Patent GB-1470125-A (GB)
Title: Article storage and handling apparatus
IPC: G11B15/68
Filed: 1975-01-20
Abstract: 1470125 Recording tape cartridge storage and handling apparatus INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORP 20 Jan 1975 [25 Feb 1974] 2335/75 Heading A4T [Also in Division G5] Storage and handling of apparatus for substantially identical articles, such as magnetic tape cartridges, which articles are elongate with a nose at one end, has compartments 11, Fig. 1, each with an open end into and from which a said article is insertable nose first and removable nose last, a work station 19 which handles a said article with its axis vertical, an article receiver 12 having an open end to receive a said article nose first with its axis horizontal and pivoted to be movable under the weight of an inserted article from a horizontal position, to which it is biased, to a vertical position above work station 19, and an exit guide 22 from the work station 19 to guide a said article therefrom to a position with its axis horizontal in an output port having an open end through which the article so guided is removable nose last. Cylindrical magnetic tape cartridges 42, Fig. I, Fig. 8 (not shown), of the type disclosed in Specifications Nos 1416069 and 1420040 are stored in compartments 11 in opposed parallel walls 10, 10A for transfer to and from a helical scan read/write unit 19, Fig. 9 (not shown), of the type shown in Specification 1457355, by means of an assessor 28, Figs. 2, 3 (not shown), of the type shown in Specification 7144428. Accessor 28 has a carriage (41) reciprocable between a load/ unload position adjacent the open end of a selected compartment 11 and a travel position, whereby an electromagnet on carriage (41) can engage a magnetic annulus 45 on a selected cartridge 42 to draw the latter on to retaining finger (46) on a bed (40) on which carriage (41) is mounted, bed (40) and carriage (41) being mounted on a frame (35) for rotation through 180 degrees about a vertical axis. The frame (35), bed (40) and carriage (41) are vertically movable relative to a main carriage 25 which is horizontally movable intermediate walls 10, 10A. The position of accessor 28 may be controlled in the manner described in Specification 1289759. The article receiver 12, Fig. 4 (not shown) and Fig. 1, is a sleeve pivoted about a horizontal axis 13 and biased by a spring or a counterweight (50) to a horizontal position, insertion of a cartridge 42 into sleeve 12 pivoting the latter to a vertical position, at which it is retained by magnets (52), and swinging a yoke (62) into a position blocking the entrance of a transfer port whereat sleeve 12 is located. The work station includes an indexable rotary conveyer 15, Figs. 1, 5A, with three retainers 95A. When sleeve 12 pivots to its vertical position the cartridge therein falls into a retainer 95A at an input position 96 of conveyer 15 and closes a switch 66. Motor 17 is thereby energized to rotate a disc 67 from a position with apertures 68 at photosensor 70 to a position with aperture 69 at sensor 70, whereby a roller 78 on an arm 77 rotating with disc 67 engages in a cam groove 80 of a member 79 to rotate the latter through 60 degrees and, via gears 81, 83, 84, index conveyer 15 through 120 degrees to move the cartridge to a work position above read/write unit 19 and to rotate a kicker (58), Fig. 4, causing sleeve 12 to return to its horizontal position. Arm 72, also rotating with disc 67, then acts on a crosshead 73 to lower a rod 18, Figs. 5A, 7. The lower end of rod 18 has a spring-loaded extension rotatably carrying a release tool and tape spool holder formed by finger 115 which as rod 18 is lowered enter the hollow spool 43, carrying tape 114, of cartridge 42 until latch portions 116 ride over a rib 119 to secure the tool to the spool 43 the same time as cam surface 123 on the tool engages fingers 118 on spool 43 to release the finger from engagement with cartridge cover 44, located in position by means of a lip 112 in an aperture of a plate 99 and by spring-biased arms 104, 105, Fig. 5A, urging cover 44 against a post 101, Fig. 7. The spool 43 so released from cover 44 is lowered by rod 18 on to splined, two-part, spring-loaded, telescopic shaft 135 mounted via chuck 131 on a drive-shaft 146 at the read/write unit 19. After transducing operations in unit 19, motor 17 is energized to move rod 18 upwards to engage spool 43 and tape 114 in cover 44. If fingers 118 do not latch on to lip (38), Fig. 8 (not shown), of cover 44 at the first attempt, this is sensed by breaking of a light path and rod 18 is then lowered for a further attempt. After latching of spool 43 to cover 44, conveyer 15  is indexed to move the cartridge to an output position at which the cartridge falls into an output apparatus 22, Fig. 1. In the output apparatus 22, Fig. 10 (not shown) and Fig. 1, the cartridge 42 from conveyer 15 engages arcuate ramps (180), (181) and is guided into a horizontal position on a cradle (183) which, due to the weight of the cartridge, thereby pivots about a horizontal axis to tip the cartridge on to a ramp (187) from which it rolls into an exit position whereat it operates a switch (195) and is aligned with an aperture (191) in wall 10A for removal by accessor 28.