JPS6227206A - Cartridge auto-changer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To miniaturize an auto-changer as well as to aim at the secureness of housing capacity, by constituting a hand mechanism holding a cartridge so as to rotate it upward after being once descended at the time of taking out it from more than a specific step, in case of the hand mechanism type auto-changer. CONSTITUTION:When each cartridge C on racks Tn-2-Tn from the top of a cartridge housing magazine 20 to the specified step, for example, above the third step, first the cartridge C is held and pulled out by a hand mechanism 29 and then this hand mechanism is rotated upward after making the hand mechanism 29 once go down to a position where the cartridge C at the fourth step Tn-3 or less than it does not interfere with a top plate 1a. And, next, the hand mechanism is made to go up. And, these are set in a program of a control unit (unillustrated herein) whereby automatic control takes place. With this constitution, miniaturization in an auto-changer is attainable.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention A. Purpose of the Invention [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention is directed to a cartridge autochanger (Cartridge autochanger).
ridge Auto Changer).

[Conventional technology]

A cartridge autochanger (hereinafter abbreviated as a CAC device) consists of a cartridge storage vehicle that stores and stores a large number of cartridges in an organized manner, a transport mechanism that includes a cartridge hand (grip/release) mechanism, and a transport mechanism that stores and stores the required cartridges. It mainly consists of a device operation control circuit including a specifying means, and searches for, extracts (takes out) a specified required cartridge from among a large number of stored cartridges, and transfers it to the cartridge mounting section '4 (predetermined port) of the device in which the cartridge is installed. It is a device that automatically performs operations such as loading and unloading used cartridges, as well as returning and re-storing used cartridges.For example, it is a device that can be used in a microfilm system to use a large number of microfilm cartridges rationally and efficiently. It is put into practical use as an automated device.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

There are CAC devices with various configurations and operating methods.
Particularly, the present invention provides for one hand mechanism to grasp and extract a required cartridge from a cartridge storage section.
Next, the present invention relates to an improvement of a CAC device that is vertically conveyed upward to a predetermined port by an operation including an upward rotational movement and a lifting movement of a hand mechanism.

The cartridge transport type CAC device such as Kitagi has the following problems. In other words, in this type of device, even when the cartridge C on the uppermost shelf Tn of the cartridge storage marking section 20 is grabbed and extracted by the hand 49a of the hand mechanism 49 (as shown by the solid line), as shown in FIG. The extraction cartridge C is then inserted into a predetermined port on the L side) 100 (
For example, when the hand mechanism 49 is rotated upward (as shown by the two-dot chain line) in order to vertically transport and attach it to the cartridge B1) of this machine B, such as a microfilm reader, etc., the vertical The top plate 1a is placed in the cartridge storage so that the upward rotational movement of the hand mechanism is not obstructed by the facing cartridge C or members of the hand mechanism side interfering with the lower surface of the top plate 1a, which is an upper part of the device. Part 2
It is necessary to provide a sufficient space S above 0, which increases the size of the device considerably. Conversely, if the height of the top plate 1a is set to a certain level, the number of shelves in the cartridge storage section 20 will be reduced and the height of the storage section will be set low, reducing the total number of stored cartridges. .

The present invention has been proposed in view of the above, and the present invention has been proposed in view of the above, and the present invention allows the cartridge storage section 20 to be removed without the need for a large space S as described above between the cartridge storage section 20 and the device top plate 1a as an upper disposed member. It is an object of the present invention to provide a CAC device A of this type that can transport cartridges vertically upwardly to a predetermined port without any hindrance to any shelf level above or below the cartridge, is compact overall, and has a sufficient cartridge storage capacity. purpose.

Summary: Structure of the Invention [Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention uses a hand mechanism to move the required cartridges to a specified shelf row or shelf level of a cartridge storage section in which a large number of cartridges are stored and organized by address. In the cartry 2 geo-changer, the extraction cartridge is vertically conveyed vertically to a predetermined port by an operation including an upward rotational movement and a lifting movement of a hunt mechanism. - Cartridges that are vertically oriented due to the upward rotation of the extracted hand mechanism, or cartridges on shelves of a predetermined height level or higher where members of the hand mechanism interfere with the upper part of the device, are captured by the hand mechanism. - When extracted, the hand mechanism is once moved downward to a position where the vertically oriented cartridge or the member on the hand machine groove side does not interfere with the upper part of the device by the upward rotation of the hand mechanism, The gist of the cartridge autochanger is that the device operation is controlled so that the hand mechanism is then rotated upward.

[For production]

FIG.
By arranging the cartridges a as close as possible, the dead space between them is reduced and the overall size of the device is reduced. When the cartridge C of the shelf level Tn-2*Tn-1*Tn which is higher than the shelf level Tn-2*Tn-1*Tn is grasped and extracted by the hand mechanism 49, and the hand mechanism is subsequently rotated upward,
Due to the upward rotational movement of the hand mechanism, the cartridge C, which is oriented vertically, or a member of the hand mechanism side interferes with the lower surface of the apparatus top plate 1a, which is a member disposed in the upper part of the apparatus.

Therefore, when the cartridge C at the third shelf level Tn-2/Tn-1 umbrella Tn from the top is grabbed and extracted by the hand mechanism 49, the hand mechanism is temporarily moved to the fourth shelf level Tn- from the top. Move it down to the 3rd position or lower (as shown by the two-dot chain line in Fig. 1 (a)). Then, the hand mechanism is rotated upward at that position (Fig. 1(b))
. In this way, the cartridge C gripped by the hand mechanism 49 or the member on the hand mechanism side will be oriented vertically without interfering with the lower surface of the apparatus top plate 1a.

Next, by moving the hand mechanism 49 upward, the cartridge C is vertically conveyed upward to the predetermined port 100.
It is attached (shown by the three-dot chain line in FIG. 1(b)).

That is, the next upward rotational movement ψ of the hand mechanism 49 that has extracted the required cartridge C from the specified shelf row/shelf level of the cartridge storage section 20 is performed by moving the extracted cartridge toward the storage section side. By performing the downward movement once to a predetermined lower position as described above according to the shelf level, the above-mentioned space between the cartridge storage section 20 and the top plate 1a etc. as an upper disposed member is lowered. Even without the presence of a large space S as shown in Fig. 7, cartridges on any shelf level above or below the storage section 2O can be vertically conveyed upward to a predetermined port without any hindrance, and the overall structure is compact and has sufficient capacity. CA with cartridge storage capacity
C device can be configured.

〔Example〕

2 to 6 show one embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention.

The CAC device in this example is a pedestal type device where this device is placed, such as a league, and Fig. 2 shows the C'AC device A,
Figure 3 is a plan view of the CAC device, Figure 4 is a perspective view of the internal mechanism of the CAC device, and Figure 5 is a cartridge inserted into a designated port. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a state in which the product is conveyed vertically in an upward direction;

Reference numeral 1 denotes an internal casing of the CAC device, and inside thereof there is a rotating drum-shaped cartridge storage shelf mechanism 20 (hereinafter abbreviated as drum shelf) that serves as a cartridge storage section.
and a cartridge transport mechanism 40 are built in. 2
3 is a console portion of the GAG device, and 3 is a cartridge inlet/outlet opening on the inner plate 1a of the CAC device.

This machine B for leagues, etc. is positioned and placed at a predetermined position on the inner plate 1a of the CAC device, so that the cartridge mounting part 100 opened on the bottom plate surface of this machine B for leagues etc.
The cartridge entrance/exit port 3 opened on the top plate 1a side of the AC stirrup A side corresponds to the cartridge entrance/exit port 3, so that the inside of the CAC device and the machine B are in communication with each other. 101 (FIG. 2) is a film frame enlarged projection/observation screen on the front side of the league machine B. The internal mechanisms (film drive mechanism, projection mechanism, etc.), console section, etc. of this machine B, such as the league, are omitted from the diagram.

The drum shelf 20 is rotatable about a vertical axis 21, and has a number of cartridge storage shelves arranged around it in multiple stages (in this example, there are 8 rows and 1
Each shelf is rotatably driven by a motor M1 and a gear disk 22, and cartridges (microfilm cartridges) C are housed and stored in the individual shelves arranged by address in advance.

The cartridge transport mechanism 40 includes a gear disk 41 rotated about a vertical axis by a motor M2, and a gear disk 41 vertically installed on the gear disk 41.
A first carriage, J4, is driven to move up and down by a motor M3 and a wire 43 along a wooden parallel vertical guide rod 42φ42.
4, a tilting plate 47 disposed on the first carriage 44 and driven to raise and rotate around a horizontal shaft 45 by a motor M4 and a fan-shaped gear 46; A second carriage 48 that is driven to reciprocate along guide rods 48a, 48a by a motor (M5) (not shown) and a wire, a cartridge hand mechanism 49 supported by the second carriage 48, and a vertical guide rod 42 of the first carriage 44.・4
A slit array plate 50 that detects the -L downward movement position along 2
and photosensors (photointerrupters) 51, 51, etc. 52 is an upper end plate of the cartridge transport mechanism, 53 is an auxiliary stay parallel to the vertical guide rods 42, 42, and the slit array plate 50 is attached to and supported by this stay.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the device control circuit system, and 70 is a main control circuit unit (CPU), which receives input of various key operation signals from the device controller 2 to set mounting control conditions, etc. Ru. Also, photosensors 51, 51. It receives output signals from motion detection sensors 72 of other mechanisms. 73 to 77 are drive control circuits for drive motors M1 to M5 of each mechanism.

Reference numeral 79 denotes an operation control circuit for the cartridge hand mechanism 49, which is controlled in conjunction with each other by the main control circuit section 70 according to predetermined device control conditions set and input to the circuit, signal conditions fed back to the circuit, etc. Ru.

(1) Search for a desired cartridge Specify and input the desired cartridge number (address) into the main control circuit section 70 by operating the keys on the console 2, and press the search start key.

Then, if the required cartridge specified above exists,
The shelf rows and tiers of the drum shelves 20 are calculated. Then, the drum shelf 20 is rotated about the vertical shaft 21 by the motor M1 and the gear disk 22 so that the shelf row corresponding to the calculation shelf row is located opposite the transport mechanism 40 position.

On the other hand, the first carriage 44 of the cartridge transport mechanism 40 has the tilting plate 47 and the second carriage 4 attached to the carriage.
The vertical guide rod 42- is moved by the motor M3 and the tension wire 43 so that the cartridge hand mechanism 49 mounted via the cartridge hand mechanism 8 is located at the height of the shelf level corresponding to the calculation level.
The upward movement or downward movement is controlled along the line 42.

As a result, the shelf portion where the desired cartridge is located and the hand mechanism 49 are located opposite to each other. That is, the target cartridge C is retrieved at the hand mechanism position.

(2) Extraction of the searched cartridge When the above search for the desired cartridge is completed, the second carriage 48 is driven forward, and the hand mechanism 49 moves toward the cartridge storage shelf, so that the rear end of the target cartridge is moved into the hand mechanism's hand. Captured by 49a. After the capture, the second
The carriage 48 is turned into a backward position, whereby the target cartridge is grabbed by the hand mechanism 49 from its storage shelf and extracted.

(3) Transporting the extraction cartridge C to a predetermined port In the apparatus of this example, the apparatus top plate 1a is disposed as close as possible to the upper part of the drum shelf 20, thereby reducing the dead space between the two. The overall size of the device is reduced, and the drum shelf 2 is similar to the device shown in FIG.
3rd or higher shelf level from the top of 0 T n-2・T n-1
・For Tn cartridge C, it is hand mechanism 4.
If the hand mechanism is subsequently rotated upward after grasping and extraction in step 9, the vertically oriented cartridge or the member of the hand mechanism side will interfere with the lower surface of the top plate 1a.

Therefore, when the extraction operation of the target cartridge in item (2) above is performed, the shelf position of the extraction cartridge on the drum shelf 20 is the third or higher (≧T n-2) from the top or the lower shelf. The control circuit 70 determines whether this is the case.

If the shelf is at the third or higher shelf level from the top, after the target cartridge has been extracted in item (2) above, the motor M3 is driven in the direction of lowering the first carriage 44, The hand mechanism 49 mounted on the carriage 44 is at the fourth shelf level Tn-3 from the top of the drum shelf 20.
position or a predetermined lower position below.
A downward movement of the carriage 44 is made.

Next, the motor M4 is driven in the direction of raising the tilting plate 47, thereby rotating the hand mechanism 49 upward, and the extraction cartridge C gripped by the hand mechanism is oriented vertically (see FIG. 1(b). )), and the first carriage 44
Raising movement by motor M3 of gear disk 41, motor M2 of gear disk 41
swivel rotation at a predetermined angle around the vertical axis, and forward movement (ascending movement) by the motor (M5) of the second carriage 49.
As a result, the cartridge C, which is vertically gripped by the upward hand mechanism 49, is transferred to the cartridge inlet/outlet 3 of the top plate 1a of the GAC device A, and the side of the wood machine B, such as a league, which is aligned face-to-face with this. The target cartridge enters the cartridge mounting part 100 of the league wood machine B, and the target cartridge is automatically mounted in the cartridge mounting part 100 of the league wood machine B (Fig. 1(b) 3).
Dot-dashed line, Figure 5).

On the other hand, when the shelf level of the extraction cartridge C on the drum shelf 20 is below the third level from the top (< Tn-z), there is no need to once lower the first carriage 44, that is, the knock mechanism 49. In this case, after the target cartridge is extracted by the hand mechanism 49, the raising/lowering plate 47 is immediately rotated up and down, and the target cartridge C is then moved to the cartridge mounting section 100 of the league Kasagi machine B by the same device operation as described above. automatic attachment is performed.

(4) Return transportation and re-storage of used cartridges When the use of the automatically installed cartridge C on the league water guide fiB side is finished, press the return key on the console section 2. Then, a device operation that reverses the above-mentioned automatic loading operation is performed, and the used cartridge C on the league Kasagi machine B side is returned to the original storage shelf section on the drum shelf 20 side and transported and re-stored.

C. Effects of the Invention As described above, according to the present invention, a large number of cartridges can be accommodated, and the entire device can be made more compact, thus achieving the intended purpose.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figures 1 (a) and (b) are explanatory diagrams of the extraction cartridge transport operation of the device of the present invention, Figure 2 is an external perspective view of the DAC device as an embodiment and the leader Kasagi machine placed on it, and Figure 3
Figure 4 is a plan view of the CAC device, Figure 4 is a slope view of its internal structure, Figure 5 is a slope view of the cartridge being conveyed vertically to a designated boat, and Figure 6 is a block circuit of the device control system. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a conventional device. A is a CAC device, B is a league Kasagi machine, 20 is a cartridge storage section, 40 is a cartridge transport mechanism, and 49 is a hand mechanism.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A hand mechanism grasps and extracts the required cartridges from a designated shelf row/shelf level in a cartridge storage section in which a large number of cartridges are stored and sorted by address, and the extracted cartridges are rotated upward by the hand mechanism. In a cartridge autochanger that transports the cartridge upwardly to a predetermined port in a vertical direction through an operation that includes a vertical movement and a lifting movement, the cartridge or the hand mechanism becomes vertically oriented due to the upward rotational movement of the hand mechanism that grips and extracts the cartridge. When a cartridge on a shelf of a predetermined height level or higher where the side member interferes with the upper part of the device is grabbed and extracted by the hand mechanism, the cartridge is turned vertically by the upward rotation of the hand mechanism. Alternatively, the device operation is controlled such that the hand mechanism is once moved downward to a position where the hand mechanism side member does not interfere with the upper part of the device, and then the hand mechanism is rotated upward. , A cartridge autochanger characterized by: