US20010010606A1 - Cartridge for cleaning feeder belt and library apparatus - Google Patents
Cartridge for cleaning feeder belt and library apparatus Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20010010606A1 US20010010606A1 US09/808,187 US80818701A US2001010606A1 US 20010010606 A1 US20010010606 A1 US 20010010606A1 US 80818701 A US80818701 A US 80818701A US 2001010606 A1 US2001010606 A1 US 2001010606A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- cartridge
- hands
- cell
- cleaning
- library apparatus
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
- G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
- G11B15/00—Driving, starting or stopping record carriers of filamentary or web form; Driving both such record carriers and heads; Guiding such record carriers or containers therefor; Control thereof; Control of operating function
- G11B15/675—Guiding containers, e.g. loading, ejecting cassettes
- G11B15/68—Automatic cassette changing arrangements; automatic tape changing arrangements
- G11B15/682—Automatic cassette changing arrangements; automatic tape changing arrangements with fixed magazines having fixed cassette storage cells, e.g. in racks
- G11B15/6835—Automatic cassette changing arrangements; automatic tape changing arrangements with fixed magazines having fixed cassette storage cells, e.g. in racks the cassettes being transferred to a fixed recorder or player using a moving carriage
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
- G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
- G11B17/00—Guiding record carriers not specifically of filamentary or web form, or of supports therefor
- G11B17/22—Guiding record carriers not specifically of filamentary or web form, or of supports therefor from random access magazine of disc records
- G11B17/221—Guiding record carriers not specifically of filamentary or web form, or of supports therefor from random access magazine of disc records with movable magazine
- G11B17/223—Guiding record carriers not specifically of filamentary or web form, or of supports therefor from random access magazine of disc records with movable magazine in a vertical direction
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
- G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
- G11B17/00—Guiding record carriers not specifically of filamentary or web form, or of supports therefor
- G11B17/22—Guiding record carriers not specifically of filamentary or web form, or of supports therefor from random access magazine of disc records
- G11B17/225—Guiding record carriers not specifically of filamentary or web form, or of supports therefor from random access magazine of disc records wherein the disks are transferred from a fixed magazine to a fixed playing unit using a moving carriage
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
- G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
- G11B15/00—Driving, starting or stopping record carriers of filamentary or web form; Driving both such record carriers and heads; Guiding such record carriers or containers therefor; Control thereof; Control of operating function
- G11B15/675—Guiding containers, e.g. loading, ejecting cassettes
- G11B15/68—Automatic cassette changing arrangements; automatic tape changing arrangements
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
- G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
- G11B17/00—Guiding record carriers not specifically of filamentary or web form, or of supports therefor
- G11B17/22—Guiding record carriers not specifically of filamentary or web form, or of supports therefor from random access magazine of disc records
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a library apparatus to store many cartridges for accommodating memory media.
- a library apparatus is a so-called information processor to record and read the data to and from a desired cartridge accommodating a memory medium.
- the present invention relates to a library apparatus for automatically cleaning a hand of an accessor robot for transferring a plurality of cartridges provided in the library apparatus.
- a library apparatus can accommodate a plurality of cartridges accommodating a memory medium such as a magnetic tape or an optical disc or the like.
- the library apparatus comprises a cartridge access station (CAS) for loading and exhausting a cartridge, a cell unit including a plurality of cells to store the loaded cartridges and a drive unit for executing the processes such as recording and reproduction of information to and from a medium of the cartridge.
- CAS cartridge access station
- Transfer of cartridge within the library apparatus namely transfer of cartridge between the cell and drive unit and transfer of cartridge between CAS and cell are executed with the accessor robot having a pair of hands to hold a cartridge.
- the accessor robot is provided to run by itself within the library apparatus.
- the accessor robot holds a cartridge allocated in the CAS and cell explained above by holding it with a pair of hands.
- a pair of hands to hold the cartridge is provided with a cartridge pulling member to rotate around the external circumference thereof.
- a rubber material is used to make it easier to hold the cartridge. Therefore, a friction coefficient between the holding surface of hands and the cartridge can be enhanced.
- the cartridge is transferred for several thousands of times a day with the accessor robot. At the time of this transfer, dusts adhered to the cartridge is gradually adhered to the rubber material of the hand provided to the accessor robot and is then deposited.
- the cartridge cannot be pulled out, it is a serious defect of the library apparatus. Moreover, not only the cartridge dropped from the accessor robot may be broken with the mechanical operation of the internal devices but also the memory medium itself stored in the cartridge may be broken, resulting in the fear that a serious fault such as missing of data may be generated.
- the present invention has been proposed to solve such problems and it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a library apparatus for conducting the automatically cleaning to the rubber material of the hand.
- the present invention is provided with the following structure to attain the object explained above. Namely, the library apparatus of the present invention is provided with a special cartridge for cleaning the hand in the cell unit comprising a plurality of cells to accommodate the cartridge to store the memory media.
- This cartridge has a structure, unlike an ordinary cartridge, that cannot be pulsed out from the cell.
- the library apparatus of the present invention is provided with a control unit to control the movement of the accessor robot.
- This control unit counts up the number of timeso f holding of the cartridge with the accessor robot. It is just preferable to control the accessor robot to clean the rubber material of hands when the number of times has reached the preset number of times.
- the rubber material provided to the external circumference of the hand can be cleaned automatically. Therefore, the cartridge can surely be held with the hands. Accordingly, an accident such as drop of cartridge can be prevented to improve reliability. As a result, troublesome maintenance can be reduced thereby to improve workability.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the cartridge to be cleaned with the library apparatus of the present invention.
- FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the library apparatus.
- FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the library apparatus.
- FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the cross-sectional view of a cell- drum.
- FIG. 5 is a plan view in the case where a cartridge is inserted to a cell.
- FIG. 6 is a side elevation diagram of the upper part of the accessor robot.
- FIG. 7 is a plan view of the hand unit.
- FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view of the cartridge.
- FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view illustrating an example o the library apparatus 10 .
- This library apparatus 10 is provided at both ends with accessor units 12 , 14 wherein the accessor robot 27 is saved.
- path units 15 , 16 , 17 are allocated.
- the drive units 18 , 19 are provided.
- a magnetic tape drive is mounted to conduct data read and write operation for the recording medium stored in the cartridge.
- the path unit 17 is also provided with a drum unit 20 in addition to the drive unit.
- the library apparatus 10 sometimes introduces also a structure as illustrated in FIG. 3.
- a cell rack 13 is provided with a cell rack 13 at the side surface parallel to the longitudinal direction of the library apparatus 10 of the path unit 15 .
- the cell rack 13 is allocated in the flat condition at the side surface door of the path unit 15 .
- the cell rack provided to one path unit 15 has a structure having the cells 13 a , for example, of the 49 stages in the vertical direction and 5 stages in the lateral direction.
- the library apparatus 10 is provided with a control unit 21 to control the accessor robot 27 explained above.
- Each of the accessor units 12 , 14 has a cartridge access station (CAS) 22 at the front surface side.
- Each CAS 22 has a cartridge loading port 23 and an exhausting port 24 .
- a rail 25 is allocated through the path units 15 , 16 , 17 .
- the rail 25 becomes a running path of the accessor robots 27 , 27 .
- the accessor robot is guided with the rail 25 to move within the library apparatus 10 in the X direction.
- Each accessor robot 27 has a rail base 28 , a vertical column 29 and a hand assembly 30 .
- the rail base 28 is a drive mechanism to cause the accessor robot to run along the rail 25 .
- the vertical column 29 is extended toward the upper side in vertical against the rail 25 and is fixed to the rail base 28 .
- the hand assembly 30 has a structure to freely move in the vertical direction (Y direction) along the vertical column 29 .
- the drive structure (not illustrated) of the rail base 28 can be attained with the well known device such as motor, pinion and rack (provided in the side of rail 25 ).
- the hand assembly 30 can also be provided to freely move in the vertical direction with the well known mechanism.
- the timing belt (not illustrated) is coupled with sprockets provided at the upper and lower sides of the vertical column 29 and this timing belt is then driven with a motor.
- the drum unit 20 has a cell drum 31 including a plurality of cells 62 .
- FIG. 4 is a perspective diagram illustrating a part of the cross-section of the cell drum 31 provided in the drum unit 20 .
- the cell drum 31 is formed as a polygonal column having the polygonal cross-section. At each side surface 53 of the polygonal column, many cells are provided. Within each cell, a cartridge to accommodate the magnetic tape is loaded.
- each cell is provided at a part thereof with an area 61 recessed than the side surface. This recess is used for holding the cartridge stored in the cell with the hands provided with the accessor robot.
- a plan view of the cell storing the cartridge is illustrated in FIG. 5.
- the end face 64 in the aperture side of the cartridge is located at the center side than the side surface 65 of the cell drum and at the external side of the inner-most surface 66 of the recess 61 provided at the upper surface and temporary surface of the cell. Accordingly, the hands can hold the part at the external side than the inner-most surface 66 of the recess and then rotate the rubber material provided at the external circumference of the hands in order to pull out the cartridge.
- the cell drum 31 can rotate around the axial line of the drum.
- Each drive unit 18 , 19 has, for example, a plurality of (four units, for example) the tape drive units (not illustrated).
- Each tape drive unit has a cartridge loading and exhausting port. When a cartridge is loaded to the cartridge loading/exhausting port, the tape drive unit records or reproduce the information to or from the magnetic tape accommodated in the loaded cartridge.
- the accessor robot 27 moves by itself depending on the instructions from the control unit provided in the control unit 21 .
- the accessor robot transfers the cartridge between the loading port 23 /exhausting port 24 of the CAS 22 and the cell of the cell drum 31 and between the cell and the loading/exhausting port of the tape drive unit. This transfer operation is controlled with the control unit in the control unit 21 explained above.
- FIG. 6 is a side elevation diagram at the upper part of the accessor robot 27 illustrated in FIG. 2.
- a hand assembly 30 is mounted on a supporting base 34 .
- the supporting base 34 moves in the vertical direction along a guide rail 33 formed at the vertical column 29 .
- the front end side of the supporting base 34 is provided with a rotating shaft 35 that rotates in vertical against the supporting base 34 .
- a mount base 36 of the hand assembly 30 is attached to this rotating shaft 35 .
- the mount base 36 rotates. Since the mount base 36 and hand assembly 30 are fixed, the hand assembly 30 can also rotates within the horizontal plane.
- FIG. 7 is the side elevation diagram schematically illustrating the hand unit 42 of the hand assembly 30 .
- the hand unit 42 has a pair of upper and lower hands 43 , 43 that are supported to open or close.
- the hands 43 , 43 are provided with rubber materials 45 , 45 that can rotate at the external circumference of hands.
- the hands 43 , 43 have the structure that can be opened or closed when the motor 46 is driven.
- a shaft 47 also rotates via a gear not illustrated.
- the shaft 47 has a groove of screw type and is engaged with the groove provided on an opening/closing plate 49 . Therefore, with rotation of the shaft 47 , the opening/closing plate moves in the vertical direction of the figure. Therefore, the hand 43 fixed to the opening/closing plate 49 opens or closes.
- a guide plate 44 is also provided to prevent that an angle formed with both hands is deviated when the hand 43 opens or closes.
- the hand is provided with a projection. This projection has a structure to be engaged with the recess provided to the guide plate 44 .
- the control unit When it is requested to take out the cartridge from the cell, the control unit locates first the hands 43 , 43 to the position as illustrated in FIG. 7 where the hand covers the end part of the cartridge. After the hands are located as explained above, the control unit instructs the drive of the motor 46 to operate the hand in the closing direction. The hands holds the cartridge 48 from the upper and lower directions. The hands 43 , 43 take out the cartridge from the cell by rotating the burrer bands 45 , 45 provided at the external circumference in the direction A after holding the cartridge.
- FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining an example of the cartridge 48 accommodating a magnetic tape.
- the cartridge 48 is held, when it is transferred, from the upper and lower directions at the area indicated with a broken line in the figure with the hands 43 , 43 . Namely, it can be understood that the cartridge can be held, transferred and released freely with movement of accessor robot 27 along the rail 25 , spiral rotation of hand assembly 30 , holding and release with hands 43 , 43 , drawing operation of the cartridge.
- the accessor robot 27 is controlled with the control unit.
- the cleaning cartridge 50 illustrated in FIG. 1 is allocated and fixed to any one of many cells.
- the cleaning cartridge in relation to this embodiment is indicated with a solid line.
- the shape of an ordinary cartridge is indicated with a dotted line for easier understanding of the size of the cleaning cartridge.
- the size in the longitudinal direction (depth) of the cleaning cartridge is equal to that of an ordinary cartridge and thickness of the cleaning cartridge is also equal to that of an ordinary cartridge. It is enough when width of the cleaning cartridge is equal to at least the width of the hand or more.
- the accessor robot 27 can hold the cleaning cartridge 50 with the hands 43 , 43 depending on the operation explained above without discrimination from an ordinary cartridge.
- the cleaning cartridge is also provided with a stopper 52 because it must not be pulled out with the operation of hands.
- the stopper 52 is a member for fixing the hands and cell.
- the hand and cell are fixed with the screwing. Therefore, the stopper is provided with a hole 53 for the screwing.
- the cleaning cartridge is fixed to the deep wall of the cell using the screwing hole 53 .
- a part of hand for holding the cleaning cartridge when it is stored in the cell is provided with a cleaning member 51 .
- This cleaning member 51 is provided at the front and rear surfaces of the cleaning cartridge. A size of the cleaning member is enough when it is larger than the part in contact with the cartridge when the hands hold the cartridge.
- a polishing material such as a sand-paper or the like is used as the member of the simplified structure.
- a humidity absorbing material such as a cloth may also be used.
- the inside of the cleaning cartridge is formed as a cavity and this cavity is filled with a cleaning solvent such as water.
- the cleaning cartridge is provided with a water injecting port 54 for reserving the cleaning solvent.
- the cleaning member such as cloth shall be in contact with the cleaning solvent within the cartridge. Thereby, the cleaning solvent is always supplied to the cleaning member through the capillary effect.
- the hands 43 , 43 hold the cleaning cartridge and thereafter try to pull out this cartridge.
- the cleaning cartridge since the cleaning cartridge is fixed to the cell, it cannot be taken out from the cell. Therefore, the rubber material provided at the external circumference of the hands scrubs the cleaning member. Namely, dust adhered to the rubber material around the hands can be removed for the purpose of cleaning the rubber material.
- Such cleaning work is not always required. Namely, such cleaning work can be realized after passage of the predetermined period. Such control can be executed with the control unit.
- the library apparatus of the present invention can be utilized as a large capacity memory apparatus operating a part of the information processing system.
- a cartridge for cleaning a feeder belt is an effective means for improvement in reliability of the large capacity memory apparatus.
- the present invention belongs to the most active industries in the present highly progressed information society.
- the cartridge and library apparatus for cleaning a feeder belt of the present invention are not used only to the information system.
- the present invention has the possibility for use in the field of automatic warehouse.
Landscapes
- Automatic Tape Cassette Changers (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- The present invention relates to a library apparatus to store many cartridges for accommodating memory media. A library apparatus is a so-called information processor to record and read the data to and from a desired cartridge accommodating a memory medium.
- In more detail, the present invention relates to a library apparatus for automatically cleaning a hand of an accessor robot for transferring a plurality of cartridges provided in the library apparatus. Description of the Related Art:
- A library apparatus can accommodate a plurality of cartridges accommodating a memory medium such as a magnetic tape or an optical disc or the like. The library apparatus comprises a cartridge access station (CAS) for loading and exhausting a cartridge, a cell unit including a plurality of cells to store the loaded cartridges and a drive unit for executing the processes such as recording and reproduction of information to and from a medium of the cartridge.
- Transfer of cartridge within the library apparatus, namely transfer of cartridge between the cell and drive unit and transfer of cartridge between CAS and cell are executed with the accessor robot having a pair of hands to hold a cartridge. The accessor robot is provided to run by itself within the library apparatus.
- The accessor robot holds a cartridge allocated in the CAS and cell explained above by holding it with a pair of hands.
- A pair of hands to hold the cartridge is provided with a cartridge pulling member to rotate around the external circumference thereof. Usually, as this pulling member, a rubber material is used to make it easier to hold the cartridge. Therefore, a friction coefficient between the holding surface of hands and the cartridge can be enhanced.
- After holding the cartridge, the hand rotates the rubber material to pull out the cartridge from the cell or the like.
- Moreover, when a cartridge is to be stored to the cell or the like, the hand is provided opposed to an aperture such as the cell to rotate the rubber material in the opposite direction.
- In a large size library apparatus, the cartridge is transferred for several thousands of times a day with the accessor robot. At the time of this transfer, dusts adhered to the cartridge is gradually adhered to the rubber material of the hand provided to the accessor robot and is then deposited.
- When dusts are adhered as explained above, the friction coefficient of the rubber material is lowered. Therefore, the cartridge can no longer be pulled out easily with the hands. Otherwise, there is also a fear that the cartridge is dropped from the accessor robot in the course of the transfer of the accessor robot.
- If the cartridge cannot be pulled out, it is a serious defect of the library apparatus. Moreover, not only the cartridge dropped from the accessor robot may be broken with the mechanical operation of the internal devices but also the memory medium itself stored in the cartridge may be broken, resulting in the fear that a serious fault such as missing of data may be generated.
- In view of eliminating such unexpected fault, operation of the apparatus is stopped in current for the purpose of maintenance of apparatus when a constant period has passed. While the operation is stopped, a maintenance person can eliminate dusts by cleaning the surface of rubber material of the hands with a solvent such as alcohol or the like.
- However, this method inevitably interrupts the operation of the information processing system to which a library apparatus as the maintenance object is connected and therefore workability is remarkably deteriorated.
- Moreover, in these years, continuous operations of the information processor are generally executed and it is difficult to suspend the information processing system by stopping the library apparatus. For example, in some cases, it is required to continuously execute the work for six months and unexpected trouble may probably be generated because it is difficult to prepare the time for maintenance.
- The present invention has been proposed to solve such problems and it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a library apparatus for conducting the automatically cleaning to the rubber material of the hand.
- The present invention is provided with the following structure to attain the object explained above. Namely, the library apparatus of the present invention is provided with a special cartridge for cleaning the hand in the cell unit comprising a plurality of cells to accommodate the cartridge to store the memory media. This cartridge has a structure, unlike an ordinary cartridge, that cannot be pulsed out from the cell.
- Therefore, when the accessor robot tries to pull out the special cartridge for cleaning from the cell, the rubber material and cartridges execute relative movement while these are placed in contact.
- Thereby, the cleaning to eliminate dusts adhered to the surface of the rubber material of hands can be realized.
- Moreover, the library apparatus of the present invention is provided with a control unit to control the movement of the accessor robot. This control unit counts up the number of timeso f holding of the cartridge with the accessor robot. It is just preferable to control the accessor robot to clean the rubber material of hands when the number of times has reached the preset number of times.
- According to the library apparatus of the present invention, the rubber material provided to the external circumference of the hand can be cleaned automatically. Therefore, the cartridge can surely be held with the hands. Accordingly, an accident such as drop of cartridge can be prevented to improve reliability. As a result, troublesome maintenance can be reduced thereby to improve workability.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the cartridge to be cleaned with the library apparatus of the present invention.
- FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the library apparatus.
- FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the library apparatus.
- FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the cross-sectional view of a cell- drum.
- FIG. 5 is a plan view in the case where a cartridge is inserted to a cell.
- FIG. 6 is a side elevation diagram of the upper part of the accessor robot.
- FIG. 7 is a plan view of the hand unit.
- FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view of the cartridge.
- In above figures,
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
- A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
- FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view illustrating an example o the
library apparatus 10. Thislibrary apparatus 10 is provided at both ends withaccessor units accessor robot 27 is saved. - Between these two
accessor units path units library apparatus 10 of thepath units drive units drive units - The
path unit 17 is also provided with adrum unit 20 in addition to the drive unit. - Moreover, the
library apparatus 10 sometimes introduces also a structure as illustrated in FIG. 3. In FIG. 3, acell rack 13 is provided with acell rack 13 at the side surface parallel to the longitudinal direction of thelibrary apparatus 10 of thepath unit 15. Thecell rack 13 is allocated in the flat condition at the side surface door of thepath unit 15. The cell rack provided to onepath unit 15 has a structure having thecells 13 a, for example, of the 49 stages in the vertical direction and 5 stages in the lateral direction. - Returning to FIG. 2, the
library apparatus 10 is provided with acontrol unit 21 to control theaccessor robot 27 explained above. - Each of the
accessor units CAS 22 has acartridge loading port 23 and anexhausting port 24. - Between both
accessor units rail 25 is allocated through thepath units rail 25 becomes a running path of theaccessor robots rail 25 to move within thelibrary apparatus 10 in the X direction. - Each
accessor robot 27 has arail base 28, avertical column 29 and ahand assembly 30. - The
rail base 28 is a drive mechanism to cause the accessor robot to run along therail 25. - The
vertical column 29 is extended toward the upper side in vertical against therail 25 and is fixed to therail base 28. - The
hand assembly 30 has a structure to freely move in the vertical direction (Y direction) along thevertical column 29. - The drive structure (not illustrated) of the
rail base 28 can be attained with the well known device such as motor, pinion and rack (provided in the side of rail 25). Thehand assembly 30 can also be provided to freely move in the vertical direction with the well known mechanism. For example, the timing belt (not illustrated) is coupled with sprockets provided at the upper and lower sides of thevertical column 29 and this timing belt is then driven with a motor. - The
drum unit 20 has acell drum 31 including a plurality ofcells 62. FIG. 4 is a perspective diagram illustrating a part of the cross-section of thecell drum 31 provided in thedrum unit 20. - The
cell drum 31 is formed as a polygonal column having the polygonal cross-section. At eachside surface 53 of the polygonal column, many cells are provided. Within each cell, a cartridge to accommodate the magnetic tape is loaded. - The upper and lower surfaces of each cell are provided at a part thereof with an
area 61 recessed than the side surface. This recess is used for holding the cartridge stored in the cell with the hands provided with the accessor robot. For easier understanding, a plan view of the cell storing the cartridge is illustrated in FIG. 5. - Namely, under the condition that the cartridge is stored in the cell, the
end face 64 in the aperture side of the cartridge is located at the center side than theside surface 65 of the cell drum and at the external side of theinner-most surface 66 of therecess 61 provided at the upper surface and temporary surface of the cell. Accordingly, the hands can hold the part at the external side than theinner-most surface 66 of the recess and then rotate the rubber material provided at the external circumference of the hands in order to pull out the cartridge. - The
cell drum 31 can rotate around the axial line of the drum. - Each
drive unit - The
accessor robot 27 moves by itself depending on the instructions from the control unit provided in thecontrol unit 21. The accessor robot transfers the cartridge between the loadingport 23/exhaustingport 24 of theCAS 22 and the cell of thecell drum 31 and between the cell and the loading/exhausting port of the tape drive unit. This transfer operation is controlled with the control unit in thecontrol unit 21 explained above. - FIG. 6 is a side elevation diagram at the upper part of the
accessor robot 27 illustrated in FIG. 2. Ahand assembly 30 is mounted on a supportingbase 34. The supportingbase 34 moves in the vertical direction along aguide rail 33 formed at thevertical column 29. - The front end side of the supporting
base 34 is provided with arotating shaft 35 that rotates in vertical against the supportingbase 34. To this rotatingshaft 35, amount base 36 of thehand assembly 30 is attached. When atiming belt 37 extended over the rotatingshaft 35 and the output shaft of amotor 38 provided on the supportingbase 34 is driven with themotor 38, themount base 36 rotates. Since themount base 36 andhand assembly 30 are fixed, thehand assembly 30 can also rotates within the horizontal plane. - FIG. 7 is the side elevation diagram schematically illustrating the
hand unit 42 of thehand assembly 30. - The
hand unit 42 has a pair of upper andlower hands hands rubber materials hands motor 46 is driven. When themotor 46 rotates, ashaft 47 also rotates via a gear not illustrated. Theshaft 47 has a groove of screw type and is engaged with the groove provided on an opening/closing plate 49. Therefore, with rotation of theshaft 47, the opening/closing plate moves in the vertical direction of the figure. Therefore, thehand 43 fixed to the opening/closing plate 49 opens or closes. - Moreover, a
guide plate 44 is also provided to prevent that an angle formed with both hands is deviated when thehand 43 opens or closes. The hand is provided with a projection. This projection has a structure to be engaged with the recess provided to theguide plate 44. - When it is requested to take out the cartridge from the cell, the control unit locates first the
hands motor 46 to operate the hand in the closing direction. The hands holds thecartridge 48 from the upper and lower directions. Thehands burrer bands - The opening/closing mechanism of the
hands - FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining an example of the
cartridge 48 accommodating a magnetic tape. Thecartridge 48 is held, when it is transferred, from the upper and lower directions at the area indicated with a broken line in the figure with thehands accessor robot 27 along therail 25, spiral rotation ofhand assembly 30, holding and release withhands - The
accessor robot 27 is controlled with the control unit. - In this embodiment, the cleaning
cartridge 50 illustrated in FIG. 1 is allocated and fixed to any one of many cells. In FIG. 1, the cleaning cartridge in relation to this embodiment is indicated with a solid line. Moreover, the shape of an ordinary cartridge is indicated with a dotted line for easier understanding of the size of the cleaning cartridge. - The size in the longitudinal direction (depth) of the cleaning cartridge is equal to that of an ordinary cartridge and thickness of the cleaning cartridge is also equal to that of an ordinary cartridge. It is enough when width of the cleaning cartridge is equal to at least the width of the hand or more.
- With introduction of such structure, the
accessor robot 27 can hold the cleaningcartridge 50 with thehands - Moreover, since the cleaning cartridge is also provided with a
stopper 52 because it must not be pulled out with the operation of hands. Thestopper 52 is a member for fixing the hands and cell. In this embodiment, the hand and cell are fixed with the screwing. Therefore, the stopper is provided with ahole 53 for the screwing. The cleaning cartridge is fixed to the deep wall of the cell using the screwinghole 53. - A part of hand for holding the cleaning cartridge when it is stored in the cell is provided with a cleaning
member 51. This cleaningmember 51 is provided at the front and rear surfaces of the cleaning cartridge. A size of the cleaning member is enough when it is larger than the part in contact with the cartridge when the hands hold the cartridge. - As the cleaning member, a polishing material such as a sand-paper or the like is used as the member of the simplified structure.
- Otherwise, a humidity absorbing material such as a cloth may also be used. In this case, the inside of the cleaning cartridge is formed as a cavity and this cavity is filled with a cleaning solvent such as water. The cleaning cartridge is provided with a
water injecting port 54 for reserving the cleaning solvent. The cleaning member such as cloth shall be in contact with the cleaning solvent within the cartridge. Thereby, the cleaning solvent is always supplied to the cleaning member through the capillary effect. - The
hands - Such cleaning work is not always required. Namely, such cleaning work can be realized after passage of the predetermined period. Such control can be executed with the control unit.
- Otherwise, it is also possible that the number of times of select/restore operation in which one cycle of operation is composed of holding, transferring and carrying-in (out) of the cartridge is counted with a counter and such cleaning operation can be executed with the accessor robot when such counted value reaches the preset number of times. Operations in this case can also be controlled with the control unit.
- The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been explained above but the present invention is never limited to such embodiments and allows various changes or modifications within the scope of the claims not departing from the spirit of the present invention.
- POSSIBILITY FOR USE IN INDUSTRIAL FIELD
- As explained above, the library apparatus of the present invention can be utilized as a large capacity memory apparatus operating a part of the information processing system. A cartridge for cleaning a feeder belt is an effective means for improvement in reliability of the large capacity memory apparatus.
- Therefore, the present invention belongs to the most active industries in the present highly progressed information society.
- Moreover, the cartridge and library apparatus for cleaning a feeder belt of the present invention are not used only to the information system. The present invention has the possibility for use in the field of automatic warehouse.
Claims (2)
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/JP1998/004146 WO2000016325A1 (en) | 1998-09-16 | 1998-09-16 | Feeder belt cleaning cartridge and a library apparatus |
Related Parent Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/JP1998/004146 Continuation WO2000016325A1 (en) | 1998-09-16 | 1998-09-16 | Feeder belt cleaning cartridge and a library apparatus |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20010010606A1 true US20010010606A1 (en) | 2001-08-02 |
US6414816B2 US6414816B2 (en) | 2002-07-02 |
Family
ID=14208989
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US09/808,187 Expired - Lifetime US6414816B2 (en) | 1998-09-16 | 2001-03-15 | Cartridge for cleaning feeder belt and library apparatus |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US6414816B2 (en) |
JP (1) | JP3603791B2 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2000016325A1 (en) |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6865053B2 (en) | 2003-01-13 | 2005-03-08 | International Business Machines Corporation | System and method of cleaning an automated tape library with a pass-through cleaning tool using cleaning tape |
WO2005041136A1 (en) * | 2003-10-14 | 2005-05-06 | Wincor Nixdorf International Gmbh | Automatic recycling device for empty containers cleaning module and method for operation of the automatic recycling device |
Families Citing this family (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6615435B2 (en) * | 2001-09-21 | 2003-09-09 | International Business Machines Corporation | Cleaner strip for rollers of cartridge loader |
US6980398B2 (en) * | 2003-04-01 | 2005-12-27 | International Business Machines Corporation | Disposable LTO cartridge retention spring cleaner tool |
JP6146424B2 (en) * | 2015-01-22 | 2017-06-14 | 日本電気株式会社 | Accessor device and library device |
Family Cites Families (10)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JPH032463U (en) * | 1989-05-24 | 1991-01-11 | ||
JPH032463A (en) | 1989-05-29 | 1991-01-08 | Kenju Miyama | Floor structure of building |
JPH04132646A (en) | 1990-09-26 | 1992-05-06 | Kubota Corp | Production of fiber reinforced cement plate |
JPH04132646U (en) * | 1991-05-22 | 1992-12-09 | 日本電気エンジニアリング株式会社 | collective optical storage device |
US6104564A (en) * | 1992-05-21 | 2000-08-15 | Fujitsu, Limited | Library apparatus having cartridge direct entry and exit mechanism |
US5228022A (en) * | 1992-09-21 | 1993-07-13 | Compton Kenneth C | Battery operated compact disk cleaner |
US5607275A (en) * | 1993-08-26 | 1997-03-04 | Exabyte Corporation | Cartridge library and method of operation |
US5858140A (en) * | 1994-07-22 | 1999-01-12 | Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company | Nonwoven surface finishing articles reinforced with a polymer backing layer and method of making same |
US5742445A (en) * | 1994-12-22 | 1998-04-21 | Fujitsu Limited | Magnetic tape machine using friction data in controlling accessor speed |
US5793584A (en) * | 1996-12-13 | 1998-08-11 | Terastor Corporation | Device and method for electrostatically cleaning a disk mounted in a removable cartridge |
-
1998
- 1998-09-16 WO PCT/JP1998/004146 patent/WO2000016325A1/en active Application Filing
- 1998-09-16 JP JP2000570777A patent/JP3603791B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
2001
- 2001-03-15 US US09/808,187 patent/US6414816B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6865053B2 (en) | 2003-01-13 | 2005-03-08 | International Business Machines Corporation | System and method of cleaning an automated tape library with a pass-through cleaning tool using cleaning tape |
WO2005041136A1 (en) * | 2003-10-14 | 2005-05-06 | Wincor Nixdorf International Gmbh | Automatic recycling device for empty containers cleaning module and method for operation of the automatic recycling device |
US20060289276A1 (en) * | 2003-10-14 | 2006-12-28 | Siegmar Hecht | Automatic recycling device for empty containers, cleaning module, and method for operation of the automatic recycling device |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
JP3603791B2 (en) | 2004-12-22 |
WO2000016325A1 (en) | 2000-03-23 |
US6414816B2 (en) | 2002-07-02 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
KR910002065B1 (en) | Disk filing apparatus | |
JP4166406B2 (en) | Data cartridge exchange apparatus and method for enabling a user to access a data cartridge | |
EP0093717A1 (en) | Disc cartridge loading mechanism | |
US6175466B1 (en) | Library unit having a cartridge transfer robot with a rotatable picker section | |
JP4159480B2 (en) | Library device | |
JPH053065B2 (en) | ||
US5959956A (en) | Loading drive mechanism for disk drive | |
JPH05325381A (en) | Rotation type medium housing rack | |
US6414816B2 (en) | Cartridge for cleaning feeder belt and library apparatus | |
US6956714B2 (en) | Library apparatus for charging or discharging a plurality of cartridges at the same time | |
KR970005994B1 (en) | Supplementary apparatus for disc container | |
JPS62219364A (en) | Handling mechanism for disk cartridge | |
JP3436694B2 (en) | Library device | |
US6320836B1 (en) | Apparatus for ensuring operational clearance between a rotating disc type medium and a disc cartridge enclosing the medium | |
JPH04268247A (en) | Device and for method carrying disk cartridge | |
KR100906779B1 (en) | Recording and reproducing device | |
US6480352B1 (en) | Drive system equipped with an autoloader mechanism, and autoloading device | |
US6339513B1 (en) | Data carrier loader and method for loading | |
EP1314154A1 (en) | Media storage library provided with an import/export element with lead screw and ramp for rotation of a media | |
JP2847327B2 (en) | Loader mechanism in tape cartridge system | |
KR20000009280A (en) | Disk cartridge | |
JP3423455B2 (en) | Library device | |
JP2758306B2 (en) | Tape-shaped medium changer | |
JPH07161115A (en) | Cartridge changer | |
JPH07111803B2 (en) | Cartridge type recording / reproducing device |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: FUJITSU LIMITED, JAPAN Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:HIKITA, MINORU;REEL/FRAME:011608/0460 Effective date: 20010308 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: FUJITSU LIMITED, JAPAN Free format text: CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNEE'S ADDRESS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 011608, FRAME 0460;ASSIGNOR:HIKITA, MINORU;REEL/FRAME:011974/0428 Effective date: 20010308 |
|
STCF | Information on status: patent grant |
Free format text: PATENTED CASE |
|
FEPP | Fee payment procedure |
Free format text: PAYOR NUMBER ASSIGNED (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: ASPN); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: LARGE ENTITY |
|
FPAY | Fee payment |
Year of fee payment: 4 |
|
FPAY | Fee payment |
Year of fee payment: 8 |
|
FPAY | Fee payment |
Year of fee payment: 12 |