JPH08279266A - Magazine for optical disk tray,data storage device and optical disk data storage system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a multi-disk magazine which can sufficiently be endured to use for manual and mechanical handlings. SOLUTION: In a magazine 80 for receiving a plurality of disk trays for holding a disk having no one-face hubs, the magazine receives four trays in a volume required for housing two optical disks with a both-face hub so far, and data memory density per volume is doubled. The magazine is not provided with an inside side rail for supporting the tray, and this embodiment includes four portions for partially supporting the tray. A rack for each tray is provided at right and left rear comers of the magazine, and fingers 94, 96, 98, 100 with a circular tab biased to right and left front face sides of the magazine are provided. Each tab 100 is directed to the inside of the magazine, and a part of an edge on the trays side is cut and is engaged with the formed circular notch. A tray portion remained behind in a bottom part of the notch is placed on a tray holding tab just under it, and the lowest tray is supported by a bottom plate of the magazine.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to optical disk data storage systems and, more particularly, to a magazine containing a plurality of single sided hubless optical disks held in a disk tray.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Present day optical data media, such as magneto-optical (MO) and write once / read many (WORM) discs, are usually double-sided and may dust the surface of the disc. It is housed in a hard housing to protect it from fingerprints and other substances. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the central portion of such a double sided disk assembly 10. The disc assembly 10 is formed by laminating two single-sided discs 12 and 14. In particular, each disk 12 and 14 is formed with a rigid substrate 16 and 18 and active layers 20 and 22, which are covered on the outside with transparent protective layers 24 and 26. The central hub 28 surrounds the spindle hole 30 to allow the disc to be coupled to the rotating spindle when the disc 10 is mounted in the optical disc device. Obviously, the thickness of the hub 28 makes the disk assembly 10 somewhat thicker than twice the thickness of the two disks 12 and 14.

FIG. 2 is a top view of an optical disk cartridge 32 that houses the optical disk assembly 10.
The cartridge 32 includes a rigid case 34 with a sliding shutter 36. When the cartridge 32 is loaded into the device, the loader mechanism of the device slides the shutter 36 to its open position (see FIG. 2), exposing a portion of the disc assembly 10 to the optical disc head of the device. Other external cartridge structures such as hole detection and write protection features are not shown. The cartridge 32 shown in the figure is a European Comput
er Manufactures Associati
on (ECMA) announced the industry standard ECMA-184 for 130 mm (5 and 1/4 inch) optical disk cartridges with a data capacity of 1.3 gigaby (Gb). A similar standard, ECMA-201, has been published for a 90 mm (3 and 1/2 inch) optical disk cartridge with a data capacity of 230 megabytes (Mb). Both standards are mentioned here as references.

Early optical disks were single-sided, but due to the desire to increase the amount of data that can be stored in a single cartridge, a double-sided disk assembly such as that shown in FIG. 1 was developed to allow storage in a fixed volume. The amount of data (data density) has doubled. optical disk·
The library and jukebox allow multiple such cartridges to be stored on a single device for automatic retrieval by robotic access devices. For example, IBM
Corporation sells a series of libraries within the 3995 Optical Disk Library Data Server family. 39 which is one of this model
The 95-123 accommodates a maximum of 144 double-sided 130 mm cartridges and can store a maximum of 188 GB of data. If you use an expansion box, the capacity will double.

Despite these advantages, it is desired to further increase the data density. While the development of optical disc surfaces with greater capacity continues, another method that has been investigated is the use of single-sided hubless discs. Here, each disc is placed in a disc tray and several disc trays are housed in a magazine. FIG.
One proposed multi-disc magazine 38 capable of holding four disc trays is shown (the front side portion of one tray 44 is shown in FIG. 4). Magazine 38
A top plate of the magazine, that is, a part of the cover 40 is cut off, and the rails 42 attached along the inside of the left and right side walls of the magazine 38
Is displayed. As shown in FIG. 4, the tray 4
Each side of 4 has an edge 46 which is less than the thickness of the remaining edge portion of the tray 44, and this thin edge 46 slides between adjacent rails of the magazine 38. However, reducing the thickness of the side edges 46 reduces the strength of the tray 44 at the portion (indicated by A) closest to the opening 50 for an optical disc (not shown). As a result, the types of trays 44 shown in FIG. 4 are different from those shown in FIG.
Also, it is too weak to endure normal handling for operations such as insertion and removal of the tray into and from the magazine 38. Alternatively, the tray strength can be maintained by making the width of the tray wider than the tray 44. However, the width of the magazine needed to hold the wider tray would be larger than current cartridges that comply with industry standards.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a multi-disc magazine having sufficient strength to withstand normal manual and mechanical handling. Another object of the present invention is ECMA-1.
84 or to provide a magazine which accommodates a plurality of optical disks in a housing having the same size as a cartridge conforming to the ECMA-201 standard.

[0007]

The above and other objects of the present invention are accomplished by a magazine containing a plurality of disc trays each holding a single-sided hubless optical disc. The recommended size is E
It conforms to the dimensions stipulated by industry standards such as CMA-184 or ECMA-201, and therefore has the same dimensions as the current cartridge that houses one double-sided optical disk. In one embodiment, the magazine accommodates four such trays in the volume previously required to accommodate two double-sided hubbed optical disks, which doubles the data storage density per unit of volume.

Unlike the prior art, the magazine does not have an inner side rail that supports the tray, but instead includes four locations that partially support the tray. There is a shelf for each tray in the rear corner of the magazine and fingers with rounded tabs on the left and right front sides of the magazine. Each tab faces the inside of the magazine and mates with a corresponding circular notch formed by cutting a portion of the edge of the tray. The portion of the tray that remains at the bottom of the notch rests on the tab that supports the tray just below, with the bottom tray being supported by the bottom plate of the magazine. In another embodiment, the front surface is partially supported by notches formed in the front edges of the left and right sides of the magazine that mate with mating tabs that project from the sides of the disc tray.

[0009]

FIG. 5 shows a single-sided hubless disk 5
It is sectional drawing of the center part of 2. The disk 52 is formed of a rigid substrate 54 and an active layer 56, which is covered with an outer protective transparent layer 58. Disk 52
When mounted on the optical disc device, the optical disc is rotated by being clamped by the spindle through the central hole 59. Obviously, because of the lack of a hub, the thickness of the disc 52 is less than half the thickness of the conventional double-sided disc assembly 10 shown in FIG. In fact, the four single-sided disks 52 are shown in FIG.
ECM in 4 disc trays of the type shown in
It can be stored in a disk magazine of the same size, including the standard cartridge and thickness. As a result, the data density of the optical disk cartridge can be doubled without changing the amount of data that can be stored on one disk surface.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a disc tray 60 holding a single-sided hubless optical disc in a circular opening 62. The tray has left and right edges 64 and 66, respectively. Unlike the disc tray 44 shown in FIG. 4,
The left and right edges 64 and 66 of the tray 60 of the present invention have a substantially uniform overall thickness from the front part to the rear part of the tray 60, and the tray 60 has two sides B and C on the side like the tray 44. It prevents it from becoming weak. The bottom of the disc itself rests on the peripheral flange 68 of the opening 62,
It is detachably fixed to the tray 60 by a latch 70 that is slanted out at a corner portion of the tray 60. Latch 70
There are various possible configurations for the above, but each of them contacts the upper surface of the disc, and the disc is latched by the latch 70 and the flange 6.
It is for restraining between 8.

Further, the left and right corners of the rear portion of the tray 60 include flanges, that is, the thickness-removed portions 72 and 74, respectively. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, circular notches 76 are formed in the left and right edges 64 and 66 near the front surface of the tray 60 by partially cutting the edge thickness vertically. This part is shown in detail in FIG. Therefore, the thickness of the portion remaining at the bottom of the notch 76 is smaller than the thickness of the entire tray 60. The circular shape can be considered to include various other rounded shapes.

7 and 8 are perspective views of an empty magazine 80 (FIG. 8 is a view with the top plate 82 of the magazine 80 removed). The magazine 80 has a top plate and a bottom plate, that is, covers 82 and 84, left and right side walls 86 and 88, and a rear wall 90. The assembled magazine 80 has a front opening 92.
From which the disc tray 60 is inserted and removed. The embodiment shown in FIG. 7 and FIG.
It has a set of N flexible fingers 94 and 96 formed on the front surfaces of the left and right sidewalls 86 and 88, respectively. The number N of fingers in each set 94 and 96 (four in the figure) is equal to the number of trays 60 that can be stored in the magazine 80. The following description relates specifically to one finger 98, but also to each finger in sets 94 and 96.
The rear end of the finger 98 is fixed to the side wall 86, while the front end is free to move horizontally (i.e. generally in the left-right direction). The fingers 98 are separated from each other by a notch in the left side wall 86 so that the fingers 98 are free to flex independently of the other fingers of the set 94. The free tip of finger 98 has a circular tab 100 facing the inside of magazine 80. The circular shape can be considered to include various other rounded shapes.

When the finger 98 is in place, the outside of the finger 98 is flush with the outside surface of the sidewall 86,
The circular surface of the tab 100 projects into the magazine 80.
When the disc tray 60 is inserted into the magazine 80,
The left corner portion after the tray 60 meshes with the tab 100 and pushes the tab 100 outward. When the tray is fully inserted, the extruded portion of the finger 98 pushes the tab 100 back into the magazine 80 and the circular notch 7 in the tray 60.
As it meshes with 6, the tray 60 is locked in the magazine 80 unless deliberately removed with a force greater than the spring pressure of the tab 100 against the notch 76.

Since magazine 80 does not have side rails, the present invention provides another means of supporting a disc tray. Magazine 80 has a set of shelves at the left and right rear corners
02 and 104, respectively, to provide partial support for the disc tray. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, each set has N-1 (or 3) shelves, as will be described. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 11 described below, each set has N shelves. This extra shelf is placed against the top plate 82 to reduce vertical movement of the top tray in the magazine 80. Shelf 102 is a disk ...
A vertical distance is provided that is approximately the same as the thickness of the flange 72 at the rear corner of the tray 60. The thickness of each shelf 102 is approximately equal to the thickness of the tray 60 minus the thickness of the flange 72. The tray inserted at the bottom of the magazine 80 (referred to here as the first tray) is the magazine 8
No shelves are required as it is entirely supported by the zero bottom plate 84. The second tray to be inserted is initially supported by the first tray and when the second tray is fully inserted and the tabs of the appropriate finger set 94 engage the notches 76, its left and right flanges 72 and 74 is supported by the first (bottom) left and right shelves of sets 102 and 104. Similarly, the third and fourth trays are also initially supported by the second and third trays, respectively, and then supported by the second and third left and right shelves, respectively.

Due to the position of the ears and notches on the left and right sides behind the outside of the magazine 80 (meshing with the access device of the automated library that grabs and transfers the magazine 80), the inside rear corner of the magazine 80 is the rear wall 90. Each is cut off by a diagonal wall 106 connecting the left and right side walls 86 and 88.
The rear corner of the tray 60 has corresponding diagonal edges. The shelves 102 and 104 are the magazine 80 and the tray 6.
Triangular according to the shape of 0, the edge 8 magazine
It is desirable to fix it to zero rear wall 90 and diagonal wall 106. The third side of the shelf is unsupported and faces the inside of the magazine 80 between the rear wall 90 and the diagonal wall 106.

When the tray 60 is fully inserted into the magazine 80 (FIG. 9), the front left and right sides are also partially supported. That is, the thinned portion of the tray 60 at the bottom of the circular notch 76 is the tab 1 of the finger 98 immediately below.
It is placed on top of 00 and supported. Further, even when the magazine 80 is flipped, the thinned portion of the tray 60 at the bottom of the circular notch 76 below the corresponding tab 100 partially supports the front surface. FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a magazine 80 holding four disc trays 60 therein.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a disc magazine 110 according to another embodiment of the present invention with a top plate removed, and FIG. 12 is a front view of a disc tray 130 held in the magazine 110. It is a figure of a left part. The front edges of the left and right sidewalls 112 and 114 have N slots 1
16 and 118 (again N is magazine 110)
Is the number of disc trays 130 that are held at. Each slot 116 mates securely with a corresponding tab 132 protruding from the left edge of the tray 130, which causes the tray 130 to be removed unless intentionally removed.
Retained within. As mentioned above, the magazine 110 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 11 has a set of N shelves at each rear corner, whereas the embodiment shown in FIG. 8 has N-1 shelves. The additional shelves 120 of each set are installed on the other shelves, and the flange formed at the rear corner of the uppermost tray 130 is sandwiched between the upper shelf 120 and the lower shelf, and the tray 1
It prevents the 30 from moving up and down inside the magazine 110.

FIG. 13 shows a disc magazine 1 according to the present invention.
It is a perspective view of the rear part which removed the top plate of 10 another Example. Unlike the embodiment shown in FIG. 8 and FIG.
Partial support of the trailing edge of the tray is provided by vertically spaced shelves 122 in the center of the rear wall 124 of the magazine 120.
It consists of a set of. It is recognized that other configurations of partial support may be used within the scope of this description.

FIG. 14 is a detailed perspective view of the left front corner of the disc tray shown in FIG.
Shows a latch 70 for holding the disk. The latch 70 has an "L" -shaped flexible arm 704 having an opening 702 formed in the tray 60 and a tip 706 protruding into a gap of a circumferential flange 68 formed in the opening 702 and on which an optical disc is placed. including. Arm 704 divides opening 702 into inner portion 708 and outer portion 710, respectively. The main portion of the arm 704 has the same thickness as the rest of the tray 60, but the tip 7 of the arm 704 is
06 has a smaller thickness. The elasticity of the arm 704 ensures that the tip 706 is fully pulled inside the opening 702 when the disc is loaded into the device, or when the disc is placed in or removed from the tray 60.

Referring now to FIG. 15, the tray 60 is used to release the disc from the tray 60 and mount it in the device.
On the disk loader 140. Vertical pins 142 enter the inner portion 708 of each latch 70. Further lowering of the tray 60 causes the pin 142 to push the arm 704 outwards so that the tip 706 of the arm separates from the disc and the disc is released and clamped and rotated on the machine spindle 144. The light source of the optical head 146 and associated optical disc elements allow the reading and writing of data on the disc. When the data access is complete, the disc is unclamped and the tray 60 is lifted from the loader 140. When the tray 60 goes up,
Each pin 142 disengages from its corresponding inner portion 708,
Arm 704 is released and tip 706 springs back onto the disc. After this, the tray 60 is removed from the loader and returned to the inside of the magazine.

16 and 17 show the disk of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a front and rear perspective view of an automatic information storage and retrieval library 150 capable of containing a magazine. Library 150
Is one or more optical disk devices 152, cell 1
A plurality of magazines 154 stored in one or more rows of 56 and the selected magazine 154 are stored in the storage cell 1
Includes an access mechanism 158 for transporting between 56 and optical disk device 152. Access mechanism 158 includes magazine gripper 160 and also includes bar code scanner 162 (or other means for identifying magazine 154) mounted on gripper 160. The library 150 includes an optical disk device 152 and an access mechanism 158.
Also included is a library controller 154 interconnected with and controlling their operation. Controller 164 includes at least one computer processor and also interconnects with a host processor (not shown). The controller receives the access command from the host processor, and the information stored in or read from the selected disk held in the magazine 154 is transferred to the optical disk device via the library controller 164. The data is transferred between 152 and the host, or directly between the optical disk device 152 and the host. .

As a summary, the following matters will be disclosed regarding the configuration of the present invention.

(1) A magazine that holds a plurality of stacked disc trays so that they can be inserted and taken out, and the magazine has (a) a top plate and a bottom plate each having a left edge, a right edge, and a rear edge, (b) the inner surface is made slidable, and the left and right side walls that connect the left and right edges of the top plate and the bottom plate, respectively, and (c) the rear edges of the top plate and the bottom plate that are connected, A rear wall that joins the rear edges of the side walls at the left and right corners of the rear wall;
(d) rear partial support means secured to the rear wall to support the rear portion of the disc tray;
(e) Includes left and right front holding means, each fixed to the left and right front regions of the left and right sidewalls, to hold each tray in the magazine until selectively ejected, thereby stacking The bottommost tray of the trays is supported by the bottom plate during insertion and removal from the magazine, and at least the next tray from the bottom of the stacked trays is supported by the bottommost tray when inserted into the magazine. (2) The number of a plurality of stacked optical disk trays is N, and the rear partial supporting means includes right and left rear portions of each tray except the lowermost tray of the N stacked trays. The magazine of (1), including N-1 shelves secured to each of the left and right corners of the rear wall for support. (3) The left and right front part holding means include N vertical notches formed on the front edges of the left and right side walls, each notch corresponding to at least a tab protruding from the left and right sides of each tray. The magazine according to (2), which is provided with a size for receiving. (4) The dimension of each notch in the direction from the top plate to the bottom plate is smaller than the thickness of the corresponding tab, so that the tab is retained in the notch when the tray is completely inserted in the housing. The listed magazine. (5) The left and right front holding means include N vertically continuous elastic fingers formed in the front regions of the left and right side walls, and each finger has its tip protruding into the magazine, Magazine according to (2), having circular tabs sized to mate with corresponding notches formed on the left and right sides of each tray. (6) The number of stacked optical disk trays is N, and the rear partial support means supports the rear portion of each tray except the bottom tray of the N stacked trays. The magazine according to (1), including N-1 shelves fixed to a central portion of the rear wall for the purpose of: (7) (a) There are four stacked optical disk trays, and (b) each disk tray has a diameter of 13
Holds 0 mm, single-sided, hubless optical disc, and (c)
The outside shape and dimensions of the magazine are European C
computerManufacturers Asso
standard E for optical disk cartridges accommodating 130 mm diameter double-sided optical disks, published by Cation.
The magazine according to (1), which is substantially compliant with CMA-184. (8) (a) The number of stacked optical disk trays is 4, and (b) each disk tray has a diameter of 90 m.
m, single-sided, holds a hubless optical disc, and (c) the shape and dimensions of the outside of the magazine are European Com
putterManufacturers Associ
standard ECMA for optical disk cartridges containing 90mm diameter, double-sided optical disks
The magazine according to (1), which is substantially compliant with -201. (9) (a) A magazine that stores a plurality of optical disks held in a corresponding plurality of stacked disk trays, and (b) Access data recorded in a selected one of the plurality of disks. And an optical disc device for
The optical disk apparatus includes a loader having a mechanism for taking out a selected one of a plurality of disk trays from the magazine and mounting a corresponding selected optical disk in the optical disk apparatus, wherein the magazines are each (a) left edge A top and bottom plate having a right edge and a rear edge, and (b) left and right side walls having inner surfaces made slidable and connecting the left and right edges of the top and bottom plates, respectively, (c) For connecting the rear edges of the top plate and the bottom plate and connecting the rear edges of the left and right side walls at the left and right corners of the rear wall, and (d) for supporting the rear portion of the disc tray. Rear partial support means fixed to the rear wall, and (e) fixed to the left and right front regions of the left and right sidewalls, respectively, to hold each tray in the magazine until selectively removed. Left and right Front holding means so that the bottommost tray of the stacked trays is supported by the bottom plate during insertion and removal from the magazine, and at least the next tray from the bottom of the stacked trays is the maximum when inserted into the magazine. A data storage device supported by a bottom tray. (10) The number of a plurality of stacked optical disk trays is N, and the rear partial supporting means includes the left and right rear portions of each tray except the lowermost tray of the N stacked trays. (9) including N-1 shelves secured to each of the left and right corners of the rear wall for support
The data storage device according to 1. (11) The left and right front holding means include N vertically continuous notches formed at the front edges of the left and right side walls, and each notch corresponds to at least a tab protruding from the left and right sides of each tray. The data storage device according to (10), which is provided with a size for receiving. (12) The dimension of each notch in the direction from the top plate to the bottom plate is smaller than the thickness of the corresponding tab, so that the tab is retained in the notch when the tray is completely inserted in the housing. The data storage device described. (13) The left and right front part holding means include N vertically continuous elastic fingers formed in the front regions of the left and right side walls, and each finger has its tip protruding into the magazine, The data storage device according to (12), which has a circular tab sized to engage with corresponding notches formed on the left and right sides of each tray. (14) The number of stacked optical disk trays is N, and the rear partial support means supports the rear portion of each tray except the bottom tray of the N stacked trays. The data storage device of (9), including N-1 shelves fixed to a central portion of the rear wall for the purpose of: (15) (a) There are four stacked optical disk trays, and (b) each disk tray has a diameter of 1
Holds a 30mm, single-sided, hubless optical disc, and (c)
The outside shape and dimensions of the magazine are European
ComputerManufacturers Ass
The data storage device according to (9), which is substantially compliant with the standard ECMA-184 for optical disk cartridges containing a 130 mm diameter, double-sided optical disk published by Ociation. (16) (a) There are four stacked optical disc trays, and (b) each disc tray has a diameter of 90 m.
m, single-sided, holds a hubless optical disc, and (c) the shape and dimensions of the outside of the magazine are European Com
putterManufacturers Associ
standard ECMA for optical disk cartridges containing 90mm diameter, double-sided optical disks
The data storage device according to (9), which is substantially compliant with -201. (17) (a) a plurality of optical discs, each of which is held in a disc tray; (b) a plurality of magazines, each of which stores a plurality of disc trays; and (c) for storing the plurality of magazines. A plurality of storage cells, (d) an optical disk device, (e) an access mechanism for transferring a selected one of the magazines between the storage cells and the optical disk device, (f) fixed to the optical disk device, And a loader having a mechanism for taking out a selected one of a plurality of disc trays from a selected magazine and mounting a corresponding optical disc in the optical disc device, wherein the magazine includes (a) a left edge and a right edge, respectively. And (b) left and right side walls having inner surfaces slidable and connecting left and right edges of the top and bottom plates, respectively, and (c) the top plate. as well as A rear wall that joins the rear edges of the plates and joins the left and right sidewall rear edges at the left and right corners of the rear wall; and (d) the rear wall to support the rear portion of the disc tray. Fixed to the rear partial support means, and (e) left and right front, respectively fixed to the left and right front regions of the left and right sidewalls to hold each tray in the magazine until selectively removed. Section holding means, whereby the bottommost tray of the stacked trays is supported by the bottom plate during insertion into and removal from the housing, and at least the next tray from the bottom of the stacked trays is inserted into the magazine. An optical disc data storage system supported by a bottom tray. (18) The number of a plurality of stacked optical disk trays is N, and the rear partial supporting means includes the left and right rear portions of each tray except the lowermost tray of the N stacked trays. Including N-1 shelves secured to each of the left and right corners of the rear wall for support, (1
The optical disk data storage system according to 7). (19) The left and right front part holding means include N vertical notches formed on the front edges of the left and right side walls, each notch corresponding to at least a tab protruding from the left and right sides of each tray. The optical disk data storage system according to (18), which is provided with a size for receiving. (20) The dimension of each notch in the direction from the top plate to the bottom plate is smaller than the thickness of the corresponding tab so that the tab is retained in the notch when the tray is fully inserted into the housing. The described optical disk data storage system. (21) The left and right front holding means include N vertically continuous elastic fingers formed in the front regions of the left and right side walls, each finger having its tip protruding into the magazine, The optical disk data storage system according to (18), having circular tabs sized to mate with corresponding notches formed on the left and right sides of each tray. (22) The number of a plurality of stacked optical disk trays is N, and the rear partial support means supports a rear portion of each tray except the lowermost tray of the N stacked trays. An optical disk data storage system according to (17), including N-1 shelves fixed to a central portion of the rear wall for. (23) (a) There are four stacked optical disc trays, and (b) each disc tray has a diameter of 1
Holds a 30mm, single-sided, hubless optical disc, and (c)
The outside shape and dimensions of the magazine are European
ComputerManufacturers Ass
The optical disk data storage system according to (17), which is substantially compliant with the standard ECMA-184 for an optical disk cartridge for storing a double-sided optical disk having a diameter of 130 mm, published by Ociation. (24) (a) The number of stacked optical disk trays is four, and (b) each disk tray has a diameter of 9
Holds 0 mm, single-sided, hubless optical disc, and (c)
The outside shape and dimensions of the magazine are European C
computerManufacturers Asso
standard EC for an optical disk cartridge that holds a 90mm diameter, double-sided optical disk, published by Ciation.
The optical disk data storage system according to (17), which is substantially compliant with MA-201.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a central portion of a conventional double-sided disk assembly.

FIG. 2 is a top view of a conventional optical disc cartridge that houses the optical disc assembly shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view in which a top plate of a proposed multi-disc magazine is partially cut away.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the front left side portion of the proposed tray compatible with the magazine shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a central portion of a single-sided hubless optical disc.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a disc tray of the present invention for holding a single-sided hubless optical disc.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an empty magazine of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the magazine of the present invention with the top plate removed when the magazine is empty.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view when one tray is completely inserted in the magazine shown in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view when four disc trays are inserted into the magazine shown in FIG.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a disc magazine according to another embodiment of the present invention with the top plate removed.

12 is a disc compatible with the magazine shown in FIG.
It is a figure which shows the front left part of a tray.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a disc magazine according to another embodiment of the present invention with the top plate removed.

14 is a detailed perspective view of a front left corner portion of the disc tray shown in FIG. 6. FIG.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a disc tray of the present invention mounted on a loader of an optical disc device.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the front of an automatic storage and retrieval library that houses the disc magazine of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the rear of the automatic storage and retrieval library that houses the disc magazine of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Disc Assembly 12, 14 Single Sided Disc 16, 18 Hard Substrate 20, 22 Active Layer 24, 26 Transparent Protective Layer 28 Central Hub 30 Spindle Hole 32 Optical Disc Cartridge 34 Case 36 Sliding Shutter 38 Multi Disc Magazine 40 Cover 42 Rail 44 Tray 46 Side Edge 50 Optical Disk Opening 52 Disk 54 Hard Substrate 56 Active Layer 58 Transparent Layer 59 Center Hole 60 Disk Tray 62 Circular Opening 64, 66 Left and Right Edges 68 Flange 70 Latch 72, 74 Flanges, that is, parts with reduced thickness 76 Circular notches 80 Magazines 82, 84 Covers 86, 88 Left and right side walls 90 Rear wall 92 Front opening 94, 96 Finger set 98 Fingers 100 circular Tabs 102, 104 Left and right rear corner shelves set 106 Diagonal walls 110 Disc magazines 112, 114 Left and right side walls 116, 118 N slots 120 Shelf 122 Shelf sets 124 Rear wall 130 Tray 132 Tabs 140 Disc loader 142 Vertical Pin 144 Device spindle 146 Optical head 150 Automatic information storage and retrieval library 152 Optical disc device 154 Multiple magazines 156 Storage cells 158 Access mechanism 160 Magazine / gripper 162 Bar code scanner 164 Library controller 702 Opening 704 Arm 706 Tip of arm 708 inner part 710 outer part

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued Front Page (72) Inventor Chee Tan Dan United States 85710, Tucson, Arizona, East Third Street, 6790.

Claims (24)

[Claims] 1. A magazine for holding a plurality of stacked disc trays in such a manner that it can be inserted and taken out, and the magazine has (a) a top plate and a bottom plate each having a left edge, a right edge, and a rear edge, and b) left and right side walls having inner surfaces slidable and connecting left and right edges of the top and bottom plates, respectively, and (c) connecting rear edges of the top and bottom plates, and the left and right side walls. A rear wall joining rear edges at left and right corners of the rear wall; and (d) rear partial support means fixed to the rear wall for supporting a rear portion of the disc tray, (e) To hold each tray in the magazine until selectively ejected,
The left and right front holding means are respectively fixed to the left and right front regions of the left and right side walls, and the bottom tray of the stacked trays is supported by the bottom plate during insertion into and removal from the magazine. At least the next tray from the bottom of the stacked trays is supported by the bottom tray when inserted into the magazine,
The magazine. 2. The number of stacked optical disk trays is N and said rear partial support means is the left and right rear portion of each tray except the bottom tray of the N stacked trays. The magazine of claim 1 including N-1 shelves secured to each of the left and right corner portions of the rear wall to support a portion. 3. The left and right front holding means includes N vertical notches formed on the front edges of the left and right side walls, each notch correspondingly protruding from the left and right sides of each tray. The magazine of claim 2, sized to receive at least a tab. 4. The dimension of each notch in the direction from the top plate to the bottom plate is less than the thickness of the corresponding tab so that the tab is retained in the notch when the tray is fully inserted into the housing. The magazine described in 3. 5. The left and right front holding means includes N vertically continuous elastic fingers formed in the front regions of the left and right side walls, and the tips of the fingers project into the magazine. 3. The magazine of claim 2 having circular tabs sized to mate with corresponding notches formed on at least the left and right sides of each tray. 6. The number of stacked optical disk trays is N, and the rear partial support means includes a rear portion of each tray except the bottommost tray of the N stacked trays. The magazine of claim 1 including N-1 shelves secured to a central portion of the back wall for support. 7. (a) The number of a plurality of stacked optical disk trays is 4, (b) each disk tray holds a 130 mm diameter, single-sided, hubless optical disk, and
(c) The outer shape and dimensions of the magazine are Europea
n Computer Manufacturers A
7. Comply substantially with the standard ECMA-184 published by Ssociation for optical disk cartridges containing 130 mm diameter, double sided optical disks.
The magazine described in. 8. (a) The number of a plurality of stacked optical disk trays is 4, (b) each disk tray holds a 90 mm diameter single-sided, hubless optical disk, and
(c) The outer shape and dimensions of the magazine are Europea
n Computer Manufacturers A
The magazine of claim 1 which is substantially compliant with the standard ECMA-201 for optical disk cartridges containing 90 mm diameter, double sided optical disks published by Ssociation. 9. A magazine for storing a plurality of optical discs held in a corresponding plurality of stacked disc trays, and (b) a selected one of the plurality of discs.
An optical disc device for accessing data recorded in one of the plurality of disc trays, the optical disc device taking out a selected one of a plurality of disc trays from the magazine and mounting a corresponding selected optical disc in the optical disc device. The magazine includes a loader having: (a) a top plate and a bottom plate each having a left edge, a right edge, and a rear edge; The respective left and right side walls, and (c) the rear edges of the top plate and the bottom plate are joined, and the left and right side wall rear edges are joined at the left and right corners of the rear wall, and the rear wall. , (D) rear partial support means fixed to the rear wall to support the rear portion of the disc tray, and (e) for holding each tray in a magazine until selectively removed. , Including left and right front holding means respectively fixed to the left and right front regions of the left and right side walls, whereby the bottommost tray of the stacked trays is supported by the bottom plate during insertion into and removal from the magazine, A data storage device in which at least the next tray from the bottom of the stacked trays is supported by the bottom tray when inserted into the magazine. 10. The number of stacked optical disk trays is N and the rear partial support means is the left and right rear of each tray except the bottom tray of the N stacked trays. 10. The data storage device of claim 9, including N-1 shelves secured to each of the left and right corner portions of the back wall to support a portion. 11. The left and right front holding means includes N vertical notches formed at the front edges of the left and right side walls, each notch correspondingly protruding from the left and right sides of each tray. The data storage device of claim 10, sized to receive at least a tab. 12. The dimension of each notch in the direction from the top plate to the bottom plate is less than the thickness of the corresponding tab so that the tab is retained in the notch when the tray is fully inserted in the housing. 11. The data storage device according to item 11. 13. The left and right front holding means includes N vertically continuous elastic fingers formed in the front regions of the left and right side walls, and the tips of the fingers protrude into the magazine. 13. The data storage device of claim 12, having at least a circular tab sized to mate with corresponding notches formed on the left and right sides of each tray. 14. The number of stacked optical disk trays is N, and the rear partial support means includes a rear portion of each tray except the bottom tray of the N stacked trays. The data storage device of claim 9, including N-1 shelves fixed to a central portion of the back wall for support. 15. (a) A plurality of stacked optical discs
There are four trays, (b) each disc tray holds a 130 mm diameter, single-sided, hubless optical disc, and (c) the outer shape and dimensions of the magazine is Europe.
an Computer Manufacturers
10. The data storage device of claim 9, which is substantially compliant with the standard ECMA-184 for optical disc cartridges containing a 130 mm diameter, double-sided optical disc published by Association. 16. (a) The number of a plurality of stacked optical disk trays is four, (b) each disk tray holds a 90 mm diameter, single-sided, hubless optical disk, and (c).
The outside shape and dimensions of the magazine are European
ComputerManufacturers Ass
standard E for optical disk cartridges containing 90mm diameter, double-sided optical disks
The data storage device of claim 9, which is substantially compliant with CMA-201. 17. (a) a plurality of optical disks each held in a disk tray; (b) a plurality of magazines each housing a plurality of disk trays; and (c) a storage of said plurality of magazines. Multiple storage cells for (d)
An optical disk device; (e) an access mechanism for transferring the selected one of the magazines between the storage cell and the optical disk device; and (f) a selected one of a plurality of disk trays fixed to the optical disk device. And a loader having a mechanism for mounting the corresponding optical disc on the optical disc device by taking out one from a selected magazine, and the magazine comprises (a) a top plate and a bottom plate each having a left edge, a right edge, and a rear edge. And (b) the inner surface is slidable, and connects the left and right edges of the top plate and the bottom plate, respectively, and (c) the rear edge of the top plate and the bottom plate, and A rear wall that joins the rear edges of the left and right side walls at the left and right corners of the rear wall, and (d).
Rear partial support means secured to the rear wall for supporting the rear portion of the disc tray; and (e)
In order to hold each tray in the magazine until it is selectively taken out, the left and right front holding means respectively fixed to the left and right front regions of the left and right side walls are included, whereby the maximum number of stacked trays is increased. An optical disk data storage system in which the bottom tray is supported by the bottom plate during insertion and removal from the housing, and at least the next tray from the bottom of the stacked trays is supported by the bottommost tray during insertion into the magazine. 18. The number of stacked optical disk trays is N, and said rear partial support means is the left and right rear portion of each tray except the bottom tray of the N stacked trays. 18. The optical disk data storage system of claim 17, including N-1 shelves secured to each of the left and right corner portions of the back wall to support a portion. 19. The left and right front holding means include N vertically continuous notches formed in the front edges of the left and right side walls, each notch correspondingly protruding from the left and right sides of each tray. 19. The optical disk data storage system of claim 18, sized to receive at least a tab. 20. The dimension of each notch in the direction from the top plate to the bottom plate is less than the thickness of the corresponding tab so that the tab is retained in the notch when the tray is fully inserted in the housing. An optical disk data storage system according to item 19. 21. The left and right front holding means include N vertically continuous elastic fingers formed in the front regions of the left and right side walls, each finger having its tip protruding into the magazine. 19. The optical disk data storage system of claim 18, wherein the optical disk data storage system has a circular tab sized to mate with corresponding notches formed on at least the left and right sides of each tray. 22. The number of stacked optical disk trays is N and the rear partial support means includes a rear portion of each tray except the bottom tray of the N stacked trays. 18. The optical disc data storage system of claim 17, including N-1 shelves fixed to a central portion of the back wall for support. 23. (a) A plurality of stacked optical discs
There are four trays, (b) each disc tray holds a 130 mm diameter, single-sided, hubless optical disc, and (c) the outer shape and dimensions of the magazine is Europe.
an Computer Manufacturers
18. An optical disc data storage system according to claim 17, which is substantially compliant with the standard ECMA-184 for optical disc cartridges containing a 130 mm diameter, double sided optical disc published by Association. 24. (a) A plurality of stacked optical discs
There are four trays, (b) Each disc tray holds a 90 mm diameter, single-sided, hubless optical disc, and
(c) The outer shape and dimensions of the magazine are Europea
n Computer Manufacturers A
20. Substantially conforming to the standard ECMA-201 published by Ssociation for a 90 mm diameter, optical disc cartridge containing double-sided optical discs.
The optical disk data storage system described in 1.