Patent ID: 6020705
Filing Date: 2000-02-01
Classification: G05B

Abstract:
A machine for handling disks configured as information carriers, with said machine comprising:opposite-arranged disk magazines (4), which hold disk holders (7) for respectively one disk (1) in superimposed receiving compartments (6),a first transfer device (10) in the form of a transport device (10) that is arranged between the disk magazines (4) and is connected to a first electric drive motor (36), for the optional transport of an individual disk holder (7) with the disk (1) between optional receiving compartments (6), between a receiving compartment (6) and at least one disk drive for reading out or recording information on the disk, or between a receiving compartment (6) or a disk drive (5) and a drawer (11) for the inserting or extracting of disks (1),a second transfer device, arranged on the first transfer device (10), in the form of two displaceable pull-out means (9) that are connected to a second electric drive motor, for removing and inserting respectively one disk holder (7) with disk (1) into or from an optional receiving compartment (6),a computer-supported control unit (13) for controlling and monitoring the movement sequences of the two transfer devices (9, 10),characterized in thateach drive motor (25, 36) is a step motor with reversible rotational direction,each step motor (25, 36) is coordinated with an incremental signal generator (74) for generating counting pulses corresponding to the motor movement, as well as an instrument for counting these impulses,at least one end position of its movement range is fixed for each transfer device (9, 10) and at least one reference-point a sensor (38) is provided, which monitors a reference position within the movement range and which responds if the respective transfer device (9, 10) travels across this position,for each transfer device (9, 10), the control unit (13) can be switched to a first operating state for calibration in which it switches off the current to the respective step motor (25, 36) in order to allow a manually guided movement of the respective transfer device (9, 10) by counting the counting pulses supplied by the respective incremental signal generator (74), and in which the count that has run up when the reference-point sensor (38) responds and when the end position is reached can be detected and stored,the control unit (13) for each transfer device (9, 10) can be switched to a second operating state for calibration, in which it drives the corresponding step motor (25, 36) for moving the respective transfer device (9, 10) and counts the thereby generated counting pulses of the coordinated incremental signal generator (74) and in which the count that has run up when the reference-point sensor (38) responds and the end position is reached can be detected and stored.