Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval – Record transport with head stationary during transducing – Tape record
Reexamination Certificate
1998-08-07
2001-01-16
Heinz, A. J. (Department: 2754)
Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval
Record transport with head stationary during transducing
Tape record
C369S178010, C414S277000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06175466
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to a cartridge transfer robot for conveying a recording medium cartridge between a storage rack, a cartridge access station and a deck within a library unit which houses a number of cartridges. The configuration of the cartridge transfer robot of the present invention enables a reduction in the operating space required for the robot by a drive gear inside of a rotating hub gear. The invention further relates to a library unit including the aforementioned cartridge transfer robot.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In general, a library unit functions as a large scale external memory. The library unit is equipped with a number of lockers with storage shelves for housing thousands of recording media cartridges such as magnetic tapes. The unit facilitates large scale automated access operations for writing/reading data to/from each cartridge.
The entire structure of the accessor unit including the hand mechanism (hereinafter “picker section”) must be rotatable about the cartridge insertion/ejection direction, because storage shelves are arranged on both sides of the aisle through which the accessor travels. Consequently, the accessor must be equipped with a swivel mechanism to swivel its picker section.
FIGS. 17 and 18
respectively show a plan view and sectional view of a conventional swivel mechanism. As shown in
FIG. 18
, a shaft
100
a
is secured to the bottom of a picker section body
100
through a bearing
102
such that the shaft
100
a
is capable of swiveling on a flat base (swivel base)
101
. Notably, the picker section body
100
is swiveled around a vertical axis when driven by a swivel drive motor (swivel motor)
120
via pulleys
120
a
,
121
and a timing belt
122
.
The conventional accessor suffers from several disadvantages. The first disadvantage relates to the operating space requirements for the swivel mechanism. As shown in
FIGS. 17 and 18
, the configuration of pulleys
120
a
,
121
and the timing belt
122
of the swivel mechanism dictate that the swivel motor
120
be mounted away from the swiveling axis of the picker section body
100
(shaft
100
a
). Consequently, the operating space required for the conventional swivel mechanism conflict with the goal of space miniaturization.
A further disadvantage associated with conventional accessors relates to the cartridge delivery mechanism. The cartridge delivery mechanism is provided in a conventional library unit, because conventional hand mechanisms are unable to provide the degree of positioning accuracy required to insert/remove cartridges from the deck. For this reason, a conventional library apparatus is provided with a cartridge delivery mechanism (distinct from the hand mechanism), capable of providing required positioning accuracy. However, in order to downsize and reduce the cost of the library apparatus, it is desirable to omit the cartridge delivery mechanism. This in turn requires the accessor to perform the functions of loading/unloading a cartridge directly to/from the deck without the assistance of the cartridge delivery mechanism.
In order for the accessor to directly perform loading/unloading of a cartridge, the positioning accuracy at the head end of the hand mechanism must be significantly enhanced. However, the construction of a conventional swivel mechanism is designed for ease of maintenance rather than accuracy control. Notably, slack tends to develop, over time, in the timing belt
122
, thereby reducing the accuracy control of the swivel mechanism.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a cartridge transfer robot having a rotatable picker section which eliminates the need for a timing belt, thereby increasing accuracy control and reducing the size of the swivel mechanism within the picker section.
A further object of the invention is to reduce the mounting space of the picker section.
Still further an object of the invention is to improve the accuracy control of swivel mechanism and the head end of the hand mechanism, and eliminate the need for a distinct cartridge delivery mechanism.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The above listed objects are met or exceeded by the cartridge transfer robot of the present invention, which is used in a library unit having storage shelves for housing data storage cartridges, cartridge access stations to load or unload the cartridges, and decks to access the recording media within the cartridges.
Generally, in the preferred embodiment, the cartridge transfer robot includes a picker section for transferring cartridges, and includes a hand mechanism for chucking and inserting/extracting the cartridges from the decks. The cartridge transfer robot further includes a swivel mechanism for swiveling the picker section, and a transfer mechanism to move the picker section to a prescribed position. The swivel section includes one gear mounted coaxially to the swivel axis of the picker section and integrated into the picker section, a second gear meshing with the first gear inside the first gear, and a drive mechanism for driving the second gear which in turn drives the picker section.
The invention is used in a library apparatus including the above-described cartridge transfer robot. The library apparatus is provided with a storage rack for storing cartridges, a cartridge access station for inserting and removing cartridges from the library apparatus, and a deck for processing information stored on the cartridge. The cartridge transfer robot is used to transfer cartridges between the storage rack, the cartridge access station and the deck used.
According to the preferred embodiment, the picker section is operably connected to the first gear which is engaged with the second gear. In operation, the picker section is rotatably driven by the action of a drive mechanism on the second gear. Notably, the picker section is directly driven by the second gear engaged with the first gear without using a timing belt.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4932826 (1990-06-01), Moy
patent: 5143193 (1992-09-01), Geraci
patent: 5631785 (1997-05-01), Dang
patent: 5347063 (1993-12-01), None
patent: 6096507 (1994-04-01), None
patent: 9007259 (1997-01-01), None
Hori Daisuke
Kato Chikatsu
Motoyama Nobuhiko
Shibuya Hiroshi
Fujitsu Limited
Greer Burns & Crain Ltd.
Heinz A. J.
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