JP2000298908A - Optical disk library device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a library device which detects the presence or absence of all the optical disks in a short time without taking out trays by resolving the problem that it takes a long time to confirm all slits in a conventional method where a carrying unit is moved to each slit and optical disks are pulled out one by one to perform confirmation because it is necessary to discriminate whether an optical disk is stored in each slit in an optical disk storage rack or not at the time of initialization of many optical disks stored in the optical disk storage rack. SOLUTION: Windows 4a and 4b are opened in both side faces of an optical disk storage rack 1b. Two arms 14 extended from a carrying unit 5 to windows 4a and 4b are provided. A light emitting element 6a and a light receiving element 6b are provided in the front end of one arm 14 and that of the other arm 14 respectively so that their heights may be different by an extent corresponding to one slit and light connecting both elements may cross the surface of an optical disk through windows 4a and 4b, The carrying unit continuously confirms the light reception signal of the light receiving signal 6b while moving, thereby detecting the presence or the absence of optical disks.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improvement in an optical disk library apparatus having an optical disk storage shelf for storing an optical disk not contained in a cartridge.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, at least one optical disk drive for recording or reproducing data on or from an optical disk, an optical disk storage shelf capable of storing a plurality of optical disks, and an optical disk between the optical disk drive and the optical disk storage shelf. There is an optical disk library device (hereinafter, referred to as a library device) including a transport unit for transporting. The optical discs handled by the library device include those in a cartridge and those not in a cartridge. If the cartridge is not contained in a cartridge, the optical disk is placed on a tray-shaped tray having an open top surface and a light transmission hole on the bottom surface, and the tray is transported.

[0003] Hereinafter, the library device referred to in the present invention is of a type not containing a cartridge. FIG. 13 shows a schematic configuration of a conventional library device. 1 in the figure
Reference numerals a and 1b denote optical disk storage shelves for storing a plurality of tray-shaped trays 3 (described later), reference numerals 2a and 2b denote optical disk drives for reproducing or recording optical disks, and reference numeral 3 denotes the details of FIG. A light transmitting hole 15 having a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the optical disk 9 is provided. Reference numeral 16 in FIG. 14 denotes a rotation hole at the center of the optical disc 9. Reference numeral 5 denotes an optical disk 9 for storing the optical disk storage shelf 1a,
A transport unit for transporting between the optical disk drive 1a and the optical disk drives 2a and 2b; 7a and 7b supporting and guiding the transport unit 5; 11a a light emitting element; 11b a light receiving element; Is composed. 1
1X is an optical axis that exits the light emitting element 11a and reaches the light receiving element 11b. For convenience of explanation, FIG. 13 shows two optical disk storage shelves 1 and two optical disk drives 2 each, but it is common to use one or more each.
In the following description, the optical disk storage shelves 1a, 1b,.
May be collectively referred to as the optical disk storage shelf 1 and the optical disk drives 2a and 2b as the optical disk drive 2.

Next, the operation of the library device shown in FIG. 13 will be described. The transport unit 5 is driven vertically along the shafts 7a and 7b by a drive mechanism including a motor, gears and the like (not shown), and the optical disk storage shelves 1a and 1b are driven.
Is positioned at a position facing each of the trays, or at a position of the optical disk drives 2a and 2b. The optical disk storage shelf 1 is driven by a drive mechanism provided on the transport unit 5 and driven in the horizontal direction by a motor, gears, and the like (not shown).
The tray 3 is moved in and out of the optical disk drive 2a or 2b.

Next, the operation will be described. When the power is turned on, the library device needs to check whether or not the optical disk 9 is inserted in each of the optical disk storage shelves 1a and 1b as one of a series of initialization operations, which is performed as follows. . The transport unit 5 is moved to the front of the lowermost tray of the optical disk storage shelf 1b, and the tray 3
Irrespective of the presence or absence of the optical disk 9, the operation of pulling out the tray 3 by a predetermined amount is performed. At this time, if the tray 3 is present, the tray 3 is pulled out; otherwise, nothing happens.

When the tray 3 is pulled out, the optical disk 9 placed on the pulled-out tray 3 has a light emitting element 11
and the optical axis 11X connecting the light receiving element 11b to the light receiving element 11b. Tray 3
However, when the optical disk 9 is not loaded and the tray 3 is not provided, the optical axis 11X passes through the light transmitting hole 15 provided on the surface of the tray 3 and reaches the light receiving element 11b. The presence or absence of the optical disk 9 is detected based on whether or not the optical axis 11X is blocked. When the detection of the presence or absence of the optical disk 9 is completed, the operation of returning the tray 3 to its original state is performed. Next, the transport unit 5 is moved from the bottom of the optical disk storage shelf 1b to the position of the second tray 3, and the tray 3 is pulled out to determine whether or not there is the optical disk 9 as in the first tray. Perform detection. This operation is performed on the optical disk storage shelves 1a and 1b.
It is repeated for all the trays within and for all the optical disk storage shelves 1 provided.

[0007]

Since the conventional library apparatus is constructed as described above, the operation of pulling out and returning a certain amount of each tray to all the optical disk storage shelves before the initialization is performed. Has to be repeatedly performed, so that there is a problem that it takes a long time for initialization.

Further, when it is determined that there is no optical disc, it is not always clear whether there is a tray itself or there is a tray but no optical disc is loaded.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems.
An object of the present invention is to provide a library device that can be implemented in a short time without pulling out a tray.

[0010]

According to the present invention, there is provided a library apparatus comprising: an optical disk storage shelf for storing a plurality of optical disk mounting trays having an open top surface and a light transmitting hole on a bottom surface; An optical disk drive for performing reproduction, a transport unit for transporting the tray between the optical disk storage shelf and the optical disk drive, and a transport unit for the tray stored in the optical disk storage shelf with respect to each of the trays. A transport unit that outputs a position signal when in a position, a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element opposed to the light-emitting element, and an optical axis between the light-emitting element and the light-receiving element is stored in the optical disk storage shelf. The optical disc is mounted on the transport unit so as to pass through the light transmitting hole of the tray and intersect the optical disc. An optical sensor that outputs a light reception signal in accordance with the presence or absence of a disc, and an optical disk detection circuit that outputs a signal indicating the presence or absence of the optical disk based on the presence or absence of the light reception signal when the transport unit position sensor outputs the position signal. It is provided with.

The transport unit has two arms extending outside each of two opposing side surfaces of the optical disk storage shelf. The light emitting element of the optical sensor is provided at the tip of one arm, and the light receiving element is provided at the other arm. And a window through which the light emitted from the light emitting element passes is provided on the two side surfaces of the optical disk storage shelf.

The light receiving element is provided at a position for catching the light of the light emitting element reflected on the surface of the optical disk.

A second light-emitting element and a second light-receiving element opposed to the second light-emitting element, wherein an optical axis between the second light-emitting element and the second light-receiving element is the optical disk; A second optical sensor attached to the transport unit so as to intersect with the tray stored in a storage shelf and outputs a second light reception signal according to the presence or absence of the tray, and a transport unit position sensor outputs a position signal. A tray detection circuit for outputting the presence / absence of the tray based on the presence / absence of a second light receiving signal of the second optical sensor when outputting.

The second light emitting element of the second optical sensor is provided so that its optical axis is substantially parallel to the optical disk.

[0015]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a schematic configuration of the library device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In the following drawings, the same reference numerals as those in the conventional example denote the same or corresponding parts, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted. In the drawing, reference numerals 1a and 1b denote optical disk storage shelves for storing a tray 3 to be described later, 2a and 2b optical disk drives for recording or reproducing the optical disk 9, and 3 an optical disk on which the upper surface is opened and an optical disk on the bottom surface for mounting the optical disk 9. 9
A tray 4b having a light transmission hole 15 having an outer diameter of about 4 is a window formed on the side surface of the optical disk storage shelf 1b, and a hole 4a is formed on the opposite side surface (not shown). Although not denoted by a reference numeral, a similar window is opened on the side surface of the optical disk storage shelf 1a.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a transport unit for transporting the tray 3 between the optical disk storage shelf 1 and the optical disk drive 2;
Numerals are provided extending from both sides of the transport unit 5 in the direction of the optical disk storage shelf 1. 6a is one arm 1
An optical sensor 6 is formed by a light emitting element attached near the tip of the light receiving element 4 and a light receiving element 6b (not shown) attached near the tip of the arm 14 on the opposite side. 7a, 7
b is a shaft that supports the transport unit 5.

The transport unit 5 is driven vertically by a drive mechanism including a motor, gears and the like (not shown), and is not shown at a position facing each tray of the optical disk storage shelves 1a and 1b or at a position of the optical disk drives 2a and 2b. It is positioned by the transport unit position sensor. A motor (not shown) provided on the transport unit 5;
The tray 3 is moved in and out of the optical disk storage shelf 1a or 1b and the optical disk drive 2a or 2b by a drive mechanism that is driven horizontally by gears or the like.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a horizontal cross section at a height where the transport unit 5 of FIG. 1 is stopped, in order to facilitate understanding of the configuration of FIG. In the figure, reference numeral 8 denotes a tray holding member for holding the tray 3, which is provided on the inner side surface of the optical disk storage shelf 1 and has the same number as the trays 3. 9
Is an optical disk mounted on the tray 3. The tray holding member 8 also has windows 4a and 4
The portion b is interrupted (shown by a dotted line in FIG. 3). Reference numeral 6X indicates an optical axis connecting the light emitting element 6a and the light receiving element 6b with a dashed line.

FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b) are views showing a vertical section taken along a dashed line in FIG. For the sake of convenience in the following description, each part vertically divided by each of the tray holding members 8 will be referred to as a slot, and will be referred to as slots 101, 102,. In addition, an alternate long and short dash line in the drawing indicates a path of the optical axis 1X. Although a large number of slots 3 are generally provided, only four slots 101 to 104 are shown here. 3A shows the transport unit 5 located at the height of the slot 102 when the tray 3 is taken in and out, and FIG. 3B shows the transport unit 5 at the height of the slot 103 when the tray 3 is taken in and out. The case where the unit 5 is located is shown.

The light emitting element 6a is connected to the optical disk 9 in the tray 3.
The light receiving element 6 above the surface of the
b are installed at different heights so as to be lower than the above surface by about 1/2 slot, so that the optical axis 6X connecting the light emitting element 6a and the light receiving element 6b just intersects the optical disk 9; 6X is provided so as not to pass through the center hole 16 of the optical disc 9 exactly.

Next, the operation will be described. When the power is turned on to the library apparatus, the presence or absence of the optical disk 9 in each of the optical disk storage shelves 1a, 1b,... Is detected as one of the initialization operations. First, the transport unit 5 moves to the lowermost position in the operating range, and then rises at a predetermined speed toward the uppermost position. During this time, based on the output of a transport unit position sensor (not shown) for vertical positioning, it is detected that the transport unit 5 has reached the height of the tray 3 with respect to each slot, and the light receiving element 6b at that time is detected. The presence or absence of the optical disk 9 is detected based on the output. That is, if there is no optical disk 9 at the height position as shown in FIG.
3B, the light emitted from the light emitting element 6a is blocked by the optical disk 9 and does not reach the light receiving element 6b if there is an optical disk as shown in FIG. The above operation is continuously performed without stopping the transport unit 5.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the position signal output of the transport unit position sensor and the light receiving signal output of the light receiving element 6b when such an operation is performed. The horizontal axis in FIG. 4 shows the passage of time, which is also the rising distance of the transport unit 5 from the lowest position. In FIG. 4, slots 102, 105, 1
Since there is no optical disk 9 in 06 ..., the light receiving element 6b outputs a light receiving signal at the position signal output position of the transport unit position sensor corresponding to the above number, and the output level is high. Position output signal and light receiving signal
One is input to the optical disk detection circuit 20 shown in FIG.
The optical disk detection circuit 20 forms an AND circuit based on the two signals. When both signals are present, it is determined that the optical disk 9 is not present at that position. When there is no slit, it is determined that the optical disk is in the slit. Based on this, it is determined that there is no optical disk 9 in the slots 102, 105, and 106. The timing of light emission of the light emitting element 6a may be either constant light emission or light emission after the slit position is detected.

As described above, the library device shown in FIG.
The optical axis 6X of the optical sensor 6 mounted on the transport unit 5 intersects the surface of the optical disk 9 through a hole in the bottom surface of the tray 3 on which the optical disk 9 is placed. Regardless of this, the presence or absence of the optical disk 9 can be detected while moving the transport unit 5.

In FIG. 1, the windows 4a and 4b on both sides of the optical disk storage shelf 1 are of a strip shape common to all the stored optical disks, but are not limited to such a shape. For example, a hole that allows the optical axis 6X to pass through may be provided for each slot. Although the position is described near the center of the optical disk storage shelf, the position is not limited to this position.

Since a center hole 16 for rotating the optical disk 9 is provided at the center of the optical disk 9, if the optical axis 6X intersects the optical disk 9 near the center of the optical disk 9, this just happens. Center hole 16 to optical axis 6
X passes, and the presence or absence of the optical disk 9 cannot be detected. Therefore, the light emitting element 6 is moved so that the optical axis 6X passes through a position shifted in one direction from the center of the optical disc 9.
a, Adjust the mounting position of the light receiving element 6b. The positions of the light emitting element 6a and the light receiving element 6b are not limited to those shown in the figure, and may be interchanged.

Embodiment 2 FIG. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a library device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. 6, instead of the window 4b provided on the side surface of the optical disk storage shelf 1 in FIG. 1, the depth of the side surface is shortened so that the position of the optical sensor 6 on the transport unit 5 is in front of the optical disk storage shelf 1. It was made. That is, the arm 14 is also shortened.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a horizontal cross section at a height where the transport unit 5 of FIG. 6 is located, in order to facilitate understanding of the configuration of FIG. In the figure, the optical path 6 of the optical sensor 6
The point that X is outside the optical disk storage shelf 1 is different from the first embodiment, but the other points and operations are the same. 8A and 7B are diagrams schematically illustrating a vertical cross section at the position of the dashed line 6X in FIG.
8A shows a case where the optical disk 9 is not present, and FIG. 8B shows a case where the optical disk 9 is present. Optical path 6X of optical sensor 6
Is shifted from the center of the optical disc 9, and the ratio of the tray 3 to the optical disc 9 or the opening looks different from that of FIG. 3 of the first embodiment.

In the library apparatus shown in FIG. 6, a hole 15 opened in the tray 3 on which the optical disk 9 is placed is passed through the optical axis 6X of the optical sensor 6 mounted on the transport unit 5 so as to intersect the surface of the optical disk 9. The optical disk 9
Is detected so that the transport unit 5 is moved while the optical disk 9 is being moved regardless of the presence or absence of the tray 3.
Can be detected.

Embodiment 3 When the optical disk 9 is present, the light from the optical sensor that detects the presence or absence of the optical disk 9 is reflected on the surface of the optical disk 9. Therefore, the presence or absence of the optical disk 9 can be determined by capturing the reflected light. FIG. 9 shows the configuration of the optical sensor 6 for capturing the reflection of the optical disk 9 as described above. Since the signal detection surface of the optical disc is irregularly reflected to some extent, the light-emitting beam of the light-emitting element 6a and the light-emitting element 6b are provided so that the reflected light of the optical disc 9 on one sheet does not enter the light-receiving element 6b when the optical disc 9 is not present. It is preferable to use a light receiving angle of 10 degrees or less.

Embodiment 4 FIG. 10 is a schematic configuration diagram of a library device according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention. In the figure, the light emitting element 6a of the optical sensor 6 on the transport unit 5
The second light receiving element 1 is located near the mounting position of the light receiving element 6b.
Another pair of second optical sensors 10 comprising Oa and the second light emitting element 10b (not shown because it is on the opposite side of the optical disk storage shelf) is added.

FIG. 11 is a horizontal sectional view at the position where the transport unit 5 of FIG. 10 is located, and FIG. 12 is a vertical sectional view taken along a dashed line 6X in FIG. 11 and 12, the transport unit 5 is located at a height at which the tray 3 of the slot 102 is taken in and out. FIG. 12 (a) shows the case where the tray 102 is not in the slot 102, and FIG. An example is shown in which the tray 3 is provided but the optical disk 9 is not contained in the tray 3. While the light emitting element 6a and the light receiving element 6b forming the optical sensor 6 are installed at different height positions above and below one tray 3 as in FIG. 1 of the first embodiment, The second light receiving element 10a and the second light emitting element 10b are at the same height as one tray 3 and
They are installed so that they are almost at the same height.

Next, the operation will be described. When the power is turned on to the library device, the presence or absence of the optical disk 9 in each optical disk storage shelf 1 is detected as one of the initialization operations.
First, the transport unit 5 moves to the bottom in the operating range,
Then, it rises at a predetermined speed toward the top. During this time, based on the position signal output of the transport unit position sensor for vertical positioning, it is detected that the transport unit 5 has reached the height of the tray with respect to each slot, and the output of the light receiving element 6b at that time. The presence or absence of the optical disk 9 on the basis of
The presence or absence of the tray 3 is detected based on the output of. The position signal of the transport unit and the light receiving signal of the second light receiving element 10b are input to a tray detection circuit (not shown). The tray detection circuit constitutes an AND circuit for both signals, and determines that there is no tray when both signals are present.

That is, when there is no tray 3 as shown in FIG. 12A, the second light receiving element 6b and the second light receiving element 10b
Both receive light, and when the optical disc 9 is not loaded as shown in FIG.
The light receiving element 6b receives the light, but the second light receiving element 10b does not receive the light. Thus, when there is no tray 3, when there is a tray but there is no optical disc,
It is possible to identify three cases when there is both a tray and an optical disk.

In the description of FIGS. 11 to 12, it has been described that the second light emitting element 10a and the second light receiving element 10b are installed at substantially the same height, but the point is that the optical axis 10X connecting them is a tray. It is sufficient if the position is such as to be interrupted by 3. In addition, the light emitting element 6a and the second light emitting element 10a can be shared by one light emitting element that outputs an appropriate wide-angle beam.

In the description of the first to fourth embodiments, the detection operation is performed while the moving direction of the transport unit 5 rises from the lowermost stage. However, the moving direction for detection is from the uppermost stage to the lower side. Needless to say, the detection may be performed while moving, or may be started from interruption.

[0036]

As described above, in the optical disk library apparatus of the present invention, the optical axis connecting the light emitting element and the light receiving element provided in the transport unit intersects the surface of the optical disk in the tray. In addition, it is possible to detect the presence or absence of the optical disk while moving the transport unit, and thus obtain the effect of being able to speed up the detection of the optical disk.

Further, since the optical axis of the optical sensor is passed through the window provided on the side surface of the optical disk storage shelf, the outer shape of the optical disk storage shelf is not changed from the conventional one.

Further, since the light reflected by the optical disk is captured, the mounting height of the light emitting element and the light receiving element can be made uniform, and the effect of reducing the size of the sensor can be obtained.

Further, since the presence or absence of the tray is detected by providing the second optical sensor, the effect that the detection of the optical disk and the detection of the tray can be performed independently can be obtained.

Further, since the optical axis of the second optical sensor is provided so as to be substantially parallel to the optical disk, the heights of the light emitting element and the light receiving element can be substantially equalized, and an effect that the sensor can be downsized can be obtained. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an optical disk library device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an operation explanatory diagram of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a detection circuit.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of an optical disk library device according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a horizontal sectional view of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional view of an optical disk library device according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of an optical disk library device according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a horizontal sectional view of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a vertical sectional view of FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is a configuration diagram of a conventional optical disk library device.

14 is a horizontal sectional view of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 1a, 1b Optical disk storage shelf, 2, 2a, 2b
Optical disk drive, 3 trays, 4a, 4b
Window, 5 transport unit, 6 optical sensor,
6a light emitting element, 6b light receiving element, 9 optical disk, 10 second optical sensor, 10a second light emitting element, 10b second light receiving element, 14 arm,
15 light transmission hole, 16 center hole

Claims (5)

[Claims] An optical disk storage shelf for storing a plurality of optical disk mounting trays having an open top surface and a light transmitting hole on a bottom surface; an optical disk drive for recording or reproducing data on and from the optical disk; A transport unit that transports the tray between a shelf and the optical disk drive, and a transport unit that outputs a position signal when the transport unit is at a predetermined position with respect to each of the trays stored in the optical disk storage shelf A position sensor, having a light emitting element and a light receiving element facing the light emitting element, wherein an optical axis between the light emitting element and the light receiving element passes through the light transmitting hole of the tray stored in the optical disk storage shelf. An optical sensor that is mounted on the transport unit so as to intersect the optical disk and outputs a light receiving signal according to the presence or absence of the optical disk; An optical disk library device comprising: an optical disk detection circuit that outputs a signal indicating the presence or absence of the optical disk based on the presence or absence of the light receiving signal when the transport unit position sensor outputs the position signal. The transport unit has two arms extending outside each of two opposing side surfaces of the optical disk storage shelf, and a light emitting element of the optical sensor is provided at a tip of one arm and a light receiving element is provided at the other arm. 2. The optical disk library device according to claim 1, wherein a window is provided at a front end of the optical disk storage, and a window through which light emitted from the light emitting element passes is provided on the two side surfaces of the optical disk storage shelf. 3. The optical disk library device according to claim 1, wherein the light receiving element of the optical sensor is provided at a position for capturing the light of the light emitting element reflected on the surface of the optical disk. 4. An optical disk, comprising: a second light emitting element and a second light receiving element facing the second light emitting element, wherein an optical axis between the second light emitting element and the second light receiving element is the optical disk. A second optical sensor attached to the transport unit so as to intersect with the tray stored in a storage shelf and outputs a second light reception signal according to the presence or absence of the tray, and a transport unit position sensor outputs a position signal. 2. The optical disk library device according to claim 1, further comprising: a tray detection circuit for outputting the presence / absence of the tray based on the presence / absence of a second light receiving signal of the second optical sensor when outputting. 5. The optical disk library device according to claim 4, wherein the second light emitting element of the second optical sensor is provided so that its optical axis is substantially parallel to the optical disk.