DE4128556A1 - Archiving system with robot handling of data cassettes - cassettes are extracted from locations in indexed carousels by multi-axis robot and moved to read-write unit - Google Patents

Abstract

The archiving system allows a large number of data cassettes (22) to be stored in such a way that they are readily retrieved and replaced. The system has a number of carousels (12) that have cassettes stored on shelves in compartments around the surface. The carousels are rotatable around a central axis so that the desired cassettes may be presented in the receiving position (32) for the robot. Located alongside the carousels is a robot handling system that has a carriage (50) moving on rails (46, 48). The gripper (90) is supported on arm assembly that can move vertically on guides (58). The robot extracts a cassette from a selected location and is moved to the read/write unit (72), where cassettes are stacked from the bottom upwards in slots. ADVANTAGE - Automatic handling of cassettes in archiving system.

Description

The invention relates to a data carrier archive system, comprising send a storage unit for data carriers, a write / read se unit for data carriers that a read / write order summarizes a the data carrier between the storage unit and the robot system transporting the read / write unit and archive control.

The invention further relates to a method for operating of a data carrier archive system with a storage unit for the data carrier, with a read / write unit for the data carriers, including a read / write work, and with one the disk between the storage unit and the Robot system transporting read / write unit.

Such media archive systems are, for example, from DE-A 39 18 198 or US-PS 50 15 139 known.

In all of these known media archive systems a read / write unit with a single feed shaft use in which the robot system Uses data carriers for reading and / or writing.  

Read / write units are now available, which include an automatic loading unit, the multiple Spei manholes and a feed shaft as well as data carrier between these transporting transport stone have direction. Such loading units have the Advantage that several data carriers are loaded into it can.

The problem, however, is one with a charge read / write unit optimally into one data to integrate the archive system.

This task is carried out in a data carrier archive system solved in accordance with the invention, that the read / write unit is an automatic loading unit which includes multiple storage bays and a feeder shaft as well as a data carrier between them Tating transport device that the archive control when loading data media into the write / read Se unit between informationless and informationstra different data carriers and that the archive tax tion, the robot system contains informationless data carriers one of the storage bays and information-carrying data can load carrier into the feed slot of the loading unit.

The solution according to the invention thus made this possible created a read / write unit with a drawer optimal use of unit and at least in this one of the storage bays an informationless data To provide carriers so that this without Activation of the robot system in the feed shaft can be transported.  

Thus, according to the invention, there is the possibility of the archive to let the controller work in such a way that it works at times less or no stress on the Robo tersystems, due to informationstra gender data carrier on the part of the mainframe computer, information loose media in at least one of the storage bays each read / write unit loads.

Especially when loading the informationless data carriers it is advantageous if the archive control is the robot system controls when loading this disk so that this the first disk to be loaded in the lowest Storage bay loads.

It is also advantageous if not only one memory shaft is loaded, but if the archive control is designed so that the robot system follows the next Data media in the next but one storage slot loads. This always creates a storage slot between two Disks kept free, which will be added later individual benefits described leads.

Alternatively, it is also conceivable that the archive control the robot system so that it controls the in each case the next informationless data carrier in the nearest storage slot loads.

It is also advantageously provided that the archive control system controls the robot system so that it moves out of the Writing / reading works coming, originally without information Data carrier for return transport to the storage unit from the Takes out the feed slot.  

This is the simplest solution. However, it has the Disadvantage that, for example, no loading of a information-carrying data carrier is possible until the Informationless data media from the feed slot is taken.

For this reason, it is even more advantageous if the Archive control controls the robot system so that it originating from the read / write works originally mation-free data carrier for return transport from one Remove the stacking shaft from the loading unit. The loading unit is in this case with a preferably below the Feeder shaft arranged stacking shaft provided in which is a transport from the read / write works coming originally informationless disk takes place, so that the feeder shaft is emptied relatively quickly can be without the robot system a time agile return transport of the data carrier through the memory unit.

Preferably, see a further improved implementation example that the archive control is designed so that the robot controller originally had informationless data Only pick up the carrier when it is in the stacking shaft stacked. This is another profit from Reach transport capacity, because a pickup of the original Lich informationless data media then always take place can if the robot system does not have any other priority Has more tasks to do.

In the exemplary embodiments described so far, not discussed how unloading the information-carrying data carrier by the robot system  be loaded into the feed slot. So provides an advantageous embodiment that the Archive control controls the robot system so that it from the read / write works, originally infor Mation-carrying data carriers for return transport to the storage removed from the feed slot.

Furthermore, the task according to the invention is for a data carrier archive system of the type described at the beginning solved according to the fact that the read / write unit includes an automatic loading unit, which several Spei manholes and a feed shaft as well as data carrier between these transporting transport stone direction shows that the archive control between infor mationless and information-bearing data carriers under separates and that by means of an assignment for each Read / write unit can be determined whether the robot system in this only informationless or informa tion-bearing data carrier loads.

With the solution according to the invention described above are therefore not in both read / write units Informationless as well as information-carrying data carriers loaded, but the reverse is done in such a way that each read / write unit by the allocation unit either as a read / write unit for informationless or as a read / write unit for those carrying information Disk is defined. This makes them unnecessary Problems that arise when the mainframe is in a read / write unit an information-carrying Requests data carrier, but this just an informa descriptionless disk.  

Furthermore, the problems that arise then become unnecessary occur when the transport unit is in memory butcher loaded informationless media Inserting an information carrier in wants to make the feed slot.

Preferably, in this embodiment, the Archive control trained so that when an Infor changes the data carrier by a mainframe, whether the read / write unit provided by the mainframe is intended for this type of disk.

It is even more useful if the archive control looks like this is formed that they are not with the intended Zu order matching requirement on the assignment unit the request of the mainframe to one of the Assignment provided read / write unit redirects.

In the inventive solution explained above can in principle differentiate the data carriers most loading shafts of the loading units, because each loading unit only with one type of data carrier that means an informationless or an information carrying data carrier is loaded.

The simplest embodiment therefore provides that the archive controller controls the robot system so that this the informationless disk in the feeder shaft loads.  

This is a quick move in, in particular If a request already exists, it is possible However, it is then not possible to insert data media into the tray to load in stock.

For this reason, it is advantageous if the archive tax tion of the robot system when loading informationless Controls data carriers so that a data carrier in the lowest storage bay is loaded. Preferably provided that the first disk to be loaded in the lowest storage slot is loaded.

In addition, it is advantageous to have more informationless Load media into additional storage bays. Out this is why an improved version of the inventions Solution according to the invention that the archive control Robot system controls so that this the next informationless data medium in the next the relevant storage slot.

In principle it is also possible that the archive tax tion of the robot system when loading informationless Controls media so that the first data to be loaded carrier is loaded into the feed slot and the next the following data carrier to be loaded into the storage slots, preferably successively in the adjacent the feed shaft beard storage bays.

Furthermore, so far has not been regarding the return transport specifies how the originally informationless Media should be removed.  

So the simplest solution provides that the archive tax tion controls the robot system so that this informa unattended data carriers for transport back to storage withdrawn from the feed slot.

However, it is even more advantageous if the archive control controls the robot system so that it is read / write coming, originally informationless data carrier for return transport to the storage unit from the Removed stacking shaft. This means in particular that Possibility to stack the data carriers in the stacking slot and therefore not immediately after the arrival of a data carrier in the Stacking shaft to the storage unit by means of the To have to transport robot systems back.

For this reason sees another advantageous variant the solution according to the invention that the archive control is designed so that the robot system originally Informationless data carriers are only collected when they are are stacked in the stacking shaft.

As part of the explanation of the solution according to the invention So far, there has been no discussion of how the treatment from information-carrying data carriers.

Because the information-carrying data carrier is always due an immediate request from the mainframe to the respective read / write unit can be transported need and then available as quickly as possible in this should stand, it is advantageously provided that the Archive control controls the robot system so that it information-carrying data carriers in the feed slot loads.  

With regard to unloading, it is provided that this from the original information coming to the writing / reading work carrying data carriers for return transport to the storage unit removed from the feed slot. This is the easiest Solution.

It is even more advantageous if the archive control does that Robot system controls so that this from the write / Le sewerk coming, originally information-bearing data carrier for return transport to the storage unit from the Removed stacking shaft.

The archive controller is preferably designed such that the robot system the originally information-bearing Disk from the stack from a single Ab takes position position, which can be predefined in a defined manner.

In all the inventive solutions described so far it is advantageous if the loading unit is a feeder Direction for the transport of data carriers between the one train shaft and the read / write work, so that a independent feed of those positioned in the feed shaft Data carriers.

In addition, the transport device is convenient controlled so that they always in a step forward a disk from the lowest storage slot in the Feed slot and a disk from a lie above in the next lower storage moving shaft.  

In particular in the exemplary embodiments in which both information-bearing and information-less Data media loaded in the same read / write unit and also the informationless data carriers successively in stacked storage shafts are loaded, it is advantageously provided that the Transport device for transporting data carriers in Forward direction from the lower storage slot in the Feed chute and vice versa in the reverse direction forms and can be controlled. This gives you the opportunity the memory by moving the transport device back Always keep the shaft clear.

To secure the disk archive system according to the invention To be able to operate, is also advantageously advantageous see that the transport facility through the archive tax tion can be blocked.

In particular, safe operation of the fiction medium archive system if the Archive control before accessing the robot system a loading unit checks whether the associated one Read / write unit already a requirement for one Data carrier is present by a mainframe.

In addition, it is conveniently provided that the Archive control in the case of an already existing An request a data carrier for this read / write the transport device is blocked.  

To remove this block in time and the Function of the loading unit according to the invention is not unnecessary It is also envisaged that the archive control after access to the loading unit by the robot system clears the blockage of the transport device.

As already with the execution described above Examples mentioned, it is advantageous if the charging is unit has a stacking shaft.

Furthermore, the transport device is preferably designed in this way forms that with this one from the read / write work Data carrier can be transported into the stacking shaft is.

It is advisable to have several data carriers in the stack stackable on top of each other.

To ensure that the robot system is always one It is possible to access the data carrier in the stacking slot that the data media can be positioned in the stacking shaft are that the topmost data carrier in the stacking slot is always in a defined storage position.

For this reason, an advantageous version of the solution according to the invention that the robot system at Always access the data carrier in the stacking slot on the Accesses data carrier in the storage position.  

The object of the invention is also in a Ver drive to operate a data carrier archive system a storage unit for the data carrier, with a Read / write unit for the data carrier, comprising a Read / write work, and with one the disk between the storage unit and the read / write unit transport robotic system according to the invention, that the read / write unit is an automatic loading unit with several storage positions, a feed position and has an unloading position that when transporting the Disk between the storage device and the Read / write unit a distinction between infor mationless and information-carrying data carriers is made, and that informationless data media in one Storage position and information-carrying data carrier in the feed position can be loaded.

In this method, it is particularly advantageous if when loading the informationless data medium first into the Such a disk is loaded in the lower storage position becomes.

The large number of storage locations can be even more advantageous Exploit sitions if more than one data carrier are loaded into several memory positions.

There are two ways to do this. One way provides that from the next informationless Media in the next but one storage position Loading.  

The other alternative is that the next one informationless data carriers in the next memory position is loaded.

It is also advantageous if after loading the data the robot system for other transportation tasks is released and the robot system is no longer blocked.

In this case sees an expedient embodiment before that from the loading unit when requesting an infor tionless data carrier through the mainframe of the data carrier from the lowest storage position into the feeder position transported by means of the transport device becomes.

After editing the informationless disk in the read / write work must be stored Lich. This suitably follows from the fact that the ur originally informationless data carriers after the cry ben is brought into the unloading position.

It is thus possible to remove the data carrier from the robot to have the system picked up in the unloading position. Before it is more partial, however, if after the description of the originally informationless disks in a stack shaft, preferably in a storage position is so that by standing in the unloading position Disk no longer blocks the feed position he follows.  

A particularly preferred embodiment of an invented The method according to the invention provides that after each loading write an informationless data medium in the Read / write unit keep the feed position clear becomes. This can be done at any time after a description informationless data carrier loading an informa tion-bearing data carrier and processing of the data the same.

For this purpose, it is preferably provided that the transport unit direction after each transport of an informationless Disk from the lower storage position to the on train position and the subsequent transport of the informa unsupported data carrier in the read / write work by one Step in the reverse direction. This will ensured that after the return of the original Lich informationless disk from read / write into the unloading position and further transport of the Disk into the storage position at the end of the feed po sition is free to an information-carrying data load carrier. In particular, this procedure requires not, the informationless disks only in to load the next but one memory positions, so that compulsory usually after dropping an informationless one Data carrier in the stack shaft clear the feed position hold is.

Another way to release the feed position hold is that the transport device after each Transport of an originally informationless data carrier from the unloading position to the storage position  is moved back one step. This also creates a free feed position the disks in successive storage po sitions can be loaded.

Another way, even when in succession the storage positions loaded data carriers train position after describing an informationless Keeping the disk free is that for storing the one originally from the read / write work in Formless disk in the storage position of the on draft shaft is kept clear by the fact that the Robo tersystem the informationless transported in it Disk is removed.

Preferably, the removed data carrier from the Robot system loaded into a free storage position.

In all the exemplary embodiments, in which initially an informationless data carrier in the feed position, but then by moving back the transport device is transported back to the lower storage position, is advantageously provided that before transport that originally came from the read / write work informationless data carrier from the unloading position in the storage position of a feeder is blocked. This ensures that the in the feed position standing at short notice, but afterwards back into the lower one Storage location returned media from the Feeder is drawn in immediately.  

Regarding the loading of the information-carrying data carriers no further details have so far been given. So one sees advantageous embodiment that an informa tion-bearing data carrier directly into the feed position is loaded.

For security reasons, it is useful if before loading an information-carrying data carrier into the Feed position is checked whether all storage positions are empty.

It is conveniently done so that at a occupied memory location before loading the information carrying data carrier in the feed position the Trans port facility is blocked.

In the previously described embodiment also said nothing about what position a information-carrying data carrier after reading and Describe the same picked up in the read / write work becomes. An advantageous embodiment provides that an information-carrying data carrier from the unloading po sition is picked up.

But it is also possible that an information-carrying Data carrier from the unloading position by means of transport device is transported to the storage position.

In order to create the possibility in the latter case all storage positions with informationless data carriers and after transporting the  information-carrying data carrier in the storage position Always getting the feed position free is an advantage provided that after the transportation of a information-carrying data carrier from the unloading position into the storage position by one Step back.

Furthermore, the object of the invention in a Ver drive to operate a data carrier archive system a storage unit for the data carrier with several Read / write units for the data carriers, comprising a Read / write work, and with one the disk between the storage unit and the read / write unit back and forth forth transporting robot system according to the invention solved in that the read / write unit has an auto automatic loading unit with several storage positions, has a feed position and an unloading position, that during transport between the read / write units and the storage unit between informationless and infor mation-bearing data carriers is distinguished and that for each storage unit is determined whether in this only informationless or information-bearing Disk are loaded.

In this solution according to the invention is therefore a Separation between the read / write units made, edit only information-free data carriers and the read / write units, the exclusive infor Edit unattended data carriers.  

In the simplest case, in this embodiment the informationless data media in the feed position loaded. However, it is even more advantageous if the infor mationless disk loaded in the storage position especially if there are several informationless Media can be loaded into multiple storage locations.

It is particularly advantageous if more information loose data media in succession in several storage positions tions are loaded.

Regarding the extraction of informationless data no detailed information was given makes. So the simplest embodiment provides that the informationless disk from the unloading po sition can be removed.

However, it is even more advantageous if the information loose data carriers are removed from the storage position.

In particular, the robot system is not constantly on to take a decision and thus the transport performance of the same to increase, it is advantageously provided that several informationless data carriers after their description in Writing / reading work in a stacking shaft in the form of a Stacks are stacked.  

In this case, it is advantageously provided that Removing the stacked informationless data carrier in the Stacking chute only moved to a defined storage position is gripped.

The top data carrier of the Stack held in the defined storage position.

With regard to the treatment of information-bearing No data has yet been given to data carriers either makes. An advantageous exemplary embodiment provides that the information-carrying disk in the feeder position can be loaded.

It is also advantageous if the information-carrying Data carriers are removed from the unloading position.

But it is also possible that the information-carrying Data carriers can be removed from the storage position because they can stay in this longer time. For example it is even possible to use the information-bearing data stack in the storage position so that not after Processing of an information carrier this is immediately removed from the storage position and sent to Storage unit must be transported back.

For the sake of the safe functioning of the above be described inventive method is preferred provided that before loading a disk into a Read / write unit is checked whether the read / write unit for this type of disk according to the To regulation is provided.  

If the assignment is not correct, the Data carrier to another read / write unit directs.

In the context of the previous explanation of the above example was not given as the assignment the read / write units to informationless or information-carrying data carriers. An advantage exemplary embodiment provides that the assignment the read / write units to informationless or information-carrying data carriers by an operator of the data carrier archive system.

The assignment of the read / write is favorable to informationless or information-bearing Data carrier variable, so that expediently the poss there is an assignment current inventory in the mainframe.

In all the previously described embodiments of the The inventive method is advantageously featured see that the robot system with a gripper in front of one Loading a data carrier into the loading unit in a Security position is driven. It is also convenient if the gripper before removing a disk the loading unit is moved into a safety position.

Furthermore, a further development sees the above benen embodiments that the gripper after Loading or removing a disk from one of the Positions are moved to the safety position again.  

In particular, it is for reasons of operational safety The method described above is advantageous if before the insertion of a data carrier into a storage position a check is carried out to determine whether on the respective Read / write unit a data carrier by a large calculator is requested.

In the case of an already existing one, it is expedient A disk request the disk between the storage positions and the feed position transporting transport device blocked.

This blockage is most beneficial after insertion of the data carrier in the storage position.

Preferably, the charging unit is operated so that the loading unit of everyone in the feed position Data carrier through a feed device in a Read / write work is inserted.

Furthermore, each of the Read / write data read and / or written transported to the unloading position.

Furthermore, the transport device can be operated so that the transport device a data carrier from the removal position is transported into a stacking shaft.

A data carrier in the stacking shaft becomes more expedient wisely held in a storage position, this Ab position is precisely defined.  

A particularly preferred embodiment of the inventions The inventive method provides that the loading unit in a disk written or read in a stack stacks and the top one in the defined Ab holds position.

To remove the disk from the stack preferably provided by the robot system when accessing the stacking chute only one defined storage position of the loading unit becomes. This ensures that despite stacking the Secure gripping of the data carrier in the stacking slot is possible through the robot system.

It is also expedient for reasons of operation security provided that before accessing the Storage position by the robot system direction is blocked.

This blocking of the transport device is in a most technical case after removing a data carrier from the Storage position canceled.

Further features and advantages of the invention are opposed stood the following description and the drawing representation of some embodiments. The drawing shows:

Fig. 1 is a view from above of an archive system according to the invention with the robotic system 42 and the storage unit 12 and the archive controller 162 in conjunction with a mainframe computer 160;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view from the front with a view in the direction of arrow a in FIG. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of a gripper of the robot system;

Figure 4 is a partial representation of the gripper finger and the ejector of the gripper.

Figure 5 is a view of a cartridge loading unit from the front with the front cover removed.

Fig. 6 is a section along line 6-6 in Figure 5 by a cartridge loading unit with standing in the loading position the disc cartridge.

FIG. 7 shows a section similar to FIG. 6 with the data medium cassette in a storage position; FIG.

Fig. 8 is a section similar to Figure 6 with a in a first security position in front of a loading bay stationary gripper which a disc cartridge immediately before inserting the same keeps in the draw-in shaft.

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Figure 8 up to an insertion position in the draw-in shaft inserted by the gripper disc cartridge.

FIG. 10 shows a representation similar to FIG. 9 with the data carrier cassette inserted in the retracted position;

Fig. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 10 unload position in stationary disc cartridge,

Fig. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 11 with standing in storage position stationary disc cartridge and a second safety position the gripper,

Fig. 13 is a schematic representation of a first embodiment of the archive system according to the invention,

Fig. 14 is a flowchart of a first variant of a function sequence in the first embodiment,

Fig. 15 is a flowchart of a second variant,

Fig. 16 is a flowchart of a third variant,

Fig. 17 is a flowchart of a fourth variant,

Fig. 18 is a flowchart of a fifth variant,

Fig. 19 is a flowchart of a sixth variant,

Fig. 20 is a flowchart of a seventh variant,

Fig. 21 is a schematic representation of a second embodiment of the archive system according to the invention,

Fig. 22 is a flowchart of a first variant of a function sequence in the second embodiment,

Fig. 23 is a flowchart of a second variant of a function sequence in the second embodiment,

Fig. 24 is a flowchart of a third variant of a function sequence in the second embodiment,

Fig. 25 is a flowchart of a fourth variant of a function sequence in the second embodiment,

Fig. 26 is a flowchart of a fifth variant of a function sequence in the second embodiment,

An archive system for data carriers, designated as a whole by 10 in FIG. 1, comprises a storage unit for the data carriers, designated as a whole by 12 , which comprises a total of three storage towers 14 a, 14 b and 14 c designed as reversible memories, each about an axis of rotation 16 a, 16 b and 16 c are rotatable.

Each of these storage towers 14 a, 14 b and 14 c comprises, as a whole, 18 shelf units, which have a flat front surface 20 in which data carriers 22 are located with their front edges 24 .

These disk cartridges 22 are arranged in essentially horizontal rows 26 standing vertically, so that they stand up in the horizontal rows 26 on a lower narrow side edge. As can also be seen from Fig. 2, each of the shelf units 18 comprises a plurality of vertically superposed horizontal rows, with all disk cartridges 22 in all horizontal rows 26 with their front edges 24 in the front surface 20 .

The storage towers 14 a, 14 b and 14 c are arranged with their axes of rotation 16 a, 16 b and 16 c so that they are perpendicular to a plane 28 , which is preferably horizontal. Furthermore, the storage towers 14 a, 14 b and 14 c are arranged such that the axes of rotation 16 a, 16 b and 16 c are parallel to one another and lie in a common plane 30 , which is preferably vertical to plane 28 .

The storage towers 14 a, 14 b and 14 c are now rotatable about their axes of rotation 16 a, 16 b and 16 c, respectively, that the shelf unit 18 is in an access position 32 , in which a gripper, particularly shown in FIG. 2, has access all disk cartridges 22 this Regalein unit 18 has.

The gripper 34 in turn can be moved in a transport plane 36 which is preferably parallel to the front surfaces 20 and also preferably parallel to the plane 30 and additionally also transversely to the transport plane 36 in a gripping direction 38 . The gripping direction 38 is preferably inclined downward parallel to a horizontal or also insertion direction by a few, for example 5 to 7 degrees with respect to a horizontal.

These movements of the gripper 34 can preferably be realized in that the gripper 34 is in turn held on an outer arm 40 of a robot system designated as a whole by 42 .

This robot system 42 comprises a roadway designated as a whole by 44 , which is preferably formed from two rails 46 and 48 running parallel to one another. On this carriageway 44 , a carriage designated as a whole by 50 can be moved in the longitudinal direction 52 of the carriageway 44 , the longitudinal direction 52 preferably running parallel to the transport plane 36 . Preferably, the carriageway 44 lies with the two rails 46 and 48 on the plane 28 , so that the two rails span a driving plane 28 parallel to this plane.

On the carriage 50 there is disposed a whole with 54 designated lifting device with which a pivot unit 56 of the robot system in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction 52 and perpendicular to the plane 28 direction of stroke 58 is movable, wherein the lifting direction 58 is parallel to the plane of transport 36th

On this swivel unit 56 , a first swivel arm 62 which is pivotably mounted about a first swivel axis 60 is held. At one end facing away from the pivot unit 56, the latter carries a second pivot arm 66 which is pivotably mounted about a second pivot axis 64 with respect to the first pivot arm 62 . The first pivot axis 60 and the second pivot axis 64 are preferably aligned parallel to one another. On this second swivel arm 66 , the arm 40 is pivoted on an end remote from the first swivel arm 62 about a third swivel axis 68 . The third pivot axis 68 is preferably also aligned parallel to the first pivot axis 60 towards the second pivot axis 64 .

With the on the road 44 in the longitudinal direction 52 ver movable carriage 50 of the up and down movable in the stroke direction 58 pivot unit 56 and the pivotable about the first and second pivot axes 60 and 64 pivot arms 62 and 66 and the third pivot axis 68 pivotable arm 40 , the possibility is created to move the gripper 34 both in the transport plane 36 and in the gripping direction 38 transversely thereto and thus to access the data carrier cartridges 22 in the rack units 18 in the access position 32 .

The first, the second and the third pivot axes 60 , 64 and 68 are preferably parallel to the stroke direction 58 . But it is also conceivable to align the first pivot axis 60 , the second pivot axis 64 and the third pivot axis 68 perpendicular to the stroke direction 58 and preferably parallel to the longitudinal direction 52 in order to move the gripper 34 in the gripping direction 38 with these.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the robot system 42 according to the invention, in which the first pivot axis 60 , the second pivot axis 64 and the third pivot axis 68 are aligned parallel to the lifting direction 58 , the arm 40 is additionally held in a longitudinal displacement unit 70 carried by the second pivot arm 66 and thus displaceable in the direction of the third pivot axis 68 , so that the gripper 34 can also be displaced in this direction at the same time.

In order to be able to read the data stored on the data carriers of the data carrier cartridges 22 and to be able to write to the data carriers with data, so-called read / write units 72 a, 72 b and 72 c are also provided in the archive system 10 according to the invention. These read / write units are in turn also provided with an automatic cassette loading unit 74 a, 74 b and 74 c, in which the data carrier cassettes 22 for loading the read / write units 72 a, 72 b, 72 c can be used.

The read / write units 72 with the automatic cassette loading units 74 are arranged side by side, and preferably so that their loading and unloading openings 76 a, 76 b, 76 c are also aligned parallel to the transport plane 36 , so that by a Movement of the gripper 34 in the gripping direction 38 loading and unloading of these cassette loading units 74 a, 74 b, 74 c can take place.

Preferably, the cassette loading units 74 a, 74 b, 74 c are designed such that the data carrier cassettes 22 with horizontal orientation, that is to say rotated by 90 ° with respect to their alignment in the storage unit 12, are inserted into and removed from the loading and unloading openings 76 can be seen.

For gripping the data carrier cartridges 22, the gripper 34 comprises a gripper body 80 which is held on a linear guide 82 on the arm 40 and thereby by means of an elastic element 84 which counteracts a movement of the gripper body in an evasion direction 86 in a in Fig. 3 shown working position is held relative to the arm 40 . On the gripper body 80 , a gripper part 90 is also rotatably held about an axis 88 parallel to the evasive direction, which extends from the gripper body 80 opposite to the evasive direction 86 and parallel to it and carries two gripper fingers 92 and 94 at a front end, the gripper finger 92 is stationary on the gripper part ge and the gripper finger 94 is movable relative to the gripper finger 92 in order to be able to grip one of the data carrier cartridges 22 . An actuating device 98 is provided in the gripper part for moving the gripper finger 94 in a holding direction 96 towards the gripper finger 92 .

Furthermore, an ejector 100 is provided between the two gripper fingers 92 and 94 , which can be moved from a retracted position 99 shown continuously in FIG. 3 into an extended position 101 shown in dotted lines in FIG. 3 or shown in FIG. 4. This ejector 100 is preferably guided with a guide rod 102 in the gripper part 90 and movable via a displacement device 104 in an ejection direction 106 . The displacement device 104 preferably has a spring element acting on the ejector 100 in the ejection direction 106 and a controllable retraction element, for example a pneumatic cylinder, which moves the ejector ent opposite thereto.

Furthermore, the ejector 100 serves as a sensor for the fixing of a correctly gripped data carrier cassette and, for this purpose, is moved from the retracted position by a data carrier cassette 22 lying between the gripper fingers 92 and 94 in the direction of the gripper part 90 into a tactile position 103 , which is controlled by a controller the gripper 34 is recognizable, so that this control knows that the data carrier cassette 22 is inserted as far as possible between the gripper fingers 90 and 92 .

In order to be able to rotate the gripper part 90 relative to the gripper body 80 about the axis 88 , a swivel drive 108 is preferably also provided on the gripper body.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the automatic cassette loading unit 74 comprises a plurality of storage shafts 110 , 112 , 114 , 116 , 118 and 120 arranged one above the other, into which data carrier cassettes 22 can be inserted manually in normal operation.

Below the lowermost storage compartment 110 is provided 122 a feeder bay, is carried out starting from which the withdrawal of a lying in this disk cartridge 22 in a read / write drive 124 of the respective read / write unit 72nd The transport of the disc cartridge 22 from the feed tray 122 in the read / write drive 124 is carried out device via a feeder 126 two on each side of the disk cartridge 22 in the draw-in shaft 122 acting transport belts 128 which are driven by a motor 130 and the disc cartridge 22 move device 132 in a feed direction, the data carrier cartridge 22 being guided laterally on support rails 134 .

Furthermore, a stack shaft 136 is arranged under the feed shaft 122 , in which data carrier cartridges 22 coming from the read / write mechanism 124 can be stacked on top of one another on a height-adjustable fork 138 .

As seen from Fig. 5, the stack tray 136, feed tray 122, the collection shaft 122 are shaft from the memory 110 and the storage slots 110 separated by 120 from each other by pads 140 on which the insertable in the insertion slot 122 or in the storage bays 110 to 120 data carrier cassettes 22 can be placed. These pads 140 are disposed on either side of the collection tray 122 and the storage trays 110 to 120, and in each case held on a conveyor belt 142, the conveyor belts provide a lateral boundary of the feeder shaft 122 and the storage slots 110 to 120 is 142, so that these shafts 122, and 110 to 120 the data carrier cartridges 22 between these conveyor belts 142 are fixed. The conveyor belts 142 are provided with a drive 143 and together with this and the supports 140 form a transport device 145 for the data carrier cartridges 22 in the vertical direction.

In addition, the insertion shafts 110 to 120 are closed by a rear wall 144 .

The stacking shaft 136 is in turn also closed by a rear wall 146 and laterally by two side walls 148 , so that the fork 138 is between the two side walls 148 and in front of the rear wall 146 .

In order to adjust the fork 138 in a stacking direction 150 in the stacking shaft 136 , the fork 138 is held on a spindle 152 which extends in the stacking direction 150 and which can be driven by a motor 154 and forms a stacking device with it and with the fork 138 .

In the automatic operating mode, the cassette loading unit 74 works in such a way that some or all of the storage slots 110 to 120 are manually loaded with a data carrier cassette 22 , the feed slot 122 remaining free. To pull in a data carrier cassette 22 , the transport device 145 , that is to say its conveyor belts 128 with the supports 140, moves down a shaft width so that the data carrier cassette 22 located in the insertion shaft 110 comes to rest in the feed shaft 122 and that in the overlying storage shafts 112 to 120 lying disk cartridges 22 in the respective underlying storage slots 110 to 118 . The data carrier cassette 22 seated in the feed slot 122 is now moved by the feed device 126 by means of the conveyor belt 128 in the feed direction 132 and inserted into the read / write mechanism 124 for writing or reading this data carrier cassette 22 . After writing or reading the data carrier, the disc cartridge 22 is opposite to the feed direction 132 back out of the read / write station 124 moved into the draw-in shaft 122, and is then, if this disc cartridge 22 bay in the feeder reached 122, port means by moving the Trans 145, that is, the conveyor belts 128 with the supports 140 , the data carrier cassette 22 seated in the feed shaft 122 placed on the fork 138 , which for this purpose is in its uppermost position 0 , shown in FIG. 5 and then in its position 1 , shown in FIG. 6 , is moved. At the same time, the next data carrier cassette 22 is transported from the storage shaft 110 into the feed shaft 122 and can be pulled back into the read / write unit 124 by the transport unit 126 in the manner described above.

In manual operation mode, the Kassettenladeein operates standardized 74 so that a disk cartridge 22 manually inserted directly into the draw-in shaft 122, unit moved into the read / write drive 124 126 by the transport read ge or described and bay again in the feeder is conveyed back 122 . The data carrier cassette 22 is then removed manually from the feed slot 122 .

The automatic cassette loading unit 74 is controlled by its own controller 156 , which is connected to a controller 158 of the respective read / write unit 72 , which in turn controls the entire writing and reading of the data carriers in the read / write unit 124 .

Each controller 158 of a read / write unit in turn communicates with a mainframe 160 , which uses the data stored on the data carriers of the data carrier cartridges 22 or outputs data to be written to these data carriers and transmits them to the read / write units 72 .

Furthermore, this mainframe 160 informs an archive controller 162 which data carrier cartridge is to be inserted into which read / write unit 72 or from which read / write unit 72 is to be obtained. The archive control 162 includes a control computer with a memory 164 in which the positions of the individual data carrier cartridges 22 are stored and also the archive control 162 communicates with the storage towers 14 in order to bring the correct rack unit 18 into the access position 32 , which by controlling one Drive 166 a, 166 b or 166 c of the respective storage tower 14 a, 14 b or 14 c takes place. In addition, the archive controller 162 controls the entire robot system 42 , so that a total of the gripper 34 in the individual positions for gripping and storing the disk cartridges 22 can be brought.

When the archive system according to the invention is in operation, it is therefore necessary to insert the data carrier cartridges 72 into the automatic cartridge loading units 74 by means of the gripper 34 . For this purpose, the automatic cassette loading unit 74 cannot be loaded manually. Furthermore, the archive system 10 according to the invention only works sensibly if there is also the possibility, at the request of the mainframe 160 , to insert the desired data carrier cartridge 22 into the read / write unit 72 provided by the mainframe 160 , this having to be done in such a way that the write - / reading unit 72 can operate with the cartridge loading unit 74 so that the automatic cassette loading unit 74 operates independently of the controller 162 by its own controller 156 in the automatic automatic operation mode, and is controlled so that it always when a data carrier cassette 22 in the draw-in shaft 122 lies, this brings into the read / write works 124 and after writing or reading this data carrier cassette 22 automatically brings them back into the feed slot 122 and upon arrival of this data carrier cassette 22 in the feed slot 122 this cassette is automatically conveyed further into the stacking shaft 136 and on the Fork 138 drops.

In this automatic mode of operation of the cassette loading device 74 by means of the control 156 , a data carrier cassette 22 , which lies fully in the feed shaft 122, is considered to be in a feed position, is automatically inserted from this feed position by starting the feed device 126 into the read / write unit 124 and after writing or reading the data carrier back into the feed slot 122 in an unloading position in the same, the unloading position in the feed slot 122 is such that no renewed pulling in of this data carrier cassette 22 takes place by means of the feed device 126 . From this unloading position, it then follows automatically by actuating the transport device 145 , ie the drive 143 of the same and associated with this, moving the conveyor belts 142 and transferring the data carrier cassette into a storage position in the stacking shaft 136 on the fork 138 , this storage position preferably being connected position 1 of the fork 138 explained with FIG. 7.

Since the above-described operations in the cassette loading unit 74 are carried out by the control 156 independently of the archive control 162 and no feedback occurs when the storage position is reached to the archive control 162 , but only after the end of the read / write operation in the read / write work 124 from the mainframe 160 a return transport or "keep" command is forwarded to the archive control 162 , in the inventive archive system 10 the gripper 34 - as shown in FIG. 3 - is provided with a contactless cassette sensor 170 which has a sensor front surface 172 is oriented such that it detects objects lying in a sensor area 174 . The sensor region 174 extends from the sensor front surface 172 in the direction of the gripper fingers 92 and 94 and preferably next to the gripper part 90 which carries the gripper fingers 92 and 94 . Since the gripper fingers are formed 92 and 94 narrower than the to be gripped data carrier cassettes 22, one of the disk cartridges 22 as seen when these protrude for gripping with the gripping fingers 92 and 94 in the sensor portion 174 by the next to the gripping part 90 extending sensor region 174th

The archive system 10 according to the invention operates as follows during the transport of one of the data storage cartridges 22 to one of the cartridge loading units 74 :

First, the data storage cartridge 22 selected by the mainframe 160 is communicated to the archive controller 162 , which is also informed by the mainframe 160 which of the read / write units 72 a, 72 b or 72 c is to be used for this data storage cartridge.

The archive controller 162 now determines the position of this data storage cartridge 22 in the memory 164 and ensures via the drive 166 of the storage tower 14 in which this data storage cartridge is stored that the corresponding shelf unit 18 of this storage tower 14 is in the access position 32 .

At the same time, the robot system 42 receives the command to move to the data storage cartridge 22 in the rack unit 18 in the access position 32 . For this purpose, the gripper part 90 is pivoted by means of the swivel drive 108 in such a way that the gripper fingers 92 and 94 are able to grip a data storage cassette 22 standing upright. Furthermore, the gripper part 90 is rotated so that it is able, after positioning the gripper 34 in the corresponding position in the transport plane 36 in the gripping direction 38 , in this case to access and grasp the data storage cartridge in the horizontal direction.

When positioning the gripper 34 in the transport plane 36 , the gripping member 90 is simultaneously rotated 90 ° by means of the swivel drive 108 , so that the data carrier cassette 22 is aligned horizontally.

In this position, the gripper is, for example, positioned 34 gerkassette with the Datenträ 22 for inserting the Datenträ gerkassette 22 in the draw-in shaft 122, in a shown in FIG. First safety position 8 in front of the feed tray 122, in which position the disk cartridge 22 with the draw-in shaft 122 flees.

From this first safety position out occurs in a 5 to 7 degrees with respect to the horizontal inclined loading direction 170 a insertion of the Datenträgerkas sette 22 into the feed tray 122 with the Datenträ gerkassette holding gripper fingers 92 and 94, namely up into a in Fig. Insertion position illustrated 9 , in which the disk cartridge 22 is not yet inserted so far into the feed slot 122 that the cassette loading unit 74 automatically turns on the feeder 126 and pulls in the disk cartridge. In this in Fig. 9 shown insertion position of the gripper fingers 94 to open. Furthermore, the ejector 100 now moves in the ejection direction 106 from its retracted position in the direction of its front extended position and thereby pushes the data medium cartridge 22 into the feed slot 122 until it reaches its feed position shown in FIG. 10. Then the gripper 34 moves back in the opposite direction to the gripping direction 38 into its safety position.

In a similar manner, a data carrier cartridge 22 is inserted into one of the storage bays 110 to 120 in one of the storage bays 110 to 120 , the gripper 34 moving beforehand into a further safety position in front of the respective storage bay 110 to 120 and from as described above, the latter inserts the data carrier cassette 22 into the respective storage slot 110 to 120 . The ejector 100 serves to completely insert the data carrier cartridge 100 into the respective storage slot 110 to 120 .

As already described above, the data carrier cassette 22 is then automatically drawn from the cassette loading unit 74 into the read / write unit 124 , read or written there, and conveyed back to the unloading position, shown in FIG. 11, by means of the draw-in device 126 . which is slightly shifted away from the read / write mechanism 124 relative to the feed position, so that the feed device 126 does not automatically pull in this data carrier cassette again.

The unloading position is shown in solid lines in FIG. 11 compared to the dotted position shown.

The data carrier cassette 22 can now be gripped by the robot system 42 in the unloading position and transported back into the storage unit 10 .

42 while gripping the robot system to Datenträgerkas sette 22 to from the safety position out occurred in the input tray from which even the insertion of the disk cartridge 22nd But it is also possible to transport the disk cartridge into a storage position.

For this purpose, the disc cartridge 22 is of the Entladepo sition transported in the transport device 145 in the stack tray 136 to the fork 138, for which purpose the fork 138 continues to assume the disc cartridge 22 from the feed tray 122 up and through further movement of the conveyor belts 128 then in Figure position. 12 illustrated. 1

It can in the stacking shaft 136 Datenträgerkas several cassettes are stacked 22, for example, when a plurality of storage slots 110 - 120 are filled with data carrier cassettes 22 and all will be described in succession in the read / write station 124th To take over the next data carrier cassette 22 , the fork 138 moves into the next lower position 2 , etc., so that the data carrier cassette 22 last stored in the stacking shaft 136 is in position 1 .

As soon as one or more of the data carrier cartridges 22 are processed in the read / write plant 124 , the mainframe 160 reports to the archive controller 162 that the corresponding data carrier cartridge 22 can be picked up in the automatic cartridge loading unit 74 , regardless of whether the cartridge loading unit 74 already has the Disk cartridge 22 has been moved to the storage position on the fork 138 .

As soon as the archive control 162 receives this message, it moves the gripper 34 into an additional safety position, shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 in front of position 1 of the stacking shaft 136 , from which the gripper 34 by means of the contactless cassette sensor 170 , by detecting one The label bearing the label on the respective data carrier cassette 22 checks whether a data carrier cassette 22 is present in the sensor area 174 . The additional safety position of the gripper is chosen so that a lying in the position 1 on the fork 138 lying disk cartridge 22 is in the sensor area 174 .

In this additional safety position the gripper 34 now waits until such time as by the cassette sensor 170, located in the 1 position in the stacking shaft 136 Datenträ gerkassette is detected 22nd Only when this is the case does the gripper 34 move in the gripping direction 38 , which, when the gripper fingers 92 , 94 are aligned horizontally in the same way as the insertion direction 170 , is inclined downward by 5 to 7 degrees relative to the horizontal, onto the data carrier cassette 22 in position 1 in the stacking shaft 136 and grips them with the gripper fingers 92 and 94 , with the gripper 34 moving in the gripping direction 38 onto the data medium cartridge 22 until the ejector 100 is retracted from its position towards the gripper body 80 has pressed into a tactile position, so that by sensing this tactile position by means of a sensor for the gripper 34 it can be seen that the data carrier cassette 22 is gripped correctly. In this case, the data carrier cartridge requires resistance to movement in the gripping direction 38 . The data carrier cassette 22 is supported on the rear wall 146 of the stacking shaft 36 .

Only after the ejector 100 is moved in the tactile position, does the gripper finger 94 move in the holding direction 96 for gripping the data carrier cassette 22 lying in the position 1 on the fork 138 .

Subsequently, the gripper 34 moves back into its additional safety position and, starting from this, the data carrier cassette 22 is returned to a position in the storage unit 12 provided by the archive control 162, for which purpose the respective storage tower 14 by the archive control 162 and actuation of the drives 166 the corresponding shelf unit 18 is positioned in the access position 32 . At the same time, the gripper part is rotated through 90 °, so that the data carrier cassette 22 is vertical for insertion into the shelf unit 18 provided.

If several disk cartridges 22 are stacked on top of one another in stacking shaft 136 , they are always cleared from position 1 , i.e. the uppermost position, and the fork 138 is moved upwards so far after each removal of a disk cartridge that the uppermost disk cartridge 22 is always in position 1 , which the robot system 42 accesses.

In a collision-proof variant of the archive system 10 according to the invention, the linear displacement guide 82 is used when inserting the data carrier cassette 22 into the feed slot 122 or into one of the storage shafts 110 to 120 by means of the gripper 34, in such a way that if the data carrier cassette 22 is pushed against it against a resistance, for example a data carrier cassette already seated in the feed shaft 122 , the gripper body 80 is displaced in opposition to the action of the elastic element 84 , a stop signal is triggered which immediately stops all movements of the robot system 42 in order to damage the gripper 34 or the to prevent automatic cassette loading unit 74 .

In addition, an advantageous variant of the archive system according to the invention provides that when the gripper 34 is in the second safety position and detects by means of the contactless cassette sensor 170 that no data carrier cassette 22 has been stored in position 1 on the fork 38 in the stacking shaft 136 and is thus in its storage position released for access, the archive controller 162 interrupts the intended return transport of the data carrier cassette 122 from the cassette loading unit 74 to the space provided for it in the storage unit 12 and carries it out between by other transport tasks. Only after carrying out and ending these further transport tasks is the second security position approached again and checked whether the data carrier cassette 22 is now in the storage position provided. If this is the case, the gripping process is carried out as described above. If this is not the case, the intended transport process is also interrupted and a further transport process is carried out.

In the archive system 10 according to the invention, two types of data carrier cartridges can be distinguished, namely data carrier cartridges, the data carriers of which are still described with information, but which are no longer relevant. Such data carriers are therefore called informationless data carriers or the corresponding data carrier casings are referred to as informationless data carrier cartridges.

In addition, such data carrier cartridges are also present in the archive system, the data carriers of which carry relevant information which are either only read in the read / write units 72 or are also read and overwritten. Such data carriers are therefore referred to as information-carrying data carriers and the corresponding data carrier cartridges as information-carrying data carriers.

A first embodiment of an archive system 10 a according to the invention now provides that all three write / read units 72 a, 72 b and 72 c are shown in FIG. 13, by the mainframe 160 for processing informationless data carrier cartridges 22 L and carrying information Data carrier cartridges 22 T are used, the data carrier cartridges 22 L, 22 T being supplied to the robot system 42 in each case.

It should further be noted that the information-carrying disk cartridges 22 T when they are requested from the mainframe 160 in one of the read / write unit 72 need to be loaded as quickly as possible into the respective read / write unit 72, otherwise, the program flow in the mainframe 160 would be disabled.

On the other hand, if an information-free data carrier cassette 22 L is requested, it is irrelevant which information-free data carrier cassette it is, since this data carrier cassette 22 L is only used to write information on the data carrier.

The archive system according to the invention can be operated in a variety of ways. First of all, in the version of the archive system 10 a according to FIG. 13, several variants of functional sequences are described in which information-free data carrier cartridges 22 L are written.

In the first variant, shown in FIG. 14, the archive control 162 receives the command to insert informationless data carrier cartridges 22 L, for example, into the read / write unit 72 a. 31590 00070 552 001000280000000200012000285913147900040 0002004128556 00004 31471

The archive controller 162 then controls the start-up of the first data carrier cassette X by means of the robot system 42 in the storage unit 12 in the manner already described. The data carrier cartridge X is then transported to the read / write unit 72 a by means of the robot system 42 .

Before or during the transport of the data carrier cartridge X to the read / write unit 72 a, a check is carried out to determine whether an information-free data carrier cartridge has already been requested by the mainframe 160 at the read / write unit 72 a. If this is the case, the transport device 145 is blocked before inserting the data carrier cassette X into the cassette loading unit 74 a. The data carrier cassette X is then inserted into the lower storage slot 110 , in which the data carrier cassette X is in the lower storage position of the cassette loading unit 74 .

After the first data carrier cassette X has been inserted into the lowermost storage slot 110 , the blocking of the transport device 144 is released, for example.

After loading the lower storage slot 110 , the cassette loading unit 174 is preferably equipped with further data carrier cassettes 22 L. For this purpose, the robot system 42 moves to further data carrier cartridges in the storage unit, transports them to the cartridge loading unit 74 as described above and now does not place them in the lower storage slot 110 , but in the next but one storage slot 114 and then again in the next but one storage slot 118 . Thus, in the case in which no request for an information-free data carrier cartridge 22 L was made at the read / write unit 72 a, three storage bays, namely the storage bays 110 , 114 and 118, are equipped with information-free data carrier cartridges 221 .

The robot system 42 is then released for further transport activities in the archive system.

When an information-free data carrier cassette 22 L is requested in the read / write unit 72 a by the mainframe 160 , the transport device 145 and then the feed device 126 then transport the data carrier cassettes 221 into the read / write work 124 and after writing the data carrier again into the unloading position .

From this unloading position, the transport device 145 transports the data carrier cartridges 22 L into the storage position in the storage slot 136 .

If still more informationless data carrier cassettes 22 L present in the storage bays 110 to 120, there is initially no need arrived in the storage position the disc cartridge 22 L zurückzutransportieren in the memory unit. It can therefore be waited until all of the data carrier cartridges 22 L loaded into the storage slots 110 to 120 have been stored in the storage slot 136 in the manner described above.

If this is the case, a command is sent to the robot system 42 to pick up the data carrier cartridges 22 L in the storage slot 136 , which is done by the fact that - as already explained above - the robot system 42 is in position 1 , that is to say in each case the uppermost disc cartridge 22 L in the storage shaft 136, and successively accessing the data carrier cassettes 22 in the spoke L pure standardized 12 conveyed back.

In a second variant, illustrated schematically in FIG. 15, after receiving the command that information-free data carrier cartridges 22 L are to be inserted into the read / write unit 72 a, the first data carrier cartridge X is also started up in the storage unit, and then transported the same to the read / write unit 72 , a check being carried out before inserting the same into one of the storage shafts 110 to 120 to determine whether an information-free data medium cartridge has already been requested by the mainframe 160 .

If this is not the case, the transport device 145 does not need to be blocked, but the data carrier cassette 22 L can be inserted directly into the lowest storage slot 110 of the charging device 74 .

Preferably, further informationless data carrier cartridges are loaded into the next higher storage bays 112 to 120 until all storage bays 110 to 120 are equipped with data carrier cartridges 22 L.

In this case, the cassette loading unit 74 a is completely filled with data carrier cassettes 22 L.

Preferably, such a filling of CASSETTE carried tenladeeinheit 74 a to load a to times in which no requests are present of information bearing data carrier cassettes 22 L by the mainframe computer, wherein the instruction that CASSETTE tenladeeinheit 74, is advantageously given by a the archive system 10 a monitoring operator .

If a large number of requests for information-free data carrier cartridges 22 L now come to the read / write unit 74 a, the transport device 145 transports the data carrier cartridge 22 L from the lower storage slot 110 into the feed slot 122 so that they are fed from the feed device 126 pulled into the read / write work 124 , described and again in the unloading position by means of the feed device 126 in the feed shaft 122 can be moved back.

Before the data carrier cartridge 22 L in the unloading position, which is now described with information, is transported further into the storage position, the feed device is blocked. Thereafter, the transport device 145 promotes the ste in the unloading rising disc cartridge 22 L in the storage position and at the same time the fitting is now in the lower feed tray 110 disk cartridge 22 L in the loading position. Due to the blocking of the feed device 126 , however, it is not drawn into the read / write unit 124 . Rather, after the storage of the data carrier cassette 22 L in the storage position, that is to say position 1 , the transport device 145 in the stacking shaft 136 moves back one step and moves the informationless data carrier cassette 22 L, which was in the feeding position 122 in the feeding position, back again the lowest storage slot 110 . This creates the possibility, in the read / write unit 72 a, of either reading and writing an information-carrying data carrier cassette or, if requested, using the transport device 145 to bring the informationless data carrier cassette 22 L into the feed slot in the feed slot and to move into the read / write 124 .

The collection of the data carrier cassette 22 L, which is now in the storage position, but which has already been written with data, can either take place immediately after arrival in the storage position by accessing the robot system 42 to position 1 or storage position in the stacking shaft 136 , or only then , after a plurality of data carrier cartridges 22 L from the storage slots 110 to 120 have already been written in the read / write work 124 and stored in the storage slot 136 in the form of a stack of data carrier cartridges 22 L. In this case, the robot system 42 - as already described - accesses position 1 or storage position in stacking shaft 136 .

In the third variant, the storage slots 110 to 120 are loaded as in the above-described exemplary embodiment.

For writing, as in the variant described above, the data carrier cassette 22 L is transferred from the lowest storage position in each case or from the lowest storage slot 110 to the feed position and conveyed through the feed device 126 into the read / write unit 124 . During the writing of this information-free data carrier 22 L in the read / write unit 124 , however, the transport unit 145 moves up one step, so that after the data carrier cassette 22 L has been transported from the lowest storage slot 110 into the feed slot 122, it is now in the lowest storage slot 110 seated data carrier cassette 22 L is in turn conveyed back into the storage shaft 112 located above.

If, after writing to the data carrier cassette 22 L in the read / write unit 124, the latter is again conveyed through the Einzugein device 126 into the feed slot 122 and in this into an unloading position, then there is no data carrier cassette 22 in the storage shaft 112 between it and the closest data carrier cartridge 22 L L present in the storage bay 110 . If now the beschrie bene disc cartridge 22 L from the unloading position to the storage position direction by advancing the Transportein brought 145, so there will inevitably also the disk cartridge 22 L of the storage compartment 112 in the storage shaft 110, that is in the lower storage bay transferred, as that in turn, the draw-in shaft 122 after the data carrier cartridge 22 L sition in the Ablagepo remains free and hence either an information-bearing disc cartridge 22 T or informations loose disc cartridge 22 L of the lower storage compartment 110 in the feed tray 122 to move into the read / Reading 124 can be brought.

In a fourth variant, shown in FIG. 17, the loading of the storage shafts 110 to 120 takes place in the same way as in the second variant, so that reference can be made to this.

In addition, upon request, an informationless data carrier cassette 22 L is transported from the lowest storage shaft 110 into the feed shaft 120 , the same is drawn into the read / write work by means of the feed device 126 and the data carrier cassette 22 L now described with information is returned to the unloading position.

Before the data carrier cassette 22 L is transported from the unloading position into the storage position by means of the transport device 145 , the pulling device 126 is blocked, so that the data carrier cassette 22 L standing in the lower storage slot 110 is not immediately drawn into the read / write unit 124 . If now the transport of the data carriers described cassette 22 L from the unloading position in the storage posi tion, the disc cartridge 22 L from the lower feed tray 110 is now in the feed tray 122 in the retracted position.

To prevent now that it is fed, and an information-carrying disc cartridge 22 L can not be processed 22 T before a writing to these non-information disc cartridge, by means of the Robo tersystems 42 that at the loading position informa tion loose disc cartridge 22 L extracted from this and an upper free storage bay 110 to 120 is inserted. Thereafter, the blocking of the feed device 126 is released again. Thus, the data carrier cassette 22 L described is stored in the stacking shaft 136 in the storage position and the feeder shaft 122 is free and, in addition, an infor mation-free data carrier cassette 22 L is available in the lowest storage shaft 110 , so that depending on the requirement by the mainframe system 160, either an information-carrying data carrier cassette 22 T can be inserted into the feed slot 122 or by moving the transport unit 145 the information-free data carrier cassette 22 L can be brought from the lower storage shaft 110 into the feed position.

The removal of the disk cartridge 22 L described in the storage position is also carried out by the robot system 42 either immediately after their arrival in the storage position or after processing and writing ben all disk cartridges 22 L, which were loaded into the memory slots 110 to 120 in in such a way that the storage position in the stacking compartment 136 is accessed in each case.

In a fifth variant, shown in FIG. 18, the storage compartments 110 to 120 are loaded in the same way as in the second variant, so that there is no need to go into this further.

Furthermore, on request by the mainframe, the data carrier cassette 22 L is transported in the lower storage shaft 110 into the feed shaft 122 and from there through the feed device 126 into the read / write unit 124 . After the data medium cassette 22 L has been written to, it is brought back into the unloading position in the feed shaft 122 in a known manner. From there, however, there is no further transport of the data carrier cassette 22 L into the storage position, but the robot system 42 removes them directly from the unloading position, for which purpose the transport device 145 is blocked before transporting the data carrier cassette 22 L into the unloading position, in order to prevent this from occurring Disk cartridge immediately transported from the unloading position to the storage position.

After accessing the robot system 42 gerkassette the Datenträ 22 L in the discharge position in the already be signed, the blocking of the Transportein is direction 145 lifted and the robot system 42 transports the now disc cartridge 22 L described in the storage unit 12 back.

With all the above-described variants of the version 10 a of the inventive archiving system only charging information-less media cartridges was beschrie ben. This loading was always carried out in such a way that the feed slot was free again after the description of an information-free data carrier cassette 22 L, either in order to be able to use an information-free data carrier cassette 22 L from the lower storage slot in the feed slot 122 by the transport device 145 or in order to be able to insert an information-carrying data carrier into the feed slot.

Is requested an information-carrying disc cartridge from the mainframe 160, these variants shown example, by the two in Fig. 19 and Fig. 20 is accomplished.

In the variant according to FIG. 19, the requested infor mationstragende disc cartridge 22 is T in the storage unit retrieved in the manner described 12, to the read / write unit 72, for example, the read / write unit 72 a, transported, in the draw-in shaft 122 in a feed position thereof in the manner described, in particular by means of the ejector 100 , and positioned by the feed device 126 in the read / write unit 124 . After reading or writing to the information-carrying data carrier cassette 22 D, it is conveyed back into the unloading position of the feed shaft 122 . Fig there the disk cartridge according to. 19 22 D ge again by the robot system 42 handles and transported back to the storage unit 12.

In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 20, the read and / or described data carrier cassette 22 T is not gripped in the unloading position, but is transported from the unloading position by the transport device 145 to the storage position of the stacking shaft 136 and is gripped there by the robot system in the manner already described .

In both cases, there is a return transport to the storage unit 12 .

In the variant according to FIG. 20 is still further after the transport of the read and / or described informa tion-carrying disc cartridge 22 T in the storage posi tion, the transport device to move back 145 and further the feeding device is 126 to block before the transport to the stacking position, so that these are the when transporting the information-carrying data carrier cassette 22 T from the unloading position into the storage position, the information-free data carrier cassette 22 L simultaneously coming into the pull-in position immediately moves in from the lower storage shaft 110 , but there is the possibility of moving the transport device 145 back again and thus also the information-free data carrier cassette 22 L again to move back from the feed position in the lower storage shaft 110 , so that after storing the information-carrying data carrier cassette 22 T in the storage position, the feed slot 122 is again free to either one of the robots ope rator systems 42 housed information-carrying disc cartridge 22 T including or Datenträgerkas sette 22 L of the lower storage shaft receiving 110 bay through the transport device 145 in the feed can be brought 122nd

In the second exemplary embodiment of the archive system according to the invention, shown in FIG. 21 and denoted by 10 b, the read / write units 72 a, b and c are assigned different functions, this function assignment being controllable via the archive computer 162 . In example, the read / write units 72 a and b are provided as such for information-carrying data carrier cartridges 22 T, and the read / write unit 72 c as such for informationless data carrier cartridges 22 L. The assignment is, however, by other specifications for an assignment unit 180 changeable.

Thus, now the archive system 10 b in which to operate in FIG. 21 be signed case so that the mainframe information-carrying disk cartridges can request 22 T only to the read / write units 72 a and b and informationless data carrier cassettes 22 L only to the write / Reading unit 72 c.

A first variant for loading an information-carrying data carrier cassette 22 T, for example into the read / write unit 72 a, comprises the following steps:

First, after a request for a specific data carrier cassette 22 T, the read / write unit, in this case the read / write unit 72 a, is selected on the basis of an established reservation list.

For example, the reservation list is created by a Operator depending on the order lists of the mainframe created and depending on the change of orders or jobs changed.

Subsequently, the data carrier cassette is transported, as shown in FIG. 22, to the respective read / write unit, in this case the read / write unit 72 a, and the data carrier cassette 22 T is inserted into the feed position of the feed slot 122 in the be already described above.

The data carrier cassette 22 T is then drawn in by the feed device 126 and loaded into the writing / reading machine 124 .

After reading and / or writing the data carrier cassette 22 T, it is again moved out by the feed device 126 into the unloading position in the insertion shaft.

In the first variant according to FIG. 22, the robot system 42 now accesses the data carrier cassette 22 T seated in the unloading position in the feed slot 122 and transports it back into the storage unit.

In the second variant, shown in FIG. 23, all the steps are carried out as described above, with the difference that the data carrier cassette is not removed from the unloading position, but rather is transported to the storage position in the stacking shaft 136 by means of the transport device 145 and there into the position 1 or storage position of the same is gripped by the robot system 42 and transported back to the storage unit 12 .

In a third variant, shown in FIG. 24, after the command of the mainframe 160, an information-carrying data carrier cassette 22 T is loaded into a specific read / write unit, for example to load the read / write unit 72 a, the request is first checked whether this is compatible with the currently existing reservation list. If this is the case, the data carrier is started up and loaded according to the exemplary embodiments described above. If this is not the case, then, is that the request redirected to a read / write unit 72 according to the reservation list for the reception of information-carrying disks 22 T is preceded see anlaßt from the archive computer 162 ver. In this will be also set forth as in the variants described above, the disc cartridge 22 T loaded and then read and / or written to. The assignment unit 180 also ensures that the redirection to the write / read unit provided for an information-carrying data carrier cassette 22 T also takes place with regard to the information requested by the mainframe 160 .

Moreover, the variant 24 as the variants operates in accordance with FIG. FIG. 22 and FIG. 23.

Next, several variants of the transport of an informationless data carrier cartridge 22 L to a read / write unit provided for such cartridges according to the reservation list, in this case the read / write unit 72 c, are described.

The further variant, shown in Fig. 25, provides that after requesting an informationless data carrier 22 L, a selection of the read / write unit provided for this purpose, in this case the read / write unit 72 c, is made in accordance with the reservation list.

Thereafter, the data carrier cassette 22 L in the storage unit 12 is approached by the robot system 42 and transported by it to the respective read / write unit, in this case the read / write unit 72 c.

The data carrier cartridge 22 L is inserted into the lower storage slot 110 .

The process of loading a non-information Datenträ gerkassette is usually non-unitary with the loading of a single disc cartridge 22 L in the cassette loading completed c 74, but there are all storage bays 110 to 120 of the cartridge loading unit 74 c with informationless data carrier cassettes 22 L equipped.

After complete assembly, the robot system 42 is then released for other tasks.

The loading of the storage shafts 110 to 120 of the cassette loading unit 72 c usually takes place at times when the mainframe 160 makes no requests for an information-free data medium cassette, so that there is a blocking of the transport device 145 when the data medium cassettes 22 L are inserted into the Storage shafts no longer need 110 to 120 .

Such requirements of the mainframe 160 only arrive after the entire cassette loading unit 74 c has been completely or partially fully loaded with data carrier casings 22 L at the read / write unit 72 c.

After the arrival of such a request, the transport device 145 transports the data carrier cassette 22 L from the lower storage shaft 110 into the feed shaft 122 and thereby into the feed position of the same. Starting from this, the data carrier cassette 22 L is inserted into the read / write work 124 for writing by the feed device 126 .

After completion of the description, the data carrier cassette is extended by means of the feed device 126 into the unloading position of the feed shaft 122 and, starting from there, in the variant according to FIG. 25, a transport to the storage position takes place by means of the transport device 145 .

In principle, the robot system 42 can be designed with the archive computer 162 so that upon arrival of each written, originally informationless data carrier cassette 22 L in the storage position, the robot system picks it up in the position 1 or storage position in the stacking shaft 136 . However, it is preferably provided that the data carrier cassettes 22 L are fetched from the stacking shaft 136 if there are several of them, with removal of the uppermost data carrier cassette 22 L standing in position 1 in the stacking shaft 136 .

For this reason, the information that a described, originally informationless data carrier cassette 22 L is available for collection in the stacking shaft 136 is only given when several, preferably all, of the data carrier cassettes 22 L originally loaded into the storage shafts 110 to 120 are described are and are available in stacked form in stacking shaft 136 .

The data carrier cassettes for transport back to the storage unit 12 are also retrieved from the storage position of the stacking well 136 , the fork 138 always positioning the uppermost data carrier cassette 22 L of the stack in the storage position of the stacking well 136 .

In a further variant it is provided that after the request to load an informationless data carrier 22 L into the respective read / write unit 72 , ie in this case the read / write unit 72 c, the request is checked with the reservation list via the To order unit 180 is done.

If the requirement is correct, the data carrier cassette 22 L is transported as already described in the above variant. If this is not the case, the assignment unit 180 again selects a read / write unit provided for receiving information-free data carrier cartridges 22 L, in this case the selection of the read / write unit 72 c and furthermore the order then redirected to this, so that the mainframe also accesses the newly selected read / write unit 72 c when writing.

Subsequently, the data carrier cartridges 22 L are loaded into the cartridge loading unit 74 , that is, into the storage shafts 110 to 120 of the same, preferably all storage slots 110 to 120 being successively equipped with data carrier cartridges 22 L.

Subsequently, the robot system 72 is released and then, depending on the requirements of the mainframe 160 by means of the transport device - exactly as described in detail for the variant above - data carrier cassettes 22 L are each transported from the lower storage shaft 110 into the feed position in the feed shaft 122 and then transported to the unloading position and from there to the storage position.

In a further variant of the solution according to the invention it is further provided that the transport of the data carrier cassette from the unloading position does not take place in the storage position in the stacking shaft 136 , but rather a collection of the data carrier cassette 22 L from the unloading position takes place directly by the robot system 42 .

Claims (82)

1. data carrier archive system, comprising a storage unit for data carriers, a read / write unit for data carriers, which comprises a read / write unit, a robot system that transports the data carriers between the storage unit and the read / write unit, and an archive controller, characterized in that the Read / write unit ( 72 ) comprises an automatic loading unit ( 74 ) which has several storage shafts ( 110 to 120 ) and a feed slot ( 122 ) and a data carrier between these transporting transport device ( 145 ) that the archive control ( 162 ) at loading data carriers (22) in the read / write unit (72) between informantion batches (22 L) and carrying information differs (22 T) data carriers and that the archive controller (162), the robotic system (42) informationless data carrier (22 L) in one of the storage shafts ( 110 to 120 ) and information-carrying data carriers ( 22 T) in the feed slot ht ( 122 ) of the loading unit ( 74 ) can be loaded. 2. Data carrier archive system according to claim 1, characterized in that the archive controller ( 162 ) controls the robot system ( 42 ) when loading information-free data carriers ( 22 L) so that it shafts the first data carrier to be loaded ( 22 L) into the lower memory ( 110 ) loads. 3. data carrier archive system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the archive controller ( 162 ) controls the robot system ( 42 ) so that it loads the next data carrier ( 22 L) into the respective next storage slot ( 110 to 120 ). 4. data carrier archive system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the archive control ( 162 ) controls the robot system ( 42 ) so that it loads the next information-free data carrier ( 22 L) in the nearest storage slot ( 110 to 120 ). 5. data carrier archive system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the archive control ( 162 ) controls the robot system ( 42 ) so that this from the read / write work ( 124 ) coming, originally information-free data carrier ( 22 L) for return transport to the storage unit ( 12 ) from the A manhole ( 122 ). 6. data carrier archive system according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the archive controller ( 162 ) controls the robot system ( 42 ) so that it comes from the read / write work ( 124 ), originally information-free data carrier ( 22 L) for return transport to the storage unit ( 12 ) from a stacking shaft ( 136 ) of the loading unit ( 74 ). 7. data carrier archive system according to claim 6, characterized in that the archive controller ( 162 ) is so formed that the robot system originally infor mation-free data carrier ( 22 L) only picks up when they are stacked in the stacking shaft ( 136 ). 8. data carrier archive system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the archive control ( 162 ) controls the robot system ( 42 ) so that this from the read / write ( 124 ) coming, originally information-carrying data carrier ( 22 T) for return transport to the storage unit ( 12 ) from the A manhole ( 122 ). 9. data carrier archive system, comprising a storage unit for data carriers, a plurality of read / write units for the data carriers, which comprise a read / write unit, a robot system that transports the data carriers between the storage unit and the read / write unit, and an archive controller, thereby ge indicates that the read / write unit ( 72 ) comprises an automatic loading unit ( 74 ) which has a plurality of storage shafts ( 110 to 120 ) and a feed slot ( 122 ) and a data carrier between them transporting device ( 145 ) that the archive control ( 162 ) distinguishes between information-free ( 22 L) and information-carrying ( 22 T) data carriers, and that it can be determined by means of an assignment unit ( 180 ) for each read / write unit ( 72 ) whether the robot system ( 42 ) only contains information-free ( 22 L) or information-carrying data carrier loads. 10. A data carrier archive system according to claim 9, characterized in that the archive control ( 162 ) is designed in such a way that, when a data carrier ( 22 ) is requested by a mainframe computer ( 160 ), it checks whether the mainframe ( 160 ) provides write / Reading unit ( 72 ) is provided for this type of data carrier ( 22 ). 11. The data carrier archive system according to claim 10, characterized in that the archive control ( 162 ) is designed in such a way that it does not match the intended assignment via the assignment unit the request of the mainframe computer ( 160 ) to one of the assignment provided read / write unit ( 72 ) redirects. 12. Data carrier archive system according to one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the archive control ( 162 ) controls the robot system ( 42 ) so that it loads the informationless data carrier ( 22 L) into the feed shaft ( 122 ). 13. Data carrier archive system according to one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the archive control ( 162 ) controls the robot system ( 42 ) when loading information-free data carriers ( 22 L) so that the first data carrier to be loaded ( 22 L) in the lowest storage slot ( 110 ) is loaded. 14. Data carrier archive system according to claim 13, characterized in that the archive controller ( 162 ) controls the robot tersystem ( 42 ) so that it loads the next information-free data carrier ( 22 L) into the nearest storage slot ( 112 to 120 ). 15. Data carrier archive system according to one of claims 9 to 14, characterized in that the archive controller ( 162 ) controls the robot system ( 42 ) so that this originally information-free data carrier ( 22 L) for return transport to the storage unit ( 12 ) from the intake shaft ( 122 ) takes. 16. Data carrier archive system according to one of claims 9 to 14, characterized in that the archive controller ( 162 ) controls the robot system ( 42 ) so that it comes from the read / write work ( 124 ), originally informationless data carrier ( 22 L) for return transport to the storage unit ( 12 ) from the stacking shaft ( 136 ). 17. Data carrier archive system according to claim 16, characterized in that the archive control ( 162 ) controls the robot system ( 42 ) in such a way that the robot system ( 42 ) only fetches information-free data carriers ( 22 L) only when they are in the stacking shaft ( 136 ). stacked. 18. Data carrier archive system according to claim 17, characterized in that the archive controller ( 162 ) controls the robot tersystem ( 42 ) so that this from the read / write work ( 124 ) coming, originally information-free data carrier ( 22 L) for return transport Storage unit ( 12 ) removed from a single storage position from the stacking shaft ( 136 ). 19. Data carrier archive system according to one of claims 9 to 18, characterized in that the archive controller ( 162 ) controls the robot system ( 42 ) so that this information-carrying data carrier ( 22 T) in the feeder shaft ( 122 ) loads. 20. Data carrier archive system according to claim 19, characterized in that the archive controller ( 162 ) controls the robot tersystem ( 42 ) so that this from the read / write work ( 124 ) coming, originally information-carrying data carrier ( 22 T) for return transport Storage unit ( 12 ) removed from the feed slot ( 122 ). 21. Data carrier archive system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the loading unit ( 74 ) has a feed device ( 126 ) for transporting data carriers between the feed slot ( 122 ) and the read / write mechanism ( 124 ). 22. Data carrier archive system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transport device ( 145 ) is controlled so that it always a forward step a data carrier ( 22 ) from the lower storage slot ( 110 ) into the feed slot ( 122 ) and a data carrier from an overhead storage shaft ( 112 to 120 ) in the next lower storage shaft ( 110 to 118 ). 23. Data carrier archive system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transport device ( 145 ) for transporting data carriers ( 22 ) in the forward direction from the lower storage shaft ( 110 ) into the feed shaft ( 122 ) and vice versa in the reverse direction is formed and can be controlled. 24. Data carrier archive system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transport device ( 145 ) can be blocked by the archive controller ( 162 ). 25. Data carrier archive system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the archive controller ( 162 ) checks before accessing the robot system ( 42 ) to a loading unit ( 74 ) whether a request has already been made to the associated read / write unit ( 72 ) for a data carrier ( 22 ) by a mainframe computer ( 60 ). 26. Data carrier archive system according to claim 25, characterized in that the archive control ( 162 ) blocks the transport device ( 145 ) in the case of an existing request of a data carrier ( 22 ) with this read / write unit ( 72 ). 27. Data carrier archive system according to claim 26, characterized in that the archive control ( 162 ) after access to the loading unit ( 74 ) by the robot system ( 42 ) removes the blocking of the transport device ( 145 ). 28. Data carrier archive system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the loading unit ( 74 ) has a stacking shaft ( 136 ). 29. Data carrier archive system according to claim 28, characterized in that the transport device ( 145 ) is designed such that with it a from the read / write mechanism ( 124 ) coming data carrier ( 22 ) in the stack shaft ( 136 ) can be transported. 30. Data carrier archive system according to claim 28 or 29, characterized in that a plurality of data carriers ( 22 ) in the stacking shaft ( 136 ) can be stacked on top of one another. 31. Data carrier archive system according to claim 30, characterized in that the data carrier ( 22 ) in the stack shaft ( 136 ) can be positioned so that the topmost data carrier ( 22 ) in the stack shaft ( 136 ) is always in a defined storage position. 32. data carrier archive system according to claim 31, characterized in that the robot system ( 42 ) always accesses the data carrier ( 22 ) in the storage position when accessing the data carrier ( 22 ) in the stacking shaft ( 136 ). 33. Method for operating a data carrier archive system with a storage unit for data carriers, with a Read / write unit for the data carrier, comprising a read / write work, and with one the data carrier between the storage unit and the read / write unit transporting robot system, characterized thereby records that the read / write unit an automa table loading unit with several storage positions, a feed position and an unloading position indicates that when the disk is transported between the Storage unit and the read / write unit Differentiation between informationless and infor mation-carrying media is made and that Informationless disk in a storage location and information-carrying data carriers in the Einzugspo sition can be loaded. 34. The method according to claim 33, characterized in that when loading the informationless disk first in the lowest storage position Disk is loaded. 35. The method according to claim 33 or 34, characterized records that several data carriers in succession multiple memory positions can be loaded. 36. The method according to claim 35, characterized in that the next following informationless disk in the next but one memory position is loaded.   37. The method according to claim 35, characterized in that that the next following informationless disk in the next storage location is loaded. 38. The method according to any one of claims 33 to 37, characterized characterized that after loading the information loose disk in the storage position the robot system is released for other transport tasks. 39. The method according to any one of claims 33 to 38, characterized characterized in that the loading unit at request Change of an informationless data carrier by the Mainframe the disk from the lower memory position in the feed position by means of transport device is transported. 40. The method according to any one of claims 33 to 39, characterized characterized that the originally informationless Data carrier after writing to the unloading position tion is brought. 41. The method according to any one of claims 33 to 40, characterized characterized that the originally informationless Disk after writing in a stack shaft is stored. 42. The method according to any one of claims 33 to 41, characterized characterized in that after each description of a informationless data carrier in the read / write unit the feed position is kept clear.   43. The method according to claim 42, characterized in that the transport device after each transport an informationless disk from the bottom Storage position in the feed position and after following transport of the informationless data carrier one step back in the read / write work is driven in the downward direction. 44. The method according to claim 42, characterized in that the transport device after each transport of an originally informationless data carrier from the unloading position to the storage position by one Step in the reverse direction. 45. The method according to claim 42, characterized in that after dropping one from the writer / reader coming originally informationless data carrier free in the storage position of the feed slot that is held by the robot system in this removed transported informationless data carrier becomes. 46. The method according to claim 45, characterized in that the removed data carrier from the robot system is loaded into a free storage position. 47. The method according to any one of claims 44 to 46, characterized characterized in that before the transport of the Read / write works originally coming information loose media in the storage position a feed device is blocked.   48. The method according to any one of claims 33 to 47, characterized characterized that an information-carrying data carrier is loaded directly into the feed position. 49. The method according to claim 48, characterized in that before loading an information-carrying data carrier in the feed position is checked whether all Storage positions are empty. 50. The method according to claim 49, characterized in that with an occupied memory position before loading of an information-carrying data carrier into the on pull position the transport device is blocked. 51. The method according to any one of claims 33 to 50, characterized characterized that an information-carrying data carrier is picked up directly from the unloading position. 52. The method according to any one of claims 33 to 50, characterized ge indicates that an information-carrying data carrier from the unloading position by means of transport device is transported to the storage position. 53. The method according to claim 52, characterized in that after transporting information-carrying data carrier from the unloading position to the storage position the transport device moved back one step will drive.   54. Method for operating a data carrier archive with one storage unit for the data carriers, several Read / write units for the data carriers, comprising each a writing / reading work, and with a die Disk between the storage device and the Robot system transporting read / write unit, characterized in that the read / write unit an automatic loading unit with multiple storage positions, a feed position and an unloading position that the data carrier during transport between the storage unit and the read / write unity a distinction between informationless and information-carrying data carriers is made and that informationless disk in a memory position and data carriers in the Feed position can be loaded. 55. The method according to claim 54, characterized in that the informationless disk in the feeder position can be loaded. 56. The method according to claim 54, characterized in that the informationless disk in the memory position can be loaded. 57. The method according to claim 55 or 56, characterized records that several informationless disks successively loaded into several storage positions will.   58. The method according to any one of claims 54 to 57, characterized characterized that the informationless disk be removed from the unloading position. 59. The method according to any one of claims 54 to 58, characterized characterized that the informationless disk be removed from the storage position. 60. The method according to claim 59, characterized in that several informationless data carriers after their Writing in the read / write work in a stack shaft are stacked in the form of a stack. 61. The method according to claim 60, characterized in that to remove the stacked informationless Disk in the stacking slot only on a defined one Storage position is accessed. 62. The method according to any one of claims 54 to 61, characterized characterized that the information-carrying data load into the feed position. 63. The method according to any one of claims 54 to 62, characterized characterized that the information-carrying data carrier can be removed from the unloading position. 64. The method according to any one of claims 54 to 62, characterized characterized that the information-carrying data carrier can be removed from the storage position.   65. The method according to any one of claims 54 to 64, characterized characterized in that before loading a disk in a read / write unit it is checked whether the Read / write unit for this type of data carrier is provided according to the assignment. 66. The method according to claim 65, characterized in that if the data carrier is not assigned correctly is redirected to another read / write unit. 67. The method according to any one of claims 54 to 66, characterized characterized that the assignment of read / write units for informationless or information str by an operator becomes. 68. The method according to claim 67, characterized in that the assignment of the read / write units to infor mationless or information-bearing data carrier is made variable. 69. The method according to any one of claims 33 to 68, characterized characterized in that the robot system with a Grei fer before loading the data carrier into the loading unit is driven into a safety position. 70. The method according to claim 69, characterized in that that the gripper before removing the disk moved the loading unit into a safety position becomes.   71. The method according to claim 69 or 70, characterized records that the gripper after loading or Ent take a disk from one of the positions is moved to the safety position again. 72. The method according to any one of claims 33 to 71, characterized characterized that before inserting a data carrier in a storage position a check on it is done whether on the respective read / write unit a data carrier by a mainframe is requested. 73. The method according to claim 72, characterized in that that in the case of an existing request a disk a the disk between the Storage positions and the feed position transpor ting transport device is blocked. 74. The method according to claim 73, characterized in that the blocking of the transport device after the Insert the disk into the storage position will be annulled. 75. The method according to any one of claims 33 to 74, characterized characterized in that everyone in the loading unit Data carrier standing position by an train device inserted in a read / write work becomes. 76. The method according to claim 75, characterized in that that everyone in the read / write work read and / or data carrier described by the feeder is transported to the unloading position.   77. The method according to any one of claims 33 to 76, characterized characterized in that from the transport device Disk from the unload position to a stack shaft is transported. 78. The method according to claim 77, characterized in that that a disk in a stack in a Storage position is held. 79. The method according to claim 78, characterized in that that the loading unit described in the stacking shaft or read disk and the respective holds top in the defined storage position. 80. The method according to claim 79, characterized in that from the robot system when accessing the Stacking chute only to the storage position of the Loading unit is accessed. 81. The method according to any one of claims 77 to 80, characterized characterized in that before accessing the Ab position by the robot system direction is blocked. 82. The method according to claim 81, characterized in that the blocking of the transport device after Ent recording a data carrier from the storage position is raised.