Bidirectional transfer mechanism

Claim 2

A bidirectional transfer mechanism for displacement of a mobile component, comprising: a frame (30); a column assembly (28) supported on said frame for displacement in an X-axis direction, the mobile component being supported on said column means for displacement in a Y-axis direction; first drive cable means (42); means (59-76) for arranging said first drive cable means to have a plurality of drive portions each extending generally in the X-axis direction and generally adjacent one or other end of said column assembly, said drive portions being secured to said column assembly; and means (46,48) for displacing said drive portions in unison and in the same direction generally along the X-axis for carrying said column assembly in the X-axis direction.

Claim 3

A mechanism according to claim 1, further comprising a second drive cable coupled to the mobile component; and means (84,86) for displacing said second drive cable to move the mobile component in the Y-axis direction.

Claim 4

A mechanism according to claim 2 wherein said means (84,86) for displacing said second cable drive means is mounted on said frame and constrained against X-axis and Y-axis displacement.

Claim 5

A mechanism, according to claim 2 or claim 3 wherein each displacing means (46,48;84,86) is reversible.

Claim 6

A mechanism according to claim 2 wherein said first and second cable displacing means(46,48:84,86) are selectively operable independently and simultaneously.

Claim 7

A mechanism according to any of claims 1 to 5 wherein said first cable means (42) comprises a single cable with at least three drive portions, secured to the column assembly at different locations.

Claim 8

A mechanism according to claim 6 in which the single cable (42) is formed into a closed loop of which an intermediate portion extends for a plurality of turns around a winding drum (46).

Claim 9

A mechanism according to claim 2 and any other foregoing claim, in which the second drive cable (82) has opposite free ends coupled to said frame, an intermediate portion wound about a respective winding drum (84) mounted on said frame, and first and second portions extending from said second drum generally along the X-axis direction adjacent opposite ends of said column assembly; there being provided guide means (83,98,100,101) on said column assembly to form in said first and second cable positions respective loops which extend in the Y-axis direction over a lifting pulley (95) and a lowering pulley (100) respectively on the mobile component, said loops being respectively increased and decreased in length upon rotation of said second drum to displace the mobile component in the Y-axis direction.

Claim 10

A bidirectional transfer mechanism for X-axis and Y-axis displacement of a mobile component, comprising a frame (30); a column assembly (28) supported on said frame for displacement in an X-axis direction; means (41) for supporting the mobile component on said column assembly for Y-axis displacement; a first drive cable (42) formed into a closed loop; a first rotatable winding drum (46) mounted on said frame and having a portion of said first drive cable wound thereabout; a first set of pulleys (59 etc) on said frame and having said first drive cable threaded thereover, said first drive cable being arranged by said first pulleys to have drive portions extending generally in the X-axis direction and generally adjacent opposite ends of said column assembly, said portions being displaced together in the same X-axis direction upon rotation of said first drum in one rotational direction; means (70,71) for securing said first cable drive portions to said column assembly generally at the upper and lower ends thereof, whereby rotation of said first drum displaces said first cable drive portions and said column assembly in the X-axis direction; a second drive cable (82) having opposite free ends secured to said frame; a second rotatable winding drum (84) mounted on said frame and having an intermediate portion of said second drive cable wound thereabout; a second set of pulleys (93,96,95,98-101) on said column assembly and the mobile component and having said second drive cable threaded thereover, said second drive cable being arranged by said second set of pulleys to displace the mobile component along the Y-axis in opposite directions upon rotation of said second drum respectively in opposite rotational directions; and means (48,86) for controllably and reversibly rotating said first and second drums.

Claim 11

A bidirectional transfer mechanism for X-axis and Y-axis displacement of a mobile component, comprising a frame (30); a column assembly (28) supported on said frame for displacement in an X-axis direction; means (41) for supporting the mobile component on said column assembly for Y-axis displacement; a first drive cable (42) formed into a closed loop; a first rotatable winding drum (46) mounted on said frame and having a portion of said first drive cable wound thereabout; a first set of pulleys (59 etc) on said frame and having said first drive cable threaded thereover, said first drive cable being arranged by said first pulleys to have drive portions extending generally in the X-axis direction and generally adjacent opposite ends of said column assembly, said portions being displaced together in the same X-axis direction upon rotation of said first drum in one rotational direction; means (70,71) for securing said first cable drive portions to said column assembly generally at the upper and lower ends thereof, whereby rotation of said first drum displaces said first cable drive portions and said column assembly in the X-axis direction; a second drive cable (82) having opposite free ends secured to said frame; a second rotatable winding drum (84) mounted on said frame and having an intermediate portion of said second drive cable wound thereabout; a second set of pulleys (93,96,95,98-101) on said column assembly and the mobile component and having said second drive cable threaded thereover, said second drive cable being arranged by said second set of pulleys to displace the mobile component along the Y-axis in opposite directions upon rotation of said second drum respectively in opposite rotational directions; and means (48,86) for controllably and reversibly rotating said first and second drums.

Claim 12

A mechanism according to claim 9 further including means for supporting said column assembly for X-axis displacement relative to said frame, said supporting means comprising a pair of generally parallel rigid rails (40) on said frame and a pair of linear bearings (38) on said column assembly for respective sliding movement along said rails.

Claim 13

A mechanism according to claim 10 wherein said rails are positioned generally at opposite ends of said column assembly.

Claim 14

A mechanism according to any of claims 9 to 11 wherein said mobile component support means comprises a support post (32) on said column assembly extending generally in the Y-axis direction, and bearing means (41) slidably mounted on said support post and carrying the mobile component.

Claim 15

A mechanism according to any of claims 9 to 12 further including means (70) for adjusting the tension of said first drive cable.

Claim 16

A mechanism according to any of claims 9 to 13 further including means (87,104) for adjusting the tension of said second drive cable.

Claim 17

A mechanism according to any of claims 9 to 14 further including means (80,102) for monitoring the directions and magnitudes of rotational movement of said first and second winding drums.

Claim 18

A mechanism according to any of claims 9 to 15 wherein said rotating means (48,86) for said first and second winding drums are selectively operable independently and simultaneously.

Claim 19

A mechanism according to any of claims 9 to 16 wherein said rotating means (48,86) comprises a pair of drive motors mounted on said frame and respectively coupled to said first and second winding drums.

Claim 20

A mechanism according to any of claims 9 to 17 wherein said first and second drive cables are wound several turns respectively about said first and second winding drums.

Claim 21

A mechanism according to claim 18 further including a pair of lock collar means (58,91) clamped respectively about said first and second winding drums to prevent slippage of said first and second drive cables.

Claim 22

A mechanism according to claim 18 wherein said first and second winding drums (46,84) include helical grooves therein for guided reception of said first and second drive cables, respectively.

Claim 23

A mechanism according to any foregoing claim wherein said drive portions are secured to said column assembly at a plurality of different respective points positioned such that the resultant X-axis displacement force applied to said column assembly acts generally through the nominal center of mass of said column assembly.

Claim 24

A mechanism according to claim 21 wherein there are at least three drive portions secured to said column assembly.

Claim 25

A mechanism according to any foregoing claim wherein two of said drive portions are coupled to the opposite ends of a laterally extending outrigger (71) generally at one end of said column assembly.

Claim 26

A mechanism according to any foregoing claim wherein said column assembly includes a pair of outriggers (62,71) extending generally in a Z-axis direction from the opposite ends thereof, there being at least four drive portions coupled respectively to the respective ends of said outriggers.

Claim 27

A mechanism according to claim 24 wherein said cable securing means comprises cable clamps (62,65,74) at three of the ends of said outriggers, and a turnbuckle (70) at the fourth end of said outriggers.

Claim 28

A mechanism according to any of claims 9 to 25 wherein said first and second winding drums are mounted on said frame generally at one end of the range of displacement of said column assembly in the X-axis direction.

Claim 29

A mechanism according to any foregoing claim and including a cassette storage library (16) disposed generally adjacent said column assembly and defined by an array of cassette storage bins (76), and cassette playback equipment (19) disposed generally alongside said storage library and including at least one cassette playback unit, the mobile component (34) comprising a cassette pick-up and release unit for transferring selected cassettes between said storage library and said playback equipment.

Claim 30

A driving mechanism comprising an assembly (24) which is mounted for movement in a first direction (X) and is elongate in a second direction (Y) at right angles to the first direction and a drive coupling constituted by at least three cable portions, which are simultaneously movable together in said first direction and are connected to different points on the assembly to cause kinematically balanced movement thereof in said first direction.

Claim 31

A driving mechanism comprising an assembly (24) which is mounted for movement in a first direction (X) and is elongate in a second direction (Y) at right angles to the first direction and a drive coupling constituted by at least three cable portions, which are simultaneously movable together in said first direction and are connected to different points on the assembly to cause kinematically balanced movement thereof in said first direction.

Claim 32

A mechanism according to claim 28 in which the cable portions form different parts of a single closed loop.

Claim 33

A mechanism according to claim 28 or claim 29 in which a device (34) is mounted for movement along the assembly in said second direction and for effecting said movement in the second direction there is provided a drive cable (82) which is formed into at least one loop extending in said second direction, the loop being formed by guides (93,96) on the assembly and being engaged by a rotary guide (95) connected to said device, the loop enabling movement of the assembly in the first direction without change in loop length.

Claim 34

In a cassette storage and playback system having a cassette storage library with a plurality of pre-recorded cassettes stores within individual designated bins and playback equipment including at least one playback unit, a method of transferring cassettes back and forth between the library and the playback equipment, comprising the steps of: mounting a cassette pick-up and release unit on a generally upright support post for sliding movement along the support post generally in a Y-axis direction; mounting the support post on a machine frame for sliding movement generally in an X-axis direction; threading a first drive cable over a first set of pulleys to include a plurality of drive portions extending generally in the X-axis direction adjacent opposite ends of the support post and connecting said drive portions to the support post; wrapping a portion of the first cable about a first winding drum; rotating the first winding drum to displace the cable drive portions in unison and in the same direction along the X-axis to displace the support post in the X-axis direction; threading a second drive cable over a second set of pulleys mounted on the support post and the pick up unit and having free cable ends secured to the frame; wrapping a portion of the second drive cable about a second winding drum; and rotating the second winding drum to displace the second drive cable for displacing the pick-up unit in the Y-axis direction.

Claim 35

In a cassette storage and playback system having a cassette storage library with a plurality of pre-recorded cassettes stores within individual designated bins and playback equipment including at least one playback unit, a method of transferring cassettes back and forth between the library and the playback equipment, comprising the steps of: mounting a cassette pick-up and release unit on a generally upright support post for sliding movement along the support post generally in a Y-axis direction; mounting the support post on a machine frame for sliding movement generally in an X-axis direction; threading a first drive cable over a first set of pulleys to include a plurality of drive portions extending generally in the X-axis direction adjacent opposite ends of the support post and connecting said drive portions to the support post; wrapping a portion of the first cable about a first winding drum; rotating the first winding drum to displace the cable drive portions in unison and in the same direction along the X-axis to displace the support post in the X-axis direction; threading a second drive cable over a second set of pulleys mounted on the support post and the pick up unit and having free cable ends secured to the frame; wrapping a portion of the second drive cable about a second winding drum; and rotating the second winding drum to displace the second drive cable for displacing the pick-up unit in the Y-axis direction.

Claim 36

A method according to claim 31 wherein the first drive cable includes at least three drive portions secured to the support post at spaced points selected to apply a resultant X-axis displacement force acting upon the support post generally through the center of mass thereof.