Nec Corporation

Takeshi Suzuki

Atsushi Tanaka

Hiroyuki Shimanuki

Kenichi Ojima

Deck mechanism assembly comprises deck base, head guide assembly which is disposed on the deck base and which reads and writes data from/to a magnetic tape, cartridge reel motor which drives a reel on which the magnetic tape is wound, clutch which transmits a drive force of the cartridge reel motor to the reel enclosed in the cartridge, loader which conveys the loaded cartridge and mounts the cartridge in the state of the magnetic tape being able to be pulled out, loader motor which drives the loader, threader which pulls out a leader block placed at an edge portion of the magnetic tape and conveys the leader block, and head brush mechanism which functions corresponding to the leader block which is conveyed. Since the loader motor is disposed in the rear of the loader on the deck base, the width of apparatus can be decreased.

Magnetic tape drive apparatus

A plurality of library apparatuses is placed on top of each other to comprise one library system as a whole. Each library apparatus has a plurality of cabinets, a plurality of read/write apparatuses, a slot, a controller, and a transfer mechanism having a function of transferring the recording medium according to control of the controller. The controller causes (controles) the transfer mechanism to transfer the recording medium among the cabinet, read/write apparatus, slot, and slots of library apparatuses provided adjacent to each other. The recording medium is loaded from the cabinet of an arbitrary library apparatus, transferred from the transfer mechanisms of the plurality of library apparatuses sequentially as required, and the transferred recoding medium is accessed by the read/write apparatus of an arbitrary library apparatus. The recording medium accessed by the read/write apparatus is transferred in the same way and stored in the cabinet.

Library apparatus and library system

A loading mechanism of a storage device includes a loader tray into which cartridge is loaded. A stopper spring is arranged on an opening of the loader tray. One side of the stopper spring is attached onto the loader tray, and the stopper spring is bent so as to include an engagement portion in a 'V-like' shape. A pair of extending portions, extending toward the stopper spring, are formed on a side of a release plate. If the release plate is moved toward the stopper spring, the pair of extending portions move underneath an inclined portion of the stopper spring, so as to push up the engagement portion.

Loading mechanism of storage device

A brush for cleaning a magnetic head is attached to a brush arm. A first portion of the brush arm is rotatably attached to a threader arm for transporting a leading end of a magnetic tape from a cartridge to a machine reel. A second portion of the brush arm is slidably engaged with a cam groove in a predetermined pattern. The brush moves associated with movements of the threader arm, and comes into contact with the magnetic head only when the threader arm stays at a predetermined position.

Magnetic head cleaner mechanism having feature for bringing brush into secure contact with magnetic head when necessary

A medium transfer mechanism of a recording medium storage apparatus is provided, which is capable of reducing a load on a motor or a gear, when a recording medium is transferred. In order to store a recording medium T in libraries L and L , the medium transfer mechanism of a recording medium storage apparatus includes a driving side engaging element which is moved by a motor. A follower side engaging element engages with the driving side engaging element. A predetermined gap is between the driving side engaging element and the follower side engaging element. A biasing device biases the follower side engaging element for engaging with the driving side engaging element.

Recording medium storage apparatus and medium transfer mechanism

A threading mechanism for a magnetic tape machine is contrived so as to obtain sufficient driving power when the threading arm is latched with a leader block at a position where the leader block is stopped in a cartridge or a machine reel, and is also contrived so as to avoid impact force based on a driving motor even when the threading arm stops suddenly at the stop position. The positions where the leader block is stopped in the cartridge and the machine reel are inside a track of the threading arm which swings around its pivoting point and the leader block is threaded therebetween. A driving arm for swinging the threading arm is motor-driven around a pivoting point of the driving arm itself. The driving arm causes the threading arm to work together between the positions where the leader block is stopped, and cancels the working with the threading arm in the direction of the trace over the disengaging positions, so as to be swung.

Threading apparatus for magnetic tape

A library apparatus having a smaller hand mechanism or picker is disclosed, which realizes highly accurate and high-speed identification-data (typically, bar code) reading. The hand mechanism comprises a picker for grasping the cartridge, which is movable along a predetermined path in the frontward and rearward directions so as to proceed towards the storage shelf and move back from the shelf; a plate portion which is rotatable so as to make the plate portion more distant from or closer to the predetermined path of the picker; and a read-out section attached to the plate portion, for reading an identification data provided to the cartridge. When the picker proceeds towards the storage shelf, the plate portion is rotated so as to make the plate portion and the attached read-out section more distant from the predetermined path of the picker.

Hand mechanism of library apparatus comprising integrated rotatable plate portion and bar code reader

A picker mechanism for automatically taking a cartridge storing a recording medium into and out of a preselected position of a recording medium library includes a pair of fingers openable away from each other for gripping the cartridge therebetween. Basing members constantly bias the fingers toward a closed position. An opening member forces the fingers open against the action of the biasing members when moved forward to an advanced position. A solenoid for causes the opening member to move between a retracted position and the advanced position. The picker mechanism causes the fingers to open and close instantaneously and increases the gripping force of the fingers. In addition, the picker mechanism is simple and low cost.

Picker mechanism for a recording medium library

A hand mechanism and a library apparatus capable of performing cartridge detection at a high speed as well as reducing the production cost. The library apparatus includes an entry/exit mechanism (container shelf) having a plurality of cells (container chambers) for containing a cartridge and a hand mechanism for taking a cartridge out of the entry/exit mechanism. The cells have a reflection plate (reflector), and the hand mechanism has a sensor (cartridge detector) emitting a detection light and receiving the detection light reflected from the reflection plate. The detection light is simultaneously applied to two or more cells.

Hand mechanism and library apparatus

To provide a belt-drive mechanism wherein the tension degradation of the circular belt and slips of the dviving pulley are prevented, and a precise tension adjustment of the circular belt is enabled aw well, a belt-drive mechanism, having a fixed pulley (24), an adjust pulley (26), a circular belt (25), and an adjustment assembly (41) for adjusting distance between the fixed pulley (24) and the adjust pulley (26) by shifting position of the adjust pulley (26), comprises a pair of fastening members (32) for fixing the distance after the distance is adjusted. The adjustment assembly (41) comprises: a coupling member (31) having a screw hole (30); a pair of elastic members (32) for tensioning the shaft (27) outward of the circular belt (25); and an adjusting screw (29) set through a hole of another supporting face (28) to be screwed into the screw hole (30) of the coupling member. Each of the fastening members (32) has fitting holes (40) whereto tips of the shaft (27) and the coupling member (31) are to be engaged.

Growing community of inventors

Yamagata, Japan

Takeshi Suzuki