JPH08306115A - Cartridge auto-changer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To allow a cartridge to be on standby in its inserting position by enabling the cartridge to be inserted into one cartridge slot without preventing an auto-changer operation even when the auto-changer is under operation. CONSTITUTION: When it is detected by a microswitch 83 that the cartridge is inserted into the slot 50, a cartridge loading hole of a driving device is moved into a position corresponding to the slot 50. When a solenoid is energized, and a motor 15 is driven to rotate anticlockwise, feed rollers 71 and 72 are rotated with another pair of rollers in the same direction respectively to carry the cartridge to the driving device. The cartridge discharged from the driving device is carried by the feed rollers 71 and 72, and is stopped at a stage of emergence of a part of the cartridge out of the auto-changer. Interrupted light of an LED is detected again as it reaches a phototransistor, so that energizing of the motor 15 and the solenoid is stopped, and the cartridge is brought on standby in the slot 50.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention is mainly applied to a disk-shaped recording medium such as a magneto-optical disk or a tape-shaped recording medium.
The present invention relates to a cartridge autochanger in which a plurality of cartridges containing a recording medium such as a card are housed in a magazine, a desired cartridge is taken out of the cartridges housed in the magazine, loaded into a recording medium reproducing device, and reproduced. is there.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventional cartridge autochangers include those used for reproducing a disk-shaped recording medium (optical disk in this embodiment) as shown in FIG. Here, a recording medium reproducing device 202 is provided inside the autochanger 201, and a fixed magazine (not shown) is arranged above the recording medium reproducing device 202, in which a disc cartridge 20 accommodating the recording medium is provided.
A plurality of sheets 3 are stored in parallel with each other and arranged in the thickness direction of the recording medium.

Reference numeral 204 is a recording medium reproducing device 20.
It is a transporting unit that transports each cartridge 203 on the carriage between the magazine 2 and the magazine. Transporting means 20
4 can be moved in the vertical direction (the direction of the arrow in the figure) by an appropriate driving means. That is, for example, when it is desired to reproduce the information on the recording medium in the sixth cartridge from the bottom,
As shown in the figure, the transporting means 204 is moved to the position corresponding to the sixth cartridge from the bottom, and the required cartridge in the magazine is mounted on the transporting means by the cartridge attaching / detaching means (not shown).

Next, the carrying means 20 on which the cartridge is placed
4 moves downward and is stopped at a position corresponding to the cartridge loading port of the recording medium reproducing device 202. afterwards,
The cartridge is inserted into the recording medium reproducing device 202 from the conveying means 204, and the information on the optical disc is reproduced.
When reproducing information on another disc, from the recording medium reproducing device 202, the preceding cartridge is returned to the conveying means, the conveying means is moved in the reverse path, and returned to the original position in the magazine. The same transport operation is started for the newly selected cartridge.

In the cartridge autochanger having such a structure, when adding a cartridge in the magazine, a desired cartridge is loaded from the loading port 205 of the autochanger 201 to the conveying means 204, and then the conveying means 204 is moved to the magazine. The cartridge is moved to a position corresponding to the cartridge empty area, and the cartridge is loaded into the magazine by the cartridge attaching / detaching means.

When exchanging a desired cartridge in the magazine, conversely, the cartridge attaching / detaching means takes out the unnecessary cartridge to the conveying means 204, and the conveying means is connected to the loading port 2.
05, the unnecessary cartridge is discharged from the loading port 205. Then, as described above, a new cartridge may be inserted into the autochanger.

Therefore, when the cartridge (recording medium) in the magazine is replaced with a new cartridge (recording medium having different recording information), unnecessary cartridges are ejected one by one from the magazine, and then, the When a procedure for inserting the corresponding new cartridges one by one is necessary, and when it is desired to replace a number of new cartridges at once, this operation must be repeated, which is a troublesome work and takes a lot of time.

[0008] Therefore, recently, an autochanger has been proposed in which the magazine is detachably attached and the cartridge for each magazine can be replaced. If you can replace each magazine, you can easily and quickly replace multiple magazines. Further, since the cartridges can be stored in magazine units, it is convenient for organizing a large number of disc cartridges. When a cartridge other than the cartridge in the magazine is to be reproduced interruptively by the recording medium reproducing apparatus, a one-cartridge slot for the operator to insert the cartridge is also provided.

[0009]

In such an autochanger, a cartridge is usually inserted from a single-sheet cartridge slot while the changer is operating, such as when the cartridge is being conveyed between a magazine and a recording medium reproducing apparatus. Therefore, a lockable shutter is provided at the entrance of the single-sheet cartridge slot. Therefore, when it is troublesome to insert the cartridge by interruption, the entrance of the single-sheet cartridge slot is closed by the shutter so that the operator cannot insert the cartridge by mistake.

However, with such a configuration, the cartridge to be reproduced cannot be inserted while the shutter is locked, so the operator has to monitor when the shutter is unlocked, which is a serious problem. It's annoying.

Further, the shutter lock mechanism is provided with a driving force generating source such as a solenoid or a motor.
It is inevitable that the cost will inevitably increase.

[0012]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances. A first object of the present invention is to provide a single cartridge without interfering with the operation of the changer even when the autochanger is operating. It is an object of the present invention to provide a cartridge autochanger that allows a cartridge to be inserted into a slot for use and allows the cartridge to stand by at that position.

A second object of the present invention is to provide a means for prohibiting the insertion of the cartridge from the single-sheet cartridge slot into the recording medium reproducing apparatus side without separately providing a driving force generating source. To provide a cartridge auto changer.

A third object of the present invention is to provide a cartridge autochanger having a simple structure and means for surely prohibiting the insertion of the cartridge from the single-card cartridge slot into the recording medium reproducing apparatus. To provide.

[0015]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has a magazine containing a plurality of cartridges containing a recording medium, and a desired cartridge is taken out from the magazine for recording. It is configured to be loaded in the medium reproducing device, and is provided with a slot for loading a cartridge into the recording medium reproducing device directly from the outside of the autochanger, separately from the magazine, and the magazine and the slot are used for the autochanger. In a cartridge autochanger having a cartridge transport mechanism for transporting the cartridge to the outside or the recording medium reproducing apparatus, the cartridge inserted from the slot is stopped at least at the cartridge transfer position by the cartridge transport mechanism. Causes, the slot in the recording medium reproducing apparatus when the corresponding, which comprises a retractable stopper from the transfer position.

In this case, even when the autochanger is in operation, it is possible to insert the cartridge into the slot for one cartridge without disturbing the operation of the changer, and the cartridge can be made to stand by at that position. I wish I could. Further, for this purpose, the magazine and the slot are fixed to the main body of the autochanger, the recording medium reproducing device is configured to move in order to select a desired cartridge, and the recording medium reproducing device moves, The stopper may be retracted when the loading port of the recording medium reproducing device substantially coincides with the slot.

Further, in the above structure, it is possible to prohibit the insertion of the cartridge into the recording medium reproducing apparatus from the one-sheet cartridge slot without separately providing a driving force generating source.

In order to achieve the above object, as another aspect of the present invention, the stopper is provided between the slot and the recording medium reproducing device, and is substantially parallel to the moving direction of the recording medium reproducing device. Is normally urged to a position that prevents the cartridge inserted from the slot from moving toward the recording medium reproducing device, and the loading port of the recording medium reproducing device is substantially aligned with the slot. Until then, when the recording medium reproducing device moves, the stopper is moved against the biasing force to allow the cartridge inserted from the slot to move to the recording medium reproducing device side. .

[0019]

【Example】

(First Embodiment) An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. In the autochanger of the present invention, a magazine 2 containing a plurality of cartridges 1 is fixed to a chassis 4 via a magazine base 3. In this embodiment, 10 cartridges are stored in the magazine 2 side by side at a predetermined pitch d in the thickness direction of the recording medium. In addition, the recording medium reproducing device 5
The movable portion 6 including (hereinafter, referred to as the drive device 5) is configured to be movable in the thickness direction of the recording medium with respect to the magazine 2. The movable portion 6 is guided along guide rails 7 and 8 whose both ends are supported by the chassis 4, and receives a driving force from the motor 10 via the timing belts 9 and 10.

Next to the magazine storage portion of the magazine base 3, a single cartridge slot 50 is provided in order to load a cartridge into the drive device 5 directly from outside the autochanger, separately from the magazine 2. .

Cartridge loading port 5a of the drive device 5
A slit plate 51 and a photo interrupter 52 are provided to position (see FIG. 6) the positions corresponding to the ten cartridges and the slots 50 in the magazine. The slit plate 51 is fixed to the chassis 4, and slits corresponding to the number of the cartridges 1 stored in the magazine (10 sheets in this embodiment) correspond to the pitch d and for the slots 50. Slit 51a
Are provided respectively. Photo interrupter 52
Is provided on the upper portion of the bracket 40 supported by the movable portion 6, and the gap of the photo interrupter 52 (which is the gap formed between the LED and the sensor facing the LED) is defined by the slit plate 51. The movable portion 6 moves with the slit portion sandwiched therebetween. Then, when the center of the optical axis between the LED of the photo interrupter 52 and the sensor comes on a predetermined slit, if the movable portion 6 is stopped based on the detection signal, the cartridge of the drive device 5 is loaded into the required cartridge. The mouths 5a can be matched.

Cartridge 1 stored in magazine 2
Is transported to the drive device 5, and the cartridge transport mechanism is entirely mounted on the movable portion 6. The means for conveying the cartridge is the cartridge 1.
Drive from magazine 2 and drive device 5 halfway
The feed rollers 12 and 13 to be inserted into the
It is composed of a push-in lever 14 for loading the drive device 5 with the cartridge 1 that has been partially conveyed by the drive device 13. Each feeding roller is provided with rubber for preventing slippage on its peripheral surface.

Feed rollers 12 and 13, push-in lever 1
The drive of 4 is both given from the motor 15. The driving force of the motor 15 is transmitted to the pulley 17 via the timing belt 16, and the gear 18 and the gear 1 integrated with the pulley 17 are provided.
9 and a gear 20 that is integral with the gear 19 and is transmitted to the gear 21. The gear 22 meshes with the gear 21 with the same number of teeth, and is arranged at a position symmetrical to the gear 21 with respect to the vertical centerline 23 of the cartridge 1 in FIG.

The feed roller operating plates 24 and 25 are
The gears 21 and 22 are rotatably supported around the rotation shafts 26 and 27. Feed roller operating plates 24, 25
Partial gears 28 and 29 having pitch circles of the same radius centering on the rotary shafts 26 and 27 are fixed to the gears in mesh with each other. The partial gears 28 and 29 are meshed with each other such that the rotation of the partial gears 28 and 29 causes the feed rollers 12 and 13 to move toward and away from each other at positions vertically symmetrical with respect to the center line 23. Therefore, the partial gears 28 and 29 cause the plates 24 and 25 to rotate by the same angle in the opposite direction when one of them rotates.

On the other hand, the driving force transmitted to the gear 21 is rotated by the gear 3 which rotates around the rotation shaft embedded in the plate 24.
0, transmitted to the roller gear 32, and transmitted to the feed roller 12 attached to the tip of the roller gear 32. Similarly, the driving force transmitted to the gear 22 is transmitted to the gear 31 and the roller gear 33 that rotate around the rotation shaft embedded in the plate 25, and is transmitted to the feed roller 13 attached to the tip of the roller gear 33. . The gears 30 and 31, and the roller gears 32 and 33 are gears having the same module and the same number of teeth.

With such a structure, the feed rollers 12 and 13 can be rotated at the same rotational speed in opposite directions. Here, reference numeral 34 is an extension spring, which moves the plate 24 clockwise and the plate 25
Are urged counterclockwise, respectively. Therefore, the feed rollers 12 and 13 are normally separated from each other in the vertical direction as shown in FIG. 5, and are separated from both side surfaces of the cartridge 1 in the width direction. Therefore, if the movable portion 6 is moved in this state, the cartridge does not hinder the moving operation.

Reference numeral 35 is a solenoid, which is fixed to the movable portion 6. The iron core 35a of the solenoid is connected to one end 25a of the plate 25. By energizing the solenoid 35, the plate 25 rotates clockwise and the plate 24 rotates counterclockwise.

Further, reference numeral 36 is a photo interrupter for detecting the position of the plate 25, and a part 25b of the plate 25 is inserted between the gaps to shield the light.

Next, the drive mechanism of the push-in lever will be described. The pushing lever 14 is formed integrally with the gear 37, and is biased counterclockwise by a torsion spring 38. The gear 37 meshes with a gear 39, and both the gears 37 and 39 are rotatably supported by a bracket 40.

As shown in FIG. 3, when the solenoid 35 is energized, the feed rollers 12 and 13 move in a direction to sandwich the cartridge 1, so that the teeth of the gear 31 and the gear 39 do not mesh with each other, and the motor 15 operates. Even if it rotates, its driving force is not transmitted to the push-in lever 14. However, as shown in FIG. 5, when the energization of the solenoid is stopped, the gears 31 and 39 mesh with each other. Therefore, when the motor 15 rotates, the push lever 14 also rotates. At this time, the feed rollers 12 and 13 also rotate, but the cartridge 1
Since it is not in contact with, it just spins idle.

Reference numeral 41 is a phototransistor provided in the movable portion 6. The phototransistor 41 is used as a pair with the LED 42 (see FIG. 6) which is also arranged to face the movable part with the drive device 5 interposed therebetween. LED
42 continuously emits light, and normally this light is received by the phototransistor 41. However, during the process of loading the cartridge into the drive device 5 or the process of taking it out, the light is blocked by the cartridge 1, so this state is detected. can do.

At the position corresponding to the desired cartridge 1,
When the loading port 5 a of the drive device 5 is brought, the cartridge 1 is first conveyed by the feed rollers 12 and 13. The feed rollers 12 and 13 are normally located at the positions shown in FIG. 5, and are separated from the side surface of the cartridge 1 in the width direction. Therefore, the cartridge does not hinder the movement of the movable portion 6. However, when the cartridge loading command to the drive device 5 is output from the control means, the cartridge is loaded into the drive device according to the flow shown in FIG.

That is, first, the solenoid 35 is energized. At this time, since a force equal to or greater than the urging force of the tension spring 34 is generated in the solenoid 35, the feed roller 12 rotates about the rotary shaft 26 and the feed roller 13 rotates about the rotary shaft 27, so that the cartridge 1 is rotated. Transfer to the side. Next, when the motor 15 is rotated counterclockwise, the timing belt 16, the pulley 17, the gears 18, 19, 20, 2,
The driving force is transmitted in the order of 1, 30 and the roller gear 32.
At the same time, the gear 21 to the gears 22 and 31, the roller gear 33
The driving force is transmitted in this order. Therefore, the feed roller 12 rotates counterclockwise and the feed roller 13 rotates clockwise, and the disc cartridge 1 is conveyed into the drive device 5.

The feed rollers 12 and 13 are solenoids 35.
Since the cartridge 1 is pulled toward the cartridge side, when the conveyance of the cartridge 1 is completed, the cartridge 1 further moves inward while being in contact with the rear end of the cartridge and starts idling. At this time, the part 25b of the plate 25 blocks the light source-sensor of the photo interrupter 36 for the first time, and the drive of the motor 15 is stopped by this detection signal, and the energization of the solenoid 35 is stopped. When the energization of the solenoid 35 is stopped, the plate 25 is biased in the counterclockwise direction, so that as shown in FIG.
Also rotates counterclockwise around the rotary shaft 27 and meshes with the gear 39. Then, when the motor 15 is rotated in the clockwise direction, the driving force is transmitted to the gear 37 via the gears 31 and 39, and the pushing lever 14 rotates in the clockwise direction to push the rear end of the cartridge 1. When the disc cartridge 1 is pushed to the end, the disc cartridge 1 is locked in the drive device 5 and held in the operating position.

While the cartridge 1 is being conveyed, the LED light incident on the phototransistor 41 is blocked by the cartridge 1, but when the cartridge 1 is pushed to the end, the LED light reaches the phototransistor 41.
Therefore, by detecting this, the motor 15 is once stopped, that is, the drive of the push-in lever 14 is stopped. At this time, it is checked whether or not the media detection switch (not shown) in the drive device 5 is pressed, and if it is still in the OFF state, the motor 15 is driven again until it is turned ON.

If the driving stop timing of the push-in lever 14 is determined only by the media detection switch without using the phototransistor 41, the timing of stopping the motor 15 is delayed, and an excessive load is applied to the motor and the driving force transmission system. , Cause failure. Therefore, it is preferable to adopt the above sequence.

Next, for a fixed time (for example, 500 mS to 1)
000 mS), the solenoid 36 is energized. By this operation, the gear 31 and the gear 39 are disengaged from each other, the restoring force of the torsion spring 38 causes the push-in lever 14 to return to its original position, and the loading operation ends.

According to the configuration described above, the feed rollers 12 and 13 also rotate when the push-in lever 14 is driven, but there is no particular problem.

Next, the operation for returning the disc cartridge 1 into the magazine 2 will be described according to the flow shown in FIG. When the control unit outputs a cartridge ejection command to the drive device 5, the cartridge 1 is ejected from the cartridge loading port 5a of the drive device 5. When it is detected that the cartridge 1 is ejected by blocking the LED light to the phototransistor 41,
The solenoid 36 is energized to bring the feed rollers 12 and 13 into rolling contact with the side surface of the cartridge 1. Then, the motor 15 is rotated in the clockwise direction to rotate the feed rollers 12 and 13 in the clockwise direction and the counterclockwise direction, respectively, to start the conveyance of the cartridge 1 to the magazine.

The end of the transportation of the disc cartridge 1 to the magazine 2 is detected by the phototransistor 41. When the storage of the disk cartridge 1 in the magazine 2 is completed, the light of the blocked LED 42 is restored again.
Since it reaches the phototransistor 41, by detecting this, the energization of the motor 15 and the solenoid 36 is stopped.

Next, referring to FIG. 7, a mechanism for loading the cartridge inserted from the single cartridge slot 50 into the drive device 5 will be described. The cartridge 1 inserted from the front of the autochanger
After all, it is conveyed by the feed rollers 12 and 13 and the push-in lever 14 at the end, but as shown in FIG. 7, until the side surface of the cartridge 1 comes into contact with the feed rollers 12 and 13, another set of feed rollers is provided. It is conveyed by 71 and 72.

The feed rollers 71 and 72 are roller bases 7.
Roller gears 75 and 76 rotatably provided on the rollers 3 and 74.
Is attached to the tip of the roller base 73,
74 is rotatably supported around rotary shafts 77 and 78 that are planted in a left chassis (not shown) located on the front side of FIG. 7, and is rotated by feed springs 71 and 72 by torsion springs 79 and 80. Is urged in the direction of pressing the side surface of the cartridge 1. The gears 81 and 82 have a rotary shaft 7
The gears are rotatably supported independently of the roller bases 73 and 74 centering on the roller gears 75 and 76.
, And they are in mesh with each other. Reference numeral 83 is a micro switch for detecting whether or not the cartridge 1 is in the slot 50.

The gears 81 and 82 are at the plates 24 and 25 when the cartridge loading port 5a (see FIG. 6) of the drive unit 5 is at a position corresponding to the single cartridge slot 50 and the solenoid 35 is in the ON state. Is configured to engage with the roller gears 32 and 33 only when is moved inward.

When the micro switch 83 detects that the cartridge has been inserted into the slot 50, the cartridge loading port 5a of the drive device 5 is moved to the slot 5
Move to the position corresponding to 0. When the solenoid 35 is energized and the motor 15 is driven to rotate in the counterclockwise direction, the feed roller 71 causes the feed roller 12 and the feed roller 7 to rotate.
2 rotates in the same direction as the feed roller 13,
Carry the cartridge to the drive device. Figure 7
As shown in FIG.
When the cartridge is conveyed to a position in contact with 3, the cartridge is then loaded into the drive device, as in the case where the cartridge in the magazine is conveyed.

The cartridge ejected from the drive device is initially loaded by the feed rollers 12 and 13 into the slot 5
The cartridge is conveyed to 0 and then conveyed by the feed rollers 71 and 72, and is stopped when a part of the cartridge comes out of the autochanger. By detecting that the blocked light of the LED 42 reaches the phototransistor 41 again, the energization of the motor 15 and the solenoid 36 is stopped, and the cartridge 1 is set in the slot 50 at the position of FIG. Can be put on standby. In addition, by making the cartridge stand by in the slot 50,
It is also possible to replace the cartridge stored in the magazine 2.

Next, the lock mechanism of the magazine 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 shows a state where the magazine 2 is locked, and FIG. 8 shows a state where this lock is released. Reference numeral 61 is a rotary shaft 65 planted in the chassis 4.
The lock lever is rotatably supported around.
The lock lever 61 is biased clockwise by a torsion spring 62. Reference numeral 63 is a solenoid, and the movable portion 63a of the solenoid 63 is connected to the connecting plate 64.
Is connected to the lock lever 61. Normally, the distal end portion 61a of the lock lever 61 is fitted into the concave portion 2a of the magazine 2 by the biasing force of the torsion spring 62 to lock the magazine 2.

Reference numeral 66 is an opening / closing lid provided on the front surface of the autochanger. The user opens the opening / closing lid 66 and inserts the magazine 2 into the magazine loading opening 67 from the front. When the magazine 2 is pushed in, it resists the urging force of the torsion spring 62, and at the taper portion 2b of the magazine 2,
Push down the tip 61a of the lock lever 61 to bring the tip 6
It moves until 1a fits into the recess 2a. In this position,
The magazine 2 comes into contact with a stopper (not shown) provided on the magazine base 3 and stops.

Even if an attempt is made to pull out the magazine 2 in such a state as shown in FIG. 3, the lock lever 61 rotates clockwise, that is, in a direction in which the tip portion 61a bites into the concave portion 2a and cannot be pulled out. When the solenoid 63 is energized, the movable portion 63a pulls the lock lever 61 toward the solenoid via the connecting plate 64, so that the lock lever 61 rotates counterclockwise to the position shown in FIG.
At this time, the front end portion 61a of the lock lever 61 has the concave portion 2a.
The lock of the magazine 2 is released because it is disengaged. In this state, the user can pull out the magazine 2 from the auto changer.

Normally, when the user wants to pull out the magazine, the magazine is unlocked by operating a computer connected to the autochanger and issuing a command to unlock the magazine, for example. However, if it is inconvenient to pull out the magazine, for example, when the mechanism part of the autochanger is operating, or when the cartridge stored in the magazine is in the drive device or in the one-sheet cartridge slot, Unlocking is prohibited and the magazine cannot be pulled out.

Next, the stopper mechanism provided between the one-piece cartridge slot 50 and the drive device 5 will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, reference numeral 91 is a stopper, which is movable substantially parallel to the guide rail 7 along the guide pin 93 implanted in the left chassis 92. Since the groove portion 91a of the stopper 91 is fitted in the plate-shaped guide portion 94 provided on the magazine base 3, the stopper 91 does not rotate around the guide pin 93. Reference numeral 95 is a compression spring that biases the stopper 91 in the direction of the arrow in the drawing.

Here, FIG. 1 shows when the cartridge loading port 5a of the drive device 5 is in a position corresponding to the single cartridge slot 50, and FIG. 2 shows when the drive device is in another position. ing.

In the state shown in FIG. 2, the stopper 91 is pressed against the guide portion 94 by the urging force of the compression spring 95. Therefore, even if the cartridge 1 is inserted from the single-sheet cartridge slot 50, the cartridge cannot be pushed in more than the state in which the tip of the cartridge shown in FIG.

Therefore, even if this autochanger is in operation, the operation of the cartridge inserted from the single-sheet cartridge slot 50 is not hindered. However, the microswitch 83 in FIG.
However, since it has detected that the cartridge has been inserted into the single-sheet cartridge slot 50, the control unit (not shown) of the autochanger drives the cartridge in the slot 50 after the halfway operation is completed. A command is issued to convey the material into the device. Until then, the cartridge will wait in slot 50.

When the autochanger side is ready to accept the cartridge inserted from the single cartridge slot 50, the drive device moves to the position shown in FIG. At this time, the stopper abutting portion 6a of the drive holder 6 hits the stopper 91 and moves the stopper 91 to the position shown in FIG. 1 against the biasing force of the compression spring. After that, when the feed rollers 71 and 72 are rotated,
The cartridge that was in the slot 50 has a stopper 91
It is transported to the drive device without being blocked by. In this way, since the stopper can be retracted according to the movement of the drive device, a new drive means for retracting the stopper is not necessary.

[0055]

The present invention is as described above,
It has a magazine containing a plurality of cartridges containing recording media, and is configured so that a desired cartridge is taken out from the magazine and loaded into the recording medium reproducing device, and separately from the magazine, from the outside of the autochanger. A cartridge having a slot for directly loading the cartridge into the recording medium reproducing apparatus, and having a cartridge conveying mechanism for conveying the cartridge from the magazine and the slot to the outside of the autochanger or to the recording medium reproducing apparatus. In the autochanger, the cartridge inserted from the slot is stopped at least at the cartridge transfer position by the cartridge transport mechanism, and when the slot corresponds to the recording medium reproducing device, the transfer position is changed. Since comprises a retractable stopper from even autochanger is operating,
It is possible to insert the cartridge into the slot for a single cartridge without hindering the operation of the changer, and to make the cartridge stand by at that position.

Further, according to the present invention, the magazine and the slot are fixed to the main body of the autochanger, and the recording medium reproducing apparatus is configured to move in order to select a desired cartridge, and the recording medium reproducing apparatus moves. The stopper is retracted when the loading port of the recording medium reproducing device substantially coincides with the slot, so that the driving force generating source is not provided.
It is possible to prohibit the insertion of the cartridge into the recording medium reproducing device from the single-cartridge slot.

In this case, the stopper is provided between the slot and the recording medium reproducing device, and is movable in a direction substantially parallel to the moving direction of the recording medium reproducing device. Normally, the stopper is inserted from the slot. The cartridge is urged to a position that prevents the cartridge from moving toward the recording medium reproducing device, and when the recording medium reproducing device moves until the loading port of the recording medium reproducing device substantially matches the slot, Since the stopper is moved against the force to allow the cartridge inserted from the slot to move toward the recording medium reproducing device side, as described above, the recording medium is surely inserted from the slot for one cartridge. A mechanism for prohibiting the insertion of the cartridge into the playback device side,
It can be provided with a simple configuration.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of a main part showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is likewise a side view of a main part in a state where a stopper is working.

FIG. 3 is likewise a side view showing a state where the cartridge is taken out from the magazine.

FIG. 4 is likewise a plan view.

FIG. 5 is likewise a side view showing a process of loading a cartridge into the drive device.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a single cartridge slot.

FIG. 7 is likewise a side view showing a state where the cartridge is taken out from the slot.

FIG. 8 is a side view showing a main part of FIG.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing loading of a cartridge.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing ejection of a cartridge.

FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Cartridge 2 Margazine 5 Recording Medium Reproducing Device 5a Cartridge Loading Port 6 Movable Part 6a Stopper Abutting Part 12, 13 Feed Roller 14 Pushing Lever 50 1 Cartridge Slot 51 Slit Plate 52 Photointerrupter 71, 72 Feed Roller 83 Micro Switch 91 Stopper 91a Groove portion 94 Guide portion 95 Compression spring

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A magazine having a plurality of cartridges containing a recording medium, wherein a desired cartridge is taken out from the magazine and loaded in a recording medium reproducing apparatus, and the magazine is Separately, it is provided with a slot for loading a cartridge into the recording medium reproducing apparatus directly from the outside of the autochanger, and a cartridge for transporting the cartridge from the magazine and the slot to the outside of the automatic changer or the recording medium reproducing apparatus. In a cartridge autochanger having a transport mechanism, when the cartridge inserted from the slot is stopped at least at a cartridge transfer position by the cartridge transport mechanism and the slot corresponds to the recording medium reproducing device, Cartridge autochanger, characterized in that it comprises a retractable stopper from serial transfer position. 2. The magazine and the slot are fixed to the main body of the autochanger, the recording medium reproducing device is configured to move in order to select a desired cartridge, and the recording medium reproducing device is moved to perform the recording. 2. The cartridge autochanger according to claim 1, wherein the stopper is configured to retract from the transfer position when the loading port of the medium reproducing device substantially coincides with the slot. 3. The stopper is provided between the slot and the recording medium reproducing device, and is movable in a direction substantially parallel to the moving direction of the recording medium reproducing device, and is usually inserted from the slot. The cartridge is urged to a position that prevents it from moving toward the recording medium playback device,
When the recording medium reproducing device moves until the loading port of the recording medium reproducing device substantially coincides with the slot, the stopper is moved against the urging force to record the cartridge inserted from the slot. The cartridge autochanger according to claim 1, wherein the cartridge autochanger is configured to allow movement toward the medium reproducing device side.