JPH1139754A - Assembled magnetic tape device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simplify the constitution of a hand mechanism part by allowing the transfer of a tape cartridge without changing the attitude of the tape cartridge, in such a manner that the tape cartridge is surely prevented from flying out from a cell block and also the operational control of the hand mechanism is simplified by making the tape cartridge to be pulled out from the cell block even though the upward movement of the hand mechanism part is not executed. SOLUTION: The device is provided with the cell blocks 1 for housing the tape cartridges 2 in the horizontal state and a drive device for loading/unloading the tape cartridge 2 in the horizontal state, then holes la are provided on the bottom surface plates of the cell blocks 1 and pawl parts 2a are provided at the positions corresponding to the holes 1a on the lower bottom surface plate of the tape cartridge 2. At the time of loading/unloading operation of the tape cartridge, a center line 5b of a picker arm 5 of the hand mechanism part 4 is arranged so as to position upward by a prescribed distance from a center line of the tape cartridge 2. Also, springs 3 are provided on the cell blocks 1 for pressurizing the tape cartridge downward.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a magnetic tape cartridge in which a plurality of magnetic tape cartridges are accommodated in one cell block, and a designated magnetic tape cartridge is extracted from the cell block. The present invention relates to a collective magnetic tape device that records and reproduces information on a magnetic tape by being inserted into a magnetic tape drive device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A plurality of magnetic tape cartridges (tape cartridges) each containing a magnetic tape in a cartridge (container) are accommodated in one cell block, and a designated tape cartridge is extracted from the cell block. A conventional collective magnetic tape device that records and reproduces information on and from a magnetic tape in a cartridge by inserting the tape cartridge into a magnetic tape drive device (drive device) is a conventional collective type magnetic tape device. The drive device for recording and reproducing information is configured to insert the tape cartridge in a horizontal state, so that the tape cartridge is inserted into the cell block and the drive device. The hand mechanism to be inserted and removed is tape It cartridges horizontally from a vertical state condition, or it is necessary to perform rotation of 90 degrees to the horizontal state to the vertical state.

Further, in order to prevent a tape cartridge housed in a cell block from jumping out of the cell block due to vibration or the like, a conventional collective magnetic tape device is
At the bottom end of the cell block, a protrusion for preventing protrusion is provided. For this reason, when pulling out the tape cartridge from the cell block, after holding the tape cartridge with the hand mechanism,
It is necessary to perform an operation of moving the hand mechanism upward.

[0004]

As described above, the conventional collective magnetic tape device is configured such that the cell block accommodates the tape cartridge in a vertical state, while the drive device moves the tape cartridge horizontally. The hand mechanism for inserting and removing the tape cartridge with respect to the cell block and the drive device is used to insert the tape cartridge from the vertical state to the horizontal state or from the horizontal state to the vertical state. However, there is a drawback in that it is necessary to perform a degree of rotation, and the configuration of the hand mechanism is complicated.

In order to prevent the tape cartridge accommodated in the cell block from jumping out of the cell block due to vibration or the like, a protrusion for preventing the tape cartridge from jumping out is provided at the tip of the bottom of the cell block. When removing the tape cartridge from the cell block, it is necessary to perform an operation of moving the hand mechanism upward after holding the tape cartridge with the hand mechanism in order to avoid protrusions for preventing ejection. There is also a problem that control of the operation of the unit becomes complicated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problems of the conventional collective magnetic tape device, to simplify the structure of the hand mechanism, and to simplify the operation control. It is an object of the present invention to provide a collective magnetic loop device that can perform the above.

[0007]

According to the present invention, there is provided a collective magnetic tape apparatus comprising: a cartridge storage section having a plurality of cell blocks for storing a magnetic tape cartridge in a horizontal state; At least one magnetic tape drive device having a mouth, and a picker arm for vertically gripping a center of a front portion of the magnetic tape cartridge, the picker arm being moved in the front-rear direction, the left-right direction, and the up-down direction to form the cell block. Alternatively, in a collective magnetic loop device including a hand mechanism for inserting and removing the magnetic tape cartridge into and from the magnetic tape drive device, a claw projecting downward is provided on a bottom surface of the magnetic tape cartridge, and the plurality of cell blocks are provided. In front of the magnetic tape cartridge on each bottom plate Are those in which a hole for fitting the pawl portion, in particular, a plurality of cell blocks in the vertical direction 1
A cell block group arranged in a row, or the cartridge storage section in which a plurality of cell block groups are arranged in a left-right direction, and two or more magnetic tape drive devices mounted vertically in a row. When the magnetic tape cartridge stored in the cell block is extracted from the cell block by the picker arm, the vertical center line of the picker arm is aligned with the magnetic tape cartridge stored in the cell block. A spring is provided on the upper surface plate of each of the plurality of cell blocks so as to press the magnetic tape cartridge downward.

[0008]

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view taken along line AA of the cell block of the embodiment of FIG. 6, FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the cell block shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the operation of inserting the hand mechanism when the tape cartridge is extracted in the embodiment of FIG. 6, and FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the extraction of the hand mechanism when the tape cartridge is extracted in the embodiment of FIG. FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing the operation, and FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the appearance of an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 6, a cell block group 10 includes a plurality of cell blocks 1 arranged in one column in a vertical direction (longitudinal direction). These constitute the cartridge storage section 11. In each cell block 1, a magnetic tape cartridge (tape cartridge) 2 (see FIG. 1) in which a magnetic tape for recording information is accommodated in a container called a cartridge is set in a horizontal state (horizontal), and one cell is accommodated in each cell block. can do.

The two magnetic tape drive units (drive units) 20 arranged in a line in the vertical direction load the tape cartridge 2 extracted from the cell block 1 by the hand mechanism unit 4 (see FIG. 4). It can be inserted through the opening 6 to record and reproduce information on and from the magnetic tape in the cartridge. The tape cartridge 2 in a horizontal state (horizontal) is inserted into the insertion port 6 similarly to the cell block 1. Therefore, when exchanging the tape cartridge 2 between the cell block 1 and the drive device 20, the tape cartridge 2 is moved in parallel without changing the attitude of the tape cartridge 2 without changing the attitude of the tape cartridge 2.
Can be given and received.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the cell block 1 is a box-shaped container capable of housing the tape cartridge 2 in a horizontal state (horizontal), and has a bottom plate (the lowest stage of the cell block group 10). The bottom plate of the other cell block also serves as the top plate of the cell block immediately below each cell block.), Two parallel rectangular holes 1a extending in the depth direction are provided. On the other hand, at a position corresponding to the hole 1a on the lower surface of the tape cartridge 2, a claw portion 2a protruding downward is provided. Therefore, when the tape cartridge 2 is accommodated in the cell block 1, the claw 2a of the tape cartridge 2 fits into the hole 1a of the cell block 1, and the tip of the claw 2a engages with the tip of the hole 1a, and the tape cartridge 2 From the outside of the cell block 1 is prevented.

The top plate of each cell block 1 (the top plate of the cell blocks other than the top cell block of the cell block group 10 is the same as the bottom plate of the cell block immediately above each cell block). A leaf spring 3 is provided on the lower surface, and when the tape cartridge 2 housed in the cell block 1 is pressed downward by the leaf spring 3, the engagement between the tip of the claw 2a and the tip of the hole 1a is established. This ensures that the tape cartridge 2 is prevented from jumping out.

Next, the operation and operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

When the tape cartridge 2 housed in the cell block 1 is to be extracted, as shown in FIG. 4, the hand mechanism 4 is operated to pick up the picker arm 5 and the cell block housing the tape cartridge 2 designated. 1 is moved to the left, right, up, and down center positions of the front. At this time, the vertical center line 5b of the picker arm 5 is located above the vertical center line 2b of the tape cartridge 2 by a distance d. In this state, the picker arm 5
Is moved in the direction of the cell block 1 (arrow C), and the upper and lower grips 5 a at the tip of the picker arm 5 are moved to the front position of the tape cartridge 2. (Cell block 1
The central portions of the front portions of the top plate and the bottom plate are cut out so as not to interfere with the grip 5a. Next, as shown in FIG. 5, when the picker arm 5 is operated to bring the upper and lower grips 5a close to each other, the upper and lower grips 5a are moved.
Sandwiches the tape cartridge 2 between them. At this time, the center line 5b is set in the vertical direction of the picker arm 5.
Is located above the center line 2b in the vertical direction of the tape cartridge 2 by the distance d, the front end of the tape cartridge 2 sandwiched by the gripping portions 5a is lifted, and the tip of the claw portion 2a on the bottom surface is Hole 1 in corresponding cell block 1
a is disengaged from the tip. When the picker arm 5 is retracted (arrow D) in this state, the picker arm 5 is retracted while holding the tape cartridge 2 with the grip portion 5a, so that the tape cartridge 2 can be pulled out of the cell block 1. Therefore, the tape cartridge 2 can be easily extracted without making the hand mechanism perform a complicated operation.

[0016]

As described above, the collective magnetic tape device of the present invention is provided with a cell block for accommodating a tape cartridge in a horizontal state, and a drive device having a slot for inserting and removing the tape cartridge in a horizontal state. A hand that provides a hole in the bottom plate of the block and a claw that projects downward at a position corresponding to the hole in the bottom plate of the cell block on the lower surface of the tape cartridge, and grips and inserts and removes the tape cartridge during the insertion and removal operation of the tape cartridge. The vertical center line of the picker arm of the mechanism is positioned a predetermined distance above the vertical center line of the tape cartridge, so that the tape cartridge is reliably prevented from jumping out of the cell block due to vibration etc. It is possible to move the hand mechanism upward without performing the operation. It is possible to extract the-loop cartridge from the cell block, there is an effect that it is possible to simplify the control of the operation of the hand mechanism. Furthermore,
Since the tape cartridge can be exchanged between the cell block and the drive device without changing the attitude of the tape cartridge, there is an effect that the configuration of the hand mechanism can be simplified. Further, by providing a spring for pressing the tape cartridge down in the cell block, there is an effect that it is possible to more reliably prevent the tape cartridge from jumping out.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view taken along line AA of a cell block according to the embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the cell block of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing an insertion operation of a hand mechanism when the tape cartridge is extracted in the embodiment of FIG. 6;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a pull-out operation of a hand mechanism when pulling out a tape cartridge in the embodiment of FIG. 6;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the appearance of an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Cell block 1a hole 2 Magnetic tape cartridge (tape cartridge) 2a Claw part 2b Center line 3 Leaf spring 4 Hand mechanism part 5 Picker arm 5a Gripping part 5b Center line 6 Input port 10 Cell block group 11 Cartridge accommodation part 20 Magnetic tape drive device (Drive device)

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A cartridge storage section having a plurality of cell blocks for storing a magnetic tape cartridge in a horizontal state, at least one magnetic tape drive device having an input port for inserting and removing the magnetic tape cartridge in a horizontal state, The magnetic tape cartridge has a picker arm that grips the center of the front part of the magnetic tape cartridge from above and below. A collective magnetic loop device including a hand mechanism that performs a downward movement on a bottom surface of the magnetic tape cartridge, and a claw portion of the magnetic tape cartridge on a bottom plate of each of the plurality of cell blocks. Characterized by having holes for fitting Type magnetic tape device. 2. The collective magnetic tape device according to claim 1, further comprising the cartridge storage section having a cell block group in which a plurality of cell blocks are arranged in a row in a vertical direction. 3. The collective magnetic tape device according to claim 2, further comprising the cartridge storage section in which a plurality of cell block groups are arranged in the left-right direction. 4. The collective magnetic tape device according to claim 1, further comprising two or more magnetic tape drive devices mounted in a line in a vertical direction. 5. When the magnetic tape cartridge stored in the cell block is extracted from the cell block by the picker arm, the vertical center line of the picker arm is aligned with the vertical direction of the magnetic tape cartridge stored in the cell block. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the position is a predetermined distance above the center line.
5. The collective magnetic tape device according to claim 2, 3 or 4. 6. The magnetic tape cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a spring for pressing the magnetic tape cartridge downward is provided on an upper surface plate of each of the plurality of cell blocks. The collective magnetic tape device according to claim 4 or 5.