JPH0579767U - Cartridge locking device in recording medium cartridge housing - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] The same type of recording medium cartridge locking device is used for recording medium cartridges having engagement notches having different notch heights formed at both ends regardless of the storing direction of the recording medium cartridge. So that it can be locked by. A first engagement cutout portion and a second engagement cutout portion are formed on side surfaces of both end portions of the recording medium cartridge, and the first engagement cutout portion and the second engagement cutout portion are formed. The cutout heights of the portions differ from each other in the thickness direction of the cartridge. The first locking portion 15a and the second locking portion 16a of the cartridge locking tool are provided so as to be elastically slidable on the side surface of the recording medium cartridge inserted into the corresponding storage position, and The cartridges are provided so as to be separated from each other in the notch height direction. As a result, the first locking portion and the second locking portion act independently on the first engagement notch or the second engagement notch of the cartridge to be locked. You can do it.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a cartridge locking tool for holding a cartridge at a predetermined position in a recording medium cartridge housing by engaging with an engaging notch formed in the recording medium cartridge, and particularly to both end portions thereof. The present invention relates to a recording medium cartridge of a type in which engaging cutouts of different shapes are formed on the side surface thereof can be locked by a cartridge locking tool of the same type regardless of the storing direction of the cartridge.

[0002]

[Prior Art]

 An optical disk library device (hereinafter referred to as an OLU) that stores and drives (reads or reads and writes) an optical disk cartridge (hereinafter also referred to as a cartridge) is provided in each storage cell as shown in a general example in FIG. 2, a storage rack 1A that stores a plurality of cartridges C, a drive 4 that drives (reads or writes) the cartridge C, a cartridge C that is detachably held, and the cartridge C is stored in the storage rack 1A, drive 4, and the like. And a transport device T including a transport robot 5 for transporting between them.

On the other hand, the cartridge C handled in such an OLU is generally provided with a plurality of engaging notches used when being held or transferred by the OLU. FIG. 5 shows an example of such a cartridge C. In this example, a total of four engagement notches are formed on both side surfaces of both end portions, and the engagement notches formed on the side surface on one end side (hereinafter referred to as front engagement notches for convenience). 6 and an engagement notch formed on the side surface on the other end side (hereinafter referred to as a rear engagement notch for convenience) 8 have a shape and a thickness of the cartridge C depending on the purpose of use. The notch heights in each direction are different from each other. That is, in this example, the front engagement notch 6 is formed by notching only half of the thickness direction of the cartridge C into a substantially quadrant shape having a surface that is substantially perpendicular to the side surface of the cartridge C. It is a thing. On the other hand, the rear engagement notch 8 is notched in a triangular shape over the entire thickness.

When the cartridge C shown in FIG. 5 is stored in the storage rack 1 A, the cartridge C has a front engagement notch 6 in the direction in which it is located on the transfer device T side, that is, a rear engagement notch 8 Is inserted into the storage cell 2 in a direction in which the storage cell 2 comes to the back. Thereafter, the cartridge C has a rear engaging notch portion 8 and is provided for each storage cell 2 and has a protrusion corresponding to the rear engaging notch portion 8 and is constituted by, for example, a leaf spring. It is held at a predetermined position in the storage cell 2 by the stopper 9.

By the way, as the OLU, in order to increase the capacity, in addition to the storage rack 1A provided on one side of the transfer device T, as shown by a chain double-dashed line in FIG. There is also a type in which a similar storage rack 1B is added. In this extension type OLU, both storage racks 1A and 1B are in a state where the cartridge inlets and outlets of the storage cells 2 and 10 face each other so that the transport device T can access either of the storage racks 1A and 1B. It is provided in. Further, when the cartridge C of the type shown in FIG. 5 is stored in the storage cell 10 of the added storage rack 1B, the cartridge C is rear-engaged, contrary to the case of being stored in the storage rack 1A. It is inserted in the storage cell 10 in the direction in which the cutout 8 is on the side of the transport device T, that is, in the direction in which the front engagement cutout 6 comes to the back of the storage cell 2, and thereafter the front engagement cutout 6 is handled. It is held at a predetermined position in the storage cell 10 by the cartridge locking tool 11 having the protruding portion.

[0006]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 However, in the case of an extension type OLU that handles a cartridge C of a type in which the notch height is different between the front engagement notch 6 and the rear engagement notch 8, in the storage rack 1A and the storage rack 1B, As described above, the storage directions are different, and accordingly, the shapes of the engagement notches 6 and 8 to be locked by the cartridge locks 9 and 11 are different. Therefore, it is necessary to manufacture different kinds of cartridge locking devices 9 and 11 according to the shape. As a result, in the past, OLU manufacturing costs were high.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned points, and a recording medium cartridge having engaging notches having different notch heights at both ends thereof is provided regardless of the storing direction of the cartridge. An object of the present invention is to provide a recording medium cartridge locking device in a recording medium cartridge storage body that can be locked by the same kind.

[0008]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 A recording medium cartridge locking device according to the present invention has a first engaging cutout portion formed at a predetermined cutout height on a side surface of one end portion and a first engaging cutout portion on a side surface of the other end portion. A recording medium cartridge accommodating body for accommodating a recording medium cartridge having a second engaging notch formed with a notch height different from the combined notch, and provided at each accommodating position of the accommodating body. A cartridge locking device for holding the cartridge in each storage position by locking the first engaging cutout portion or the second engaging cutout portion, It is elastically slidable to the side surface of the cartridge inserted into the storage position and is independent of the first engagement notch or the second engagement notch to be locked. The car A first engaging portion and a second engaging portion that are provided separately from each other in the cutout height direction of the ridge, and the first engaging cutout portion of the cartridge is At least one of the first and second engaging portions is elastically engaged, and at least the other of the first and second engaging portions is elastically engaged with the second engaging cutout portion. Regardless of whether the cartridge is inserted into the storage position with the one end side as the head, or the other end side as the head. Instead, the cartridge can be held.

[0009]

[Action]

 A first engaging cutout portion and a second engaging cutout portion are formed on side surfaces of both end portions of a recording medium cartridge to which the present invention is applied, and the first engaging cutout portion and the second engaging cutout portion are formed. The engaging notch portion is different from each other in the notch height in the thickness direction of the cartridge (including the notch position in the thickness direction of the cartridge). That is, in the recording medium cartridge, for example, the first engagement notch has a notch height over the entire thickness of the cartridge, and the second engagement notch has only the lower half of the thickness of the cartridge. Having a notch height extending over the entire length (herein referred to as an A type cartridge for convenience), or the first engaging notch has a notch height extending over only the upper half of the thickness of the cartridge. The second engagement notch may have a notch height extending only over the lower half of the thickness of the cartridge (herein, referred to as a B type cartridge for convenience).

The first locking portion and the second locking portion of the cartridge locking device are provided so as to be elastically slidable to the side surface of the recording medium cartridge inserted into the corresponding storage position. , Are provided separately from each other in the height direction of the notch of the cartridge, so that they are individually provided with respect to the first engagement notch or the second engagement notch of the cartridge to be locked. Can act independently. In this way, at least one of the first and second locking portions elastically engages with the first engaging notch portion of the cartridge, and the second engaging notch portion However, at least the other of the first and second locking portions is elastically engaged. For example, in the case of an A type cartridge, both the engaging portions are elastically engaged with the first engaging cutout portion of the cartridge at the same time, and the second engaging cutout portion is Only one of the locking portions is elastically engaged. Further, in the case of a B type recording medium cartridge, one of the locking portions elastically engages with the first engaging cutout portion of the cartridge, and with respect to the second engaging cutout portion. Has the other engaging portion elastically engaged.

As described above, since the first and second locking portions individually act on the engaging cutout portions, the cartridge is stored with the one end portion side as a head. It is not necessary to provide a cartridge locking device of a different type at each storage position depending on whether the cartridge is inserted into the storage position or the other end side first and is inserted into the storage position. Regardless of the direction in which the cartridges are stored, the same type of cartridge locking tool may be provided at each storage position. For this reason, only the same kind of cartridge locking tool needs to be manufactured, so that the manufacturing cost of the cartridge locking tool can be minimized.

[0012]

【Example】

 Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 shows a cartridge locking device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and this embodiment is carried out in an expansion type OLU storage rack as shown in FIG. In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the constituent elements denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 4 have the same functions as those in FIG.

In FIG. 2, the OLU is provided with a main storage rack 1 A and an additional storage rack 1 B, which are provided opposite to each other on both sides of the transfer device T, and a drive 4 for driving the cartridge C in order to increase the capacity. Thus, the transfer robot 5 of the transfer device T transfers the cartridge C between the storage racks 1A and 1B, the drive, and the like. The transfer robot 5 has a pair of operation arms 5a that operate to move the cartridge C in and out of the transfer robot 5 by sandwiching both sides of the cartridge C. For each (only one actuating arm 5a is shown on each side in the figure). The storage racks 1A and 1B are arranged such that the cartridge inlets / outlets 2a and 10a of the storage cells 2 and 10 face each other so that they can be accessed by the same transfer robot 5.

Further, the cartridge C handled in this OLU is formed on the front engaging notch 6 formed on the side surface on the one end side and the side surface on the other end side, as in the case shown in FIG. And the rear engaging notch portion 8 and the front engaging notch portion 6 and the rear engaging notch portion 8 are different from each other in each shape and the notch depth in the thickness direction of the cartridge C. It is a type of stool. That is, the front engagement notch 6 is formed by notching half of the cartridge C in the thickness direction into a substantially quadrilateral shape having a surface that is substantially perpendicular to the side surface of the cartridge C. The remaining half in the thickness direction at the location where the front engaging cutout 6 is formed is not cut out. On the other hand, the rear engagement notch 8 is notched in a triangular shape over the entire thickness of the cartridge C.

Returning to FIG. 1, the cartridge locking tool 14 is integrally formed of a material such as an elastically deformable leaf spring, and is provided in the front engagement notch 6 or the rear engagement notch 8 of the cartridge C. The cartridge C is elastically held at a predetermined position in each of the storage cells 2 or 10 by being engaged with the cartridge C so that the cartridge C can be freely taken in and out. More specifically, the cartridge locking tool 14 is commonly used for the storage cells 2 and 10 of both the storage racks 1A and 1B. In the figure, for simplification, only the structure in which the cartridge locking device 14 is attached to the storage cell 2 of the main storage rack 1A is shown, but the mounting direction of the cartridge locking device 14 is reversed. Except for the points, the additional storage rack 1B has the same configuration.

The cartridge locking member 14 has one end portion (that is, the end portion on the side of the cartridge inlet / outlet 2 a, 10 a) in which the storage cells 2, 10 are formed on both side walls or the inner side portion of one side wall. For example, it is attached by screws 13. The cartridge locking device 14 is preferably attached to both side walls of each of the storage cells 2 and 10, but may be attached to only one side wall.

Further, the other end side of the cartridge locking tool 14 is separated from the other in the height direction of the notch of the cartridge C by a central slit 14 a extending in the longitudinal direction of the cartridge locking tool 14. The leg portion 15 and the lower leg portion 16 are bifurcated, and the presence of the central slit 14a enables the upper leg portion 15 and the lower leg portion 16 to be elastically deformed independently of each other. ing. Further, locking projections 15a and 16a curved in the same direction are formed at the tip end portions of the legs 15 and 16 so that the front engagement notch portion 6 and the rear engagement notch portion 8 can be engaged and recessed. Has been done. In this embodiment, the locking projections 15a and 16a are both projected in a semi-circular shape having the same radius. However, by engaging the front engagement notch 6 and the rear engagement notch 8 of the cartridge C inserted in the storage cells 2 and 10, the cartridge C is elastically moved to a predetermined position in the storage cells 2 and 10. The protrusions 15a and 16a may have any shape and size as long as they can be securely held. The cartridge locking device 14 is attached to the side walls of the storage cells 2 and 10 with the locking protrusions 15a and 16a protruding inwardly of the storage cells 2 and 10. , 16a can be elastically slidably contacted to the side surface of the cartridge C inserted into the storage cells 2 and 10, and the upper leg portion 15 and the lower leg portion 16 have the notch height of the cartridge C. By being separated from each other in the depth direction, the front engagement notch 6 and the rear engagement notch 8 can act independently of each other. That is, the locking protrusions 15a and 16a can engage with the rear engagement notch 8 on both sides, but only one with respect to the front engagement notch 6 (in this example, The locking protrusion 16a) can be engaged with the concave and convex. That is, the locking protrusion 16a of the lower leg 16 corresponds in position to the front engagement notch 6 of the cartridge C, and the locking protrusion 15a of the upper leg 15 of the cartridge C frontally engages. The non-notched side surface adjacent to the upper side of the mating notch portion 6 corresponds in position.

On the side walls of the storage cells 2 and 10, the engagement protrusions 15a and 16a elastically slidably contact the side surface of the cartridge C, and when the cartridge C is pushed laterally of the storage cell 2, Openings (indicated by 2b in FIG. 1) are formed to allow elastic deformation of the leg portions 15 and the lower leg portion 16 locking protrusions 15a, 16a outward in the lateral direction.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. For example, when the cartridge C 1 transferred by the transfer robot 5 of the transfer device T is stored in the storage cell 2 of the main storage rack 1A from the transfer robot 5, in this OLU, the cartridge C 1 is rear-engaged. The robot 5 is inserted in the direction in which the rear end of the notch 8 is the leading side in the insertion direction. The cartridge locking tool 14 attached to the side wall of the storage cell 2 is slid with respect to the side surface of the rear end of the cartridge C into which the cartridge locking tool 14 is inserted by the locking protrusions 15a and 16a. The cell 2 is elastically deformed outward and outward ((a) of FIG. 3). Next, when the cartridge engagement C is further inserted and the rear engagement notch 8 comes to the position of the engagement protrusions 15a and 16a, the elastic return force (elastic force) of the cartridge engagement device 14 is generated. Thus, both of the locking protrusions 15a and 16a enter into the rear engagement notch 8 and elastically engage with the rear engagement notch 8.

In this way, the cartridge C is held in the storage cell 2 at a predetermined position by the cartridge locking member 14 so as to be freely taken out and put in. When attempting to take out the cartridge C held in this way from the storage cell 2 to the transfer robot 5, the operating arm 5a of the transfer robot 5 pulls the cartridge C while locking the front engagement notch 6. The engagement between the locking protrusions 15a and 16a and the rear engagement notch 8 is released, and the cartridge C is pulled out from the storage cell 2.

Further, for example, when the cartridge C transferred by the transfer robot 5 of the transfer device T is stored in the storage cell 10 of the additional storage rack 1B from the transfer robot 5, in this OLU, the cartridge C is stored. Is inserted from the transfer robot 5 in a direction in which the front end on the front engagement notch 6 side is the leading side in the insertion direction and the rear end on the rear engagement notch 8 side is the transfer device T side. The cartridge locking device 14 attached to the side wall of the storage cell 10 is located at the side of the storage cell 10 while being in contact with the side surface of the front end of the cartridge C to be inserted at the locking protrusions 15a and 16a. It transforms outward. Next, when the front engaging notch 6 is brought to the position of the locking protrusions 15a and 16a by further inserting the cartridge C, as shown in FIG. Due to the elastic return force of, only the locking protrusion 16a of the lower leg 16 enters into the corresponding front engagement notch 6 and engages with the front engagement notch 6. At this time, since the upper half of the front engagement notch 6 in the cartridge C is not cut out, the locking projection 15a of the upper leg 15 is formed by the non-notched side surface of the cartridge C. It is kept elastically deformed outward. In this way, the cartridge C is held by the cartridge locking tool 14 at a predetermined position in the storage cell 10 of the additional storage rack 1B so that it can be freely taken in and out.

When attempting to take out the cartridge C held in this way from the storage cell 10 to the transfer robot 5, the same operation as when taking out the cartridge C from the storage cell 2 of the main storage rack 1A is performed. It will be me.

As described above, in the cartridge locking tool 14 according to this embodiment, the upper leg portion 15 and the lower leg portion 16 can be elastically deformed independently of each other, whereby the cartridge C The locking projections 15a and 16a of both legs 15 and 16 are simultaneously engaged with the rear engagement notch 8 formed over the entire thickness, while only the half portion of the cartridge C in the thickness direction is engaged. With respect to the formed front engagement notch 6, only one locking protrusion 16a corresponding to the engagement notch 6 is engaged. As a result, the cartridge locking device 14 is configured such that the cartridge C is stored in the storage racks 1A and 1B in the storing direction, that is, the cartridge C has the end on the front engagement notch 6 side as a leading storage cell. Regardless of whether they are stored in the storage cells 2 or 10, or stored in the storage cells 2 and 10 with the end on the rear engagement notch 8 side as the leading end, the same type is provided in each storage cell 2 and 10. It will be good.

In addition, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the entire cartridge locking member is constituted by the leaf spring, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the engaging notch portion of the cartridge can be elastically engaged with the concave and convex portions. Other configurations including a stop may be used. Further, the present invention is not limited to the OLU accommodating rack, but may be applied to other recording medium cartridge accommodating bodies that handle recording medium cartridges other than the optical disc cartridge.

[0025]

[Effect of the device]

 As described above, according to the present invention, the first engagement cutout portion or the second engagement notch portion of the cartridge to be locked is elastically slidably contactable with the side surface of the cartridge inserted into the storage position. In order to individually and independently act on the cutout portion, a first locking portion and a second locking portion are provided separately from each other in the height direction of the cutout of the cartridge. .. With this configuration, the present invention can lock recording medium cartridges having differently shaped engaging notches at both end portions thereof by the same type regardless of the storing direction of the cartridge. It has an excellent effect.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a cartridge locking tool according to an embodiment of the present invention, which is attached to an OLU storage rack.

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view showing the overall structure of an OLU to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating the operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a side view illustrating a general example of a conventional OLU.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an example of an optical disk cartridge handled in a conventional OLU.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 ... Storage cell 6 ... Front engagement notch 8 ... Rear engagement notch 14 ... Cartridge locking tool 15 ... Upper leg 16 ... Lower leg 15a, 16b ... Locking protrusion C ... Cartridge

Claims (3)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A first engaging notch formed on a side surface of one end portion thereof at a predetermined notch height, and a side surface of the other end portion different from the first engaging notch portion. In a recording medium cartridge storage body that stores a recording medium cartridge having a second engagement notch formed at a notch height so as to be freely inserted and removed, the recording medium cartridge storage body is provided at each storage position of the storage body. A cartridge locking tool for holding the cartridge in each storage position by locking the engagement cutout portion or the second engagement cutout portion of the cartridge, which is inserted into the storage position. The cutout of the cartridge can be elastically slidably contacted to the side surface and can independently act on the first engagement notch or the second engagement notch to be locked. Divide each other in the height direction For to comprise a first locking portion and the second locking portion provided, the first engaging notch of said cartridge,
At least one of the first and second locking portions is elastically engaged, and the first engagement notch is provided with respect to the first engagement notch portion.
And at least the other of the second locking portions elastically engages with each other, whereby the cartridge is inserted into the storage position with the one end side as the head, or the other end side as the head. A cartridge locking tool for a recording medium cartridge housing, wherein the cartridge can be held regardless of whether it is inserted into the housing position. 2. The first and second engaging portions are elastically engaged with the first engaging notch portion of the cartridge at the same time, and the second engaging portions are elastically engaged with each other. The cartridge locking device in the recording medium cartridge housing according to claim 1, wherein only one locking portion is elastically engaged with the engaging cutout portion. 3. The cartridge locking tool for a recording medium cartridge container according to claim 1, wherein the first locking portion and the second locking portion are constituted by leaf springs.