公开(公告)号：US6008964A

公开(公告)日：1999-12-28

申请号：US971043

申请日：1997-11-14

Applicant: Curt Goodknight ,  Steve W. Small ,  John Ellis ,  Constance Kephart ,  Bruce Younglove ,  Christopher Clos

Inventor： Curt Goodknight ,  Steve W. Small ,  John Ellis ,  Constance Kephart ,  Bruce Younglove ,  Christopher Clos

IPC: G06K7/10 ,  G11B15/68 ,  G11B15/18

CPC classification number: G11B15/6825 ,  G11B15/688

Abstract: An automated cartridge library (30) has plural cartridge receiving units which are precisely locatable so that a transport device (300) can accurately move a cartridge (90) between at least two of the cartridge-receiving units. The cartridge-receiving units and/or calibration cartridges inserted therein have an indicia (190) which is of contrasting reflectivity, the indicia having at least two sides (191, 192) which meet at a vertex (193). An illumination source (340) on the cartridge transport device makes two sweeps (Y1, Y2) of an illuminating beam over the indicia. Illumination transitions as detected by a sensor (350) during the two sweeps are used to determine a location of the indicia vertex (193). In the case of a cartridge-receiving unit being a multi-celled cartridge magazine, a rear wall (220) of the magazine has an aperture (222) for each cell. A mounting surface (60) upon which the magazine is mounted has a reflective portion (130) which is exposed through the aperture of the rear wall of the magazine when a cartridge is not in a predetermined cell in the magazine. To detect absence of a cartridge or a magazine, the illumination source directs an illuminating beam toward a predetermined position. A cartridge absence sensor (350) detects illumination reflected from the reflective portion of the mounting surface when the predetermined position is devoid of either a cartridge or a magazine.

Abstract translation: 一个自动化盒式存储器（30）具有可精确定位的多个盒式存储单元，使得运输装置（300）能够精确地将盒（90）移动到至少两个盒式存储单元之间。 插入其中的盒式接收单元和/或校准盒具有具有反差的对比度的标记（190），该标记具有在顶点（193）处相遇的至少两个侧面（191,192）。 墨盒输送装置上的照明源（340）在标记上进行两次扫描（Y1，Y2）照明光束。 在两次扫描期间由传感器（350）检测到的照明转变用于确定标记顶点（193）的位置。 在盒式存储单元是多单元盒式存储盒的情况下，盒的后壁（220）具有用于每个单元的孔（222）。 当盒子不在盒中的预定单元格中时，安装有盒子的安装表面（60）具有反射部分（130），该反射部分通过盒的后壁的孔露出。 为了检测没有盒或盒，照明源将照明光束引向预定位置。 当预定位置没有盒或盒时，盒不存在传感器（350）检测从安装表面的反射部分反射的照明。