JPH11126391A - Recording medium cartridge library device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simplify a method of recognizing existence of a storage of a cartridge, by performing recognition processing of existence of the cartridge only when there is a possibility for replacing the cartridge at the time of switching off a power source without always performing recognition processing of existence of the recording medium cartridge storage at the time of switching on the power source. SOLUTION: When a power source of a library device 10 is switched off, an open/close detection signal of a door 5 is issued when the door of the library device 10 is opened/closed, and this is held in a memory storage means 9a. When the power source is switched on, existence of the cartridge storage is subjected to recognition processing only when the memory storage means 9a is holding the door open/close detection signal. When each cartridge is affixed with a bar code and the existence of the cartridge storage is subjected to recognition processing, bar codes are detected by a bar code reader for each storage cell 4a targeting all the storage cells 4a. When the bar code is read, the storage cell 4a is recognized as 'a cartridge in' while it is recognized as 'no cartridge in' when no bar code is read.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to recognizing the presence or absence of a storage medium cartridge in each storage cell of a storage medium in a storage medium cartridge library apparatus, and in particular, to reducing the time required for recognizing the presence or absence of a storage medium cartridge. It is related to what we can do.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 6 shows a conventionally known example of a recording medium cartridge library device which accommodates a recording medium cartridge such as a magnetic tape and automatically drives (reads and writes) the recording medium cartridge. is there. In FIG. 6, the library apparatus includes an introduction / ejection unit 2 for introducing a recording medium cartridge C from outside the library apparatus into the apparatus and for ejecting the recording medium cartridge C from inside the library apparatus to the outside of the apparatus. A storage unit 4 including a plurality of storage cells 4a for storing the cartridge C, and a drive 6 for reading and writing the recording medium cartridge C
And a transport mechanism 7 for transporting the recording medium cartridge C in the library device. For example, the transport mechanism 7 includes a holder 7a for detachably holding a recording medium cartridge C to be transported,
Is provided between the introduction / discharge unit 2, the housing 4, the drive 6, and the like.

In this type of storage medium cartridge library apparatus, in order to store the storage medium cartridge C from the introduction / ejection unit 2 into each storage cell 4a of the storage body 4, each storage cell 4a of the storage body 4 is required. It is necessary to always recognize whether or not the recording medium cartridge C is stored in the storage medium. FIG. 7 shows an example of a method for recognizing the presence or absence of a storage medium cartridge. The holder 7a of the transport mechanism 7 stops at a reference position (a position where the presence or absence of the recording medium cartridge C can be recognized) for each storage cell 4a. Thereafter, the light emitting element 21 and the light receiving element 22 provided at both ends of the holder 7a on the side facing the storage body 4, and the reflection mirrors Ma, Mb provided at both ends of the storage cell facing the transport mechanism 7 are provided. Thus, whether or not the recording medium cartridge C is stored is recognized. When the light beam emitted from the light emitting element 21 is received by the light receiving element 22, the light beam is not blocked and the reflection mirrors Ma, M
b, the light is received by the light receiving element 22, so that there is no obstacle between the reflection mirrors Ma and Mb. That is, the recording medium cartridge C is stored in the storage cell 4a of the storage body 4. Recognize that you have not. On the other hand, the light beam emitted from the light emitting element 21 is
Is not received by the reflecting mirror M
a and Mb, the light receiving element 22
Therefore, it is recognized that a blocking object exists between the reflection mirrors Ma and Mb, that is, the recording medium cartridge C is stored in the storage cell 4a of the storage body 4.

In the recording medium cartridge library apparatus, it is necessary to recognize whether or not the recording medium cartridge C is stored for each storage cell 4a when the recording medium cartridge C is manually replaced. Further, in the case where the door 5 is opened and closed in the recording medium cartridge library apparatus, there is a possibility that the recording medium cartridge C has been manually replaced.
Therefore, when the door 5 is opened and closed, it is necessary to recognize whether or not the recording medium cartridge C is stored in each storage cell 4a. However, the conventional recording medium cartridge library device cannot recognize whether the door 5 has been opened or closed when the power of the recording medium cartridge library device is turned off. Therefore, in the conventional recording medium cartridge library device, regardless of whether the door 5 is opened or closed when the power of the library device is turned off, the recognition process of whether or not the recording medium cartridge C is stored in each storage cell 4a is always performed when the power is turned on. Had to be done.

[0005]

As described above, when the power of the recording medium cartridge library device is turned off, the library device cannot grasp whether or not the recording medium cartridge in the library device has been replaced. For this reason, when the power of the recording medium cartridge library apparatus is turned on, it is necessary to always perform a recognition process of the presence or absence of the storage medium cartridge for each storage cell in the library apparatus. However, there is a problem in that it takes time to recognize whether or not the recording medium cartridge is stored, and the library device cannot be used immediately after the power is turned on, and there is a large time loss until the library device becomes usable. The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and does not always perform a process of recognizing the presence or absence of a recording medium cartridge in the library device when the power is turned on. An object of the present invention is to provide a recording medium cartridge library device capable of solving a problem such as a time loss by performing a recognition process of the presence or absence of storage only when there is a possibility that the storage is replaced. In addition, since the conventional method for recognizing whether or not a recording medium cartridge is stored is based on a method using a light emitting element and a light receiving element, a holder having a light emitting element and a light receiving element must stop once for each storage cell. The time loss caused by stopping once is large, and the light emitting element,
A dedicated detection device including a light receiving element, a reflection mirror and the like was also required. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a recording medium cartridge library device having an improved method of recognizing whether or not a cartridge is stored.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, when a power supply of a recording medium cartridge library device is turned off, a door for opening and closing the library device in the library device is opened. Door opening / closing detection means for detecting that the door opening / closing signal has been generated, a memory holding means for holding the state of the generated door opening / closing detection signal, and the memory holding when the library device is powered on. Control means for determining whether or not to perform recognition processing of the presence or absence of a recording medium cartridge in the library apparatus in accordance with the state of the door open / close detection signal held by the means. According to the present invention, the recording medium cartridge library device is provided with means for detecting that the door of the library device has been opened and closed. After powering off the library device,
When the door of the library device is opened and closed, the door opening and closing detection means detects that the door has been opened and closed, and issues a door opening and closing detection signal. The state of the door opening / closing detection signal is held by the memory holding means provided in the library device. The door open / close detection signal held by the memory holding unit is referred to by the control unit that controls the entire library device when the power of the library device is turned on. As a result of the reference, the control means determines whether or not to recognize whether or not the recording medium cartridge is stored. As described above, only when the door is opened and closed after the power to the library device is turned off, that is, only when there is a possibility that the recording medium cartridge in the library device has been replaced, the recognition of the presence or absence of storage is performed. Is performed, and it is not necessary to always recognize whether or not the recording medium cartridge is stored when the power of the library device is turned on.

[0007] A recording medium cartridge library apparatus for achieving the present invention includes a storage unit including a plurality of storage cells for storing a recording medium cartridge, a drive for reading and writing the recording medium cartridge, and a desired recording medium. A transport mechanism having a holder for detachably holding a media cartridge and a mechanism for transporting the recording medium cartridge by the holder between the storage body and the drive; and for accessing the storage body from outside the apparatus. In the recording medium cartridge library device having the door of (1), the barcode added to a predetermined position of each recording medium cartridge and the barcode of the recording medium cartridge stored in each storage cell of the storage body are optically displayed. A bar code reader that reads by a simple method, Serial container is successively moved to each of the storage cells of, depending on whether the bar code reader detects the presence or absence of the barcode recording medium cartridge for each storage cell, recognizes the presence or absence of the recording medium cartridge of each of the storage cells,
Means for performing a process of rewriting the recognition information of the presence or absence of the storage medium cartridge stored in each storage cell stored in the library device. According to the invention,
When recognizing the presence or absence of the storage medium cartridge, the barcode reader targets all storage cells of all storage bodies,
The barcode added to the recording medium cartridge is read for each storage cell. At this time, the bar code reader does not need to read the contents of the bar code, but simply needs to determine whether or not the bar code itself has been read for each storage cell. Therefore, it is sufficient to read only a part of the bar code. Therefore, it is not necessary to temporarily stop the barcode reader at the reading reference position for each storage cell. Even if the barcode reader is not paused, the barcode reader is moved along each storage cell, thereby It is sufficient if the bar code can be read. As described above, by using the barcode and the barcode reader for recognizing whether or not the recording medium cartridge is stored, the time required for recognizing whether or not the recording medium cartridge is stored can be reduced. Further, originally, a bar code for indicating the recorded contents is attached to the recording medium cartridge. Therefore, the existing barcode attached to the recording medium cartridge and a device for reading the barcode can be used for the recognition processing of the recording medium cartridge in the present invention, so that the recording medium cartridge storage It is not necessary to add a dedicated recognition processing means for the presence / absence recognition. Further, the present invention uses a door opening / closing detecting means and the like, and performs the recognition processing of the presence / absence of the recording medium cartridge storage only when the door is opened when the power of the library apparatus is turned off, thereby performing storage. The synergistic effect that the time required for the presence / absence recognition can be further reduced is obtained.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 shows an overall configuration example of a recording medium cartridge library apparatus 10 to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied. This recording medium cartridge library device 10 includes:
A storage unit 4 including a plurality of storage cells 4a for storing a recording medium cartridge, a drive 6 for reading and writing the recording medium cartridge, a holder 7a for detachably holding a desired recording medium cartridge, and the storage unit 4 A transport mechanism 7 having a mechanism for transporting the recording medium cartridge by the holder 7a to and from the drive 6
A door 5 for accessing the storage body from the outside of the apparatus, and a sensor S for detecting that the door 5 is opened even at least when the power of the library apparatus is turned off.
And a storage unit 9a for holding a door open / close detection signal generated when the sensor S detects the open / close of the door 5. In this embodiment, the overall operation of the recording medium cartridge library apparatus is controlled by an internal control unit 9.
Is controlled by

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the recording medium cartridge library apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1 in a state where, for example, a door 5 is opened. The sensor S attached to the library device detects that the door 5 has been opened and closed even when the power of the library device is turned off, and outputs a door open / closed detection signal in response to the opening and closing of the door 5. . The output door opening / closing detection signal is sent to the storage unit 9a, which is electrically backed up by means such as a built-in battery, and is stored in the storage unit 9a.
a holds a door open / close detection signal. The door open / close detection signal held in the storage unit 9a is referred to by the control unit 9 when the power of the library device is turned on. Thereafter, in accordance with the state of the door open / close detection signal, the control unit 9 performs a recording medium cartridge storage presence / absence recognition process.

FIG. 3 shows an example in which an appropriate bar code 13 is added to the recording medium cartridge C and the bar code reader 11 is provided integrally with the holder 7a.
FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing an operation of reading the data. In the library device 10, a bar code 13 is attached to each recording medium cartridge C in order to recognize whether or not the recording medium cartridge C stored in each storage cell 4a is stored. The code content of the bar code 13 attached to the recording medium cartridge C used for recognizing the presence or absence of storage may be any. In short, any bar code 13 is placed at a predetermined position of the recording medium cartridge C (a position facing the holder 7a). ). Since the magnetic tape type recording medium cartridge C is originally provided with a barcode for indicating the contents of the tape, the existing barcode is used as it is to recognize whether or not the recording medium cartridge C is stored. Bar code 1
3 can be used. Barcode reader 11
Is provided integrally with the holder 7a. By integrally providing the barcode reader 11 and the holder 7a,
By moving the holder 7 a along the transport mechanism 7, the bar code reader 11 allows the bar code 1 to be stored in each storage cell 4 a.
3 can be read. The bar code reader 11
Moves to the position facing the barcode 13 attached to the recording medium cartridge C for each storage cell 4a, and after the movement, the barcode reader 11
3 is read.

FIG. 4 shows the state when the power of the library apparatus is turned on.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a flow of a storage presence / absence recognition process executed by the control unit 9 including, for example, a microcomputer. For example, when the power of the library device is turned on,
In the first step ST1, the control section 9 determines whether or not the storage section 9a holds the door open / close detection signal. Therefore, only when the door open / close detection signal is held (YES), that is, when the door is opened / closed when the power of the library device is turned off, the barcode reading control shown in FIG. Perform processing. Door open / closed detection signal is not held (N
In the case of O), there is no need to perform the process any more, so the storage presence / absence recognition process ends.

FIG. 5 shows a bar code reading control process executed by the control unit 9 when a door open / close detection signal is held in the storage unit 9a. When the door open / close detection signal is held, the control unit 9 moves the holder 7a to the first storage cell 4a of the storage body 4 in the first step ST3. Next, in step ST4, the barcode reader 1 integrated with the holder 7a
Holder 7a until 1 is at a reading reference position facing bar code 13 attached to recording medium cartridge C.
Then, when the holder 7a is at the reading reference position, the barcode reader 11 reads the barcode 13.

In the next step ST5, it is determined by the reading operation whether or not any bar code 13 has been read corresponding to the storage cell. When the barcode 13 is read (YES), that is, when the recording medium cartridge C is stored in the storage cell 4a, in step ST6, the recording of the storage cell stored by the control unit 9 is performed. The medium cartridge storage presence / absence information is rewritten to “cartridge present”.
When the barcode 13 cannot be read (NO), that is, when the recording medium cartridge C is not stored in the storage cell 4a, in step ST7, the storage medium storage presence / absence information of the storage cell is set to “no cartridge”. ".

After rewriting the storage medium storage information of the storage cells, it is determined in next step ST8 whether or not the storage medium storage information of all storage cells in all storage bodies has been rewritten. When the rewriting has been completed for all the storage cells of all the storage bodies (YES), the barcode reading control processing is ended because it is not necessary to perform this processing. If the rewriting has not been completed for all the storage cells of all the storage cells (NO), in step ST9, the holder 7a is rewritten in order to rewrite the storage presence / absence information of the next storage cell.
Is moved to the next storage cell, and the above steps ST4 to ST4 are performed.
8 is repeated.

[0015]

As described above, according to the present invention, when the door of the library device is opened and closed when the power of the library device for the recording medium is turned off, that is, when the recording medium stored in the library device is opened. Only when there is a possibility that the cartridge has been manually replaced, it is only necessary to recognize whether or not the recording medium cartridge is stored when the library device is powered on. This has the effect of avoiding the time loss of having to recognize presence / absence. Further, in the present invention, the means for recognizing the presence / absence of storage based on the presence / absence of barcode reading as the means for recognizing the presence / absence of storage is different from a conventional means for recognizing by an optical element. The presence / absence of storage can be recognized without stopping once for each storage cell. Therefore, the effect is obtained that the time loss can be reduced as compared with the conventional recognition means using an optical element or the like in which the holder must be temporarily stopped for each storage cell. In addition, by using the existing barcode attached to the recording medium cartridge as the recording medium cartridge recognizing means in the present invention, it is not necessary to add a special recognizing means for recognizing the presence or absence of the recording medium cartridge. Absent.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view showing an overall configuration example of a recording medium cartridge library device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of an open / closed state of a door of the recording medium cartridge library device shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view schematically illustrating an operation in which a bar code reader integrated with a holder reads a bar code of a recording medium cartridge stored in a storage cell in the recording medium cartridge library device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an exemplary flowchart showing a storage state confirmation process executed by a control unit in the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a barcode reading control process shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a schematic side view showing an overall configuration example of a conventional recording medium cartridge library device.

FIG. 7 shows a method for recognizing the presence or absence of a recording medium cartridge in a conventional recording medium cartridge library device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Inlet / Ejection Unit 4 Storage Unit 4a Storage Cell 5 Door 6 Drive 7 Transport Mechanism 7a Holder 9 Control Unit 9a Storage Unit 10 Recording Medium Cartridge Library Device 11 Barcode Reader 13 Barcode 21 Light Emitting Element 22 Light Receiving Element S Sensor C Cartridge Ma, Mb reflection mirror

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A storage unit comprising a plurality of storage cells for storing a recording medium cartridge, a drive for reading and writing the recording medium cartridge, and a transfer of the recording medium cartridge between the storage unit and the drive. And a door for accessing the storage body from the outside of the apparatus, wherein at least the power is turned off, the opening and closing of the door is detected, and a detection signal is output. A signal generating unit that generates, a signal storage unit that holds the detection signal even at least when the power is turned off, and a case where the signal storage unit holds the detection signal of the door opening and closing when the power is turned on. Control means for performing processing for recognizing whether or not a storage medium cartridge is stored in each storage cell of the storage body. Recording media cartridge library device. 2. A storage unit comprising a plurality of storage cells for storing a recording medium cartridge, a drive for reading and writing the recording medium cartridge, and a transfer of the recording medium cartridge between the storage unit and the drive. A recording medium cartridge library device provided with a transport mechanism for performing the recording and a door for accessing the storage body from outside the apparatus, wherein a bar code is attached to a predetermined portion of the recording medium cartridge for each recording medium cartridge, and the recording is performed. A bar code reader for reading a bar code of a medium cartridge is provided in the transport mechanism, and the bar code reader provided in the transport mechanism is sequentially moved to each storage cell of the storage body, and the bar code reader is configured to store a recording medium for each storage cell. Depending on whether or not the presence or absence of the barcode of the cartridge is detected, the recording for each storage cell is performed. Means for recognizing the presence or absence of a storage medium cartridge. 3. A storage unit comprising a plurality of storage cells for storing a recording medium cartridge, a drive for reading and writing the recording medium cartridge, and transporting the recording medium cartridge between the storage unit and the drive. And a door for accessing the storage body from the outside of the apparatus, wherein at least the power is turned off, the opening and closing of the door is detected, and a detection signal is output. A signal generating unit that generates, a signal storage unit that holds the detection signal even at least when the power is turned off, and a case where the signal storage unit holds the detection signal of the door opening and closing when the power is turned on. Control means for performing processing for recognizing whether or not a storage medium cartridge is stored in each storage cell of the storage body; A bar code attached to a predetermined portion of the recording medium cartridge for each cartridge; and a bar code reader for reading the bar code of the recording medium cartridge, the bar code reader being provided in the transport mechanism. Is sequentially moved to each storage cell of the storage body, and whether or not the barcode reader has detected the presence or absence of a barcode of a recording medium cartridge for each storage cell depends on whether or not the recording is performed for each storage cell. Means for recognizing the presence or absence of a storage medium cartridge.