Dynamic information storage or retrieval – Information location or remote operator actuated control – Selective addressing of storage medium
Patent
1992-08-19
1995-02-21
Levy, Stuart S.
Dynamic information storage or retrieval
Information location or remote operator actuated control
Selective addressing of storage medium
369 34, 369 38, 360 9804, G11B 1722
Patent
active
053922662
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
(TECHNICAL FIELD)
The present invention relates to an automatic disk exchange apparatus for transferring and exchanging disk cartridges each containing for example an optical disk between the outside and disk storage devices as well as between the disk storage devices and drive units, and more particulary the invention relates to an automatic disk exchange apparatus which contributes toward reducing the disk cartridge exchange time and increasing the efficiency of the exchange operation.
(BACKGROUND ART)
As peripheral equipment for optical information reproducing apparatus, the automatic disk exchange apparatus of the type disclosed for example in Laid-Open Patent No. 60-243865 have been in use.
FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing the 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 and reproducing information from the optical disks, 4 a transport device arranged in opposition to the disk discharge openings of the storage devices 2, and 5 a transport frame supported in a canthevered 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 is moved in an X direction or the traverse 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 a 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 transport 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 manner 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 so that 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 cartridges 1 in the storage device 2 and automatically transport the stored disk cartridge 1 between the storage devices 2 and the drive units 3, thereby effecting the recording and reproduction of information efficiently.
In accordance with the above-mentioned conventional automatic disk exchange apparatus, however,
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Kobayashi Takashi
Sugiyama Tsurayuki
Evans Jefferson
Kabushiki Kaisha Nikkyo Seisakusho
Levy Stuart S.
NKK Corporation
Whaley Thomas H.
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