JPS61183042A - Recording medium absorbing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To realize a continuous testing process in a high speed, by arranging the first surface to absorb a separator at the top of an absorbing head, and the second surface to absorb a recording medium inside the absorbing head, in a small size floppy recording medium testing device. CONSTITUTION:When a head 10 goes down in a specific distance, head portions 10a and 10b contact a separator 4 and a floppy medium 3 on a feeding pallet. When the head 10 goes down more, and a nail 17 of an arm 7b acts to remove a collet 10c from a spindle 5a, the tip F is released from a negative pressure, and the floppy medium 3 drops on the spindle 5a. In this case, the head portion 10a is kept at a negative pressure, maintaining the separator 4. Then, as the collet 10c drops, the floppy medium 3 is absorbed to the tip F of the head portion 10b. Keeping in this condition, the floppy medium 3 is transferred to the testing phase, and then to the storage pallet. Thus, a continuous testing process is realized in a high speed.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a recording medium adsorption method, and in particular, to a continuous and high-speed inspection process for many floppy (flexible disk) recording media (hereinafter referred to as floppy media). The present invention relates to a floppy recording medium adsorption method that is capable of
As seen in inspection equipment for 4-inch mini floppies and 8-inch standard floppies, floppy media is inspected to determine whether it passes or fails based on predetermined electrical specifications while stored in a jacket. Generally, rejected products are sent out on the same conveyance path, and the separation is performed by switching the conveyance path midway through.

On the other hand, the demand for mini-floppy disks has increased with the expansion of AO technology, and in particular, small floppy disks of 5174 inches and even smaller 3.5 inches called microfloppies are rapidly becoming popular in offices and households. It is becoming popular. As a result, their production has increased rapidly in recent years.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Therefore, especially for small floppy disks of 5174 inches or less, such conventional inspection methods have a slow processing speed and may not be able to handle them.

As a result, in order to deal with this, it may be possible to install two or three more inspection devices, but the more inspection devices are added, the more space is taken up and the manufacturing cost increases. Relationships with production lines at other stages also become complicated. Moreover, this creates an unfavorable environment for a floppy disk production line where dust and the like are avoided as much as possible.

On the other hand, the smaller the size of such an inspection device, the more preferable it is in relation to the production line.

[Purpose of the invention] The present invention has been made in view of the problems of the prior art. It is an object of the present invention to provide a recording medium adsorption method that can realize a floppy recording medium inspection device and the like.

[Means for Solving the Problems] This invention focuses on the continuous testing of floppy disks by transporting them in a naked state without using a jacket. In this method, bare floppies (floppy media) are stacked, and a separator is interposed between the bare floppies to prevent their separation and mutual interference. By carrying it around, the process of separating and inserting it using a separator can be eliminated, and the process can be speeded up.
In this case, both the separator and the bare (7) 70 pieces can be picked up.

Accordingly, in the recording medium adsorption method of the present invention that achieves the above-mentioned object, a plurality of sheet-like recording media are stacked with a separator on or in front of the separator, and are arranged in a stacked manner with the separator interposed therebetween. is provided with an opening having a diameter larger than the diameter of the opening in the center of the recording medium or the diameter of its center core, and has a first surface that attracts the separator on the tip side and a first surface that attracts the recording medium on the inside thereof. The separator and the recording medium are both attracted by a suction head having a second surface.

[Function] With this configuration, the separator and the sheet-like recording medium can be held together and transported to the inspection stage, and even after the inspection is completed, by adopting the same method, The separator and recording medium can be held together and transferred to a storage pallet. As a result, it becomes possible to continuously inspect the naked body without storing it in a jacket, and the inspection process can be speeded up. Furthermore, since the separator and the recording medium can be picked up at the same time, handling control becomes easy.

It should be noted that similar effects can be expected from such a recording medium adsorption method in floppy recording medium inspection equipment, manufacturing equipment thereof, optical disk inspection equipment, and the like.

[Example] Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a floppy recording medium inspection apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The handling unit 1 picks up the floppy media 3 stacked (for example, about 200 media) on the supply pallet 2 one by one and transfers them to the floppy inspection unit 5 by controlling its rotation and raising/lowering. The floppy medium 3 that has been inspected is transferred from the floppy inspection unit 5 to the storage pallet set at the corresponding storage position (storage in the figure).
/ Toro a is set in the storage position).

Here, there are four storage pallets 6a, 6b, and 6c.

6d is placed on the stacker table 9, and by controlling the rotation of the stacker table 9 by a predetermined amount (an integral multiple of 90 degrees), the selected storage pallet is placed in the corresponding storage position. Set. In addition, these storage pallets 6a and 6b.

6c and 6d, the empty supply pallet 2 is transferred to a pallet transfer supply mechanism composed of a belt conveyance mechanism (for details, see
(see FIG. 6) and set on the stacker table 9. The four storage pallets 6a, 6b, 6c, and 6d each correspond to four states: pass, top face fail, bottom face fail, and both sides fail. And in the figure, Leaders Palette 6
c is in the ejection position.

Now, supply pallet 2 or storage pallet) 6a.

6b, 6c, and 6d, respectively, are shown in FIG. 2(a).

As shown in (b), the floppy medium 3 is stacked or stored alternately with the separator 4 on top, with the separator 4 interposed.

Moreover, the inner diameter of the opening 4a of the separator 4 is larger than the inner diameter of the opening 3a of the floppy medium 3.

Both the separator 4 and the floppy medium 3 are connected to a cylindrical suction head 1 mounted on the handling unit 1.
0, it is adsorbed under negative pressure and held at the tip of the suction head IO. In addition, as described later, the suction head 1
When the tip of the disk 0 is separated, the pressure becomes atmospheric, and the floppy medium 3 is removed from the tip.

By the way, the floppy medium 3 referred to here is the bare floppy disk itself before being stored in a jacket or case. Now, the handling unit 1 is composed of an arm unit 7 and a transfer control mechanism 8. Unit 7 is
The first one supports three suction heads 10 at intervals of 120 degrees in a loosely fitted state. 2nd degree third arm 7a, 7b, 7
It has c.

On the other hand, the transfer control mechanism 8 is a mechanism that moves the arm unit/door up and down and controls its rotation at a rotation angle of 120 degrees at a predetermined timing.

Here, the floppy inspection unit 5 is a so-called floppy disk drive device, and a spindle 5a of a drive motor is arranged on the top of the floppy inspection unit 5. The floppy medium 3 is set on this spindle 5a, and a predetermined electrical Tests are conducted for specific characteristics.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 3(a), the suction head IO is located on the supply pallet 2 or the storage pallet 1/, which is in the storage position, and the tray a(
or 6b, 6c, 6d)
As seen in the cross-sectional view of the suction head 10 in contact with the flow-2 pea medium 3, the suction head 10 has a triple cylindrical structure.

The outermost cylinder is a head portion 10a that attracts the seven-layer pallet 4, and a suction port (see FIG. 5) is provided inside the head portion 10a. The cylinder on the inside is a head part 10b that attracts the floppy medium 3, and is fitted into the outermost cylinder so that it can move up and down. ) is provided. It consists of two blocks: a tip F and a rear body R.

Then, as shown in Figure 3(a), the interpolated axis 1
These tip portions F and rear body R are integrally connected to each other via collet 0d, collet 10C1, and a built-in spring (details not shown). In addition, Fig. 3 (a
) The bottle loa installed at the top of the cylinder of the head loa.
f is arm 7a.

It plays a role of engaging with the upper part of 7b or 7C and locking the suction head 10 itself.

Now, inside the tip part F of the head part 10b.

A cholera) 10c for fixing the floppy medium 3 to the spindle 5a is housed. This cholera) 1
0c is rotatably supported on the shaft 10d via a bearing, and is spring-coupled with the tip F, and due to the action of this bearing, it follows the rotation of the spindle 5a together with the tip F. .

Moreover, FIG. 3(b) explains the state in which the separator 4 and the floppy medium 3 are adsorbed to the adsorption pad 10 in the transporting state and the lifting state. 10e (see FIG. 3(a)) and natural fall due to its own weight, the head portion 10 attracts the floppy medium 3, which is a cylinder inside the head portion 10.
b is shifted downward by a predetermined distance, and the separator 4 and the floppy medium 3 are held a certain distance apart with the separator 4 facing upward.

Note that the windows 16 in FIG. 3(a) are provided in the head portions LOa and lob of each suction head 10,
This window 16 is an opening into which a claw 17 (see FIG. 3(C)) provided on each arm is fitted, and as shown in FIG. 3(C), this window 16 is positioned in the floppy inspection unit 5. When the arm 7b (or 7a, 7c) comes down, this claw 17 fits through the window 16, lowering the shaft 10d,
The tip F is separated from the rear main body R, the pressure at the suction opening of the tip F is set to atmospheric pressure, and the floppy medium 3 adsorbed at the tip is allowed to fall naturally onto the spindle 5a, and the collet lOc is placed on the spindle 5a. By being fitted into the recess, the floppy medium 3 is fixed and pressed between the periphery of the tip F and the periphery of the recess of the spindle 5a.

This effect is concretely shown in Figures 4(a) to 4(
d), and the arm 7b is in a state of being lowered in sequence from FIG. 4(a) to FIG. 4(d). Note that for convenience of explanation, the cylinder of the head portion 10a and a portion of the separator 4 fixed thereto are omitted.

To explain the operation specifically, when the head 10 loosely supported by the arm 7b descends to a predetermined position, first,
When the bar 15 engages with the stopper 14, the head portion 10a and the head portion 10b (the bottle 10e of the head portion tob)
) is prevented from descending.

Then, the arm 7b further descends and the claw 1 is removed from the window 16.
7 is fitted and protrudes, and engages with a bottle lOg provided on a shaft 10d that bearing supports the collet lOc. This state is shown in FIG. 4(a).

Then, when the arm 7b further descends, the bottle lOg is pushed down, and the shaft LOd is pushed down, so that the rear body R of the head section 10b is prevented from descending, and only its tip F separates and descends. It turns out. As a result, the pressure at the suction port at the tip F changes from negative pressure to atmospheric pressure. As a result, the floppy medium 3 is allowed to fall onto the spindle 5a. This state is shown in FIG. 4(b).

In addition, the tip part F of the head' part 10b and the rear main body R are as follows.
They are closely coupled together via an inserted shaft 10d under pressure from a built-in spring, and their separation here is performed against the force of this spring.

Now, when the arm 7b further descends, the shaft LOd is further pushed down, and the collet loc inserted into the distal end side of the head portion 10b also begins to protrude in a predetermined positional relationship. Then, it is fitted into the recess 5b of the spindle 5a. This state is shown in FIG. 4(c).

Then, when the arm 7b further descends, the shaft 10d is further pushed down, and the storage pallet 6a (in the storage position)
or 6b, 6c, ad) and similarly to part L Ob
The floppy medium 3 (Cholera) loc inserted into the tip side of the collet 10C further protrudes in a predetermined positional relationship and is completely fitted into the recess 5b of the spindle 5a, and the floppy medium 3 is inserted around the collet 10C and around the spindle 5a. The periphery of the opening 3a is held and fixed. This state is shown in FIG. 4(d). Note that the gap between the tip F and the rear body R shown in FIG. 4(d) is actually very small, about 2 mm. , this is emphasized for the sake of explanation.

By the way, as shown in FIG. 1, the stopper 14
The stopper is disposed penetratingly relative to the position of the arm 7b, and engages with a bar 15 fixed to the outside of the head 10 at a predetermined lowering position of the head 10. This stopper 14 is installed corresponding to the arm at the position corresponding to the floppy inspection unit 5, and there are no stoppers at other locations, so the supply pallet 2 and the storage pallet in the storage position are )6a (or 6
b, 6c, 6d), its head loa.

The tab is not prevented from descending and descends together with the arm, and there is no action of the claw 17 to push down the collet 1OC or the like.

On the other hand, the supply pallet 2 and the storage pallets) 6a, 6b.

6C or 6d, but the position of this spindle 5a is higher than the bottom position of these supply pallets 3 and storage pallets 6a, 6b, 6c, or 6d. . Therefore, from this point of view as well, the claw 17 has no effect on the suction head IO with respect to the supply pallet 2 and storage pallet.

In this way, the floppy medium 3 is set on the spindle 5a of the floppy inspection unit 5 for inspection.
is fixed between the collet 10c set inside the suction head 1o and the surface of the spindle 5a. The collet 1oc is rotated by the action of a bearing inside the suction head 10 so as to follow the rotation of the spindle 5a.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the suction head 10, in which the suction head 10 has its arm 7a (or 7b).

7c), and the head portion 10a has a first surface that attracts the separator 4 on its tip side, and a
8 is provided, and the head portion 1 provided inside the
A second surface 19 for adsorbing the floppy medium 3 is provided on the tip side of the 0b. In addition, 20 is the front part of collet 10C supported by the bearing.

Here, 18a, 18a, 18a, and 18a are four suction holes provided in the head portion 10a, respectively;
b, 18b, 18b, and 18b are grooves provided corresponding to these suction holes 18a, respectively. Similarly, 19a,
19a, 19a, 19a are four suction holes provided in the head portion 10b, respectively, 19b, 19
b, 19b, 113b are these suction holes 19
These grooves are provided corresponding to the grooves a.

The number of suction holes 18a and 19a should be selected appropriately depending on the shape and mass of the separator 4 or the floppy medium 3, respectively. Since the suction holes 18a are relatively small, it is sufficient to have about two suction holes 18a provided in the head portion 10a.

By adopting this configuration of the suction pad 10, it becomes possible to suction both the separator 4 and the floppy medium 3.

Note that the shape of the suction head IO does not have to be cylindrical, and the shape of the separator 4 also does not have to be circular. Therefore, the central opening 4a may have a larger rectangular shape than the opening 3a of the floppy medium 3.

Next, the overall operation of this floppy recording medium inspection apparatus will be explained.

First, as for the overall operation, the separator 4 and the floppy medium 3 are simultaneously moved to the first . Second. They are attracted to the respective heads 10 of the third arms 7a, 7b, and 7c, and are transported together.

Now, the supply pallet 2 is set under the head 10 supported by the first arm 7a of the arm unit 7 by the loader unit. Then, the arm unit 7 is lowered by the transfer control mechanism 8, and each of the blades 10 supported in a loosely fitted state is lowered, and when the arm unit 7 is lowered by a predetermined amount,
First, the separator 4 placed at the top of the supply pallet 2
The head portions 10a and 10b come into contact with the floppy medium 3.

Here, the arm unit 7 further descends, but since it is supported in a loosely fitted state and there is no stopper 14, the head 10 supported by the first arm 7a, the separator 4, and the floppy medium 3 are separated from each other as shown in FIG. 3(a). ) to maintain relationships as seen in

Such a relationship holds true even when the third arm 7c and the storage pallet 6a (or 6b, 6c, 6d) are in the storage position.

On the other hand, since the spindle 5a of the floppy inspection unit 5 is located further above and there is the stopper 14, the second arm 7b further descends, the claw 13 of the arm 7b acts, and eventually When the collet 10c comes to a position a predetermined distance away from the spindle 5a, the tip F of the head portion 10b is changed from negative pressure to atmospheric pressure, and the floppy medium 3 in the adsorbed state is detached from the spindle 5a.
fall upwards. At this time, the head portion 10a of the second arm 7b is maintained under negative pressure, and the separator 4 is
It remains retained.

As a result, only the floppy medium 3 of the arm 7b that was in the adsorbed state is detached from the head 10, and the subsequent descent of the collet lOc of the head 10 in the arm 7b causes the spindle 5a and the cholera) loc and head portion lOc to fall.
The floppy medium 3 to be inspected is fixed between the tip F of the Ob and the floppy medium 3 to be inspected. In this state, the lowering control of the arm unit 7 by the transfer control mechanism 8 ends. Then, a predetermined test is started in the floppy test unit 5.

Here, when a predetermined test is completed in the floppy test unit 5, the head portion 10a and the head portion fob of the head IO of the third arm 7C are changed from negative pressure to atmospheric pressure at a timing corresponding to the end signal. Therefore, both the separator 4 and the floppy medium 3 which are in the suction state are removed, and the separator 4 and the floppy medium 3 are set in a storage position of the storage pallet 6a, 6b, 6c, or 6d. They will be stored on the pallet in the same vertical relationship as when they were supplied.

When a predetermined test is completed in the floppy test unit 5, the transfer control mechanism 8 operates in response to the completion signal, and the arm unit 7, which is in the lowered state, is raised by the transfer control mechanism 8 and brought into a loosely fitted state. Eventually, each head 10 supported by the head 10 will rise. Then, the collet 10c of the rad 10 rises to the suction arm 7b, and the tip F of the head part 10b and the rear body R are pulled up and integrated by the action of the built-in spring, and the suction operation of the head part tab starts. do. As a result, the floppy medium 3 on the spindle 5a is attracted, resulting in the state shown in FIG. 3(b).

At this time, the suction pad 10 of the arm 7a also holds the separator 4 and the floppy medium 3 in the state shown in FIG. 3(b).
It absorbs and retains.

Then, the suction head 10 of each arm is connected to the supply pallet 2 and the storage pallet (6a or 6b) in the storage position.
, 6c, 6d) (7) When the storage pallet and the floppy inspection unit 5 reach a predetermined elevated position a predetermined distance # from their upper ends, the lifting stops.

In this state, the head 10 of the first arm 7a and the second arm 7b is in a state where the separator 4 and the floppy medium 3 are held in a vertical relationship, and the head 10 of the third arm 7C is and the floppy medium 3 are not held.

Here, the arm unit 7 is controlled by the transfer control mechanism 8.
Rotate 120 degrees. Then, the first arm 7a moves to the position of the second arm 7b, and the second arm 7b moves to the position of the third arm 7.
C, and the third arm 7C is connected to the first arm 7.
Each moves to position a.

On the other hand, depending on the previous inspection results, control unit 1
1, the rotation of the stacker table 9 is controlled, and the result of the inspection of the four storage pallets) 6a, 6b, 6c, or 6d (pass, top failure).

Storage pallet corresponding to lower side rejected (1 failed on both sides)) 6a
, 6b, 6c or 6d is positioned at a storage position corresponding to the head 10 of the second arm 7b (the position where the third arm 7C was before rotation).

Then, the arm unit 7 descends in the same manner as above, and the same process is repeated.

In this way, one by one, the separator 4 and floppy medium 3 are held in a vertical relationship with the separator 4 facing upward, and are transferred together from the supply valley/tray 2 to the floppy inspection unit 5. The inspected floppy medium 3 and the separator 4 are transferred from the floppy inspection unit 5 to the storage pallet while maintaining the vertical relationship with the separator 4 on top, as in the case of supply.

On the other hand, on the storage pallet side, the stacker table 9 is rotationally controlled by the control unit 11 according to the inspection results, and the stacker table 9 is controlled to rotate according to the inspection results, and the four storage pallets are separated according to the inspection results (pass, top side failure, bottom side failure, double side failure). 6a, 6b, 6
The corresponding one of c or 6d receives the inspected floppy medium 3 together with the separator 4.

Furthermore, the quantity of floppy media 3 stored in these and the quantity of remaining floppy media 3 on the supply pallet 2 are both managed by the arithmetic processing section of the control unit 11, and when each reaches 200 sheets, , the supply pallet 2 enters emptying processing and is transferred to the storage pallet side. Also, storage pallets 6a, 6b, 6c or 6d
enters the discharge process.

As explained above, in the embodiment, the separator and the floppy medium are transported in a vertical relationship with the separator at the top by an arm arranged at 120 degrees. In addition to being held and transported together, for example, they may be placed one behind the other in the lateral direction. Further, the arm is not limited to the arm as in the embodiment, and the holding thereof is not limited to suction.

In short, it is sufficient that both the separator and the floppy medium are transferred from the supply pallet to the inspection stage, and after the inspection, the separator and the floppy medium are both transferred to the storage pallet. Of course, the transfer to the inspection stage and the transfer to the storage pallet after inspection may be performed independently.

In addition, although the embodiments mainly describe a floppy recording medium inspection apparatus as an example, the floppy medium adsorption method of the present invention can be applied to manufacturing equipment, etc., even if it is not a floppy recording medium inspection apparatus. is also applicable in the same way.

Further, the target is not limited to floppy media, but may also be an inspection device for so-called sheet-shaped recording media such as optical disks, or a manufacturing device thereof.

[Effects of the Invention] As can be understood from the above description, in the present invention, a plurality of sheet-like recording media are stacked with a separator on or in front of the separator, and the separator is placed in the center of the separator. The section is provided with an opening having a diameter larger than the diameter of the opening at the center of the recording medium or the diameter of its center core, and has a first surface that attracts the separator on the tip side and a recording medium on the inside thereof. Since the separator and the recording medium are both attracted to each other by a suction head having a second suction surface, the separator and the recording medium can be held together and transferred to the inspection stage, and the inspection is completed. Even later, by adopting a similar method, the separator and the recording medium can be held together and transferred to the storage pallet.

As a result, it becomes possible to continuously inspect the naked body without storing it in a jacket, and the inspection process can be speeded up.

Furthermore, since the separator and the recording medium can be picked up at the same time, handling control becomes simple, and similar effects can be obtained in the manufacturing apparatus.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a floppy recording medium inspection apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2(a) is a schematic diagram. (b) is a diagram explaining the relationship between the storage pallet, floppy recording medium, and separator, and FIG.
) is a cross-sectional explanatory view of the suction head when it is placed on the supply pallet or storage pallet, and FIG. Figure 3 (C) is a diagram explaining the relationship between the suction head and the separator when the arm is lowered, and Figure 4 (a) is a diagram explaining the relationship between the separator, the floppy recording medium, and its suction head when the arm is lowered. Figure 4(d)
is a diagram for explaining the action of the claw provided on the arm,
FIG. 5 is a front view of the suction head. 1 is a handling unit, 2 is a supply pallet, 3 is a floppy recording medium, 4 is a separator, 5 is a floppy inspection unit, 6a, 6b, 6c. 6d is a storage pallet, 7 is an arm unit, 7
a, 7b, and 70 are the 1st. 2nd ° 3rd arm,
Reference numeral 8 denotes a transfer control mechanism, 9 a stacker table, 10 an adsorption +7 drive, loa, 10b a head section, 18 a first surface for adsorbing a separator, and 19 a second surface for adsorbing a floppy recording medium.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A plurality of sheet-like recording media are stacked and arranged with a separator on or in front of the separator,
An opening having a diameter larger than the diameter of the opening at the center of the recording medium or the diameter of its center core is provided in the center of the separator, and a first surface that attracts the separator on the leading end side. A recording medium suction method characterized in that the separator and the recording medium are both suctioned by a suction head having a second surface for suctioning the recording medium inside the suction head.