Dynamic information storage or retrieval – With particular cabinet structure
Patent
1990-07-16
1992-02-11
Levy, Stuart S.
Dynamic information storage or retrieval
With particular cabinet structure
369292, 340505, 360137, G11B 1904, G11B 100, E05B 4100
Patent
active
050880845
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a memory device for use as an auxiliary memory device in a numerical control apparatus for controlling a machine tool or the like, and more particularly to a portable auxiliary memory device employing a large-capacity and inexpensive magnetic recording disk.
2. Description of the Related Art
Numerical control (NC) apparatuses are used for controlling machine tools, industrial robots, and the like according to machining programs recorded on paper tapes and read one block by one block by the NC apparatus. As the machining process becomes more complex, the amount of information in the machining program increases, and cannot sometimes be recorded on a paper tape of an ordinary length. Large-capacity and relatively inexpensive magnetic recording disks or floppy disks, which are used in personal computers or the like, have recently found use as auxiliary memory devices for storing entire machining program information for an NC apparatus. A drive device for floppy disks is connected to the NC apparatus and combined with a CRT display, a keyboard, or a paper tape reader for use as the auxiliary memory device for the machines control unit of an NC apparatus.
Recently floppy disk drive devices have been incorporated in NC apparatus is proper. However since the drive devices are not portable, but contained in the NC apparatus, they cannot be used as auxiliary memory devices for other NC apparatus.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been made in an effort to solve the problem of the conventional auxiliary memory device. It is an object of the present invention to provide a portable floppy disk auxiliary memory device that can be used as an auxiliary memory device for an NC apparatus, which has means to reliably prevent dust from entering the drive device.
According to the present invention, the foregoing object is attained by providing a portable floppy disk auxiliary memory device comprising a body containing a floppy disk drive device and having a floppy disk insertion slot defined in a front face thereof, a door openably and closably attached to a front portion of the body for covering the front face of the body, detecting means disposed in the vicinity of the door for detecting the opening and closing of the door, a control unit disposed in the body for issuing an alarm signal in response to an open-door signal from the detecting means during operation of the floppy disk drive device, and alarm means operable in response to the alarm signal from the control unit.
The portable floppy disk auxiliary memory device of the invention is arranged as described above. Since the body in which the floppy disk drive device is contained is portable, it can be carried easily and connected to an NC apparatus in use at any location. After use, the portable floppy disk auxiliary memory device can be carried and connected to another NC apparatus. Therefore, the portable floppy disk auxiliary memory device can efficiently be used in practice.
Inasmuch as the door is attached to the front portion of the body and covers the insertion slot at all times except when a floppy disk is to be loaded or removed, dust is prevented from entering the portable floppy disk auxiliary memory device through the insertion slot while the floppy disk auxiliary memory device is being carried or used in a dusty place. As a result, a dust deposit will not prevent the read/write head from touching the magnetic recording surface of the floppy disk.
Furthermore, if the door is opened while the floppy disk drive device is in operation, an alarm is issued by the alarm means to alert the operator. Thus the floppy disk is prevented from being read in error, and the recorded data is prevented from being distorted.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portable floppy disk auxiliary memory device according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the portable floppy disk auxiliary memory device
REFERENCES:
patent: 3725603 (1973-04-01), Mathews et al.
patent: 3940793 (1976-02-01), Bleiman
patent: 4451912 (1984-05-01), Kirschner
patent: 4458331 (1984-07-01), Amezcua
patent: 4467466 (1984-08-01), Hughes
patent: 4502083 (1985-02-01), Bauck et al.
patent: 4646241 (1987-02-01), Ratchford et al.
patent: 4682292 (1987-07-01), Bue et al.
Hattori Seiichi
Komiya Hidetsugu
Kurakake Mitsuo
Fanuc Ltd.
Levy Stuart S.
Wells Kenneth B.
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