Data processing: generic control systems or specific application – Specific application – apparatus or process – Article handling
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-21
2001-12-11
Ellis, Christopher P. (Department: 3651)
Data processing: generic control systems or specific application
Specific application, apparatus or process
Article handling
C700S214000, C700S259000, C414S273000, C414S274000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06330489
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a magnetic tape apparatus and more particularly to an integrated magnetic tape apparatus including a hand mechanism for taking in and out a cartridge storing a magnetic tape therein and an accessor mechanism for causing the hand mechanism to freely move to a designated position.
Today, a large capacity, integrated magnetic tape apparatus including a hand mechanism and a accessor mechanism is extensively used. Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 4-20403, for example, discloses a positioning method for positioning the hand mechanisms by use of a bidimensional relative position sensor. The relative position sensor reads a linear scale representative of a position index so as to store the absolute position of the hand mechanism. Another bidimensional relative position sensor is mounted on the hand mechanism for correcting the position of the hand mechanism.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 10-11854 teaches a positioning method using flags. Specifically, flags representative of the addresses of cartridges are arranged in one-to-one correspondence to cells in the lengthwise direction of a magnetic tape apparatus. A board mounted on an accessor mechanism and including a sensor senses the flags for positioning a hand mechanism.
Further, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 10-302356 proposes a positioning method using a monodimensional position sensor including reduction optics, a light source and a monodimensional CCD (Charge Coupled Device) in place of the above sensors. The position sensor senses a geometrically patterned address plate.
The problem with the above conventional positioning schemes is that they need sophisticated, bulky arrangements to practice and thereby increases the cost. Moreover, accurate positioning is difficult to achieve with the conventional schemes.
Technologies relating to the present invention are also disclosed in, e.g., Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication Nos. 4-319564, 5-261684, 7-78401 and 7-101509.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a magnetic tape apparatus which is small size, low cost, high performance and simple and capable of effecting accurate position detection with reliability.
A magnetic tape apparatus of the present invention includes an accessor mechanism movable in a Y direction in response to a command received from a host and a hand mechanism mounted on the accessor mechanism and movable in the X direction. Address charts are provided on the individual cell for accommodating a cartridge storing a recording medium therein. The address charts serve as indices indicative of positions of the cell in the X direction and the Y direction. Reduction optics is mounted on the hand mechanism and includes a light source, a monodimensional CCD, and a lens.
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Ellis Christopher P.
NEC Corporation
Tran Khoi H.
Young & Thompson
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