JP2007080308A - Library device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a library device which can improve the reading precision of bar codes by adjusting a laser scanning position of a bar code reader and can eliminate the need of adding a mechanism to adjust the laser scanning position newly. <P>SOLUTION: The bar code reader 33 is attached to the rear of a picker 9 so that an optical axis is tilted in the direction perpendicular to a scanning direction by the prescribed angle, and the laser scanning position is changed in the up and down direction of a bar code label by back and forth movement (arrow mark direction) of the picker 9. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a library apparatus, and more particularly, to a library apparatus equipped with a barcode reader for reading information such as a barcode label attached to a recording medium cassette.

  In the library apparatus, for example, as shown in FIG. 13, the tape cassette 1 is annularly arranged on the turntable 2, and this turntable 2 is rotated by the turntable driving mechanism 3 and stored in the garage 4 of the turntable 2. (Non-Patent Document 1) describes a configuration in which an elevator mechanism 5 reads and writes the target tape cassette 1 out of the tape cassettes with respect to the drive device 6 and performs reading and writing. .

  In this configuration, it is possible to automate loading and unloading of the tape cassette 1 into and from the drive device 6 within the range of the library stored in the turntable 2. However, when a large number of tape cassettes 1 stored as a library in a limited space are required, it is said that the magazine system shown in FIG. 14 is more suitable than such a turntable system.

  In this magazine type library apparatus, as shown in FIG. 14A, a drive apparatus 6 and magazines 8a and 8b are arranged in a library apparatus casing 7, and the tape cassette 1 is accommodated in the drive apparatus 6, and a picker 9 is provided. The tape cassette 1 is transferred between the magazines 8a and 8b and the drive device 6.

  The magazines 8a and 8b are fixed to the library apparatus housing 7, and the picker 9 is driven when the tape cassette 1 is put in and out. FIG. 5B shows the movement position of the picker 9 when the tape cassette 1a4 stored in the storage position at the innermost end of the magazine 8a is taken out and set in the drive device 6. FIG.

  Further, in order to identify a plurality of tape cassettes 1 on which data is recorded, a bar code label is usually attached to the back surface of the tape cassette 1. A library device has also been proposed in which the barcode label is scanned at high speed by scanning laser light from a barcode reader. As the means for scanning the laser beam, a mechanism that rotates a polygon mirror or a mechanism that vibrates the mirror is generally used. Alternatively, as another configuration, a mechanism for moving a magazine for storing a recording medium cassette or a mechanism for moving a picker for transferring the recording medium cassette is provided, and a bar attached to the cassette using these powers. There has also been proposed a library apparatus that can sweep a laser beam on the surface of a code label and read bar code information at high speed.

  As a re-reading process that is executed when the barcode is missed, a picker driving mechanism that transfers the recording medium cassette as described in (Patent Document 1) is used at the time of re-reading. There is a method of executing re-reading by tilting the laser scanning line of the bar code reader.

15 and 16 show the configuration of this (Patent Document 1). In this (Patent Document 1), one end of the laser scanning line of the barcode reader is tilted relative to the other end so that the two barcode labels attached to the back surface of the recording medium cassette can be read and scanned together. It is configured. Specifically, the barcode reader plate 53 is attached to the inner side surface of the sensor plate 54, and the protrusion 53 a of the barcode reader plate 53 is pushed up by the forward movement of the picker 58, so that the barcode reader plate 53 moves upward about the shaft 57. Rotate. One end of the barcode reader base 52 provided on the upper surface of the sensor plate 54 is pivotally supported on the sensor plate 54 by a base shaft 55, and the barcode reader 51 is mounted on the barcode reader base 52. . The bar code reader plate 53 is arranged so as to be shifted to one side with respect to the center of the bar code reader 51 as shown in FIG. 16A, and the front end 53b is placed through the hole 54b drilled in the sensor plate 54. The bar code reader base 52 is in contact with the back surface of the code reader base 52, and the bar code reader base 52 is rotated about the base shaft 55 as shown in FIG. The laser scanning line 56 of the barcode reader 51 can be tilted from the state shown in FIG. 16A to the state shown in FIG. 16B, and the barcode is read again in this state.
“New Technology of 2002 Matsushita Electric” 2003/05 pp.155-159 “DDS Backup Library” R & D Planning Office JP 2004-22072 A

  In the configuration of (Patent Document 1), when the barcode information is erroneously read, the laser scanning line 56 of the barcode reader 51 is tilted as shown in FIG. Bar code information can be obtained while avoiding bar code chipping and dirt attached to the surface of the bar code label. In addition to the picker front / rear drive mechanism, the bar code reader base 52, bar code reader plate 53, sensor A mechanism such as a plate 54, a base shaft 55, and a shaft 57 is required.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a library apparatus that can adjust the scanning position of a bar code without adding another mechanical mechanism for reading a bar code only by a mechanism for driving the picker back and forth. To do.

  The library apparatus according to claim 1 of the present invention transfers a specific recording medium cassette among recording medium cassettes stored in a magazine to a picker, and the picker conveys the specific recording medium cassette to a drive device. The picker is mounted with a bar code reader mounted with its optical axis inclined in a direction perpendicular to the scanning direction, and is mounted on the recording medium cassette by the bar code reader. The reading error of the recorded barcode information is detected, and the picker is moved in the approaching / separating direction with respect to the barcode information to change the rereading position of the barcode reader.

  The library apparatus according to claim 2 of the present invention transfers a specific recording medium cassette among the recording medium cassettes stored in a magazine to a picker, and the picker conveys the specific recording medium cassette to a drive device. The picker is mounted with a bar code reader mounted with its optical axis inclined in a direction perpendicular to the scanning direction, and is mounted on the recording medium cassette by the bar code reader. It is characterized in that the picker is moved in the approaching / separating direction with respect to the barcode information during one reading period of the recorded barcode information.

  The library apparatus according to claim 3 of the present invention transfers a specific recording medium cassette among recording medium cassettes stored in a magazine to a picker, and the picker conveys the specific recording medium cassette to a drive device. The picker is mounted with a bar code reader mounted with an optical axis inclined in a direction perpendicular to the scanning direction, and is mounted on the recording medium cassette by the bar code reader. An error in reading the recorded barcode information is detected, and the picker is moved toward and away from the barcode information during one reading period of the barcode information recorded on the recording medium cassette by the barcode reader. It is configured to be moved.

  According to this configuration, since the optical axis of the barcode reader is tilted in the direction perpendicular to the scanning direction and mounted on the picker, the barcode reader is moved again by moving the picker in the approaching / separating direction with respect to the barcode information. The reading position is changed. This can be expected to improve barcode reading accuracy.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
(Embodiment 1)
1 to 11 show (Embodiment 1) of the present invention.

7 and 8 show a front view and a side view of the library apparatus of the present invention.
In FIG. 7, the front panel P of the tape library apparatus housing 7 is provided with openings 11a and 11b provided with door bodies 12a and 12b. When the open / close button 13a provided on the front panel P is pushed upward against the bias of the compression spring 14 shown in FIG. 8, the door lock 15 is released and the door body 12a can be manually opened to the imaginary line position. Similarly, when the open / close button 13b is pushed up, the door body 12b can be manually opened.

  FIG. 9 shows a plan view when the magazine is attached and detached. In FIG. 9, magazines 8a and 8b can be attached to and detached from the tape library apparatus housing 7 through the opened openings 11a and 11b. In the magazines 8a and 8b, tape cassettes 1a1 to 1a4 and 1b1 to 1b4 as recording medium cassettes are set. The inserted magazines 8a and 8b are engaged with the drive devices 16a and 16b provided in the tape library device housing 7 and taken into the tape library device housing 7.

  Here, the driving devices 16a and 16b transmit the rotation of the stepping motors 10a and 10b and the magazines 8a and 8b in a straight line with a structure in which the automatic stopping due to friction does not occur with the stepping motors 10a and 10b as power sources. It is comprised with the power transmission mechanism part 17. FIG.

  A tape drive 6 is disposed at the center of the back end of the tape library apparatus housing 7. The picker 9 for transferring the tape cassettes 1a1 to 1a4 and 1b1 to 1b4 between the tape drive 6 and the magazine 8a and between the tape drive 6 and the magazine 8b is a magazine between the magazines 8a and 8b and the tape drive 6. 8a and 8b, and is configured to be rotatable in the direction of arrow 18 so that the tip 9a faces the magazine 8a or the magazine 8b. The picker 9 is movable in the front-rear direction so as to face the tape cassettes 1a1 to 1a4 and 1b1 to 1b4, and the tip 9a is configured to pick up one selected from the tape cassettes 1a1 to 1a4 and 1b1 to 1b4. Has been.

A control unit for operating the picker 9 and the driving devices 16a and 16b is configured as shown in FIG.
This control unit is configured with the controller 23 as a main part. The controller 23 operates the stepping motors 10a and 10b and the picker 9 in response to an access command 30 for designating a tape cassette to be delivered to the magazines 8a and 8b. The controller 23 is connected to a first sensor 31a for detecting that the magazine 8a has arrived at the initial position, and a second sensor 31b for detecting that the magazine 8b has arrived at the initial position.

  Here, the initial positions of the magazines 8a and 8b are set to positions that have arrived at the far end side of the library apparatus housing 7 as shown in FIG. The controller 23 reads the barcode labels of the tape cassettes set at the storage positions of the magazines 8a and 8b by the bar code reader 33 mounted on the picker 9, and stores them at the storage positions of the magazines 8a and 8b. The contents of the tape cassette are recognized in advance.

  The contents displayed on the display 19 provided on the front panel P are combined with the cursor keys 20up, 20down, 20right, 20left, the enter key 21, and the escape key 22 provided on the front panel P. Then, when an instruction is given to set a specific tape cassette in the drive device 6, the controller 23 which has recognized this picks up the corresponding specific tape cassette, and the picker 9 rotates immediately before the drive device 6 after rotating. When driven to the position, the tape cartridge picked up by the picker 9 is set in the drive device 6.

  In FIG. 11, the barcode reader 33 is mounted on the rear part of the picker 9. First, the picker 9 moves along the magazine 8a, and the barcode reader 33 reads the barcodes attached to the tape cassettes 1a1 to 1a4. Next, the picker 9 rotates 180 degrees in the direction of the arrow 18, and the barcode reader 33 reads the barcode attached to the tape cassettes 1b1 to 1b4.

  More specifically, for the tape cassettes 1a3 to 1a1, the picker moves horizontally to read the barcode, and for the tape cassette 1a4, after the magazine 8a moves to the front panel P side, the picker moves horizontally to read the barcode. For the barcode labels of the tape cassettes 1b4 to 1b1, after the picker is rotated 180 degrees so that the barcode reader 33 faces the magazine 8b, the barcode by the barcode reader 33 is the same as in the case of the tape cassettes 1a1 to 1a4. Perform a read.

FIG. 1 shows a side view of the main part of the same embodiment.
In FIG. 1, the barcode reader 33 mounted on the rear portion of the picker 9 is attached so that the optical axis is inclined at a predetermined angle in a direction perpendicular to the scanning direction, and is emitted from the light emitting portion 33T of the barcode reader 33. The laser beam is irradiated onto the barcode label 32 to scan the barcode.

  Reflected light from the bar code label 32 is continuously changed in intensity according to the contrast of the bar representing bar code information, and is received by the light receiving unit 33R such as a photodiode. After the photoelectric current generated in the light receiving unit 3 is photoelectrically converted, the obtained voltage waveform is sampled at a constant interval, thereby determining the bar interval and the space interval of the bar code, and decoding the bar code information.

  Specifically, operation control of the stepping motor 39 that moves in the front-rear direction (arrow J direction) for reading information processing of the barcode reader 33 and delivery of the tape cassette of the picker 9 is also executed by the controller 23.

Next, the barcode reader rereading process will be described.
As shown in FIG. 2, when the barcode label 32 has a barcode defect 34 or dirt 35 on the surface, the barcode may be misread. When a reading error signal is output from the bar code reader, as shown in FIG. 1, the stepping motor 39 is operated by using the operation of the picker 9 in the front-rear direction (arrow J direction) for delivering the tape cassette. The picker 9 is moved to move the barcode reader 33 forward or backward.

  When the picker 9 is moved forward (in the direction approaching the barcode label 32 being read), the laser scanning position 37 until the irradiation of the barcode label 32 as shown in FIG. The laser scanning position 36 can be moved. Conversely, when moving backward (in the direction away from the barcode label 32 being read), the laser scanning position 37 can be moved to the laser scanning position 38 below the barcode label 32.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing the amount of movement of the laser scanning position by the back and forth movement of the picker.
That is, the optical axis of the barcode reader 33 mounted on the picker 9 is attached so as to be inclined by a predetermined angle α in a direction perpendicular to the scanning direction, and when the barcode reader 33 is moved by ΔX in the front-rear direction. The laser scanning line irradiated to the barcode label 32 is
ΔY = ΔX · tanα
It is possible to shift by ΔY.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the barcode reading operation in the controller 23.
In step 101, the magazines 8a and 8b and the picker 9 are moved to the initial positions. At this time, the position of the barcode reader 33 mounted on the picker 9 is set to the initial position of the laser scanning position 37.

In step 102, the barcode label 32 attached to the cassette stored in the magazine 8a is scanned to move the picker 9 horizontally (see FIG. 11).
In step 103, the result read in step 102 is determined. If it is determined that the barcode has been successfully read, the picker is rotated 180 degrees in step 104. If it is determined in step 103 that the barcode reading has failed, the re-reading process is executed in step 105, and the re-reading process is repeated for a preset number of times until the reading is successful. A detailed flowchart of the reread process will be described later. If re-reading succeeds in step 106, the picker 9 is similarly rotated 180 degrees in step 104.

  In step 107 following step 104, the barcode label 32 attached to the tape cassette stored in the magazine 8b is scanned, and the picker 9 is moved horizontally.

  In step 108, the result of reading in step 107 is determined. If it is determined that the barcode has been successfully read, the barcode reading operation is completed in step 109. If it is determined in step 108 that barcode reading has failed, the re-reading process is executed in step 110 as described above, and the re-reading process is repeated a preset number of times until the reading is successful. If re-reading is successful in step 111, the bar code reading operation is completed in step 109 as well.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing details of the re-reading process in step 105.
When a barcode reading error occurs, in step 201, “0” is set in advance in the variable counter CNT, and a predetermined number of times are set in the variables Z and ΔX. The variable counter CNT represents the number of executions of the rereading process, the variable Z represents the upper limit value of the number of executions of the rereading process, and ΔX represents the basic unit of the amount of movement of the picker 9 back and forth.

In step 202, “1” is added to the variable counter CNT.
In step 203, it is determined whether or not the content of the variable counter CNT has exceeded the preset upper limit number of times. If it is determined that the upper limit number of reread processing has not been exceeded, the rereading operation of step 204 to step S211 is started. To do.

In step 204, the stepping motor 39 is operated to move the picker 9 forward by “ΔX · (CNT)”.
In step 205, the barcode label 32 attached to the tape cassette stored in the magazine is scanned.

  In step 206, it is determined whether the barcode has been successfully read. If it is determined that the barcode has been successfully read, the reread process is completed in step 212. If it is determined in step 206 that barcode reading has failed, the process proceeds to step 207.

In step 207, “1” is added to the variable counter CNT, as described above.
In step 208, it is determined whether or not the contents of the variable counter CNT have exceeded the preset upper limit number of times. If it is determined that the upper limit number of reread processing has not been exceeded, the rereading operation in steps 209 to S211 is started. To do.

If it is determined in step 208 that the number of rereads does not exceed the preset upper limit number, the reread process is repeated in steps 209 to 211.
In step 209, the picker 9 is moved forward by “ΔX · (CNT)”.

In step 210, a barcode attached to the tape cassette stored in the magazine is scanned.
In step 211, it is determined whether the barcode has been successfully read. If it is determined that the barcode has been successfully read, the reread process is completed in step 212. If it is determined in step 211 that barcode reading has failed, the process returns to step 202 to repeat the re-reading process.

  If the variable counter CNT exceeds the variable Z in step 203 and step 208, it is determined that the barcode label cannot be read, and the process proceeds to step 213 to report that the barcode label reading is abnormal. Do.

According to this configuration, the laser scanning position irradiated from the barcode reader 33 can be adjusted over a wide range of the barcode label 32.
In the description of FIG. 5, the case of the tape cassettes 1a1 to 1a3 and 1b1 to 1b3 of the magazines 8a and 8b has been described as an example. After 8a and 8b move to the front panel P side, the picker moves horizontally and reads the barcode.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 12 shows (Embodiment 2) of the present invention.
In (Embodiment 1), like the laser scanning positions 36, 37, and 38 shown in FIG. 3, the picker 9 is moved in the front-rear direction (arrow J direction) for delivery of the tape cassette during one reading period. However, in this (Embodiment 2), the picker 9 is moved in the front-rear direction (arrow J direction) for transferring the tape cassette during one reading period as in the laser scanning position 36A shown in FIG. Read while moving.

  According to this embodiment, even if there is a chip 34 or dirt 35 on the surface of the bar code label 32 and the initial position of the laser scanning position passes through the chip 34 or dirt 35 on the surface of the bar code label 32, the laser Since the scanning position is randomized, an improvement in barcode reading accuracy can be expected because the probability of consecutive reading errors in the first reading of the barcode is reduced.

  Specifically, in step 102 or step 107 in FIG. 5, the picker 9 is moved horizontally to perform bar code scanning, and instead of steps 105 and 106 or steps 110 and 111 in the case where reading is not performed normally, In this (Embodiment 2), the controller is configured to execute multiple readings by the barcode reader 33 while shifting the phase with respect to the barcode label 32 as in the laser scanning positions 36A, 37A, and 38A shown in FIG. 23, the barcode label is completely read when the barcode information can be read normally.

(Embodiment 3)
In the previous (Embodiment 2), the reading position is changed like the laser scanning positions 36A, 37A, and 38A in the re-reading process. However, the laser scanning shown in FIG. The controller 23 is configured to execute multiple readings by the barcode reader 33 while shifting the phase with respect to the barcode label 32 as in the positions 36A, 37A, and 38A, and the barcode information can be normally read. Even if the controller 23 is configured to execute a flowchart in which steps 105 and 106 and steps 110 and 111 are eliminated by configuring the barcode label to end reading at that time, the barcode reading accuracy is improved. Can be expected.

  It is useful as a tape library device equipped with a barcode reader that reads information on a barcode label attached to a recording medium cassette.

The side view of the principal part at the time of barcode scanning of (Embodiment 1) of this invention Diagram showing barcode labels when barcodes are chipped and dirty The figure which shows the laser scanning line irradiated to the barcode label surface of the embodiment The enlarged side view which shows the shift amount of the laser scanning position by the front-back operation | movement of the picker of the embodiment Flowchart of barcode reading operation of controller of the embodiment Flowchart of barcode rereading process of controller of the embodiment Front view of the library apparatus according to the embodiment Side view of the library apparatus of the embodiment Top view when the magazine of the embodiment is attached and detached Configuration diagram of control unit of the embodiment Plan view showing the barcode scanning of the embodiment Explanatory drawing of the library apparatus of (Embodiment 2) of this invention Plan view of a conventional DDS library device Plan view of a conventional magazine-type library device Side view of a cassette transport mechanism equipped with a conventional barcode reader BB sectional view of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1a1 to 1a4, 1b1 to 1b4 Tape cassette (recording medium cassette)
6 Tape drive 7 Library device housing 8a, 8b Magazine 9 Picker 23 Controller 32 Bar code label 33 Bar code reader 33T Light emitting unit 33R Light receiving unit 36, 37, 38 Laser scanning position 39 Picker moved in the front-rear direction (arrow J direction) Stepping motor

Claims (3)

A library apparatus that transfers a specific recording medium cassette among recording medium cassettes stored in a magazine to a picker, and the picker conveys and sets the specific recording medium cassette to a drive device,
The picker is equipped with a barcode reader attached with its optical axis inclined in a direction perpendicular to the scanning direction,
An error in reading the barcode information recorded on the recording medium cassette by the barcode reader is detected, and the picker is moved in the approaching / separating direction with respect to the barcode information to change the rereading position of the barcode reader. Library device configured as follows. A library apparatus that transfers a specific recording medium cassette among recording medium cassettes stored in a magazine to a picker, and the picker conveys and sets the specific recording medium cassette to a drive device,
The picker is equipped with a barcode reader attached with its optical axis inclined in a direction perpendicular to the scanning direction,
A library apparatus configured to move a picker in an approaching / separating direction with respect to the barcode information during one reading period of barcode information recorded on the recording medium cassette by the barcode reader. A library apparatus that transfers a specific recording medium cassette among recording medium cassettes stored in a magazine to a picker, and the picker conveys and sets the specific recording medium cassette to a drive device,
The picker is equipped with a barcode reader attached with its optical axis inclined in a direction perpendicular to the scanning direction,
An error in reading the barcode information recorded on the recording medium cassette by the barcode reader is detected, and the picker is moved during one reading period of the barcode information recorded on the recording medium cassette by the barcode reader. A library apparatus configured to move in the approaching / separating direction with respect to the barcode information.

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