Library apparatus

• US 6,290,072 B1
• Filed: 03/27/1998
• Issued: 09/18/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Ohmori, Osamu, Utsumi, Kenichi, Miyamoto, Takahisa, Kanetsuku, Toshihito, Sugai, Yutaka
• Primary Examiner(s): Stodola, Daniel P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOVOSAD, JENNIFER ELEANORE
• Application Number:
  US09/049,819
• Time in Patent Office: 1,271 Days
• Field of Search: 211/41.12, 211/189, 211/191, 211/192, 211/26, 211/1.51, 211/1.57, 312/265.1, 312/265.4, 312/257.1, 108/187, 108/186, 108/156, 360/92, 414/277, 414/331, 414/273
• US Class Current: 211/41.12
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/6825 Details of magazines, e.g. removable, adapted for cassettes of different sizes
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/6835 the cassettes being transferred to a fixed recorder or player using a moving carriage
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 17/225 wherein the disks are transferred from a fixed magazine to a fixed playing unit using a moving carriage

Abstract

A library apparatus is capable of enhancing the dimensional accuracy of locker frame structures to allow an accessor to surely carry out the insertion/extraction of a cartridge into/from a storage unit or a deck. Each of the locker frame structures is made up of a top board, a base and sheet metal columns vertically standing between corner portions of the top board and the base. Each of the sheet metal columns is fixedly welded to the top board and the base from the inside of the locker. The library apparatus is applicable to a large-capacity external storage system storing a large number of cartridges such as magnetic tape cartridges and optical disk cartridges.

Claims

1. A library apparatus comprising:

(A) a plurality of lockers adapted to be linked together as a unit, said plurality of lockers including;

(i) a plurality of frames, each having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape and each disposed to a respective one of said plurality of lockers, for defining both an external form and an internal passageway of said library apparatus,

(ii) at least one storage rack, disposed in at least one of said plurality of frames, for storing a number of cartridges, each accommodating a storage medium,

(iii) at least one deck, disposed in at least one of said plurality of frames, for carrying out access to the storage medium in the individual cartridges, and

(iv) at least one accessor, housed in at least one of said plurality of frames, for transferring the individual cartridges between said storage rack and said deck; and

(B) means, attached to inside of at least one of said plurality of frames, for allowing said accessor to move through said passageway of said library apparatus by guiding said accessor;

each of said plurality of frames further having;

(i) a horizontal base having a substantially rectangular shape,

(ii) sheet metal columns, each having a generally cross-sectional C-shape, vertically standing at corners of said base,

(iii) a top board substantially identical in shape to said base and mounted on said sheet metal columns, and

(iv) weld beads fixedly joining each of said sheet metal columns to said top board and said base at an inside surface of the C shape of each said sheet metal column, each of said weld beads having a shape so as not to project to outside of each said frame,

whereby said plurality of lockers are linked so that said unit has a dimensional accuracy sufficient to place an opening of said deck and said number of cartridges at exact known positions in said unit.

2. A library apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said beads have a shape so as not to project into said internal passageway, whereby each of said storage rack, said deck and said accessor-movement allowing means can be correctly positioned with respect to said plurality of frames.

3. A library apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein each of said base and said top board has positioning holes in its corners, and each of said sheet metal columns has projections on its opposite ends, said projections of each said sheet metal column being fitted in the corresponding positioning holes of said base and said top board for correctly positioning each said sheet metal column with respect to said base and said top board, whereby each of said storage rack, said deck and said accessor-movement allowing means can be correctly positioned with respect to said plurality of frames.

4. A library apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein

said accessor-movement allowing means includes

a plurality of supporting members disposed in said plurality of frames respectively, each of said plurality of supporting members being attached on an upper surface of said base of a corresponding one of said plurality of frames, and

a bottom rail, supported by said plurality of supporting members horizontally in a direction of the linking of said plurality of lockers, for guiding said accessor to slidably move through said internal passageway of said library apparatus, and

said base of each said frame has a reference pin, projected from an upper surface of said base, for correctly positioning a corresponding one of said supporting members with respect to said base.

5. A library apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein

said accessor-movement allowing means includes a top rail for guiding said accessor to slidably move through said internal passageway of said library apparatus, said top rail including a plurality of top rail members which are disposed in said plurality of frames respectively, each of said top rail members being attached on a lower surface of said top board of a corresponding one of said plurality of frames, and

said top board of each said frame has a reference pin, projecting from said lower surface of said top board, for correctly positioning a corresponding one of said top rail members with respect to said top board.

6. A library apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein

said accessor-movement allowing means includes a top rail for guiding said accessor to slidably move through said internal passageway of said library apparatus, said top rail including a plurality of top rail members which are disposed in said plurality of frames respectively, each of said top rail members being attached on a lower surface of said top board of a corresponding one of said plurality of frames, and

said top board of each said frame has a reference pin, projecting from said lower surface of said top board, for correctly positioning a corresponding one of said top rail members with respect to said top board.

7. A library apparatus comprising:

(A) a plurality of lockers adapted to be linked together as a unit, said plural lockers including

(i) a plurality of frames, each having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape and each disposed to a respective one of said plurality of lockers, for defining both an external form and an internal passage of said library apparatus,

(ii) at least one storage rack, disposed in at least one of said plurality of frames, for storing a number of cartridges, each accommodating a storage medium,

(iii) at least one deck, disposed in at least one of said plurality of frames, for carrying out access to the storage media in the individual cartridges, and

(iv) at least one accessor, housed in at least one of said plurality of frames, for transferring the individual cartridges between said storage rack and said deck; and

(B) means, attached to an inside of at least one of said plural frames so as to go through said plurality of frames, for allowing said accessor to move through said passageway of said library apparatus by guiding said accessor;

each of said plurality of frames further having;

(i) a horizontal base having a substantially rectangular shape,

(ii) sheet metal columns standing at corners of said base, and

(iii) a top board substantially identical in shape to said base and mounted on said sheet metal columns,

each of said base and said top board having positioning holes in its corners,

each of said sheet metal columns having, on its opposite ends, projections fitted in the corresponding positioning holes of said base and said top board for positioning each said sheet metal column with respect to said base and said top board,

whereby each of said storage rack, said deck and said accessor-movement allowing means can be correctly positioned with respect to said plurality of frames.

8. A library apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein

said accessor-movement allowing means includes

a plurality of supporting members disposed in said plural frames respectively, each of said plurality of supporting members being attached on an upper surface of said base of a corresponding one of said plural frames, and

a bottom rail, supported by said plurality of supporting members horizontally in a direction of the linking of said plurality of lockers, for guiding said accessor to slidably move through said internal passageway of said library apparatus, and

said base of each said frame has a reference pin, projected from an upper surface of said base, for correctly positioning a corresponding one of said supporting members with respect to said base.

9. A library apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein

said accessor-movement allowing means includes a top rail for guiding said accessor to slidably move through said internal passageway of said library apparatus, said top rail including a plurality of top rail members which are disposed in said plurality of frames respectively, each of said top rail members being attached on a lower surface of said top board of a corresponding one of said plurality of frames, and

said top board of each said frame has a reference pin, projected from said lower surface of said top board, for correctly positioning a corresponding one of said top rail members with respect to said top board.

10. A library apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein

said accessor-movement allowing means includes a top rail for guiding said accessor to slidably move through said internal passageway of said library apparatus, said top rail including a plurality of top rail members which are disposed in said plurality of frames respectively, each of said top rail members being attached on a lower surface of said top board of a corresponding one of said plurality of frames, and

said top board of each said frame has a reference pin, projecting from said lower surface of said top board, for correctly positioning a corresponding one of said top rail members with respect to said top board.