JPH01109567A - Flexible disk sorter - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To take out a desired disk easily by reading information from a flexible disk set in a read means, and discharging the disk to a specific place by a selecting means in case information inputted by an input means is found in the read information. CONSTITUTION:In the controller main body 22 of a controller 3, the following are provided: a CPU 121 to execute arithmetic and logic operation, a ROM 122, a RAM 124, a keyboard interface 126, a controller CRTC 128 to drive a monitor television 26, a controller (FDC) 130 to control drive 32, and an input/ output port 132. The FDC 130, together with a drive 21 incorporated in the main body 22, is connected to the drive 32 incorporated in a sorter main body 1. In the meantime, the part 132 is connected to an input port 135 and an output port 137 in the main body 1, accordingly, the controller main body 22 reads signals from the microswitches of respective units via the both ports 135, 137 to drive a motor in order to sort a flexible disk FD.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for sorting a plurality of input flexible disks.

[Prior Art] In recent years, computers have been used in a wide range of industrial fields, and they handle a wide variety of data. These data are
Data is sometimes recorded on magnetic disks connected online, but for ease of handling, data is often stored on flexible disks with a 1G capacity and provided to computers only when necessary.

In this case, as the data becomes larger and more diverse, the number of disks increases, and handling or retrieval of the disks requires an enormous amount of effort.

Therefore, we have a storage shelf that stores items such as flexible disks, and when the item is placed in the warehouse, its index is registered and the position where it should be stored is indicated by an indicator light. When the item is taken out, the index information is searched and the corresponding A device has been proposed that indicates the storage position of an article using an indicator light (for example, ``article storage device'' in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 56-52304). Although such a device requires a user to put in and take out articles according to the instructions of the indicator light, it has a simple configuration and can easily manage a large number of articles, such as flexible disks.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, with such a storage device, there is a problem in that it is cumbersome and time-consuming to handle because it is necessary to perform the work of registering the multiple disks one by one. Furthermore, since the flexible disk must be kept in a storage shelf at all times, it may be more troublesome to use it.

The flexible disk sorting device of the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems and to easily obtain desired flexible disks.

The structure of the present invention that achieves the above object will be explained below.

Means for Solving Problem C] The flexible disk sorting device of the present invention, as illustrated in FIG. loading means for sequentially setting information on the reading means for reading information magnetically recorded on the reading means; information inputting means for inputting information regarding the flexible disk to be searched for; reading information from the flexible disk set on the reading means; The present invention further comprises a selection means for ejecting the flexible disk to a predetermined location when the information input by the input means is found in the read information.

Here, the input section is for inputting flexible disks to be sorted, and is configured to input a plurality of flexible disks into the apparatus without particularly placing them in a storage shelf or the like. For example, a configuration may be considered in which flexible disks are piled up and input. The flexible disks inserted may be aligned in the same direction, or the flexible disks may be provided with means for identifying the direction of the randomly inserted flexible disks from a notch or the like provided on the outer periphery of the flexible disk and aligning the directions.

The loading means is for sequentially setting flexible disks in the reading means, and if the reading means is a normal flexible disk drive, the loading means includes a mechanism for transporting the flexible disks toward the entrance thereof, and a mechanism provided in the flexible disk drive. and a mechanism for delivering the flexible disk to the loaded loading mechanism. Note that it is also suitable for the loading means to share a part of its configuration with the selection means described later, in order to reduce the number of parts. Also, if the inserted flexible disc has a jacket,
A mechanism for removing this may be provided.

The information input means is a means for inputting information regarding the flexible disk to be searched, and assumes that such information is information that is magnetically recorded on the flexible disk, such as file names and directory names. Can be done. The input means is usually configured as a means for inputting such information by operating a keyboard, but! Regarding frequently used information, it is effective to register it in advance or to use a magnetic card, IC card, barcode, dedicated tablet, etc. for searching in order to simplify input.

The selection means includes a mechanism for ejecting the flexible disk to a predetermined location, and this mechanism is configured to also serve as a part of the loading means described above, and a part of the loading means is driven in the opposite direction to the loading direction. It may also be a device that discharges water.

[Operation] The Flare disk sorting device of the present invention having the above configuration sequentially sets a plurality of flexible disks inputted into the loading means into the reading means by the loading means, and magnetically attaches the flexible disks set to the reading means. When the search information input from the input means is found in this information, the flexible disk is ejected to a predetermined location by the selection means. As a result, a plurality of flexible disks are sorted.

[Example 2] In order to further clarify the structure and operation of the present invention described above, a preferred embodiment of the flexible disk sorting apparatus of the present invention will be described below.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a flexible disk sorting device as an embodiment. As shown,
This flexible disk sorting device consists of a sorting machine main body 1 that handles flexible disk FDs, and a sorting machine main body 1 that handles flexible disk FDs.
and a control device 3 for controlling the information and inputting the information to be searched. The sorting machine main body 1 is equipped with an input port 5 at the top into which flexible disk FDs are input, and -
Up to 50 flexible disk FDs can be inserted at a time. Flexible disk F inserted to facilitate handling of flexible disk FD
A weight 7 is placed on top of D.

The internal configuration of the sorting machine main body 1 will be described later with reference to FIG.
D is an external tray 10 provided on the front of the sorting machine main body 1.
Then, it is discharged through the discharge port 12. This external tray 1
0 is a notch formed as a part of the discharge port 12,
A locking tool 17 provided on the front panel 16 of the sorting machine main body 1
．． It is attached by hanging it on 18. Also,
A power switch 20 for turning on the power is provided on the front side of the sorting machine main body 1.

The control device 3 uses a well-known personal computer, and includes a control device main body 22 that houses a CPU that controls data output and performs arithmetic and logical operations, and a flexible disk drive 21 that reads and writes from a flexible disk. Keyboard 24 for inputting information about the flexible disk FD to be searched
．． Monitor TV 26 that displays various information related to searching and sorting
It is composed of. In addition, the sorting machine main body 1 and the control device 3
and is connected by a connecting cable 2nd.

Next, the internal structure of the sorting machine main body 1 will be explained with reference to FIG. As shown in the figure, inside the sorting machine main body 1, one flexible disk FD is stacked in the input slot 5.
Separate unit 30 that pulls out sheets one by one. Flexible disk F pulled out from separate unit 30
A loading unit 35 that transports D to a flexible disk drive (hereinafter simply referred to as a drive) 32
．． A bushing unit 37 is provided next to the loading unit 35 and pushes the flexible disk FD into the drive 32. A clamp unit 40 that drives the clamp mechanism of the drive 32. An angle unit 43 for controlling the angle of the loading unit 35, a chute 45 on which the flexible disk FD ejected from the rolled loading unit 35 slides, and an internal tray 47 provided under the chute 45 for storing the flexible disk FD are arranged. It is set up.

The separate unit 30 is equipped with a driving motor 51 at the base of a base 50 formed in a U-shape, and has a configuration in which the driving force of the motor 51 is transmitted to the main shaft 54 via a belt 52. There is. Two pulleys 55 to 58 are rotatably provided on the left and right sides of both ends of the base 50 in the front and rear directions, and pulleys 59 and 6 provided on the main shaft 54 are rotatably provided.
0, belts 62 to 65 are stretched. Therefore, when the motor 51 rotates, the belts 62 to 65 between the pulleys move horizontally, and the bottom layer of the loaded flexible disks FD is transferred toward the drive 32. Incidentally, a microswitch is provided on the side of the base 50 to detect the flexible disk FD.

The flexible disk FD sent out by the separate unit 30 is then transferred to the loading unit 35.
The book will be sent by. The loading unit 35 is
A base plate 0 formed in a U-shape, a motor 71 as a driving source, a belt 72 . It has a main shaft 74 that is rotated by the driving force of a motor 71 transmitted through a pulley 73, and has a configuration very similar to the separate unit 30. Due to the rotation of the main shaft 74, the bell (80.81) which is tensioned between the pulleys 75, 76 provided on the main shaft 74 and the pulleys 77, 78 provided on both ends of the loading unit 35 is fed. Ru. Above the pulley 75,
A tension roller 82 is provided and is urged downward by a spring (not shown). The flexible disk FD is moved by this tension roller 82 (bell) 80.
81, so when the motor 71 rotates, the flexible disk FD placed on the bell) 80.
is transported to the drive 32. At this time, the lateral position of the flexible disk FD is adjusted by a guide (not shown).

One end of the main shaft 74 protrudes to the side of the base 7o, and a pulley 83 is attached to the tip.

The rotation of this pulley 83 is transmitted to a rotating shaft 87 of a pull-out roller 85 via a belt 84. The pull-out roller 85 is used to pull out the flexible disk FD from the drive 32, and when conveying the flexible disk FD to the drive 32, it remains at a position away from the conveyance path of the flexible disk FD downward. There is. In addition, loading unit 35
is provided with two photosensors 88 and 89 for detecting the flexible disk FD.

The flexible disk FD transported into the drive 32 by the loading unit 35 is further set in the drive 32 by the bushing unit 37. The bushing unit 37 includes an arm 90, a motor 92 that rotates the arm 90, and two microswitches 95 and 96 that detect the rotational position of the arm 90.

A roller 98 is rotatably attached to the lower surface of the tip of the arm 90. Therefore, when the motor 92 is rotated,
The arm 90 rotates in the direction of arrow P in FIG.
Press the end of the flexible disk FD, which is halfway inside, and push it in completely.

When the flexible disk FD is pushed into the drive 32, the flexible disk FD is clamped by the clamp unit 40 which uses the motor 100 as a driving source. The clamp unit 40 is connected to this motor 100.
together with a crank mechanism 102 . driven by the motor 100 . It includes a disc 104 with a protrusion that detects the movement of the crank mechanism 102, and two microswitches 106 and 107 that are turned on and off by the disc 104. Therefore,
When the motor 100 rotates, the clamp lever 109 of the drive 32 is pushed down via the crank mechanism 102.
The flexible disk FD is set.

Next, the configuration of the angle unit 43 will be explained. The angle unit 43 is provided at the lower part of the loading unit 35, and as schematically shown in FIG. Connection bar 1 connecting plate 111 and loading unit 350 base 70
12, three microswitches 114 to 116 that detect the rotational position of the index disk 111, and the index disk 11
The index disk 111 is configured with a locking mechanism 118 that engages with a notch provided on the outer periphery of the index disk 111 to determine the stopping position of the index disk 111.

When the index disk 111 is rotated by the motor 110, the entire loading unit 35 connected via the connecting bar 112 rotates about the main shaft 74. When the motor 110 is stopped with the microswitches 114 to 116 turned on, the index disk 111 stops at a position where its notch engages with the locking mechanism 118, and the loading unit 35 is held in that state.

Next, the electrical configuration of the flexible disk sorting device of this embodiment will be explained. As shown in FIG. 3, the control device main body 22 of the control device 3 includes a well-known CPU 121 and a ROM 122, which perform arithmetic and logical operations. RAM124
．． Keyboard interface 126. A controller that drives the monitor television 26 (hereinafter referred to as CRTC)
12B, a controller (hereinafter referred to as FDC) 130 that controls the drive 32; and human output water 1
32 are provided. The FDC 130 is connected to a drive 32 built into the sorting machine main body 1 as well as a drive 21 built into the control device main body 22 .

On the other hand, the input/output boat 132 is a manual port 135. It is connected to the output boat 137. Therefore, the control device main body 22
2 and both bows in the sorting machine main body 1 connected to this) 135
, 137, the motor is driven while reading signals from the microswitches of each unit to sort the flexible disks FD.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the sorting control routine executed by the control device main body 22. As shown in the figure, when the power is turned on and the initialization process is completed, the control device main body 22 first determines whether or not a flexible disk FD is inserted into the input slot 5, and then determines whether or not the flexible disk FD is inserted. The process waits until the process is completed (step 200).

If the insertion of a flexible disk FD is detected by the microswitch 68 provided in the separate unit 30, the process proceeds to step 210, and data to be searched (here, file name) is input from the keyboard 24. Process.

When the input of the file name to be searched is completed, the separate unit 30 and loading unit 3
5 is driven and stopped as follows (step 220).
).

(2) Rotate the motor 51 of the separate unit 30 and the motor 71 of the loading unit 35 to pull out the lowest one of the plurality of flexible disks FD loaded in the input slot 5.

(2) When it is confirmed by the photo sensor 89 of the loading unit 35 that the flexible disk FD has been completely transferred onto the loading unit 35, the separate unit 30 is stopped.

■ Continuing to transport the flexible disk FD by the loading unit 35, the flexible disk FD
When the terminal end of the image passes through the photosensor 89, the process moves to the next step.

Through the above processing, the flexible disk FD is
As shown in Figure (A), the tip end thereof is inserted into the drive 32. In this state, the pull-out roller 85 of the loading unit 35 remains at a lower position away from the conveyance path of the flexible disk FD, as shown in the figure.

After performing the above processing in step 220, the push unit 37 is driven to completely set the flexible disk FD in the drive 32 (
Step 230). First, the motor 92 is rotated, and the flexible disk FD is moved by the roller 98 at the tip of the arm 90.
Press the end of the drive to transfer it into the drive 32,
When the microswitch 96 is turned on, the motor 71 of the loading unit 35 and the motor 92 of the bushing unit 37 are stopped. At this time, the flexible disk FD is completely set in the drive 32. Subsequently, the motor 92 is reversed, and the arm 90 is retracted to the position where the microswitch 95 is turned on, that is, to the initial position.

In this way, the flexible disk FD is transferred to its drive 32.
After setting, the clamp unit 40 is operated (step 24o).

That is, the motor 100 is rotated until the microswitch 106 is turned on. This causes drive 3
2 clamps the inserted flexible disk FD, making it possible to read and write to and from the flexible disk FD.

Therefore, the drive 32 is controlled via the FDC 130,
Accesses the directory of the inserted flexible disk FD, performs processing to read the file name recorded on this flexible disk FD (step 25o), and matches the file name entered from the keyboard 24 for searching. A determination is made as to whether something exists (step 260).

If a match exists, the clamp unit 40
(to reset the motor 100, rotate the motor 100 in the reverse direction until the microswitch 107 turns on), and the flexible disk F
D is discharged (step 270). Thereafter, the angle unit 43 is driven and stopped at the first inclined position where the upper surface of the loading unit 35 is aligned with the shooter 45 (step 275). This situation is shown in FIG. 5(B). That is, the motor 110 of the angle unit 43 is rotated to rotate the index disk 111, and the micro switch 11 is rotated.
5 turns on, the motor 110 is stopped. At this time, the notch of the index disk 111 engages with the locking mechanism 118, and even after the motor 110 has stopped, the loading unit 35
hold in that position.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 260 that the corresponding file does not exist on the flexible disk FD set in the drive 32, the process moves to step 280, and the clamp unit 40 is reset as in step 270. After doing this, angle unit 4
3, and the loading unit 35 is stopped at a second tilted position that is steeper than the first tilted position (step 285). This state is shown in FIG. 5(C), and as shown in the figure, the index disk 111 is
The loading unit 35 is rotated to the ON position, and the loading unit 35 is held at this second tilted position by the locking mechanism 118.

In step 275 or step 285, the angle unit 43 is driven, and the loading unit 35
After the loading unit 35 is tilted, the process of driving and stopping the loading unit 35 is performed as follows (step 290).

First, the motor 71 of the loading unit 35 is rotated in the opposite direction to that when inserting the flexible disk FD.

Loading unit 35 by angle unit 43
Since the pull-out roller 85 of the loading unit 35 is moving upward with the inclination of the flexible disk FD, as shown in FIG. The flexible disk FD is pulled out by rotation. The pulled-out flexible disk FD is conveyed by the belt 80° 81 of the loading unit 35, and is transferred to the loading unit 3.
5 is held at the first (l! diagonal position), it is sent out to the chute 45. Since the surface of the chute 45 is coated with resin,
D slides down the surface and is discharged from the opening into the external tray 10. On the other hand, when the loading unit 35 is held at the second inclined position, the flexible disk FD is ejected onto the internal tray 47, as shown in FIG. 5(C).

In this way, the flexible disk FD is sent out from the loading unit 35, and when the photosensor 8 detects that the flexible disk FD has completely passed through the loading unit 35, the angle unit 43 is driven to move the loading unit 35 to a horizontal position. A process of returning to and stopping is performed (step 300).

That is, the loading unit 35 is returned to the period position shown in FIG. 5(A).

Next, the flexible disk FD was inserted into the input port 5.
It is determined whether or not all of the steps have been completed (step 310).
). Whether or not processing has been completed for all flexible disks is detected by a microswitch provided in the separate unit 30. As shown in FIG. 1, a weight 7 is placed on the top of the flexible disk FD inserted into the input port 5, and the weight 7 has four positions corresponding to the position of the micro switch 6. Since the opening is provided in the opening, the microswitch 68 will not malfunction due to the weight 7.

If the processing for all flexible disk FDs has not been completed, the process returns to step 220 and thereafter, and from the drawer of the flexible disk FD again,
Restart the process described above.

On the other hand, if it is determined that the processing for all flexible disk FDs has been completed, the process moves to step 320, and the information of the flexible disk FD in which the file name to be searched exists, such as the disk name and its update, is determined. Monitor TV 2 for date and time, file creator name, attributes, etc.
6, and then exits to rENDJ to end the main bullet control routine.

Through the process described above, a flexible disk FD containing the file to be searched is automatically searched from among the large number of flexible disk FDs inputted from the input port 5, and the corresponding disk is placed in the external tray 10, and the unsuitable disk is placed in the external tray 10. They are sorted into internal trays 47, respectively. Therefore, it is possible to sort the flexible disk FDs and easily find the file to be searched for without having to register files recorded on a plurality of flexible disk FDs in advance.

Further, in this embodiment, information on the relevant disk FD is displayed on the monitor television 26. Therefore, if a file with the same name exists on multiple flexible disk FDs, it is easy to find the target (for example, the latest file) based on the update date and time.
You can know the files. In addition, in this embodiment, so-called wild cards (? and *) are used to specify the file name, so it is easy to use it to sort all flexible disk FDs that contain files with a certain attribute. be.

Further, in this embodiment, since each unit is driven by monitoring the movement of the flexible disk FD using a photo sensor or a microswitch, the movement will not damage the flexible disk FD. Furthermore, in this embodiment, since the loading unit 35 serves both to feed the flexible disk FD to the drive 32 and to discharge it, the configuration can be simplified. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the separate unit 30. Since the belt serves both to transmit power in the loading unit 35 and to progressively feed the flexible disk FD, it is possible to simplify the configuration, reduce the number of manufacturing steps, and reduce the number of parts.

In addition, since the flexible disk sorting device of this embodiment has a drive 21 built into the control device main body 22, the information of the flexible disks set in this drive 21 is sent one after another to the drive 32 in the sorting machine main body 1. It is also easy to use it as a so-called dubbing device for recording on a set flexible disk FD.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments; for example, the flexible disk FD is inserted into the jacket, and a mechanism for attaching and detaching the jacket is provided. As long as the configuration does not depart from the gist of the present invention,
Of course, it can be implemented in various ways.

As described in detail above, the flexible disk sorting device of the present invention has the excellent effect of being able to sort a plurality of flexible disks and easily take out the desired flexible disk. In particular, there is no need to register the flexible disk in advance, and the handling is simple and the configuration can be simplified.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the overall configuration of a flexible disk sorting device as an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing the internal configuration of the sorting machine main body 1, and FIG. An explanatory diagram showing the electrical configuration of the disk sorting device, FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the sorting control routine executed by the control unit, and FIGS.
) and (C) are explanatory diagrams each explaining the operation of each unit in the sorting machine main body 1. 1... Sorting machine body 3... Control device 5... Input port 10... External tray 22... Control unit device body 24...-Keyboard 26... Monitor TV 30... Separate unit 32 ... Drive 35 ... Loading unit 37 ... Bush unit 40 ... Clamp unit 43 ... Angle unit 45 ... Shooter 47 ... Internal tray

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A loading unit for loading a plurality of flexible disks; a loading means for sequentially loading the loaded flexible disks into a reading unit for reading information magnetically recorded on the flexible disks; information input means for inputting information regarding a flexible disk set in the reading means; and when information is read from the flexible disk set in the reading means and the information input by the input means is found in the read information, the flexible disk A flexible disk sorting device comprising a selection means for discharging the disks to a predetermined location.