JPS6114584B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention stores a plurality of recording media such as magnetic tapes, magnetic sheets, magnetic disks, etc. in a storage section, automatically takes them out in response to a request, moves them to a playback section, and performs playback operations. The present invention relates to a random access file device that performs.

FIG. 1 shows a conventional example of a video file or a large-capacity digital file using an automated warehouse system in which a random access file is installed. In Fig. 1, A is a front view and B is a side view, and this device is
A recording medium accommodating section 1 forming a large number of recording medium accommodating locations (hereinafter referred to as cells) 4, and a plurality of playback devices 5.
and a transport mechanism 2 that takes out the recording medium accommodated in the cell 4, loads it into the reproducing device 5 of the reproducing unit, and returns it to the original cell after the reproducing operation. In response to a command, the holder 2a moves horizontally as shown by the arrow in the figure and is attached to the transport mechanism and moves up and down to the commanded position to hold the recording medium and load it into the playback device and cell. Here, as the recording medium accommodated in the cell 4, for example, video information of a moving image is recorded.
These include cassettes or cartridges for VTRs, film magazines for projection devices, and tape rolls for recording digital data as peripheral memory for computers. In the illustrated example, the structure of the accommodating portion for accommodating the recording medium is shown as having cells arranged in a planar manner, but a structure in which cells are arranged on a circumference is also used. In such a file device, the hold time for access to one piece of recorded information is generally relatively long, and therefore it is necessary to take measures against simultaneous access to the same information when multiple processing is performed. Conventionally, as a countermeasure against this problem, a method has been adopted in which frequently accessed information is multiplexed and the same information is recorded on some or all of the recording media set in multiple cells in the storage unit. There is. However, if such a method is adopted, the amount of redundant information corresponding to the amount of multiplexing will be added to the amount of information stored in the film, and the number of cells will increase, and the scale of the storage section 1 will increase. As a result, the moving distance of the transport mechanism 2 increases, resulting in a disadvantage that the access time increases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a random access file device which eliminates the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art and allows simultaneous access to the same information without increasing the access time of the transport mechanism.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has a cell structure that is deep in the depth direction with respect to the recording medium ejection surface, that is, in the direction in which the recording medium is taken in and taken out, and a plurality of recording media on which the same information is recorded are taken in and out of the recording medium. It is characterized by being arranged in the direction.

Next, the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2A is a front view showing one embodiment of the present invention, B is C-C of A.
FIG. The structures of the transport mechanism 2 and the reproducing section 3 in this embodiment are the same as those shown in FIG. The structure is deep in the loading/unloading direction, and multiple recording media are stored in one
The point is that it is accommodated within a single cell.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the structure of a cell. In this example, for simplicity, two recording media 8 and 9 are provided in one cell.
The case where 1 is accommodated is shown, but of course 1
The number of recording media in a cell may be three or more. 10
is an extrusion spring that presses the recording media 8, 9 toward the ejection surface 11 side. Reference numeral 12 denotes a recording medium locking piece that is rotatably mounted around a fulcrum 13, and is attached to the cell 7.
A compression spring 15 is attached between the piece 14 fixed to the inner surface of the locking piece 12 and one end of the locking piece 12, and the other end of the locking piece 12 is pressed against the recording medium 8.
9 is kept in the accommodated state even though it is pressed in the ejection direction by the extrusion spring 10. Reference numeral 16 denotes a retractable rod provided on the holder 2a. When the holder 2a is opposed to the discharge surface of the cell and the retractable rod is extended, one end of the locking piece 12 is pressed and the recording medium 8 and the locking piece 12 are separated. It disengages the . 17 is a fixed holder arm, and 18 is a movable holder arm that can be displaced in the direction of the arrow.
When an access request is made for a certain cell, the transport mechanism 2 moves the holder 2 to a position opposite the ejection surface of the cell containing the corresponding recording medium based on the instruction.
a, extend the retractable rod 16, and lock the locking piece 1.
2 and the recording medium 8, the movable holder 18
A part of the recording medium 8 is inserted between the fixed holder arm 17 and the movable holder arm 18 while the holder is lifted upward, and then the movable holder arm 18 is lowered and the recording medium 8 is gripped between the arms 17 and 18. While holding the recording medium 8, the recording medium 8 is pulled out from the cell 7 and placed on a reproducing device. When pulling out the recording medium 8, the recording medium 9 is also pushed out by the pushing spring 10, but at this time there is no contact between the protruding rod 16 and the locking piece 12, and the upper end of the locking piece 12 is on the bottom surface of the recording medium 9. Since the recording medium 9 is fitted into the concave locking portion formed at the leading end, the recording medium 9 is held at the position shown on the recording medium 8 . When the same information is requested in this state, that is, a request is made to reproduce the recording medium 9, this cell is accessed and the recording medium 9 is taken out. After the reproduction operation, the recording medium is taken out from the reproduction apparatus by the conveyance mechanism, conveyed to a predetermined cell position, and then pushed into the cell. At this time, all the recording media already in the cell are pushed in by one recording medium in the depth direction.

Since the same information is recorded in a plurality of recording media stored in the same cell, there is no restriction on the order in which used recording media are stored. In addition, the second
Although FIG. 3 and FIG. 3 have been described with respect to a conveyance mechanism using a planar movement method, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention is also applicable to the formation of a cell arrangement having a multilayer structure arranged on a circumference or a structure in which a large number of recording media are accommodated. It can also be implemented for other formats.

As explained above, in the present invention, the cells accommodating recording media have a deep structure in the loading/unloading direction, and recording media with the same information are arranged and accommodated in the loading/unloading direction, so that when multiple processing is performed, Even if this happens, the access time will not increase, and the size of the housing will not increase significantly, making it possible to reduce the installation space.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1A is a front view showing an example of a conventional random access file device, FIG. 1B is a side view thereof, and FIG.
Figure A is a front view showing one embodiment of the random access file device according to the present invention, Figure B is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC of A, and Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the recording medium storage cell according to the present invention. 1, 6...Recording medium storage unit, 2...Transportation mechanism,
3... Playback section, 4, 7... Recording medium storage cell,
8, 9...Recording medium, 10...Extrusion spring, 12
...Latching piece.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A recording medium accommodating section having a plurality of cells for accommodating a recording medium such as a magnetic tape, magnetic sheet, or magnetic disk on which a digital signal or a video signal is recorded, and an electric signal that reproduces the contents of the recording medium.
In a file system that includes a playback unit having a plurality of playback devices that output video signals, and a transport mechanism that moves a recording medium between the storage unit and the playback unit, the cell is moved in the direction of loading and unloading the recording medium. 1. A random access file device having a structure capable of accommodating a plurality of recording media, and comprising means for individually ejecting the recording media accommodated in the cell.