Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval – Record transport with head stationary during transducing – Tape record
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-15
2002-05-21
Heinz, A. J. (Department: 2652)
Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval
Record transport with head stationary during transducing
Tape record
C360S030000, C360S125330
Reexamination Certificate
active
06392835
ABSTRACT:
BACK GROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an information recording medium library apparatus having a structure for positioning a drive. More particularly, the present invention relates to a structure for positioning a drive which reads information recorded in an information recording medium and writes information in an information recording medium with respect to a main body for storing and transferring an information recording medium.
This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. Hei 11-74581, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional information recording medium library apparatus, for example, a magnetic tape library apparatus, comprises a main body and a sub body. The main body comprises a storage device such as a storage rack for storing a plurality of information recording media such as a magnetic tape, and a transferring device such as an accesser for automatically transferring the magnetic tape. The sub body is provided with a drive for reading and writing the magnetic tape. In this conventional library apparatus, the accesser accesses the required magnetic tape, and removes it from the storage rack. Then the accesser transfers the magnetic tape to the drive. After the recording or playing back the magnetic tape, the accesser returns the magnetic tape in the storage rack. Such a conventional library apparatus is disclosed in the Japanese Patent Publications, First Publication Nos. Hei 05-174475 and Hei 07-85553. In this type of magnetic tape library apparatus, the accesser must precisely transfer the magnetic tape to the required position. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the positioning accuracy of the drive for the storage-rack provided with the main body. Below, the conventional positioning structure for a drive to the storage rack is explained referring to
FIGS. 8
to
12
.
As shown in
FIGS. 8
,
9
, and
11
, the main body
11
comprises a storage rack (storage means) which is an aggregate comprising a plurality of cells
32
for storing magnetic tapes (information recording medium) (not shown in the Figures), a honeycomb
12
for fixing the cells
32
and positioning a drive
15
, and a plurality of stays
13
for guiding the drive
15
into the honeycomb
12
. The honeycomb
12
is provided with the main body
11
using a plurality of fixtures
33
and
34
. A plurality of protrusions
11
a
for positioning a magnetic tape drive and controller (abbreviated as “MC body” below) are fixed in front of the main body
11
. Moreover, the stay
13
is fixed to the honeycomb
12
. In order to obtain sufficient strength for supporting the drive
15
and sufficient positioning accuracy for positioning the drive
15
, the stay
13
is produced by cutting an aluminum block. In addition, the honeycomb
12
is obtained by sandwiching an aluminum member
12
a
having a honeycomb structure between aluminum plates
12
b
and
12
c
, and adhering, the same to integrate them. The honeycomb
12
has a high resistance to stress applied to the surface, a light-weight.
The MC body
14
is used as a sub body. The MC body
14
comprises rails
16
and trays
17
. The rails
16
are partially fixed to the MC body
14
, and rails
16
retract in the front (indicated by the X-arrow in Figs) and rear direction. The trays
17
are put onto the rails
16
. The drive
5
is mounted on the tray
17
. A plurality of positioning holes
14
a
with which a plurality of protrusions
11
a
formed on the main body
11
engage are formed in the surface opposite to the main body
11
of the MC body
14
. As shown in
FIG. 10
, the drive
5
is put into the tray
17
so that the drive can move in the upper and lower directions and in the left and right directions. In other words, pins
15
a
provided with the drive
15
are put into U-shaped grooves
17
a
of the tray
17
, and thereby the drive
15
can move upwardly. Moreover, there is an interval S between a flange portion
15
d
of the pin
15
a
and the side wall of the tray
17
, as shown in
FIG. 10C
, and thereby the drive
15
can move in the interval S in the left and right direction. The pins
15
a
prevent the movement of the drive
15
in the front and rear direction, and control the moving distance of the drive
15
in the left and right direction.
In order to position the drive
15
into the main body
11
, the position of the MC body
14
is adjusted so that the protrusions
11
a
formed on the main body
11
are put into the positioning holes
14
a
of the MC body
14
. The MC body
14
contacts the main body
11
and is fixed to it using a plurality of screws
15
e
. The drive
15
is pushed ahead, that is, in the direction indicated by the X-arrow. Then, bearings
15
b
of the drive
15
run on the stays
13
provided with the honeycomb
12
, as shown in
FIG. 9A
, and thereby the position of the drive
15
in the vertical direction is fixed. When the drive
15
is pushed further ahead, a positioning pin
15
c
formed at a bracket
15
g
provided with the drive
15
is pushed into a positioning hole
13
a
formed at the stay
13
, as shown in FIG.
9
B. Then, the drive
15
is fixed to the stay
13
by screwing a screw
15
f
into a hole
13
b
formed at the stay
13
through the bracket
15
g
. Thereby, the position of the drive
15
with respect to the main body
11
is fixed. In this condition, the drive
15
is partially put into the main body
11
through an opening
35
comprising the honeycomb
12
, as shown in FIG.
9
A.
As explained above, according to the conventional structure for positioning a drive, the MC body
14
is positioned and fixed to the main body
11
, and the drive
15
is positioned and fixed to the honeycomb
12
. That is, the conventional structure for positioning a drive adopts a double positioning and fixing processes. Therefore, the structure is complicated, and the cost for the structure increases. Specifically, in order to make the drive
15
precisely enter into the opening
35
formed in the honeycomb
12
which supports a plurality of cells
32
, the MC body
14
is positioned and fixed to the main body
11
. When the drive
15
is positioned and fixed to the honeycomb
12
, the bearing
15
b
of the drive
15
must run on the stay
13
. Therefore, the drive
15
must be able to move upward with respect to the tray
17
. In addition, in order to put the pin
15
c
of the drive
15
into the positioning hole
13
a
of the stay
13
, the drive
15
must be able to move to the left and right with respect to the tray
17
. As a result, in order to precisely position the drive
15
, an expensive honeycomb
12
and the stay
13
are necessary. In addition, the control equipment for the moving distance of the drive
15
with respect to the tray
17
is complicated. Therefore, the cost for the positioning structure increases.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a structure for positioning a drive, which is provided with a library apparatus for information recording media, which can precisely position the drive with respect to the main body, similarly to the conventional structure, and has a simple structure, and a low cost.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to an aspect of the present invention, the present invention provides an information recording medium library apparatus comprising a main body comprising a storage device for storing a plurality of information recording medium and a transferring device for transferring the information recording medium; and a sub body comprising a drive for reading and information recorded in the information recording medium and writing an information to the information recording medium and a tray for carrying the drive comprising:
a sub body fixing device for positioning and fixing the sub body with respect to the main body
a drive positioning equipment for positioning precisely the drive in the tray,
a drive fixing equipment for fixing the drive in the tray,
abutting portions provided with the tray and the main bo
Foley & Lardner
Heinz A. J.
NEC Corporation
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