JPS63160080A - Disk chucking mechanism and disk handling device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To use a cassette having general-purpose use by engaging two or more of chucking members with the outer circumferential edge of a disk and engaging at least one of chucking members to the edge of the center hole of the disk. CONSTITUTION:A chucking arm 42 of a disk chucking mechanism 12 enters a cassette 16 at the loading/unloading of a magnetic disk 18. The two upper chucking arms 42 are engaged with the outer circumferential edge of the magnetic disk 18 and the lower chucking arm 42 engages with the edge of the central hole of the disk 18, then chucking is applied to use a general shape cassette 16 (as shown in figure), and it is not required as shown in a conventional device that the bottom is opened or a part of the side wall is notched for the use of a special shape cassette.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a chucking mechanism for disc-like objects (generally referred to as discs in this specification) such as magnetic discs and optical discs, and a disc handling device.

[Prior Art] A device related to the present invention is a device that inspects the electromagnetic characteristics, surface smoothness, etc. of a magnetic disk while inserting and fixing the magnetic disk into the hub of a spindle and rotating it at high speed. There is a magnetic disk inspection apparatus that uses a loader/unloader to automate the loading and unloading of a disk onto a spindle.

In this magnetic disk inspection apparatus, the magnetic disks to be inspected are housed in a cassette (container) on the hopper side in a vertical position, and the magnetic disks are chucked and transported one by one from this cassette by a loader/unloader. , is inserted into the hub of the spindle (loading).

In addition, the magnetic disks that have been inspected are chucked, transported, and stored in a similar stacker-side cassette (
unloading).

Such a loader/unloader consists of a mechanism for chucking the magnetic disk and a mechanism for moving the chucking mechanism, but the conventional chucking mechanism has a mechanism for chucking the magnetic disk and a mechanism for moving the chucking mechanism. The structure is such that the magnetic disk is chucked by engaging the chucking member with the chucking member.

[Problems to be Solved] Generally, such a cassette has a structure in which the outer periphery of the magnetic disk is held by a groove.

However, in the case of the above-mentioned conventional device, since three or more places on the magnetic disk are chucked by the chucking member, in order to create a space for entry of at least some of the chucking members, a part of the holding groove is cut out, It is necessary to take measures such as opening the bottom of the cassette, and there is a problem in that there are severe restrictions on the shape of the cassette.

Here, this type of cassette is tested for magnetic disk inspection.
2. It is not a good idea to decide the shape of the cassette by considering only the convenience of the inspection process. In addition, the desired shape of the cassette differs depending on the user, and the reality is that cassettes of various shapes are used depending on the user.

Therefore, the problem of the shape of the cassette as described above is not a minor problem.

[Object of the Invention] Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a chucking mechanism for a disk such as a magnetic disk, which does not require the special shaped cassette as described above, and makes it possible to use a general cassette; An object of the present invention is to provide a disk handling device such as a magnetic disk inspection device using such a chucking mechanism.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the disk chucking mechanism according to the present invention includes a plurality of chucking members and an opening/closing drive means for opening and closing each of the chucking members. By opening and closing the chucking members by the opening/closing driving means, at least two chucking members are attached to the outer peripheral edge of the disk, and at least one chucking member is attached to the edge of the central hole of the disk. The disc is configured to be chucked or released by engaging or separating the chucking members, respectively.

Further, the disk handling device according to the related invention includes a spindle that rotates at high speed, a clamp for pressing and fixing a disk inserted into a hub of the spindle against the hub, and a chucking device for chucking a disk housed in a cassette. and a loader/unloader for transporting and inserting the disc into the hub, and for chucking and transporting the disc inserted in the hub and storing it in a cassette. , a disk chucking mechanism, and a moving drive means for moving the disk chucking mechanism, and the disk chucking mechanism includes a plurality of chucking members and an opening/closing drive for opening and closing each of the chucking members. and by opening and closing the chucking members by the opening/closing driving means, at least two of the chucking members are attached to the outer circumference/edge portion of the disk and to the edge portion of the central hole of the disk. At least one of the chucking members is engaged or separated, respectively, to chucking or disengaging the disc, and the clamp and the hub are arranged in the center hole of the disc, respectively. The chucking member is configured to have a relief portion for the chucking member to be engaged with the chucking member.

[Operation] As described above, the disk chucking mechanism according to the present invention engages two or more chucking members with the outer peripheral edge portion of the disk, and engages one or more chucking members with the center hole of the disk. By engaging the rim part,
This configuration performs chucking of the disk.

Therefore, if the positional relationship of the chucking member is determined so that the chucking member engages the upper peripheral edge of the disk stored vertically in the cassette, 1. It is possible to use a cassette with a general shape with an open top and one or both of the front and back walls cut out, and a special shape with a conventional retaining groove cut out or with an open bottom. No need for cassettes.

Further, since the loader 0 unloader of the disk handling device according to the related invention chucks disks using a similar disk chucking mechanism, it can use cassettes of various general shapes, and is more versatile with respect to cassettes than conventional devices. is excellent.

Furthermore, since the clamp is provided with a relief part for the chucking member of the disc chucking mechanism,
A clamp used in conventional magnetic disk inspection equipment that chucks the outer periphery of the disk without the need for special operations such as horizontally releasing the clamp when loading or unloading the disk. It is only necessary to move it up and down in the same way as in the above, and the structure related to the clamp does not become particularly complicated.

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

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a disc chucking mechanism and a disc handling device according to the present invention. In this figure, first, the overall configuration of a disk handling device (described here as a magnetic disk inspection device) will be described.

10 is a loader 0 unloader, which includes a disk chucking mechanism 12 and a ZX mechanism for moving it in the X direction (horizontal direction), Z direction (vertical direction) and θ direction (rotation).
It consists of a θ moving drive machine horizontally 14.

1θ is a cassette for accommodating the magnetic disks 18 before or after inspection in a vertical position, and as shown in the figure, they are placed on the rotary table 20 in a radial arrangement.

Although only two cassettes 16 are shown in the figure,
In reality, even more cassettes are placed.

By rotating the rotary table 20, one cassette 16
is moved to the magnetic disk loading/unloading position, and the magnetic disk is removed from or stored in the cassette 16 by the loader/unloader 10.

The cassette 16 has a general shape, and a vertical groove is provided on the inner surface of its side wall for holding the outer circumferential portion of the magnetic disk 18 so that it can be taken in and taken out in the vertical direction.

Further, the front and rear walls of this cassette 16 are cut out, and the top surface is open.

22 is a spindle motor for rotating the magnetic disk at high speed. A magnetic disk is inserted into the hub of the spindle and fixed with a clamp, the details of which will be described later.

Further, a magnetic head for reading and writing information on the magnetic disk during high-speed rotation, an access mechanism therefor, and the like are provided near the spindle motor 22, but are not shown in the figure.

To explain the XZO movement a[movement a+g14] of the O-ta life unloader 10, 22 is an X stage, which is movable in the X direction along the guide shaft 14. 26 is X
This is a motor for driving the stage 22, and 28 is a wire for transmitting the rotational force of the motor 26 to the X stage 22.

30 is a Z stage, which is movable in two directions along a guide shaft 32 fixed to the X stage 22. 34 is a screw shaft for driving the two stages 30 in the Z direction, and 36 is a motor for driving the screw shaft.

38 is a rotating arm rotatably attached to the two stages 30, and the disc chucking mechanism 1 is attached to the tip of the rotating arm.
2 is installed. 40 is a motor for driving the rotating arm 38.

Note that there are also position sensors for controlling the positions of the X stage 22, the Z stage 30, and the rotating arm 38, but these are not shown.

In addition, if necessary, the disk chucking mechanism 12 can be
It goes without saying that it may also be possible to drive in this direction.

The disk chucking mechanism 12 includes three chucking arms 42 and a mechanism for driving the IJH close. A roller 44 is rotatably attached to the tip of each chucking arm 42.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing the opening/closing driving means for the chucking arm 42 of the disk chucking mechanism 12. As shown in FIG. This opening/closing driving means is configured to open and close the chucking arm 42 using a link mechanism.

Reference numeral 46 denotes a rotating bar rotatably supported by a shaft 50 on the bottom plate 48 of the case, and the base end of the chucking arm 42 is fixed to one outer end of the rotating bar. The other end of each rotating bar 46 is connected to the rotating bar 5 by a pin 52, respectively.
4, and the other end of this rotating bar 54 is connected to the pin 5.
6, it is rotatably coupled to the rotary plate 58. This rotating plate 58 is rotationally driven by a rotary actuator 60.

When the rotary plate 58 is at the angle shown, each pivot bar 46,54, which is a link member, is at the angle shown, and the chucking arm 42 is driven into the open position as shown.

When the rotating plate 58 rotates by a predetermined angle in the counterclockwise direction in the figure, the moving bar 46 rotates counterclockwise about the shaft 50, and the chucking arm 42 is driven to the closed state.

Here, the operation of taking out the magnetic disk from the cassette 16 (in the case of loading) will be explained.

In this case, the disk chucking mechanism 12 is oriented horizontally as shown in FIG. 1, and its height is adjusted to the magnetic disk 18. Further, the chucking arm 42 is driven to an open state.

Then, the disk chucking mechanism 12 is advanced toward the cassette 1B, and the advancement of the disk chucking mechanism 12 is stopped at a position where the roller 44 at the tip of the chucking arm 42 coincides with one magnetic disk 18 to be taken out. .

Next, the chucking arm 42 is closed, and the rollers 44 of the two upper chucking arms 42 are attached to the magnetic disk 1.
8, and the roller 44 of one of the lower chucking arms 42 engages with the edge of the central hole of the magnetic disk 18.
8 is chucked by the chucking arm 42.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the chucking state. As shown in the figure, the magnetic disk 18 is securely gripped at three locations.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing the state in which the roller 44 and the magnetic disk 18 are engaged. As shown in this figure, roller 44
The shape is such that the diameter gradually decreases toward the center.

Because of this shape, movement of the magnetic disk 18 in the direction of the central axis of the roller 44 is prevented, and the magnetic disk 18 is prevented from moving in the direction of the central axis of the roller 44.
8 reliable chucking is possible.

Now, when the magnetic disk 18 is chucked as described above, the second stage 30 rises and the magnetic disk 18 is pulled up along the groove on the inner surface of the cassette 16, and finally the magnetic disk 18 is No-! It is taken out in two directions.

Thereafter, the X stage 22 moves toward the spindle motor 22, and the rotating arm 38 rotates so that the disk chucking mechanism 12 faces downward. In this way, the magnetic disk held by the disk chucking mechanism 12 is conveyed directly above the spindle of the spindle motor 22.

After this, the disk chucking mechanism 12 is lowered, and
Loading of the magnetic disk is performed by inserting the held magnetic disk into the hub of the spindle, then opening and pulling up the chucking arm 42, but in this case, the magnetic disk is fixed with the spin P /l/ 2. This will be described later in connection with a clamp for doing so.

Further, the chucking operation of the magnetic disk at the time of unloading the magnetic disk will be described later. Here, assuming that the magnetic disk has been chucked,
The operation of storing the magnetic disk in the cassette 16 will be explained.

In this case as well, the disk chucking 12 is placed horizontally as shown in FIG. 1, and its height is controlled so that the lower end of the magnetic disk being held does not hit the cassette 16. Then, the magnetic disk is the cassette 16
The position of the disk chucking mechanism 42 in the X direction is controlled so that the disk chucking mechanism 42 is positioned directly above the groove in which the disk is to be stored.

In this state, the chucking mechanism 12 is lowered and the held magnetic disk is inserted into the groove. When the disk chucking mechanism 12 descends to the same height as when taking out the magnetic disk, its lowering operation is stopped and the chucking arm 42 is opened.

The magnetic disk is now uncucked and
It is stored in a cassette 16.

Next, the tip of the chucking arm 42 of the disk chucking mechanism 12 is moved back from the front wall of the cassette 16. This completes the magnetic disk storage operation.

Now, when the magnetic disk is inserted or removed, at least the chucking arm 42 of the disk chucking mechanism 12
This part enters the cassette 16.

However, if the upper two chucking arms 42 are engaged with the upper outer peripheral edge of the magnetic disk 18, the lower one
Since the structure is such that chucking is performed by engaging the chucking arms 42 with the edges of the central hole of the magnetic disk 18, a cassette 16 having a general shape as shown in the figure can be used, and the conventional As such, there is no need to use a specially shaped cassette with an open bottom or a partially cut side wall.

Note that in this embodiment, the chucking arm 42
is shorter than the length of the cassette 16, the case portion of the disk chucking mechanism 12 also enters the cassette 16, but by increasing the length of the chucking arm 42, only the chucking arm 42 enters the cassette 16. Of course, you can do it as you like.

5 and 6 are schematic front views, partially in section, for explaining the structures related to the spindle and the clamp, respectively, and FIG. 5 shows the state in which the magnetic disk is fixed by the clamp. , FIG. 6 shows the state in which the fixation by the clamp is released. Moreover, FIG. 7 is a schematic plan view of the clamp.

In each figure, 50 is a spindle, and 52 is a hub fixed to the end of the spindle 50.

The magnetic disk 18 is removably inserted into the hub 52 from above as shown in the figure.

54 is a clamp for pressing and fixing the disk 18 inserted into the hub 52 from above against the hub 52.

This clamp 54 has a special structure different from conventional clamps. That is, a plurality of arms 58 are swingably attached to the lower side of the umbrella section 56, and a roller 60 is rotatably attached to the tip of each arm. Further, the umbrella portion 56 is rotatably attached to the tip of a shaft 62 that passes through the hub 52, the spindle 50, and the spindle motor 22, and is configured to move up and down together with the shaft 62.

This shaft 62 is capable of descending and rotating freely, and is biased downward by a spring 64 at its lower end.

The structure of the spindle motor 22 and the like is also new.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the umbrella part 54 is provided with a chucking arm 4 when loading or unloading a magnetic disk by the disk chucking 12.
In order to prevent the roller 2 and the roller 44 from hitting the umbrella part 54, an escape notch 66 is provided. hub 52
A similar relief portion is also provided in the figure, but it is not shown.

Reference numeral 68 denotes a drive arm for operating the clamp 54, which is rotated up and down by a motor (not shown) or the like. The shaft 6 is attached to the tip of the arm 68.
An engagement fitting 72 with a pin 70 fixed to the lower end of 2 is provided.

Next, the loading and unloading operations of the magnetic disk will be explained.

The shaft 62 is pushed up by the upward rotation of the rotating arm 68. As a result, each arm 58 of clamp 54
is rotated by its own weight to an angle as shown in FIG. 5, and the roller 60 at its tip moves inward from the umbrella portion 56.

Note that the diameter of the umbrella portion 56 is smaller than the diameter of the center hole of the magnetic disk.

In this state, insert the magnetic disk 18 into the hub 52 from the negative side of the clamp 54 as shown,
It can be removed upwardly from the hub 52.

In the case of loading, the disk chucking mechanism 12 that has chucked the magnetic disk is lowered downward from the top and bottom. Then, when the chucking arm 42 is closed, the magnetic disk 18 is separated from the chucking arm 42, and as shown in FIG.
52.

Note that the clamp 54 and the hub 52 are arranged so that the relief notch 66 of the umbrella portion 56 and the similar relief portion of the hub 52 are aligned with the chucking arm 42 that engages the edge of the central hole of the magnetic disk. The rotation angle is controlled in advance.

Next, the disk chucking mechanism 12 is pulled straight upward with the chucking arm 42 closed. Loading is now complete.

Thereafter, the pivot arm 68 is pivoted downward to a horizontal angle, thereby lowering the shaft 62 to the lowest position as shown.

When the umbrella portion 56 of the clamp 54 is lowered together with the shaft 62, the rollers 60 of each arm 58 attached to the umbrella portion 56
is pushed outward while moving along the upper surface of the hub 52.

Finally, as shown in FIG. 6, each arm 58 assumes a horizontal angle, and a roller 60 attached to each arm
As a result, the magnetic disk 18 is pressed against the hub 52 and fixed. This fixed pressure is determined by a spring 64.

With the magnetic disk 18 clamped in this manner, the spindle motor 22 operates to rotate the spindle 50 at high speed, driving the magnetic disk 18 and testing the electromagnetic conversion characteristics. Since this is not directly related to the gist of the present invention, a detailed explanation will be omitted.

Note that the clamp 54 also rotates together with the magnetic disk 18.

In the case of unloading, the spindle 62 is pushed up as in the case of loading, the clamp 54 is in the state shown in FIG. 5, and the magnetic disk 18 is in a state where it can be taken out.

In this state, the disk chucking mechanism 12 is lowered downward with the chucking arm 42 open, so that the roller 44 and the magnetic disk 18 are at the same height.

Next, by closing the chucking arm 42,
The magnetic disk 18 is chucked by a chucking arm 42 at its outer peripheral edge and at the center hole edge. Thereafter, the disk chucking mechanism 12 is pulled up, and the magnetic disk 18 is unloaded.

In this case as well, the rotation is made such that the relief notch 66 of the umbrella portion 56 and the similar relief portion of the hub 52 are located at the position of the chucking arm 42 that should engage with the edge portion of the center hole of the magnetic disk. Of course, the angle is controlled in advance.

Although one embodiment has been described above, the present invention is not limited thereto.

For example, a cam follower mechanism may be used as the opening/closing means for the chucking member of the disk chucking mechanism. Alternatively, one end of the chucking member may be assembled and the chucking member may be opened and closed by a mechanism similar to the opening and closing mechanism of an umbrella.

However, since the link mechanism of the above embodiment has few sliding parts, it is suitable for applications where dust generation is a concern.

Furthermore, four or more chucking members may be provided.

The clamp is not limited to the structure described above, and may be modified as appropriate.

In addition, the present invention can be modified and implemented in various ways without departing from the gist thereof.

Further, the present invention can be similarly applied to other disk chucking mechanisms and disk handling devices that handle similar disks other than magnetic disks.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above in detail in connection with the embodiments, according to the present invention, two or more chucking members are engaged with the outer peripheral edge portion of the disk, and one or more chucking members are engaged with the outer peripheral edge portion of the disk. Since the disk is chucked by engaging the king member with the edge of the center hole of the disk, a cassette of a general shape with an open top and one or both of the front and rear walls cut out is used. This eliminates the need for a specially shaped cassette with a conventional holding groove cut out or an open bottom surface, improving versatility regarding the cassette shape, and making it possible to fit the clamp and spindle hub. Since the relief part for the chucking member is provided, there is no special operation to release the clamp horizontally when loading or unloading the disk, and the outer periphery of the disk can be chucked. Similar to the clamp used in a conventional magnetic disk inspection device having a soaking configuration, it is only necessary to move the clamp to the lower position L, and the structure related to the clamp does not become particularly complicated.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an embodiment of a disc chucking mechanism and a disc handling device according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic front view illustrating the opening/closing driving means of the chucking arm of the disc chucking mechanism. , 3rd
The figure is an explanatory diagram of the chucking state of the magnetic disk, FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view showing the engagement state between the roller of the chucking arm and the magnetic disk, and FIG. 5 is the unclamped state of the spindle, clamp, and related parts. FIG. 6 is a partially cross-sectional schematic front view showing the clamped state of the spindle, clamp, and related parts;
FIG. 7 is a schematic plan view of the clamp. 10...Loader/unloader, 12...Disk chucking mechanism, 14...XZO moving drive mechanism, 16
...Cassette, 18...Magnetic disk, 42...
Chucking arm, 44...Roller, 46.54.
... Rotating bar, 58... Rotating plate, 60... Rotary actuator, 50... Spindle, 52... Hub, 54... Clamp, 56... Umbrella section, 86...
Relief notch.

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) It has a plurality of chucking members and an opening/closing driving means for opening and closing each of the chucking members, and by opening and closing the chucking members by the opening/closing driving means, the outer peripheral edge of the disk at least 2
The disk is chucked or released by engaging or separating the chucking members and at least one chucking member to the edge portion of the central hole of the disk, respectively. Disc chucking mechanism. (2) A spindle that rotates at high speed, a clamp for pressing and fixing a disk inserted into the hub of this spindle against the hub, and a clamp for chucking and transporting the disk housed in a cassette and inserting it into the hub. Arrived and also
It has a loader/unloader for chucking and transporting a disk inserted in the hub and storing it in a cassette, and the loader/unloader includes a disk chucking mechanism and moves the disk chucking mechanism. the disk chucking mechanism has a plurality of chucking members, and an opening/closing driving means for opening and closing each of the chucking members, and the opening/closing driving means moves the chucking member. By opening and closing, at least two of the chucking members are engaged with the outer peripheral edge of the disk, and at least one of the chucking members is engaged with the edge of the central hole of the disk, respectively. chucking or releasing the chucking of the disc, the clamp and the hub each having a relief for the chucking member to engage with an edge of the central hole of the disc; disc handling equipment.