JP2002373464A - Recording/reproducing device with replaceable recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a recording/reproducing device having replaceable recording medium, capable of executing program searching for the contents of a tape cartridge, in a short time. SOLUTION: A main CPU 52 reads eject position information Ep and cartridge intrinsic information Ci of a searched tape cartridge 2 from a second storing means 5404, and contents position information Cp, corresponding to contents identification information C of the searched tape cartridge 2 from a first storage means 5402. These read eject position information Ep, the cartridge intrinsic information Ci and the contents position information Cp are supplied to a servo controller 6208. The servo controller 6208 calculates control information, necessary for the servo control of tape traveling for program-search of the head position of the contents of the specified contents identification information based on these eject position information Ep, cartridge intrinsic information Ci and contents position information Cp.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording medium exchange type recording / reproducing apparatus for accommodating a large number of tape cartridges and exchanging them for recording / reproduction.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art This type of recording medium exchange type recording / reproducing apparatus includes, for example, a cassette magazine for accommodating a plurality of tape cartridges, a recording / reproducing mechanism for recording / reproducing to / from the tape cartridge, the cassette magazine and the recording / reproducing mechanism. And a transport mechanism for transporting the tape cartridge between them. In such a recording medium exchange type recording / reproducing apparatus, an area for recording management information for appropriately performing a recording / reproducing operation for each tape cartridge is provided at the head of the tape of each tape cartridge.

[0003]

However, in the conventional apparatus for recording the management information at the head of the tape, it is necessary to access the head at the start and end of the recording / reproducing operation. The time required for the traveling of the tape cartridge is long, and it takes time to replace the tape cartridge. Therefore, it has been proposed to provide a memory for recording the management information on the tape cartridge side. The use of such a tape cartridge has the advantage that it is not necessary to run the tape when accessing the management information. However, since tape cartridges provided with a memory have not yet been widely used, it is difficult to limit the applicable range to a tape cartridge with a memory. There is also a disadvantage that the storage capacity of the memory itself is small. In addition, when searching for the desired content of the tape cartridge, the position of the tape in the tape cartridge at that time and the position of the desired content recorded on the tape cartridge are not immediately known. It was difficult to optimally perform servo control when running the tape for cueing, and there was a disadvantage in that cueing took time. An object of the present invention is to solve such a problem of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a recording medium capable of reading and writing management information of a tape cartridge without accessing the tape cartridge. An object of the present invention is to provide an exchangeable recording / reproducing apparatus. Another object of the present invention is to provide a recording medium exchange type recording / reproducing apparatus capable of locating the contents of a tape cartridge in a short time.

[0004]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a magazine for accommodating a plurality of tape cartridges each having a case and a tape accommodated in the case, and the tape cartridge is mounted. A recording / reproducing mechanism for performing at least the recording and reproducing of the tape while running the tape of the tape cartridge in a state, and removing the tape cartridge from the magazine and mounting the tape cartridge on the recording / reproducing mechanism; A tape cartridge moving mechanism for removing the tape cartridge mounted on the magazine and housing the tape cartridge in the magazine; and servo control means for servo-controlling the tape running by the recording / reproducing mechanism based on control information. Is assigned cartridge identification information, In each of the contents recorded on the recording tape is assigned content identification information, in a recording medium exchange type recording and reproducing apparatus configured such that the recording position of the information recorded on the tape is managed by address data, A first storage unit in which, for each cartridge identification information, the content identification information and content position information including address data at a head position of the content are recorded in a corresponding manner; Second storage means for recording eject position information including address data of the tape at the time of removal from the recording / reproducing mechanism, wherein the servo control means performs tape running for cueing a head position of the content. The control information necessary for performing servo control is The first by Ceiling identification information is identified, characterized in that it is configured to generate, based on the contents position information and the eject position information read from the second storage means.

Therefore, according to the present invention, when the content identification information is specified, the head of the content is determined based on the content position information read from the first and second storage means based on the content identification information and the eject position information. The control information of the servo control of the tape running for locating the position is generated.

Further, the present invention provides a magazine for accommodating a plurality of tape cartridges each having a case and a tape accommodated in the case, and a method for running the tape of the tape cartridge with the tape cartridge mounted. A recording / reproducing mechanism for recording and / or reproducing a tape, a tape cartridge taken out of the magazine and mounted on the recording / reproducing mechanism, and a tape cartridge mounted on the recording / reproducing mechanism is removed and housed in the magazine A recording medium exchange type recording / reproducing apparatus in which cartridge identification information is assigned to each of the cartridges. The tape cartridge is recorded and / or recorded by the recording / reproduction apparatus for each cartridge identification information. Or play Storage means for storing management information necessary to perform the writing and / or reading of the management information of the storage means when the recording / reproducing apparatus records and / or reproduces the tape cartridge. It is characterized by having.

Therefore, according to the present invention, writing and reading of the management information of the tape cartridge are performed by accessing the storage means.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a front view of the recording medium exchange type recording / reproducing apparatus of the present embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the recording medium exchange type recording / reproducing apparatus of the present embodiment as viewed obliquely from the front. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the recording medium exchange type recording / reproducing apparatus 10 accommodates a plurality of tape cartridges 2 and takes out the accommodated tape cartridges 2 to perform recording / reproducing. The recording medium exchange type recording / reproducing apparatus 10 includes a first and a second magazine 1 for housing a housing 12 and a plurality of tape cartridges 2 arranged vertically.
4, 16; a transport space 17 provided between the first and second magazines 14, 16; a recording / reproducing mechanism 18 disposed below the transport space 17; a moving mechanism 20 for moving up and down the transport space 17 And a transfer mechanism 25 for transferring the tape cartridge 2 between the moving mechanism 20 and the first and second magazines 14 and 16, a control unit 50 (see FIG. 1), and the like.

First, the tape cartridge 2 will be described. FIG. 4A is a perspective view showing a state in which the tape cartridge is viewed obliquely from above, and FIG. 4B is a perspective view showing a state in which the tape cartridge is viewed obliquely from below. The tape cartridge 2 is shown in FIG.
As shown in (A) and (B), case 202 and case 2
2 includes a magnetic recording tape 201 (hereinafter, referred to as a tape) housed in a memory device 02 and a memory 250 shown in FIG. The case 202 has a width W in the left-right direction, a length L in the front-rear direction perpendicular to the left-right direction, and a thickness T in the vertical direction perpendicular to the left-right direction and the front-rear direction. The width W in the left-right direction is larger than the length L in the front-rear direction. The case 202 includes a case body 203, a back cover 214, and an opening / closing cover 216. The case body 203 includes an upper surface 204, left and right side surfaces 206 and 208 connected to both widthwise sides of the upper surface 204, and an upper surface 20.
4, a rear surface 210 connected to the rear side, and side surfaces 206 and 20.
8 and a lower surface 212 connecting the lower end of the rear surface 210.
6, 208, and a portion surrounded by the front part of the lower surface 212 is opened and closed.

In the case body 203, two reels 217 (first and second reels) are disposed at an interval in the width W direction, and the tape 201 is attached to the opening / closing cover 216 and the back cover 21.
4 and wound around these reels 217. The outer diameter of the tape wound on each reel 217 is called a winding diameter. Bearing part 21 of two reels 217
9 are rotatably supported via holes 220 on the lower surface of the case 202, and the bearing 219 is exposed below the lower surface 212 of the case body 203. The bearing 219 has a reel shaft 180 of the recording / reproducing mechanism 18 described later.
8 is provided with an engaging portion integrally engaged. The opening / closing lid 216 is swingably connected to the side surfaces 206 and 208 of the case main body 203 via two arms 216A and 216B, and the opening / closing lid 216 is connected to the case main body 20 as shown in FIG.
3 covers the space between the opening / closing cover 216 and the back cover 214, that is, the tape portion located at the tape running portion, and the opening / closing cover 216 is attached to the case body 208.
The open / close lid 2 is configured to expose a tape portion located in the tape running portion in an open state of swinging upward.
Reference numeral 16 is constantly biased to a closed state.

The memory 250 stores management information of the tape cartridge 2, that is, information used for recording or reproducing operation of the tape or the tape cartridge 2.
Specific information is recorded. The management information includes position information of the content recorded on the tape 201, use history information of recording data for each partition when the tape 201 is divided into a plurality of partitions, user information, and information of the tape cartridge 2. The date of manufacture, the manufacturer, the total length, thickness, and material of the tape 201 are included. In some cases, the tape cartridge 2 does not have the memory 250. In such a case, the management information is recorded at a predetermined position on the tape 201, for example, at the head of each partition. ing.

The tape cartridge 2 having such a configuration is the same as a conventionally available data recording data cartridge (data 8 mm cassette) or a digital video tape cartridge for recording moving images and audio, and these commercially available products are used. be able to. In the present embodiment,
A case where a tape cartridge equivalent to the data cartridge is used will be described.

Next, the first and second magazines 14, 16
Will be described. The first and second magazines 14, 16
As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of accommodation spaces 27 accommodating the tape cartridge 2 so as to be able to be inserted and taken out are arranged in a straight line so as to be vertically elongated vertically. The first and second magazines 14 and 16 are arranged at an interval on the left and right inside the housing 12 so that their longitudinal directions are parallel to each other.
4 and 16, these first and second magazines 14 and 16
A transport space 17 extending along the longitudinal direction, that is, the vertical direction, is provided.

Each of the first and second magazines 14 and 16 has a plurality of support pieces 2808 projecting vertically and spaced apart from each other. It protrudes horizontally toward. The accommodation space 2
The front and right and left sides of the upper and lower two support pieces 2808 are formed in an open shape so that the tape cartridge 2 can be inserted and removed. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in the first magazine 14, the tape cartridge 2 is accommodated in each accommodation space 27 with the opening / closing lid 216 facing the transport space 17, and in the second magazine 16, The tape cartridge 2 is
It is configured to be accommodated in each accommodation space 27 with the rear surface 210 facing the transport space 17. The positional relationship between the open / close lid 216 and the rear surface 210 of the tape cartridge 2 housed in the first and second magazines 14 and 16 is the same, in other words, when viewed from the front of the housing 12, Both the tape cartridge 2 housed in the first magazine 14 and the tape cartridge 2 housed in the second magazine 16 are in a state where the opening / closing lid 216 is located on the right side.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the first magazine 14 can accommodate 11 tape cartridges 2, and the second magazine 16 can accommodate 10 tape cartridges 2. Accommodation space 27 is provided. Each of the accommodation spaces 27 is assigned an accommodation address, which is identification information for specifying a position of the tape cartridge 2. As will be described later, the accommodation and removal of the tape cartridge 2 from each accommodation space 27 This is done based on the address.

Next, the moving mechanism 20 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the moving mechanism 20 includes a holding unit 22 that holds the tape cartridge 2 and moves the transport space 17 up and down, and a guide unit 23 that guides the holding unit 22 in the up-down direction.
And a drive unit 24 that moves the holding unit 22.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the driving section 24
First motor 2402 composed of a pulse motor, reduction mechanism 2
404, drive pulley 2410, driven pulley 2412, toothed belt 2414, slit plate 2416, sensor 241
8 and the like. The first motor 2402, the speed reduction mechanism 2404, and the drive pulley 2410 are disposed at the front of the upper surface of the upper wall 12 of the housing 12,
Is rotatably provided on the upper surface of the bottom wall 1202 of the housing 12. The toothed belt 2012 is a driving pulley 2
A part of the toothed belt 2012 is hung between the driven belt 410 and the driven pulley 2412,
Is fixed by a mounting bracket 2416. The driving force of the first motor 2402 is transmitted to the driving pulley 2410 after being decelerated by the speed reduction mechanism 2404, and is transmitted to the toothed belt 2.
414 moves between the driving pulley 2410 and the driven pulley 2412, whereby the frame 2202, that is, the holding unit 22 is moved up and down. The slit plate 2416 is formed of a disk in which radially extending slits are formed at regular intervals in the circumferential direction, and is attached to the rotating shaft of a gear constituting the reduction mechanism 2404. The sensor 2418 is attached to the upper wall 1212 of the housing 12, and outputs a pulse signal corresponding to the rotation amount of the gear, that is, the first motor 2402 by detecting the passage of the slit of the slit plate 2416. It is configured as an incremental sensor. Sensor 2
The pulse signal output from 418 is input to a control unit described later, and is used for controlling the first motor 2402.

Next, the configuration of the transfer mechanism 25 will be described. The delivery mechanism 25 includes a first delivery member 30 for delivering the tape cartridge 2 between the first magazine 14 and the holding unit 22 of the moving mechanism 20, as shown in FIGS. A second delivery member 32 and a first delivery member 3 for transferring the second 2 between the second magazine 16 and the holding portion 22 of the moving mechanism 20
The second drive unit 38 moves the second transfer member 32 (not shown).
Each of the transfer members 30 and 32 has a linear base piece 3102 disposed in parallel with the horizontal piece 2208 of the frame 2202.
And the horizontal piece 22 protruding from both ends of the base piece 3102
08 inner delivery piece 310 spaced apart in the longitudinal direction
4 and an outer transfer piece 3106. Each of the transfer members 30 and 32 includes an inner transfer piece 3
The dimension between the outer delivery piece 3104 and the outer delivery piece 3106 is larger than the dimension L of the tape cartridge 2 in the front-rear direction, and the first and second magazines 14 are provided between the inner delivery piece 3104 and the outer delivery piece 3106. , 1
It is configured to be able to move up and down while sandwiching 6.

The connecting pieces 31 are provided at both ends of the base piece 3102.
08 is provided, and each connecting piece 3108 is slidably coupled to a horizontally extending rod (not shown) provided on the frame 2202, so that each of the transfer members 3108 is provided.
Reference numerals 0 and 32 are provided inside the housing 12 so as to be movable in the left-right direction. Accordingly, the transfer members 30 and 32 are also moved up and down integrally with the holding unit 22 via the frame 2202 by the movement of the frame 2202 by the driving unit 24.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, the second drive section 38 is connected to the second transfer member 32 and is provided with a slide member 350 movably provided in the left-right direction for transmitting a driving force.
6. It is configured to include a motor, a speed reduction mechanism, and the like disposed at the front of the upper surface of the bottom wall 1202 of the housing 12.

When the slide member 3506 and the second transfer member 32 are connected, the engagement pin 3116 is connected to the guide groove 3506A.
To the slide member 3 regardless of the vertical position of the second transfer member 32.
The second delivery member 32 is configured to move in the left-right direction integrally with the 502. The driving force of the motor is transmitted to the slide member 3506 via a rack or the like after being decelerated by the speed reduction mechanism. This allows
The second transfer member 32 is configured to move in the left-right direction by moving the slide member 3506 in the left-right direction. The configuration of the first drive unit that moves the first transfer member 30 is the same as the configuration of the second drive unit 38. Further, the first and second driving units are also provided with sensors for detecting a rotation amount of the motor and outputting a pulse signal. The pulse signal output from the sensor is input to a control unit described later, and is used for controlling each of the motors.

Therefore, as shown in FIG.
In a state where the holding unit 22 is positioned at the position of the accommodation space 27 in which the desired tape cartridge 2 is accommodated by the driving unit 24, the first transfer member 30 is moved in the direction of the holding unit 22 by the first driving unit. By pressing the tape cartridge 2 with the outer delivery piece 3106 of the first delivery member, the tape cartridge 2 is moved from the first magazine 14 to the holding unit 2.
The transfer of the tape cartridge 2 to the tape cartridge 2 is performed. Further, the holding unit 2 is driven by the driving unit 24.
2 is positioned at the desired accommodation space 27,
The first transfer member 30 is moved to the first
The tape cartridge 2 is moved from the holding portion 22 to the first magazine 14 by moving the tape cartridge 2 toward the magazine 14 and pressing the tape cartridge 2 with the inner transfer piece 3104 of the first transfer member.

As shown in FIG. 2, the drive unit 24 positions the holding unit 22 at the position of the accommodating space 27 in which the desired tape cartridge 2 is accommodated. The second delivery member 3
The tape cartridge 2 is moved from the second magazine 16 to the holder 22 by moving the tape cartridge 2 toward the holder 22 and pressing the tape cartridge 2 with the outer transfer piece 3106 of the second transfer member. ing. Further, in a state where the holding section 22 is positioned at a desired accommodation space 27 by the driving section 24, the second transfer section 32 is moved in the direction of the second magazine 16 by the second driving section to move the tape cartridge 2 to the second magazine 16 position. The tape cartridge 2 is transferred from the holding section 22 to the second magazine 16 by being pressed by the inner transfer piece 3104 of the second transfer member.

Next, the recording / reproducing mechanism 18 will be described. The recording / reproducing mechanism 18 is provided on the upper surface of the bottom wall 1202 of the housing 12, as shown in FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 7, the recording / reproducing mechanism 18 has a mounting portion 1802 provided at a position facing the lower portion of the transport space 17 and on which the tape cartridge 2 is mounted, and a rotary head 1803 connected to the mounting portion 1802. Recording / playback unit 18
04, a power supply unit 1807 adjacent to the recording and reproducing unit 1804, and the like. Then, the tape cartridge 2 is moved downward in the transport space 17 with the holding unit 22 holding and holding the tape cartridge 2 by the driving unit 24, so that the tape cartridge 2 is held in the attitude stored in the holding unit 22. 17 and is mounted on the mounting portion 1802 in that posture. The mounting portion 1802 includes a lower surface 212 of the tape cartridge 2.
Two reel shafts 1808 are provided to be detachably connected to bearing portions 219 of the two reels 217 facing the side. A rotation shaft of a reel motor (not shown) is connected to each of the reel shafts 1808, and the rotation of these motors causes the tape 20 of the tape cartridge 2 to rotate.
1 is run.

The recording / reproducing unit 1804 performs a loading operation of pulling out the tape from the tape cartridge 2 mounted on the mounting unit 1802 and pressing the tape against the rotary head 1803. Reproduction is performed. In addition, the driving unit 24 controls the holding unit 22.
When the tape cartridge 2 held and held in the holding section 22 is held in the holding section 22,
7, the tape cartridge 2 is detached from the mounting portion 1802 by moving upward. In the present embodiment, the moving mechanism 20 and the transfer mechanism 25 constitute the tape cartridge moving mechanism of the present invention.

Next, the control section 50 will be described.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control unit 50. The control unit 50 includes a main CPU 52, a memory 54, an interface unit 56, a buffer 58, an input / output unit 60, and a tape drive control unit 6 for controlling the recording / reproducing mechanism 18.
2, a tape changer control section 64 for controlling the drive section 24 and the first and second drive sections 36 and the like. The main CPU 52 controls the respective units. The memory 54 constitutes first storage means 5402 and second storage means 5404 to be described later, and also constitutes storage means of the present invention.

The interface unit 56 transmits and receives data and commands between the main CPU 52 and the buffer 58, and takes an interface for transmitting and receiving data between the main CPU 52 and the tape drive control unit 62. It is configured as follows. The buffer 58 is configured to adjust a data transfer speed when data and commands are exchanged between the interface unit 56 and the input / output unit 60. The input / output unit 60 is hardware that exchanges content data and commands between the recording medium exchange type recording / reproducing device 10 and an external information processing device. That is, the tape cartridge 2 by the recording medium exchange type recording / reproducing apparatus 10
The operations such as selection, extraction, recording, reproduction, fast forward, and rewind are performed based on commands input from the external information processing device.

The tape drive control unit 62 includes an interface unit 6202, an IF / ECC controller 62
04, a recording / reproducing unit (RF) 6206, a system controller 6206, a servo controller 6208 (servo control means), and the like. The interface unit 6204 is connected to the interface unit 56 and I
An interface is provided between the F / ECC controller 6204 and an interface between the interface unit 56 and the system controller 6206. The IF / ECC controller 6204 performs encoding for adding an ECC (error correction code) to digital data indicating content input from the interface unit 6206 during a recording operation on the tape cartridge 2 and performs recording and reproduction on the tape. 6206, and decodes the digital signal input from the recording / reproducing unit 6206 at the time of reproducing operation from the tape cartridge 2.
Is configured to be input. The recording / reproducing unit 62
06 performs recording on the tape 201 by converting an encoded digital signal input from the IF / ECC controller 6204 into an RF signal and supplying the RF signal to the rotary head 1803 during a recording operation on the tape cartridge 2. It is configured to make it. Further, at the time of a reproducing operation from the tape cartridge 2, an RF signal inputted from the rotary head 1803 is converted into a digital signal and inputted to the IF / ECC controller 6204. The system controller 6206 controls the IF / ECC controller 6204 and the servo controller 6208 based on a command input from the main CPU 52 via the interface unit 6202, and also controls the data of the tape cartridge 2 in the memory 250. It is configured to store and read. The servo controller 6208 performs servo control of the running of the tape 201 by the recording / reproducing mechanism 18, that is, servo control of a motor that rotationally drives each of the reel shafts 1808.

The tape changer controller 64 includes a system controller 6402 and a servo controller 64
04. The system controller 6402
Is configured to control the servo controller 6404 based on a command input from the main CPU 52. The servo controller 6404 is configured to control the rotation of each motor of the drive unit 24, the first drive unit, and the second drive unit 36 based on the control of the system controller 6402. The rotation control of each of these motors is performed using a pulse signal output from each of the aforementioned sennas. The servo controller 6404
The rotation control of each motor is performed by the above, so that each of the tape cartridges 2 is taken out from the first and second magazines 14 and 16, and the taken out tape cartridge 2 is attached to the mounting portion 1802 of the recording / reproducing mechanism 18. Operations such as mounting, removal of the tape cartridge 2 from the mounting portion 1802 of the recording / reproducing mechanism 18, and accommodation of the removed tape cartridge 2 in the first and second magazines 14 and 16 are performed.

Next, the structure of data recorded in the memory 54 will be described. The memory 54 has a first storage unit 5402 shown in FIG. 8 and a second storage unit 54 shown in FIG.
04 is configured. As shown in FIG. 8, the first storage means 5402 is configured such that the accommodation address A, the content identification information C, and the content position information Cp are recorded and read out by the main CPU 52 for each cartridge number N. . The cartridge number N (N1 to Nn, where n is the first and second magazines 1)
The total number of tape cartridges 2 accommodated in the tape cartridges 4 and 16 is allocated to each tape cartridge 2 in order to identify the tape cartridge 2. The accommodation address A (A1 to An) is assigned to each accommodation space 27 in which the tape cartridge 2 is accommodated, as described above. The content identification information C (C11 to C1
m, C21 to C2m, C31 to C3m,... Cn1
To Cnm) are information assigned to each content in order to identify the content stored in each tape cartridge 2. This content identification information C
Is information specified when a content is reproduced according to a command from an external information processing device.

The content position information Cp is information recorded for each piece of the content identification information C, and indicates the content of each reel of the tape cartridge 2 in a state where the beginning of the content is located (a state in which the content can be reproduced immediately). The winding diameter ratio Rc (R11 to R1m, R21 to R2m, R31 to R3m,..., Rn1 to Rn)
m) and the tape 20 at the beginning of the content.
Track ID as address data indicating position 1
Tc. The recording of information on the tape 201 is performed in a predetermined track unit, and the track ID Tc is recorded for each track of the tape 201. The content identification information C and the content position information Cp are stored in the tape 201 of the tape cartridge 2.
Is recorded every time the content is recorded.
When the tape cartridge 2 has a memory 250 and the content position information is recorded in the memory 250, the content position information read from the memory 250 is used as the first content information Cp.
What is necessary is just to record in the storage means 5402. In FIG. 8,
To simplify the description, the same subscript m is used to indicate the content identification information, the winding diameter ratio, and the track ID for each cartridge number N. The number may be different for each cartridge number.

As shown in FIG. 9, the second storage means 5404
The content identification information C and the cartridge specific information C are set by the main CPU 52 for each cartridge number N.
i, eject position information Ep, content position information Cp
Is recorded and read out. Content identification information C (C11 to C1m, C21 to C2m, C31 to C3m,...) Recorded on the tape cartridge 2 for each cartridge number N.
.., Cn1 to Cnm) are recorded. The cartridge specific information Ci is, for each tape cartridge 2,
The total length L (L1 to Ln) of the tape 201 and the tape 20
1 thickness t (t1 to tn). In FIG. 9, the same subscript m is assigned to the content identification information for each cartridge number N for simplification of the description, but the number of the content identification information may actually be different for each cartridge number. .

The eject position information Ep includes a track ID as address data of the tape when the tape cartridge is removed from the recording / reproducing mechanism.
It is composed of Te (IE1 to IEn) and the winding diameter ratio Re (RE1 to REn). The eject position information Ep is recorded every time the tape cartridge 2 is removed from the recording / reproducing mechanism 18. When the tape cartridge 2 has a memory 250 and the entire length and thickness of the tape are recorded in the memory 250, the information read out from the memory 250 is used as cartridge-specific information Ci. 2 storage means 540
4 should be recorded.

As shown in FIG. 10, in the present embodiment,
A case where the recording medium exchange type recording / reproducing device 10 is used as an external storage device of the personal computer 100 will be described. The personal computer 100 includes a main body 110 containing a motherboard, a hard disk drive, and the like, a keyboard 120, a mouse 130, a display device 140, and the like. The main body 110 of the personal computer 100 is connected to the input / output unit 60 of the recording medium exchange type recording / reproducing apparatus 10 so as to perform recording and reproduction on each tape cartridge 2 of the recording medium exchange type recording / reproducing apparatus 10. Is configured. For example, by selecting the content to be displayed on the display device 140 using the keyboard 120 or the mouse 130 of the personal computer 100, the personal computer 100 instructs the recording medium exchange type recording / reproducing device 10 to reproduce the selected content. In response to the command, the recording medium exchange type recording / reproducing apparatus 10 is configured to reproduce the tape cartridge 2 in which the selected content is stored.

In this embodiment, the management information of the present invention is constituted by the storage address A, the content identification information C, and the content position information Cp recorded in the first storage means 5402 for each cartridge number N. I have. Further, the cartridge number N is stored in the second storage unit 5404.
The management information of the present invention is constituted by the content identification information C, the cartridge unique information Ci, the eject position information Ep, and the content position information Cp recorded for each.

Next, the operation of the recording medium exchange type recording / reproducing apparatus configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, the main CPU 52
Monitors whether or not the information for designating the content from the personal computer 100, that is, the content identification information C has been input (step S10).
When the content identification information C is input, the main CP
U52 searches for the tape cartridge 2 corresponding to the content identification information C (step S12). That is, the cartridge number N corresponding to the content identification information C is specified based on the recording content of the first storage unit 5402, and the tape cartridge 2 having the cartridge number N is the same as the tape cartridge 2 mounted on the recording / reproducing mechanism 18. It is determined whether or not (Step S14). In addition,
The main CPU 52 manages the cartridge number N of the tape cartridge 2 mounted on the recording / reproducing mechanism 18. If the result of this determination is negative, the tape cartridge 2 mounted on the recording / reproducing mechanism 18 is removed (ejected) and accommodated in the accommodation space 27 indicated by the accommodation address A of the tape cartridge 2 (step S1).
6). That is, the main CPU 52 gives a command to accommodate the tape cartridge 2 to the system controller 6402 of the tape changer control section 64 together with the accommodation address A of the tape cartridge 2. As a result, each drive unit (drive unit 24, first and second drive units) is controlled by the system controller 6402 via the servo controller 6404, and the removal of the tape cartridge 2 from the recording / reproduction unit 18 and the first magazine 14 or The storage in the second magazine 16 is performed.

At this time, the main CPU 52 records the eject position information Ep when the tape cartridge 2 is removed from the recording / reproducing mechanism 18 in the second storage means 5404 (step S18). The track ID Te that constitutes the eject position information Ep is recorded in the recording / reproducing unit 6.
206, an IF / ECC controller 6204, and interface units 6202 and 56, which are input to the main CPU 52. The winding diameter ratio Re that constitutes the eject position information Ep is based on the total length L and thickness t of the cartridge unique information Ci of the tape cartridge 2 recorded in the second storage means 5404, and the track ID Te. Calculated by the main CPU 52.

Next, the tape cartridge 2 having the cartridge number N searched (specified) in step S12 is mounted on the recording / reproducing mechanism 18 (step S2).
0). That is, the main CPU 52 gives a command to mount the tape cartridge 2 to the system controller 6402 of the tape changer control section 64 together with the accommodation address A of the tape cartridge 2. As a result, each drive unit is controlled by the system controller 6402 via the servo controller 6404 to take out the tape cartridge 2 from the first magazine 14 or the second magazine 16 and take the tape cartridge 2 into the recording / reproducing mechanism 18. Wearing is performed.

Next, the main CPU 52 reads out the eject position information Ep and the cartridge specific information Ci of the tape cartridge 2 retrieved from the second storage means 5404 (step S22). Then, the main CPU 52
Reads the content position information Cp corresponding to the content identification information C of the specified tape cartridge 2 from the first storage means 5402 (step S24). Then, the main CPU 52 supplies the read eject position information Ep, cartridge unique information Ci, and content position information Cp to the servo controller 6208 via the interface units 56 and 6202 and the system controller 6206. The servo controller 6208
Based on the eject position information Ep, the cartridge unique information Ci, and the content position information Cp, control information necessary for servo control of the tape running for cueing the head position of the content of the specified content identification information is calculated (step S26). That is, the servo controller 6208 determines that the winding diameter ratio Re and the track ID Te included in the eject position information Ep, and the winding diameter ratio Rc and the track ID Tc included in the content position information Cp.
And control information such as the running direction of the tape, the running amount of the tape, and the speed curve at the time of running the tape are calculated based on the total length L and the thickness t of the tape included in the cartridge specific information Ci. Generate. This control information is generated so that the servo control is optimized, that is, the running time of the tape is minimized.

The rotation of the reel motor of the recording / reproducing mechanism 18 is controlled based on the control information calculated in step S26, the head position of the content is located (step S28), and reproduction is performed. (Step S30).
On the other hand, if the decision result in the step S14 is negative, the process moves to a step S22 and similar processing is performed.

According to the recording medium exchange type recording / reproducing apparatus 10 of the present embodiment described above, the content identification information Ci
Is specified, the servo control of the tape running for cueing the head position of the content based on the content position information Cp and the eject position information Ep read from the first and second storage means based on the content identification information Ci. Since the control information can be generated, it is advantageous in shortening the cueing time of the content. In addition, tape cartridge 2
The reading and writing of the management information can be performed without accessing the tape cartridge 2.

In this embodiment, the track ID is used as the content position information and the eject position information, that is, the address data indicating the position of the tape.
Time information indicating a recording time may be recorded on the tape in a predetermined time unit, and the time information may be used as address data. Further, in the present embodiment, since the content position information and the eject position information are recorded in the first and second storage units including the winding diameter ratio, control information for performing servo control is calculated. There is an advantage that the calculation can be performed in a short time. However, the winding diameter ratio is not recorded in the first and second storage means, and every time the control information is calculated, the winding diameter ratio is calculated based on the address data and the total length and thickness of the tape. Is also good.

In the present embodiment, the first and second storage means are provided on the memory 54. However, the first and second storage means are not limited to a semiconductor memory, but may be implemented in a hard disk drive. May be. Further, each tape cartridge 2 housed in the recording medium exchange type recording / reproducing apparatus 10 can be replaced with another tape cartridge 2 not housed in the recording medium exchange type recording / reproduction apparatus 10. In this case, it is provided at the head of the tape of the tape cartridge 2 to be removed from the recording medium exchange type recording / reproducing apparatus 10 (that is, housed in the recording medium exchange type recording / reproduction apparatus 10). The management information recorded in the management information recording area or the memory 250 is rewritten to the latest one, and then the tape cartridge 2 is removed.
The management information of the tape cartridge 2 housed in the
4 in the first and second storage means 5402 and 5404. Further, in the present embodiment, as the management information, the accommodation address A, the content identification information C, the content position information Cp, the cartridge unique information Ci, the eject position information Ep, and the content position information Cp have been described as examples. Is not limited to this. The management information includes information necessary for recording or reproduction on the tape cartridge 2. In this embodiment, the recording medium exchange type recording / reproducing apparatus 10 has been described as performing both recording and reproduction. However, the invention according to claim 1 is directed to a recording medium which performs at least reproduction among recording and reproduction. The present invention can be applied to an exchange type recording / reproducing apparatus.

[0044]

As described above, according to the present invention, when the content identification information is specified, the content position information and the eject position information read from the first and second storage means are determined based on the content identification information. Since the control information of the servo control of the tape running for locating the head position of the content based on the content can be generated, it is advantageous in shortening the locating time of the content. According to the present invention,
Reading and writing of the management information of the tape cartridge can be performed without accessing the tape cartridge.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control unit of a recording medium exchange type recording / reproducing apparatus according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the recording medium exchange type recording / reproducing apparatus of the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the recording medium exchange type recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present embodiment as viewed obliquely from the front.

FIG. 4A is a perspective view showing a state in which the tape cartridge is viewed obliquely from above, and FIG. 4B is a perspective view showing a state in which the tape cartridge is viewed obliquely from below.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating operations of a moving mechanism, a transfer mechanism, and a recording / reproducing mechanism.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view for explaining an engagement state between a guide member and a second delivery member.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a recording / reproducing mechanism.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing storage contents of a first storage means.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing storage contents of a second storage means.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the arrangement of a recording medium exchange type recording / reproducing apparatus and a personal computer according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the operation of the recording medium exchange type recording / reproducing apparatus of the present embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference numeral 2 denotes a tape cartridge, 10 denotes a recording medium exchange type recording / reproducing device, 14 denotes a first magazine, 16 denotes a second magazine, 18 denotes a recording / reproducing mechanism, and 27 denotes a housing space.
, A control unit, 54, a memory, 5402, a first storage unit, 5404, a second storage unit.

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Toyomi Fujino 6-7-35 Kita Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Sony Corporation F-term (reference) 5D057 AA20 AA22 BB06 BC02 BC03 CB06 EB20 5D077 AA01 AA38 BA18 DC01 DC22 DE01 EA08

Claims (8)

[Claims] A magazine for accommodating a plurality of tape cartridges each having a case and a tape accommodated in the case; and recording and recording of the tape while running the tape of the tape cartridge with the tape cartridge mounted. A recording / reproducing mechanism for performing at least reproduction, and taking out the tape cartridge from the magazine and mounting the tape cartridge on the recording / reproducing mechanism, and removing the tape cartridge mounted on the recording / reproducing mechanism and storing the tape cartridge in the magazine A tape cartridge moving mechanism; and servo control means for servo-controlling the running of the tape by the recording / reproducing mechanism based on control information. Each of the cartridges is assigned cartridge identification information, and is recorded on the tape. Each of the content In the recording medium exchange type recording / reproducing apparatus, wherein the content identification information is allocated, and the recording position of the information recorded on the tape is managed by the address data, for each of the cartridge identification information, And the content position information including the address data at the head position of the content is recorded correspondingly.
Storage means, and second storage means for recording, for each cartridge identification information, eject position information including address data of the tape when the tape cartridge is removed from the recording / reproducing mechanism, the servo control means Reads the control information necessary for performing the servo control of the tape running for cueing the head position of the content from the first and second storage means by specifying the content identification information. The recording medium exchange type recording / reproducing apparatus is configured to generate based on the content position information and the eject position information. 2. The recording medium exchange type recording according to claim 1, wherein the recording of the information on the tape is performed in a predetermined track unit, and the address data is a track ID assigned to each track. Playback device. 3. The recording medium exchange type recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein time information indicating a recording time is recorded on said tape in a predetermined time unit, and said address data is said time information. apparatus. 4. The recording medium exchange type according to claim 1, wherein the recording of the content identification information and the content position information in the first storage means is performed every time the content is recorded on the tape. Recording and playback device. 5. The recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the recording of the eject position information in the second storage means is performed every time the tape cartridge mounted on the recording / reproducing mechanism is removed. Exchangeable recording / reproducing device. 6. The tape cartridge includes first and second reels on which the tape is wound, and the content position information is a content of the tape wound on the first reel at a leading position of the content. The winding diameter, which is the outer diameter,
2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising a winding diameter ratio that is a ratio to a winding diameter that is an outer diameter of the tape wound on the second reel.
The recording medium exchange type recording / reproducing apparatus according to the above. 7. The tape cartridge includes first and second reels on which the tape is wound, and the eject position information is information of a tape wound on the first reel at a leading position of the content. The winding diameter, which is the outer diameter,
2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising a winding diameter ratio that is a ratio to a winding diameter that is an outer diameter of the tape wound on the second reel.
The recording medium exchange type recording / reproducing apparatus according to the above. 8. A magazine accommodating a plurality of tape cartridges each having a case and a tape accommodated in the case, and recording and recording of the tape while running the tape of the tape cartridge with the tape cartridge mounted. And / or a recording / reproducing mechanism for performing reproduction, and removing the tape cartridge from the magazine and mounting the tape cartridge on the recording / reproducing mechanism. A recording medium exchange type recording / reproducing apparatus in which cartridge identification information is assigned to each of the cartridges, wherein the recording / reproducing apparatus records and / or reproduces the tape cartridge for each cartridge identification information. Necessary for Storage means for storing appropriate management information, and is configured to write and / or read the management information of the storage means when recording and / or reproduction of the tape cartridge by the recording / reproducing device. Recording medium exchange type recording / reproducing apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned.