JPS6141157Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a mass storage device, and more particularly to an improvement in the loading/unloading mechanism of a magnetic tape cartridge.

A cylindrical magnetic tape cartridge is used in a mass storage device, in which a magnetic tape is wound around a cylindrical body and the entire body is covered with a cover. FIG. 1 shows a conventional example of a loading/unloading mechanism for introducing such a cartridge into a recording/reproducing device or taking it out from the recording/reproducing device and ejecting it to the outside. This cartridge loading/unloading mechanism 1 is provided with a cartridge rolling transfer inclined passage 4 having an angle α with respect to a horizontal plane in order to cause the cartridge 3 to roll. The axis of the cylindrical cartridge 3 is located at an inclined passage 4 from the insertion opening 2 of the front wall (not shown).
is inserted perpendicular to the direction of transport. A cartridge guide regulation groove 6 is provided at the starting end of the inclined passage 4 at the bottom of the insertion opening 2. An extension 5 constituting an inclined support surface for lifting the cartridge is provided on the regulating groove 6 so as to be continuous with the inclined passage 4. When the cartridge 3 is inserted into the interior through the insertion opening 2, the cartridge tip is guided by the guide surface 7 of the regulating groove 6 and inserted at right angles to the inclined passage 4. When the cartridge 3 is completely inserted, the cartridge 3 is extended into an L-shaped extension. It is placed on the bent protrusion of the shaft 5, lifted from the regulating groove, and rolled on the inclined passage 4.
In this case, the bent protrusion of the L-shaped extension 5 must be provided relatively long along the regulating groove 6 for lifting and supporting the entire cartridge 3 (up to a position that supports the center of gravity of the cartridge 3). Therefore, if the cartridge 3 is inserted at a relatively large angle rather than perpendicular to the transfer direction of the inclined passage 4 due to a positioning error of the accessor that inserts the cartridge, the tip of the cartridge passes directly over the extension 5. It reaches above the inclined passage 4 and is disposed obliquely on the inclined passage 4 without being subjected to direction regulation by the regulating groove 6. Therefore, the end of the cartridge 3 comes into contact with the side wall of the passage, and the cartridge 3
does not roll and transport of the cartridge is not achieved.

The present invention has been devised in view of the above points, and even if the insertion angle of the cartridge deviates from the direction perpendicular to the inclined passageway by a relatively large amount, the present invention can reliably correct the insertion angle to the direction perpendicular to the inclined passage, and the cartridge can be rotated. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a cartridge loading/unloading mechanism that ensures reliable dynamic transfer and improves the reliability of cartridge loading/unloading work. For this reason, the cartridge loading/unloading mechanism according to the present invention is provided with inclined support surfaces for lifting the cartridge at both ends of the regulation groove, which are continuous with the inclined path, and which are continuous with the inclined support surface of the remote part from the insertion port of both inclined support surfaces. A cartridge tip guiding inclined surface is provided within the regulating groove.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention. An inclined support surface 8 for lifting a cartridge having the same inclination angle as the inclined passageway 4 is formed on the back side of the cartridge guide regulation groove 6 provided at the lower part of the cartridge insertion opening 2, that is, at the end remote from the insertion opening 2. A cartridge tip guiding inclined surface 9 that is continuous with the inclined support surface 8 is provided within the regulating groove 6 . An I-shaped extension 5' serving as another inclined support surface for lifting the cartridge is attached to the front end of the regulating groove 6 at the same angle of inclination as the inclined passage 4. In such a loading/unloading mechanism 1, even if the cartridge is inserted diagonally from the insertion port 2, the I-shaped extension 5' projects only a short width above the regulating groove 6, so the tip of the cartridge is ′
It is regulated in the right angle direction by the guide surface 7 of the regulating groove 6 without being obstructed by the guide groove 6, and rises along the guiding inclined surface 9 at the tip of the regulating groove 6 to reach the inclined support surface 8 (Figs. 3 and 4). (see figure). Since this inclined support surface 8 and the extension 5' are inclined at an angle α with respect to the horizontal plane like the inclined passage 4 (see FIG. 5), the cartridge 3 can be moved from above the inclined support surface 8 and the extension 5'. Rolling start slope passage 4
It rolls on top and is conveyed to a predetermined location.

As explained above, if the cartridge loading/unloading mechanism according to the present invention is used, even if the cartridge is inserted obliquely due to an error in the positioning of the accessor, the cartridge will be reliably oriented perpendicular to the path direction, thereby improving reliability. High conveyance efficiency is achieved. Note that an inclined surface similar to the inclined support surface 8 may be provided in place of the extension 5'.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional cartridge loading/unloading mechanism, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a cartridge loading/unloading mechanism according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a plan view of an inclined passage surface of the cartridge loading/unloading mechanism according to the present invention. 4 is a sectional view taken along the - line in FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the - line in FIG. 3. 1... Cartridge loading/unloading mechanism, 2... Insertion port, 3... Cartridge, 4... Inclined passage, 5,
5'...Extension, 6...Regulation groove, 8...
... Inclined support surface, 9... Inclined guide surface.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] It has a cartridge insertion opening in which the direction of insertion of the cylindrical cartridge is approximately perpendicular to the transport direction of the cartridge, and a cartridge guide perpendicular to the passage direction is provided at the starting end of the inclined passage for cartridge rolling transfer near the insertion opening. In a cartridge loading/unloading mechanism for a large-capacity storage device provided with a regulation groove, inclined support surfaces for lifting the cartridge are provided at both ends of the regulation groove continuously with the inclined passage, and one of the two inclined support surfaces is provided at a distance from the insertion opening. A cartridge loading/unloading mechanism for a large-capacity storage device, characterized in that a cartridge leading end guiding slope is provided in the regulating groove and is continuous with the sloped support surface of the cartridge.