Nec Corporation

Nec Embedded Products, Ltd.

Nec Personal Products, Ltd.

Nec Platforms, Ltd.

Toshimitsu Kawasaki

Manabu Tsuchiya

Satoshi Wada

Tadashi Kosugi

Takeshi Suzuki

Provided is a method of removing a cartridge, that is to be removed, that is housed in a deep side of a cell and stuck on a wall surface of the cell without increasing the number of components. In order to remove the cartridge stuck on the wall surface of the cell, the method includes a pressing step and a releasing step. In the pressing step, a picker mechanism is abutted on a latch lever, and then moved so as to move the latch lever from an engaged position to a released position. This presses the latch lever to increase the urging force of the urging unit. In the releasing step, after the pressing step, the picker mechanism is moved away from the cell to release the urging force of the latch lever spring.

Method of removing a cartridge

A cell () includes a cartridge lock () at its opening for securing a data cartridge () in the cell by locking. A picker mechanism () includes a picker arm () and an ejection release part () for releasing locking realized by the cartridge lock (). When the data cartridge () is to be inserted into the cell (), the cartridge lock () is caused to retract as far as a position at which locking is released by a tapered surface () that is provided on the data cartridge (); and when the data cartridge () is to be ejected from the cell (), cartridge lock () is released by the ejection release part () at the same time that picker arm () engages engagement hole ().

Library device including a tapered shape insertion release part, method of taking out data cartridge, and method of receiving the data cartridge

Disclosed herewith is a library apparatus having plural loading cells, each of which can load at least two articles and using a pushing device that pushes the articles into the loading cell from its opening. And if the moving distance of any of the articles, which is pushed into the loading cell, is smaller than a first moving distance, the library apparatus judges that the loading cell has no loading space.

System and method for judging presence/absence of loading spaces

A library device comprises a cell, a drive, and an accessor. The cell is capable of accommodating a plurality of cartridges. The drive performs a recording or reproduction of data between the cartridges and the drive. The accessor carries the cartridges between the cell and the drive. The cell is provided with a first rack gear which extends in a direction in which the accommodated cartridges are arranged. The accessor comprises an accessor base and a feed block. The accessor base comprises a second rack gear. The second rack gear extends in the extension direction of the first rack gear. The second rack gear is formed in correspondence with the first rack gear. The feed block comprises a pinion gear, a driving unit, and a holding unit. The pinion gear is meshed with the first and second rack gears. The driving unit drives the pinion gear. The holding unit holds the cartridges.

Library device and cartridge carrying method

A reading unit having a light emitting portion for irradiating a barcode with irradiation light and a light receiving portion for receiving reflected light of the irradiation light from the barcode, a supporting member for turnably supporting the reading unit on a rotating shaft so that the position of the optical axis of the irradiation light is moved in the length direction of bars constituting the barcode, and a roller and a slanting surface for moving the optical axis of the irradiation light in the bar length direction by turning the reading unit.

Barcode reading mechanism and barcode reading method

A cartridge gear having an annular shape around its rotational center and secured to a reel of a tape cartridge loaded in a drive device has a tapered shape having a first inclination angle which is lower in height as the tooth tops thereof approach the innermost peripheral edge. A drive gear having an annular shape around its rotational center and connected to a reel motor of the drive device has a tapered shape having a second inclination angle which is lower in height as the tooth tops thereof approach the outermost peripheral edge, the second angle being smaller than the first angle. The tapered shape of the drive gear is formed in an area which extends outwardly from the radially-innermost position of the drive gear where lock pads abut against the drive gear when the drive gear and the cartridge gear are in proper engagement with each other.

Cartridge engaging mechanism

A cartridge mis-insertion preventing mechanism, comprising: a cartridge tray into which a cartridge is insertable; a loader plate into which the cartridge tray is insertable; a cartridge locking mechanism for locking the cartridge to the cartridge tray; a loading locking mechanism for preventing the cartridge tray and the loader plate from being inserted into a loader guide plate; and a restricting mechanism for changing the loading locking mechanism from a lock state to an unlock state only when the cartridge has been inserted into the cartridge tray in a correct direction; wherein the cartridge tray and the loader plate are inserted into the loader guide plate along with the cartridge when the cartridge is further inserted after the loading locking mechanism has been changed from the lock state to the unlock state; wherein before the cartridge is inserted into the cartridge tray, the cartridge locking mechanism is in an unlock state; wherein when the cartridge tray and the loader plate along with the cartridge have been inserted into the loader guide plate, the cartridge locking mechanism is changed from the unlock state to a lock state; and wherein before the cartridge is inserted into the cartridge tray, the loading locking mechanism is in the lock state.

Growing community of inventors

Tokyo, Japan

Toshimitsu Kawasaki