JPH0679402B2 - Cartridge loading mechanism - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a cartridge loading mechanism, and more particularly to a cartridge loading mechanism suitable for application to a cartridge tape automatic loading mechanism.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, various methods have been known as methods for loading a tape cartridge into a tape loading target device by a loading mechanism provided in a tape loading target device such as a magnetic tape device.

2 (a) and 2 (b) show an example thereof, in which FIG. 2 (a) shows a partial cross-sectional side view of a main part thereof, and FIG. There is. In the figure, 5 is a tape cartridge, and 9 is a cradle for receiving the cartridge 5.

The pedestal 9 is rotatably supported by a support plate 12 via a pin 12a, and is biased by a spring 14 in a counterclockwise direction in FIG. 2 (a). Also, 15 is a cartridge 5
2 shows a pressing plate that presses the inside of the pedestal 9.
Reference numeral 15 is rotatably supported by the support plate 12 via pins 12b. The pedestal 9 and the holding plate 15 are rotatably connected by a pin 9a, and the pedestal 9 is moved in the arrow Y direction by pressing the holding plate 15 in the arrow X direction. Has been done.

A part of the pedestal 9 is provided with a positioning roller lever 10 as shown in FIG. 2B, and the positioning roller lever 10 uses a spring to hold the cartridge 5 in the pedestal 9. It is urged to press against the reference surface 9b.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

In the conventional cartridge loading mechanism configured as described above, when loading the cartridge, it is necessary to load the cartridge 5 into the receiving base 9 and further push down the holding plate 15.

However, in order to automate the above-described operation, an operation of fixing the cartridge 5 to the receiving base 9 and a mechanism for moving the receiving base 9 loaded with the cartridge 5 downward are required, and the structure of the cartridge loading mechanism is complicated. Therefore, there is a problem that the cost becomes high, and the reliability decreases.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems in the conventional tape cartridge loading mechanism and to enable the tape cartridge to be positioned reliably and smoothly. At the same time, it is to provide a cartridge loading mechanism that can be realized at a low cost.

[Means for solving problems]

The above object of the present invention is, in a cartridge loading mechanism using a tape cartridge having a cutout for direction identification at a rear end thereof, an L-shaped movable cartridge holding means, and the cartridge holding means is inserted into the holding means. A roller-equipped guide means for biasing the rear end of the tape cartridge in the horizontal direction is provided, and the tape cartridge to be inserted is held by the guide means while the front end edge of the tape cartridge is pressed against the loading reference plane. The tape cartridge is held in this state, and while maintaining this state, and while the direction identification notch of the tape cartridge is slid on the guide means, the holding means is lowered and positioned at a predetermined loading position. Is achieved by a cartridge loading mechanism.

[Action]

In the present invention, by utilizing the fact that the shape of the rear end portion of the cartridge is an inclined surface having a notch for identifying the tape direction, it is provided at a position corresponding to the rear end edge of the cradle into which the cartridge is loaded. Positioning means for pressing the front edge of the cartridge against the reference surface is provided. As a result, when the cartridge is moved downward for loading, a force is generated by the positioning means to press (position) the cartridge against the reference surface of the pedestal due to the notch, and the cartridge can be accurately structured with a simple structure. Loading can be realized.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1 (a) to 1 (c) are views showing a main part of an automatic cartridge loading mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 (a) is a sectional view taken along the cartridge insertion direction Q, and FIG. b)
Is a side view of the same (a) as seen in the direction of the arrow Q, and (c) is a side view corresponding to the same (a). In each drawing, 5 indicates the above-mentioned cartridge.

In the cartridge automatic loading mechanism shown in this embodiment,
The movable table 3 having two holding walls for positioning the cartridge 5 to be loaded in the width direction, which is disposed between the two side plates 13 having the L-shaped grooves 13a and 13b, has the above-mentioned L-shaped movement table. The cartridge 5 is configured to be movable along the groove, and the final positioning member 6 to be described later functions with respect to the cartridge 5 held on the moving table 3 to perform positioning.

The final positioning member 6 is composed of the roller 1 supported by a movable bearing 6b, and the movable bearing 6b is provided with a bottom plate 7.
And is configured to be rotatable about a shaft 6a by a predetermined angle. Further, a spring (not shown) causes the cartridge 5 to be inserted in a clockwise direction in the drawing, that is, to move the inserted cartridge 5 to a reference plane 4 described later. It is biased in the pressing direction. Four
Is a reference surface for pressing and positioning the cartridge 5 by the final positioning member 6. The movable table 3 is provided with a roller-equipped pressing arm 16 for holding the cartridge 5.

The movement of the movable table 3 is configured to be performed by a drive mechanism 8 including a reversible motor 8a and a worm gear 8b. That is, the rotation of the reversible motor 8a causes the worm gear 8b to rotate clockwise in FIG. 1 (c) in the loading direction, and to rotate in the opposite direction to move in the detaching direction.

The operation of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described below.

When the cartridge 5 to be loaded is inserted from the position 5a shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. 1 (a) in the direction shown by the arrow Q, it is detected at a certain position by the optical detecting means and driven based on this signal. The mechanism 8 is driven. At this time, the cartridge 5 is held in the moving table 3 by the pressing arm with roller 16, so that the L-shaped groove of the moving table 3 is held.
It moves in the direction of arrow Q in synchronism with the first horizontal movement of the movements along 13a and 13b. At this time, the inclined surface of the notch on the lower surface moves while contacting the roller 1 of the final positioning member 6, and finally the rear end surface is pressed by the roller 1 of the final positioning member 6 to cause the cartridge 5 to move. The front end surface is pressed against the reference surface 4 to perform positioning (see the solid line 5 in FIG. 1A).

The movement of the movable table 3 changes from the horizontal direction (direction of arrow Q in the drawing) to the vertical direction (direction of arrow R in the drawing) before and after the operation of the final positioning member 6, and the final positioning member also during this time. The operation of 6 is continuously performed, and finally the cartridge 5 is set to the position shown by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG.

The time relationship between FIGS. 1 (a) to 1 (c) is from FIG. 1 (a) to preparation for insertion of the cartridge 5 (two-dot chain line) to completion of insertion (solid line) and completion of setting (one-dot chain line). On the other hand, FIG. 1 (b) shows that the insertion of the cartridge is completed, and FIG. 1 (c) shows that the cartridge is in the middle of insertion (two-dot chain line) and setting is complete (broken line).

According to the above-described embodiment, since the positioning is automatically performed as the cartridge moves, the positioning operation becomes unnecessary when the cartridge is inserted, and the automatic loading mechanism is simplified.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the present invention, in the cartridge loading mechanism that uses the tape cartridge having the notch for the direction identification on the end surface, the rear end of the tape cartridge to be inserted is pressed to move the front end of the tape cartridge. Since the positioning means for pressing the edge against the reference surface is provided, the tape cartridge can be positioned reliably and smoothly, and at the same time, the tape cartridge loading mechanism can be realized at low cost. It is effective.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 (a) is a sectional view showing a main part of an automatic tape cartridge loading mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIGS. 1 (b) and 1 (c) are side views thereof, and FIG. 2B is a partial cross-sectional side view showing the main part of the tape cartridge loading mechanism of FIG. 3: moving table, 4: reference surface, 5: cartridge, 6: final positioning member, 8: drive mechanism, 13: side plate, 13a, 13b: L-shaped groove, 16:
Presser arm with roller.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A cartridge loading mechanism using a tape cartridge having a cutout for direction identification at a rear end thereof, wherein the cartridge holding means is movable in an L-shape, and the tape cartridge inserted into the holding means. By providing a roller-equipped guide means for urging the rear end portion of the roller in the horizontal direction,
The guide means holds the tape cartridge to be inserted in the holding means with its front edge pressed against the loading reference surface, and while maintaining this state, the notch for identifying the direction of the tape cartridge. The cartridge loading mechanism is characterized in that the holding means is lowered to be positioned at a predetermined loading position while sliding on the guiding means.