JPH0470710B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a cartridge ejection mechanism for ejecting a cartridge such as a magnetic tape cartridge to the outside from a storage box in which a cartridge is stored.
In particular, the present invention relates to a cartridge ejection mechanism that allows the cartridge to be easily removed manually from the ejection port.

In recent years, with the increase in the capacity of databases, mass storage devices (mass storage systems) have been developed and put into use. Such large-capacity storage devices are equipped with a storage shelf that stores a large number of magnetic tape cartridges. Take out the cartridge from the storage shelf, bring it to the magnetic tape cartridge read/write station (playback/recording section), set it, read/write the magnetic tape cartridge, and then return the magnetic tape cartridge to the read/write station after reading/writing. It consists of a kind of automatic warehouse that is configured to take things out and store them in storage shelves.

Conventionally, special cylindrical magnetic tape cartridges were used for such magnetic tape cartridges, but in recent years, rectangular magnetic tape cartridges (hereinafter referred to as cartridges), which are used for video tapes, have been used. Some proposals have been made to reduce the price.

Since such a large-capacity storage device can accommodate a limited number of cartridges, it is necessary to eject unnecessary cartridges that are not used or cannot be used out of the device.

For this reason, a discharge port is provided on the wall of the apparatus, and the unnecessary cartridges are led from the storage shelf to the discharge port by a mechanical hand, and the unnecessary cartridges are manually removed from the discharge port.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, the ejection mechanism at this ejection port has been provided with a shelf for taking out cartridges, and a mechanical hand is used to open the door of the ejecting shelf provided outside the device and insert the cartridge into the shelf. It was configured to take out the cartridge.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

Such a conventional ejecting mechanism has a problem in that the door needs to be opened and closed each time it is taken out, and in addition, there is a problem in that it takes a lot of effort to insert the hand to take out the item.

In order to solve this problem, it has been proposed that the slide on which the cartridge is set is rotated about a fulcrum by a solenoid and guided to the discharge path (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11208/1983).

Even if I did this, the following problem occurred.

Since it is tilted by a solenoid, a solenoid is required, and a control circuit is also required.
The configuration becomes complicated.

It is necessary to use a spring to hold the slide horizontally while the cartridge is being set and to return it to the horizontal position after ejecting the cartridge, and it takes time and effort to adjust the spring force.

The cartridge rubs against the slide and falls, so when the cartridge falls due to tilting, the cartridge is worn out, and worn dust adheres to the magnetic cartridge, degrading the characteristics of the cartridge.

[Means for solving problems]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a cartridge ejection mechanism that has a simple configuration and can smoothly eject a cartridge.

For this reason, the present invention provides a cartridge ejecting mechanism for discharging cartridges taken out by an automatic transport mechanism from a storage for storing a plurality of cartridges. A support roller that engages with the slider to hold the slide in a horizontal state, a weight for returning the slider to the horizontal state, and a roller provided on the slider, The slide, which is about to tilt, is held in a horizontal state by the engagement of the hand section of the automatic transport mechanism with the support roller until the hand section moves out of the ejection mechanism, and the slide with the hand section is Due to the disengagement, the slide is tilted by the weight of the cartridge set on the slide, and the cartridge is ejected to the ejection port. When the cartridge is removed, the weight turns the slide into a horizontal state. It is characterized by returning to.

[Effect]

First, the present invention simplifies the structure by tilting the slide by the weight of the cartridge to eject the cartridge.

Second, since the cartridge is set on the slide by the automatic transport mechanism, when the cartridge is set, the slide will tilt under its own weight and there is a risk of interference with the hand section of the automatic transport mechanism. The slide is held horizontally until the hand part can be removed.

Thirdly, in order to reduce the friction when the cartridge slides on the slide, rollers are provided on the slide to prevent wear of the cartridge.

Fourthly, if a spring is used to return the slide, it will take time and effort to make adjustments due to the weight of the cartridge, so the return member is used as a weight to save time and effort for adjustment.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to Examples.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the configuration shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a large-capacity storage device in which the ejection mechanism of the present invention is used.

First, the overall configuration will be explained with reference to FIG. In Fig. 3, LG and RG are a left garage and a right garage, respectively, which are provided at both ends of the device and are provided with a main control circuit, an accessor drive circuit, etc., and HF is a honeycomb frame.
Storage shelves 4 for magnetic tape cartridges are provided on both walls, and guide rails RLU and RLL for the accessory (automatic transport mechanism), which will be described later, are provided at the upper and lower parts. A read/write station (not shown) that reads/writes the installed magnetic tape cartridge, an entry station CES for inputting a new magnetic tape cartridge from the outside, and an entry station CES for ejecting unnecessary magnetic tape cartridges to the outside. Exit station for CFS
and is provided. LA and RA are a left accessor and a right accessor, respectively, which drive the hand 2 in the vertical direction and rotational direction to access the storage shelves 4 on both sides, and use the left garage LG and right garage RG as home positions. This is an automatic magnetic tape cartridge transport mechanism that moves within three honeycomb frames HF along upper and lower rails RLU and RLL.

To explain the operation of the embodiment in FIG. 3, the left or right accessor LA or RA is controlled by the accessor drive circuit according to a command, moves in the X direction on the rails RLU and RLL, and further moves the hand 2 in the Y (up and down) direction. The hand 2 is driven to position the cartridge 3 on the desired storage shelf, and at that position, the hand 2 is driven to take out and grasp the cartridge 3. Next, the accessors LA and RA move to the read/write station. The cartridge 3 is transported and the hand 2 is driven to set the cartridge 3 on the read/write station. Lead/
After the writing is completed, the cartridge 3 is taken out from the read/write station by the hand 2, gripped, transported in the same manner, and stored in the original storage shelf. Cartridge 3 entry station CES
The same applies to the case of transporting from the storage shelf 4 to the exit station CFS.

Therefore, in the mass storage device, the accessors LA and RA use the hands 2 to take out a desired cartridge 3 stored in the storage shelf 4 in the honeycomb frame HF, transport it to the read/write station, and transfer the cartridge 3 to the read/write station. After reading/writing the cartridge 3, take out the cartridge 3 from the read/write station with the hand 2, and use the accessor LA,
It operates so that it is transported by RA and stored and returned to the original storage shelf 4.

Next, the cartridge ejecting mechanism according to the present invention provided in the exit station CFS shown in FIG. 3 will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.
Note that FIG. 1A is a top view thereof, and FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view thereof.

In FIG. 1, 1 is a cartridge ejection mechanism;
1a is its base frame, 10 is a slide frame, which is supported by a fulcrum O with respect to the base frame 1a and can be tilted in the direction of arrow B around the fulcrum O; 11 is a weight; Provided at the right end, the slide frame 10
12a, 12b, 12c are rollers provided on the slide frame 10, 13 is a first stopper, A second stopper 14 serves as a stopper when the slide frame 10 is tilted in the counterclockwise direction; 15 is a second stopper that regulates the clockwise position of the slide frame 10 to keep the slide frame 10 in a horizontal state; 16 is a cover, which is provided at the left end of the slide frame 10 to block the take-out port made up of a front block to be described later, and to prevent the intrusion of human hands, and 16 is a support roller, which is installed under the automatic conveyance mechanism. It engages with the hand and is supported by the tip of the weight 11 so as to be movable in the vertical direction in the figure. 17 is a recovery spring, which is provided at the tip of the weight 11 and moves the support roller 16 up and down in the figure. 18 and 19 are front blocks provided at the left end of the base frame 1,
This constitutes the outlet EL, and a discharge stopper 19a is formed in the front block 19.

Next, the operation of the embodiment configuration shown in FIG. 1 will be explained using the operation explanatory diagram shown in FIG.

When not in use, before the cartridge 3 is set by the upper and lower hands 2a and 2b of the automatic transport mechanism, the slide frame 10 is biased clockwise around the fulcrum O by the weight 11, and the slide frame 10 is biased clockwise around the fulcrum O by the weight 11. 14 regulates the rotational position and maintains the horizontal state.

In this state, as shown in FIG. 2A, the cartridge 3 is gripped by the upper hand 2a and lower hand 2b of the automatic transport mechanism hand 2, inserted into the cartridge discharge mechanism 1, and transported onto the slide frame 10.

Next, as shown in FIG. 2B, the lower hand 2b is lowered and the cartridge 3 is placed on the rollers 12a to 12c and the weight 11 of the slide frame 10. As a result, the slide frame 10 attempts to tilt counterclockwise around the fulcrum O against the weight of the weight 11 due to the weight of the cartridge 3. However, since the lower hand 2b presses the support roller 16, the weight 11 supporting the support roller 16 does not tilt, and therefore the slide frame 10 maintains a horizontal state.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2C, when the upper and lower hands 2a and 2b of the hand mechanism 2 are pulled out from the cartridge ejection mechanism 1, the support roller 16 is released and the slide frame 10 is moved around the fulcrum O by the weight of the cartridge 3. It tilts counterclockwise and stops when it hits the first stopper 13. As a result, the cartridge 3 is moved between the rollers 12a of the slide frame 10.
It slides on 12c and is ejected towards the outlet EL,
It hits the stopper 19a of the front block 19 and stops.

When the cartridge 3 from the outlet EL is manually taken out, the slide frame 10 is released from the cartridge 3 and rotates clockwise around the fulcrum O by the weight of the weight 11, as shown in FIG. The state is restored to when it was not in use, and at this time the outlet EL is covered by the cover 15 to prevent human intrusion.

In the manner described above, the cartridge can be ejected from the position set by the automatic transport mechanism to the take-out port without a driving source.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, a large-capacity storage device was explained as an example, but the present invention may also be used in a storage warehouse such as an automated warehouse that stores a plurality of cartridges.

Although the present invention has been described above using one embodiment, the present invention can be modified in various ways according to the gist of the present invention, and these are not excluded from the present invention.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, the following effects are achieved.

The slide was tilted by the weight of the cartridge to eject the cartridge.
This eliminates the need for a solenoid, etc., making the configuration easier.

The automatic transport mechanism sets the cartridge on the slide, so when the cartridge is set,
Since the slide may tilt under its own weight and interfere with the hand section of the automatic transport mechanism, a support roller is provided that engages with the hand section and holds the slide horizontally until the hand section comes out. It can be expressed in a configuration.

In order to reduce the friction when the cartridge slides on the slide, rollers were installed on the slide to prevent cartridge wear.

If a spring is used to return the slide, it will take time to adjust due to the weight of the cartridge.
By using the return member as a weight, the effort of adjustment can be saved.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the structure of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a device to which the present invention is applied. In the figure, 1... Cartridge ejection mechanism, 10... Slide frame, 11... Weight, 12a, 12b, 12
c...Discharge roller, EL...Eject port, O...Fully point.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A cartridge discharge mechanism for discharging cartridges taken out by an automatic conveyance mechanism from a storage for storing a plurality of cartridges, comprising: a slide that can tilt around a fulcrum, and a hand portion of the automatic conveyance mechanism. a support roller that engages with and holds the slide in a horizontal state, a weight for returning the slide to the horizontal state, and a roller provided on the slide, the self-weight of the set cartridge being The slide, which is about to tilt, is held in a horizontal state by the engagement of the hand section of the automatic transport mechanism with the support roller until the hand section moves out of the ejection mechanism, and the slide with the hand section is Due to the disengagement, the slide is tilted by the weight of the cartridge set on the slide, and the cartridge is ejected to the ejection port. When the cartridge is removed, the weight turns the slide into a horizontal state. A cartridge ejection mechanism characterized by returning the cartridge to .