Abstract:
An object of the invention of the present application is to provide an information recording medium library apparatus in which the position of the drive with respect to the main body is fixed precisely, and has a simple structure, and a low cost; in order to achieve the object, the present invention provide an information recording medium library apparatus comprising a main body comprising a storage device for storing a plurality of information recording medium and a transferring device for transferring the information recording medium; and a sub body comprising a drive for reading and information recorded in the information recording medium and writing an information to the information recording medium and a tray for carrying the drive comprising: a sub body fixing device for positioning and fixing the sub body with respect to the main body, a drive positioning equipment for positioning precisely the drive in the tray, a drive fixing equipment for fixing the drive in the tray, abutting portions provided with the tray and the main body for positioning the tray with respect to the main body by abutting the abutting portion provided the tray against the abutting portion provided with the main body, and an elastic member for pushing the tray to the main body side.

Description:
BACK GROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an information recording medium library apparatus having a structure for positioning a drive. More particularly, the present invention relates to a structure for positioning a drive which reads information recorded in an information recording medium and writes information in an information recording medium with respect to a main body for storing and transferring an information recording medium. 
     This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. Hei 11-74581, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     A conventional information recording medium library apparatus, for example, a magnetic tape library apparatus, comprises a main body and a sub body. The main body comprises a storage device such as a storage rack for storing a plurality of information recording media such as a magnetic tape, and a transferring device such as an accesser for automatically transferring the magnetic tape. The sub body is provided with a drive for reading and writing the magnetic tape. In this conventional library apparatus, the accesser accesses the required magnetic tape, and removes it from the storage rack. Then the accesser transfers the magnetic tape to the drive. After the recording or playing back the magnetic tape, the accesser returns the magnetic tape in the storage rack. Such a conventional library apparatus is disclosed in the Japanese Patent Publications, First Publication Nos. Hei 05-174475 and Hei 07-85553. In this type of magnetic tape library apparatus, the accesser must precisely transfer the magnetic tape to the required position. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the positioning accuracy of the drive for the storage-rack provided with the main body. Below, the conventional positioning structure for a drive to the storage rack is explained referring to FIGS. 8 to  12 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 8,  9 , and  11 , the main body  11  comprises a storage rack (storage means) which is an aggregate comprising a plurality of cells  32  for storing magnetic tapes (information recording medium) (not shown in the Figures), a honeycomb  12  for fixing the cells  32  and positioning a drive  15 , and a plurality of stays  13  for guiding the drive  15  into the honeycomb  12 . The honeycomb  12  is provided with the main body  11  using a plurality of fixtures  33  and  34 . A plurality of protrusions  11   a  for positioning a magnetic tape drive and controller (abbreviated as “MC body” below) are fixed in front of the main body  11 . Moreover, the stay  13  is fixed to the honeycomb  12 . In order to obtain sufficient strength for supporting the drive  15  and sufficient positioning accuracy for positioning the drive  15 , the stay  13  is produced by cutting an aluminum block. In addition, the honeycomb  12  is obtained by sandwiching an aluminum member  12   a  having a honeycomb structure between aluminum plates  12   b  and  12   c , and adhering, the same to integrate them. The honeycomb  12  has a high resistance to stress applied to the surface, a light-weight. 
     The MC body  14  is used as a sub body. The MC body  14  comprises rails  16  and trays  17 . The rails  16  are partially fixed to the MC body  14 , and rails  16  retract in the front (indicated by the X-arrow in Figs) and rear direction. The trays  17  are put onto the rails  16 . The drive  5  is mounted on the tray  17 . A plurality of positioning holes  14   a  with which a plurality of protrusions  11   a  formed on the main body  11  engage are formed in the surface opposite to the main body  11  of the MC body  14 . As shown in FIG. 10, the drive  5  is put into the tray  17  so that the drive can move in the upper and lower directions and in the left and right directions. In other words, pins  15   a  provided with the drive  15  are put into U-shaped grooves  17   a  of the tray  17 , and thereby the drive  15  can move upwardly. Moreover, there is an interval S between a flange portion  15   d  of the pin  15   a  and the side wall of the tray  17 , as shown in FIG. 10C, and thereby the drive  15  can move in the interval S in the left and right direction. The pins  15   a  prevent the movement of the drive  15  in the front and rear direction, and control the moving distance of the drive  15  in the left and right direction. 
     In order to position the drive  15  into the main body  11 , the position of the MC body  14  is adjusted so that the protrusions  11   a  formed on the main body  11  are put into the positioning holes  14   a  of the MC body  14 . The MC body  14  contacts the main body  11  and is fixed to it using a plurality of screws  15   e . The drive  15  is pushed ahead, that is, in the direction indicated by the X-arrow. Then, bearings  15   b  of the drive  15  run on the stays  13  provided with the honeycomb  12 , as shown in FIG. 9A, and thereby the position of the drive  15  in the vertical direction is fixed. When the drive  15  is pushed further ahead, a positioning pin  15   c  formed at a bracket  15   g  provided with the drive  15  is pushed into a positioning hole  13   a  formed at the stay  13 , as shown in FIG.  9 B. Then, the drive  15  is fixed to the stay  13  by screwing a screw  15   f  into a hole  13   b  formed at the stay  13  through the bracket  15   g . Thereby, the position of the drive  15  with respect to the main body  11  is fixed. In this condition, the drive  15  is partially put into the main body  11  through an opening  35  comprising the honeycomb  12 , as shown in FIG.  9 A. 
     As explained above, according to the conventional structure for positioning a drive, the MC body  14  is positioned and fixed to the main body  11 , and the drive  15  is positioned and fixed to the honeycomb  12 . That is, the conventional structure for positioning a drive adopts a double positioning and fixing processes. Therefore, the structure is complicated, and the cost for the structure increases. Specifically, in order to make the drive  15  precisely enter into the opening  35  formed in the honeycomb  12  which supports a plurality of cells  32 , the MC body  14  is positioned and fixed to the main body  11 . When the drive  15  is positioned and fixed to the honeycomb  12 , the bearing  15   b  of the drive  15  must run on the stay  13 . Therefore, the drive  15  must be able to move upward with respect to the tray  17 . In addition, in order to put the pin  15   c  of the drive  15  into the positioning hole  13   a  of the stay  13 , the drive  15  must be able to move to the left and right with respect to the tray  17 . As a result, in order to precisely position the drive  15 , an expensive honeycomb  12  and the stay  13  are necessary. In addition, the control equipment for the moving distance of the drive  15  with respect to the tray  17  is complicated. Therefore, the cost for the positioning structure increases. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a structure for positioning a drive, which is provided with a library apparatus for information recording media, which can precisely position the drive with respect to the main body, similarly to the conventional structure, and has a simple structure, and a low cost. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to an aspect of the present invention, the present invention provides an information recording medium library apparatus comprising a main body comprising a storage device for storing a plurality of information recording medium and a transferring device for transferring the information recording medium; and a sub body comprising a drive for reading and information recorded in the information recording medium and writing an information to the information recording medium and a tray for carrying the drive comprising: 
     a sub body fixing device for positioning and fixing the sub body with respect to the main body 
     a drive positioning equipment for positioning precisely the drive in the tray, 
     a drive fixing equipment for fixing the drive in the tray, 
     abutting portions provided with the tray and the main body for positioning the tray with respect to the main body by abutting the abutting portion provided the tray against the abutting portion provided with the main body, and 
     an elastic member for pushing the tray to the main body side. 
     According to the information recording medium library apparatus, the drive is positioned in the tray by the drive positioning equipment, and is fixed to the tray by the drive fixing equipment. Thereby, the position of the drive is fixed in the sub body. The sub body and the main body are positioned and fixed, similarly to the conventional manner. After that, the position of the drive with respect to the main body is fixed by pushing the drive into the main body before the abutting portion provided with the tray abuts the abutting portion provided with the main body. Furthermore, the position of the drive is fixed with the elastic member. The elastic member pushes the tray to the main body. Thereby, the position of the drive in the main body is fixed. 
     In other words, the position of the drive is fixed in the sub body in advance. Therefore, the position of the drive in the main body is fixed by only positioning the sub body with respect to the main body. The position of the drive with respect to the main body is easily and simply fixed by the library apparatus of the present invention. 
     In addition, the tray does not move complicatedly in the library apparatus according to the present invention. Therefore, the library apparatus according to the present invention does not need materials having an excellent strength for positioning the drive, such as a honeycomb and an aluminum material. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing one example of an information recording media library apparatus provided with the structure for positioning a drive of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a view showing the rear of the information recording medium library apparatus shown in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the information recording medium library apparatus before assembling. 
     FIG. 4A is a partial enlarged view showing the information recording medium library apparatus after assembling. 
     FIG. 4B is an enlarged view showing a b part shown in FIG.  4 A. 
     FIG. 4C is an enlarged view showing a c part shown in FIG.  4 A. 
     FIG. 5A is a schematic view showing the front of the sub body. 
     FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view along line D—D of FIG.  5 A. 
     FIG. 5C is a plane view of the sub body shown in FIG.  5 A. 
     FIG. 6A is a plane view showing a tray positioning device provided with the sub body. 
     FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view along line E—E of FIG.  6 A. 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view for explaining the positioning method of the drive into the tray. 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the conventional information recording medium library apparatus before assembling. 
     FIG. 9A is a perspective view showing the conventional information recording medium library apparatus after assembling. 
     FIG. 9B is an enlarged view showing the positioning portion provided with the drive with respect to the main body, which is shown in FIG.  9 A. 
     FIG. 10A is a perspective view showing the drive and the tray used for the conventional information recording medium library apparatus. 
     FIG. 10B is a perspective view showing the drive and the tray after the drive is put into the tray. 
     FIG. 10C is an enlarged view showing an F part shown in FIG.  10 B. 
     FIG. 11A is a schematic view showing the front of the conventional main body. 
     FIG. 11B shows the left side of the conventional main body shown in FIG.  11 A. 
     FIG. 12A is a perspective view showing a honeycomb used in the conventional main body before assembling. 
     FIG. 12B is a cross-sectional view showing a honeycomb shown in FIG.  12 A. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     An embodiment of the information recording medium library apparatus according to the present invention will be explained referring to Figures. Moreover, a magnetic tape library apparatus will be explained in the following embodiment as an example of the information recording medium library apparatus of the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to the magnetic tape library apparatus but certainly includes other information recording medium library apparatuses, such as an optical disk library apparatus. 
     Below, the magnetic tape library apparatus will be explained referring FIGS. 1 and 2. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the magnetic tape library apparatus comprises a main body aggregate  10 , two MC bodies  1  and  1 , and an accesser controller  40 . 
     The main body aggregate  10  comprises four main bodies  10   a . A plurality of cells (storage spaces)  50  are provided within the main body  10   a , as shown in FIG. 2. A magnetic tape is stored in the cell  50 . The cells  50  are arranged precisely and orderly. In addition, an insertion/ejection portion  30  for the inserting and ejecting of a magnetic tape is provided with the main body  10   a . The accesser (transferring device)  60  is provided with the main bodies  10   a  and  10   a  arranged at the both ends of the main body aggregate  10 , that is, at home positions of the main body aggregate  10 . The handle  70  for catching and releasing the magnetic tape is provided with the accesser  60 . 
     The MC body  1  works as a sub body. The MC body is provided with drives  3  (record reproducer). 
     The accesser controller  40  controls movement of the accesser  60  provided with the main body  10   a.    
     When the magnetic tape is inserted by a user from the insertion/ejection portion  30  into the main body  10   a , the accesser  60  moves and catches the magnetic tape by the handle  70 . Then, the accesser  60  transfers the magnetic tape to the drive  3  or the cell  50 . 
     When the magnetic tape is required by a user, the accesser  60  moves to the drive  3  or the cell  50  containing the required magnetic tape. The required magnetic tape is caught by the handle  70 , and is removed from the main body  10   a  through the insertion/ejection portion  30 . 
     When recording information on the magnetic tape or reproducing an information recorded on the magnetic tape is required by user, the accesser  60  moves to the cell  50  containing the required magnetic tape, catches the magnetic tape by the handle  70 , and removes it from the cell  50 . Then, the accesser  60  transfers the magnetic tape to the drive  3 . The drive  3  records information on the magnetic tape or reproduces an information recorded in the magnetic tape. After that, the accesser  60  catches the magnetic tape, removes it from the drive  3 , and returns it to the cell  50 . 
     Below, components comprising the magnetic tape library apparatus are specifically explained. Moreover, for convenience, the explanation for the accesser controller  40  is omitted. 
     In addition, the MC body  1  can store therein a plurality of drives  3  so as to form an orderly matrix. The MC body  1  can also position the drives  3  into the main body  10   a  while the positional relationship of the drives  3  is maintained. However, for convenience, the magnetic tape library apparatus provided with one drive  3  will be explained in this embodiment. 
     As shown in FIG. 3, the main body  10   a  is provided with a frame  100   a  forming an opening  100   b  at the front of the main body  10   a , which is opposite to the front of the MC body  1 . A plurality of protrusions  9  which works as stoppers are provided with the frame  100   a  so that they do not protrude from the front surface of the main body  10   a , and protrude toward the opening  100   b . The protrusions  9  form a pair. The pair of the protrusions  9  and  9  is in a line parallel to the width direction of the opening  100   b . Furthermore, positioning pins  8  for positioning the MC body  1  are provided with the front surface of the main body  10   a . The positioning pins  8  protrude from the front surface of the main body  10   a.    
     As shown in FIG. 3, the MC body  1  comprises a drive  3  for reading or writing the magnetic tape, a frame  1   a , a tray  4  carrying the drive  3 , rails  5  and  5  for guiding the tray  4 , and a plate spring  6  for fixing the tray  4  with respect to the main body  10   a.    
     The frame  1   a  is provided with positioning holes  2  and level regulators  7 . The positioning holes  2  are formed at the front of the frame  1   a , which is opposite to the front of the main body  10   a . When the MC body  1  contacts the main body  10   a , the positioning pins  8  provided with the main body  10   a  are inserted in the positioning holes  2 . Thereby, the position of the MC body  1  is fixed with respect to the main body  10   a . Moreover, when the positioning pins  8  of the main body  10   a  are not inserted in the positioning holes  2 , the height of the positioning holes  2  is adjusted by the level regulators  7  which are provided on the bottom of the frame  1   a . A thread is formed on the surface of the level regulator  7 . Therefore, the height of the MC body  1  is adjusted by fastening or loosing the level regulator  7 . 
     The drive  3  is put into the tray  4 . The tray  4  is provided with holes for screw  4   b , protrusions  4   a , and drive positioning equipment. The holes for screw  4   b  are provided with the both sides of the tray  4 . The tray  4  is fixed to the rails  5  and  5  by inserting screws  4   b  in the holes. Two protrusions  4   a  are formed integrally with the front portion of the bottom of the tray  4 . The protrusions  4   a  are arranged in a line parallel to the width direction of the tray  4 . The protrusions  4   a  abut the protrusions  9  provided with the front of the main body  10   a ; therefore, they work as stoppers. The drive positioning equipment comprises two perpendicular side surfaces  4   c  and  4   d , as shown in FIG.  7 . When the drive  3  is put into the tray  4  so that the two perpendicular side surfaces of the drive  3  contact the drive positioning equipment comprising the two perpendicular side surfaces  4   c  and  4   d  of the tray  4 , the drive  3  is positioned precisely with respect to the 
     The rails  5  and  5  are partially fixed to the frame  1  a using screws  5   a . The rails  5  and  5  are retractable in the front (indicated by the X-arrow in FIG. 3) and rear directions. Therefore, the drive  3  put into the tray  4  moves in the forward and rearward directions due to the retractibility of the rails  5  and  5 . 
     The plate spring  6  has elasticity, and is used for fixing the tray  4  with respect to the main body  10   a . The plate spring  6  is provided at the rear side of the frame  1   a  using screws  6   a  and  6   a , as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4C. The plate spring  6  contacts the rear ends of the side walls of the tray  4 , and provides a potential energy for moving ahead to the tray  4 . That is, the plate spring  6  pushes the tray  4  to the main body  10   a.    
     Moreover, a tray supporter is preferably provided with the MC body  1 . The tray supporter comprises a guide  20  and a roller member  21 . The guide  20  comprises a plurality of grooves  20   a  in an L-shape, as shown in FIG.  5 B. The grooves  20   a  are in an L-shape in this embodiment, but the shape of the grooves  20   a  is not limited to the L-shape, and includes other shapes, such as a linear shape. A pair of the guides  20  is provided to the frame  1   a  so as to face each other, as shown in FIGS. 5A to  5 C. Moreover, a part of the groove  20   a  which is parallel to the tray  4  is positioned near and under the bottom of the tray  4 , as shown in FIG.  5 B. The roller member  21  comprises a shaft and rollers  21   a  provided with both sides of the shaft, as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B. The shaft is supported by the grooves  20   a  of the guide  20 . The tray  4  is put onto the roller member  21 . The bottom of the tray  4  contacts rollers  21   a . When the tray supporter is used, the position of the tray  4  onto the retractable rails  5  and  5  is fixed precisely. In other words, the bottom of the tray  4  is supported by the tray supporter; therefore, the position of the tray  4  is fixed in the upper and lower directions. That is, the position of the tray  4  is fixed in the MC body  1 . 
     Below, the assembly method of the magnetic tape library apparatus will be explained. 
     The retractable rails  5  and  5  are fixed partially to the frame  1   a  of the MC body  1  using screws  5   a . The tray  4  is put on and fixed at the rear portion of the rails  5  and  5  using screws  4   b . Then the drive  3  is put into the tray  4 . At this time, the two perpendicular side surfaces of the drive  3  contact the drive positioning equipment comprising the two perpendicular side surfaces  4   c  and  4   d  of the tray  4 , and thereby the drive  3  is positioned precisely in the tray  4 . After that, the drive  3  is fixed into the tray  4  using drive fixing equipment such as a screw  3   a . Then, the MC body  1  is pushed ahead and contacts the main body  10   a . Thereby, the positioning pins  8  provided with the main body  10   a  are inserted in the positioning holes  2  formed at the MC body  1 . When the positioning pins  8  are not inserted in the positioning holes  2 , the height of the positioning holes  2  is adjusted using the level regulators  7 . The MC body  1  is fixed to the main body  10   a  using a screw  15   e , similar to the conventional apparatus. Moreover, for convenience, only one screw  15   e  is shown in FIG.  3 . Then, the tray  4  carrying the drive  3  is pushed ahead, that is, so as to partially enter into the main body  10   a  through the opening  100   b , as shown in FIG.  4 A. After that, as shown in FIG. 4C, the plate spring  6  is fixed to the MC body  1  using screw  6   a . The plate spring  6  contacts the rear ends of the side walls of the tray  4 , and provides a potential energy for moving ahead to the tray  4 . That is, the plate spring  6  pushes the tray  4  ahead, namely, to the main body  10   a . Then, the protrusions  4   a  formed on the bottom of the tray  4  abut the protrusions  9  formed on the front of the main body  10   a , as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4C. Thereby, the position of the drive  3  is fixed with respect to the main body  10   a  in the forward and rearward directions. Specifically, the plate spring  6  has elasticity so that when the protrusions  4   a  of the tray  4  abut the protrusions  9  of the main body  10   a , a space S 1  is opened between the plate spring  6  and MC body  1 , as shown in FIG.  4 C. While maintaining the space S 1 , the plate spring  6  is fixed to the MC body  1  using the screw  6   a . Then, the position of the tray  4  in the front and rear direction is fixed precisely by always being pressed ahead. 
     Moreover, when the tray supporter is used, a pair of the guides  20  is provided to the frame  1   a  so as to face each other, as shown in FIGS. 5A to  5 C, and a part of the groove  20   a  which is parallel to the tray  4  is positioned near and under the bottom of the tray  4 , as shown in FIG.  5 B. The shaft comprising roller member  21  is inserted into the grooves  20   a  so that the both ends of the shaft are supported by the grooves  20   a  and  20   a . Then, the tray  4  is put onto the roller member  21 . After that, the tray  4  is fixed to the rails  5  and  5  by inserting screws  4   b  in the holes, as shown in FIG.  3 . 
     As explained above, the position of the drive  3  in the MC body  1  in the upper and lower directions is fixed by the tray  4  carrying the drive  3  is fixed to the rails  5  and  5 . Moreover, when the tray supporter is used, the position of the drive  3  is also fixed precisely in the upper and lower directions. The MC body  1  carrying the drive  3  is fixed to the main body  10   a  using the positioning pins  8  and the positioning holes  2 . Thereby, the position of the drive  3  in the upper and lower directions is also fixed precisely with respect to the main body  10   a . The position of the drive  3  in the main body  10   a  in the forward and rearward directions is fixed precisely by abutting the protrusions  4   a  formed at the bottom of the tray  4  carrying the drive  3  to the protrusions  9  provided with the main body  10   a . The position of the drive  3  with respect to the main body  10   a  is fixed precisely by these processes. 
     In the conventional library apparatus, when the drive must move on the slide  13  in the right and left directions and upper and lower directions, and an undesirable pressure is applied to the slides  13 . Therefore, it is necessary to use a honeycomb or aluminum material having an excellent strength for the slides  13  and the member supporting the slides  13 . In contrast, as explained above, when the drive  3  is positioned in the main body  10   a , undesirable pressure is not applied to the main body  10   a  in this embodiment. Therefore, the expensive honeycomb and aluminum material are not necessary, and an inexpensive plate member can be used in this embodiment instead of the expensive member. In addition, the magnetic tape library apparatus has simple structure, a high positioning accuracy, and a low cost. 
     Moreover, after the MC body  1  is positioned with respect to the main body  10  and is fixed to it, the tray  4  carrying the drive  3  is pushed ahead in this embodiment. However, it is possible to push the tray  4  carrying the drive  3  ahead and to fix the MC body  1  with respect to the main body  10   a.    
     In addition, the position of the MC body is fixed with respect to the main body  10   a  by inserting the positioning pins  8  into the positioning holes  2  in this embodiment. However, it is also possible to use the MC body  1  having a standard surface and the main body  10   a  having a standard surface, abut these standard surfaces, and thereby fix the position of the MC body  1  with respect to the main body  10   a.    
     Furthermore, the position of the tray  4  is fixed with respect to the main body  10   a  using the protrusions  4   a  and the protrusions  9  in this embodiment. However, it is also possible to use the tray  4  having a standard surface and the main body  10   a  having a standard surface, abut these standard surfaces, and thereby fix the position of the tray  4  with respect to the main body  10   a.