U.S. patent application number 10/326401 was filed with the patent office on 2003-06-26 for magnetic tape cartridge library apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to NEC Corporation. Invention is credited to Tanaka, Atsushi.
Application Number | 20030117744 10/326401 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 19188625 |
Filed Date | 2003-06-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030117744 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Tanaka, Atsushi |
June 26, 2003 |
Magnetic tape cartridge library apparatus
Abstract
The invention provides a magnetic tape cartridge library
apparatus wherein the space can be utilized effectively to allow
accommodation of an increased number of tape cartridges. The
magnetic tape cartridge library apparatus includes a cartridge
magazine for removably accommodating a plurality of magnetic tape
cartridges in a plurality of stages in a vertical direction
therein, a magnetic tape deck for reading or writing data from or
onto a magnetic tape cartridge loaded therein, a hand apparatus
disposed on the front side of the magnetic tape deck, and a
magazine feeding mechanism for feeding the cartridge magazine
forwardly or rearwardly on one of the left and right sides of the
hand apparatus. The hand apparatus is operable to insert or take
out a magnetic tape cartridge into or from the cartridge magazine
and transport the magnetic tape cartridge between the cartridge
magazine and the magnetic tape deck.
Inventors: |
Tanaka, Atsushi; (Yamagata,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
McGinn & Gibb, PLLC
Suite 200
8321 Old Courthouse Road
Vienna
VA
22182-3817
US
|
Assignee: |
NEC Corporation
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
19188625 |
Appl. No.: |
10/326401 |
Filed: |
December 23, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
360/92.1 ;
G9B/15.142 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G11B 15/6835
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
360/92 |
International
Class: |
G11B 015/68 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 25, 2001 |
JP |
2001-392394 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A magnetic tape cartridge library apparatus, comprising: a
cartridge magazine for removably accommodating a plurality of
magnetic tape cartridges in a plurality of stages in a vertical
direction therein; a magnetic tape deck for reading or writing data
from or onto a magnetic tape cartridge loaded therein; a hand
apparatus disposed on the front side of said magnetic tape deck;
and a magazine feeding mechanism for feeding said cartridge
magazine forwardly or rearwardly on one of the left and right sides
of said hand apparatus; said hand apparatus being operable to
insert or take out a magnetic tape cartridge into or from said
cartridge magazine and transport the magnetic tape cartridge
between said cartridge magazine and said magnetic tape deck.
2. A magnetic tape cartridge library apparatus as claimed in claim
1, further comprising an additional cartridge magazine, and an
additional magazine feeding mechanism for transporting a magnetic
tape cartridge between said additional cartridge magazine and said
magnetic tape deck, the two cartridge magazines being disposed on
the opposite left and right sides of said hand apparatus.
3. A magnetic tape cartridge library apparatus as claimed in claim
2, further comprising a second additional cartridge magazine
disposed on the front side of said hand apparatus.
4. A magnetic tape cartridge library apparatus as claimed in claim
1, wherein said cartridge magazine has a plurality of slots formed
therein each for removably receiving a magnetic tape cartridge in a
horizontal posture, said slots being disposed in a plurality of
stages in a vertical direction and in a plurality of rows along a
direction along which said magazine feeding mechanism feeds said
magnetic cartridge magazine.
5. A magnetic tape cartridge library apparatus as claimed in claim
4, wherein said slots of said cartridge magazine have a plurality
of different sizes.
6. A magnetic tape cartridge library apparatus as claimed in claim
1, wherein said hand apparatus includes a picker apparatus for
grasping and removably inserting a magnetic tape cartridge into
said cartridge magazine and loading the magnetic tape cartridge
into said magnetic tape deck, a lifter mechanism for moving said
picker apparatus upwardly and downwardly, and a swiveling mechanism
for changing the direction of the magnetic tape cartridge grasped
by said picker apparatus.
7. A magnetic tape cartridge library apparatus as claimed in claim
1, wherein said magazine feeding mechanism feeds said cartridge
magazine forwardly or rearwardly along a rail.
8. A magnetic tape cartridge library apparatus as claimed in claim
7, wherein said magazine feeding mechanism includes a toothed rack
formed on a bottom portion of said cartridge magazine, a drive gear
for meshing with said toothed rack, and a motor for rotating said
drive gear.
9. A magnetic tape cartridge library apparatus as claimed in claim
7, wherein said magazine feeding mechanism includes a movable table
movable forwardly and rearwardly along a rail with a cartridge
magazine placed thereon and having a toothed rack provided at a
bottom portion thereof, a drive gear for meshing with said toothed
rack, and a motor for rotating said drive gear.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a magnetic tape library
apparatus, and more particularly to a magnetic tape library
apparatus which includes a movable cartridge magazine.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] A magnetic tape cartridge library apparatus (hereinafter
referred to merely as tape library apparatus) is conventionally
known which includes a magnetic recording and reproduction
apparatus (hereinafter referred to merely as tape deck) which
performs recording and reproduction processes onto and from a
magnetic tape medium (hereinafter referred to merely as magnetic
tape) and an automatic recording medium loading apparatus which
automatically loads and unloads such a recording medium as a
magnetic tape cartridge (hereinafter referred to merely as tape
cartridge) into and from the magnetic recording and reproduction
apparatus by means of a hand apparatus. However, where the hand
apparatus is provided on the front side of the magnetic tape deck
(hereinafter referred to merely as tape deck), even if a free space
can be provided on the opposite left and right sides of the tape
deck, the free spaces on the opposite left and right sides of the
tape deck cannot be used for accommodation of cartridges because
the hand apparatus cannot advance into the free spaces.
[0005] FIG. 9 shows an example of a conventional automatic
recording medium loading apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent
Laid-Open No. 276828/2000. Referring to FIG. 9, the automatic
recording medium loading apparatus 100 shown includes a recording
and reproduction apparatus (tape deck) 103 for performing a
recording process and a reproduction process into and from a tape
cassette 102 loaded in an apparatus body 101 thereof, a cassette
accommodating rack 104 for accommodating a plurality of tape
cassettes 102 in parallel to each other in a vertical posture at
the same height therein, a box-shaped rack case 106 for fixedly
accommodating the cassette accommodating rack 104 therein, a table
109 having the rack case 106 placed thereon, a rack feeding
mechanism 110 for feeding the table 109 leftwardly and rightwardly
in front of the recording and reproduction apparatus (tape deck)
103, and a loading mechanism 105 for transporting a tape cassette
102 between the cassette accommodating rack 104 and the recording
and reproduction apparatus 103. The cassette accommodating rack 104
is disposed integrally with the recording and reproduction
apparatus 103.
[0006] In the automatic recording medium loading apparatus 100, a
tape cassette 102 can be transported directly from the recording
and reproduction apparatus 103 to the cassette accommodating rack
104. Consequently, the space required for transportation of a tape
cassette 102 is small, and the automatic recording medium loading
apparatus can be formed with a small size and the time required for
the transportation can be reduced.
[0007] In the conventional automatic recording medium loading
apparatus 100, however, since a plurality of tape cassettes 102 are
accommodated in parallel to each other in a vertical posture at the
same height in the cassette accommodating rack 104 and the cassette
accommodating rack 104 is fed leftwardly and rightwardly together
with the rack case 106 to effect exchange of a tape cassette 102,
the number of tape cassettes 102 which can be accommodated in the
cassette accommodating rack 104 is limited, and a great number of
tape cassettes cannot be handled.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] It is an object of the present invention to provide a
magnetic tape cartridge library apparatus wherein the space can be
utilized effectively to allow accommodation of an increased number
of tape cartridges.
[0009] In order to attain the object described above, according to
the present invention, there is provided a magnetic tape cartridge
library apparatus, comprising a cartridge magazine for removably
accommodating a plurality of magnetic tape cartridges in a
plurality of stages in a vertical direction therein, a magnetic
tape deck for reading or writing data from or onto a magnetic tape
cartridge loaded therein, a hand apparatus disposed on the front
side of the magnetic tape deck, and a magazine feeding mechanism
for feeding the cartridge magazine forwardly or rearwardly on one
of the left and right sides of the hand apparatus, the hand
apparatus being operable to insert or take out a magnetic tape
cartridge into or from the cartridge magazine and transport the
magnetic tape cartridge between the cartridge magazine and the
magnetic tape deck.
[0010] Preferably, the magnetic tape cartridge library apparatus
further comprises an additional cartridge magazine, and an
additional magazine feeding mechanism for transporting a magnetic
tape cartridge between the additional cartridge magazine and the
magnetic tape deck, the two cartridge magazines being disposed on
the opposite left and right sides of the hand apparatus. The
magnetic tape cartridge library apparatus may further comprise a
second additional cartridge magazine disposed on the front side of
the hand apparatus.
[0011] The cartridge magazine may have a plurality of slots formed
therein each for removably receiving a magnetic tape cartridge in a
horizontal posture, the slots being disposed in a plurality of
stages in a vertical direction and in a plurality of rows along a
direction along which the magazine feeding mechanism feeds the
magnetic cartridge magazine. The slots of the cartridge magazine
may have a plurality of different sizes so that magnetic tape
cartridges of different sizes may be accommodated in the cartridge
magazine.
[0012] The hand apparatus may include a picker apparatus for
grasping and removably inserting a magnetic tape cartridge into the
cartridge magazine and loading the magnetic tape cartridge into the
magnetic tape deck, a lifter mechanism for moving the picker
apparatus upwardly and downwardly, and a swiveling mechanism for
changing the direction of the magnetic tape cartridge grasped by
the picker apparatus.
[0013] The magazine feeding mechanism may feed the cartridge
magazine forwardly or rearwardly along a rail. In this instance,
the magazine feeding mechanism may include a toothed rack formed on
a bottom portion of the cartridge magazine, a drive gear for
meshing with the toothed rack, and a motor for rotating the drive
gear, or may include a movable table movable forwardly and
rearwardly along a rail with a cartridge magazine placed thereon
and having a toothed rack provided at a bottom portion thereof, a
drive gear for meshing with the toothed rack, and a motor for
rotating the drive gear.
[0014] With the magnetic tape library apparatus, since the
cartridge magazine for accommodating magnetic tape cartridges
therein is disposed for movement forwardly and rearwardly at least
on one of the opposite left and right sides of the hand apparatus,
the space in the magnetic tape cartridge library apparatus can be
made the most of, and therefore, the magnetic tape library
apparatus can accommodate an increased number of tape cartridges
therein.
[0015] Further, since tape cartridges are accommodated in a
plurality of stages in a horizontal posture, the distance of
feeding movement of the cartridge magazine can be reduced when
compared with an alternative case wherein tape cartridges are
accommodated in a vertical posture. Consequently, a mechanism for
moving a tape cartridge in the forward or backward direction from
the hand apparatus which transports a tape cartridge to the
magnetic tape deck can be omitted.
[0016] It is to be noted that, where the present invention is
applied, a space for moving the cartridge magazine is required.
However, since the hand apparatus itself does not move but remains
at a fixed position, tape cartridges can be accommodated not only
in the spaces on the opposite sides of the tape deck but also in
the space in front of the hand apparatus. This further increases
the number of tape cartridges which can be accommodated.
[0017] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the
present invention will become apparent from the following
description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings in which like parts or elements are denoted
by like reference symbols.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] FIG. 1 is a perspective view as viewed from an obliquely
upward position of a tape library apparatus to which the present
invention is applied;
[0019] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the tape library apparatus of
FIG. 1;
[0020] FIG.3 is a perspective view showing a cartridge magazine
used in the tape library apparatus of FIG. 1;
[0021] FIG. 4 is a perspective view as viewed from an obliquely
downward position of the tape library apparatus of FIG. 1;
[0022] FIG. 5 is a partial enlarged view of the tape library
apparatus shown in FIG. 4;
[0023] FIG. 6 is a perspective view as viewed from an obliquely
upward position of another tape library apparatus which is a
modification to the tape library apparatus of FIG. 1;
[0024] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a cartridge magazine of
the tape library apparatus of FIG. 6;
[0025] FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a movable table of the
tape library apparatus of FIG. 6; and
[0026] FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing an example of a
conventional automatic recording medium loading apparatus.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0027] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a tape library
apparatus to which the present invention is applied. The tape
library apparatus 1 shown includes a housing 1a, and a tape deck 2
for reading and writing data from and onto a magnetic tape of a
tape cartridge 3, a power supply 4 serving as a driving source, a
control apparatus 5 for controlling operation of the tape library
apparatus 1, a hand apparatus 6 and a pair of left and right
cartridge magazines 20 all accommodated in the housing 1a.
[0028] The hand apparatus 6 is mounted on a bottom face of the
housing 1a through a post not shown on the front side of the tape
deck 2, and grasps a tape cartridge 3 and inserts and takes out it
into and out of the tape deck 2 and the cartridge magazines 20.
[0029] The left and right cartridge magazines 20 are disposed for
backward and forward movement on the bottom face of the housing 1a
on the opposite left and right sides of the hand apparatus 6. Each
of the cartridge magazines 20 is horizontally moved forwardly and
backwardly as indicated by a double-sided arrow mark a in FIGS. 1
and 2 on and along two rails 7 laid on the bottom face of the
housing 1a when a motor 8 is driven. The motors 8 are attached to
the housing 1a each by means of a bracket not shown.
[0030] A plurality of slots 21 each for accommodating a tape
cartridge 3 in a horizontal posture therein are formed in a
plurality of stages in a vertical direction in two front and rear
rows in each of the left and right cartridge magazines 20. Further,
a toothed rack 22 is formed on a lower face of the bottom of each
of the left and right cartridge magazines 20.
[0031] Also on the front side of the hand apparatus 6, a front side
cartridge magazine 20 is disposed. The cartridge magazine 20 has a
plurality slots formed in a plurality of stages in a vertical
direction but in a row.
[0032] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, a pinion 10 and pulleys 9 for
guiding a belt 11 are supported for rotation each by means of a
shaft not shown on the bottom face of the housing 1a of the tape
library apparatus 1. The pinion 10 serves as a drive gear which
meshes with the toothed rack 22 of the cartridge magazine 20 for
moving the cartridge magazine 20 forwardly and backwardly, and
rotation of the motor 8 is transmitted to the pinion 10 through the
belt 11.
[0033] The hand apparatus 6 includes three mechanisms not shown
including a picker mechanism for grasping and removably inserting a
tape cartridge 3 into any of the cartridge magazines 20 and loading
the tape cartridge 3 into the tape deck 2, a lifter mechanism for
moving the picker mechanism upwardly and downwardly as indicated by
a double-sided arrow mark b in FIG. 1, and a swiveling mechanism
for turning the direction of the tape cartridge 3 taken out by the
picker mechanism as indicated by a double-sided arrow mark c
together with the picker mechanism. The hand apparatus 6 having
such a configuration as just described is known in the art, and an
existing hand apparatus of the type described can be used as it
is.
[0034] Now, operation of the tape library apparatus 1 is
described.
[0035] Since the picker mechanism of the hand apparatus 6 is turned
to a different direction by the swiveling mechanism and moved
upwardly or downwardly by the lifter mechanism, while it remains at
a fixed position, it can insert or take out a tape cartridge 3 into
or from any of the slots of the cartridge magazine 20 installed
fixedly on the front side thereof. Meanwhile, with regard to each
of the left and right cartridge magazines 20, the picker mechanism
can insert or take out a tape cartridge 3 into or from any of the
slots 21 in that one of the rows which is opposed to the picker
mechanism.
[0036] In particular, since the driving of the left and right
motors 8 is controlled separately from each other by the control
apparatus 5, the left and right cartridge magazines 20 are
horizontally fed forwardly and backwardly separately from each
other as indicated by arrow marks a in FIG. 1 so that the two front
and rear slots 21 of them can be switchably opposed to the hand
apparatus 6 separately from each other. In FIG. 2, it is shown that
the slots 21 in the front row of the left side cartridge magazine
20 are positioned such that a tape cartridge can be inserted into
or taken out of any of them by the picker mechanism of the hand
apparatus 6 while the slots 21 in the rear row of the right side
cartridge magazine 20 are positioned such that a tape cartridge can
be inserted into or taken out of any of them by the picker
mechanism of the hand apparatus 6.
[0037] In the tape library apparatus 1 described above, since the
spaces on the opposite left and right sides of the tape deck 2 can
be utilized for accommodation of tape cartridges as seen in FIG. 2,
an increased number of cartridges can be accommodated. Further,
since a space for accommodating tape cartridges can be provided
also on the front and rear sides of the hand apparatus, a tape
cartridge can be inserted into or taken out of the tape library
apparatus 1 from the front side of the tape library apparatus 1
without taking out the cartridge magazine from the tape library
apparatus 1. Consequently, a tape cartridge can be inserted into
and taken out of the tape library apparatus 1 readily.
[0038] Now, a modification to the tape library apparatus 1
described above is described. In the tape library apparatus 1
described above, the toothed rack 22 is provided on the lower face
of the bottom portion of each of the cartridge magazines 20 as
shown in FIG. 3. In the modified tape library apparatus, however, a
movable table 13 in the form of a plate is provided for back and
forth sliding movement along a pair of rails 7 and a cartridge
magazine 12 having no toothed rack thereon as seen in FIG. 7 is
placed on the movable table 13. A toothed rack 13a is formed on a
lower face of the movable table 13 as shown in FIG. 8 and meshes
with the pinion shown in FIG. 5.
[0039] With the modified tape library apparatus having the
configuration described above, the cartridge magazine can be
simplified in shape and produced at a reduced cost. Further, where
a toothed rack is provided on the cartridge magazine 20 as shown in
FIG. 3, there is the possibility that, when the cartridge magazine
20 is taken out from the apparatus, since the toothed rack 22
provided on the bottom of the cartridge magazine 20 is exposed to
the outside, it may interfere with and be damaged by some member.
In contrast, where the cartridge magazine and the toothed rack are
formed as separate members as in the modified tape library
apparatus shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, such otherwise possible damage to
the toothed rack can be prevented.
[0040] It is to be noted that, while both of the tape library
apparatus 1 and the modified tape library apparatus include a pair
of cartridge magazines disposed on the opposite left and right
sides of the hand apparatus, it is otherwise possible to provide a
cartridge magazine or magazines on only one side of the hand
apparatus. Further, if slots of a different size are provided on
one of the cartridge magazines or at part of one or both of the
cartridge magazines, then cartridges of different sizes can be
accommodated in a classified fashion. Further, also where a
plurality of tape decks 2 are disposed in a vertically overlapping
relationship as seen in FIG. 6, a tape cartridge can be inserted
into or taken out from each of the tape decks 2 by the hand
apparatus 6.
[0041] While a preferred embodiment of the present invention has
been described using specific terms, such description is for
illustrative purposes only, and it is to be understood that changes
and variations may be made without departing from the spirit or
scope of the following claims.
* * * * *