JPH0714287A - Disk cartridge auto-changer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To allocate a space occupied by a recording and reproducing part to the housing space of a cartridge and to increase the housing capacity of the cartridge by a method wherein the recording and reproducing part can be moved to a target position by a conveyance part. CONSTITUTION:A base plate is attached to a raising and lowering guide 2, and a magneto-optical disk apparatus 1 is placed on it. Then, a raising and lowering drive means M is driven, the base plate is moved along a guide 2, and the apparatus 1 is positioned in front of a target cartridge 7 in a housing device 4. Then, the cartridge 7 in the device 4 is taken in and out by a handling device and a loading and unloading means which grips and holds both sides of the cartridge 7. When the apparatus 1 itself is conveyed and the cartridge 7 is taken in and out in this manner, a space X in which the apparatus 1 has been installed can be allocated to a housing space. Thereby, the housing capacity of cartridges can be increased.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic disc cartridge changer for searching and exchanging cartridges between a storage device capable of storing a plurality of disc cartridges and a disc drive device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A plurality of magneto-optical disk cartridges
A disk cartridge autochanger (hereinafter, referred to as an autochanger) that accommodates (hereinafter, simply referred to as a cartridge) and replaces and searches for this cartridge has a difference in the number and arrangement of devices as constituent elements. Specifically, it has a structure as shown in FIG.

In FIG. 4, 50 is an autochanger main body, 51 is an input / output device, 52 is a storage device, 53 is a magneto-optical disk device, and 54 is a transfer device. As shown in FIG. 4, when the autochanger is functionally classified, the four devices described above are classified.
It can be classified into 51, 52, 53, 54.

The input / output device 51 is a device for discharging the cartridge inside the autochanger to the outside, and for retracting and temporarily stocking the cartridge 55 inserted from the outside, so to speak, acting as an intermediary between the operator and the transfer device 54. It has a function.

The storage device 52 has a function of aligning and holding the cartridges 55.

The magneto-optical disk device 53 includes a cartridge 55.
It has a function of optically reading information from the magneto-optical disk stored in, and of optically writing information to the magneto-optical disk.

The transfer device 54 includes an input / output device 51, a storage device 52,
Freely move cartridges between magneto-optical disk devices 53
It has a function to move 55.

Next, the cartridge storing operation of the autochanger will be described.

The cartridge 55 inserted by the operator is pulled into the autochanger body 50 by the loading / unloading device 51. Then, the transport device 54 pulls out the cartridge 55 from the loading / unloading device 51, moves to the storage device 52, and then loads the cartridge 55 into the storage device 52. By repeating such operations, the cartridge 55 is stored in the storage device 52.
Multiple sheets are set.

Next, the operation of mounting and replacing the cartridge 55 in the magneto-optical disk device 53 will be described.

First, the transport device 54 is moved to the place in the storage device 52 where the target cartridge 55 is located. In addition,
When the cartridge 55 is set in the magneto-optical disk device 53, the carrier device 54 is moved to the magneto-optical disk device 53, the cartridge 55 is pulled out, the cartridge 55 is returned to the original position, and then the target cartridge Move it to where 55 is. Then, the transport device 54 pulls out the target cartridge 55 from the storage device 52, and the magneto-optical disk device
Information is recorded / recorded by inserting the cartridge 55 into the magneto-optical disk device 53 after moving the carrier device 54 to 53.
Playback is possible.

A technique of this kind is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
There is a technique described in Japanese Patent No. 113865.

[0013]

As shown in FIG. 4, the conventional autochanger has independent devices for each function, so that the number of cartridges to be stored is small compared to the size of the entire autochanger. There was a problem. This is particularly remarkable in a small-sized small autochanger.

Further, in the autochanger shown in FIG. 4, the loading / unloading device 51, the storage device 52, and the magneto-optical disk device 53.
Are aligned. Although such a linear arrangement is a good arrangement in terms of space efficiency, the operability remains a problem because the insertion direction into the input / output device 51 and the insertion direction into the magneto-optical disk device 53 are opposite. Therefore, if operability is taken into consideration and the cartridge 55 is designed to be inserted in the forward direction, a rotation mechanism is required in the input / output device 51, resulting in an increase in cost.

The present invention provides a disc cartridge autochanger which solves such problems, realizes a high storage rate at a low cost, eliminates unnecessary movements of the cartridge and the transport device, and realizes a high speed access. The purpose is to do.

[0016]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention relates to a storage section for storing a plurality of cartridges storing recording disks, an input / output section for inserting / removing a cartridge from the outside of the apparatus, and the storage section. And a recording / reproducing unit for recording / reproducing information to / from a recording disk in the cartridge, the cartridge being mounted on the recording unit or the recording / reproducing unit,
The recording / reproducing unit is moved so that the cartridge is linearly arranged between the storage unit or the input / output unit and the recording / reproducing unit, and the transport unit which is positioned at a position where the cartridge can be sent / received to / from the storage unit or the input / output unit. And a detaching means for slidingly moving.

Further, in the above structure, a storage portion for storing a plurality of cartridges storing recording disks, an insertion opening provided in the main body of the apparatus for inserting and removing the cartridge from the outside of the apparatus, and a cartridge stored in the storage portion. Alternatively, a recording / reproducing unit that mounts the cartridge inserted from the insertion port and records / reproduces information on / from a recording disk in the cartridge, and moves the recording / reproducing unit to store the recording medium in the storage unit or the insertion port. And a detaching means for linearly sliding the cartridge between the storage section and the recording / reproducing section.

Further, in the above structure, when the recording / reproducing unit is at a predetermined position where the cartridge can be inserted / removed from the inside / outside of the apparatus, an eject switch for ejecting the cartridge inside the recording / reproducing section can be pressed from the outside of the apparatus. It is characterized in that push button means is provided.

Further, in the above structure, a shutter for opening and closing the insertion opening provided in the main body of the apparatus according to the movement of the recording / reproducing unit is provided.

[0020]

According to the above-mentioned structure adopted by the present invention, the following operation occurs.

According to the configuration (1), since the recording / reproducing unit can be moved to the target position by the transport unit,
Conventionally, the space occupied by the recording / reproducing section becomes an empty space, and the cartridge can be housed in the empty space. Further, it becomes possible to shorten the time until the cartridge is attached to the recording / reproducing unit.

According to the configuration of (2), since the cartridge can be linearly attached to and detached from the recording / reproducing section from the outside of the apparatus, it is possible to remove the conventionally used input / output apparatus. .

According to the configuration of (3), since the cartridge can be ejected from the outside of the apparatus, it can be used as a single disk drive apparatus.

According to the structure of (4), the shutter is opened only when the recording / reproducing section is opposed to the insertion opening provided in the main body of the apparatus, so that erroneous insertion of the cartridge can be prevented and
Invasion of dust and foreign matter can be prevented.

[0025]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic structure of a first embodiment of the present invention, in which 1 is a magneto-optical disk device which is a recording / reproducing unit, 2 is an elevation guide, and M is an elevation drive means. The lift guide 2, the lift drive means M, and a base plate to be described later constitute a transport unit. Further, 3 is an entrance / exit device which is an entrance / exit portion, 4 is an accommodating device which is an accommodating portion, and 6 is an autochanger body. The basic functions of the loading / unloading device 3 and the storage device 4 are the same as those of the conventional loading / unloading device 51 and storage device 52 shown in FIG. Further, the same members as those in the conventional configuration shown in FIG. 4 are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the configuration around the magneto-optical disk device 1. Reference numeral 5 denotes a base plate on which the magneto-optical disk device 1 is placed. The base plate 5 is moved along the elevating guide 2 by the elevating drive means M (see FIG. 1).
The inside of the autochanger body 6 is moved up and down. Further, since the magneto-optical disk device 1 is provided with a member such as an S-shaped arm, which will be described later, below the magneto-optical disk device 1, the magneto-optical disk device 1 is fixed at a position slightly floating with respect to the plane of the base plate 5. 7 is a magneto-optical disk
A cartridge (not shown) accommodates the cartridge, and a reference numeral 8 denotes a handling device which is an attaching / detaching means for holding both sides of the cartridge 7.

The handling device 8 is constructed as follows.

In FIG. 2, 9L indicates a clamp arm provided on the left side of the magneto-optical disk device 1 in the figure, and 9R indicates a clamp arm similarly provided on the right side. Clamp arm 9
Both L and 9R are formed in a V shape. 10L,
10R indicates poles erected on the upper side of the base plate 5 in the figure. By passing through holes (not shown) formed in the bent portions of the clamp arms 9L and 9R through these poles 10L and 10R, the clamp arms 9L and 9R are mounted on the base plate 5.
L and 9R are rotatably installed. Further, one ends of the clamp arms 9L, 9R extend forward of the insertion opening 1a, and the other ends are located on both sides of the magneto-optical disk device 1.

Reference numeral 11 is a driven roller provided at one end of the clamp arm 9L, 12 is a fan-shaped member attached to the other end of the clamp arm 9L, and 13 is a rack formed on the outer peripheral portion of the fan-shaped member 12. The rack 13 extends from the other end of the clamp arm 9L.

Reference numeral 14 is a gear, 15 is a pinion having a diameter smaller than that of the gear 14 and rotating coaxially, 16 is a clamping motor, and 17 is a worm gear attached to the rotating shaft of the clamping motor 16. The clamp motor 16 is fixed to the base plate 5, and is rotatably mounted on the base plate 5 with the gear 14 meshed with the worm gear 17 and the pinion 15 meshed with the rack 13.

Reference numeral 18 is a drive roller provided at one end of the clamp arm 9R, 19 is a pulley having a smaller diameter than the drive roller 18 and rotating coaxially with the drive roller 18, 20 is a gear, 21 is a smaller diameter than the gear 20, and a gear. A pulley that rotates coaxially with 20 is shown.
The gear 20 and the pulley 21 are pivotally supported by the pole 10R so that they can rotate independently.

Reference numeral 22 denotes a belt installed between the pulley 19 and the pulley 21, and 23 denotes an intermediate gear rotatably provided with respect to the base plate 5. The intermediate gear 23 is configured as a coaxial gear of a small diameter gear 23a and a large diameter gear 23b. Reference numeral 24 denotes a roller driving motor which is a driving source of the driving roller 18, and 25 denotes a transmission gear attached to the rotation shaft of the roller driving motor 24. The roller driving motor 24 is fixed to the base plate 5, and the transmission gear 25 meshes with the large-diameter gear 23b of the intermediate gear 23. Further, the small-diameter gear 23a of the intermediate gear 23 meshes with the gear 20.

When the roller driving motor 24 is rotated, the rotational force is transmitted to the intermediate gear 23, the gear 20, and the belt 22, and is transmitted to the driving roller 18.

Reference numeral 26L denotes an S-shaped arm having a step at one end and the other end rotatably attached to the other end of the clamp arm 9L. 26R indicates an S-shaped arm similarly attached to the other end of the clamp arm 9R, and
The S-shaped arm 26L and the S-shaped arm 26R have the same shape. Elongated holes 27L and 27R are formed at one ends of the S-shaped arms 26L and 26R, and they are fitted to a protrusion 28R standing on the surface of the base plate 5 below the magneto-optical disk device 1 at a substantially central portion thereof. .

Further, the steps of the tip portions of the S-shaped arms 26L and 26R are opposed to each other, and the steps form a substantially rectangular space. Further, racks 29L and 29R are formed on the surfaces of the steps facing each other.
Reference numeral 30 denotes a pinion provided in the central portion of the base plate 5 and in the substantially rectangular space. The pinion 30 meshes with both racks 29L and 29R. The handling device 8 is configured as described above.

The magneto-optical disk device 1 holds an magneto-optical disk drive device (not shown) and a cartridge 7 and is mounted on or discharged from the magneto-optical disk drive device (not shown) by an auto loading device (not shown). No.) or a device such as a pickup device (not shown) for recording / reproducing information on / from a magneto-optical disk (not shown).

Further, in the cartridge 7 shown in the figure, the portion shown by the solid line is immediately before the cartridge 7 is inserted into the magneto-optical disk device 1 or immediately after being ejected by the auto loading device. It shows the position. Also, the part indicated by the broken line is
It shows the position when it is stored in the storage device 4 (see FIG. 1).

Next, the movement when the cartridge 7 is moved from the storage device 4 to the magneto-optical disk device 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. First, the base plate 5 is moved by driving the elevating drive means M,
The magneto-optical disk device 1 is positioned in front of the target cartridge 7.

Next, the clamp motor 16 is rotated to rotate the gear 14 in the direction A in the figure. When the gear 14 rotates in the A direction, the clamp arm 9L rotates and the driven roller 11 approaches the side surface of the cartridge 7. At the same time, by moving the S-shaped arm 26L in the B direction, the S-shaped arm 26R
Moves in the opposite direction (C direction) with respect to the S-shaped arm 26L. When the S-shaped arm 26R moves in the C direction, the other end of the clamp arm 9R moves and the driving roller
18 also approaches the side surface of the cartridge 7 indicated by the broken line in FIG.

As described above, by rotating the clamping motor 16, the clamp arms 9L and 9R rotate, and the cartridge 7 is eventually clamped by the rollers 11 and 18.

Further, when the cartridge 7 is clamped, the rotation of the clamping motor 16 is stopped, and then the roller driving motor 24 is rotated to rotate the driving roller 18 in the direction D in the figure. By the rotation of the drive roller 18, a propulsive force is applied to the cartridge 7 in the direction in which the cartridge 7 is pulled out from the storage device 4, and the cartridge 7 is transferred to the magneto-optical disk device 1.
Is moving.

When the cartridge 7 is inserted into the magneto-optical disk device 1 to some extent, the auto loading device
The cartridge 7 is drawn into the magneto-optical disk device 1 (not shown). The gear 14 is rotated in the E direction by the clamping motor 16 so that the rollers 11 and 18 are separated from the cartridge 7 so as to release the clamped state of the cartridge 7 at the timing.

In order to smoothly perform this separating operation, the speed at which the drive roller 18 moves the cartridge 7 should be faster than the speed at which the magneto-optical disk device 1 pulls in the cartridge 7.

Next, the movement when the cartridge 7 is moved from the magneto-optical disk device 1 to the storage device 4 will be described.

The magneto-optical disk device 1 is instructed by a host (not shown) or a changer controller (not shown).
The cartridge 7 is discharged from the cartridge 7, and a part of the cartridge 7 is projected to the outside of the magneto-optical disk device 1 as shown by the solid line in FIG. Clamp motor in this state
16 is driven to clamp the cartridge 7 by the clamp arms 9L and 9R, and the drive roller 18 is rotated in the F direction. When the drive roller 18 rotates, the cartridge 7 is pulled out from the inside of the magneto-optical disk device 1,
Are stored in the original place in the storage device 4.

When the cartridge 7 is completely in the storage device 4, the drive roller 18 is stopped, and the clamp arms 9L and 9R are further rotated to release the clamped state, whereby the cartridge to the storage device 4 is released. 7 stores.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic structure of the second embodiment of the present invention. The difference between the second embodiment and the first embodiment is that the input / output device 3 is deleted. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 31 is an insertion opening of the cartridge 7 formed in the autochanger body 6, 32 is an eject button, and 33 is a shutter for opening and closing the insertion opening 31.

The shutter 33 is normally closed and is biased in the closing direction. Further, the shutter 33 is provided with an engaging portion 33a that engages with the upper surface of the magneto-optical disc device 1. Therefore, the shutter 33 is closed when the magneto-optical disc device 1 is located in the lower part of the figure, and when the magneto-optical disc device 1 is located in the upper part of the figure, that is, the insertion port 31 and When the insertion opening 1a of the cartridge 7 of the magneto-optical disk device 1 faces the insertion opening 3
1 is open. As described above, the shutter 33 opens the insertion port 31 only when the cartridge 7 is detachable from the magneto-optical disk device 1.

Further, the eject button 32 has an insertion opening 31.
Is provided in the vicinity of. The eject button 32 is provided with a connecting member 34, and the tip of the connecting member 34 can reciprocate in the autochanger body 6 by the pressing operation of the eject button 32. Furthermore, the magneto-optical disk device 1 is provided with a drive switch 1b for driving an auto loading device (not shown) to eject the cartridge 7. The connecting member 34 is located at a position where the drive switch 1b can be pressed when the magneto-optical disk device 1 is at a position where the cartridge 7 can be attached and detached.

Next, the function and effect of the structure of this embodiment will be described.

According to the configuration of the first embodiment, first, the magneto-optical disk device 1 itself is transported to insert / insert the cartridge 7.
Conventionally, a magneto-optical disk device is used to eject (see Fig. 4)
1 can be allocated to the space for accommodating the cartridge 7, as shown by X in FIG. Therefore, more cartridges can be stored in the same space as before.

Further, since the direction of the insertion opening 31 of the cartridge 7 provided in the autochanger body 6 and the insertion opening 1a of the magneto-optical disk device 1 are the same, the storage device 4 and the magneto-optical disk device 1 are connected to each other. The delivery operation of the cartridge 7 can be performed by a simple operation including only the front-back operation. Therefore, the mechanism can be simplified and the access time can be shortened. Further, since the distance from the storage device 4 to the magneto-optical disk device 1 is significantly shortened, the time until the cartridge 7 is mounted in the magneto-optical disk device 1 is shortened, and as a result, the access time is shortened. Can be achieved.

In addition, according to the configuration of the second embodiment, the cost is reduced because the input / output device 3 is deleted and the cartridge 7 can be directly attached / detached to / from the magneto-optical disk device 1 from the outside of the device. In addition to being able to achieve it, it can be incorporated into a personal computer and used as a single drive device.

Further, since the shutter 33 opens the insertion opening 31 only when the magneto-optical disk device 1 is at a position where the cartridge 7 can be attached and detached from the outside of the device, the cartridge 7 is opened.
It is possible to prevent the wrong insertion.

[0056]

The present invention constructed as described above has the following effects.

According to the structure of claim 1, more cartridges can be stored in the same space as the conventional one, and the access time can be greatly shortened.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the cost can be reduced by the fact that the input / output device is not required.

According to the structure of claim 3, the disk cartridge can be directly inserted and ejected from the outside of the apparatus, so that the disk cartridge can be incorporated in a personal computer or used as a single disk drive apparatus.

According to the structure of claim 4, erroneous insertion of the disk cartridge and intrusion of dust and foreign matter can be prevented.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a schematic configuration of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of a clamp means.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing a schematic configuration of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram showing a schematic configuration of a conventional disc cartridge autochanger.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Magneto-optical disk device, 2 ... Elevating guide, 3 ... Loading / unloading device, 4 ... Storage device, 5 ... Base plate, 6
... auto changer body, 7 ... cartridge, 8 ... handling device, 11 ... driven roller, 16 ... clamping motor, 18 ... driving roller, 24 ... roller driving motor, 31 ... insertion opening, 32 ... eject button, 33 ... shutter.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A storage unit for storing a plurality of cartridges for storing recording disks, an input / output unit for inserting / removing a cartridge from the outside of the apparatus, and a storage unit or a cartridge of the input / output unit is mounted, and recording in the cartridge. A recording / reproducing unit for recording / reproducing information on / from a disc,
The recording / reproducing unit is moved so that the cartridge is linearly arranged between the storage unit or the input / output unit and the recording / reproducing unit, and the transport unit which is positioned at a position where the cartridge can be sent / received to / from the storage unit or the input / output unit. An automatic changer for a disk cartridge, comprising: a detaching means for slidingly moving the disc cartridge. 2. An accommodating portion for accommodating a plurality of cartridges accommodating recording disks, an insertion opening provided in an apparatus main body for inserting and removing the cartridge from the outside of the apparatus, and a cartridge accommodated in the accommodating portion or the insertion opening. A cartridge inserted between the cartridge and the recording / reproducing section for recording / reproducing information on / from the recording disk in the cartridge, and the recording / reproducing section is moved so that the cartridge is inserted between the accommodating section or the insertion slot. An automatic disc cartridge changer, comprising: a transporting unit positioned at a position where it can be sent and received, and an attaching / detaching unit that linearly slides the cartridge between the storage unit and the recording / reproducing unit. 3. When the recording / reproducing unit is at a predetermined position where the cartridge can be inserted / removed from the inside / outside of the apparatus, push button means for pressing the eject switch for ejecting the cartridge inside the recording / reproducing section from the outside of the apparatus is provided. The disk cartridge autochanger according to claim 2, wherein 4. The disk cartridge autochanger according to claim 2, further comprising a shutter for opening and closing an insertion opening provided in the main body of the apparatus according to movement of the recording / reproducing unit.