Dynamic information storage or retrieval – Information location or remote operator actuated control – Selective addressing of storage medium
Patent
1992-08-19
1994-10-04
Levy, Stuart S.
Dynamic information storage or retrieval
Information location or remote operator actuated control
Selective addressing of storage medium
369 34, 369192, 360 9804, G11B 1722
Patent
active
053532694
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates; to a disk storage apparatus which is designed to automatically store disk cartridges each containing for example an optical disk, and more particularly the invention relates to a disk storage apparatus which can also be utilized as an automatic disk exchange apparatus when it incorporates drive units for the recording and reproduction of information from the optical disks.
BACKGROUND ART
As the conventional techniques relating to the present invention, an automatic disk exchange apparatus will now be described by way of example. This type of automatic disk exchange apparatus is designed for use as a peripheral equipment for optical information reproducing apparatus and it is disclosed for example in Laid-Open Patent No. 60-243865.
FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing a conventional automatic disk exchange apparatus. In the Figure, numeral 1 designates disk cartridges each containing an optical disk, 2 disk storage devices each in the form of a bookcase having a plurality of slots for vertically storing the disk cartridges 1,3 drive units for recording onto and reproducing information from the optical disks, 4 a transport device arranged in opposition to the disk inlet/outlet ports of the storage devices 2, 5 a transport frame supported in a cantilevered manner on a rotating part 4a of the transport device 4, the transport frame 5 incorporating transfer means for transferring the disk cartridge 1.
With the automatic disk exchange apparatus constructed as described above, in order to transport selected one of the disk cartridges 1 stored in the storage device 2 to the drive unit 3 for information recording/reproducing purposes, the transport device 4 is driven into operation so that the transport frame 5 as moved in an X direction or the traverse direction, and a Z direction or the vertical direction, thereby stopping it at the position where the selected disk cartridge 1 is stored. In this condition, the given disk cartridge 1 is moved in the Y direction by the transfer means of the transport frame 5 to transfer it from the storage device 2 to the transport frame 5.
Then, after the transport frame 5 has been rotated through 90 degrees by the rotating means 4a of the transport device 4 thereby bringing it into a horizontal position, the transport frame 5 is moved downward, transported to the position of the drive unit 3 and stopped thereat by means of the transport device 4. Thereafter, the disk cartridge 1 in the transpoint frame 5 is inserted through an inlet/outlet port 6 of the drive unit 3 and mounted in position within the drive unit 3. When the disk cartridge 1 is mounted in the drive unit 3, its optical disk is subjected to the recording/reproduction of information by the drive unit 3.
When the recording/reproduction by the drive unit 3 is completed, the disk cartridge 1 is delivered to the transport frame 5 from the drive unit 3. The transport frame 5 is transported in the reverse direction to the previously mentioned operation and the disk cartridge 1 is restored in the initial position in the storage device 2.
Also, when selected one of the disk cartridges 1 stored in the storage device 2 is to be removed to the outside for changing, the disk cartridge 1 to be changed is temporarily stored in a vacant slot 7 provided in the storage device 2 by the transport unit 4. This disk cartridge 1 is removed to the outside through a cartridge inlet/outlet port 8. When a disk cartridge 1 is to be stored in the storage device 2 from the outside, the disk cartridge 1 is inserted through the cartridge inlet/outlet port 8, and the disk cartridge 1 stored in the vacant slot 7 is removed, transported to a given position in the storage device 2 and stored thereat by the transport device 4.
In this way, it is possible to store a plurality of disk cartridge 1 in the storage devices 2 and automatically transport the stored disk cartridges 1 between the storage devices 2 and the drive units 3, thereby affecting the recording and reproduction of information efficiently.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4561078 (1985-12-01), Nakayama
patent: 4779151 (1988-10-01), Lind et al.
patent: 4797865 (1989-01-01), Imai et al.
patent: 4815055 (1989-03-01), Fago, Jr.
patent: 4817070 (1989-03-01), Hug et al.
patent: 4817071 (1989-03-01), Carlson et al.
patent: 4853916 (1989-08-01), Tomito
patent: 4878137 (1989-10-01), Yamashita et al.
patent: 4989191 (1991-01-01), Kuo
patent: 5020043 (1991-05-01), Kohler
patent: 5033038 (1991-07-01), Kobayashi et al.
patent: 5058090 (1991-10-01), Ueno et al.
patent: 5128912 (1992-07-01), Hug et al.
patent: 5220548 (1993-06-01), Nakatsukasa et al.
patent: 5231552 (1993-07-01), Schneider et al.
patent: 5255251 (1993-10-01), Fitzgerald et al.
patent: 5274516 (1993-12-01), Kakuta et al.
patent: 5278708 (1994-01-01), Apple et al.
Kobayashi Takashi
Sugiyama Tsurayuki
Ditmyer Paul J.
Kabushiki Kaisha Nikkyo Seisakusho
Levy Stuart S.
NKK Corporation
Whaley Thomas H.
LandOfFree
Disk storage apparatus does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Disk storage apparatus, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Disk storage apparatus will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-586728