JPH0423118A - Accessor control system for library device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To omit the necessity for the system-down of an entire library device and to improve the reliability of the device by moving a stopped accessor to an idle place by means of another accessor if one of those accessors moving on the same rail is stopped. CONSTITUTION:The flags fa and fb are kept set for a period when a handler H is putting or taking the cartridges M into or out of a record/reproduction mechanism P or the store parts S1 and S2. Then the accessor control parts Ca and Cb are provided with the flags fa and fb respectively and these flags are sent to another accessor control part C. Then the part Cb changes the control contents of a 2nd accessor Ab, for example, in accordance with the state of the flag fa of another 1st accessor Aa so that the movement of the accessor Ab is inhibited on a rail W. Thus the control contents of a nondefective accessor are changed in response to the state of the accessor that had a power break fault in a power break state. As a result, system-down is not required for an entire library device even when one of plural accessors becomes incapable.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Summary] A cartridge containing a recording medium such as a magnetic tape on which computer data etc. are recorded is connected to a recording/reproducing mechanism using a plurality of accessors that move on substantially a common rail. The purpose of this study is to obtain an accessor control method that changes the control contents of a healthy accessor according to the state of the accessor that has caused a power-off failure with respect to the library device being transported. - Each accessor control unit that controls this accessor is provided with a flag that is set during a period when the cartridge is stored or removed in the playback mechanism or the storage unit, and the flag is transmitted to each other accessor control unit. Each accessor control unit is configured to change the control content of this accessor depending on the state of the flag of the other accessor.

[Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to a cartridge containing a recording medium such as a magnetic tape on which computer data and the like are recorded.

The present invention relates to a library device in which a plurality of accessors that move substantially on a common rail are used to transport a file to a recording/reproducing mechanism.

[Conventional technology]

Recording media such as magnetic tapes and magnetic disks are generally used to store computer processing programs and data. Especially when using large amounts of data, cartridges containing the above recording media are used. The cartridge is stored in a storage unit such as a shelf, and the cartridge is attached to or detached from the recording/reproducing mechanism by mechanical means or an operator.

Since it is not easy to perform such mounting/dismounting work without errors, a library device is used as a device to automate this mounting/dismounting work. An example of the device is shown.

The library device includes a cartridge M containing a recording medium.
For example, a shelf-shaped storage section S+, Sz for storing the cartridge M, a recording/reproducing mechanism P for writing data into or reading data from the recording medium, and a recording/reproducing mechanism P for storing the cartridge M in the recording/reproducing mechanism P. A plurality of recording/playback sections p1 each having a recording/playback throat. ”−'−”'
I) A plurality of accessors A, , Ab running on the same rail W, illustrated as two units for transporting between a and the storage sections S+ and Sz to perform attachment/detachment work, and these accessors A, . each accessor to control each Ab.
Accessor control units C, , C, provided for each node,
It is equipped with a main controller Cm.

When reading from or writing to the recording medium accommodated in the cartridge M stored in the storage sections St and Sz, the arm corresponding to the arm provided on the accessor A, for example, is used. For example, insert the cartridges H into the shelves in which the required cartridges M are stored in the shelf-shaped storage section S1 or S2, and then store the required cartridges M.
After grasping the handler M, the handler H is pulled out, and then this accessor A is used as the designated recording/reproducing mechanism P.
It is attached to a playback unit, for example, p4, to read or write.

Note that the above handlers H- and Hb are ACCESS NOSA A1A.
, moves left and right on the rail W, and moves up and down to a storage location, for example, a position opposite to a shelf, in the storage section S that stores the required cartridges in the storage section S1 or S2. Needless to say, it is for grasping and taking out the required cartridge M.

As mentioned above, the access sensor A is multiplexed as shown as two accessors A- and Ab in the example of FIG.
,, the accessor A1 or A, which is close to the cartridge M to be taken out from Sz, is driven, and this cartridge is installed in the standby recording/reproducing section of the recording/reproducing mechanism R, e.g. It is possible to perform reproduction or recording from the cartridge installed in the recording/reproducing section p1 when the recording or reproduction of the information is completed.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

In such a library device, multiple accessors A8 and A move on the common rail W as described above, so when one accessor stops operating due to a power outage failure, etc., the stopped accessor is Garage G,,G provided in an area that does not obstruct access to the cartridge, such as at the end of a rail, with a sound accessor.

After performing the reconfiguration to push the cartridge to another location, etc., selective ejection of the cartridge can be continued using a healthy accessor.

However, if the above-mentioned reconfiguration is performed while the handler of this stopped accessor is still inside the shelf, the handler or the shelf may be damaged, so the reconfiguration cannot be performed, and the whole library device cannot be reconfigured. There is a problem that the system has to be brought to a stopped state and the system goes down.

In view of this, the present invention is designed to restore healthy access according to the state of the accessor that has caused the power-off failure at the time of power-off.

The purpose of this invention is to obtain an accessor control method that changes the control content of the accessor.

[Means to solve the problem]

As shown in the principle diagram of FIG. 1, there are storage units S+ and Sz that store cartridges M containing recording media, a recording/reproducing mechanism P that writes and reads data from and to the recording media, and a recording/reproducing mechanism P that writes and reads the recording media.
a playback mechanism P and the storage section S;

A library device comprising a handler H for storing or ejecting the cartridge M between S2 and a plurality of accessors A, , A, for moving and transporting the cartridge on substantially a common rail W. , the flags f, , f, which are set during the period when the handler H is storing or ejecting the cartridge M in the recording/reproducing mechanism P or the storage section S, , S2, are set by an accessor that controls this accessor. Control unit C,,Cb
This flag, for example, f, is transmitted to the accessor control unit Cb of the other accessor A, and the accessor control unit Cb sets the flag of this accessor A according to the state of the flag “1” of the other accessor A1. The control details were changed to, for example, prohibiting movement on the rails.

In addition, in the present invention, the term "a plurality of accessors that move on a substantially common rail" refers to a plurality of accessors that are movably arranged on a rail in a state where they can move by pushing each other. Therefore, it is not limited to multiple accessors moving on the same rail,
and are configured to move on rails arranged close to each other parallel to each other and assigned to respective accessors.

[For production]

According to the above configuration, each accessor control unit determines whether other accessors are in a state where they cannot be moved, for example, whether the handler is in a storage unit such as a shelf or in a recording/playback unit, or whether there is a possibility that it is. Even if some accessors stop due to power outage, etc.,
If this stopped accessor is in a movable state, processing can be continued with another accessor by performing reconfiguration to move the stopped accessor to a position out of the way.

As a result, even if some accessors become inoperable, there is no need to bring down the entire library apparatus, and the reliability of the library apparatus can be improved.

〔Example〕

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a control system to which the accessor control method of the library apparatus according to the present invention is applied, in which the main control system is provided corresponding to each accessor A, Ab in FIG. #1 accessor control unit C controlled by device Cm! and #2 shows the configuration of the accessor control unit C5.

Since the configurations of #1 accessor control unit C and #2 accessor control unit C5 are the same, corresponding components are designated with the same reference numerals and a suffix of a or b. In the following explanation, this suffix will be used. Each accessor control unit C,, without using
The explanation will be given using the above reference numerals common to C.

Each accessor control unit C includes a microprocessor 1, a memory 2 that stores programs and data, an interface control circuit 3 that interfaces with the main controller Cm, and a controller H that runs the accessor A on the rail W in FIG. A mechanism drive control circuit 4 that controls the operation of the handler H, a handler status register 5 that stores a handler status flag f indicating the operating status of this handler H, and a transmission line 91.9□ when there is a change in the status of this flag f. A transmitting circuit 6 is provided for transmitting the state of the flag f as a pulse to other accessor control units via the controller.

Furthermore, this accessor control section C is connected to another accessor control section through a transmission path 9. ．． A flip-knob flop circuit 7 constituted by a flip-flop circuit at J- for receiving a signal indicating the state of the handler status flag f of the relevant accessor transmitted via 9□ and this flip-flop circuit 7. A danger bit register 8 is provided to store the set output Q of the circuit, and these components are connected by a bus so that data can be transferred.

FIG. 3 shows the access control unit 7 when a handler drive request for driving the handler H for the accessor comes from the main controller Cm to the accessor control unit C in the embodiment shown in FIG.
The following description will be made with reference to a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the control unit C, which is executed by the microprocessor 1 according to a program stored in the memory 2.

When an accessor drive request arrives from the main controller Cm via the interface control circuit 3, the flag f-1 is set in the hunt status register 5 in step [11], and O-1 of this flag f is set in step [12]. Due to the change in the transmitting circuit 6 to the transmission line 9. Since a pulse signal of "L" level is sent to , the flip-flop circuit 7 of the other accessor control section C is set, and "1" is also stored in the dangerous bit register 8 which receives the Q output thereof.

It goes without saying that when there is an accessor drive request from the main control device Cm, the handler status register 5 can be immediately set to increase the degree of safety.

While the accessor control unit C is driving the handler H, it loops and waits in step [13], and when the handler driving is finished, it moves to the next step [14] and resets the handler status register 5, Set the flag r to 0. As a result, in the following step [15], a "1" level pulse signal is output from the transmission circuit 6 to the transmission line 9□, and this "1" level is output to the J input terminal of the flip-flop circuit 7 of the other accessor control section 1C. The level pulse signal is applied and inverted, and its Q output becomes O, so the danger focus stored in the danger bit register 8 also becomes "0", and the accessor drive processing in response to the accessor drive request from the main controller Cm is performed. Upon completion, this accessor A returns to the standby state.

FIG. 4 shows an accessor, for example A, from the main controller Cm of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 to the accessor control unit C.

This is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the accessor control unit C1 when an accessor drive request arrives, and when this accessor drive request arrives, step [21
], the danger bit register 8 is referred to and the danger bit f is “
Check whether it is set to 1".

If this dangerous bit f is "1", another accessor, for example A, is driving handler H, and the handler H
1 may have been inserted into a shelf that stores the cartridge knob M, and if accessor A1 moves in such a state and performs an operation to move another accessor A such as a reconfigurer, , the shelf of the storage section S storing the accessor Ab handler and the cartridge M may be damaged, so if the danger bit f is "l", the process moves to step [25] and the main controller Cm Notify that it is impossible to operate.

As a result, the main controller Cm performs system down processing to stop the entire library device, as shown in step [26], then performs recovery processing through intervention by an operator, etc., and resumes processing when recovery occurs. Configure it as follows.

If the step knob [21] determines that this danger bit f is "0", all other accessors are not driving the handler H, so step [2
In Step 2], the drive control of the accessor is performed, and in step 7 [23], it is monitored whether or not the accelerator drive process is being executed, and when the execution is finished, the process for the accessor drive request is terminated. .

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the present invention, when one of a plurality of accessors moving on the same rail in a library device stops due to a power cut, etc., if the handler of the stopped accessor is not being driven, the stopped accessor is activated by another accessor. By moving the accessor out of the way, processing can be continued with other accessors, which eliminates the need to bring down the entire library system, which is a special feature that increases the reliability of the library system. effect is achieved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the principle of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the invention, FIG. 3 is a flowchart when driving a handler, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart when requesting accessor drive. 70-chart diagram when driving the controller

Claims (1)

[Claims] A storage unit that stores a cartridge containing a recording medium;
A recording/reproducing mechanism for writing/reading the recording medium, a handler for storing or ejecting the cartridge between the recording/reproducing mechanism and the storage section, and a handler for storing or ejecting the cartridge. In a library apparatus including a plurality of accessors that move and transport on rails, a flag that is set during a period when the handler is storing or ejecting the cartridge in the recording/reproducing mechanism or the storage section is set in the accessor. This flag is provided in each accessor control unit that controls the accessor control unit, and the flag is transmitted to each other accessor control unit, and each accessor control unit changes the control content of this accessor according to the state of the flag of the other accessor. An accessor control method for a library device characterized by the following.