JP2000235751A - Information recording/reproducing device and its control method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prolong life of a motor transporting a record medium and also to shorten the time to execute the instruction to transport the record medium. SOLUTION: By this information recording/reproducing device, a cassette library 1 is constituted in such a manner that a drive console 1D having drive devices 13 and a cassette console 1C having housing racks 15 are changeably connected to a basic console 1B, and also the cassettes K are transported by a cassette transportation device 16 between the drive devices 13 and the cassette housing racks 15. By a library controller 2 connected to the cassette library 1, at this time, the power supplying state to this motor and the brake releasing state are maintained during the specified time after the finish of the transportation with respect to the motor provided with the brake, which is used for the transportation of the cassette K by the cassette transportation device 16.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information recording / reproducing apparatus for accommodating a recording medium and recording and reproducing information on the accommodated recording medium, and a control method therefor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a plurality of recording media (for example, cassette tapes or disk-shaped recording media) which can be attached to and detached from a recording / reproducing apparatus are stored, and if necessary, the recording media are stored in the storage media. To record various information,
There is a system for reproducing recorded information. Such a system is called a library system or an autochanger or the like, but will be referred to as a library system in the following description.

Some library systems have a predetermined configuration, while others have a configuration that can be changed to some extent according to the user. As a library system that can change the configuration in this way, for example,
A recording / reproducing console having a recording / reproducing device for recording / reproducing information on / from a recording medium, a recording medium storing console having a plurality of storage sections each capable of storing a recording medium, etc., are connected so as to be capable of changing their positions. Some consoles have a plurality of consoles, and a library system of various scales and arrangements can be constructed by arbitrarily combining these consoles. The recording / reproducing console has a plurality of storage sections each capable of storing a recording medium. Further, such a library system includes a transport device that transports a recording medium between an arbitrary storage unit and a recording / reproducing device, and a control unit that controls the recording / reproducing device and the transport device.

In this library system, a recording medium is transported between an arbitrary storage unit and a recording / reproducing device by a transport device based on control by a control unit.
Various information is recorded on the recording medium conveyed to the recording / reproducing apparatus by the recording / reproducing apparatus, and the recorded information is reproduced. In the transport device, the recording medium is transported by a motor.

In the library system, identification of a plurality of recording media is performed using, for example, identification information given to each of the recording media. The identification information is provided on the recording medium in the form of a barcode, for example. A reading device for reading the identification information given to the recording medium is provided, for example, in a transport device.
In addition, a unique number is also given to a plurality of storage sections for storing the recording medium.

[0006]

In the above-described conventional library system, the transport device receives a recording medium transport operation command from the host and every time the transport operation is completed, the transport device receives the command.
The servo is turned off and the brake is set. Every time a transfer command is issued from the host, one brake release and setting and servo-on and off operations are always performed, and are proportional to the number of transfer commands from the host. As a result, the number of times the brakes are used has increased, and the life of the brakes and the motor has been shortened. In addition, the execution time of the transfer command becomes longer because each operation of the brake release, the servo-on, the servo-off after the transfer is completed, and the brake setting is always performed for each transfer command from the host.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and has a motor used for transport in a transport means for transporting a recording medium between a recording medium storage section and a recording / reproducing means. It is an object of the present invention to provide an information recording / reproducing apparatus and a control method thereof that can shorten the execution time of a transport command while extending the life of the information recording / reproducing apparatus.

[0008]

An information recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention is a device assembly unit configured by combining a plurality of devices connected to each other so that their positions can be changed,
One of the plurality of devices includes a recording / reproducing unit that performs at least one of recording and reproduction of information by using a removable recording medium, and one of the plurality of devices includes a storage unit that can store the recording medium. And a transport unit having a motor for transporting the recording medium between the storage unit and the recording / reproducing unit in the device aggregate unit, the recording / reproducing unit, and the transport unit. And a certain time after the end of the conveyance of the recording medium by the motor,
It is provided with control means for energizing the motor and maintaining the brake release state of the motor.

[0009] Further, a method of controlling an information recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention is a device assembly unit configured by combining a plurality of devices which are connected so that their positions can be changed,
One of the plurality of devices includes a recording / reproducing unit that performs at least one of recording and reproduction of information by using a removable recording medium, and one of the plurality of devices includes a storage unit that can store the recording medium. And a transport unit having a motor for transporting the recording medium between the storage unit and the recording / reproducing unit in the device storage unit, and a recording / reproducing unit and a transport unit. A control method for controlling a motor in an information recording / reproducing apparatus having control means for controlling the motor, wherein the control means supplies power to the motor and brakes the motor for a predetermined time after the conveyance of the recording medium by the motor is completed. The release state is maintained.

In the information recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention, the control means keeps the motor energized and the brake released state for a certain period of time after the end of the conveyance of the recording medium by the motor.

In the control method of the information recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention, the control means keeps the motor energized and the brake released state for a certain period of time after the end of the conveyance of the recording medium by the motor.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 are configuration diagrams schematically showing a library system as an information recording / reproducing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a front view showing a basic configuration of the library system, and FIG. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an overall configuration of the cassette library 1 shown in FIG.

[0013] The library system according to the present embodiment comprises:
A cassette library 1 for storing a plurality of video tape cassettes (hereinafter, simply referred to as cassettes) K as recording media and recording or reproducing information by using any of the stored cassettes K as required; A library controller 2 as control means for controlling the cassette library 1 is provided.

The library controller 2 comprises a controller main body 21 which is a device for controlling the cassette library 1, and a mouse and a keyboard for inputting and instructing information necessary for control to the controller main body 21. An input device 22 and a display device 23 connected to the controller body 21 and having a display screen for displaying information and the like accompanying control are provided. The controller body 21 includes, for example, transmission lines 24 and 25 of the RS-232C standard.
Is connected to the cassette library 1. The controller main body 21 is, for example, a SCSI (Sma
llComputer System Interfa
ce) The transmission path 31 of the standard allows connection to the host computer 3 as a client using the cassette library 1. Also, the controller body 21
Is, for example, Ethernet (registered trademark).
It is also possible to connect to the host computer 3 via a communication network 32 of a predetermined standard such as t).

The cassette library 1 has a basic (Basi
c) Four types of consoles, ie, a console 1B, a drive console 1D, a cassette console 1C, and a junction console 1J, and a cassette transporter 16 as transport means for transporting the cassette K inside the cassette library 1. . The four types of consoles are selectively connected so that their positions can be changed, and the cassette library 1 can have a library configuration using some or all of these four types of consoles. . The minimum required configuration of the cassette library 1 for realizing the library system is the configuration of the basic console 1B and the drive console 1D.

Here, in FIG. 1, the cassette library 1
Only the basic configuration is shown, and an example is shown in which one side of the drive console 1D is connected to one side of the basic console 1B and one side of the cassette console 1C is connected to the other side of the drive console 1D. I have. Further, in FIG. 2, on one side direction of the basic console 1B, in order from the basic console 1B side, the drive console _{1D (1D 11, 1D 12,} ...) and cassette consoles _{1C (1C 11, 1C 12,} ...) alternately to form the console lines L1 underlying the connected drive console 1D (1D ₂₁ toward the front through the junction console 1 J ₁ drive console 1D _11, 1D
_22, ...) and cassette consoles 1C (1C _21, 1
C ₂₂ ,...) Are connected alternately to expand the console row L.
2 is formed, the drive console _{1D (1D 31, 1D 32,} ...) further through the junction console 1 J ₂ toward the front of the cassette console 1C ₁₂ and cassette consoles _{1C (1C 31, 1C 32,} ...) connected alternately An example in which an extended console row L3 is formed is shown. As shown in FIG. 2, when there are a plurality of console rows, the cassette transporter 1 is provided in each console row.
6 are installed. The transfer of the cassette K between the respective console rows is performed via the junction port 18 of the junction console 1J.

The connection relationship between the consoles is not limited to the one shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. For example, even if only the basic console 1B and the drive console 1D are connected, a library system may be used. The basic functions of can be realized.

In the cassette library 1, the drive console 1D includes a plurality of (for example, four) drive devices 13 as recording / reproducing means for recording and reproducing information on / from the cassette K, and a plurality of storage units, and And a cassette storage shelf 14 as a recording medium storage means capable of storing a plurality of. Drive console 1D
Is provided with a drive control unit 70 for controlling the drive device 13. The cassette console 1C includes a cassette storage shelf 15 as a recording medium storage unit having a plurality of storage units and capable of storing a plurality of cassettes K. In the junction console 1D and the cassette console 1C, when the junction console 1J is connected, the cassette storage shelves 14, 15 are partially removed so that the cassette K can be transferred to and from the junction console 1J. ing.

The basic console 1B has an input / output port unit 11 for taking in the cassette K into the library from the front and automatically discharging the cassette K in the library to the outside, and a cassette library 1 at the front of the basic console 1B. And a display unit 12 for displaying various information such as control information on the display. The input / output port unit 11 includes an upper port unit 11 provided on the upper stage of the basic console 1B.
a and a lower port portion 11b provided in the lower stage. The upper port portion 11a and the lower port portion 11b for inputting / outputting the cassette K each have a plurality (for example, four) of input / output ports. Display 1
2 is constituted by a liquid crystal display device, for example. The basic console 1B is further connected to the controller main body 21 of the library controller 2 via the transmission path 24 and the basic control unit 60 connected to the controller main body 21 of the library controller 2 via the transmission path 25. A main drive control unit 61 connected to the control unit 70.

The junction console 1J is used to extend the connection between consoles.
It is configured such that one side of itself can be connected to the front or rear surface of another console. Junction console 1J
As shown in FIG. 2, a junction port 18 having a mechanism for transferring the cassette K to and from another connected console is provided on one side of the upper console 11a of the basic console 1B. Is provided at a position corresponding to. An input / output port 17 having the same function as the input / output port 11 of the basic console 1B is provided on the front of the junction console 1J.
B is provided at a position corresponding to the lower port portion 11b. Further, the junction console 1J includes a basic control unit 8 for controlling a mechanism for transferring the cassette K at the junction port unit 18 and controlling the cassette transporter 16 and the like in an extended console row.
0 is provided. The basic control unit 80 controls the basic console 1
B is electrically connected to the basic control unit 60. In addition,
Other basic configurations of the junction console 1J are the same as those of the basic console 1B.

As shown in FIG. 2, a transport area 103, which is a space for the cassette transporter 16 to move, is provided at a central portion inside the basic console 1B, the drive console 1D, the cassette console 1C, and the junction console 1J. Is provided. In the transfer area 103, a pair of guide rails 101 serving as a transfer path when the cassette transfer device 16 moves is provided in a vertical direction along the transfer direction of the cassette transfer device 16. Further, on the side of the lower guide rail 101, an energizing rail 102 for supplying electric power to the cassette transporter 16 is provided.

The cassette transporter 16 has a transport area 103
In this case, power can be supplied from the power supply rail 102 and the cassette K can be moved in the horizontal direction while holding the cassette K along the guide rail 101, and the cassette transport body 4 has a vertical movement mechanism described later. Thereby, the cassette K can be moved in the vertical direction (up and down direction) while holding the cassette K in each console. Although not shown, the cassette transporter 16 has a mechanism for transferring the cassette K to each console. For example, the cassette transporter 16 loaded from the input / output port unit 11 of the basic console 1B may be used. Can be carried out to the cassette storage shelf 15 of the cassette console 1C. Further, the cassette transporter 16 has a barcode reader (not shown) for reading barcode information indicating an ID (identification information) given to the loaded cassette K.

FIG. 3 is an overall perspective view of the cassette transporter 16,
4 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 3 to 5, each console 1B to
The rack 19 is fixed to each of a pair of upper and lower guide rails 101 fixed to 1J. The pair of racks 19 extend in the same direction as the pair of guide rails 101.

The horizontal moving body 30 includes a lower supporting portion 30a,
Upper support portion 30b and vertical rod portion 3 connecting them
0c. Lower support 30a and upper support 30b
Are provided with guide rollers 33 which are in pressure contact with three surfaces of a pair of guide rails 101, respectively.
Numeral 0 is slidably provided when these guide rollers 33 roll on the guide rail 101 surface.

A horizontal movement motor 34, which is a driving source, is fixed to the vertical rod portion 30c, and a pulley 35 is fixed to a rotating shaft of the horizontal movement motor 34. One end of a timing belt 36 is hung on the pulley 35, and the other end of the timing belt 36 is connected to the large-diameter pulley 3.
Multiplied by seven. The shaft 38 of the large-diameter pulley 37 is rotatably supported by the vertical rod portion 30c, and its distal end reaches the upper and lower ends of the vertical rod 30c. A gear 39 is fixed to the upper and lower ends of the shaft 38, and the gear 3
9 meshes with a pair of left and right gears 40, respectively.
Further, a pinion 41 is integrally fixed to the pair of left and right gears 40, and the pair of upper and lower pinions 41 mesh with the pair of upper and lower racks 3, respectively.

A guide rail 42 extending in the vertical direction is fixed to the vertical rod portion 30c.
2, a slider 43 of the cassette carrier 4 is slidably provided. A vertical movement motor 44 is fixed to the upper support 30b, and a pulley 45 is fixed to the rotation shaft of the vertical motor 44. One end of a timing belt 46 is hung on the pulley 45 and the timing belt 4
The other end of 6 is hung on a large-diameter pulley 47 supported by the upper support 30b. A timing belt 50 is hung between a pulley 48 fixed coaxially with the large-diameter pulley 47 and a pulley 49 supported by the lower supporting portion 30a. 43 is fixed.

In the cassette transporter 16 having the above structure,
When the horizontal movement motor 34 is driven, the driving force
When the pair of left and right pinions 41 at the upper and lower positions rotate in the same direction, the horizontal moving body 30 moves horizontally. That is, the horizontal moving body 30 moves horizontally while maintaining the vertical phase by the pinions 41 at the upper and lower positions rotating at the same timing meshing with the pair of upper and lower racks 3. When the motor 44 for vertical movement is driven, the timing belt 50 is moved by this driving force, and
Moves vertically. That is, the cassette transport body 4 can be moved to any position in the transport area 103 by the horizontal movement and the vertical movement.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a main part near the energizing rail 102 and the sliding contact 5, and FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG. 6, showing the energizing rail fixed to each console 1B to 1J. 102 is a guide rail 1 near the guide rail 101.
01 and the same direction. Energizing rail 102
Are provided with three upper and lower energizing terminals 55 in the longitudinal direction. Each energizing terminal 55 is connected to the power source and the ground of the cassette library 1 via a cable (not shown). On the other hand, three first bases 56 are fixed to the lower support 30 a of the horizontal moving body 30, and each second base 57 is attached to each first base 56 via a pair of parallel links 58. A spring 59 is interposed between the pair of parallel link portions 58.

The sliding contacts 5 are rotatably supported by the second base portions 57, and the sliding contacts 5 are pressed against the energizing terminals 55 of the energizing rail 102 by the spring force of the springs 59. . Each sliding contact 5 is connected via a cable to a main control unit 6 described later fixed to the horizontal moving body 30.
When the horizontal moving body 30 moves horizontally along the pair of guide rails 101, each sliding contact 5 is turned on by the energizing rail 102.
Power is always supplied to the horizontal moving body 30 to slide on the upper side.

FIGS. 8 and 9 are schematic perspective views of the cassette carrier 4, and FIGS. 10 to 12 are a front view, a plan view, and a right side view of a rotating mechanism of the cassette carrier 4. 8 to 12
, The base pedestal 7 is fixed to the slider 43 slidably provided on the guide rail 42, and the vertical rotation motor 62 is fixed to one surface of the base pedestal 7,
The first reduction drum 63 is fixed to the other surface. The first reduction drum 63 is of a harmonic gear type, and reduces the rotation of the fixed portion 63a fixed to the base 7, the rotation input portion 63b to which the rotation of the vertical rotation motor 62 is input, and the rotation of the rotation input portion 63b. The deceleration output section 63c includes a vertical rotation arm member 6
4 is fixed. The deceleration output portion 63c of the deceleration drum 63 has a 90-degree circumferential notch 63d formed therein, and the rotation stopper 63e of the fixed portion 63a is disposed in the 90-degree circumferential notch 63d. That is, the vertical rotation arm member 6
The cassette holder 67 is displaced between the horizontal position shown by the two-dot chain line and the vertical position shown by the solid line in FIGS. 8 and 9 by the vertical rotation of the cassette holder 4 within the range of 90 degrees.

At the end of the vertical rotation arm member 64, an orthogonal plate portion 64a orthogonal to the base pedestal 7 is provided, and on one surface of the orthogonal plate portion 64a, a horizontal rotation motor 6 is provided.
5 is fixed, and a second deceleration drum 66 is fixed to the other surface. The second reduction drum 66 is the first reduction drum 63
And has a configuration similar to that of the first embodiment.
b, and a deceleration output unit 66c.
Is fixed to a cassette holder 67. The deceleration output portion 66c of the second deceleration drum 66 has a 180-degree circular notch 6
6d are formed, and a rotation stopper 66e of the fixed portion 66a is arranged in the 180-degree circumferential notch 66d. The cassette holder 67 is rotated orthogonally with respect to the vertical rotation in the range of 180 degrees so that the cassette holder 67 is positioned at the forward position in FIG.
To the rearward position.

That is, the cassette holder 67 has a vertical position shown by a solid line and a horizontal position shown by a two-dot chain line in a forward position shown in FIG. 8, and a vertical position shown by a solid line in a rear position shown in FIG. It can be displaced to four horizontal positions shown by two-dot chain lines. Therefore, the directions of the cassette insertion ports and the like of the input / output port portions 11 and 17, the drive device 13, and the cassette storage shelves 14 and 15 can be freely set. The center of rotation C ₀ of the horizontal rotation of the cassette holder 67 at the horizontal position indicated by the two-dot chain line is set to be the center in the width direction of the transfer area 103. Can be minimized.
8 and 9, a hand unit 93 having a pair of hand pieces 97 and a pair of cassette guides 111 are provided on the cassette holding body 67, and the pair of hand pieces 97 and the pair of cassette guides 111 The cassette K is gripped during the transfer.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the library controller 2. The library controller 2 includes a screen control unit 121 for controlling the display device 23, an input control unit 122 for controlling the input device 22, and the host computer 3 in accordance with the SCSI standard via the transmission line 31. A SCSI control unit 123 that performs control for connecting to the library controller 2;
A network control unit 124 is provided for performing control for connecting the communication network 32 and the library controller 2. Each block element in the controller main body 21 is connected to each other by an internal bus 120.

The library controller 2 includes a serial line controller 125 for controlling the connection between the cassette library 1 and the library controller 2 via transmission lines 24 and 25 of the RS-232C standard, for example, and a CP.
A central processing control unit 126 configured to include a U (central processing unit) and the like and performs overall control of the library controller 2 and substantial control of the cassette library 1, and performs basic operations of the library controller 2 itself. Read-only memory 127 storing basic programs and the like necessary for
And a temporary storage memory 1 serving as a work area used when the central processing control unit 126 executes a program, for example.
28, a hard disk drive 129 for driving an internal hard disk for storing various information such as a database relating to system information of the library system, and a floppy disk (referred to as FD in the figure) for recording and reproducing information on a floppy (registered trademark) disk. Drive 1
30. A program for controlling the cassette library 1 is stored in a hard disk driven by the hard disk drive 129, and the central processing control unit 126 executes the program to realize a function of controlling the cassette library 1. It has become.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a main part of a functional configuration of the library controller 2. The library controller 2 includes an input device 22, a display device 23, and a control function unit 135 having functions for controlling the cassette library 1. The control function unit 135 functions to perform overall control of the library controller 2 and substantial control of the cassette library 1, and is connected to the main control unit 131 to control the display device 23. A screen control unit 132 that functions as
An input control unit 133 is connected to the main control unit 131 and functions to control the input device 22 and has a storage unit 134 that functions to store various information such as a database relating to system information of the library system. ing.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the basic console 1B. The basic console 1B is connected to the controller main body 21 of the library controller 2 by a transmission path 24, and a basic control unit 60 for controlling the basic console 1B itself and controlling the transport of the cassette transporter 16; While being connected to the controller main body 21 of the controller 2, it is connected to the drive control unit 70 of the drive console 1D,
A main drive control unit 61 for causing the drive control unit 70 to control the drive device 13 is provided.
The main drive control unit 61 is realized by, for example, a microcomputer.

The basic control unit 60 is a communication line between the console control unit 73 which controls each component block in the basic control unit 60 and controls the transport of the cassette transporter 16 and the extended console rows L2 and L3. A console line communication unit 74 for performing communication via the communication line 72; a console configuration collection unit 75 for collecting information on the configuration of each console constituting the basic console line L1 including the basic console 1B; A display control unit 76 for controlling display of a display unit 12 provided on a front surface of the console 1B; and an input / output port unit 1 provided on a front surface of the basic console 1B.
1 has an input / output port control unit 77 for controlling the transfer mechanism of the cassette K and a transfer unit communication unit 78 for performing control communication with the cassette transfer unit 16 using infrared rays 71. Each block element of the basic control unit 60 is connected to each other by an internal bus 79. The console control unit 73 is realized by, for example, a microcomputer.

The console structure collecting unit 75, the console configuration information sending unit 10B configuring the console lines L1 _{underlying, 10D 11, 10C 11, 10C} 12, to collect information concerning the configuration of each console from ... It has become. The console control unit 73 includes information on the console configuration in the basic console row L1 obtained by the console configuration collection unit 75, and information on the console configuration in another console row received via the inter-console row communication unit 74. Are sent to the library controller 2. Console control unit 73
These pieces of information sent from are collected, for example, as system information when the library controller 2 performs a system information creation process.

FIG. 16 shows a junction console 1J.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of j (j = 1, 2).
The junction console 1Jj is controlled by the junction console 1Jj itself or a console row Li (i = 2,
In 3), the basic control unit 80 for controlling the transport of the cassette transporter 16 and the drive control unit 70 control the drive device 13 in the console row extended by the junction console 1Jj as necessary. And a main drive control section 81. The main drive control unit 81 includes a drive console 1D
Are used for interfacing with the main drive control unit 61 of the basic console 1B and the drive control units 70 in the plurality of drive consoles 1D.

The basic control unit 80 includes a console control unit 82
A console line communication unit 83, a console configuration collection unit 84, a display control unit 85, and an input / output port control unit 86
And a transporter communication section 87. The console configuration collection unit 84 includes configuration information transmission units 10J, 10Di ₁ , 1 of the consoles constituting the extended console row Li.
0Ci _1, 10Di _2, is adapted to collect information concerning the configuration of each console from .... The basic control unit 80 has a junction port control unit 89 for controlling a mechanism for transferring the cassette K in the junction port unit 18 provided on the side surface of the junction console 1J. Each block element of the basic control unit 80 is connected to each other by an internal bus 88. The basic control unit 8 excluding the junction port control unit 89
0 is basically a basic console 1B
Has the same function as each block element of the basic control unit 60.

It should be noted that the console control unit 82 receives information about the configuration from the console configuration information transmission unit in another console row (the console row L1 in the example of FIG. 2) to which the junction console 1Ji is connected. It comes to come. For example, in the case of a junction console 1 J _1, from the configuration information sending unit 10D ₁₁ drive console 1D ₁₁ in FIG. 15, information 90 about the configuration, the console control unit in FIG. 16 82
To be sent to This makes it possible to recognize the connection relationship between the console rows.

In the present embodiment, the basic console 1B, the drive console 1D, the cassette console 1C and the junction console 1J constituting the cassette library 1 correspond to the equipment in the present invention.
The cassette library 1 except for the cassette transporter 16 corresponds to the device assembly in the present invention.

Next, the operation of the library system configured as described above will be described. First, the overall operation of the library system will be described. When the library controller 2 is started, a GUI (Grafical User Interface) is displayed on the display device 23 of the library controller 2.
ace) A main screen for control based on the environment is displayed. The user performs various settings for controlling the library system by performing operations using a mouse or the like on the displayed main screen for control.

The library controller 2 responds to a request from the host computer 3 and operates the cassette library 1
For the basic console 1B, the desired cassette K is
A command for moving the input / output port unit 11 of the basic console 1B, the cassette storage shelf 15 of the cassette console 1C, the drive device 13 of the drive console 1D, and the like using the cassette transporter 16 and the drive console 1D. A command for causing the drive device 13 to record or reproduce information is transmitted. A command for moving the cassette K using the cassette transporter 16 is transmitted via the transmission line 24 to the basic control unit 60 of the basic console 1B.
Sent to. Further, in the drive device 13, a command for recording or reproducing information is transmitted to the main drive control unit 61 of the basic console 1 </ b> B via the transmission line 25.

The basic control unit 60 controls the cassette transporter 16 based on a command from the library controller 2 received via the transmission path 24. The control from the basic control unit 60 to the cassette transporter 16 is performed by infrared communication via the transporter communication unit 78. Cassette transfer machine 1
6 is a transport operation for transporting the cassette K taken in from the input / output port unit 11 of the basic console 1B to the cassette storage shelf 15 of the cassette console 1C based on the control from the basic control unit 60, for example. I do.
In the console row extended by the junction console 1J, the basic control unit 80 of the junction console 1J receives a command from the library controller 2 from the basic control unit 60 of the basic console 1B, and transfers the cassette in the extended console row. The machine 16 is controlled in the same manner as the basic control unit 60.

The main drive control section 61 receives a command from the library controller 2 received via the transmission line 25, and based on the command, the drive control section 70 of the drive console 1D.
, And controls the drive device 13 to record and reproduce information. The drive control unit 70
Under the control of the main drive control section 61, the drive device 13 is caused to record and reproduce information.

Next, the control of the cassette transporter 16 will be described in more detail. FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing a control portion of the cassette transporter 16 of the library system. The basic control section 60 is constituted by a CPU-225 board, an IF-580 board and the like. The main controller 6 of the cassette transporter 16 is fixed to the horizontal moving body 30 and is composed of an SV-180 substrate or the like. The transporter communication unit 8 on the cassette transporter 16 side is connected to the control unit 6 by a cable, and is fixed to the horizontal moving body 30. Carrier communication unit 8
Performs infrared communication with the carrier communication unit 78 of the basic control unit 60. The control command from the library controller 2 is transmitted to the basic control unit 60 of the basic console 1B via the transmission path 24, and is transmitted from the transport unit communication unit 78 to the transport unit communication unit 8 of the cassette transport unit 16 by infrared communication. , Control unit 6
Conveyed to. The main control unit 6 understands the contents of the control and proceeds to the actual operation. When controlling the cassette transporter 16 in the extended console row, the basic control unit 80 of the junction console 1J operates the board console 1B.
The command is received from the basic control unit 60 and transmitted from the transporter communication unit 87 to the transporter communication unit 8 on the cassette transporter 16 side.

FIG. 18 is a block diagram showing the transfer of a transfer control command of the cassette transfer device 16. The control command from the library controller 2 is transmitted from the basic control section 60 of the basic console 1 B by infrared communication to the cassette transfer device. 6 and transmitted to the carrier control unit 26, the barcode control unit 27, and the motor control unit 28. The carrier control unit 26 is composed of, for example, an EC-50 board, and controls the cassette delivery mechanism, that is, controls the movement of the hand unit 93 in FIGS. 8 and 9 and the operation control of the hand piece 97 and the cassette guide 111. The barcode control unit 27 is composed of, for example, an RD-24 board, and controls a barcode reader provided on the cassette transporter 16 to read the barcode information of the cassette K taken in. The motor control unit 28 includes, for example, a DA-124 board, and holds a horizontal movement motor 34 for horizontally moving the horizontal movement body 30, a vertical movement motor 44 for vertically moving the cassette transport body 4, and a cassette K. Vertical rotation motor 6 for vertically rotating cassette holder 67
2, and a horizontal rotation motor 65 for horizontally rotating the cassette holder 67 is controlled.

FIG. 19 shows each of the motors 34, 44, 62, 65.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a motor control mechanism for controlling the motors. Each of the motors 34, 44, 62, and 65 is constituted by an AC servomotor, of which the motors 44, 62, and 65 have a brake. The motor drive unit 9 includes the motors 34 and 4
4, 62, 65 are directly controlled. The 12-bit digital speed command value output from the control unit 6 is converted by a 12-bit D / A converter 28a provided in the motor control unit 28 into an analog voltage command value of -10V to + 10V proportional to the speed command value. , To the motor drive unit 9.
The motor drive unit 9 converts this analog voltage command value into -3000.
rpm to +3000 rpm, and each motor 3
4, 44, 62 and 65 are speed-controlled by current control.
An encoder pulse corresponding to the number of rotations is fed back from each of the motors 34, 44, 62, 65 to the encoder counter 6a of the control unit 6 via the motor drive unit 9, and the motors 34, 44, 62, 65 are feedback-controlled. You. The brake information is given from each of the motors 44, 62, 65 to the brake control unit 6b of the control unit 6. Therefore, for example, when a transport command of the cassette K is issued from the upper level, that is, the library controller 2, each motor 34,
The motor current flows for the first time through 44, 62, 65 (servo-on), at which time the motors 44, 62, 65 turn off the brakes, and the motors 34, 44, 62, 65 start rotating. At the end of the command, basically each motor 4
The brakes are applied to the motors 4, 62, 65, the speed control of the motors 34, 44, 62, 65 is turned off, and the supply of current to the motors 34, 44, 62, 65 is stopped (servo off). Thus, each of the motors 34, 44, 62, 6
5 is supplied with current only during operation, so that power consumption can be reduced. The motors 34, 44, 6
The control of 2, 65 is performed individually.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing the control operation of each of the motors 44, 62 and 65. Each motor 44, 6
The control of 2, 65 is performed individually. The main control unit 6 is provided with a servo-off timer which is started by an interrupt process and always counts down. In step S1, an operation command is issued from the basic control unit 60 to the control unit 6 of the cassette transporter 16, and in step S2, the main control unit 6 receives the operation command. In step S3, when the motors 44, 62, 65 are started, it is determined whether the servo-off timer is counting down. If you are counting down,
Since the servo is on, that is, the current is flowing through the motors 44, 62, and 65 and the brake is released, the process proceeds to step S6, and the motors are started. If the countdown of the servo-off timer has been completed in step S3, the servo is turned off, that is, the brake is set in a state where no current is flowing through the motor.
After the brake is released in step S5, step S5 is performed.
At 6 the motor is started.

When the transport of the cassette K is completed, the motors 44, 62, and 65 stop in step S7, start a servo-off timer in step S8, and notify an upper system such as the basic control unit 60 of the end of operation in step S9. . Even if the motor operation is completed, the state of energizing the motor and releasing the brake is maintained until the countdown of the servo-off timer ends.

Since the horizontal movement motor 34 has no brake, the control operation shown in FIG. 20 is not applied, and only the speed control is performed by the motor control mechanism shown in FIG.

In the above embodiment, the cassette transporter 1
A brake mechanism is provided for the motors 44, 62, and 65 used in 6 and transports the cassette K in accordance with the cassette transport instruction. The motors 44, 62, and 65 are servo-on until a predetermined time elapses after the transport is completed. The brake release state is maintained, and if a cassette transport command is received again within this fixed time, the motor can be started without performing servo-on and brake release. Therefore,
The number of times of setting and releasing the brake can be reduced, the wear of the brake pad provided inside the motor can be reduced, and the life of the motor can be extended. Further, since the number of times of setting and releasing the brake can be reduced, the execution time of the instruction for transporting the cassette K can be reduced.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible. For example, the present invention
As a recording medium, the present invention can be applied to a library system using various recording media such as a cassette-shaped recording medium other than a video cassette tape and a disk-shaped recording medium.

[0055]

As described above, according to the information recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, or the control method of the information recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, the control means terminates the conveyance of the recording medium. For a certain period of time thereafter, the motor is energized and the brake release state of the motor is maintained in the same manner as during recording medium conveyance, and if a recording medium conveyance instruction is received again within this predetermined time, the motor is energized. In addition, the motor can be started without releasing the brake. For this reason,
The number of times of setting and releasing the brake can be reduced, the life of the brake and the motor can be prolonged, and the execution time of the recording medium transport instruction can be shortened.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a basic configuration of a library system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an example of the overall configuration of the library system according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the cassette transporter according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a main part near an energizing rail and a sliding contact according to the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line CC of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view of the cassette carrying body according to the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective view of the cassette carrying body according to the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a front view of a rotating mechanism of the cassette transport body according to the embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of a rotating mechanism of the cassette transport body according to the embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a right side view of the cassette transport body according to the embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a library controller according to the embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a library controller according to the embodiment;

FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a basic console according to this embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a junction console according to the embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing a control portion of the cassette transporter of the library system according to the embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a block diagram showing the transfer of a transfer control command of the cassette transfer device according to this embodiment.

FIG. 19 is a configuration diagram of a motor control mechanism according to this embodiment.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing a motor control operation according to this embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1: cassette library, 1B: basic console, 1C
... Cassette console, 1J ... Junction console, 2 ... Library controller, 4 ... Cassette carrier, 6 ... Control unit, 8,78 ... Conveyor communication unit, 9 ... Motor drive unit, 11, 17 ... I / O port unit, 13 ... Drive devices, 14, 15 Cassette storage shelves, 16 Cassette transporter, 18 Junction port section, 28 Motor control section, 30 Horizontal moving body, 34 Horizontal motor, 4
4: Vertical movement motor, 60, 80: Basic control unit, 6
1, 81: Main drive control unit, 62: Motor for vertical rotation, 65: Motor for horizontal rotation, 67: Cassette holder,
70: Drive control unit, 101: Guide rail, 103
... Transport area.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A device aggregate unit configured by combining a plurality of devices that are connected to each other so that their positions can be changed, wherein any one of the plurality of devices uses a removable recording medium to store information. The apparatus includes a recording / reproducing unit that performs at least one of recording and reproduction, and any one of the plurality of devices includes a device assembly unit including a storage unit capable of storing the recording medium; and the storage unit in the device assembly unit. Transporting the recording medium between the recording medium and the recording / reproducing means, and controlling the recording / reproducing means and the transporting means having a motor for transporting the recording medium; and terminating the transportation of the recording medium by the motor. After a certain time,
An information recording / reproducing apparatus, comprising: control means for energizing the motor and holding a brake released state of the motor. 2. An information recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said transport means has a motor for moving said recording medium and a motor for changing the direction of said recording medium. 3. An apparatus aggregate section configured by combining a plurality of devices connected to each other so that their positions can be changed, wherein one of the plurality of devices uses a removable recording medium to store information. The apparatus includes a recording / reproducing unit for performing at least one of recording and reproduction, and one of the plurality of devices includes a device assembly unit including a storage unit capable of storing the recording medium, and the storage unit in the device assembly unit. And a recording / reproducing means, for transporting the recording medium, a transporting means having a motor for the transporting, and an information recording / reproducing apparatus comprising control means for controlling the recording / reproducing means and the transporting means. A control method for controlling the motor, wherein the control means supplies power to the motor for a certain period of time after the conveyance of the recording medium by the motor ends, and releases the brake of the motor. The method of the information recording and reproducing apparatus characterized by holding the state. 4. The method according to claim 3, wherein said transport means has a motor for moving said recording medium and a motor for changing the direction of said recording medium. .