JPH076948U - Recording medium cartridge library device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] To make it possible to remarkably increase the processing speed of a recording medium cartridge library device. [Structure] The driver 10 can be moved between individual cartridge storage positions by moving means. When driving a cartridge stored in a certain storage position, the driver itself moves to the storage position. Then, the cartridge is taken into the driver from the storage position by the transfer means. In this way, the driver drives the cartridge taken in from the storage position at that position, and returns the cartridge to the storage position after driving. This eliminates the need for carrying and returning the cartridge between the storage position and the drive when the cartridge is driven. Further, since the driver directly transfers the cartridge to and from the storage position, this also reduces the number of necessary operations.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a recording medium cartridge library device, and more particularly, to a recording medium cartridge library device capable of significantly increasing its processing speed.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 An optical disk library device (hereinafter, also referred to as OLU) is a device that stores, reads and writes an optical disk cartridge (hereinafter, also simply referred to as a cartridge). As generally shown in FIG. 2, the OLU generally includes a storage rack 2 for storing a plurality of cartridges C in each storage cell (storage slot) 2a, and driving (reading, or reading) of the cartridge C. It is configured by a driver 4 that is fixedly installed for reading and writing, and a transport mechanism T that transports the cartridge C between the storage rack 2, the driver 4, and the like. The transport mechanism T includes a transport holder H having a substantially box shape. The transport holder H takes in the cartridge C to be transported by the transport roller 5 or the like and holds it in a detachable manner. The cartridge C is transported between the storage rack 2, the driver 4 and the like by vertically moving by the moving mechanism (elevator mechanism) E.

For example, when it is desired to drive the cartridge C stored in a specific storage cell 2a by the driver 4, the transport holder H is moved to the position of the storage cell 2a by the elevator mechanism E, The cartridge C is taken in from the storage cell 2a and held. The transport holder H holding the cartridge C then moves to the position of the driver 4, and sends out the cartridge C thus transported to the driver 4. After that, when the necessary driving of the cartridge C in the driver 4 is completed, the transport holder H takes in the driven cartridge C from the driver 4 and transports the cartridge C to the storage cell 2a ( Hereinafter, the transportation for returning the cartridge C will be referred to as returning.

[0004]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 However, in the conventional OLU described above, when the cartridge C housed in the storage cell 2a is driven by the driver 4, the cartridge C is transferred from the storage cell 2a to the driver 4 via the transfer holder H. However, after driving, the operation of returning the storage cell 2a from the driver 4 and the operation of passing the cartridge C between the storage cell 2a and the transport holder H and between the transport holder H and the driver 4 are required. However, due to the time required for these operations, the processing speed could not be sufficiently increased. In particular, in the past, it has not been possible to sufficiently meet the user's demand for a large capacity (increasing the number of cartridges to be handled) because the drive processing speed cannot be increased.

[0005]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 A recording medium cartridge library apparatus according to the present invention includes a storage body that stores a plurality of cartridges in each storage position, a movable driver that reads or writes the cartridges, and the driver that moves between the storage positions. And a transfer means for transferring the cartridge, which should be or has been driven by the driver, for transferring between the driver and the storage position.

[0006]

[Action]

 The driver reads or writes desired cartridges, and can be moved between the individual storage positions of the storage body by the moving means. When it is desired to drive a cartridge stored in one specific storage position (herein, for convenience, referred to as a specific storage position), the driver itself is moved to the specific storage position by the moving means. . Then, the cartridge is taken into the driver from the specific storage position by the transfer means. In this way, the driver drives the cartridge taken in from the specific storage position. Further, when the driving of the cartridge is finished, the cartridge is returned from the driver to the specific storage position as it is.

As described above, according to the present invention, the driver itself moves to the desired storage position, so that the cartridge can be transported and returned between the storage position and the drive, which is conventionally performed by the transport holder. It becomes unnecessary. Further, the driver can directly deliver the cartridge to and from the storage position without using the transport holder. For these reasons, the number of operations required when the cartridge is driven is reduced, and therefore the drive processing time is shortened.

Further, according to the present invention, since the driver is moved instead of the conventional carrier holder, a space for fixedly installing the driver separately from the carrier holder as in the conventional case is unnecessary, and Since a storage unit can be added to the space that is no longer needed, the capacity can be increased accordingly.

[0009]

【Example】

 Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic side view showing the overall construction of an OLU in which one embodiment of the present invention is implemented. This OLU is equipped with a storage rack 2 for storing and storing a plurality of cartridges C in and from each storage cell 2a, and a substantially box-shaped driver 10 described in detail below.

The driver 10 has a function of reading or writing the cartridge C, that is, driving the cartridge C. That is, the driver 10 takes in the cartridge C to the position of the read / write head 12 by the external transfer roller 13 and the internal transfer roller 14, and drives the taken-in cartridge C 2 by the read / write head 12. The read / write head 12 is provided, for example, at a rear position inside the driver 10 (a position on the opposite side of the storage rack 2).

Further, the driver 10 has a second function of holding the cartridge C detachably and transporting it between desired positions. In other words, the driver 10 takes in the cartridge C to be conveyed by the external transfer roller 13 up to the front of the read / write head 12, and holds the taken-in cartridge C detachably. Further, the driver 10 is not fixedly installed at a predetermined position, but is connected to a moving mechanism EA including, for example, an endless belt, which allows the OLU to cross each storage cell 2a. It can be moved in the vertical direction along a moving guide G 1 extending substantially the entire length in the height direction. In this way, when the cartridge C 1 stored in one specific storage cell 2a should be driven, the driver 10 itself moves to the specific storage cell 2a, as described later. It is like this. The driver 10 also transports the cartridge C between the individual storage cells 2a and between the storage cells 2a and the cartridge inlet / outlet port (not shown) of the OLU, as required. You can send it back.

The external transfer roller 13 and the internal transfer roller 14 transfer (deliver) the cartridge C between the driver 10 and a desired position, and each of them is rotatable horizontally, for example. It is attached to an arm (not shown) pivotally supported by the frame of the driver 10. That is, each of the transfer rollers 13 and 14 comes into contact with both side surfaces of the cartridge C in accordance with the rotation of the above-mentioned arm and rotates in a predetermined direction in that state, thereby delivering the cartridge C. Has become. With the above configuration, the driver 10 can function as both a driver and a transport holder in the conventional OLU, and can be called a driver with a transport holder function or a transport holder with a driver function.

Next, an example of the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the initial state, it is assumed that the driver 10 is located at the position of the storage cell in the storage rack 2 approximately in the middle as in the illustrated example. In this state, for example, when the cartridge C 2 stored in the uppermost storage cell (referred to as 2a ′) in the storage rack 2 is driven, the driver 10 itself moves by the moving mechanism EA to the uppermost end. To the position of the storage cell 2a '. Then, the cartridge C of the storage cell 2a 'is taken into the position of the read / write head 12 in the driver 10 by the external transfer roller 13 and the internal transfer roller 14. In this way, the read / write head 12 drives the cartridge C while the driver 10 is stopped at the position facing the uppermost storage cell 2a '. When the driving is completed, the cartridge C is returned by the internal transfer roller 14 and the external transfer roller 13 from the driver 10 to the storage cell 2a '.

As described above, in this embodiment, when the cartridge C is driven, the driver 10 itself moves to the position of the storage cell 2a storing the desired cartridge C, and the cartridge C is moved at that position. The cartridge C is driven and then the cartridge C is returned to the storage cell 2a. Therefore, it is not necessary to carry out the operation of transporting the cartridge to be driven from the storage cell to the driver and then returning the cartridge C to the storage cell from the driver as in the conventional case.

Further, in the case of performing such driving, in this embodiment, the cartridge C is loaded from the storage cell into the driver 10 and then the cartridge C is returned from the driver 10 to the storage cell. The delivery operation of C is required only twice in total. By the way, conventionally, the cartridge C is first loaded from the storage cell to the transport holder, then the cartridge C is sent from the transport holder to the driver, the cartridge C is loaded from the driver to the transport holder, and finally the storage cell is loaded from the transport holder. Since the cartridge C is sent out to the cartridge C, the transfer operation of the cartridge C is required four times in total.

In this way, in this embodiment, the intermediary operation between the storage cell and the drive, which is performed by the conventional transport holder, is completely unnecessary, and the number of operations when the cartridge C is driven is greatly reduced. . As a result, in this OLU using such a driver 10, the drive processing time of the cartridge C can be greatly shortened. The present invention is particularly suitable for an OLU for a 3.5-inch cartridge, which is relatively lightweight and small and can use a drive that can be easily moved, but of course, is applied to an OLU for a cartridge of other size. You may. The present invention is not limited to the OLU, and may be applied to other recording medium cartridge library devices that handle recording medium cartridges such as magnetic tape cartridges, magneto-optical disc cartridges and the like.

[0017]

[Effect of device]

 As described above, according to the present invention, since the drive itself is configured to be movable, the transporting and returning operations required when the cartridge is driven are unnecessary, and the transfer operation of the cartridge can be reduced. It has an excellent effect that the speed can be remarkably increased. Further, according to the present invention, a space for fixedly installing the driver as in the past is not necessary, and a storage body can be added to the unnecessary space, so that the capacity can be increased accordingly. This effect is also played.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing an OLU in which an embodiment of the present invention is implemented.

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view illustrating a conventional OLU.

[Explanation of symbols]

2 ... storage rack, 2a ... storage cell, 10 ... driver, 1
3 ... External transfer roller, 14 ... Internal transfer roller, C ... Cartridge, EA ... Transfer mechanism

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A container for accommodating a plurality of recording medium cartridges at respective accommodating positions, a movable driver for reading or reading the recording medium cartridge, and a moving means for moving the driver between the accommodating positions. A recording medium cartridge library apparatus comprising: a transfer medium that transfers a recording medium cartridge, which should be driven or has been driven by the driver, between the driver and the storage position.