attachment operation to the part is performed by performing a series of operations.

The operation for removing the used cartridge described above is started when the operator presses the cartridge return key on the console section.
The search operation for the next cartridge is started by inputting the next cartridge number to be used into the control circuit using the cartridge number (address) designation key on the console and pressing the search start key. Alternatively, if the numbers and calling order of the plurality of cartridges required to be used have been reserved and input into the control circuit by key operations on the console, the search operation for the next cartridge will be based on the source of the used cartridge. The re-storage operation to the storage section is automatically started by the completion signal.

Therefore, the cartridge replacement time, that is, from the start of the removal operation of the used cartridge currently installed in the machine such as the reader until the completion of the operation of installing the next cartridge to be used in the machine such as the reader. The drawback was that it took quite a long time. In this case, you can specify the reservation for the cartridge to be used by manually inputting the number of the next cartridge to be used if the reservation is not specified.
This only saves the trouble of starting the search, but does not significantly shorten the cartridge replacement time.

In this regard, for multi-carriage types, if you reserve and specify the cartridges to be used sequentially,
After the first used cartridge is searched and extracted by the first cartridge, another cartridge starts searching and extracting the next used cartridge and waits, and the used cartridge from the machine side such as the reader is removed and returned. When the cartridge is transported, the next standby cartridge to be used is immediately attached to the reader or the like in this machine, thereby greatly shortening the cartridge exchange time. However, this multi-carriage type has the disadvantage that it has a complicated mechanism and is expensive.

The present invention has been devised in view of the above-mentioned problems. Even in the case of a single-carriage type, the cartridges to be used in sequence can be reserved and designated, thereby significantly reducing the cartridge replacement time as in the case of a multiple-carriage type. The purpose is to provide products that are devised so that they can be used in various ways.

B. Structure of the Invention [Means for Solving Problems] The present invention provides a cartridge storage mechanism for storing and storing a large number of cartridges, a cartridge transport mechanism including a cartridge hand mechanism, and a plurality of cartridges that are reserved and designated in advance. a cartridge standby shelf for reservation designation, which is separate from the cartridge storage mechanism, in which the cartridges are carried out from the cartridge storage mechanism by the cartridge transport mechanism and stored therein; and a designation means for designating cartridges to be sequentially used; , transporting the cartridge specified by the specifying means from the cartridge storage mechanism to the reservation specified cartridge standby shelf and the cartridge utilization device by the cartridge transport mechanism, and from the reservation specified cartridge standby shelf to the cartridge utilization device; The gist of the invention is a cartridge automatic changer having a means for controlling the cartridge to be transported to a cartridge.

[Effect]

In other words, the reserved cartridge is stored in the standby shelf, and the used cartridge on the machine side such as the reader is replaced with the next cartridge to be used.
A used cartridge from this machine (utilizing device) side such as a reader is removed by the cartridge transport mechanism, and the cartridge is temporarily stored, for example, in an empty shelf of a standby shelf, and then the next cartridge waiting to be stored in the standby shelf is removed. By using the cartridge transport mechanism to transport and mount the cartridge in use on a reader or other machine, the cartridge replacement time can be significantly shortened even for single-carriage types as well as for multiple-carriage types. can.

In addition, when a specific plurality of cartridges are used repeatedly, by specifying the cartridges as a group in advance and moving them to the reservation designated cartridge standby shelf, a cartridge storage mechanism can be used for repeated use within the group. Since there is no need to move the machine, time can be further reduced.

〔Example〕

The drawing shows an embodiment of the CAC device of the present invention.

(1) General configuration and operation of the device The CAC device A in this example is a pedestal-type device on which the reader and other devices B are placed, and Figure 1 shows the CAC device A and the reader and other devices placed on top of it. Figure 2 is a plan view of the CAC device, Figure 3 is a perspective view of the internal mechanism of CAC device A, Figure 4 is a model diagram explaining the operation of the device, and Figure 5 is a block diagram of the control circuit system. It is a diagram.

Reference numeral 1 denotes an exterior casing of the CAC device A, and its interior is roughly divided into a rotating drum-type cartridge storage shelf mechanism 20 as a cartridge storage unit, a cartridge transport mechanism 40, and a reserved cartridge standby shelf unit 60. (hereinafter referred to as address buffer section) is built-in. 2 is
Reference numeral 3 in the console section of the CAC device is a cartridge entrance/exit opened on the top panel surface of the CAC device. Rotating drum type cartridge storage shelf 21
(hereinafter abbreviated as drum shelf), the cartridges C are stored in the individual shelves with their addresses sorted in advance.

The reader etc. machine B is positioned and placed at a predetermined position on the top panel of the CAC device A, so that the cassette entrance/exit 100 opened on the bottom plate surface of the reader etc. device B is connected to the top panel surface on the CAC device A side. The CAC device A and the device B, such as the reader, are brought into communication with each other by matching the cassette entrance/exit port 3 which is opened at the end. Reference numeral 101 denotes a film frame enlargement projection/observation screen on the front side of the device B such as a reader. The internal mechanisms (film drive mechanism, projection mechanism, etc.) of the device B such as the reader, the console section, etc. are omitted from the diagram.

The drum shelf 21 is connected to the motor M1 around the vertical axis 23.
and the gear disk 22, and the rotation angle is automatically controlled so that the shelf row portion containing the used cartridges is positioned opposite the cartridge transport mechanism 40.

The cartridge transport mechanism 40 includes a base disc 41 whose rotation is controlled around a vertical axis by a motor M2, and two vertical guide rods 4 erected thereon.
A first carriage 44 is driven to move up and down along lines 2 and 42 by a motor M3 and a wire 43.
and a tilting plate 47 disposed on the first carriage 44 and driven to raise and rotate around a horizontal shaft 45 by a motor M4 and a fan-shaped gear 46; A cartridge hand mechanism 49 supported by a second carriage 48 that is driven to reciprocate by a motor (M5) and a wire shown in the figure, and a slit that detects the vertical movement position of the first carriage 44 along the vertical guide rods 42, 42. It consists of an array plate 50, photo sensors (photo interrupters) 51, 51, etc.

The address buffer 60 (reservation designated cartridge standby shelf section) is fixedly arranged on a stationary member (not shown).

The search for a designated used cartridge in the drum shelf 21 is performed by rotating and stopping the drum shelf 21 so that the part of the shelf row containing the used cartridge is positioned opposite the cartridge transport mechanism 40, and by controlling the cartridge transport mechanism 40. The first carriage 44 is moved upwardly or downwardly by the cartridge hand mechanism 49 mounted thereon to the height position of the shelf where the used cartridge exists, and is stopped and held at that position.

Extracting the searched used cartridges is
The second carriage 48 supporting the cartridge hand mechanism 49 is driven in a direction toward the cartridge (forward drive), and the rear end of the cartridge is gripped by the hand mechanism 49, and then the second carriage 48, that is, the hand mechanism 49 This is done by performing a backward drive (backward drive) to remove the used cartridge from the storage shelf.

Then, the cartridges searched and extracted are transported and attached to the machine B, such as the reader, or transported and stored in a predetermined shelf section of the address buffer 60, and the used cartridges, such as the reader, are removed from the machine B. Drum shelf 2 of the cartridge
1 to the original storage shelf, re-storage, or address buffer 60 to a predetermined shelf.
Cartridge conveyance operations such as storage, extraction of the storage cartridge from the address buffer 60 side, conveyance/installation to the cartridge reader, etc. of this machine B, or return conveyance/re-storage to the original storage shelf section of the drum shelf 21 are performed. Cartridge transport mechanism 40
The rotation control of the base disc 41, the vertical movement control of the first carriage 44, the raising/lowering control of the raising/lowering plate 47, the reciprocating motion control of the second carriage 48, the hand opening/closing control of the hand mechanism 49, etc. are performed by mutually linked control. .

In Fig. 5, 70 is the control circuit section (CPU)
In response to input of various key operation signals from the console 2, control conditions of the device, etc. are set. It also receives output signals from motion detection sensors of each mechanism, such as the photo sensor 51. 7
1 to 75 are normal rotation/reverse rotation/stop control circuits for the drive motors M1 to M5 of each mechanism, and 76 is an operation control circuit for the cartridge hand mechanism 49. Interaction control is performed according to device control conditions.

(2) Device operation when cartridges are replaced without reservation (Figure 6 is a flowchart of the operation).

When you have finished using the cartridge currently installed in the machine B, such as the reader, specify and input the cartridge number to be used next on the console section 2, and press the search start key or the used cartridge return key.

Then, the cartridge transport mechanism 40 extracts the used cartridge from the machine B side such as the reader, and transports and temporarily stores the cartridge to an arbitrary shelf of the address buffer 60, for example, the topmost shelf ₆₀₁ . .

During the above-mentioned period, the drum shelf 21 is rotated, and the part of the shelf row in which the next cartridge to be used, which has been designated and input, is present is placed in a standby position facing the cartridge transport mechanism 40.

After the cartridge transport mechanism 40 finishes transporting and storing the used cartridge to the address buffer 60, the cartridge transport mechanism 40 searches for the next cartridge to be used on the drum shelf 21 side, extracts it, transports it to the machine B, such as a reader, and attaches it. I do.

In other words, the operation time up to the above-mentioned period becomes the cartridge exchange time.

After the next cartridge to be used is extracted as described above, the drum shelf 21 is rotated and stopped so that the shelf portion where the used cartridges are to be re-stored is located opposite the cartridge transport mechanism 40.

On the other hand, the cartridge conveyance mechanism 40 is a cartridge leader, etc. used in the above machine B.
After finishing loading the used cartridge into the address buffer 60, the used cartridge is removed from the address buffer 60, the cartridge is transported back to the drum shelf 21 side, and the cartridge is re-stored in the original storage shelf. , it will be in a standby state until the above operation is performed again.

(3) Device operation when cartridges to be used sequentially are reserved (FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the operation).

To reserve the cartridge to be used, please use the console section 2.
This is done by sequentially specifying and storing the cartridge numbers to be used in the control circuit by key operations.

After the above reservation operation, press the search start key.

Then, the cartridge to be used first is searched by the rotation of the drum shelf 21 and the operation of the cartridge transport mechanism 40, and the retrieved cartridge is extracted by the cartridge transport mechanism 40 and transported to the machine B such as the reader.
It will be installed.

The first cartridge above is the reader, etc. This machine B
While the remaining reservation cartridges are being used in the address buffer 60, the remaining reservation cartridges are sequentially searched, extracted, transported and stored on each shelf of the address buffer 60, and each of the reservation cartridges is stored in the address buffer 60. On each shelf of
In the rear, the top shelf 11 ₁ will be an empty shelf, and 2
The items are stored sequentially from the shelf section 11 ₂ of the tier to the lower tier side.

After finishing using the first cartridge currently installed in machine B, such as the reader, press the cartridge return key. As a result, a cartridge exchange command signal is input to the control circuit.

Then, the cartridge transport mechanism 40 removes the used cartridge from the machine, such as the reader, and transfers it to the address buffer 60.
Once transported and stored on the uppermost shelf 11 ₁ as an empty shelf. Further, the drum shelf 21 starts to be driven to rotate so that the part of the shelf row where the used cartridges are to be re-stored is located opposite the cartridge transport mechanism 40.

Next, the cartridge to be used next, which is stored in the address buffer 60, is extracted by the cartridge transport mechanism 40, transported to the main machine B, such as a reader, and mounted thereon.

In other words, the operating time up to the above is the cartridge exchange time, and this time is
This is significantly shorter than the cartridge exchange time in the case of no reservation as described in (2).

When the drum shelf 21 is rotated and the used cartridges are to be re-stored, the shelf portion on which the used cartridges are to be re-stored stops at a position facing the cartridge transport mechanism 40, and when the loading of the cartridges is completed, the address buffer is opened. The used cartridges once stored on the uppermost shelf of the cartridge 60 are taken out by the cartridge transport mechanism 40, transported back to the drum shelf 21, and stored again in the original storage shelf.

Next, if more cartridges are reserved than the number of address buffers 60, the next reserved cartridge is transported to the empty shelf of the address buffer while the loaded cartridge is being used.

Each time subsequent operations are performed, each reserved cartridge stored in the address buffer 60 is sequentially replaced with the cartridges described above, the used cartridges are returned to and re-stored in the drum shelf 21, and the address of the next reserved cartridge is changed. Transport will be made to the buffer.

Then, when the last reserved cartridge is attached to the reader or other device B, its use is finished, and the return key is pressed, the last cartridge is transferred to the cartridge transport mechanism 40.
The leader and the like are extracted from the machine B, transported back to the drum shelf 21 side, and stored again in the original storage shelf.

As a result, all reserved cartridges have been sequentially replaced and used and re-stored in the drum shelf 21, and the apparatus enters a standby state.

In addition, the calling order of each reserved cartridge transported and stored in each shelf of the address buffer 60 to the machine B is inputted into the control circuit in advance, and the order is automatically executed according to that order. This can be carried out sequentially, or by specifying the number of the next cartridge to be used each time the cartridges are replaced, an arbitrary one can be selectively transported.

(4) Device operation when a plurality of cartridges are collectively reserved and those cartridges are repeatedly interacted with (FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the operation).

Each number of a plurality of cartridges to be used repeatedly and alternately is sequentially designated and inputted to the control circuit by operating keys on the console section 2. In this case, the number of cartridges that can be reserved can be up to the number of shelves in the address buffer 60. In the case of this example device, up to 11 reservations can be made.

Then press the search key. Then (3)
The same device operation as in section . is performed.

When the use of the first cartridge currently installed in the machine, such as the reader, is finished, a search command for the next cartridge to be used (group reserved) is input to the control circuit by key operation on the console unit 2. As a result, a cartridge exchange command signal is input to the control circuit.

Then, the cartridge transport mechanism 40 pulls out the used cartridge from the machine B side such as the reader, and transfers it to the address buffer 60.
It is transported and stored on the top shelf section ₁₁₁ , which serves as an empty shelf, and is prepared for reuse.

Next, the cartridge to be used next stored in the address buffer 60 is extracted by the cartridge transport mechanism 40, transported to the main machine B such as a reader, and mounted thereon.

In other words, the operating time up to the above is the cartridge exchange time, and this time is
The cartridge exchange time will be significantly shorter than the cartridge exchange time in the case of no reservation as described in (2).

Each time subsequent operations are performed, the cartridge is replaced and the used cartridge is transported and stored in the original storage shelf section of the address buffer 60.

Since used cartridges are not returned to the drum shelf 21 as in the case of item (3) above, but are returned to the address buffer 60 and prepared for reuse, it is possible to repeatedly exchange reserved cartridges with each other. It can be executed any number of times, and the cartridge replacement time is short.

For the conveyance of cartridges such as readers transferred to the address buffer 60 side by reservation designation, the calling order can be inputted into the control circuit in advance, and the calls can be performed sequentially in accordance with that order. It is also possible to selectively transport arbitrary items by specifying the cartridge number to be used in the console section 2.

In the case of paragraph (3) and paragraph (4) above,
Regarding the reserved cartridges that have been moved to the address buffer 60, the time required to replace and install the cartridges stored on the upper shelf of the address buffer 60 into the machine B, such as the reader (cartridge replacement time); The time required to replace and install the cartridge stored on the lower shelf of the address buffer 60 is slightly longer in the latter case due to the difference in the length of the vertical movement of the first carriage 44, but the difference is that The time is actually short and the cartridge change times for both are essentially the same.

C. Effects of the Invention As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to significantly shorten the cartridge exchange time even with a single carriage type without complicating the internal structure and to the same extent as with a multiple carriage type. The intended purpose is well achieved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show a CAC device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of the CAC device and the reader placed on it, and FIG. 2 is a plan view of the CAC device. Figure 3 is a perspective view of the internal structure, Figure 4 is a model diagram explaining the cartridge transport operation, Figure 5 is a block diagram of the control circuit system, Figures 6, 7, and 8.
Each figure is an operation flow diagram. A is a CAC device, B is a main unit such as a reader, 20 is a cartridge storage mechanism, 40 is a cartridge transport mechanism, and 60 is a reserved cartridge waiting shelf (address buffer).

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A cartridge storage mechanism for storing and storing a large number of cartridges, a cartridge transport mechanism including a cartridge hand mechanism, and a plurality of cartridges reserved in advance are moved to the cartridge transport mechanism by the cartridge transport mechanism. a reservation designated cartridge standby shelf separate from the cartridge storage mechanism, which is carried out from the pickup mechanism and stored; a designation means for designating cartridges to be used sequentially; and a cartridge designated by the designation means means for controlling the cartridge transport mechanism to transport the reserved cartridge from the cartridge storage mechanism to the reservation designated cartridge standby shelf and the cartridge utilization device, and to transport the reserved cartridge from the reservation designated cartridge standby shelf to the cartridge utilization device. A cartridge automatic changer characterized by: