JP2004178702A - Magnetic tape library device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a magnetic tape library device in which storing efficiency of a magnetic tape cartridge is improved. <P>SOLUTION: This device is provided with a accessor 5 carrying a magnetic tape cartridge 4 which can be shifted in the direction of width (X), depth (Y) and height (Z)of a case 40, and a shelf shifting mechanism 7 shifting a a cartridge storing shelf 3 storing magnetic tape cartridge 4 in the direction of width (X) of the case 40, cartridge storing shelves 3 of a plurality of columns are arranged in the direction of depth(Y) of the case 40, all cartridge storing shelves 3 can be accessed by the accessor 5. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a magnetic tape library device, and more particularly, to a structure in which an accessor that can move in three axes directions is provided, and a cartridge storage shelf that stores a magnetic tape cartridge can move in the width direction of the housing, and is arranged in the depth direction of the housing. The present invention relates to a magnetic tape library apparatus in which cartridge storage shelves can be arranged in a plurality of rows and storage efficiency of a magnetic tape cartridge is improved.
[0002]
[Prior art]
This type of conventional magnetic tape library device will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0003]
FIG. 8 is a schematic plan view showing a conventional magnetic tape library device 100.
[0004]
Referring to FIG. 8, the magnetic tape library apparatus 100 includes a housing 110, a plurality of cartridge storage shelves 103 for storing a plurality of magnetic tape cartridges 104, and a magnetic tape (not shown) stored in the magnetic tape cartridge 104. ), A magnetic tape drive 102 that records and reproduces information, an accessor 105 that carries a magnetic tape cartridge 104 and inserts and discharges the magnetic tape drive 102 or the cartridge storage shelf 103, and controls the operation of the accessor 105. And a library control unit 106.
[0005]
Next, the operation of the magnetic tape library device 100 configured as described above will be described.
[0006]
When a command to mount a predetermined magnetic tape cartridge 104 to the magnetic tape drive 102 is issued from the library control unit 106, the accessor 105 moves in the width direction (X direction) and up and down to accommodate the predetermined magnetic tape cartridge 104. The magnetic tape cartridge 104 is positioned at a cell (not shown) position of the cartridge storage shelf 103, and the magnetic tape cartridge 104 is taken out of the cell by a picker hand (not shown), and then moved in the width direction (X direction) and the vertical direction. Then, the magnetic tape drive 104 is positioned at a position facing the magnetic tape drive 102, and the magnetic tape cartridge 104 transported by the picker hand is inserted into the magnetic tape drive 102.
[0007]
As described above, it is necessary to arrange the cartridge storage shelf 103 at a position where the accessor 105 can access and insert and discharge the magnetic tape cartridge 104, and the accessor 105 is located in the width direction (X direction) and the vertical direction of the housing 110. 8, only one row of the cartridge storage shelves 103 can be installed in the width direction of the casing 110 as shown in FIG. 8, and the back side of the cartridge storage shelves 103 becomes a dead space (the magnetic tape drive 102). Is generally several times larger than the depth of the cartridge storage shelf 103).
[0008]
The cartridge storage shelves 103 need to be installed in accordance with the movement range of the accessor 105, but since the movement range of the accessor 105 is two directions in the width direction and the vertical direction, the cartridge storage shelves are arranged in a plurality of rows in the depth direction of the housing 110. There is a problem that the storage efficiency of the magnetic tape cartridge 104 cannot be improved because the storage unit 103 cannot be installed.
[0009]
Also, there is a magnetic tape library device in which the accessor is rotatable and a cartridge storage shelf is installed in a semicircular shape to improve the storage efficiency of the magnetic tape cartridge (for example, see Patent Document 1).
[0010]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-8-7422
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The above-described magnetic tape library device in which the movement range of the accessor is a biaxial direction of the width direction and the vertical direction and a plurality of cartridge storage shelves is provided only in one row in the width direction of the housing, is arranged in a plurality of rows in the depth direction of the housing. There is a problem that the cartridge storage shelf cannot be installed, and the back side of the cartridge storage shelf becomes a dead space, and the storage efficiency of the magnetic tape cartridge is reduced.
[0012]
Further, the magnetic tape library device described in Patent Literature 1 arranges a cartridge storage shelf on the surface facing the accessor, and cannot arrange the cartridge storage shelves in a plurality of rows outside the cartridge storage shelf. There is a problem that the storage efficiency of the cartridge storage shelf is limited.
[0013]
An object of the present invention is to provide an accessor that conveys a magnetic tape cartridge that can move in three axial directions to solve the above problem, and a cartridge storage shelf that stores the magnetic tape cartridge can be moved in the width direction of the housing. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a magnetic tape library device in which an accessor can access all of the cartridge storage shelves arranged in a plurality of rows in the depth direction of the housing and the storage efficiency of the magnetic tape cartridge is improved.
[0014]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A magnetic tape library device according to the present invention includes a housing, a plurality of cartridge storage shelves for storing a plurality of magnetic tape cartridges, and a magnetic tape drive for recording and reproducing information on and from a magnetic tape stored in the magnetic tape cartridge. An accessor that transports a magnetic tape cartridge and puts it into and out of a magnetic tape drive or a cartridge storage shelf, an accessor control unit that controls the operation of the accessor, a shelf moving mechanism that mounts and moves the cartridge storage shelf, It has an accessor control unit and a library control unit that controls the shelf moving mechanism, and the accessor has a three-dimensional moving mechanism that moves the picker hand in three directions.
[0015]
The three-dimensional moving mechanism is characterized by having means for moving in a width direction, a vertical direction, and a depth direction with respect to the housing.
[0016]
The three-dimensional moving mechanism includes an X rail arranged in the width direction with respect to the housing, an X movable section slidably mounted on the X rail in the width direction, and a Z mounted and fixed to the X movable section in the vertical direction. A guide, a Z movable portion that is slidably mounted on the Z guide in a vertical direction, a picker hand that is mounted and fixed to the Z movable portion, and fixed to an upper portion of the housing at both ends in the width direction of the housing in the depth direction. And a Y movable portion attached to both ends of the X rail and slidably mounted on the Y rail in the depth direction.
[0017]
The cartridge storage shelves are arranged in a row in the width direction of the housing and are arranged in a plurality of rows in the depth direction.
[0018]
The cartridge storage shelves in the innermost row are fixedly installed on the housing, and the cartridge housing shelves other than the innermost row are fixedly installed on the shelf moving mechanism.
[0019]
The number of cartridge storage shelves provided in a row other than the innermost row is one less than the number of cartridge storage shelves provided in the innermost row.
[0020]
The shelf moving mechanism includes a shelf movable section for fixing the cartridge storage shelf, a belt for moving the shelf movable section in the width direction of the housing, a belt driving section for driving the belt, and a shelf movable section fixed to the housing for mounting. And a shelf rail to be placed.
[0021]
The belt driving unit includes a motor, and drives the belt by rotating the motor clockwise or counterclockwise to move the shelf movable unit in the width direction of the housing.
[0022]
The shelf movable unit includes a frame, a belt fixing unit for fixing a belt, an actuator for moving the belt fixing unit up and down, and a plurality of wheels provided on the frame and traveling on a shelf rail.
[0023]
The actuator is characterized in that the belt is sandwiched and fixed between the sawtooth portion provided on the frame and the sawtooth portion of the belt fixing portion by moving the belt fixing portion upward.
[0024]
The library control unit controls the operation of the belt driving unit and the shelf movable unit of the shelf moving mechanism.
[0025]
The accessor control unit controls the operation of the X movable unit, the Y movable unit, and the Z movable unit of the picker hand and the three-dimensional moving mechanism.
[0026]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Next, an embodiment of a magnetic tape library device of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0027]
FIG. 1A is a schematic configuration plan view showing an embodiment of a magnetic tape library device 1 of the present invention, FIG. 1B is a schematic configuration front view thereof, and FIG. 1C is a schematic configuration thereof. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing details of the three-dimensional moving mechanism 51 in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a front view showing details of the shelf moving mechanism 7 in FIG. 1, and FIG. It is a side view which shows the detail of shelf movable part 23.
[0028]
Referring to FIGS. 1A to 1C, the magnetic tape library device 1 includes a housing 40, a plurality of cartridge storage shelves 3 each including a plurality of cells 3 a for storing a magnetic tape cartridge 4, A magnetic tape drive 2 for recording / reproducing information on / from a magnetic tape (not shown) stored in the tape cartridge 4, and a magnetic tape cartridge 4 which is conveyed and loaded into the magnetic tape drive 2 or the cartridge storage shelf 3; An accessor 5 that performs ejection, an accessor control unit 17 that controls the operation of the accessor 5, a shelf moving mechanism 7 that mounts and moves the cartridge storage shelf 3, and controls the accessor control unit 17 and the shelf moving mechanism 7. The accessor 5 is configured to move the picker hand 10 relative to the housing 40 in the width direction (X), the up-down direction (Z), and the depth direction. Configured with a three-dimensional moving mechanism 51 for moving the three directions (Y).
[0029]
In addition, four cartridge storage shelves 3 are arranged in a row in the width direction (X) of the housing 40 and three rows in the depth direction (Y). 3 is fixedly installed on the housing 40, and twelve cartridge storage shelves 3 other than the innermost row are fixedly installed on the shelf moving mechanism 7.
[0030]
Referring to FIG. 2, the three-dimensional moving mechanism 51 is attached to the housing 40 in an X rail 12 arranged in the width direction (X), and is slidably mounted on the X rail 12 in the width direction (X). An X movable portion 11, a Z guide 16 attached and fixed to the X movable portion 11 in a vertical direction (Z), a Z movable portion 15 attached slidably on the Z guide 16 in a vertical direction (Z), A picker hand 10 attached to and fixed to the movable portion 15, two Y rails 14 arranged in the depth direction at both ends in the width direction (X) of the housing 40 and fixed to an upper portion of the housing 40, and both ends of the X rail 12 The picker hand 10 is attached to the Y-rail 14 so as to be slidable on the Y-rail 14 in the depth direction (Y). , In the depth direction (Y).
[0031]
Referring to FIG. 3, the shelf moving mechanism 7 includes a shelf movable section 23 for fixing the cartridge storage shelf 3, a belt 21 for moving the shelf movable section 23 in the width direction (X) of the housing 40, and driving the belt 21. A belt drive unit 20 having a motor (not shown) that drives the rack and a shelf rail 22 fixed to the housing 40 and on which the shelf movable unit 23 is placed, and rotating the motor clockwise or counterclockwise. To drive the belt 21 to move the shelf movable section 23 in the width direction (X).
[0032]
Referring to FIG. 4, the shelf movable section 23 includes a frame 30, a belt fixing section 32 for fixing the belt 21, an actuator 33 for moving the belt fixing section 32 up and down, and a plurality of shelves provided on the frame 30 on the shelf rail 22. The actuator 33 moves the belt fixing portion 32 in the upward direction, thereby moving the belt 21 between the sawtooth portion 30a provided on the frame 30 and the sawtooth portion 32a of the belt fixing portion 32. Is configured to be sandwiched and fixed.
[0033]
Although the details of the actuator 33 are not shown, the actuator 33 has a configuration in which the belt fixing portion 32 is operated to be attracted by an electromagnetic force generated by energizing the coil.
[0034]
Next, the operation of the magnetic tape library device 1 configured as described above will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0035]
FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the magnetic tape library device 1. A to E in the drawing are symbols for explaining the position of the accessor 5, and FIG. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the magnetic tape library device 1.
[0036]
As an example, a case where the magnetic tape cartridge 4 stored in the cartridge storage shelf 3i shown in FIG.
[0037]
Referring to FIG. 7 and FIGS. 5 to 6, the library control unit 6 instructs each of the cartridge storage shelves 3 a, 3 b, 3 c, 3 e, 3 f, and 3 g to fix to the belt 21. Then, it instructs the other shelf movable sections 23 to release the fixing of the belt 21 (S1), and instructs the accessor control section 17 to position the picker hand 10 at the position B (S2).
[0038]
The accessor control unit 17 operates a motor (not shown) provided in the X movable unit 11 according to an instruction of the library control unit 6, moves the X movable unit 11 left and right, positions the picker hand 10 at the position B, and positions the picker hand 10. Is completed, a report is sent to the library control unit 6 (S3). In parallel with this operation, each of the shelf movable units 23 of the cartridge storage shelves 3a, 3b, 3c, 3e, 3f, 3g follows the instruction of the library control unit 6 Then, the actuator 33 is turned on, the respective cartridge storage shelves 3 are fixed to the belt 21, and the other movable shelves 23 of the other cartridge storage shelves 3d, 3h, 3i, 3j, 3k and 3l operate the actuator 33. The belt 21 is turned off to release the fixing of the belt 21 (S4).
[0039]
The library control unit 6 instructs the shelf moving mechanism 7 in the rows D and E to move the cartridge storage shelf 3 rightward by one storage shelf (S5), and moves the shelves in the rows D and E. The mechanism 7 operates the motor (not shown) of the belt driving unit 20 according to the instruction of the library control unit 6, and rotates the belt 21 clockwise by one storage shelf (S6).
[0040]
When the belt 21 rotates clockwise, the cartridge storage shelves 3a, 3b, 3c, 3e, 3f, and 3g fixed to the belt 21 via the shelf movable portion 23 move rightward by one storage shelf. (S7).
[0041]
The shelf moving mechanism 7 reports the completion of the movement of the cartridge storage shelf 3 to the library controller 6 (S8). After receiving the report, the library controller 6 sends the cartridge storage to the accessor controller 17. It instructs to take out the magnetic tape cartridge 4 stored in the shelf 3i and put it into the magnetic tape drive 2 (S9).
[0042]
The accessor control unit 17 operates a motor (not shown) provided in the Y movable unit 13 according to an instruction of the library control unit 6, moves the Y movable unit 13 back and forth, and positions the picker hand 10 at the position A ( S10) The motor (not shown) provided in the Z movable section 15 is operated to move the Z movable section 15 up and down to position the picker hand 10 at a height position where the magnetic tape cartridge 4 can be taken out (S11). By operating a motor (not shown) provided in the magnetic tape cartridge 10, the picker hand 10 grasps the magnetic tape cartridge 4 (S12).
[0043]
The accessor control section 17 moves the Y movable section 13 back and forth (S13), moves the X movable section 11 right and left (S14), positions the picker hand 10 at the position C (S15), and moves the Z movable section 15 up and down. (S16), the picker hand 10 is positioned in front of the tape slot 2a of the magnetic tape drive 2 (S17).
[0044]
After positioning the picker hand 10, the accessor controller 17 operates the picker hand 10 to insert the magnetic tape cartridge 4 into the magnetic tape drive 2 (S18), and reports completion of the insertion to the library controller 6 (S19). A series of operations for loading the magnetic tape cartridge 4 stored in the cartridge storage shelf 3i into the magnetic tape drive 2 is completed.
[0045]
Next, the storage efficiency of the magnetic tape library device 1 of the present invention will be described below.
[0046]
In the conventional magnetic tape library device 100 shown in FIG. 8, the depth of the magnetic tape drive 2 is larger than the depth of the cartridge storage shelf 103, but the cartridge storage shelf 103 is moved in the width direction (X direction) of the housing 110. Since only one row is arranged, a dead space is generated in the depth direction of the cartridge storage shelf 103 and storage efficiency is reduced. On the other hand, the magnetic tape library device 1 of the present invention A plurality of rows 40 are arranged in the depth direction (Y direction) of the cartridge storage shelf 3 to eliminate dead space in the depth direction of the cartridge storage shelf 3 and improve the storage efficiency of the cartridge storage shelf 3.
[0047]
As described above, the magnetic tape library device 1 is configured such that the accessor 5 for transporting the magnetic tape cartridge 4 can be moved in the three axes of X, Y, and Z, and the cartridge storage shelf 3 for storing the magnetic tape cartridge 4 By adopting a configuration that can move in the width direction (X) of the body 40, the cartridge storage shelves 3 are arranged in a plurality of rows in the depth direction (Y) of the housing 40, and all the arranged cartridge storage shelves 3 are used by the accessor 5. The magnetic tape cartridge 4 can be accessed, so that the storage amount of the magnetic tape cartridge 4 can be increased, and the storage efficiency can be improved.
[0048]
In the magnetic tape library apparatus 1 described above, the shelf movable section 23 is fixed to the belt 21 of the shelf moving mechanism 7 and the cartridge storage shelf 3 is moved by rotating the belt 21. A configuration in which a motor is provided in the unit 23 and the shelf movable unit 23 can be moved independently can be operated and effected similarly to the above-described embodiment, and it is needless to say that the configuration is included in the present invention.
[0049]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the magnetic tape library device of the present invention has a configuration in which the accessor for transporting the magnetic tape cartridge can be moved in three axial directions, and the cartridge storage shelf for storing the magnetic tape cartridge can be moved in the width direction of the housing. With this configuration, multiple rows of cartridge storage shelves are arranged in the depth direction of the housing, and all the arranged cartridge storage shelves can be accessed by the accessor, increasing the storage capacity of magnetic tape cartridges and increasing storage efficiency. There is an effect that can be improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1A is a schematic plan view showing an embodiment of a magnetic tape library apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 1B is a schematic front view of the same, and FIG. It is the schematic structure side view.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing details of a three-dimensional moving mechanism in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a front view showing details of a shelf moving mechanism in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a side view showing details of a shelf movable unit in FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the magnetic tape library device.
FIG. 6 is a configuration block diagram of a control unit of the magnetic tape library device.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the magnetic tape library device.
FIG. 8 is a schematic plan view showing a conventional magnetic tape library device.
[Explanation of symbols]
1, 100 Magnetic tape library device 2, 102 Magnetic tape drive 2a Tape slot 3, 103 Cartridge storage shelf 3a Cell 4, 104 Magnetic tape cartridge 5, 105 Accessor 6, 106 Library control unit 7 Shelf moving mechanism 10 Picker hand 11 X movable Part 12 X rail 13 Y movable part 14 Y rail 15 Z movable part 16 Z guide 17 Accessor control part 20 Belt drive part 21 Belt 22 Shelf rail 23 Shelf movable part 30 Frame 30 a, 32 a Saw tooth part 31 Wheel 32 Belt fixing part 33 Actuator 40, 110 case 51 three-dimensional moving mechanism

Claims (12)

A housing, a plurality of cartridge storage shelves for storing a plurality of windings of the magnetic tape cartridge, a magnetic tape drive for recording and reproducing information on and from the magnetic tape stored in the magnetic tape cartridge, and transporting the magnetic tape cartridge An accessor for loading and unloading the magnetic tape drive or the cartridge storage shelf, an accessor control unit for controlling the operation of the accessor, a shelf moving mechanism for mounting and moving the cartridge storage shelf, and the accessor control. A magnetic tape library device, comprising: a library control unit that controls the unit and the shelf moving mechanism; and the accessor has a three-dimensional moving mechanism that moves the picker hand in three directions. 2. The magnetic tape library device according to claim 1, wherein the three-dimensional moving mechanism includes a unit that moves in a width direction, a vertical direction, and a depth direction with respect to the housing. The three-dimensional moving mechanism includes an X rail arranged in the width direction with respect to the housing, an X movable part slidably mounted on the X rail in the width direction, and an X movable part mounted vertically on the X movable part. A Z guide to be fixed, a Z movable part attached to the Z guide so as to be slidable in the vertical direction, the picker hand attached to and fixed to the Z movable part, and both ends in the width direction of the housing in the depth direction. A Y-rail arranged and fixed to an upper portion of the housing, and a Y-movable portion attached to and fixed to both ends of the X-rail and slidably mounted on the Y-rail in a depth direction. Item 3. The magnetic tape library device according to item 1 or 2. 2. The magnetic tape library device according to claim 1, wherein the cartridge storage shelves are arranged in a line in a width direction of the housing and are arranged in a plurality of lines in a depth direction. The cartridge storage shelf in the innermost row is fixedly installed on the housing, and the cartridge storage shelves other than the innermost row are fixedly installed on the shelf moving mechanism. Magnetic tape library device. The number of the cartridge storage shelves provided in a row other than the innermost row is one less than the number of the cartridge storage shelves provided in the innermost row. 2. The magnetic tape library device according to claim 1. The shelf moving mechanism includes: a shelf movable unit that fixes the cartridge storage shelf; a belt that moves the shelf movable unit in a width direction of the housing; a belt driving unit that drives the belt; 2. The magnetic tape library device according to claim 1, further comprising a shelf rail on which the shelf movable section is placed. The belt driving unit includes a motor, and drives the belt by rotating the motor clockwise or counterclockwise to move the shelf movable unit in a width direction of the housing. The magnetic tape library device according to claim 7. The shelf movable unit includes a frame, a belt fixing unit for fixing the belt, an actuator for vertically moving the belt fixing unit, and wheels provided on the frame and running on the shelf rail. The magnetic tape library device according to claim 7, wherein The said actuator pinches and fixes the said belt between the saw-tooth part provided in the said frame, and the saw-tooth part of the said belt fixing part by moving the said belt fixing part upward. The said belt is characterized by the above-mentioned. 9. The magnetic tape library device according to item 9. 2. The magnetic tape library device according to claim 1, wherein the library control unit controls an operation of a belt driving unit and a shelf movable unit of the shelf moving mechanism. 2. The magnetic tape library device according to claim 1, wherein the accessor control unit controls the operations of the X movable unit, the Y movable unit, and the Z movable unit of the picker hand and the three-dimensional moving mechanism.

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