JPH10172213A - Cassette carrier of auto-changer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To eliminate round about routing of extension harness by detecting this origin as the moving reference of a horizontal moving body, limit position in the origin size which will become the allowable limit point of the ordinary movement of the horizontal moving body and limit point in the end side. SOLUTION: A plurality of consoles A to D are coupled with an auto-changer body. The consoles A to D arranged in one end side and the consoles A to D arranged in the other end side are respectively provided with an optical shutter plate as a detection object in the origin size and an optical shutter plate 406 as a detection object in the end side. Each optical shutter plate has a small width shielding section and a large width shielding section and these shielding sections are arranged at the position passing the detection area of a couple of horizontal position detector sensors 403, 404. The horizontal moving body 30 during the initial operation is located at the origin, defining the limit position in the origin side and the limit position in the end side are defined as the allowable limit point of usual movement of the horizontal moving body 30.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention provides a recording / reproducing apparatus, a number of cassette storage chambers and the like in an autochanger main body, and a cassette transporter freely travels in the autochanger main body so that the recording / reproducing apparatus and an optional cassette storage chamber are provided. The present invention relates to an automatic changer for automatically carrying a cassette between the automatic changers.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional example of an autochanger is shown in FIGS.
This is shown in FIG. In FIGS. 121 to 123, a pair of guide rails 501 and 502 are fixed to the upper and lower positions of the autochanger body 500, and a horizontal moving body 503 is provided between the upper and lower sets of guide rails 501 and 502.
Is arranged. Guide rollers 504 are provided at upper and lower positions of the horizontal moving body 503 at left and right positions, respectively.
01 and 502 are in contact with the left and right position regulating travel surfaces 505, respectively. Traveling rollers 506 are provided at the left and right positions on the upper part of the horizontal moving body 503, and the left and right traveling rollers 506 are in contact with the own weight receiving traveling surfaces 507 on both sides. When a horizontal moving force is applied to the horizontal moving body 503, the left and right guide rollers 504 apply the left and right guide rollers 504 to the left and right position regulating running surfaces 505 on both sides of the vertically positioned guide rails 501 and 502. The left and right running rollers 506 roll on the running surface 507 respectively, and the horizontal moving body 503 moves horizontally along the guide rails 501 and 502 without swinging left and right.

The horizontal moving body 503 is provided with a vertical guide rail 508 extending in the vertical direction, and the vertical guide rail 508 is slidably provided with a cassette carrying body 509. A cassette holder (not shown) capable of transferring a cassette is provided in the cassette transporter 509.
Is provided.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 124, one end side (origin side) of the auto-changer body 500 in the horizontal transport direction.
A sensor substrate 510 is provided on the other end side (end side), and a pair of optical sensors 511a, 511 is provided on each sensor substrate 510 at a position shifted with respect to the horizontal transport direction.
b is provided. An optical shutter plate 512 to be detected by the optical sensors 511a and 511b is provided at the upper end of the horizontal moving body 503. Then, for example, the position where the pair of optical sensors 511a on one end side detects the optical shutter plate 512 due to the horizontal movement of the horizontal moving body 503 is set as the origin position, and the pair of optical sensors 511b on the other end side sets the optical shutter plate 512. The position to be detected is set as an end position and each position is recognized.

[0005]

The autochanger main body 500 is generally constructed by connecting a plurality of consoles, and the horizontal transport direction can be expanded by adding a new console. When extending in the horizontal transport direction, the optical sensors 511a and 511
It is necessary to move the sensor board 510 on which the “b” is placed to the final console, and thus an extension harness is required.

In addition, during the initial operation, it is necessary to perform the horizontal movement of the horizontal moving body at a low speed in order to accurately determine the origin. For this reason, the longer the horizontal transport distance, the longer the time required for finding the origin.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a cassette transporter for an autochanger which does not require the transfer of a sensor and the extension of an extension harness accompanying the extension of the autochanger body in the horizontal transport direction. or,
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a cassette transporter of an autochanger which can increase the efficiency of the initial operation during the initial operation.

[0008]

According to the present invention, there is provided a cassette transporter for an autochanger, wherein a horizontal moving body which moves horizontally is provided in a main body of the autochanger. A pair of horizontal position detection sensors are provided at positions shifted with respect to the horizontal conveyance direction on the horizontal moving body, and the pair of horizontal positions are provided at one end of the auto changer body in the horizontal conveyance direction. An origin-side detected part to be detected by the detection sensor is provided at the other end in the horizontal transport direction of the autochanger body, and an end-side detected part to be detected by the pair of horizontal position detection sensors is provided, respectively. An origin position serving as a movement reference of the horizontal moving body based on a change in the output of the horizontal position detection sensor, and an allowable limit point for normal movement of the horizontal moving body Home side limit position becomes and is obtained by detecting the end-side limit position.

Therefore, when expanding in the horizontal transport direction, it is only necessary to move the end-side detected portion at the other end while keeping the positions of the pair of sensors.

Further, in the cassette transporter for an autochanger according to the present invention, a horizontal moving body that moves horizontally is provided in the main body of the autochanger, and the horizontal moving body is provided with a cassette conveying body capable of transferring a cassette. The body is disposed at a position shifted with respect to the horizontal transport direction, and a pair of horizontal position detection sensors that output binary information are provided. At one end and the other end of the auto changer body in the horizontal transport direction, An origin-side detected portion and an end-side detected portion that are common detection targets are provided for the pair of horizontal position detection sensors, respectively. Set the range of the pattern between the origin limit position and the origin position, between the origin position and the slow start position, and between the slow start position and the end limit. Between the location, which is constituted between four and the home side portion to be detected so as to correspond to the range of the end-side part to be detected of the reverse position and the end-side limit position.

Accordingly, the interval between the origin-side limit position and the end-side limit position is divided into four sections, and the position of the horizontal moving body can be recognized by a pair of horizontal position detection sensor outputs. The initial operation can be performed efficiently.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 105 show an autochanger according to an embodiment to which the present invention is applied. This autochanger will be described in the following order.

1. Outline of autochanger body and cassette transporter 1-a. Basic console 1-b. Drive console 1-c. Cassette console 1-d. Extended basic console 1-e. Cassette delivery mechanism 1-f. Outline of cassette transporter 1-g. 1. Various specific system configuration examples Details of cassette transporter 2-a. Guide rail 2-b. Horizontal moving body, running roller 2-c. Guide roller 2-d. Horizontal drive transmission system of horizontal moving body 2-e. Vertical movement of cassette carrier 2-f. 2. Transport fixing device for cassette transporter 3. Power supply to horizontal moving body, etc. 4. Rotation mechanism of cassette carrier Cassette holder 5-a. Forward and backward movement of the hand part 5-b. Hand part centering mechanism 5-c. Hand part vertical adjustment mechanism 5-d. Cassette hand mechanism 5-e. Cassette pushing mechanism 5-f. Cassette guide mechanism 5-g. Details of cassette guide 5-h. Storage room lock release means 6. 6. Details of cassette shelf Cassette delivery operation of cassette transporter 7-a. Cassette loading operation 7-b. Transfer operation of cassette 7-c. Operation of U-shape of cassette guide 7-d. Adjustment of cassette guide position 7-e. 7. Exit operation of lock release lever 8. Transfer area and rotation area of the autochanger body Position control of moving body and rotating body, initial operation 9-a. Horizontal position control and initial operation of horizontal moving body 9-b. Vertical position control of cassette carrier, initial operation 9-c. 9. Rotation control of cassette holder, initial operation 10. Position detecting means of cassette transport body Cassette in / out mechanism 12. Various modifications.

1. Outline of Autochanger Main Body and Cassette Conveyor (FIGS. 1 to 19) The autochanger uses some or all of four types of a basic console A, a drive console B, a cassette console C, and an extended basic console D, and uses any of these. An autochanger main body 1 is connected and connected in an arbitrary order, and one or a plurality of cassette transporters 2 that move inside the autochanger main body 1 to transport the cassette K are provided.

1-a. Basic Console In FIGS. 1 to 3, the basic console A has a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and a transport area CE in which a cassette transport body 2 described below moves is formed in a central space thereof. A control box 3 and small two-stage cassette shelves 4 are arranged at the rear of the transfer area CE, and two-stage cassette shelves 5 at the top and bottom of the transfer area CE are provided at the front of the transfer area CE. The control box 3 houses an electronic circuit such as a controller. Each cassette shelf 4 is provided with a plurality of cassette storage chambers 6 for vertically storing cassettes K. Each of the input / output cassette shelves 5 is provided with four input / output cassette insertion chambers 7 in the vertical direction, and these input / output cassette insertion chambers 7 are connected to the outside and inside of the basic console A as described in detail below. Cassette K from both
It is configured to be able to insert. The cassette K is stored horizontally in each of the cassette insertion chambers 7 for entrance and exit. The cassette insertion chamber 7 for opening and closing is opened and closed by the vertical movement of the lids 28a and 28b.

The transport area CE of the basic console A
Guide rails 8 extending in the left-right direction (horizontal transport direction of the cassette) are provided at the upper position and the lower position, respectively. An energizing rail 9 extending in the same direction as the guide rail 8 is provided near the lower guide rail 8.

Further, drive consoles B, cassette consoles C and other basic consoles A can be selectively connected to both sides of the basic console A, respectively. The console D is configured to be connectable. When connecting the extended basic console D, the cassette shelf 5 for access
Remove etc.

In this embodiment, the cassette K is a tape cassette, but in the present invention, the cassette K refers to any recording medium that can be attached to and detached from a recording / reproducing apparatus, and includes, for example, a disk cassette and a disk itself.

1-b. Drive console In FIGS. 1, 4 and 5, drive console B
Has a rectangular shape projecting rearward from the basic console A when connected, and the central console A
A transport area CE is configured in the same manner as described above. At the rear position of the transport area CE, three recording / reproducing devices 10 arranged vertically and a small cassette shelf 4 of two upper and lower levels are arranged. 4 are arranged. The cassette insertion slot 10a of the recording / reproducing apparatus 10 is horizontal, and the cassette shelf 4 is provided with a plurality of cassette storage chambers 6 for vertically storing cassettes K.

A pair of guide rails 8 are provided at the upper and lower positions of the transport area CE of the drive console B, similarly to the basic console A, and an energizing rail 9 is provided at the lower position. ing. Furthermore, basic consoles A are provided on both sides of the drive console B, respectively.
A cassette console C and another drive console B are configured to be selectively connectable, and an extended basic console D is configured to be connectable to the front of the drive console B. When connecting the extended basic console D, the upper cassette shelf 4 is removed.

1-c. Cassette console In FIG. 1, FIG. 6 and FIG.
Has a rectangular shape substantially the same size as the basic console A, and a transport area CE is formed in this central space similarly to the basic console A. At the front and rear positions of the transport area CE, two large upper and lower cassette shelves 4 are respectively arranged.
Are provided in a large number of cassette storage chambers 6 for storing.

A pair of guide rails 8 are provided at the upper and lower positions of the transport area CE of the cassette console C, similarly to the basic console A, and an energizing rail 9 is provided at the lower position. ing. Further, a basic console A is provided on each side of the cassette console C.
, A drive console B and another cassette console C can be selectively connected, and an extended basic console D can be connected to the front and rear surfaces of the cassette console C, respectively. When connecting the extended basic console D, the upper cassette shelf 4 at the connecting position is removed.

1-d. Extended basic console In FIG. 1, FIG. 8 and FIG.
Has a rectangular shape substantially the same size as the basic console A, and a transport area CE is formed in this central space similarly to the basic console A. A console box 3 and two small cassette shelves 4 in the upper and lower stages are arranged at the rear position of the transfer area CE. A cassette transfer mechanism F is provided above the shelf 4. The control box 3 houses an electronic circuit such as a controller. Each cassette shelf 4 has a cassette storage room 6 for vertically storing cassettes K.
Are provided.

Similarly to the basic console A, a pair of guide rails 8 is provided above and below the transport area CE of the extended basic console D, and an energizing rail 9 is provided below. Have been. Further, the left side of the extended basic console D is the front side of each of the drive console B and the basic console A, and the cassette console C
Are configured to be selectively connectable to the front and rear surfaces of the vehicle. The right side of the extended basic console D is configured to be selectively connected to the drive console B, the cassette console C, and the basic console A, respectively.

That is, the extended basic console D is connected to a console group connected in the first direction in a second direction (orthogonal direction) different from the first direction.

1-e. Cassette delivery mechanism As shown in FIGS. 1, 8 and 9, the cassette delivery mechanism F has upper and lower cassette delivery shelves 11, each of which is independently moved by an individual power transmission system. It is configured as follows. Each cassette delivery shelf 11 is provided with a cassette storage room 12 for storing a cassette K in a horizontal direction. The two cassette transfer shelves 11 may be configured to move integrally by the same power transmission system.

In FIGS. 10 and 11, the cassette transfer mechanism F has a slide rail 13 fixed to the extended basic console D and extending in the same direction as the pair of guide rails 8. A block 14 is slidably mounted.
An endless timing belt 15 is fixed to the slide block 14, and the timing belt 15 is hung on a pair of pulleys 16. A gear 17 is fixed to one shaft of the pair of pulleys 16, and the gear 17 meshes with a small-diameter tooth portion of the intermediate gear 18. The large-diameter tooth portion of the intermediate gear 18 is a gear 20 fixed to the shaft of a slide motor 19.
Are engaged. A pair of slide stoppers 21a and 21b are provided near the slide rail 13, and the slide block 14 is in contact with one of the slide stoppers 21a in solid line positions in FIGS. 10 and 1 abutting on the portion 21b
It moves linearly between the position of one dot and dash line.

A rotation motor 22 and a reduction gear 23 are provided below the slide block 14. The rotation of the rotation motor 22 is reduced by the reduction gear 23 and transmitted to the output shaft 24. The output shaft 24 projects from the upper surface of the slide block 14, and the cassette transfer shelf 11 is fixed to the projected output shaft 24. On the upper surface of the slide block 14, two rotation stoppers 25a, 2
5b is provided, and a shelf side stopper portion 26 is provided on the lower surface of the cassette transfer shelf 11. In the cassette delivery shelf 11, the shelf-side stopper portion 26 abuts one rotation stopper portion 25a in FIGS. 10 and 11 and the one-dot chain line position in FIG. 10 and FIG.
1 between the two-dot chain line position.

That is, the cassette delivery shelf 11 is as shown in FIG.
The cassette K is moved between a first cassette transfer position, which is a two-dot chain line position in FIGS. 10 and 11, and a second cassette transfer position, which is a solid line position in FIGS. At the first cassette transfer position, the cassette K is transferred by the cassette transporter 2 that is located in the console connected in the first direction and moves in the first direction. In the second cassette transfer position, the cassette K is transferred by the cassette transporter 2 located in the extended basic console D connected in the second direction and moving in the second direction.

1-f. 1. Outline of Cassette Transporter The cassette transporter 2 comprises a pair of upper and lower guide rails 8 of consoles A to D constituting the autochanger main body 1, a horizontal moving body 30 which is guided by the pair of guide rails 8 and moves horizontally. A cassette carrier 31 vertically moving with respect to the horizontal moving body 30; the horizontal moving body 30 and the cassette carrier 31 are moved in the horizontal direction by a driving system described below; To move vertically. The cassette transport body 31 is configured to be able to transfer the cassette K between the cassette storage chamber 6 and the recording / reproducing device 10 or the like.

That is, one cassette transporter 2 is disposed in the console group connected in the first direction, and the cassette transporter 2 moves to all positions of the console group,
In addition, the cassette K is transferred at all the transfer positions including the first cassette transfer position of the cassette transfer mechanism F (the entrance of the cassette storage chamber 6, the cassette insertion opening 10a of the recording / reproducing device 10, and the inside entrance of the input / output cassette insertion chamber 7). Perform delivery. Also, one cassette transporter 2 is arranged in the console group connected in the second direction, and the cassette transporter 2 transfers the cassette K in the same manner as described above.

1-g. Examples of Various Specific System Configurations FIGS. 12A and 12B are examples of the minimum system, and the autochanger main body 1 includes only a basic console A and a drive console B. Only one cassette transporter 2 is required.

FIG. 13 shows a system in which a plurality of cassette consoles C and drive consoles B are alternately connected to the minimum system. That is, FIG.
This is an extension of the minimum system of (a) and (b) in the first direction, and there is no need to increase the number of cassette transporters 2.

FIG. 14 shows a system in which only a plurality of drive consoles B are connected to the minimum system. This is expanded in the first direction as in the system of FIG. FIG. 15 shows a system in which extended basic consoles D are respectively connected to the front side of drive consoles B at appropriate positions in the system of FIG. 14, and a plurality of cassette consoles C are continuously connected to each extended basic console D. . That is, the system of FIG. 14 is expanded in a plurality of rows in the second direction, and the cassette transporter 2 is required for each row. For example, the cassettes K in the console group that are continuous in the second direction are conveyed to the transfer shelf 11 of the cassette transfer mechanism F by the cassette transfer device 2 in the second direction, and are moved from the second cassette transfer position to the first cassette transfer position by the cassette transfer mechanism F. It is moved to the cassette transfer position. Then, the cassette transporter 2 in the first direction transports the cassette K on the cassette transfer shelf 11 to the recording / reproducing device 10 or the like.

FIGS. 1 and 16 show an extended basic console D connected to the front side of a drive console B and a cassette console C in place with respect to the system of FIG. 13, respectively. This is a system in which a plurality of cassette consoles C are connected alternately and continuously. That is, the system shown in FIG. 13 is extended by a plurality of columns in the second direction.

FIG. 17 shows the basic console A with the first console.
, Two drive consoles B and two cassette consoles C are connected alternately and continuously, and an extended basic console D is connected to the front side of the drive console B. In this system, a drive console B and a cassette console C are connected alternately and continuously. That is, the system is configured with the pillars 27 of the installation room avoided.

FIG. 18 shows the basic console A as the first console.
, A plurality of cassette consoles C are continuously connected in the direction of, and an extended basic console D is connected to the front side of a part of the cassette consoles C of the plurality of cassette consoles C. The console B, the cassette console C, and the drive console B are connected in this order, and the extended basic console D is connected to the rear side of some cassette consoles C of the plurality of cassette consoles C in the first direction. This extended basic console D is a system in which a cassette console C and a drive console B are connected. That is, the system is configured with the pillars 27 of the installation room avoided.

FIG. 19 shows the basic console A as the first console.
The empty consoles E are continuously connected in the direction of, and the extended basic consoles D are respectively connected to the front and rear sides of a part of the plurality of empty consoles E. The empty console E is provided with only a pair of guide rails 8 on which the cassette transport 2 moves and a rail 9 for energization.

2. Details of the cassette transporter (FIGS. 20 to 3)
9) 2-a. Guide Rail Next, details of the cassette transporter 2 schematically described above will be described. FIG. 20 is an overall perspective view of the cassette transporter 2. As described above, the cassette transporter 2 includes a pair of upper and lower guide rails 8 arranged on the upper and lower surfaces of the consoles A to D.
A horizontal moving body (moving body) 30 that is guided by the pair of guide rails 8 and moves horizontally;
And a cassette transport body 31 that moves vertically with respect to.

As shown in detail in FIG. 21, the guide rail 8 has a substantially rectangular hollow cross section, and a running surface 8a for receiving its own weight is formed at the center of the upper surface. The running surface 8a for receiving its own weight is configured as a horizontal smooth surface, and a running roller 322 described below is placed on the running surface 8a for receiving its own weight of the guide rail 8 arranged on the lower surface. A pair of left and right position regulating running surfaces 8b are formed on upper portions of both side surfaces of the guide rail 8. The pair of right and left position regulating running surfaces 8b is configured as a vertical smooth surface,
A guide roller 326 described below is in contact with each of the right and left position regulating travel surfaces 8b. In addition, grooves 8c whose inner space is wider than the entrance side are formed at four places, that is, both left and right end portions of the upper surface of the guide rail 8 and lower portions of both side surfaces. Further, a rack abutting portion 8d is provided so as to protrude on the upper surface of the guide rail 8 and between the running surface 8a for receiving its own weight and the one groove 8c. Left and right position regulating running surface 8b on the side where the pinion gears 41a and 41b are arranged (left side in the figure)
It is set to a position of a predetermined size P ₁ against.

On the other hand, on the upper and lower surfaces of each of the consoles A to D,
As shown in detail in FIG. 23, a rail post 300 which is a rail reference portion is provided at an appropriate position along a rail attachment reference line L. Specifically, the rail post 300 has a columnar shape, and is set such that the outer peripheral tangent is on the rail attachment reference line L. Further, screw holes 301 are formed at appropriate positions on the upper and lower surfaces of each of the consoles A to D. Further, a reference pin 302 positioned with respect to the rail attachment reference line L is provided on one connection end face 299 (left end face in the figure) of each of the consoles A to D, and on the other connection end face 299 (right end face in the figure). Reference holes 303 positioned with respect to the rail attachment reference line L are provided. Therefore, the adjacent consoles A to D are provided with the reference pins 302 in the reference holes 303.
When the two rails are connected by inserting them, the two rail mounting reference lines L are aligned.

FIGS. 22 and 24 show the guide rail 8.
The fixed state is shown in detail, and the guide rails 8 at the upper and lower positions are fixed by the same means. FIG. 22 and FIG.
4, consoles A to D have rail posts 300
A guide rail 8 is disposed along the guide rail 8, and at one side of the guide rail 8 and at an outer position of the rail post 300, one attachment 304 is connected to the consoles A to D by screws 305.
It is fixed to. At the outer position on the other side of the guide rail 8, the other mounting fixture 306 is connected to the consoles A to
D is fixed. A long screw 307 is inserted into a screw insertion hole of one of the attachments 304. I have. The guide rail 8 is forcibly pressed by the rail post 300 even if the guide rail 8 is bent due to the fastening force of the priming screw 307. A screw 309 having a shorter dimension than the screw 307 is inserted into a screw insertion hole of the other mounting tool 306.
8.

That is, the guide rail 8 uses a pair of mounting members 304 and 306 fixed to both the left and right sides, and the priming screw 307 and the screw 309 inserted into the pair of mounting members 304 and 306 are attached to the plate of the guide rail 8. Since the guide rails 8 are fixed by being screwed into the nuts 308, even if the guide rails 8 are bent, the console rails A to D are not provided with the elongated holes as in the conventional case but merely provided with the screw holes 301.
Can be fixed substantially on a straight line. In this embodiment, the rail post 300 is provided at an appropriate position along the rail attachment reference line L, and the guide rail 8 is pressed against the rail post 300. Therefore, the guide rail 8 is bent as shown in FIG. Also, they are arranged on a straight line along the rail attachment reference line L.

A rack 32 is disposed at one end of the upper surface of the guide rail 8, and a leaf spring member 310 is fixed to a side surface of the rack 32 with a priming screw 311. The lower end of the leaf spring member 310 is pressed against the outer surface of the rack butting portion 8d, and the pressing force of the leaf spring member 310
Are pressed against the rack butting portion 8d. The screw 312 inserted into the screw insertion hole of the rack 32 is a plate nut 3 arranged in the internal space of the groove 8 c on the upper surface of the guide rail 8.
08.

That is, the rack 32 is fixed to the guide rail 8 in a state where the rack 32 is positioned at the rack butting portion 8d by the spring force of the leaf spring member 310. Since the rack butting portion 8d is positioned with respect to one of the left and right position regulating running surfaces 8b of the guide rail 8, the position of the rack 32 is accurately positioned with respect to the one left and right position regulating running surface 8b. Is done.

Further, as will be described in detail below, a sensor shutter plate 313 is disposed at the other end of the upper surface of the guide rail 8 at the origin and end positions of the autochanger body 1, and each sensor shutter plate is provided. A screw 314 inserted into the screw insertion hole 313 is screwed into a plate nut 308 arranged in the internal space of the groove 8c. The sensors (not shown) on the side of the horizontal moving body 30 detect the sensor shutter plates 313 and are used for determining the horizontal position (origin position, end position, etc.) of the horizontal moving body 30.
In this embodiment, one groove 8c of the guide rail 8 is used.
Is used for mounting the sensor shutter plate 313, but the present invention is not limited to this, and components such as a stopper plate can be mounted at any horizontal position. Accordingly, the degree of freedom in design is increased, and the mounting position and the mounting workability thereof are also improved.

As shown in FIG. 24, the position of the end face 32c of the rack 32 is set to be the same as the position of the connection end face 299 of the consoles A to D, but the position of the end face 8g of the guide rail 8 is set to the console A. ＤD are set at positions shifted from the connection end surfaces 299. Then, the ends 8g of the two guide rails 8 connected to each other have the same attachment 3
04, 306 and the like. That is, since both guide rails 8 are mounted on the same consoles A to D and are fixed by the same fixtures 304, 306, etc., the guide rails 8 are connected without any level difference in the vertical and horizontal directions. be able to. Therefore, there is no need for an adjustment operation using a push screw as in the related art, and connection without a step can be achieved by a simple operation.

Also, as shown in FIG.
A shim member 315 is interposed between D and the guide rail 8, and the number of the shim members 315 (in some cases, zero) is adjusted by each of the consoles A to D so that the guide rail 8 of each of the consoles A to D is adjusted. Height adjustment has been made.

In this embodiment, the guide rails 8 at the upper and lower positions have the same configuration, but may have different configurations (for example, sectional shapes).

2-b. Horizontal Moving Body, Roller for Traveling The horizontal moving body 30 is, as shown in FIG.
0a, an upper support portion 30b, and a vertical rod portion 30C connecting these. As shown in detail in FIGS. 26 to 28, a pair of left and right arm support bases 316 is fixed to the lower surface of the lower support portion 30 a with screws 317, respectively. The approximate center is rotatably supported via a first support shaft 319 in the direction of arrow a in FIG. The first arm 318 has a rotation trajectory surface substantially perpendicular to the running surface 8a of the guide rail 8 for receiving its own weight. At the both ends of the first arm 318, the substantially center of the second arm 320 is connected via a second support shaft 321 to FIG.
8 are supported so as to be rotatable in directions indicated by arrows b.
The distance S ₁ from the first support shaft 319 to each of the second support shafts 321 on both sides is set to the same dimension.

Each of the second arms 320 has a rotation trajectory surface substantially perpendicular to the running surface 8a of the guide rail 8 for receiving its own weight. Each of the second arms 320 is composed of a pair of left and right members.
22 are provided. Each running roller 322 is rotatably supported by a support shaft 323 fixed between a pair of left and right members. Distance S ₂ from the second support shaft 321 of each to both sides of each support shaft 323 is set to the same size.
The four running rollers 322 are arranged in a vertical line, and are in contact with the own weight receiving running surface 8 a of the lower guide rail 8.

That is, when a horizontal driving force is applied to the horizontal moving body 30 by a driving system described below, the four moving rollers 322 roll on the self-weight receiving running surface 8a of the guide rail 8, thereby causing the horizontal moving body 30 to move. Move horizontally. Here, as shown in FIG. 29, when the traveling surface 8a for receiving the own weight of the guide rail 8 has a bend (undulation), the first arm 318 rotates with respect to the horizontal moving body 30, or the first arm 318 On the other hand, each of the second arms 320 on both sides independently rotates (oscillates) and each of the traveling rollers 322
Moves up and down following the bending (undulation) of the guide rail 8. Therefore, each running roller 322 is connected to the guide rail 8.
, The contact state is always maintained, and the specific traveling roller 3
The load of the horizontal moving body 30 does not concentrate only on 22.

Further, even if there is a step at the joint of the guide rail 8 at the lower position, the above-mentioned swinging operation serves as a suspension, so that it is possible to avoid impact noise and the like.

2-c. As shown in FIGS. 20, 26, and 27, gear pedestal portions 32 are provided at left and right positions on the lower surface side of lower support portion 30a and the upper surface side of upper support portion 30b.
4 and the guide arm base 325 are fixed respectively. The upper and lower gear pedestals 324 and the guide pedestal 32
5 is provided with a pair of left and right guide rollers 326 at the front position and the rear position, respectively.

Guide roller 326 on the gear base 324 side
Are rotatably supported via fixed support shafts 327, and each of the guide rollers 326 is in contact with one of the right and left position regulating running surfaces 8 b of the guide rail 8. Each of the guide rollers 326 on the guide arm pedestal 325 side is in contact with the other left and right position regulating travel surface 8b of the guide rail 8 via each of the roller pressing mechanisms 328.

The roller pressing mechanism 328 has a pressing arm 330 rotatably supported around a support shaft 329 of a guide arm base 325. It is rotatably supported via The guide roller 326 is configured to be movable in the pressing and separating directions of the right and left position regulating running surface 8b by the rotation of the pressure bonding arm 330. A compression coil spring 33 as an urging means is provided on the proximal end side of the crimping arm 330.
Of the guide roller 32 is contacted by this spring force.
Numeral 6 is urged in the pressing direction (the direction of the arrow A) of the right and left position regulating running surface 8b.

Further, a guide roller 332 for stopper is rotatably provided on the distal end side of the pressure bonding arm 330 via a support shaft 327. When the guide roller 326 is pressed against the right and left position regulating running surface 8b, the stopper guide roller 332 is used for the left and right position regulating running surface 8b.
When the pressure bonding arm 330 is located at a position further away by a predetermined distance d ₁ and rotates (in the direction of the arrow B) against the spring force of the compression coil spring 331, as shown by a virtual line in FIG. It is provided at a position where it comes into pressure contact with the running surface 8b and receives a rotational moment opposite to the rotation direction (the direction of the arrow b) of the crimping arm 330 from the right and left position regulating running surface 8b. The predetermined distance d ₁ is set to a dimension that does not come off the engagement of the pinion gear 41a, 42b to below the rack 32 when the horizontal moving body 30 has been displaced in the two arrow direction in FIG. 26.

In the above configuration, each guide roller 326 on the other side of the horizontal moving body 30 presses the right and left position regulating running surface 8b on the other side by the spring force of the compression coil spring 331. 26, the guide rollers 326 on one side are pressed against the right and left position regulating travel surface 8b. That is, a pair of left and right guide rollers 326
The thickness of the guide rail 8, is precisely pressed against the left and right lateral position dimension between restricting running surface 8b also if there is an error left and right lateral position regulating running surface 8b (P ₂ dimensions in figure 21). Therefore, the horizontal moving body 30 travels horizontally without rattling in the left-right direction by the pair of left and right guide rollers 326.

Also, for some reason, the horizontal moving body 30
When a large impact force is applied in the direction indicated by the arrow C in FIG. 26, the guide roller 326 on the gear pedestal portion 324 receives the impact force, and the horizontal moving body 30 is not displaced in the direction indicated by the arrow C. Conversely, when a large impact force is applied to the horizontal moving body 30 in the direction indicated by the arrow d in FIG. 26, the impact force is received by the guide roller 326 on the guide arm base 325 side. Then, the pressing arm 330 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow B in FIG. 26 against the spring force of the compression coil spring 331 due to the reaction force from the guide rail 8 side, and as shown in FIG. It is pressed against the guide rail 8 together with 326, and further rotation is impossible. Accordingly, the horizontal moving body 30 is provided with the stopper guide rollers 332.
And by a predetermined distance d ₁ between the guide rail 8 is only maximally displaced in the two arrow direction in FIG. 26. For a given size d ₁ is set in the dimension rack 32 and the pinion gear 41a, meshes with the 41b does not come off, the rack 32 and the pinion gear 41a, the horizontal moving body 30 without deviates engagement between 41b is stable To move horizontally.

The roller pressing mechanism 32 of this embodiment
8 is similarly effective when the guide rails 8 are arranged in the vertical direction, and the transmission method of the driving force is not limited to the rack and pinion method, but may be the transmission method of a belt drive or a ball screw. Is also applicable.

2-d. Horizontal drive transmission system of horizontal moving body As shown in FIG. 20, a horizontal motor 34 as a driving source is fixed to the vertical rod portion 30c.
A pulley 35 is fixed to the rotation shaft of the. One end of a timing belt 36 is hung on the pulley 35, and the other end of the timing belt 36 is hung on a large-diameter pulley 37. The shaft 38 of the large-diameter pulley 37 is rotatably supported by the vertical rod portion 30c, and both ends of the shaft 38 reach the upper and lower ends of the vertical rod portion 30c, respectively. Driving gears 39 are fixed to the upper and lower ends of the shaft 38, and a pair of left and right reduction gears (gears) 40a and 40b mesh with the respective driving gears 39.

As shown in FIGS. 31 to 33, a pinion gear 41 is provided on the same axis of the pair of left and right reduction gears 40a and 40b.
a and 41b are respectively arranged, and the pair of pinion gears 41a and 41b are engaged with the rack 32, respectively. FIG. 32B is an exploded perspective view of a combination part of the reduction gear 40a on one side and the pinion gear 41a, and a shaft hole 333 is formed at the center of the reduction gear 40a.
Four screw insertion holes 334 are formed around the shaft hole 333. A shaft hole 335 is also formed at the center of the pinion gear 41a, and around this shaft hole 335, four screw holes 336 are formed.
One is formed. Screw insertion hole 334 of reduction gear 40a
By screwing the inserted screw 337 into the screw hole 336 of the pinion gear 41a, the reduction gear 40a on one side and the pinion gear 41a are fixed so as to rotate integrally.

FIG. 32A shows the reduction gear 40b on the other side.
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a combined part of the reduction gear 40b and a shaft hole 333 formed in the center of the reduction gear 40b.
8, a notch 339 is formed in the ring-shaped step 338 over a rotation angle range of about 90 degrees.
Further, a spring retaining hole 340 is formed in the ring-shaped step portion 338. A shaft hole 335 is formed at the center of the pinion gear 41b, and a spring storage chamber 341 is formed between the shaft hole 335 and the outer teeth. This spring storage room 341
A spring hook hole 342 is formed in the bottom surface of the.

An arc-shaped protrusion 343 is provided on the outer periphery of the upper surface of the pinion gear 41b. Have been. The spring storage chamber 34
1, a torsion coil spring (spring) 344 is housed, and one end of the torsion coil spring 344 is inserted into a spring engagement hole 340 of the reduction gear 40b, and the other end is inserted into a spring engagement hole 342 of the pinion gear 41b. Then, the pinion gear 41b on the other side is provided with a rotational urging force in an arbitrary rotational direction given by the spring force of the torsion coil spring 344.
Are engaged with the rack 32. In this embodiment, the pinion gear 41b on the other side meshes with the rack 32 in a state where a rotational urging force is applied in the rotation direction indicated by the arrow A in FIG.

A pair of pinion gears 41a, 41b
The position in the X direction of FIG.
6 is accurately positioned. That is, as described above, since the rack 32 is accurately positioned with respect to one of the left and right position regulating running surfaces 6b of the guide rail 8, the pair of pinion gears 41a and 41b In this way, the rack 32 meshes with the amount.

In the above configuration, when the horizontal motor 34 is driven, the shaft 38 is rotated by the driving force, and the pair of left and right pinion gears 41a and 41b at the upper and lower positions rotate in the same direction, so that the horizontal moving body 30 is horizontally moved. Moving. That is, the horizontal moving body 30 moves horizontally while maintaining the up-down phase by the pinion gears 41a, 41b at the upper and lower positions rotating at the same timing meshing with the pair of upper and lower racks 32.

When the driving gear 39 stops at an arbitrary rotation angle, as shown in FIG. 33, the pinion gear 41b on the other side is turned on the left side of the rack 32 by the rotational urging force of the torsion coil spring 344 in the direction of arrow a. It rotates by the backlash play until it comes into contact with the tooth surface 32a, and the other reduction gear 40b rotates by the backlash play in the direction opposite to the pinion gear 41b by the rotational urging force of the torsion coil spring 344 in the direction of arrow C. As a result, it comes into contact with the tooth surface 39 a of the driving gear 39. In addition, when viewed as a whole from the horizontal moving body 30, the rack 8 receives a reaction force in the double arrow direction due to the spring force of the torsion coil spring 344, and the pinion gear 41 a on one side is moved to the right On one tooth surface 32b, one reduction gear 40a is connected to a driving gear 39.
Respectively contact the tooth surfaces 39a. Therefore, no play is caused by the backlash, and the horizontal moving body 30 can be stopped more accurately in the horizontal direction. Further, since the driving force from the horizontal motor 34 is shared by the pair of pinion gears 41a and 41b, the force applied to each of the pinion gears 41a and 41b is reduced.

In this embodiment, the pinion gear 41b on the other side is configured to mesh with the rack 32 in a state where a rotational urging force is applied in the direction of the arrow A in FIG. 33.
In a state where the rotational urging force is applied in the direction of the arrow 3b, the rack 32
The same effect can be obtained even if it is configured to mesh with.

In this embodiment, FIG.
As shown in (b), each part of the pair of reduction gears 40a, 40b and the pair of pinion gears 41a, 41
Each part b uses the same part. That is,
Each component is assembled by assembling each component in an upside-down state, thereby reducing component costs.

2-e. As shown in FIG. 20, a pair of guide rails 42 extending in the vertical direction is fixed to the vertical rod portion 30c, and each guide rail 42 has a slider 43 of the cassette transport body 31.
Are slidably provided. A vertical motor 44 is fixed to the upper support 30a, and a pulley 45 is fixed to a rotation shaft of the vertical motor 44. One end of a timing belt 46 is hung on the pulley 45, and the other end of the timing belt 46 is hung on a large-diameter pulley 47. A timing belt 50 is hung between a pulley 48 fixed coaxially with the large-diameter pulley 47 and a pulley 49 supported by the lower support portion 30a. It is fixed to the slider 43.

In the above configuration, when the vertical motor 44 is driven, the timing belt 50 is moved by this driving force, and the cassette carrying body 31 is moved in the vertical direction. That is, the cassette transport body 31 can be moved to any position in the transport area CE by the horizontal movement, the vertical movement, and the combined movement thereof.

2-f. Next, a transport fixing device for fixing the cassette transport device 2 when transporting the autochanger will be described.
The transport fixing device is provided with the one guide roller 326.
Roller separating means 345 for separating the running roller 322 from the right and left position regulating running surface 8b of the guide rail 8 against the urging force, and a horizontal moving body for separating the running roller 322 from the self-weight receiving running surface 8a of the guide rail 8. The levitation means 346 for raising the horizontal moving body 30 and the fixing means 347 for fixing the horizontal moving body 30 while the horizontal moving body 30 is floating are shown in detail in FIGS. 34 to 39.

The roller separating means 345 is shown in FIGS.
As shown in the figure, there are arm stopper plates 348 arranged at two positions on the upper and lower guide arm pedestal portions 325, respectively. These arm stopper plates 348 are configured to be fastened to the guide arm pedestal portion 325 with screws 349, respectively. I have.
The arm stopper plate 348 has an L-shape, and is not shown in FIG.
The virtual line state is fixed. At the time of transportation, the mounting direction of the arm stopper plate 348 is reversed by 180 degrees and mounted in the solid line state in FIGS. That is,
As shown in FIGS. 35 and 36, the protrusion 330 a of the crimping arm 330 is pushed by the arm stopper plate 348, and one guide roller 326 is opposed to the spring force of the compression coil spring 331 to regulate the left and right position of the guide rail 8. D from 8b
Separate by _two .

As shown in FIGS. 34 and 37, the levitation means 346 has a pair of left and right first transport fittings 350 disposed above the vertical rod portion 30c.
A plate 352 with a nut 351 welded to the upper part of
Are fixed with screws 353, respectively. Further, bolt insertion holes are formed on the upper surfaces of the consoles A to D where the cassette transporter 2 is arranged, and bolts 354 inserted into the respective bolt insertion holes from above the consoles A to D are screwed into the nuts 351 respectively. Then, the horizontal moving body 30 moves up by the screw pitch in accordance with the rotation of the bolt 354 in order to fix the nut 351 to the first transport bracket 350, whereby the traveling roller 322 travels for receiving the self-weight of the guide rail 8. It is separated from the surface 8b.

As shown in FIGS. 38 and 39, the fixing means 347 has a pair of left and right second transport fittings 355 disposed below the vertical rod portion 30c. Vertical rod part 3 with screw 356 in advance
0c. The fixing means 347 includes a pair of second transport fittings 355, a pair of left and right third transport fittings 357 used for connection with the lower surfaces of the consoles A to D, a pair of first transport fittings 350, and upper surfaces of the consoles A to D. And a pair of left and right fourth transport fittings 358 used for connection with the second transport fitting 358.

Then, a pair of third transport fittings 357 is provided below the pair of second transport fittings 355 of the horizontal moving body 30 that has floated.
Are arranged, and a pair of third transportation fittings 357 are connected to consoles A to
Each is fixed to the lower surface of D with a screw 359. Next, the bolts 354 are rotated in the opposite direction to the above to rotate the horizontal moving body 30.
And the lower surface 355a of the pair of second transport fittings 355
Is brought into contact with the upper surface portions 357a of the pair of third transport fittings 357. The lower surface 35 of each contacted second transport fitting 355
5a and the upper surface 357a of the third transport fitting 357
Fix each at 60. This pair of third transport fittings 35
7 and the pair of second transport fittings 355 are positioned such that the pair of left and right guide rollers 326 are separated from the pair of left and right position regulating running surfaces 8b of the guide rail 8, respectively. That is, by fixing the pair of second transport fittings 355 to the lower surfaces of the consoles A to D via the pair of third transport fittings 357, all directions (three-dimensional directions) below the horizontal moving body 30 are fixed.

Next, the pair of first transport fittings 350 and the pair of fourth transport fittings 358 are fixed with screws 361, respectively, and the pair of fourth transport fittings 358 and the upper surfaces of consoles A to D are fixed with screws 362. Fix each. That is, all directions (three-dimensional directions) of the upper part of the horizontal moving body 30 are fixed by fixing the pair of first transport fittings 350 to the upper surfaces of the consoles A to D via the pair of fourth transport fittings 358. The fixing of the cassette carrier 31 is performed by restricting the vertical movement of the cassette carrier 31 with a pair of upper and lower L-shaped brackets (not shown) as in the conventional case.

As described above, the traveling roller 322 is separated from the guide rail 8 and the horizontal moving body 30 floats, and the horizontal moving body 30 is fixed with the guide roller 326 separated from the guide rail 8. Even if a large external force is applied in all directions such as
No load is applied to the guide rollers 2 and the guide rollers 326 and the like. Therefore, during transportation, the traveling roller 322 and the guide roller 326 are used.
Are not damaged by an impact load.

In the above embodiment, the floating means 3
46 is configured to levitate the horizontal moving body 30 using the screw pitch of the bolt 354, but any structure that can levitate the horizontal moving body 30 may be used. Further, the shape and arrangement of the transport brackets 355, 357, 358 of the fixing means 347 can be variously changed. Further, the first transport bracket 350 and the second
Although the transport bracket 355 is provided at one location on the left and right, it may be provided at two or more locations on the left and right.

3. Power supply to horizontal moving body, etc .: (Fig. 4
0, FIG. 41) FIG. 40 is a plan view of a main part near the energizing rail 9 and the sliding contact 51, and FIG. 41 is a sectional view taken along line ee in FIG. 40 and 41, the energizing rail 9 fixed to each of the consoles A to E extends near the guide rail 8 and in the same direction as the guide rail 8. The energizing rail 9 is provided with three upper and lower energizing terminals 55 in the longitudinal direction. Each energizing terminal 5
Reference numeral 5 is connected to a power source and a ground of the autochanger main body 1 via a cable (not shown).

On the other hand, the lower support 30a of the horizontal moving body 30
The first bases 56 are fixed to the first bases 5.
6 and each second base portion 57 are attached via a pair of parallel link portions 58, respectively. A spring 59 is interposed between the pair of parallel link portions 58.

A sliding contact 60 is rotatably supported on each second base 57, and each sliding contact 60 is connected to each energizing terminal 55 of the energizing rail 9 by the spring force of each spring 59. It is pressed. Each sliding contact 60 is connected to a control box (not shown) of the horizontal moving body 30 via a cable.

When the horizontal moving body 30 moves along the pair of guide rails 8, each sliding contact 60 is moved
Power is always supplied to the horizontal moving body 30 to slide on the upper side.

The control box 3 of the basic console A and the control box 3 of the extended basic console D are provided with a light emitting section (not shown), and the control box (not shown) of the horizontal moving body 30 is provided with a light receiving section. (Not shown), and a control signal from the autochanger main body 1 is transmitted by wireless communication (infrared communication). The control signal may be transmitted by the energizing rail 9 and the sliding contact 60 similarly to the power supply.

4. Rotation mechanism of cassette carrier (Fig. 42-
FIGS. 42 and 43 are schematic perspective views of the cassette transport body 31, respectively. FIG. 44 is a front view thereof, and FIG.
46 shows a plan view thereof, and FIG. 46 shows a right side view thereof. 42 to 46, a base pedestal 61 is fixed to a slider 43 slidably provided on a guide rail 42 as described in detail below, and a vertical rotation motor 62 is provided on one surface of the base pedestal 61. The first reduction drum 63 is fixed on the other surface. The first reduction drum 63 is of a harmonic gear type, and includes a fixed portion 63a fixed to the base pedestal 61 and a rotation input portion 63b to which rotation of the vertical rotation motor 62 is input.
And a deceleration output unit 63c for decelerating and outputting the rotation of the rotation input unit 63b. A vertical rotation arm member 64 is fixed to the deceleration output unit 63c.

The deceleration output section 63 of the first deceleration drum 63
90c is formed with a 90 ° circumferential notch 63d.
The rotation stopper 63e of the fixed portion 63a is arranged in the notch 63d. That is, when the vertical rotation arm member 64 is vertically rotated within a range of 90 degrees, the cassette holder 67 described below is shown in a horizontal position shown by a two-dot chain line in FIGS. 42 and 43 and a solid line in FIGS. 42 and 43. Displaced between vertical position.

At the end of the vertical rotation arm member 64, an orthogonal plate portion 64a orthogonal to the base pedestal 61 is provided. On one surface of the orthogonal plate portion 64a, a horizontal rotation motor 65 is fixed, and the other is provided. The second speed reduction drum 66 is fixed to the surface. The second deceleration drum 66 has the same configuration as the first deceleration drum 63,
a, a rotation input section 66b, and a deceleration output section 66c.
A cassette holder 67 is fixed to the deceleration output section 66c. A 180 ° circumferential notch 66d is formed in the deceleration output portion 66c of the second speed reduction drum 66, and a rotation stopper 66e of the fixed portion 66a is arranged in the 180 ° circumferential notch 66d. The cassette holder 67 is 1
By rotating orthogonally with respect to the vertical rotation in the range of 80 degrees, it is displaced between the forward position in FIG. 42 and the backward position in FIG.

That is, the cassette holding body 67 is in the forward position shown in FIG. 42, the vertical position shown by the solid line in FIG. 42, the horizontal position shown by the double-dashed line in FIG. 42, and the rearward position shown in FIG. 43 and the vertical position shown by a solid line in FIG.
At 3, it can be displaced to four positions in the horizontal position shown by the two-dot chain line. Therefore, the cassette storage room 6, the recording / reproducing device 10
The direction of the cassette insertion opening 10a, the cassette insertion chamber 7 for entrance and exit can be set freely. In addition, since the cassette storage chamber 6, the recording / reproducing device 10, the cassette insertion / reception chamber 7 and the like can be arranged on both sides (front and rear) of the transport area CE of the cassette transport body 31, the autochanger body 1 can be made compact and the cassette storage density can be reduced. Will be improved.

In this embodiment, the cassette storage chamber 6 has a vertical orientation suitable for long-term storage of a tape cassette, and the cassette insertion slot 10a of the recording / reproducing apparatus 10 has a horizontal orientation suitable for loading a large cassette.
Are set in a horizontal direction suitable for handling a large cassette (insertion operation).

[0090] Further, as shown in FIG. 74, the cassette holder 67 in FIG. 42, the rotation center C _o of horizontal rotation in lateral position indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 43, the center in the width direction of the transfer area CE It is set to be. With such a setting, the width of the transfer area CE can be minimized, and the autochanger main body 1 can be made compact.

5. Cassette holder (FIGS. 47 to 53) 5-a. FIG. 47 is an overall perspective view of the cassette holder 67, FIG. 48 is a plan view thereof, FIG. 49 is a partially cutaway rear view thereof, and FIG.
Shows a partially broken right side view thereof. 47 to 50, the holder base 68 of the cassette holder 67 is fixed to the output rotating portion 66c of the second reduction drum 66 as described above, and the central recess 68a on the upper surface of the holder base 68 Fixed guides (sliders) 69 are fixed to the upper and lower two places. This pair of fixed guides 69
A guide rail 70 extending in the front-rear direction is slidably provided on the first movable member 71.
Is fixed to the lower surface. A rack 72 is fixed to the lower surface of the first movable member 71, and a pinion 73 is engaged with the rack 72. The pinion 73 is rotatably supported by a holder base 68, and a gear 74 coaxial with and integrally provided with the pinion 73 is an intermediate gear 75.
Meshed with the small-diameter tooth portion of. The large-diameter tooth portion of the intermediate gear 75 meshes with a gear 76, and the gear 76 is fixed to a shaft of a hand front-rear movement motor 77.

A guide rail 78 extending in the front-rear direction is fixed to the upper surface of the first movable member 71, and a slider 79 is slidably provided on the guide rail 78. The slider 79 is fixed to the lower surface of the second movable member 80, and the second movable member 80 is
It is arranged above. Pulleys 81 are respectively supported on the front and rear ends of the first movable member 71, and a timing belt 82 is hung between the pair of pulleys 81. The lower side of the timing belt 82 is fixed to the fixing portion 68b of the cassette holder 68, and the upper side of the timing belt 82 is fixed to the fixing portion 80a of the second movable member 80.

When the hand front-rear movement motor 77 is driven, the rotation is reduced by the intermediate gear 75 or the like and transmitted to the pinion 73, and the rotation is transmitted to the rack 72 to move the first movable member 71 in the front-rear direction. Moving. When the first movable member 71 moves, the timing belt 82 moves, and the movement of the timing belt 82 moves the second movable member 80 in the front-rear direction. That is, the second movable member 8
0 slides in the same direction as the first movable member 71, but moves twice as long as the first movable member 71 because it is placed on the first movable member 71.

5-b. Hand Part Alignment Mechanism The hand part alignment mechanism G has a left-right guide rail 83 fixed to the upper surface of the second movable member 80, as shown in detail in FIG. Is provided with a slider 85 of a left-right movable member 84 slidably in the left-right direction. A rod 90 extending in the left-right direction is fixed to the second movable member 80. The rod 90 is disposed between a pair of left and right locking ring members 86a and 86b and between the pair of locking ring members 86a and 86b. The compression coil spring 87 as the urging means is inserted respectively.
The pair of left and right engaging members 86a and 86b are formed by a pair of left and right center regulating portions 88 by the spring force of the compression coil spring 87.
a and 88b. The pair of left and right center restricting portions 88a and 88b are provided on the second movable member 80, and the center position of the pair of center restricting portions 88a and 88b is set to the center of the cassette holder 67 in the left and right direction.

On the other hand, the left and right movable member 84 is provided with a pair of left and right alignment projections 89a and 89b, respectively. The pair of left and right alignment projections 89a and 89b are formed by the pair of locking ring members 86a and 86b. Each is in contact with the outer peripheral surface. The dimension between the pair of left and right centering projections 89a and 89b is set to be the same as the distance between the pair of center regulating parts 88a and 88b. The center of the hand unit 93 in the left-right direction is set.

[0096] That is, as shown in FIG. 53 (b), when the external force N ₁ arrow direction acts on the hand unit 93, one of the locking ring member 86a against the spring force of the compression coil spring 87
There hand portion 93 moves to the center side is displaced to the N ₁ direction of the arrow, one of the engagement on the ring member 86a when the external force disappears returns to its center position by the spring force of the compression coil spring 87. Further, as shown in FIG. 53 (c), the N ₂ arrow direction of external force acts on the hand unit 93, the other locking ring member 8 against the spring force of the compression coil spring 87
6b is a hand portion 93 moves is displaced in N ₂ direction of the arrow while the other when the external force is eliminated the locking ring member 86b
Is returned to the center position by the spring force of the compression coil spring 87.

5-c. Hand Part Up / Down Adjustment Mechanism The hand part up / down adjustment mechanism H has a vertical rod 91 and a guide rod 92 erected on the left and right movable members 84, respectively, as shown in detail in FIG. The guide rod 92 is provided with a hand frame body 94 of a hand unit 93 so as to be vertically movable. A spring receiving member 95 is fixed to the upper end of the vertical rod 91, and a compression coil spring 96 supported by the vertical rod 91 is interposed between the spring receiving member 95 and the upper surface of the hand frame body 94. Due to the spring force of the compression coil spring 96, the hand portion 93 is positioned at a vertical reference position where the lower surface of the hand frame body 94 abuts the boss portion 91 a of the vertical rod 91.

As shown in FIG. 53 (d), when an external force in the direction of arrow M acts on the hand portion 93, the compression coil spring 96
The hand portion 93 is displaced upward against the spring force of the above, and returns to the original reference position when the external force is removed.

5-d. Cassette Hand Mechanism As shown in FIGS. 49 to 52, the cassette hand mechanism I includes a pair of hand pieces 97a,
The lower hand piece 97a is fixed to the lower surface of the hand frame body 94. Upper hand piece 9
7b is supported by the guide rail 98 of the hand frame body 94 and is provided so as to be slidable in the vertical direction. or,
The hand motor 97 of the cassette hand mechanism I is fixed to the hand frame body 94, and a gear 100 is fixed to the shaft of the hand motor 99. A large-diameter spur gear 101 meshes with the gear 100, and the spur gear 10
A gear 103 is fixed to one shaft via a torque limiter 102. A gear 104 meshes with the gear 103, and the gear 104 is supported by a shaft having a feed screw 105. A nut member 106 is screwed into the feed screw 105, and the nut member 106 is fixed to the upper hand piece 97b.

When the hand motor 99 rotates, the rotation is reduced by the gear 101 or the like and transmitted to the feed screw 105. With the rotation of the feed screw 105, the upper hand piece 97b moves up and down together with the nut member 106. . The movement of the upper hand piece 97b causes the pair of hand pieces 97 to move.
The width intervals of a and 97b are variable.

5-e. Cassette push-out mechanism As shown in detail in FIG.
The folding arm 107 has a bending arm 107 rotatably supported by the hand frame body 94, and a push-up portion 108 is provided at one end of the bending arm 107. The push-up portion 108 is arranged at a position above the upper hand piece 97b.
The other end of the bending arm 107 is connected to the rear end of the push lever 109, and the push lever 109 is disposed so as to be movable in the front-rear direction with respect to the hand frame body 94. A tension coil spring 110 is hung between the bending arm 107 and the front end side of the push lever 109.
9 is biased to the rear standby position.

When the upper hand piece 97b moves upward and the push-up portion 108 is pushed upward, the bending arm 1
07 rotates against the spring force of the tension coil spring 110, and the pushing lever 109 is pushed forward. When the upper hand piece 97b moves downward from this state, the downward movement of the push-up portion 108 is permitted, and the bending arm 107 is moved.
Is rotated by the spring force of the tension coil spring 110, and the pushing lever 109 is returned backward.

5-f. Cassette Guide Mechanism The cassette guide mechanism L has a pair of left and right cassette guides 111 arranged on a holder base 68 as shown in FIGS.
The sliders 112 are respectively fixed below the reference numerals 1. Each of the sliders 112 is slidably provided on a pair of left and right guide rails 113 fixed to the upper surface of the holder base 68.

The cassette guide motor 114 of the cassette guide mechanism L is fixed to the holder base 68, and a gear 115 is fixed to the shaft of the cassette guide motor 114. A gear 116 meshes with the gear 115, and a gear 117 meshes with the gear 116. The gear of the gear 117 is connected to a shaft of the gear 117 via a torque limiter 118.
19 is fixed. One synchronous gear 120a meshes with this gear 119, and this one synchronous gear 120a
Is in mesh with one output gear 122 via a rotation changing gear 121. Further, one synchronous gear 120a is supported by one end of the connection shaft 123, and the other synchronous gear 120b is supported by the other end of the connection shaft 123. This other synchronous gear 120b directly meshes with the other output gear 122b.

The output gears 122a and 122b are supported by shafts having a feed screw 124, respectively, and the shafts having the pair of feed screws 124 are rotatably supported by the holder base 68. Nut members 125 are respectively screwed into the pair of feed screws 124, and the nut members 125 are fixed to the pair of cassette guides 111, respectively.

When the cassette guide motor 114 rotates, the rotation is transmitted in the order of the gear 115, the gear 116, and the gear 119, and the synchronous gears 120a and 120b rotate in synchronization. The rotation of the one synchronous gear 120a is transmitted to one output gear 122a via the rotation changing gear 121, and the rotation of the other synchronous gear 120a is directly transmitted to the other output gear 122b.
24 rotate in opposite directions. As a result, the pair of cassette guides 111 moves synchronously in the left and right directions about the centering position.

5-g. Details of Cassette Guide A pair of left and right cassette guides 111 includes a side surface holding portion 111a for holding a side surface of the cassette K, an upper surface holding portion 111b for holding an upper end portion of the cassette K, and a lower surface for holding a lower surface end portion of the cassette K. And a holding unit 111c. Width W between the upper holding portion 111b and the lower surface holding portion 111c _1, as shown in FIG. 56, it is set larger than the width W ₂ of the cassette accommodation chamber 6 which will be described in detail below. Since the cassette storage chamber 6 is set to be slightly larger than the thickness of the cassette K, the width W ₁ of the inner surface of the cassette guide 111 is set to a size that allows for the thickness of the cassette K.

The first movable member 71 is provided with a pair of left and right lower cassette guides 126. The pair of lower cassette guides 126 move in the front-rear direction together with the first movable member 71.

5-h. Storage Room Lock Release Means The storage room lock release means M includes a guide rail 127 fixed to the second movable member 80, as shown in detail in FIG.
The guide rail 127 is provided with a slider 128 so as to be freely slidable. The slider 128 is configured to be slidable between a front stopper 131 and a rear stopper 132. This slider 12
8, a lock release lever 129 is fixed, and the lock release lever 129 is provided movably in the forward direction. The lock release lever 129 and the front stopper 1
A tension coil spring 130 as an urging means is provided between
, And the lock release lever 130 is urged forward by this spring force. Also, this tension coil spring 13
The spring force of 0 is set stronger than that of the torsion coil spring 142 of the cassette lock member 141 described below.

6. Details of cassette shelf (FIGS. 54 to 56) As shown in detail in FIGS. 54 (a), (b), and FIG. 55, the cassette shelf 4 is vertically partitioned by a horizontal partition plate 135. Vertical partition plates 136 are arranged at regular intervals between the partition plates 135. Vertical partition 13
Guides 137 for large cassettes are fixed to the upper and lower ends of 6 respectively. The space substantially surrounded by the pair of large cassette guides 137 and the adjacent vertical partition plate 136 is configured as the cassette storage chamber 6 described above.

Guide 1 for large cassette of vertical partition plate 136
A pair of upper guides 13 for small cassettes
8 and a small cassette side guide 139 are provided. The pair of small cassette upper surface guides 138 are fixed to the vertical partition 136. The pair of small cassette side guides 139 are rotatably supported by the nearby large cassette guide 137 at the ends of the arm portions 139 a, respectively. A compression coil spring 140 is interposed. Each small cassette side guide 139 projects toward the cassette storage chamber 6 from the small cassette top guide 138 by the spring force of the compression coil spring 140. Small cassette K ₂ is accommodated in the cassette storage chamber 6 by the side guide 139 for the small cassette Small cassette top guide 138. Also, exit outside the cassette containing chamber 6 from the small cassette top guide 138 by a large cassette K ₁ is pressed to be inserted into the large cassette K _1.

The upper small cassette upper guide 13 is also provided.
8, a cassette lock member 141 is rotatably supported, and a torsion coil spring 142 is hung between the cassette lock member 141 and the small cassette upper surface guide 138. The cassette lock member 141 is urged toward the lock position by the spring force, and is displaced toward the release position by rotating against the spring force.

Furthermore, a pair of upper and lower large cassette guides 1 is provided.
A position detecting section 143 described below is fixed to each of the 37, and the pair of position detecting sections 143 are formed of a light reflecting material. That is, a pair of position detectors 143 are arranged in each cassette storage chamber 6 on both outer sides in the longitudinal direction.

7. Cassette delivery operation of cassette transporter (FIGS. 57 to 72) 7-a. As shown in FIGS. 57 and 63, when the cassette holding body 67 is located at a position facing the desired cassette storage chamber 6, the hand front-rear movement motor 77 is driven to move the hand unit 93 to the home position (see FIG. 57 and FIG. 63). 57, the position of FIG. 63). When the hand unit 93 approaches the cassette storage chamber 6, the lock release lever 129 contacts the cassette lock member 141, and when the hand unit 93 further moves forward from this state, the cassette lock member 141 moves the torsion coil spring 14.
58, 64, and 67, and is displaced to the release position as shown in FIGS. The hand unit 93 releases the lock, and stops at a position where the back of the cassette K enters between the pair of hand pieces 97a and 97b.

Next, the hand motor 99 is driven to move the upper hand piece 97b downward, as shown in FIG.
The cassette K is gripped by the pair of hand pieces 97a and 97b. When the pair of hand pieces 97a, 97b grips the cassette K, the hand front-rear movement motor 77 is driven in the reverse rotation direction to move the hand unit 93 backward. The cassette K moves with the rearward movement of the hand unit 93,
The hand unit 93 stops at the home position.

When returning to the home position, the cassette centering operation is performed. That is, the hand motor 99
Is driven to move the upper hand piece 97b slightly upward to release the grip of the cassette K. Next, the cassette guide motor 114 is driven, and the pair of cassette guides 111 is displaced in the direction of decreasing the width to grip the cassette K. Here, since the pair of cassette guides 111 is displaced around the centering position of the cassette holder 67, the cassette K is held at the centering position by gripping the cassette K.

Next, the operation is completed when the hand motor 99 is driven again to move the upper hand piece 97b downward to grasp the cassette K again with the pair of hand pieces 97a and 97b. Here, the hand unit 93 is positioned at the centering position by the hand unit centering mechanism G when the grip of the cassette K is released by the above operation. The cassette K is gripped at the position.

At the time of the cassette loading operation, as shown in FIGS. 69 (a) and 69 (b), the position of the cassette guide 111 below the cassette carrying body 68 is
6 is lower than the position of the large cassette guide 137 (same for the small cassette side guide 139).
As shown in FIG. 9A, when the cassette K is in the cassette storage chamber 6, the cassette K moves on the large cassette guide 137. The member 84 is displaced in the left-right direction (N arrow direction) against the spring force of the compression coil spring 87. This downward displacement causes the cassette K to move as shown in FIG.
As shown in (b), the cassette guide 111 is brought into contact with the cassette guide 111 below the cassette holder 67, and
By moving up, it is displaced to the home position. The hand alignment mechanism G is particularly effective for taking in a large cassette K.

On the contrary, on the contrary, the cassette holder 67
When the position of the cassette guide 111 below is higher than the position of the large cassette guide 137 in the cassette storage chamber 6, the hand 93 and the left and right movable members 84 are subjected to the spring force of the compression coil spring 87 in substantially the same manner as described above. Displaced upward against. Accordingly, the cassette K is displaced to the home position by moving on the lower cassette guide 111.

Further, such an operation is performed in substantially the same manner even during the cassette transfer operation. This makes it possible to cope with a vertical displacement between the position of the cassette holder 67 and the position of the cassette storage chamber 6.

7-b. Cassette Transfer Operation As shown in FIGS. 60 and 63, when the cassette holding body 67 holding the cassette K is located at a position facing the desired cassette storage chamber 6, the cassette guide motor 114 is driven to drive the pair of cassette guides 111. Is slightly widened, and the cassette K is released. Next, the hand 77
Is driven, and the hand unit 93 moves forward. The cassette K also moves with the forward movement of the hand unit 93, and the insertion end of the cassette K presses the cassette lock member 141 to allow the cassette K to be inserted into the cassette storage chamber 6.

As shown in FIGS. 61 and 65, the hand motor 99 is driven at a position where a part of the cassette K has entered the cassette storage chamber 6, and the upper hand piece 97b moves upward. Then, the grip of the hand portion 93 is released and the upper hand piece 97b is pushed up by the push-up portion 108 of the bending arm 107.
Is pushed upward, and the pushing lever 109 projects upward to push the cassette K. That is, as the pushing lever 109 projects upward while the hand unit 93 moves forward, the cassette K is inserted into the cassette storage chamber 6 as shown in FIGS.
When the cassette K is completely stored in the cassette storage chamber 6, the cassette lock member 141 is
The cassette K is returned to the locked position by the spring force of 2, and is locked so that the cassette K does not fall off.

At the time of the cassette transfer operation,
As shown in FIG. 70, when the position of the pair of cassette guides 111 of the cassette holder 67 and the position of the cassette storage chamber 6 are displaced in the horizontal direction, the leading end of the cassette K is inserted into the large cassette guide 137. , The hand portion 93 moves upward (M) against the spring force of the compression coil spring 96.
(In the direction of the arrow) to allow insertion of the cassette K.

Further, during the cassette loading operation, the pair of cassette guides 111 of the cassette holder 67
When the pair of hand pieces 97a and 97b grip the cassette K when the pair of hand pieces 97a and 97b perform a gripping operation of the cassette K, the And the cassette K can be displaced upward to grip the cassette K. And the hand unit 93
When the cassette K is displaced from the large cassette guide 137 in the cassette storage chamber 6 and the hand portion 93 is returned to the original reference position by the spring force of the compression coil spring 96.

7-c. The U-shaped operation of the cassette guide The cassette holder 67 is a pair of hand pieces 97a and 97b.
The upper and lower surfaces of the cassette K with a pair of cassette guides 111.
The cassette K is not only held in a state of gripping both side surfaces thereof, but also has a pair of cassette guides 111 provided with an upper surface holding portion 111b and a lower surface holding portion 111c so that the upper surface end and the lower surface end of the cassette K Hold. Therefore, the cassette transport body 31 can reliably hold the cassette K even when the cassette K is delivered and transported in the vertical state. The U-shape of the cassette guide 111 is particularly effective for transporting a large cassette K.

7-d. Position Adjustment of Cassette Guides FIG. 71 (a) shows the positions of a pair of cassette guides 111 in the case of performing cassette transfer and the like with the cassette storage chamber 6 of the cassette shelf 4 by solid lines, and FIG. 71 (b). The solid line indicates the position of the pair of cassette guides 111 when cassette transfer with the recording / reproducing apparatus 10 is performed.

When the cassette is taken in between the cassette holding body 67 and the cassette storage chamber 6 in the vertical direction and is transferred,
When there is no displacement between the cassette holder 67 and the cassette storage chamber 6, the cassette guides 111, 137 below each other.
The cassette K can be received and delivered smoothly if the faces are aligned.

Even when the position of the cassette holder 67 and that of the cassette storage chamber 6 are considered, it is better to align the surfaces of the cassette guides 111 and 137 below each other.
The dimension and the dimension in the cassette width direction of one cassette shelf 4 as a whole including the front slope 111d (see FIG. 71A) can be reduced. The dimensions of the cassette holder 67 and the cassette storage chamber 6 with the minimum value for the required displacement,
By equalizing the widths of 11d and 137a and aligning the frontage centers thereof, even when the cassette storage chamber 6 is turned upside down, not only the cassette guide 137 but also the cassette lock member 141 can be made equal from the centering position of the cassette holding body 67. The cassette storage chambers 6 on both sides in the main body 1 are arranged in the same direction and used upside down, so that the cost of the entire autochanger having many cassette storage chambers 6 is reduced.

When the width of the cassette holder 67 is determined in consideration of the cassette storage chamber 6 as described above, a difference occurs in taking in and transferring the cassette from the recording / reproducing apparatus 10.
Since the recording / reproducing device 10 is placed horizontally, it is more advantageous to align the center of the frontage in the cassette width direction with respect to the positional deviation. In the recording / reproducing apparatus 10, the dimensions of the cassette insertion portion have already been determined and are smaller than the cassette storage chamber 6 of the cassette shelf 4, so that the cassette holding body 67 side has a pair of Cassette guide 1
It is necessary to increase the size between 11.

7-e. Withdrawal operation of lock release lever As shown in FIG. 72, some of the recording / reproducing apparatuses 10 have a notch 10c formed in a front panel 10b constituting a cassette insertion slot 10a. Notch 10c
This facilitates the insertion and withdrawal of the cassette K by the operator, but in the recording / reproducing apparatus 10, a position that does not protrude much from the position of the cassette insertion opening 10 a other than the notch 10 c is set as the cassette ejection position. . In the case of receiving a cassette with the recording / reproducing apparatus 10, when the hand unit 93 is moved forward, the lock release lever 129 comes into contact with the front panel 10b. When the hand unit 93 is further moved forward from this state, the lock release lever 129 is displaced rearward as shown by a virtual line in FIG. Is allowed to move forward. As a result, the pair of hand pieces 97a and 97b of the hand unit 93 can hold the cassette K.

8. The transfer area of the autochanger body,
Rotation Area (FIGS. 73 and 74) As shown in detail in FIGS. 73 and 74, as described above, the transport area CE is formed in the center of each of the consoles A to D, which are components of the autochanger body 1. And a rotation area RE is formed at the center in the vertical direction. Therefore, there is one rotation area RE in the entire area in the transport direction.

On the other hand, the cassette carrier 31 has the largest diameter at the position of the cassette holder 67 for holding the cassette K, and the cassette K has a flat rectangular shape. Also have a flat rectangular parallelepiped. Then, the horizontal rotation locus of the cassette holder 67 and a wide cylindrical range R _1, the transfer area C the horizontal rotational locus of the other portion
And configured to rotate in E becomes narrower cylindrical range R in ₂ possible. In this embodiment, the cassette holder 6
The shape of the holder base 68 of FIG. 7 is not a rectangular shape of the basic shape, but a part thereof is cut out to form a cutout surface 68c. This is a narrow cylindrical range R in ₂ also holder base 68 by.

The width W ₃ of the rotation area RE is set to be slightly larger than the width of the wide cylindrical area R ₁ of the cassette carrier 31. As a result, the size of the autochanger body 1 is reduced, and the storage space in the autochanger body 1 is expanded.

Since the rotation area RE is provided, the width W ₄ of the transfer area CE may be set to a size that allows the cassette transfer body 67 to move forward and backward. This also contributes to downsizing of the autochanger body 1 and expansion of the storage space in the autochanger body 1.

9. Position control of moving body and rotating body, initial operation (FIGS. 75 to 93) 9-a. Horizontal Position Control and Initial Operation of Horizontal Moving Body The horizontal position control and initial operation of the horizontal moving body 30 will be described with reference to FIGS. 75 is a side view of a main part of the horizontal moving body, FIG. 76 is a plan view of a main part on one end side (origin side) of the autochanger main body 1, and FIG. 77 is a main part on the other end side (end side) of the autochanger main body 1. Part plan views are shown.

75 to 77, the horizontal moving body 30
A sensor mounting plate 400 is fixed to the guide arm pedestal portion 325, and a pair of sensor substrates 401 are mounted on the sensor mounting plate 400 via screws 402, respectively. The pair of sensor substrates 401 are provided with horizontal position detection sensors 403 and 404, respectively, and the pair of horizontal position detection sensors 403 and 404 are constituted by photointerrupter type sensors. A pair of horizontal position detection sensor 403 and 404 is disposed shifted by a distance L ₃ relative to the horizontal conveying direction position.

The autochanger body 1 is constructed by connecting a plurality of consoles A to D as described above, and is arranged at one end (origin side) and at the other end (end side). Each of the consoles A to D has an optical shutter plate 405 as an origin-side detected portion and an optical shutter plate 406 as an end-side detected portion. A screw 407 is inserted into a screw insertion hole of each of the optical shutter plates 405 and 406, and the screw 407 is screwed into a plate nut 308 arranged in the internal space of the groove 8 c of the guide rail 8. Each optical shutter plate 405,
Reference numeral 406 denotes small light-shielding portions 405a and 406a and large light-shielding portion 4
05b and 406b, and the narrow light shielding portions 405a and 405b
6a and the large light-shielding portions 405b and 406b are arranged at positions passing through the detection areas of the pair of horizontal position detection sensors 403 and 404. Small width light shielding portions 405a, 406
The width of a L ₅ is a pair of horizontal position detection sensor 403, 404
It is set sufficiently smaller than the distance L ₃ of the. Significant shielding portion 405 b, the width L ₄ of 406b is greater than the distance L ₃ of the pair of horizontal position detection sensor 403 and 404 is set to a size in consideration of the braking time during the initial operation as described below.

A stopper plate 408 is disposed on the guide rails 8 of the consoles A to D on the origin side. The stopper plate 408 has a screw 409 and a plate nut (not shown), like the optical shutter plates 405 and 406. And is fixed to the guide rail 8. Also, console A on the end side
A stopper plate 411 is also fixed to .about.D, and this stopper plate 411 is fixed not to the guide rail 8 but to another member (not shown). The horizontal moving body 30 is configured to be able to move horizontally only between positions (mechanical stopper positions) in contact with both stopper plates 408, 411.

The horizontal moving body 30 is connected to both stopper plates 40
FIG. 78 shows the output pattern of the pair of horizontal position detection sensors 403 and 404 when the horizontal movement is performed between 8,411. As shown in FIG. 78, the output combinations of the pair of horizontal position detection sensors 403 and 404 are four patterns, and the range of these four output patterns is between the origin-side limit position and the origin position (sensor state <B>). , Between the origin position and the slow start position (sensor state <C>), between the slow start position and the end limit position (sensor state <
D>) and between the end-side limit position and the reverse position (sensor state <A>). In addition, it cannot be a normal operation, but is physically possible, that is, between the mechanical stopper position and the origin side limit position (sensor state <A ′>), and between the reverse position and the mechanical stopper position (sensor The state <D ′>) is an output pattern that partially overlaps the above range. Here, the origin position is a position serving as a movement reference of the horizontal moving body 30, and processing is performed such that the horizontal moving body 30 is positioned at this origin position during the initial operation. The origin-side limit position and the end-side limit position are allowable limit points for normal movement of the horizontal moving body 30.

FIG. 79 shows the permissible / restrictive conditions for each sensor state, the operation direction during the initial operation, and the like. FIG.
9, all axes are the horizontal movement of the horizontal moving body 30 (“X axis” described below), the vertical movement of the cassette transport body 31 (“Y axis” described below), and the vertical rotation of the cassette holding body 67 (described below). "V axis") and the horizontal rotation of the cassette holder 67 ("H axis" described below). Hereinafter, of the pair of horizontal position detection sensors 403 and 404, the right sensor in FIGS. 76 and 77 will be described as the right sensor 403, and the left sensor in FIGS. 76 and 77 will be described as the left sensor 404.

At the time of the initial operation, the horizontal moving body 3
When 0 is located in the <A ′> range or the <A> range, the output patterns of the pair of sensors 403 and 404 are the same. In this case, first, the horizontal moving body 30 is moved rightward (end side direction). If the output of the left sensor 404 is displaced from H to L, it is recognized that it is within the range <A '>, and the movement in the right direction is continued to detect the origin position. When the output of the right sensor 403 changes from L to H, <A>
Recognizing that it is within the range, the moving direction is reversed to detect the origin position.

The output patterns of the pair of sensors 403 and 404 are the same even when located in the <D> range or the <D '> range. In this case, the horizontal moving body 30 is moved to the left (toward the origin). And the output of the left sensor 404 becomes H →
If the displacement is L, the origin is detected by recognizing that it is within the <D> range. When the output of the right sensor 403 changes from H to L, the position is recognized as being in the <D '> range and the origin position is detected.

That is, in the initial operation, if the pattern is <A> or <A ′>, the horizontal moving body 30 is moved to the right. Move the sensor pattern to <B> → <C>, or move to the right for <B> pattern, move to the left for <C> pattern, move to the left for <D> and <D '> patterns, or
The initial operation of the horizontal moving body 30 is performed by setting the position at the moment when the transition from <C> to <B> is determined as the origin position. However, only when <D '> → <A'>,
The condition of <A ′>, that is, the setting is made so that the moving to the left side is continued without entering the mode of moving to the right side.
Since the approximate position of the horizontal moving body 30 can be recognized by the output patterns of the pair of sensors 403 and 404, the initial operation can be performed efficiently as described above.

In the initial operation, when the sensor pattern is <D> and <D '>, the moving speed is increased, and the point (slow start position) at which the sensor pattern is displaced from <D> to <C> is determined. When detected, the brake is applied to reduce the moving speed to a low speed. As a result, the time required for the initial operation can be reduced, and since the speed is low before the origin position, the origin can be accurately determined because the initial operation is performed, and the initial operation can be performed efficiently.

In the above configuration, consoles A to D may be added or eliminated in order to expand or reduce the autochanger main body 1. In this case, the optical shutter plate 406 and the stopper plate 411 need only be relocated to the consoles A to D on the end side.
There is no need to relocate or harness the harness.

9-b. Vertical position control of cassette carrier,
Initial Operation The vertical position control and the initial operation of the cassette transport body 31 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 80 is a plan view of a main part near the guide rail 42 and the slider 43, FIG. 81 is a front view of the main part, and FIG. 82 is a side view of the main part.

In FIGS. 80 to 82, a pair of sliders 43 of the cassette carrier 31 is fixed to a slider plate 415.
The base pedestal 61 is fixed via the base 16. Sensor boards 418 are attached to the slider plate 415 at two locations on a sensor attachment plate 417. Each sensor substrate 418 is provided with a first vertical position detection sensor 419 and a second vertical position detection sensor 420, respectively, and the first and second vertical position detection sensors 419 and 420 are constituted by photo interrupter type sensors. ing. First vertical position detection sensor 419 and second vertical position detection sensor 420
Are arranged at positions shifted both in the horizontal and vertical directions.

As shown in detail in FIGS. 83 (a) to 83 (c), a U-shaped member 422 extending in the vertical direction is attached to one of the columns 421 of the vertical rod portion 30c with screws 423. Both side plates of the U-shaped member 422 are respectively configured as a first optical shutter section 424 as a first detected section and a second optical shutter section 425 as a second detected section. First optical shutter section 424 and second optical shutter section 4
25 is the first position when the cassette carrier 31 is vertically moved.
Vertical position detection sensor 419 and second vertical position detection sensor 4
20 are disposed at positions passing through the respective detection areas. Notches 424a are formed at the upper and lower ends and substantially at the center of the first optical shutter portion 424, and large notches 425a are formed at the second optical shutter portion 425 except for both end portions.
Are formed. Each vertical position detection sensor 419, 42
0 is the H level at the positions of the notches 424a and 425a,
At other positions, L level binary information is output. Then, the first and second vertical position detection sensors 41
The output combinations of 9,420 are four patterns, and the range of the four output patterns is set so as to correspond to the range of the following four types of motion regulation patterns. Here, of the outputs of the first and second vertical position detection sensors 419 and 420, the change point of the binary information located at the uppermost position is the upper limit position, and the change point of the binary information located at the lowermost position is the upper limit position. Each is set at the lower limit position. 84. The output of the first vertical position detection sensor 419 detects the lower edge detection position of the notch 424a at the center portion as the initial initial position, and the middle of the <D> section in FIG. 84 as the horizontal rotation position of the cassette holder 67. Define each.

That is, the horizontal movement of the horizontal moving body 30 (hereinafter referred to as
“X axis”), vertical movement of the cassette carrier 31 (hereinafter “Y axis”), vertical rotation of the cassette holder 67 (hereinafter “V axis”), and horizontal rotation of the cassette holder 67 (hereinafter “V axis”). , "H-axis") are restricted by the vertical position of the cassette carrier 31. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 84 and FIG. 85, between the lower mechanical stopper position and the lower limit position, and between the upper mechanical stopper position and the upper limit position, X during normal operation.
The movement of all the / Y / V / H axes is prohibited. Between the lower limit position and the lower limit position when the cassette holder is vertical, and between the upper limit position and the upper limit position when the cassette holder is horizontal, only when the cassette holder 67 is in a specific posture. It is movable, the movement of the H / V axis is prohibited, and the movement of the X axis is allowed. Between the lower limit position when the cassette holder is vertical and the origin initial position, and
Between the upper limit position when the cassette holder is horizontal and the H-axis rotation upper limit position, movement of the H-axis is prohibited, and movement of the X / Y / V-axis is allowed. Between the origin initial position and the H-axis upper limit position is a rotation area RE of the H-axis, and X / Y / H
The movement of all the / V axes is allowed. However, movement of the Y / V axis is prohibited during rotation of the H axis. Then, based on the output combination patterns of the first and second vertical position detection sensors 419 and 420, the movement of the X / Y / H / V axes is controlled during the normal operation.

In the initial operation, the first
And the output combination patterns of the second vertical position detection sensors 419 and 420, that is, four patterns of <A> or <A '>, <B> or <B'>, <C> or <C '>, <D> In addition, the direction of the vertical movement direction of the cassette transport body 31 and the first
And the output transitions of the second vertical position detection sensors 419 and 420 are added to the determination element, and the vertical rotation information of the cassette holder 67 is also added to the determination element near the upper and lower ends.
FIG. 86 shows an operation pattern at the time of the initial operation.

In FIG. 86,

[0] to [6] are initial operation start points, one line moves at low speed, two lines move at high speed,
The vertical line indicates the position determination check again, O indicates the origin initial position, and S indicates the entry into the search mode of <C ′> → <D> change. That is, when the initial operation start point is at <A> or <A ′>, the cassette holder 6
When 7 indicates a horizontal state, there can always be only the lower <A> position, so that the initial operation direction is moved upward. When the cassette holder 67 is in the vertical state, there can always be only the upper <A '> position, so that the initial operation direction is moved downward. Even when the initial operation start point is at <B> or <B ′>, the initial operation direction is determined for the same reason as described above. If the initial operation start point is located at <C> or <C ′>, depending on whether it moves downward for the time being and detects <C ′> → <D> or <C> → <B> Determine the current position. If the initial operation start point is located at <D>, the initial operation start direction is set to be upward. Then, the cassette carrier 31 is moved at high speed from an arbitrary position to the vicinity of the origin initial position (the change point of <C ′> → <D>, the change point of <D> → <C ′>), and the vicinity position To the origin initial position. Here, the low-speed movement refers to a speed sufficient to accurately stop at the initial position of the origin.

As described above, necessary position information can be obtained with a simple configuration using two sensors and these detected parts, the operating range of four-axis movement can be determined, and the initial operating time can be reduced. Become.

9-c. Rotational position control of rotation mechanism and initial operation Rotational position control and initial operation of rotation mechanism are shown in FIGS.
This will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 87 is a front view of a main part of a rotation position control portion of the rotation mechanism, FIG.
9 shows a side view thereof.

87 to 89, as described above, the vertical rotation of the cassette holder 67 is performed by rotating the vertical rotation arm member 64 with respect to the base pedestal 61 by 90 degrees. A fixed part 6
A rotation stopper 63e is provided on the rotation circumference of 3a, and a 90-degree circumferential cutout 63d is formed on the same rotation circumference of the deceleration output part 63c which is a member on the rotation side. Butts 430 are provided at both ends of the 90-degree circumferential notch 63d.
Each of the abutting portions 430 is made of a high-strength key material made of, for example, stainless steel.
The rotation angle between the pair of abutting portions 430 is set to be larger than the desired rotation angle of 90 degrees, and the relative rotatable angle is 90 degrees + α. More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 90 (a) and 90 (b), the rotation angle between the pair of abutting portions 430 is 90 ° + α (a straight line width of 5 mm at both ends), and the radius of the rotation stopper portion 63e. Is 4 mm, and the relative rotatable angle is 90 degrees + 2 mm. And
Rotational positioning is performed so that the position where the rotation stopper portion 63e is linearly returned from the point where the rotation stopper portion 63e abuts one of the abutting portions 430 and returned by 1 mm becomes the origin position.

The fixed portion 63a is provided with a pair of rotational position detecting sensors 431, and the pair of rotational position detecting sensors 431 are arranged at positions shifted with respect to the rotational circumferential direction. Each of the rotation position detection sensors 431 is constituted by a photo interrupter type sensor, and outputs binary information (H, L) depending on whether or not a detected portion is present in the detection area. An optical shutter plate 432, which is a detection target, is provided in the 90-degree circumferential notch 63d of the deceleration output unit 63c. The output combinations of the pair of rotation position detection sensors 431 are three patterns as shown in FIG.
Areas where the range of the output pattern includes two access positions (horizontal and vertical) (sensor states <A> and <C>)
And an area other than the two areas (sensor state <B>). As shown in FIG. 92B, the vertical rotation position of the cassette holder 67 is recognized based on the output state of the pair of rotation position detection sensors 431, and the operation of each axis is controlled.

In FIGS. 87 to 89, the horizontal rotation of the cassette holder 67 is performed by the vertical rotation arm member 64 as described above.
The rotation is performed by rotating the cassette holder 67 by 180 degrees with respect to the rotation stopper portion 6 on the relative rotation circumference of the fixed portion 66a, which is a fixed-side member.
6e, and a deceleration output section 66c which is a member on the rotation side.
A 180 ° circumferential cutout 66d is formed on the same rotation circle. Abutting portions 433 are provided at both ends of the 180-degree circumferential notch 66d, respectively, and the abutting portions 433 are made of a high-strength key material, for example, made of stainless steel. The rotation angle between the pair of abutting portions 433 is set to be larger than the desired rotation angle of 180 degrees, and the relative rotatable angle is 180 degrees + α. As shown in FIGS. 91 (a) and 91 (b), the specific dimensions are the same as those of the above-described vertical rotation, and the rotation stopper 66e is linearly moved from the point where it abuts on one of the abutting parts 433 by 1 mm. Rotational positioning is performed so that the returned position becomes the origin position.

Further, similarly to the vertical rotation, the fixing portion 66
A is provided with a pair of rotational position detection sensors 434, and an optical shutter plate 435, which is a detection target, is provided in the 180-degree circumferential cutout 66d of the deceleration output unit 66c. The output combination of the pair of rotational position detection sensors 434 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3A, there are three patterns, and the range of these three output patterns includes two areas (sensor states <A> and <C>) including two access positions (forward and backward), respectively, and the area other than these two areas. It is set to correspond to the area (sensor state <B>). As shown in FIG. 93B, the horizontal rotation position of the cassette holder 67 is recognized based on the output state of the pair of rotation position detection sensors 434, and the operation of each axis is controlled.

At the time of the initial operation, the vertical and horizontal axes are rotated in the directions indicated by arrows (a) in FIGS.
Each abutment section 430, 433 is connected to each rotation stopper section 63.
e, 66e. This rotation is performed at a very low speed to avoid applying an impact force, and the upper limit of the torque is set for motor control. The shaft is rotated by the rotation torque, and there is no position change within a certain set time. Is detected, it is determined whether or not the rotation stopper portions 63e and 66e are in contact with each other.

When each of the abutting portions 430 and 433 comes into contact with each of the rotation stopper portions 63e and 66e, next, FIG.
The position is returned by one millimeter (for example, a rotation angle of 1,733 degrees) in the direction of the arrow (b) in FIG. 88, and this position is recognized as the origin position. Since the sensor output is not used for this origin search, there is no need to adjust the position between the sensor and the detected part. In addition, the relative positioning between the abutting parts 430, 433 and the rotation stopper parts 63e, 66e is not required. It can be easily and accurately performed. Some errors can be easily absorbed by changing the return amount from the contact position.

In the initial operation, when the start point is in the area of the sensor state <C> for each axis, the rotation speed is set to high speed, and when the sensor state shifts from <B> to <A>, the rotation speed becomes extremely low. By controlling so as to switch to, the time of the initial operation can be reduced. Note that there is no stop in the area of the normal sensor state <B>, and in this case, an error is notified as a system abnormality.

In the normal operation, the origin position is the cassette access position when the cassette holder 67 is in the horizontal posture on the vertical axis, and is the cassette access position when the cassette holder 67 is forward on the horizontal axis. By rotating by 90 degrees and 180 degrees from this position, the vertical axis becomes the cassette access position in the vertical posture, and the horizontal axis becomes the backward cassette access position.

Further, each pair of rotational position detecting sensors 43
Of the 1,434 output combinations, the sensor state is <B>
In this case, by restricting the operation of each axis, the cassette holder 67 and the like do not contact the cassette storage shelf 4 and the like.

In the above embodiment, the rotation stoppers 63e and 66e are provided on the fixed side of the rotation and the pair of abutments 430 and 433 are provided on the rotation side. However, the rotation stoppers 63e and 66e are provided on the rotation side. A pair of abutting portions 430 and 433 may be provided on the fixed side. Further, the abutting portions 430 and 433 may be provided only on the origin side.

In the above embodiment, the cassette holder 67 rotates in both the vertical and horizontal directions. However, the cassette holder 67 may rotate only in the vertical direction or only in the horizontal direction.

In the above embodiment, each sensor 4
Although 03, 404, 419, 420, 431, and 434 are constituted by photointerrupter type sensors, they may be constituted by other optical sensors. A sensor, for example, a magnetic sensor may be used.

10. Position Detecting Means of Cassette Conveyor (FIGS. 94 to 98) Position detecting means N includes a pair of position detecting portions 143 provided on both sides in the longitudinal direction of all cassette transfer ports on the autochanger main body 1 side, and a cassette conveying means. It has a pair of position detection sensors S provided on the holder base 68 on the body 31 side. As shown in FIG. 94, the cassette transfer opening is not only the entrance of the cassette storage room 6 of the cassette shelf 4 and the cassette insertion opening 10a of the recording / reproducing apparatus 10, but also the entrance of the cassette storage room 12 of the cassette transfer shelf 11 (see FIG. 10). And an entrance inside the cassette insertion chamber 7 for entrance and exit.
The other party to which the cassette transport body 31 transfers the cassette K. Note that the pair of position detectors 143 are omitted in FIGS. 1 to 9 and FIGS. 12 to 19.

Each of the position detectors 143 is composed of a light reflecting member, and as shown in detail in FIGS. 95 (a) and (b), a position reference line P in the longitudinal direction of the entrance (cassette transfer port) of the cassette storage chamber 6 is provided. The upper part is a detection part reference point O, and V is cut out along both sides of the position reference line P starting from the detection part reference point O, and along a pair of 45-degree inclined lines that are respectively inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction. A letter-shaped notch 143a is formed. The notch 143a is configured as a non-detection area where light is not reflected. Conversely, the range of the V-shaped notch 143a may be set as a detection area where light is reflected, and the other part may be set as a non-detection area.

The pair of position detection sensors S are shown in FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 8, the holder base 68 of the cassette transport body 31
, And each position detection sensor S is of a light reflection type.

In FIGS. 95 (b) and 95 (c), the cassette carrier 31 scans the position detecting section 143 along the X-axis direction. Assuming that the detection start points of the pair of position detection sensors S are (X ₁ , Y ₁ ) (X ₅ , Y ₅ ), the pair of position detection sensors S have the detection points (X ₂ , Y ₂ ), (X ₃ ,
Y ₃ ) and the coordinates of the detection points (X ₆ , Y ₆ ) and (X ₇ , Y ₇ ) are detected. The coordinates are, for example, the horizontal motor 34.
From the pulse count value of the encoder. From the above coordinate data, the respective detection unit reference points (X ₄ , Y ₄ ),
The coordinates of (X ₈ , Y ₈ ) are obtained by the following equation.

X ₄ = (X ₂ + X ₃ ) / 2 Y ₄ = {(Y ₂ −Y ₃ ) / 2} tan (θ / 2) + Y ₁ X ₈ = (X ₆ + X ₇ ) / 2 Y ₈ = {(Y ₆ −Y ₇ ) / 2} tan (θ / 2) + Y _{5 From the} above coordinates, a pair of the position of the cassette transfer port such as the cassette storage chamber 6 and the cassette holding position G of the cassette carrying body 31 are determined. The stop position of the cassette transport body 31 with respect to the cassette transfer port can be obtained from the position of the position detection sensor S.

In FIG. 96, a is the cassette carrier 31
B is the center of the cassette holding position G,
c is the position detection sensor S, d is the center of the cassette transfer port, e is each detection reference point, and f is a pair of position detection units 143.
, The coordinates of each detection unit reference point O are obtained by the above calculation.

The center position f (X ₉ , Y ₁₀ ) of the pair of position detectors 143 is obtained by the following equation.

X ₉ = (X ₄ + X ₈ ) / 2 Y ₉ = (Y ₄ + Y ₈ ) / 2 Next, the angle A, which is the amount of deviation of the angle between the cassette storage chamber 6 and the cassette carrier 31, is as follows. It is obtained by the formula.

A = tan ⁻¹ {(Y ₄ −Y ₈ )} (X ₄ −X ₈ )} Next, using the value of the deviation angle A, d (X, Y) is obtained by the following equation. It is assumed that the pair of position detectors 143 are attached to the cassette storage chamber 6 with specified dimensions.

X = X ₉ | B × COS (A) | Y = Y ₉ − {B × SIN (A)} The cassette is conveyed to the coordinate position (X, Y) of the center of the cassette storage room 6 determined above. The cassette holding member 67 may be moved so that the cassette holding position G of the body 31 matches. Note that the angle of the cassette transport body 31 is set to the shift angle A.
When moving the amount of, because the rotation center a is far away,
Center b of cassette holding position G by the angle shifted
Therefore, it is necessary to calculate the amount of the deviation using the trigonometric function based on the angle A and the specified dimension, and to correct the amount when the stop position is finally obtained.
1 rotation center a and the center b of the cassette holding position G
Are the same, no correction is required.

FIG. 97 shows a case where the cassette holding position G is set in the cassette holding position G while the cassette holding position of the cassette carrying body 31 is kept vertical by the above-mentioned calculation when the cassette holding chamber 6 is shifted by the rotation position A. It is aligned with the center position of the room 6.

FIG. 98 shows a state in which the cassette holding member 67 of the cassette carrier 31 is rotated by A in the vertical direction by the above-described calculation when the cassette storage chamber 6 is shifted by A by the rotational position. The cassette holding position G is aligned with the center position of the cassette storage chamber 6. According to this method, the cassette can be accurately delivered even if any rotational position shift occurs.

(11) Cassette in / out mechanism (Fig. 99
105) The cassette in / out mechanism Q has a pair of upper and lower cassette shelves 5 provided on the basic console A, as shown in FIG. Are provided with upper and lower four-stage cassette insertion / removal chambers 7 divided into a plurality of horizontal partition plates 209.

FIG. 99 to FIG. 103 show the detailed structure of the upper cassette shelf 5 for in / out. FIG. 99 to FIG.
In FIG. 03, the four-stage cassette insertion / removal cassette insertion chamber 7 is configured so that the cassette K can be inserted from both inside and outside of the basic console A (autochanger main body 1). Is opened and closed by the door 28a which moves up and down. The input / output cassette shelf 5 is provided with four sets of cassette presence / absence detectors 201 for detecting whether or not a cassette K is present in each of the input / output cassette insertion chambers 7.

Each set of cassette presence / absence detection units 201 has four cassette presence / absence detection sensors 201a to 201d.
Consisting 01a ₁ ~201d ₁ and this is arranged to face the light receiving section 201a ₂ ~201d ₂ Prefecture. Only when the cassette presence / absence detection sensors 201b and 20c are off and the cassette presence / absence detection sensors 201a and 201d are on, the presence of the cassette is detected. The outputs of the four cassette presence / absence detection sensors 201a to 201d are output from the controller 20.
2 is output.

As shown in detail in FIG. 100, the drive mechanism 200 includes a motor 211 as a drive source,
A worm gear 213 fixed to the first rotating shaft via a coupling 212, a worm wheel 214 meshing with the worm gear 213, and a worm wheel 214
Gears 215, 216, and 217 that mesh with the small-diameter tooth portion 214a integrally formed with the pinion 218, a pinion 218 that meshes with the third reduction gear 217, and a rack 219 that meshes with the pinion 218 and is fixed to the door 28a. ,
When the motor 211 is driven, the door 28a
It is slid up and down guided by 20. And
The use of the worm gear 213 and the worm wheel 214 allows the door 28 to rotate except when the motor 211 rotates.
a cannot be moved up and down.

The motor 211 of the drive mechanism 200 is turned on / off by an open / close button 221 provided on an up / down operation panel 220 in front of the basic console A, and is controlled by a controller 202 of a control circuit shown in FIG. Is controlled. A first light emitting diode (hereinafter, referred to as a first LED) 222 serving as a cassette removal prohibiting unit and a second light emitting diode (hereinafter referred to as a first LED) serving as a unit for prompting the user to take out the cassette are provided at positions corresponding to the respective cassette insertion chambers 7 for input / output of the operation panel 220. Hereinafter, the second LED) 22
3 are provided.

The first LED 222 is illuminated by a command from the controller 202 when the import state without the cassette changes from the import state without the cassette to the import state with the cassette, to thereby prohibit cassette removal. The light is turned off when the light is taken into the device 1. or,
When the second LED 223 changes from the import state without the cassette to the out-port state, the second LED 223 is turned on by an instruction of the controller 202 to prompt the user to take out the cassette, and the cassette K is ejected to the outside of the autochanger body 1. In such a case, the light is turned off.

Further, by the controller 202,
When any of the above-described import state with a cassette, the import state without a cassette, or the out-port state is stored in the memory 231 and the power is turned off,
For example, in the case of a power failure or the like, the controller 202 reads the contents of the memory 231, and in the case of an import state with a cassette, the first LED 222 is turned on.
If the read result indicates the out-port state, the second LED 223 is turned on.

The cassette presence / absence detection sensor 20
The presence / absence of a cassette in the cassette insertion / reception chamber 7 according to 1a to 201d is output to the controller 230, and whether or not the cassette K is transported to the cassette insertion / reception chamber 7 by the cassette transporter 2 is determined. Is detected by the cassette conveyance detecting means in the controller 202.

Further, according to the cassette transfer notification of the cassette transfer means, the upper door closing means 240A or the lower door closing means 240B is executed as a means for inhibiting cassette insertion, and the cassette transfer completion notification of the cassette transfer detecting means is executed. The upper door closing means 240A or the lower door closing means 240B is released.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the power of the autochanger body 1 is turned on, it is determined in step S1 whether or not a cassette K is present in each of the input / output cassette insertion chambers 7. If there is a cassette, the contents of the memory 231 are read in step S2. to decide. If the contents of the memory 213 are in the import state with the cassette, it is determined in step S3 that the import state is with the cassette.

In step S4, if the cassette presence / absence detection sensors 201a to 201d detect the absence of a cassette from the presence of a cassette, it is determined in step S5 that the cassette is in the import state without a cassette.

In the step S6, when the cassette presence / absence detection sensors 201a to 201d detect the presence of the cassette from the absence of the cassette, specifically, the operator inserts the cassette from the outside of the autochanger main body 1 into the insertion / eject cassette insertion chamber 7. In the case of insertion, or in the case of being transported by the cassette transporter 2, in the former case, it is determined in step S3 that the imported state is with the cassette, and the imported state with the cassette is stored in the memory 231. . In the latter case, step S8
Is determined as the out-port state, and the out-port state is stored in the memory 231.

When the cassette presence / absence detection is detected by the cassette presence / absence detection sensors 201a to 201d from the out-port state (step S9)
Is determined to be the import state without the cassette in step S5, and the import state without the cassette is stored in the memory 231.

In step S1, if no cassette K is present in the insertion / ejection cassette insertion chamber 7, the process proceeds to step S1.
5 is determined to be in the import state without the cassette, and the fact that the import state is without the cassette is stored in the memory 231. In step S2, when the contents of the memory 231 are in the out-port state,
It is determined in step S8 that the state is the out-port state.

When the cassette K is inserted into the main body 1 of the autochanger, when the cassette K to be inserted is placed in the input / output cassette insertion chamber 7 from outside the main body 1 of the autochanger, the presence / absence of the cassette is detected. The controller 202 is provided by the sensors 201a to 201d.
Indicates that the cassette is in the import state and the memory 2
31 stores the import status with the cassette, and stores the first L
The ED 222 is turned on. When the cassette K is inserted into the autochanger main body 1 by the cassette transporter 2, the cassette presence / absence detection sensors 201a to 201a
By 1d, the detection of the absence of the cassette from the presence of the cassette is performed. Then, the controller 202 determines that the cassette is in the import state without the cassette, and turns off the first LED 222.

Further, when carrying out the cassette K to the outside of the autochanger main body 1, when the cassette conveyance notification of the cassette conveyance detecting means is output, the cassette K is closed by the upper door closing means 204A or the lower door closing means 240B. Execution is output, and when each door 28a, 28b is open, each door 2a
8a and 28b are individually and independently closed.
When the doors 28a and 28b are closed, the control is not performed, and the doors 28a and 28b are further operated by the open / close button 221.
Control is performed so that b cannot be opened. When the cassette presence / absence detection sensors 201a to 201 detect the presence of a cassette from the absence of a cassette and output a cassette transport notification of the cassette transport detecting means, the controller 202 determines that the out-port state is present, and the memory 231
Out port state, and the second LED 223 is turned on.

When the cassette K is discharged to the outside of the autochanger body 1, the cassette presence detection sensors 201a to 201a-2
01d detects the absence of the cassette from the presence of the cassette. Then, the controller 202 determines that the state is the out-port state, and turns off the second LED 223.

Since a non-volatile memory is used as the memory 231, even if all power supplies are turned off,
At the time of the next power supply, the storage state before the power is turned off can be held.

12. Various Modifications FIG. 106 shows a first modification of the cassette transporter 2. In FIG. 106, in the cassette transporter 2 of the first modified example, a pinion gear 250 is provided only on the lower support portion 252 of the horizontal moving body 30, and the pinion gear 250
Are engaged with the rack 32 fixed to the lower guide rail 8. The rotation of the horizontal motor 34 fixed to the horizontal moving body 30 is transmitted to the pinion gear 250 via the speed reduction mechanism 251. The length L of the support portion 252 described below is set to be much longer than that of the above-described embodiment, and the horizontal moving body 30 is configured to run stably. The same components as those in the above embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals in the drawings, and description thereof will be omitted. The same applies to the following modifications. Note that a pair of pinion gears may be configured to mesh with the rack 32 as in the above embodiment.

FIG. 107 shows a second modification of the cassette transporter 2. In FIG. 107, the second modification is different from the first modification in that a tire 253 is provided instead of the pinion gear 250 and the tire 253 is pressed against the guide rail 8. Therefore, the second modification does not require a rack, and the other configuration is the same as that of the first modification.

FIG. 108 shows a modification of the guide rail 8. In FIG. 108, the guide rail 8 of this modified example has cutouts 8e formed on the upper surface and the lower surface, respectively, as compared with the above-described embodiment, and a reinforcing center for connecting the approximate center of the upper surface and the lower surface. The difference is that a wall 8f is provided. That is, the guide rail 8 of this modified example has a substantially hollow cross section and a substantially rectangular shape, and the other configurations are the same as those of the above-described embodiment. .

FIG. 109 shows an example of the cassette transporter 2 using the guide rail 8 according to this modification. The same operation and effect as those of the above embodiment can be obtained even when the guide rail 8 according to this modification is used. . Further, the guide rail 8 of this modified example is
Since there are cutouts 8e on the upper surface and the lower surface, the guide rails 8 are more flexible than those of the above-described embodiment, and the shape can be easily forced by the fixtures 304 and 306 of the guide rail 8, and the extrusion molding is also easy. There is an advantage that is.

FIG. 110 shows an example of a suspended type of the cassette transporter 2. In FIG. 110, a roller traveling mechanism such as a first arm 318, a second arm 320, and a traveling roller 322 is provided in the upper support portion 30 b of the horizontal moving body 30 in the opposite direction in the same configuration as the above embodiment. .
The guide rail 8 'at the upper position is provided with a running surface 8a' for receiving its own weight, and the running rollers 322 are arranged on the running surface 8a 'for receiving its own weight. That is, in the above embodiment, the traveling roller 322 travels on the guide rail 8 at the lower position, whereas in this modification, the traveling roller 322 travels on the guide rail 8 'at the upper position. Similarly, each of the running rollers 322 moves up and down following the bending (undulation) of the guide rail 8 '. Therefore, each running roller 322 is connected to the guide rail 8 '.
The contact state is always maintained with respect to the specific running roller 32.
The load of the horizontal moving body 30 does not concentrate on only 2.

FIG. 111 shows a first modification of the cassette guide. In FIG. 111, in this first modified example, a U-shaped cassette guide 254 is provided only on one side. When the cassette holder 67 is in the vertical state, the cassette K can be transferred by setting one of the cassette guides 254 to the lower position.

FIG. 112 shows a second modification of the cassette guide. In FIG. 112, in the second modification, the pair of cassette guides 255 has a straight shape instead of a U-shape.

FIG. 113 shows a modification of the hand centering mechanism G. In FIG. 113, the hand unit 93 is rotatably supported by the holding body base 68 with the rotation shaft 256 as a fulcrum, and is provided with an urging means so as to return to the reference rotation center position C. The hand unit 93 rotates while holding the cassette K, and the cassette K is moved downward with respect to the cassette guide 1.
The cassette can be delivered in a vertical state by contacting the cassette 11.

FIG. 114 shows a modification of the storage chamber unlocking means M. In FIG. 114, in this modification, the lock release lever 129 is supported by the hand unit 93.

FIGS. 115A and 115B show a first modification of the console. In FIGS. 115 (a) and (b), the console 260 is configured such that the cassette storage chamber 6 is oriented horizontally. The cassette transfer ports such as the cassette insertion port of the recording / reproducing apparatus 10 are all horizontally oriented,
The cassette transport body 261 is configured to be movable only in the vertical direction and to be rotatable only horizontally. Further, a transport area CE is provided in the vertical direction of the console 260, and a rotating area RE is provided at a central position of the console 260.

FIG. 116 shows a second modification of the console. In FIG. 116, each console 262,
263 is provided with a rotation area RE (shown by hatching air in the figure) in which the cassette transport body 31 can rotate in the vertical direction.

FIG. 117 shows a modification of the pair of position detectors 265. In FIG. 117, as shown in detail in FIG. 118, the position detecting section 265 of this modification has a square shape, and has a square non-reflecting section 26 at the center thereof.
5a. Other configurations are the same as those of the above embodiment. Also in this modification, the position of each cassette storage chamber 6 can be accurately detected. In addition, as shown in FIG. 118, by scanning the position detection sensor, it is possible to perform alignment with the cassette transfer port of the cassette storage chamber 6 in one scan using the principle of the above-described embodiment.

FIG. 119 shows a first modification of the position detecting means N of the cassette carrying body. In FIG. 119,
In the first modification, the cassette storage chamber 6 is oriented horizontally, and a pair of position detection units 143 are provided at the upper and lower ends of each row.

FIG. 120 shows a second modification of the position detecting means N of the cassette carrying body. In FIG. 120,
In the first modification, a pair of solid-state imaging devices 267 are provided as a pair of position detection sensors, and a pair of detection units 268 having target points are provided as a pair of position detection units. The position detection is performed by analyzing the image output from the fixed imaging device 267.

[0210]

As described above, according to the present invention, a horizontal moving body that moves horizontally is provided in the main body of the autochanger, and the horizontal moving body is provided with a cassette transfer body capable of transferring a cassette. The moving body is provided with a pair of horizontal position detection sensors at positions shifted with respect to the horizontal conveyance direction, and one end of the auto changer body in the horizontal conveyance direction is provided with an origin side cover which is a detection target of the pair of horizontal position detection sensors. Detecting units are provided at the other end in the horizontal transport direction of the autochanger body, end-side detected portions to be detected by the pair of horizontal position detection sensors, respectively, based on output changes of the pair of horizontal position detection sensors. An origin position serving as a movement reference of the horizontal moving body, and an origin-side limit position and an end-side limit position serving as allowable limit points for normal movement of the horizontal moving body. Since it is detected that a lead or the like of the extension harness with relocation and to the sensor during the horizontal conveying direction of the autochanger body extension there is an effect that is not necessary.

Further, according to the present invention, a horizontal moving body that moves horizontally is provided in the main body of the autochanger, and the horizontal moving body is provided with a cassette carrying body capable of transferring cassettes, and the horizontal moving body is provided with a horizontal moving body. A pair of horizontal position detection sensors are provided at positions shifted with respect to the transport direction, and each output binary information. The pair of horizontal change directions are provided at one end and the other end of the main body of the autochanger in the horizontal transport direction. An origin-side detected portion and an end-side detected portion that are common detection targets for the position detection sensor are provided, and the output combination of the pair of horizontal position detection sensors is four patterns, and the range of the four output patterns is , Between the origin-side limit position and the origin position, between the origin position and the slow start position, between the slow start position and the end-side limit position,
Since the origin-side detected portion and the end-side detected portion are configured to correspond to the four ranges between the end-side limit position and the inversion position, the efficiency of the initial operation is improved at the time of the initial operation. effective.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective perspective view of an autochanger (embodiment).

FIG. 2A is a perspective plan view of a basic console, and FIG.
Is a front perspective view thereof (embodiment).

FIG. 3 (a) is a left side perspective view of a basic console,
(B) is a perspective view of the right side thereof (embodiment).

FIG. 4A is a plan perspective view of a drive console,
(B) is the front perspective view (embodiment).

5A is a sectional view taken along a line aa in FIG. 4, and FIG. 5B is a right side perspective view of the drive console (embodiment).

FIG. 6 (a) is a perspective plan view of a cassette console,
(B) is the front perspective view (embodiment).

7A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line cc of FIG. 6, and FIG. 7B is a right side perspective view of the cassette console (embodiment).

FIG. 8A is a perspective plan view of an extended basic console,
(B) is the front perspective view (embodiment).

9A is a left side perspective view of the extended basic console, FIG.
(B) is a perspective view of the right side thereof (embodiment).

FIG. 10 is a perspective view (embodiment) of a cassette delivery mechanism.

FIG. 11 is a plan view (embodiment) of a cassette delivery mechanism.

12A is a plan view of a minimum system, and FIG. 12B is a front view thereof (embodiment).

FIG. 13 is a plan view (embodiment) of a system assembled in a row direction.

FIG. 14 is a plan view (embodiment) of a system assembled in one row direction.

FIG. 15 is a plan view (embodiment) of a system assembled in one column direction and a column direction orthogonal thereto.

FIG. 16 is a plan view (embodiment) of a system assembled in one column direction and a column direction orthogonal thereto.

FIG. 17 is a plan view (embodiment) of a system assembled in one column direction and a column direction orthogonal thereto.

FIG. 18 is a plan view (embodiment) of a system assembled in one column direction and a column direction orthogonal thereto.

FIG. 19 is a plan view (embodiment) of a system assembled in one column direction and a column direction orthogonal thereto.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view (embodiment) of the cassette transporter.

FIG. 21 is a sectional view of a guide rail (embodiment).

FIG. 22 is an installation sectional view of a guide rail and the like at a lower position (embodiment).

FIG. 23 is an inner view of the console before the guide rail is installed (the embodiment).

FIG. 24 is an inside view of the console showing a guide rail installation state (embodiment).

FIG. 25 is a view showing the principle of forcing the shape of a guide rail (embodiment).

FIG. 26 is a plan view of the lower support portion side of the horizontal moving body (embodiment).

FIG. 27 is a vertical sectional view of a horizontal moving body (embodiment).

FIG. 28 is an enlarged front view showing the vicinity of a traveling roller (embodiment).

FIG. 29 is a view showing a traveling roller or the like traveling on a guide rail having a bend (undulation) (embodiment).

FIG. 30 is an enlarged plan view of the roller pressing mechanism (the embodiment).

FIG. 31 is an enlarged front view of a rack and pinion drive transmission system (embodiment).

FIG. 32 (a) is an exploded perspective view of a combination part of the other reduction gear and the pinion gear, (b) is an exploded perspective view of a combination part of the one reduction gear and the pinion gear,
(C) is a figure which shows the dimension relationship of a notch part and a protrusion part (embodiment).

FIG. 33 is an enlarged plan view (embodiment) of a pair of pinion gears and the like for explaining that no backlash causes backlash;

FIG. 34 is a perspective view (embodiment) showing a state where the cassette transporter is fixed by the fixing device for transportation.

FIG. 35 is a side view (embodiment) showing a state where the cassette transporter is fixed by the transport fixing device.

FIG. 36 is a plan view (embodiment) showing a state in which one guide roller is separated from a guide rail by roller separation means.

FIG. 37 is a side view (embodiment) showing a state in which the horizontal moving body is levitated by the levitating means.

FIG. 38 is a side view showing the state of the process of fixing the horizontal moving body by the fixing means (the embodiment).

FIG. 39 is a side view showing the state where the horizontal moving body is fixed by the fixing means (the embodiment).

FIG. 40 is a plan view of a main part in the vicinity of an energizing rail and a sliding contact (embodiment);

FIG. 41 is an ee cross-sectional view of FIG. 23 (embodiment);

FIG. 42 is a schematic perspective view (embodiment) of a cassette carrier.

FIG. 43 is a schematic perspective view of a cassette carrying body (the embodiment).

FIG. 44 is a front view of the rotation mechanism of the cassette transport body (the embodiment).

FIG. 45 is a plan view of a rotation mechanism of the cassette transport body (the embodiment).

FIG. 46 is a right side view of the rotation mechanism of the cassette transport body (the embodiment).

FIG. 47 is an overall perspective view of a cassette holder (embodiment);

FIG. 48 is a plan view (embodiment) of a cassette holder.

FIG. 49 is a partially cutaway rear view of the cassette holder (the embodiment).

FIG. 50 is a partially cutaway right side view of the cassette holder (the embodiment).

FIG. 51 is a perspective view of a hand unit (the embodiment).

FIG. 52 is a perspective view (embodiment) of the cassette pushing mechanism.

FIG. 53 (a) is a sectional view of a hand part, and FIGS.
3 is a cross-sectional view of a main part showing displacement of the hand unit in the left-right direction, and FIG. 4D is a cross-sectional view of main parts showing an upward displacement of the hand unit (embodiment).

FIGS. 54A and 54B are partial perspective views (embodiments) of cassette shelves, respectively.

FIG. 55 is a partial front view of the cassette shelf (the embodiment).

FIG. 56 is a view showing a width dimension relationship between a cassette guide and a cassette storage chamber (embodiment);

FIG. 57 is a plan view showing the cassette loading operation of the cassette carrying body (the embodiment);

FIG. 58 is a plan view showing the cassette loading operation of the cassette transport body (the embodiment);

FIG. 59 is a plan view (embodiment) showing a cassette loading operation of the cassette transport body.

FIG. 60 is a plan view (embodiment) showing a cassette transfer operation of the cassette transporter.

FIG. 61 is a plan view showing a cassette transfer operation of the cassette transporter (the embodiment).

FIG. 62 is a plan view showing the cassette transfer operation of the cassette transporter (the embodiment).

FIG. 63 is a front view (embodiment) showing a cassette loading / handling operation of the cassette transporter.

FIG. 64 is a front view (embodiment) illustrating a cassette loading / handling operation of the cassette transporter.

FIG. 65 is a front view showing the cassette loading / handling operation of the cassette transporter (the embodiment);

FIG. 66 is a front view (embodiment) showing the cassette loading / handling operation of the cassette transporter.

FIG. 67 is a plan view of a main part when the cassette carrier takes out the cassette from the cassette storage chamber (the embodiment);

FIG. 68 is a main part plan view (embodiment) when the cassette carrier inserts (transfers) the cassette into the cassette storage chamber;

FIGS. 69 (a) and (b) are front views (embodiments) showing a cassette taking-in operation when there is a vertical displacement between the cassette carrying body and the cassette storage chamber;

FIG. 70 is a plan view (embodiment) showing a cassette transfer operation when there is a horizontal displacement between the cassette transport body and the cassette storage chamber.

FIG. 71 (a) is a front view showing the positions of a pair of cassette guides in the case of a cassette storage chamber, and FIG. 71 (b) is a plan view showing the positions of the pair of cassette guides in the case of a recording / reproducing apparatus (embodiment).

FIG. 72 is an exemplary perspective view showing a retreating operation of the lock release lever (embodiment);

FIG. 73 is a partial schematic side view of the main body of the autochanger showing a rotation area of the cassette carrying body (the embodiment);

FIG. 74 is a schematic plan view showing the rotation locus of the cassette transport body (the embodiment);

FIG. 75 is a side view of a main part of a horizontal position control portion of the horizontal moving body (the embodiment);

FIG. 76 is a plan view of a main part of the auto changer main body on the origin side (embodiment);

FIG. 77 is a plan view of an essential part on the end side of the autochanger main body (the embodiment).

FIG. 78 is a view showing outputs of a pair of horizontal position detection sensors.
(Embodiment).

FIG. 79 is a view for explaining the operation of each axis in each sensor state (embodiment);

FIG. 80 is a plan view of a main part of a vertical position control portion of the cassette transport body (the embodiment);

FIG. 81 is a front view of a main part of a vertical position control portion of the cassette transport body (the embodiment);

FIG. 82 is a side view of a main part of a vertical position control portion of the cassette transport body (the embodiment);

83A is a left side view of the U-shaped member, FIG. 83B is a front view thereof, and FIG. 83C is a right side view thereof (embodiment).

FIG. 84 is a view showing an output of a pair of vertical position detection sensors (Embodiment);

FIG. 85 is a view for explaining the operation of each axis in each sensor state (embodiment);

FIG. 86 is a view showing the movement from the initial position during the initial operation (embodiment);

FIG. 87 is a front view of a main part of a rotation position control portion of the rotation mechanism (the embodiment);

FIG. 88 is a plan view of a main part of a rotation position control portion of the rotation mechanism (the embodiment);

FIG. 89 is a side view of a main part of a rotation position control portion of the rotation mechanism (the embodiment).

FIG. 90 (a) is a perspective view of a deceleration output section of a first reduction drum for vertical rotation, and FIG. 90 (b) is a plan view thereof (embodiment).

FIG. 91 (a) is a perspective view of a reduction output section of a second rotation drum for horizontal rotation, and FIG. 91 (b) is a plan view thereof (embodiment).

FIG. 92A is a diagram illustrating an output of a rotation position detection sensor for vertical rotation, and FIG. 92B is a diagram illustrating an operation of each axis in each sensor state (embodiment);

93A is a diagram showing an output of a rotation position detection sensor for horizontal rotation, and FIG. 93B is a diagram for explaining the operation of each axis in each sensor state (embodiment);

FIG. 94 is a partially enlarged internal view of the autochanger main body (the embodiment).

FIG. 95 (a) is a front view showing a pair of position detectors of a cassette storage chamber, and FIGS. 95 (b) and (c) are enlarged views of the position detectors (embodiments).

FIG. 96 is a schematic view (embodiment) of a cassette transport body.

FIG. 97 is a view showing a state of position adjustment with respect to the cassette storage chamber in which the rotation is shifted (embodiment);

FIG. 98 is a view showing a state of position adjustment with respect to a cassette housing chamber with a rotational displacement (embodiment);

FIG. 99 is a perspective view of the vicinity of an insertion cassette insertion chamber (embodiment);

FIG. 100 is a perspective view (embodiment) of a door opening / closing mechanism.

FIG. 101 is a plan view (embodiment) of an insertion / ejection cassette insertion chamber.

FIG. 102 is a front view (embodiment) of the insertion / ejection cassette insertion chamber.

FIG. 103 is a cross-sectional view (embodiment) of an insertion / egress cassette insertion chamber.

FIG. 104 is a circuit block diagram of the cassette in / out mechanism (the embodiment).

FIG. 105 is a flowchart (embodiment) of a cassette in / out mechanism.

FIG. 106 is a partial front view of the cassette transporter (first modified example).

FIG. 107 is a partial front view of the cassette transporter (second modified example).

FIG. 108 is a cross-sectional view (modification) of a guide rail.

FIG. 109 is a side view (modification) of the cassette transporter.

FIG. 110 is an enlarged front view of the vicinity of a traveling roller (modification).

FIG. 111 is a schematic view of a cassette holder (first modification).

FIG. 112 is a schematic view of a cassette holder (second modification).

FIG. 113 is a schematic view (modification) of a cassette holder.

FIG. 114 is a perspective view (modification) of a storage chamber lock release mechanism.

FIG. 115 (a) is an inside view of the console side direction,
(B) is a front view inside view of the console (first modified example).

116A is a plan view of the console, and FIG. 116B is an inner view of the console (second modified example).

FIG. 117 is an inner view (modification) of the autochanger main body.

FIG. 118 is a front view (modification) of a position detection unit.

FIG. 119 is a front view of the cassette shelf of the console showing the position detecting means (first modified example).

FIG. 120 is a diagram showing a position detecting means (second modified example).

FIG. 121 is a front view of a cassette transporter of an automatic changer (conventional example).

FIG. 122 is a side view of a cassette transporter of an automatic changer (conventional example).

FIG. 123 is a plan view of a cassette transporter of an automatic changer (conventional example).

FIG. 124 is a front view of both ends of an autochanger main body (conventional example).

[Explanation of symbols]

K: cassette, 1: autochanger body, 30: horizontal moving body, 31: cassette transport body, 403, 404: horizontal position detection sensor, 405: optical shutter plate (origin-side detected portion), 406: optical shutter plate (end) Side detected part).

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Yoshimasa Mimura 6-7-35 Kita Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Inside Sony Corporation

Claims (3)

[Claims] An autochanger main body includes a horizontal moving body which moves horizontally, a cassette conveying body capable of transferring a cassette, and the horizontal moving body is shifted in a horizontal conveying direction. A pair of horizontal position detection sensors are provided at the positions defined, and at one end of the auto changer body in the horizontal conveyance direction, an origin-side detected part to be detected by the pair of horizontal position detection sensors is provided. At the other end, provided are end-side detected portions to be detected by the pair of horizontal position detection sensors. Detecting an origin-side limit position and an end-side limit position which are allowable limit points for normal movement of the horizontal moving body. Cassette carrying machine bets changer. 2. An autochanger main body includes a horizontal moving body that moves horizontally, a cassette conveying body capable of transferring cassettes is provided on the horizontal moving body, and the horizontal moving body is shifted in a horizontal conveying direction. And a pair of horizontal position detection sensors that output binary information, respectively, are provided at one end and the other end of the main body of the auto changer in the horizontal conveyance direction. An origin-side detected portion and an end-side detected portion to be detected are provided, and the output combination of the pair of horizontal position detection sensors is four patterns, and the range of the four output patterns is defined as the origin-side limit position. Between the origin position, the origin position and the slow start position, between the slow start position and the end limit position, and between the end limit position and the reverse position. The origin side detected portion to constitute the end-side part to be detected, the cassette conveying motor autochanger, characterized in that so as to correspond to four range. 3. At the time of an initial operation, an output pattern of the pair of horizontal position detection sensors is used as a determination element for position detection of the horizontal moving body, and the position of the horizontal moving body is a slow start position, an end side limit position, , Or between the end-side limit position and the reverse position, the horizontal moving body moves in the direction of the origin position at a high speed to the slow start position, and moves at a low speed from the slow start position to the home position. 3. The cassette transfer device for an autochanger according to claim 2, wherein