JPH03209665A - Carrying mechanism for recording medium cartridge carrier - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To surely load a cartridge by arranging oscillation members, rollers to be moved between shifting and receding positions, energizing springs for the oscillation members, and driving means on both the sides of a holder. CONSTITUTION:At the time of loading the cartridge 1 from a drive 3 into the holder 6, a drum 24 winds up a wire 25 by a prescribed length. Arms 11, 12 are rotated around a supporting spindle 13, pick rollers 7a, 7b are moved to respective carrying positions to press and hold both the sides of the head of the cartridge 1. The rollers 7a, 7b are rotated and the cartridge 1 is inclined, and while automatically adjusted to a state free from a positional aberration, entered into the inlet/outlet 6b of the holder 6. At the time of ending the loading of the cartridge, the drum 24 is restored to the original position, the arms 11, 12 are moved to the waiting positions by the spring 18 and the rollers 7a, 7b are also restored to respective receding positions. Then, the cartridge 1 is loaded in a prescribed position by the carrying roller of the holder 6.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a feeding mechanism in a recording medium cartridge conveying device, and in particular, to a feeding mechanism in a recording medium cartridge conveying device, and in particular, to adjust the recording medium cartridge to a state where the recording medium cartridge is not tilted or misaligned with respect to the holder, and to move the cartridge of the holder. This invention relates to something that can be transferred to an entrance/exit and that can reliably take the cartridge into a holder.

[Conventional technology]

Optical disk cartridge (hereinafter referred to as cartridge)
As shown in FIG. 3, an optical disk library device for storing and driving cartridges 1 includes a storage rack 2 for storing a plurality of cartridges L in respective storage slots S, and a storage rack 2 for driving (reading or reading/writing) the cartridges 1. Drive 3 and cartridge 1 are stored in rack 2 and drive 3.
A disk cartridge transport device 4 is provided for transporting the disc cartridge to and from the disc cartridge. In this optical disk library device, a storage rack 2 and a drive 3 are arranged on one side (one side) of the transport device.

The transport device 4 includes a holder 6 that takes in the cartridge 1 from the storage rack 2 or the drive 3 and is movable up and down between the storage rack 2 and the drive 3 while holding the cartridge 1.

That is, as shown in FIG.
The cartridge 1 is taken in and the transported cartridge 1 is sent out. Moreover, this holder 6 is
The base frame 5 is supported via rotation #R by a base frame 5 disposed around it, and the base frame 5 is moved by an elevating drive means M (FIG. 3) such as a motor via an endless belt (not shown) or the like. When moving up and down along the conveyance guide G,
The cartridge 1 is conveyed by moving up and down integrally with the base frame 5. Further, the holder 6 is configured such that the recording surface of the cartridge 1 accessed by the head of the drive 3 can be reversed.
Due to the rotation axis R, 180J for the base frame 5!
It can be rotated L.

Further, this conveying device 4 is configured to carry out loading and unloading (feeding and loading) of cartridges between the holder 6 and the storage rack 2 or drive 3 as described above.
A pair of outward feed rollers (hereinafter referred to as pick rollers) 7a and 7b are provided so as to be located outward from the entrance/exit port 6b on both sides of the holder 6; A pair of Chuo Expressway Rerollers 10a.

10b. The pick rollers 7a, 7b are rotatably supported at one end by swing arms 8a, 8b, which are swingably attached to the base frame 5 at the other end. Similarly, the center feed rollers 10a, 10b are
One end of the swing arms 9a and 9b are swingably attached to the base frame 5, and the other ends of the swing arms 9a and 9b are rotatably supported. Note that each swing arm 8a, 8b, 9a, 9
b is an operating position in which each of the rollers 7a, 7b, 10a, 10b is in a transfer position to press against the cartridge 1 being taken in and out of the holder 6;

Respective pick rollers 7a, 7b* loa, 1ob
The cartridge is pivoted between a standby position and a retracted position where it does not come into contact with the cartridge 1. Also, each swing arm 8a, 8b, 9a.

The swinging of 9b is performed by driving means consisting of a solenoid SL and a spring T provided for each swinging arm 8a, 8b, 9a, and 9b. When the driven cartridge 1 is taken in, first, the swinging arm 8a,
As the pick roller 7a is rotated from the standby position to the operating position by the solenoids SL and SL.

7b moves to the transfer position, grips the tip of the cartridge 1 protruding from the drive 3, and is rotated by a rotation drive means such as a motor, thereby transferring the cartridge 1.
is fed into the holder 6 until its tip reaches approximately the center position within the holder 6. Therefore, the swing arms 8a, 8 are rotated by the spring T.
As the roller b is returned to the initial standby position, the pick roller 7a.

7b also retreats from the cartridge 1 while separating from each other. At the same time, as the swinging arms 9a, 9b are rotated from the standby position to the operating position by the solenoids SL, SL, the Chuo road rerollers 10a, 10b open the side openings formed on both sides of the holder 6. (not shown) into the holder 6, grips the tip of the cartridge 1, and rotates it by a rotation drive means such as a motor, so that the cartridge 1 is placed in the holder 6 as shown in 1(A). 6 to the specified position. In this way, when the cartridge 1 is taken into the holder 6, the spring T
As the swinging arms 9a, 9b are returned to their initial standby positions, the center feed rollers 10a, 10b also retreat from the cartridge 1 while separating from each other. Note that when the cartridge 1 that has been taken into the holder 6 and transported as described above is sent out from the holder 6 to, for example, the storage rack 2, the cartridge 1 is first moved by the central feed roller, contrary to the above-mentioned order. 10a and 10b, and then by pick rollers 7a and 7b. Note that the pick roller 7a.

When the cartridge 1 is inserted or removed between the holder 6 and the drive 3 or the storage slot S by the cartridge 7b, the cartridge 1 is transferred while being guided by the inner wall surface of the holder 6 and the drive 3 or the storage slot S. immediately before being taken into the holder 6 from the drive 3 or storage slot S, or from the holder 6 to the drive 3
Alternatively, at the point immediately before being introduced into the storage slot S, only the end portion thereof is guided by the aforementioned inner wall surface, and reliable guidance is not performed.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, as mentioned above, the solenoid SL.

The pick rollers 7a, 7b are moved to the cartridge 1 by rotating the swinging arms 8a, 8b to the operating position by the SL.
In this type of conveying device that presses the
The points at which L and SL are turned on are not necessarily the same, and
The powers of the solenoids SL and SL are not necessarily the same.Furthermore, the swing arms 8a and 8b are not necessarily symmetrical about the holder 6 when in the standby position (that is, have the same inclination with respect to the holder 6). Therefore, both pick rollers 7a and 7b are not positioned symmetrically with respect to the holder 6. For this reason, both pick rollers 7
The timing and pressing angle (therefore the pressing force) when a and 7b press against both sides of the cartridge being taken in and taken out from the holder 6 are also different between the pick rollers 7a and 7b. For this reason, the cartridge 1 transferred by both pick rollers 7a and 7b is not connected to the holder 6 and the drive 3 or the storage slot S.
There will be a tilt in the transfer posture (tilt with respect to the holder 6) at the point immediately before the introduction between the cartridges 1 and 2, and if such a tilt is severe, it will be particularly difficult to take the cartridge 1 into the holder 6 from the drive 3 or the storage slot S. A situation has arisen in which it is no longer possible to do so (1 (b) in Figure 4).
reference).

Furthermore, in the transport device of the optical disk library device, it is difficult to stop the holder 6 in a state where it is completely facing the drive 3 or the storage slot S.
As shown in the figure, the cartridge entrance/exit 6b of the holder 6, the cartridge entrance/exit 3b of the drive 3, or the storage slot S
The cartridge entrance/exit sb is tilted or misaligned relative to the cartridge entrance/exit sb. In this case, the cartridge 1 stored in the drive 3 or storage slot S will also be tilted or misaligned with respect to the holder 6. If such tilting or misalignment is severe, the cartridge 1 stored in the drive 3 or storage slot S will be tilted or misaligned with respect to the holder 6. Cartridge 1 cannot be loaded into 6. In addition, even if such inclination or positional deviation occurs, the pick rollers 7a and 7b may not be able to move the cartridge 1.
As a result, the timing and pressing force when pressing are different, and even if the inclination or positional deviation of the cartridge 1 with respect to the holder 6 is relatively small, the cartridge 1 cannot be taken into the holder 6.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned points, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a feeding mechanism in a recording medium cartridge transport device that can reliably take a cartridge into a holder.

[Means to solve the problem]

A feeding mechanism in a recording medium cartridge conveying device according to the present invention is a recording medium cartridge conveying device including a holder that holds a recording medium cartridge taken in from a cartridge inlet/outlet and conveys it to a desired location. The feeding mechanism includes a first swinging member and a second swinging member that are provided on both sides of the holder to be swingable about respective fulcrums, and a first swinging member and a second swinging member that are located outwardly from the cartridge entrance/exit. and a record that is provided on each of the first and second swinging members so that the distances from the respective fulcrums are equal to each other, and that is to be taken in and out of the holder as the swinging members swing. a first feed roller member and a second feed roller member that move between a transfer position in which they press against both sides of the media cartridge and rotate to feed the cartridge; and a retracted position in which they retreat from the cartridge; an elastic means that constantly biases the first and second swinging members so that the feeding member comes to the retreated position; and a pair of windings provided on each of the first and second swinging members. sequentially winding the support means and the pair of winding support means;
A driving force transmitting elongated body that connects the first and second swinging members so that they can approach and separate from each other; selectively winding up and unwinding the elongated body; When the first and second swinging members are brought close to each other, both of the feed roller members are moved to the transfer position, and when the rewinding is performed, the first and second swinging members are moved by the biasing force of the elastic means. and a driving means for moving both of the feed roller members to a retreat position while separating them from each other.

[Effect]

In the present invention, the first and second feed roller members are
The first
and the second swinging member, respectively. Therefore, as each of the swinging members swings, both of the feed roller members move between the retreat position and the transfer position while drawing a symmetrical arcuate trajectory around the center line that passes through the midpoint of the fulcrum of the two wheels. It is possible to move between. In addition, since the driving force transmitting elongated body is wound around a pair of winding support means provided on each of the first and second swinging members, the driving force is transmitted through the elongated body. The same driving force can be applied to the first and second swinging members.

Therefore, the cartridge at the transfer source is not tilted or misaligned with respect to the holder.

In addition, when the first and second swinging members are provided so as to be positioned symmetrically with respect to the holder when they are in the standby position, both the feed roller members can be moved with the same pressing force and at the same time. By pressing both sides of the cartridge, the cartridge can be transferred to the cartridge entrance without being tilted or misaligned with respect to the holder, and can be reliably taken into the holder. On the other hand, if the cartridge at the transfer source is tilted or misaligned with respect to the holder, or if the first and second swinging members are in the standby position, If the two feed roller members are not positioned in the same position, the timing and pressing force when the two feed roller members press against the side surface of the cartridge will be different. but,
After both feed roller members press the cartridge, the first and second swinging members continue to be given the same rotational driving force by the common driving means, so that at least the cartridge is guided by the transfer source. At the point just before the cartridge leaves the holder and is introduced into the cartridge entrance/exit of the holder (just before the introduction point), the cartridge rotates so as to have the same inclination angle with respect to the holder, and the pressing forces of both feed roller members against the cartridge are also equalized. It happens. In this way, the cartridge can be transported to the cartridge entrance/exit of the holder by the two feed roller members while being properly adjusted so that there is no inclination or misalignment with respect to the holder, and the cartridge can be reliably taken into the holder.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to an embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a portion according to the present invention of a feeding mechanism A according to an embodiment of the present invention. This was carried out.

Components labeled with the same reference numerals as in FIGS. 3 and 4 have the same functions as those in the same figures.

In FIG. 1, the holder 6 is stopped at a position where its cartridge inlet/outlet 6b directly faces the cartridge inlet/outlet 3b of the drive 3. Further, the tip portion of the cartridge 1 that has been used by the drive 3 protrudes from the cartridge entrance/exit 3b.

In the feed mechanism A, the first swing arm 11 and the second
The swing arm 12 is swingably attached to horizontal frame portions 5a, 5a located on both sides of the holder 6 in the base frame 5 via a support shaft 13.13. The line connecting the two support shafts 13.13 is orthogonal to the center line 6a of the holder 6, and the distances d1 and d2 from the center line 6a are equal to each other (that is, di=d
, that is, they are symmetrical about the center line 6a. Further, both swinging arms 11 and 12 have the same length from each support shaft 13° 13 to the tip, and extend outwardly from the holder 6 toward the drive 3, and each tip has the same length. It reaches near both sides of the tip of the cartridge 1. A pick roller 7a, 7b is rotatably attached to the tip of each of the swing arms 11, 12 via a shaft 16, 16. The pick rollers 7a and 7b are installed at positions where the distances L□ and L2 from the respective support shafts 13 and 13 are equal to each other (that is, L□=L2), and the pick rollers 7a and 7b are attached to both sides of the tip portion of the cartridge 1. They are facing each other. The pick rollers 7a, 7b are rotated by their respective shafts 16, 16 being driven by rotational drive means (not shown) consisting of a motor or the like. Furthermore, both swinging arms 11, 12 are constantly urged by tension springs 18.18 into the standby position in which they are locked by the stopper 14.14, so that the pick rollers 7a, 7b are spaced apart from the cartridge 1. It is always energized to the retreated position.

Approximately in the middle of each swing arm 11, 12, first and second intermediate pulleys 20a, 20b, which are idle pulleys, are rotatable relative to the swing arms 11, 12 via shafts 19, 19. It is provided. The first and second intermediate pulleys 20a, 20b are located at a distance L3. L4 are equal to each other (i.e. L3=L4
). Furthermore, a spindle-side pulley 21, which is an idle pulley, is also attached to the spindle 13 to which one swing arm 11 is attached so as to be rotatable with respect to the swing arm 11. Further, a rotating shaft 22 driven by a motor (not shown) or the like protrudes from a portion of the base frame 5 separated from the idle pulley 21, and a winding drum 24 is attached to the rotating shaft 22. It is attached so that it can rotate integrally with the

The wire 25 connects the first and second swinging arms 11.12
By rotating the pick roller 7a to the operating position, the pick roller 7a,
7b to the transfer position, one end of which is fixed to the winding drum 24, and the intermediate pulley 20a of the rear cylinder 1 and the second
After sequentially winding around the intermediate pulley 20b, it passes around the intermediate pulley 20a again, and is fixed to the first swing arm 11 at the other end. When attempting to rotate the first and second swing arms 11 and 12 to the operating position, the one-winding drum 24 is rotated clockwise or counterclockwise in FIG. 1 via the rotating shaft 22. , wire 25
is wound up on the drum 24. Along with this, one intermediate pulley 20a.

20b are pulled toward each other by the wire 25, the first and second swinging arms 11.12 resist the biasing force of the tension springs 18, 18 and rotate their respective support shafts 13, 13. Rotates around the center to the operating position. Therefore, the pick roller 7a.

7b moves to the transfer position and presses against both sides of the distal end portion of the cartridge 1 to clamp it, thereby making it possible to feed the cartridge 1. In addition, when attaching the spindle side pulley 21 to the spindle 13 of one swing arm 11, the wire 25 is wound around the pulley 21.
5 applies an equal rotational driving force to the first and second swing arms 11 and 12, and as a result, the pick roller 7
a.

This is to enable the cartridge 7b to press the cartridge 1 with the same pressing force.

As described above, in this feeding mechanism A, (1) the first and second swing arms 11 and 12 swing around the support shafts 13 and 13 located symmetrically about the holder center line 6a; (2) Pick rollers 7a, 7b
is the distance L1. from each support shaft 13.13 in the first and second swing arms 11, 12. L2 are provided at the same position, and (3) both the swinging arms 11 and 12 are caused to swing with the same driving force by a common driving means consisting of a winding drum 24 and a wire 25. Accordingly, the cartridge 1 in the drive 3 or the storage slot S can be transferred to the cartridge entrance 6b while being appropriately adjusted to a state without inclination or positional deviation by the pick rollers 7a and 7b. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, when the drive 3 and the holder 6 are relatively tilted and misaligned, when the cartridge 1 used in the drive 3 is taken into the holder 6, one swing arm 11.12 Due to the rotation of the pick rollers 7a and 7b, there is a difference in the timing when they press both sides of the cartridge 1, so the swinging arms 11 and 12 are moved against the cartridge 1 as shown by the two-dot chain line. They stop at different angles to each other, and in this state, they also make different angles to the holder center line 6a. Therefore, the pick rollers 7a and 7b press the cartridge 1 on both sides with different pressing forces. However, cartridge 1
is transferred by the pick rollers 7a, 7b to a point just before the cartridge entrance/exit 6a of the holder 6a (just before the introduction point) and leaves the guide by the inner wall surface of the drive 3, as described in (1) and (2) above.

According to the condition (3), both swing arms 11, 12 continue to be driven by the drive means.

The holder is rotated to a position at the same angle with respect to the holder center line 6a. Along with this, the pick roller 7
a, 7b move the cartridge 1 to a position that is symmetrical about the holder center line 6a while pressing and holding the cartridge 1, so that the cartridge 1 is aligned with the center line 1a.
align with the holder center line 6a. At the same time, the pressing forces of the pick rollers 7a and 7b on both sides of the cartridge 1 are made equal. In this way, the cartridge 1 is automatically adjusted to a state in which there is no inclination or misalignment with respect to the holder 6 while being transported by the pick rollers 7a and 7b, and can be accurately inserted into the cartridge entrance/exit port 6a.

Next, an example of the operation of the feeding mechanism A according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

For example, when the cartridge 1 that has been used by the drive 3 is taken into the holder 6 as shown in the figure, the winding drum 24 rotates, so that the wire 25 is wound around the winding drum 24 by a predetermined amount. Along with this, the first and second swing arms 11 and 12 rotate around the support shafts 13 and 13 to the operating position, and the pick rollers 7a and 7b move to the transfer position and move from the drive 3 to the operating position. Both sides of the protruding tip of the cartridge 1 are pressed and clamped. Next, the pick rollers 7a and 7b are rotated by the rotation drive means to automatically adjust the pressed and clamped cartridge 1 to a state without tilting or positional deviation, and into the cartridge loading/unloading slot 6b of the holder 6. take in. When the cartridge 1 is taken into the holder 6 in this way, as the winding drum 24 rotates back to its original position,
The first and second swing arms 11 and 12 are tension springs 18
．． 18 returns to the standby position, and the pick rollers 7a, 7
b also returns to the retreat position. Thereafter, the cartridge 1 is moved to the central feed rollers (
(not shown) to be taken into a predetermined position within the holder 6.

Cartridge 1 taken into holder 6 in this way
For example, the storage rack 2 is transported by the holder 6.
When the cartridge 1 is fed into the storage slot S, after the holder 6 moves to a position directly facing the storage slot S, the cartridge 1 is sent out by the central feed roller until its leading end protrudes from the cartridge entrance 6b. After that, the winding drum 24 rotates and the wire 2
5 to a predetermined amount. Accompanying this, the first and second swing arms 11 and 12 rotate to the operating position, and the pick rollers 7a and 7b clamp the distal end portion of the cartridge 1 on both sides. Next, the feed rollers 7a and 7b feed the cartridge 1 into the storage slot S from the cartridge entrance/exit Sb by rotating in a direction opposite to the above direction. Thereafter, for example, when taking the cartridge 1 from the storage slot S into the holder 6 in order to transport the cartridge 1 in another storage slot S to the drive 3, the same process as when taking the cartridge l from the drive 3 into the holder 6 as described above will be performed. A similar operation will be performed, and the cartridge 1 will be automatically adjusted by the pick rollers 7a and 7b so that it will not be tilted or misaligned, and will be transferred to the cartridge entrance/exit port 6b.

Note that the present invention is not limited to a transport device for an optical disk library device, but may be applied to a transport device that handles magnetic disk cartridges and other types of recording medium cartridges.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, in the present invention, when a recording medium cartridge is taken into a holder, after both feed roller members move to the transfer position, the first and second swinging members are driven equally by a common drive means. By continuing to be driven to the operating position by force, the recording medium cartridge rotates to a position at an equal angle to the holder, so while being transported by the feed roller member, the recording medium cartridge is prevented from tilting and misaligning with respect to the holder. It is automatically adjusted to the state where it is not present. As a result, the present invention has excellent effects in that the recording medium cartridge can be transferred to the cartridge entrance of the holder without being tilted or misaligned, and the cartridge can be reliably taken into the holder. Furthermore, since the driving means is shared for both swinging members, the structure is simple.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a portion of a feeding mechanism according to the present invention in a recording medium cartridge transport device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating an example of the operation of the feeding mechanism according to the same embodiment. 3 is a schematic side view showing the overall configuration of the optical disk library device, FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a conventional feeding mechanism in the transport device of the optical disk library device, and FIG. 5 is a schematic side view showing the conventional feeding mechanism of the optical disk library device. It is a top view explaining the problem in . 1... Disc cartridge, 6... Holder, 7a
. 7b... Pick roller, 11, 12... Swing arm. 13... Support shaft, 18... Tension spring, 20a, 20b
... intermediate pulley, 24 ... winding drum, 25 ... wire.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] In a recording medium cartridge transport device including a holder that holds a recording medium cartridge taken in from a cartridge entrance and exits and transports it to a desired location, a feeding mechanism that takes the recording medium cartridge into and out of the holder, A first swinging member and a second swinging member are provided on both sides of the holder to be swingable about their respective fulcrums; provided on each of the first and second swinging members so that the distances are equal to each other, and as the swinging members swing, presses against both sides of the recording medium cartridge to be inserted into and taken out of the holder. a first feed roller member and a second feed roller member that move between a transfer position where the cartridge is rotated to feed the cartridge and a retreat position where the cartridge is retreated; and the feed member comes to the retreat position. an elastic means that constantly biases the first and second swinging members; a pair of winding support means provided on each of the first and second swinging members; A driving force transmitting elongated body in which a winding support means is sequentially wound and the first and second swinging members are connected so as to be able to approach and separate from each other; and winding and unwinding of the elongated body. is selectively performed, the first and second swinging members are brought close to each other during the winding, and both the feed roller members are moved to the transfer position, and the biasing force of the elastic means is used during the unwinding to move the first and second swinging members closer to each other. 1st, 2nd
A feeding mechanism in a recording medium cartridge conveying device, comprising a drive means for moving both of the feeding roller members to a retreat position by separating the swinging members from each other.