Recording medium library apparatus

A magnetic tape library apparatus comprising:

• a cartridge storage portion for storing a plurality of magnetic tape cartridges therein;
• a read/write portion for reading/writing data from/to said magnetic tape cartridge;
• a carrier which is reciprocally moved between said cartridge storage portion and said read/write portion in a condition in which said carrier holds said magnetic tape cartridge therein;
• and, a tape cartridge loading/unloading mechanism provided in said carrier, wherein:
• said tape cartridge loading/unloading mechanism is provided with:
• a pair of cartridge transfer-rollers which are disposed adjacent to a transfer path of said magnetic tape cartridge on said carrier, and spaced a predetermined distance away from each other in a loading/unloading direction of said magnetic tape cartridge;
• a roller arm which has said pair of said cartridge transfer-rollers pivoted to its opposite-end portions;
• a guide for guiding in motion said roller arm along said transfer path of said magnetic tape cartridge in said loading/unloading direction thereof;
• a roller arm linear driving means for linear driving said roller arm along said guide;
• a transfer-roller rotary driving means for rotatably driving said pair of said cartridge transfer-rollers in a manner such that said pair of said cartridge transfer-rollers linearly move said magnetic tape cartridge in a direction in which said roller arm is linearly driven;
• and, a roller arm rotary driving means for rotatably driving said roller arm itself when said roller arm reaches a front-end portion or a rear-end portion of said guide, in which end portion a trailing one or a leading one of said pair of said cartridge transfer-rollers separates from both said guide and a side surface of said magnetic tape cartridge outwardly on said carrier while said leading one or said trailing one of said pair of said cartridge transfer-rollers projects inwardly into said transfer path of said magnetic tape cartridge upon rotation of said roller arm.

A recording medium library apparatus comprising:

• a cartridge storage portion for storing a plurality of recording medium cartridges therein;
• a read/write portion for reading/writing data from/to said recording medium cartridge;
• a carrier which is reciprocally moved between said cartridge storage portion and said read/write portion in a condition in which said carrier holds said recording medium cartridge therein;
• and, a recording medium cartridge loading/unloading mechanism provided in said carrier, wherein:
• said recording medium cartridge loading/unloading mechanism is of a transfer-roller type;
• and,
• at a final stage of a loading operation of said recording medium cartridge into said read/write portion or into said cartridge storage portion, said recording medium cartridge loading/unloading mechanism functions to positively push a rear-end portion or a front-end portion of said recording medium cartridge forward or rearward to complete said loading operation.

A recording medium library apparatus comprising:

• a cartridge storage portion for storing a plurality of recording medium cartridges therein;
• a read/write portion for reading/writing data from/to said recording medium cartridge;
• a carrier which is reciprocally moved between said cartridge storage portion and said read/write portion in a condition in which said carrier holds said recording medium cartridge therein;
• and, a recording medium cartridge loading/unloading mechanism provided in said carrier, wherein:
• said recording medium cartridge loading/unloading mechanism is provided with:
• a pair of cartridge transfer-rollers which are disposed adjacent to a transfer path of said recording medium cartridge on said carrier, and spaced a predetermined distance away from each other in a loading/unloading direction of said recording medium cartridge;
• a roller arm which has said pair of said cartridge transfer-rollers pivoted to its opposite-end portions;
• a guide for guiding in motion said roller arm along said transfer path of said recording medium cartridge in said loading/unloading direction thereof;
• a roller arm linear driving means for linear driving said roller arm along said guide;
• a transfer-roller rotary driving means for rotatably driving said pair of said cartridge transfer-rollers in a manner such that said pair of said cartridge transfer-rollers linearly move said recording medium cartridge in a direction in which said roller arm is linearly driven;
• and, a roller arm rotary driving means for rotatably driving said roller arm itself when said roller arm reaches a front-end portion or a rear-end portion of said guide, in which end portion a trailing one or a leading one of said pair of said cartridge transfer-rollers separates from both said guide and a side surface of said recording medium cartridge outwardly on said carrier while said leading one or said trailing one of said pair of said cartridge transfer-rollers projects inwardly into said transfer path of said recording medium cartridge upon rotation of said roller arm.