JP2000243002A - Device equipped with recording medium moving means, its control method and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform a carrying operation in a small device area without causing any interference between the carriers of a transfer section and a junction port section, and to simplify the control of the two carriers. SOLUTION: A cassette library 1 is provided with a junction port section for moving a cassette between the first transfer position of a console column L1 and the second transfer position of a console column L2 (transfer section), and a shared carrying space connected to the independent carrying space of the transfer section is provided in the carrying space of the junction port section. When the carrier of the junction port section is driven, determination is made by a determining section 161 as to the presence of the carrier (second carrying section) of the transfer section in the shared carrying space, and when the presence of the carrier is confirmed, the carrier is placed on standby in an independent carrying space by a movement control unit 162.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an apparatus having means for transporting a detachable recording medium, such as a cassette library or an autochanger, a control method thereof, and a recording medium.

[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. There is a system for recording and reproducing various 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.

[0003] Some library systems are not limited to those having a predetermined configuration, and some have a configuration that can be freely changed according to the user. Examples of the library system whose configuration can be changed as described above include, for example, a recording / reproducing console having a recording / reproducing device for recording and reproducing information on and from a recording medium, and a recording medium having a plurality of storage sections each capable of storing a recording medium. There are a plurality of consoles, such as storage consoles, which are connected so that their positions can be changed, and a library system of various scales and arrangements can be constructed by arbitrarily combining these plurality of consoles.

Some recording / playback consoles have 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,
A control unit for controlling the recording / reproducing device and the transport device is provided.

In this library system, a recording medium is conveyed between an arbitrary storage section and the recording / reproducing device by a conveying measure based on the control of the control unit, and the recording medium is conveyed to the recording / reproducing device. On the other hand, various information is recorded by the recording / reproducing device, and the recorded information is reproduced.

Here, an example of a conventional library system will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 4 is a front view showing the basic configuration of a conventional library system, and FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the entire configuration of the cassette library 1 shown in FIG.

[0007] In these figures, the library system stores a plurality of recording media, for example, video tape cassettes (hereinafter simply referred to as cassettes) K, and uses any of the stored cassettes K as required to store information. A cassette library 1 for performing recording and reproduction of data and a library controller 2 as control means for controlling the cassette library 1 are 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 main body 21 is, for example, an RS-
The cassette library 1 is connected to transmission lines 24 and 25 of the 232C standard. Also, the controller body 2
1 is, for example, SCSI (Small Computer System Inte
rface) standard transmission path 31 enables connection to a host computer 3 as a client that uses the cassette library 1.

The controller main body 21 is, for example,
It is also possible to connect to the host computer 3 via a communication network 32 of a predetermined standard such as Ethernet (registered trademark).

The cassette library 1 has a basic (Basic)
Console 1B, drive console 1D, cassette console 1C and junction console 1J
And a cassette transporter 16a to 16c as transporting 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. The cassette library 1 can be configured as a library using some or all of these four types of consoles. Has become. In addition,
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.
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.

[0014] In FIG. 5, 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,} · ·) Are alternately connected to form a basic console row L1,
Through the junction console 1 J ₁ toward the front of the drive console 1D ₁₁ drive console 1D (1
D _21, 1D _22, ··) and cassette consoles 1C
_{(1C 21, 1C 22, ··} ) are connected alternately to form a console column L2 that is extended further, the drive console 1D (1D ₃₁ via the junction console 1 J ₂ toward the front of the cassette console 1C _12, 1D ₃₂ , ...
-) and the cassette console 1C (1C _31, 1C _32,
..) are connected alternately to form an extended console row L3.

As shown in FIG. 5, when there are a plurality of console rows, a cassette carrier 16a or 16b or 16c is provided in each console row. The transfer of the cassette K between the console rows is performed via the junction port section 18 of the junction console 1J.

The connection relationship between the consoles is shown in FIG.
Not only the configuration of FIG. 5 but also a configuration in which only the basic console 1B and the drive console 1D are connected, for example,
Basic functions as a library system 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 the cassette K having a plurality of storage sections. And a cassette storage shelf 14 as a recording medium storage means capable of storing a plurality of.

The drive console 1D includes a drive control unit 70 (FIG. 5) 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 drive console 1D and the cassette console 1C to which the junction console 1J is connected, the cassette storage shelves 14, 15 are provided so that the cassette K can be transferred to and from the junction console 1J when the junction console 1J is connected. Has been partially removed.

The basic console 1B has an input / output port section 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 is a basic console 1
B includes an upper port portion 11a provided in an upper stage and a lower port portion 11b provided in a lower stage. The upper port portion 11a and the lower port portion 11b for inputting / outputting the cassette K are plural (for example, four).
I / O ports.

The display section 12 is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal display device. The basic console 1B is further connected to the controller main body 21 of the library controller 2 via the transmission path 24 (FIG. 5), and connected to the controller main body 21 of the library controller 2 via the transmission path 25. It has a main drive control unit 61 (FIG. 5) connected to the drive control unit 70 of the console 1D.

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.

On one side of the junction console 1J, as shown in FIG. 5, a junction port section 18 having a mechanism for transferring the cassette K to and from another connected console is provided. 1B is provided at a position corresponding to the upper port portion 11a.

On the front surface of the junction console 1J, an input / output port 17 having the same function as the input / output port 11 of the basic console 1B is provided at a position corresponding to the lower port 11b of the basic console 1B. I have.

The junction console 1J is
A basic control unit 80 is provided to control a mechanism for transferring the cassette K at the junction port unit 18 and to control the cassette transporter 16b and the like in the expanded console row. The basic control unit 80 is electrically connected to the basic control unit 60 of the basic console 1B. The other basic configuration of the junction console 1J is the same as that of the basic console 1B.

As shown in FIG. 5, a transport area, which is a space for the cassette transporters 16a to 16c 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. 103 is provided. In the transport area 103, a guide rail 101 serving as a transport path when the cassette transporters 16a to 16c move is provided along the transport direction of the cassette transporters 16a to 16c. Further, on the side of the guide rail 101, an energizing rail 102 for supplying electric power to the cassette transporters 16a to 16c is provided.

The cassette transporters 16a to 16c can be moved in the horizontal direction while holding the cassette K along the guide rails 101 in the transport area 103 by supplying power from the power supply rails 102. ,
A vertical moving mechanism (not shown) allows the console K to move vertically (up and down) while holding the cassette K in each console.

Further, the cassette transporters 16a to 16c are
Although not shown, a mechanism for transferring the cassette K to each console is provided. For example, the cassette K taken in from the input / output port unit 11 of the basic console 1B is stored in a cassette storage shelf of the cassette console 1C. 1
5 can be performed.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the library controller 2. The library controller 2 includes a screen control unit 41 for controlling the display device 23, an input control unit 42 for controlling the input device 22, and an SC
SCSI controller 4 for controlling connection between host computer 3 and library controller 2 according to the SI standard
A network controller 4 for controlling connection between the communication network 32 and the library controller 2
4 is provided. Each block element in the controller main body 21 is connected to each other by an internal bus 40.

The library controller 2 includes, for example, a serial line control unit 45 for controlling the connection between the cassette library 1 and the library controller 2 via the transmission lines 24 and 25 of the RS-232C standard;
A central processing control unit 46 configured to include a PU (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 47 storing basic programs and the like necessary for
And a temporary storage memory 4 serving as a work area used when the central processing control unit 46 executes a program.
8, a hard disk drive 49 for driving a built-in hard disk for storing various information such as a database relating to system information of the library system, and a floppy disk for recording and reproducing information with respect to a floppy (registered trademark) disk (in FIG. FD)
And a drive 50.

A program for controlling the cassette library 1 is stored in a hard disk driven by a hard disk drive 49,
6 realizes a function of controlling the cassette library 1 by executing this program.

FIG. 7 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 line 24, and a basic control unit 60 for controlling the basic console 1B itself and controlling the transport of the cassette transporter 16a. Connected to the controller main body 21 of the controller 2 and 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 62 for controlling each component block in the basic control unit 60 and controlling the transport of the cassette transporter 16a and the extended console rows L2 and L3. An inter-console-row communication unit 63 for performing communication via the base 72; a console-configuration collecting unit 64 for collecting information on the configuration of each console constituting the basic console row L1 including the basic console 1B; A display control unit 65 for controlling the display of the display unit 12 (FIG. 4) provided on the front surface of the console 1B, and a cassette K transfer mechanism for the input / output port unit 11 (FIG. 4) provided on the front surface of the basic console 1B. The communication between the input / output port control unit 66 for controlling the communication and the cassette transfer device 16 using infrared rays 71 for control communication. And a part 67.

Each block element of the basic control unit 60 is connected to each other by an internal bus 68. The console control unit 62 is realized by, for example, a microcomputer.

The console structure collecting unit 64, the console configuration information sending unit 10B configuring the console lines L1 _{underlying, 10D 11, 10C 11, 10D} 12, taken information concerning the configuration of each console from ... It is supposed to.

The console control unit 62 receives information on the console configuration in the basic console row L 1 obtained by the console configuration collection unit 64 and the console information in the other console rows received via the inter-console row communication unit 63. Information about the configuration is sent to the library controller 2. These pieces of information sent from the console control unit 62 are collected as, for example, system information when the library controller 2 performs a system information creation process.

FIG. 8 shows a junction console 1J _j
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of (j = 1, 2). Junction console 1J _j controls the junction console 1J _j itself and the junction console 1
The console sequence Li extended by J _j (i = 2,
The basic control unit 80 for controlling the conveyance or the like of the cassette conveying motor 16b (16c) at 3), the drive unit 13 relative to the drive control unit 70 in the console string extended by the junction console 1 J _j if necessary A main drive control section 81 for performing control.

When a large number of drive consoles 1D are used, the main drive control unit 81 and the main drive control unit 61 of the basic console 1B
This is used for interface with the drive control unit 70 in D.

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 collecting section 84 collects information on the configuration of each console from the configuration information transmitting sections 10J, _10Di1 , _10Ci1 , _10Di2 ,... Of each console constituting the extended console row Li. It is supposed to.

The basic control section 80 has a junction port control section 89 for controlling the transfer mechanism of the cassette K in the junction port section 18 (FIG. 5) provided on the side of the junction console 1J. . Each block element of the basic control unit 80 is connected to each other by an internal bus 88.

Note that each block element of the basic control section 80 except for the junction port control section 89 has basically the same function as each block element of the basic control section 60 of the basic console 1B.

[0044] Incidentally, the console control unit 82 (in the example of FIG. 5, the console column L1) other console column junction console 1 J _j is connected from the console of the configuration information sending unit of the information about the configuration is sent Is coming. 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. 7, the information 90 about the configuration, are sent to the console control unit 82 in FIG. 8. This makes it possible to recognize the connection relationship between the console rows.

The overall operation of the library system configured as described above is as follows. That is, in response to a request from the host computer 3, the library controller 2 transfers the desired cassette K to the basic console 1B of the cassette library 1 by using the cassette transporter 16a. 11, instructions for moving the cassette storage shelf 15 of the cassette console 1C and the drive device 13 of the drive console 1D among each other,
In the drive device 13 of D, a command for recording or reproducing information is transmitted.

A command for moving the cassette K using the cassette transporter 16a is transmitted to the basic control unit 60 of the basic console 1B via the transmission line 24. In the drive device 13, a command for recording and reproducing information is transmitted via the transmission path 25 to the basic console 1 </ b> B.
Is transmitted to the main drive control unit 61.

The basic controller 60 controls the cassette transporter 16a based on a command received from the library controller 2 via the transmission path 24. Basic control unit 60
Is controlled from the transporter communication unit 6 to the cassette transporter 16a.
7 (FIG. 7) by infrared communication.

The cassette transporter 16a includes a basic controller 60
For example, based on the control from, the cassette K taken in from the input / output port unit 11 of the basic console 1B is conveyed to the cassette storage shelf 15 of the cassette console 1C and delivered.

In the console row extended by the junction console 1J, the basic control unit 80 of the junction console 1J receives an instruction from the library controller 2 from the basic control unit 60 of the basic console 1B, and 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 path 25 and, based on a command from the library controller 2, drives the drive control section 70
, And controls the drive device 13 to record and reproduce information.

The drive control unit 70 causes the drive device 13 to record and reproduce information under the control of the main drive control unit 61.

As described above, between the console rows L1 and L2 or between the console rows L1 and L3, the cassette K is transferred via the junction port section 18 of the junction console 1J. FIG. 9 shows how the cassette K moves in the section 18.

FIG. 9 shows a simplified configuration of the above-mentioned library system.
This is a junction part control board for controlling the junction port part 18 and having a control function of the basic control part 80 of FIG.

Reference numeral 60a denotes an upper control board (upper cart controller) comprising a CPU-225 board and other boards.
The other mechanical blocks are controlled from an upper level, and have a control function of the board control unit 60 in FIG.

The upper control board 60a and the controller body 21 of the library controller 2 are RS232C
They are connected by standard transmission lines 24 and 25, and the upper control board 60a and the junction control board 80a
Are connected by an RS-422 standard transmission line.

Two junction ports are provided above and below, and both ports move between the points A and B. One of the points A and B is a cassette transfer point in the console line L1 in FIG. 5, and the other is a cassette transfer point in the console line L2 (L3).

The trajectory of the movement from point A to point B is as follows: after turning 90 degrees from point A, move linearly to point B. In the figure, the upper port moves from point A to point B. The lower port shows a diagram in which the moving is started from the point B to the point A.

As shown in FIG. 10, the hardware structure of the junction port 18 is a cable 106.
a, 106b, gears 107a, 107b, 108a, 1
08b, 109a, 109b, DC motor 110a, 1
10b, the junction conveyance bodies 111a and 111b, etc., will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. Although FIGS. 11 and 12 show the upper port junction port, the lower port junction port has the same configuration.

The junction transfer body 111a is provided with a cassette storage chamber 112 for storing the cassette K in a horizontal direction. The junction ports in FIG. 11 and FIG.
A slide rail 113 is fixed to the junction console 1Jj in FIG. 5 and extends in the same direction as the pair of guide rails 101. A slide block 114 is slidably mounted on the slide rail 113.

An infinite end timing belt 115 is fixed to the slide block 114, and the timing belt 115 is hung on a pair of pulleys 116. A gear 117 is fixed to one shaft of the pair of pulleys 116, and the gear 117 meshes with a small-diameter gear of the intermediate gear 118. The large-diameter gear of the intermediate gear 118 meshes with a gear 120 fixed to the shaft of the slide motor 119.

Further, a pair of slide stopper portions 121a and 121b are provided near the slide rail 113, and the slide block 114 is in contact with one of the slide stopper portions 121a in solid line positions in FIGS. FIG. 1 abuts on slide stopper 121b
1. It moves linearly between the position of the dashed line in FIG.

A rotation motor 122 and a reduction gear 123 are provided below the slide block 114. The rotation of the rotation motor 122 is reduced by the reduction gear 123 and transmitted to the output shaft 124. The output shaft 124 protrudes from the upper surface of the slide block 114, and the junction carrier 111a is fixed to the protruded output shaft 124.

On the upper surface of the slide block 114, there are provided two rotation stopper portions 125a and 125b, and on the lower surface of the junction transport body 111a, there are provided stopper portions 12a and 125b.
6 are provided. The junction transport body 111a has a stopper 126 that is one of the rotation stoppers 125a.
11 and FIG. 12 in contact with the rotation stopper portion 125b and the two-dot chain line in FIG. 11 and FIG.

That is, the junction carrier 111a
The cassette K is moved between a first transfer position, which is a solid line position in FIGS. 11 and 12, and a second transfer position, which is a two-dot chain line position. If the first transfer position is, for example, a point B, at the point B, for example, the cassette K is transferred by the cassette transporter 16a moving in the console row L1 of FIG. 5, and in this case, the second transfer is performed.
At the point A which is the transfer position of the cassette K, the cassette K is transferred by, for example, the cassette transporter 16b moving in the console row L2 in FIG.

Further, the junction port is provided as shown in FIG.
1, the slide rail 113 shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 is not limited to the configuration shown in FIG. 12, but is formed as a straight line having a predetermined length from the first transfer position, and has a curved portion from the straight line portion to the second transfer position. The formed one is used. In this case, the rotation motor 122 and the mechanism associated with the rotation are unnecessary, and the movement of the cassette K between the points A and B is performed by a continuous linear motion part in the linear part and a circular part in the curved part. And a moving part.

The junction carriers 111a, 11
DC motor (sliding motor 11)
9) is controlled by the substrate at the junction as shown in FIG.
During the movement of b, each existing position at the time of stop is detected by counting means such as an encoder pulse counter.

That is, when the movement of the cassette K at the junction port has a continuous linear motion portion and a circular motion portion as described above, the pulse detected by the counting means is used as position information. The servo control at each position is performed based on the position information.

FIG. 13 shows the configuration of the electrical hardware of the junction section.
The C motor represents a slide motor 119 for moving the junction transport bodies 111a and 111b described in FIGS.

The DC motors for the upper port and the lower port are connected to the DC motor driver section 13 of the control board (SY-246) of the junction control section 80a.
The rotation is controlled by a control command sent from 1 via the upper port junction relay board 141 and the lower port junction relay board 142.

Reference numerals 151 and 152 denote pulse encoder counter substrates for counting pulse values proportional to the moving distance when the DC motor (sliding motor 119) rotates and the junction conveyance body (111a, 111b) moves. And is controlled by the encoder counter unit 132 of the junction control unit 80a.

Reference numerals 133 and 134 denote Rs for storing pulse values and various information counted by the encoder pulse counter.
The AM, ROM, and 135 are CPUs that control the entire junction and exchange control commands and detection information with an upper control board in the upper cart controller 60a that is connected via a RS-422 standard transmission path.

[0072]

In the library system configured as described above, the console row L1 shown in FIG. 5 and the console row L2 (L3) installed in another direction with respect to L1. In the junction console 1J ₁ (1J ₂ ) provided therebetween, a transfer space for the cassette transfer device 16b (16c) in the transfer section and a transfer space for the junction transfer body in the junction port section 18 are required.

For this reason, the junction console 1J ₁
The required area of (1J ₂ ) is large, and the installation area of the entire system becomes large. Further, in order to suppress an increase in the installation area of the entire system, the area of other devices, that is, the basic console 1B, the drive console 1D, the cassette console 1C, and the like must be designed to be small. And the system has to be reduced to a system having a small capacity of cassettes.

In order to solve the above problem, it is conceivable to make the transfer space of the cassette in the transfer section and the transfer space of the junction section common. However, in this case, control for each of them and two transfer machines operate simultaneously. It is expected that the control at the time becomes very complicated.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to make it possible for each transfer machine in a transfer unit and a junction unit to perform a transfer operation without interference with a small device area, and It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus provided with a recording medium moving means which simplifies the control of the above, a control method thereof, and a recording medium.

[0076]

(1) An apparatus provided with a recording medium moving means according to the present invention has a moving means for moving a removable recording medium between a plurality of different transfer positions. In an apparatus provided with a recording medium moving means, a first transfer section for transferring a removable recording medium between a first transfer position and a second transfer position separated from the first transfer position by a predetermined distance is provided. A second transport unit that has a shared transport space that includes the transport space of the first transport unit and an independent transport space that is continuous with the shared transport space, and that transports a removable recording medium. Characterized by
In addition, when the first transport unit is driven, there is a retraction control unit that retreats the recording medium transport body in the second transport unit that exists in the shared transport space to the independent transport space. It is characterized by having.

Further, the retraction control means includes a determining unit for determining whether or not the transport medium of the recording medium in the second transport unit exists in the shared transport space, and the determining unit determines whether the transport body exists. And a movement control unit for retreating the transfer body to the independent transfer space when the determination is made that a plurality of devices are connected to the first transfer position in a first direction. Any of the plurality of devices includes a recording / reproducing unit that performs at least one of recording and reproduction of information using a removable recording medium, and includes any one of the plurality of devices. Is provided with a first device group having a plurality of storage sections capable of storing the recording medium, and a second direction different from the first direction along the independent transport space. A plurality of devices connected to each other, Any equipment is characterized in that the second device group comprising a plurality of storage portions storing capable of the recording medium is provided.

Further, according to the control method of the apparatus provided with the recording medium moving means of the present invention, the recording medium detachable between the first transfer position and the second transfer position separated by a predetermined distance from the first transfer position. A first transport unit for transporting the medium is provided, and a shared transport space including the transport space of the first transport unit and an independent transport space connected to the shared transport space are provided to transport the removable recording medium. A method for controlling an apparatus configured to provide a second transport unit for performing, wherein the recording medium in the second transport unit is present in the shared transport space when the first transport unit is driven. This is a control method for retracting the transfer body in the independent transfer space.

Further, the recording medium of the present invention comprises a first transfer position and a second transfer position separated from the first transfer position by a predetermined distance.
For transporting a removable recording medium between transfer positions
And a second transport unit that has a shared transport space that includes the transport space of the first transport unit and an independent transport space that is continuous with the shared transport space, and that transports a removable recording medium. A driving method for the apparatus configured to include: when driving the first transport unit, the recording medium transport body in the second transport unit, which is present in the shared transport space, is placed in the independent transport space. It is characterized in that a program for causing a computer to execute a control method for evacuating to a transport space is recorded on a computer-readable medium.

(2) In the first and fourth aspects of the present invention, since the shared transport space is provided, the recording medium can be transported in a small space, and the first and second transports occupying the entire apparatus. The ratio of parts can be reduced. As a result, the installation area of other devices (e.g., recording / reproducing means and recording medium storage) other than the transport unit can be increased, and the space occupied by the devices can be effectively used.

(3) In the invention according to the second, third, fifth, sixth and seventh aspects, the first and second transports are limited in a limited small space because the retreat control means and the shared transport space are provided. The transport operation can be performed without causing physical interference between the transport bodies in the unit.

(4) In the invention according to claims 4, 5 and 6, the cassette library and the autochanger provided with the first device group, the second device group, etc., in addition to the moving means of the present invention, are also provided. Actions and effects similar to those described in (2) and (3) are achieved.

(5) According to the invention of claim 8, by causing a computer to execute the program recorded on the recording medium of the present invention, the same operation and effect as those described in the above (2) can be obtained. .

[0084]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, the present invention is described with reference to FIGS.
An embodiment applied to the library system described above will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

In this embodiment, the first transport unit that transports the removable recording medium between the first transfer position in the first direction and the second transfer position in the second direction includes: This corresponds to the junction port section 18 of the junction console 1J described in FIGS.

The first device group corresponds to the console row L1 described in FIG. 5, and the second device group corresponds to the console row L2.
(L3).

In this embodiment, in the transport space of the junction port section (first transport section) in the junction console 1J, the second transport section, that is, in the console row L2 (L3) described in FIG. A shared transfer space that partially shares the transfer space of the cassette transfer device 16b (16c) that performs the transfer operation and the transfer space of the first transfer unit is provided. The independent transfer space in the drawing is a transfer space other than the shared transfer space in the second transfer unit.

Reference numeral 160 denotes retraction control means for retreating the cassette transporter of the second transport section existing in the shared transport space to the independent transport space when driving the first transport section.

The evacuation control means 160 determines that the cassette transporters 16b (16c) (ie, transporters moving in the console row L2) in the second transport section are in the shared transport space (ie, the transport space in the junction port section). A determining unit 161 for determining whether or not there is an
61 is a cassette transporter 16b (16c) of the second transport unit
The movement control unit 16 retracts the cassette transporter to the independent transport space of the second transport unit when it is determined that the cassette transporter exists.
And 2.

The evacuation control means 160 communicates with the upper cart controller 60 described with reference to FIG.
a (mainly the CPU-225 board) to transfer information and commands to the transfer control unit 170 (mainly the SV
-180 substrate).

The upper cart controller 60a communicates with the transfer control section 170, the junction control section 80a (having the function described in FIG. 13), the other mechanical mechanism control section 171 and the like by infrared communication or the transmission line RS-422. , Monitors the overall state of each device and sends operation commands to each block.
Each block controls each operation only after receiving an operation command from the host.

That is, for example, the transfer control section 170 controls the operation of the cassette transfer devices (16b, 16c) of the transfer section (the second transfer section), and the junction control section 80a controls the junction port in the junction console 1J. The operation of the cassette transporter (the junction transporter in FIGS. 10, 11, and 12) of the section 18 is controlled.

Next, the operation of the library system configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a top view of the transport space in each console and each transport body of the cassette. The basic console 1B, the cassette console 1C connected in the first direction, and the cassette console 1C in the second direction. Only the connected junction console 1J is shown.

The junction transport body 111 is the junction transport body 111a (111b) of the junction port 18 (first transport section) described with reference to FIGS. 9 to 12, and the transfer transport body 201 is described with reference to FIGS. 3 shows a transport body of the cassette transporter 16b (16c) (second transport unit).

ARIA 1 in the figure is a space in which the junction carrier 111 moves between the point B (ie, the first transfer position in FIG. 1) and the point A (ie, the second transfer position in FIG. 1). It includes the shared transport space described in FIG. ARIA 2 is the space 1 in which the transfer carrier 201 moves, that is, the shared transport space described in FIG. ARIA 3 is the space 2 in which the transfer carrier 201 moves, that is, the independent transport space described in FIG. FIG. 3 shows a control flowchart from the upper cart controller 60a.

First, when a request to move the junction carrier 111 from the point A to the point B or from the point B to the point A is issued from the upper cart controller 60a in step S1, the transfer carrier 201 is moved to the ARIA2 in step S2. The determination unit 161 determines whether or not it exists in the area (shared transport space),
The determination result information is sent to the upper cart controller 60a.

If the determination result indicates that there is a vehicle, the upper cart controller 60a issues a movement command to the transfer control unit 170, and in response to this, the movement control unit 162 sets the transfer carrier 201 to the AR.
It is moved (evacuated) to the area of IA3 (independent transport space) (step S3).

When the retreat operation of the transfer carrier 201 is completed in step S4, the upper cart controller 60a sends a movement command to the junction control unit 80a in step S5. In response to this, the junction control unit 80a moves the junction carrier 111 to the point A in step S6.
Move from point B or point B to point A.

If the result of determination in step S2 is that there is no transfer carrier 201, step S5 is immediately executed and the junction control unit 80
a to send a move command.

As described above, since the shared transport space is provided in the present invention, the recording medium can be transported in a small space, and the first transport section (junction port section 18) and the second transport section occupying the entire apparatus. It is possible to reduce the ratio of the transport units (the cassette transporters 16b and 16c and the parts related thereto). This can increase the installation area of other devices (equipment in each control) other than the transport unit, and can effectively use the space occupied by the devices. In addition, since the evacuation control means 160 is provided, in the limited shared transport space, each transport body in the first and second transport units does not cause physical interference and transport by simple control. Actions can be taken.

Next, an embodiment in which the control method of the present invention is applied to the library system shown in FIGS. 4 to 13 will be described. In the present embodiment, the evacuation control means 160 of FIG.
Is executed as shown in the flowchart of FIG. That is, the junction carrier 111
Is issued from the upper cart controller 60a in step S1, the determination unit 161 determines in step S2 whether the transfer carrier 201 of FIG. 2 is present in the area of ARIA2 (shared transport space). The determination result information is sent to the upper cart controller 60a.

If the determination result indicates that there is a vehicle, the upper cart controller 60a issues a movement command to the transfer control unit 170, and in response to this, the movement control unit 162 moves the transfer carrier 201 to the AR.
It is moved (evacuated) to the area of IA3 (independent transport space) (step S3).

When the retreat operation of the transfer carrier 201 is completed in step S4, the upper cart controller 60a sends a movement command to the junction control section 80a in step S5. In response to this, the junction control unit 80a moves the junction carrier 111 to the point A in step S6.
Move from point B or point B to point A.

If the result of determination in step S2 is that there is no transfer carrier 201, step S5 is immediately executed and the junction control unit 80
a to send a move command.

By executing such a control method, the shared transport space, which is a limited small space,
Each transport body in the first and second transport units can perform a transport operation without causing physical interference.

In the present invention, the control method described above, that is, the first transfer method for transporting a removable recording medium between the first transfer position and the second transfer position separated from the first transfer position by a predetermined distance. A second transport unit that has a transport unit, has a shared transport space that includes the transport space of the first transport unit, and an independent transport space that is continuous with the shared transport space, and transports a removable recording medium. A method for controlling an apparatus configured and provided, wherein, when the first transport unit is driven, a transport medium of a recording medium in the second transport unit, which is present in the shared transport space, is transported by the independent transport. A program for causing a computer to execute the control method for saving in a space is recorded on a computer-readable medium.

The program recorded on the medium configured as described above is transferred to, for example, the library controller 2 of FIG.
The computer of FIG. 1A reads and executes the data so that the transport bodies in the first and second transport units do not cause physical interference in the shared transport space, which is a limited small space, and are transported by simple control. Actions can be taken.

In the above embodiment, the present invention is described with reference to FIGS.
The present invention is applied to the library system shown in FIG. 3, but the present invention is not limited to this. The present invention also relates to another apparatus having a moving means for moving a detachable recording medium between a plurality of different transfer positions, and its control. Even when applied to the method, the same operation and effect as described above can be obtained.

[0109]

(1) As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, since the shared transport space is provided, the recording medium can be transported in a small space, and the first occupying the entire apparatus. In addition, the ratio of the second transport unit can be reduced. As a result, the installation area of other devices (e.g., recording / reproducing means and recording medium storage) other than the transport unit can be increased, and the space occupied by the devices can be effectively used.

That is, for example, the cassette storage section can be enlarged, thereby increasing the storage capacity per unit area of the system (the number of cassettes stored).

(2) According to the second, third, fifth, sixth and seventh aspects of the present invention, since the retraction control means and the shared transport space are provided, the first and second spaces are limited in a limited small space.
The transport operation can be performed without causing physical interference between the transport bodies in the transport unit. That is, control when the first and second transport units operate simultaneously is greatly simplified.

(3) According to the invention according to claims 4, 5 and 6, a cassette library or an autochanger provided with a first device group, a second device group, etc. in addition to the moving means of the present invention. The same effects as those described in (1) and (2) can be obtained.

(4) According to the eighth aspect of the present invention,
By causing a computer to execute the program recorded on the recording medium of the present invention, effects similar to those described in the above (2) can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment when the present invention is applied to a library system.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of a main part showing an example of an embodiment when the present invention is applied to a library system.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an embodiment when the present invention is applied to a library system.

FIG. 4 is an overall configuration diagram showing an example of a conventional library system.

FIG. 5 is an overall configuration diagram showing an example of a conventional cassette library.

FIG. 6 is an overall control block diagram of a conventional library system.

FIG. 7 is a main part control block diagram of a conventional library system.

FIG. 8 is a main part control block diagram of a conventional library system.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation of a junction port section of a conventional library system.

FIG. 10 is a mechanical configuration diagram of a junction section of a conventional library system.

FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram of a main part of a junction section of a conventional library system.

FIG. 12 is a main part configuration diagram of a junction part of a conventional library system.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram of electric hardware of a conventional library system.

[Explanation of symbols]

1: cassette library, 1B: basic console, 1C
... cassette console, 1D ... drive console, 1
Jj Junction console, 2 Library system controller, 3 Host computer, 13 Drive unit, 16a, 16b, 16c Cassette transporter, 17 Input / output port unit, 18 Junction port unit, 60, 80 Basic control Section, 60a: upper cart controller, 80a: junction control section, 89: junction port control section, 101: guide rail, 103: transport area, 111, 111a, 1
11b Junction carrier, 119 Slide motor, 131 DC motor driver, 132 Encoder counter, 151, 152 Pulse encoder counter substrate, 160 Evacuation control means, 161
... Determination unit, 162, movement control unit, 170, transfer control unit, 201, transfer carrier, K
... cassettes, L1, L2, L3 ... console rows.

Claims (8)

[Claims] An apparatus provided with a recording medium moving means configured to move a removable recording medium between a plurality of different transfer positions, comprising: a first transfer position; And a shared transport space including a transport space of the first transport unit, the first transport unit transporting a detachable recording medium between second transfer positions separated by a predetermined distance from the transfer position of the first transport unit. An apparatus provided with a recording medium moving means, comprising: a second conveyance section that has an independent conveyance space connected to the conveyance space and conveys a detachable recording medium. 2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:
2. The recording medium according to claim 1, further comprising a retraction control unit that retreats a recording medium transport body in the second transport unit existing in the shared transport space to the independent transport space. 3. An apparatus provided with a moving means. 3. The refuge control unit determines whether or not a recording medium transporter in the second transporter is present in the shared transport space; and wherein the determination unit determines whether the transporter is present. When it is determined that there is
The apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a movement control unit configured to retract the transport body into the independent transport space. 4. A device group formed by connecting a plurality of devices in a first direction at the first transfer position, wherein any one of the plurality of devices is an information device using a removable recording medium. A first device group including a plurality of storage units capable of storing the recording medium, wherein the first device group includes a recording / reproducing unit that performs at least one of recording and reproduction. Along the independent transport space, a group of devices formed by connecting a plurality of devices in a second direction different from the first direction, and any one of the plurality of devices is the recording medium. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a second device group including a plurality of storage units capable of storing the recording medium. 5. A device group formed by connecting a plurality of devices in a first direction at the first transfer position, wherein any one of the plurality of devices is an information device using a removable recording medium. A first device group including a plurality of storage units capable of storing the recording medium, wherein the first device group includes a recording / reproducing unit that performs at least one of recording and reproduction. Along the independent transport space, a group of devices formed by connecting a plurality of devices in a second direction different from the first direction, and any one of the plurality of devices is the recording medium. 3. The apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a second device group including a plurality of storage units capable of storing the recording medium. 6. A device group formed by connecting a plurality of devices in a first direction at the first transfer position, any one of the plurality of devices being an information group using a removable recording medium. A first device group including a plurality of storage units capable of storing the recording medium, wherein the first device group includes a recording / reproducing unit that performs at least one of recording and reproduction. Along the independent transport space, a group of devices formed by connecting a plurality of devices in a second direction different from the first direction, and any one of the plurality of devices is the recording medium. 4. The apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a second device group including a plurality of storage units capable of storing the recording medium. 7. A first transfer section for transferring a detachable recording medium between a first transfer position and a second transfer position separated by a predetermined distance from the first transfer position, wherein the first transfer section is provided. Having a shared transfer space including the transfer space of the transfer unit and an independent transfer space connected to the shared transfer space,
A control method for an apparatus configured to provide a second transport unit that transports a removable recording medium, wherein the control unit is provided in the shared transport space when driving the first transport unit. A control method for an apparatus provided with a recording medium moving means, wherein a conveyance body of a recording medium in a second conveyance section is retracted to the independent conveyance space. 8. A first transfer section for transferring a removable recording medium between a first transfer position and a second transfer position separated by a predetermined distance from the first transfer position, wherein the first transfer section is provided. Having a shared transfer space including the transfer space of the transfer unit and an independent transfer space connected to the shared transfer space,
A control method for an apparatus configured to provide a second transport unit that transports a removable recording medium, wherein the control unit is provided in the shared transport space when driving the first transport unit. A recording medium characterized by recording a program for causing a computer to execute a control method for retreating a transport medium of a recording medium in the second transport section into the independent transport space on a computer-readable medium.