JP2012128901A - Magnetic tape library device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a magnetic tape library device with a simple structure capable of reducing backlash between magazines and a main body of the magnetic tape library device and of enhancing operability thereof while capable of being accommodated within a space of limited height.SOLUTION: A magnetic tape library device comprises: magazines accommodating cartridges 15 inside; a chassis 11 accommodating individual magazines in a slidable manner; an accessor mechanism 19 transporting the cartridges 15; and a driver 16 loading the cartridges 15 and reading data. The chassis 11 is provided with magazine guides 18 for guiding movements of the magazines. On lateral surfaces of the magazines, guide rails 21, which engage with the magazine guides 18 while having thicknesses smaller than those of the magazines, are disposed along a full length of the magazines.

Description

  The present invention relates to a cartridge housing (magazine) that detachably accommodates a large number of magnetic tape cartridges, a magnetic tape drive that reads and writes each magnetic tape cartridge, and a magnetic tape cartridge between the magazine and the magnetic tape drive. The present invention relates to a magnetic tape library apparatus including an accessor mechanism for performing transfer.

Conventionally, as a related technology of a magnetic tape library device, an autoloader device including a magazine that accommodates a large number of magnetic tape cartridges is known (Patent Document 1).
The autoloader device disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a structure in which a medium such as a magnetic tape cartridge stored on a medium storage mechanism is conveyed to a drive by an accessor.

Also known is a disk changer magazine positioning mechanism in which a positioning groove is provided on the bottom surface of a disk storage magazine, and a guide rail that engages with the groove is provided on the inner bottom surface of the magazine mounting portion of the disk changer (patent) Reference 2).
The disc changer magazine positioning mechanism disclosed in Patent Document 2 is configured such that the height change of the disc changer is suppressed and thinning is not hindered.

Furthermore, a magnetic tape library device is known in which a magazine that accommodates a large number of magnetic tape cartridges is accommodated in an apparatus main body so as to be freely inserted and removed (referred to as insertion or removal) (Patent Document 3).
The magnetic tape library apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 3 is set to a height of 2 units (hereinafter referred to as U).
Here, as a cabinet for storing the magnetic tape library device, for example, there is a 19-inch rack, and the main dimensions of this rack are internationally standardized.
Of the main dimensions of the cabinet, the dimension in the height direction is defined in units of U, and is defined as 1U = 44.45 mm.

The configuration of the magnetic tape library device 110 disclosed in Patent Document 3 will be described with reference to FIGS.
It is assumed that the magnetic tape library device 110 is set to a height of 2U.
8 is an overall perspective view of the magnetic tape library device 110, FIG. 10 is an overall perspective view of the bottom surface of the magazine 112 constituting the magnetic tape library device 110, and FIG. 9 shows a state in which the magazine 112 is pulled out halfway from the library device 110. It is a whole perspective view.

  As shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, the library apparatus 110 reads and writes data between a cartridge 112 and a cartridge 115 that detachably stores a large number of magnetic tape cartridges (hereinafter simply referred to as cartridges) 115. A magnetic tape drive (hereinafter simply referred to as a drive) 116 is provided.

  As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the magazine 112 is divided into two along the insertion / extraction direction X, that is, the front magazine 112B and the rear magazine 112C. For this reason, it is possible to avoid the problem that the number of cartridges 115 to be stored increases and the weight becomes too heavy and the operability deteriorates, which occurs when a single magazine is used.

The magazine 112 is composed of a plurality of cells (parts separated by broken lines), and one cell is arranged in a direction Y perpendicular to the insertion / extraction direction X (a deep cell structure). ).
The magazine 112 moves along the guide rail 111A laid on the bottom surface of the apparatus main body (chassis) 111 and along the insertion / removal direction X, and can be inserted / removed from the front of the apparatus 110.

The library device 110 also includes an accessor mechanism 119 for transferring the cartridge 115 between the magazine 112 and the drive 116. The accessor mechanism 119 transfers the cartridge 115 when, for example, an instruction to read or write a designated medium is given.
That is, the accessor mechanism 119 extracts the designated cartridge 115 from the magazine 112 and transfers it to the drive 116 in accordance with an instruction from the control device, and inserts the cartridge 115 from the insertion opening of the drive 116.
When data reading or data writing with the drive 116 is completed, the accessor mechanism 119 extracts the cartridge 115 from the drive 116, transfers it to the magazine 112 of the storage source, and inserts it into the storage source cell of the magazine 112. It is like that.

As shown in FIG. 10, a magazine guide groove 112 </ b> A that engages with a guide rail 111 </ b> A laid on the bottom surface of the chassis 111 and guides the movement of the magazine 112 is formed on the bottom surface of the magazine 112.
Further, the magazine 112 has a structure in which cells are stacked in a three-stage vertical direction (vertical direction) on the bottom surface of the chassis 111 due to a 2U height restriction.

JP 2010-146610 A JP 7-244949 A JP 2010-102804 A

  However, in the autoloader device disclosed in Patent Document 1, the movement of the magazine itself is not described, and the present invention is intended to reduce rattling during movement of the magazine, The gist of the invention is different.

Further, in the disk changer magazine positioning mechanism disclosed in Patent Document 2, a magazine rail is provided on the upper surface of the disk changer, and this magazine rail engages with a concave groove formed in the lower part of the disk storage magazine. It is configured.
And by devising the shape of the magazine rail and the concave groove, the disc changer can be accommodated within the height limit, but since there is the rail and the concave groove, the disc changer and other parts of the magazine There is a problem that the thickness is limited.

Further, in the library apparatus 110 disclosed in Patent Document 3, the magazine is divided into two in the insertion / extraction direction, and thus has the following problems.
First, there is a problem that the shakiness of the magazine 112 in the chassis 111 is large.
That is, since the depth dimension of the magazine 112 is approximately half of the depth dimension that should originally be possessed, the magazine rail 111A attached to the magazine 112 is similarly shortened. As a result, the fitting length between the magazine rail 111A and the magazine guide groove 112A is shortened, and the shakiness of the magazine 112 in the chassis 111 is increased. As a result, the operability when the user moves the magazine 112 is poor. Become.

  Further, since the magazine 112 is divided into two in the insertion / removal direction, a gap is formed between the front side of the apparatus, that is, the front magazine 112B and the rear side of the apparatus, that is, the rear magazine 112C. Tatsuki will be amplified from the magazine. As a result, when the accessor mechanism 119 inserts and removes the cartridge 115 from the magazine 112, the accessor mechanism 119 needs high-precision positioning control with respect to the cartridge 115, but the magazine 112 in the chassis 111 has a large rattling. Alignment becomes difficult, and the accessor mechanism 119 cannot normally insert and remove the cartridge 115 from the magazine 112.

Next, there is a problem regarding the removal of the rear magazine 112C in the chassis 111.
That is, since the magazine is divided into two in the insertion / extraction direction, a mechanism for connecting and separating the front magazine 112B and the rear magazine 112C and a mechanism for pulling the rear magazine 112C toward the front side of the chassis 111 are separately required. The structures of the magazine 112 and the chassis 111 are complicated and expensive.

Further, since the magazine 112 is divided into two parts of the front magazine 112B and the rear magazine 112C in the insertion / extraction direction, the depth of each magazine 112B, 112C is short. Moreover, although the depth is short, the weights of the individual magazines 112B and 112C are heavy.
Therefore, when the user pulls out the magazines 112B and 112C from the library apparatus 110, there is a risk that the magazine 112B and the like protrude from the library apparatus 110 and drop out of the chassis 111 and drop earlier than expected.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, it is an object of the present invention to make it easy to fit within the restricted height, and to reduce the shakiness between the magazine and the apparatus main body with a simple configuration, thereby improving operability. It is to provide a magnetic tape library apparatus that can be realized.

  In order to achieve the above object, a magnetic tape library apparatus according to the present invention includes at least one cartridge housing body that houses a large number of magnetic tape cartridges, and slides the cartridge housing body in the insertion / extraction direction within the same horizontal plane. An apparatus main body that is freely accommodated, an accessor mechanism that is provided on one side of the apparatus main body along the insertion / extraction direction, and that transports the magnetic tape cartridge taken out from the cartridge housing, and an accessor provided in the apparatus main body A magnetic tape drive that loads the magnetic tape cartridge conveyed by a mechanism and reads data, and guides the movement of the cartridge housing along the insertion / extraction direction on the inner side surface of the apparatus main body. A storage body guide member is provided, and the cartridge storage body The guide rails within the thickness of the cartridge housing body while the housing body guide members engage the side surface side of the square, characterized in that provided over the entire length of said cartridge container.

According to the magnetic tape library apparatus of the present invention, the guide rail is provided on the side surface on the other side of the cartridge housing body, and the thickness of the guide rail is formed within the thickness range of the cartridge housing body. In designing the above, it is not necessary to consider the thickness of the guide rail. As a result, the apparatus can be easily accommodated within the restricted height.
In addition, since the guide rail extends over the entire length of the cartridge housing body, it is possible to reduce rattling between the magazine and the device body when the cartridge housing body moves along the insertion / extraction direction with a simple configuration, thereby improving operability. Can be planned.

1 is an overall perspective view showing an embodiment of a magnetic tape library apparatus according to the present invention. It is the whole perspective view seen from the magazine rail side which shows the magazine which comprises the magnetic tape library apparatus of the said embodiment. FIG. 3 is a view taken in the direction of arrow III in FIG. 2. It is the whole chassis perspective view which shows the state which extracted all the three magazines of the magnetic tape library apparatus of the said embodiment. It is a whole perspective view which shows the state (mailslot state) which extracted the uppermost magazine from the chassis of the magnetic tape library apparatus of the said embodiment to the middle. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the relationship between the magazine rail of the magnetic tape library apparatus of the said embodiment, a magazine guide, and a magazine support plate. It is a perspective view which shows the state (mail slot state) which pulled out the magazine of the three-tiered stack of the magnetic tape library apparatus of the said embodiment to the middle one by one. It is a whole perspective view which shows the conventional magnetic tape library apparatus. It is a perspective view which shows the state which pulled out the front magazine of the conventional magnetic tape library apparatus to the middle. It is a whole perspective view which shows the bottom face part of one magazine in the conventional magnetic tape library apparatus.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a magnetic tape library apparatus (hereinafter simply referred to as an apparatus) 10 according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the apparatus 10 of the present embodiment includes a chassis 11 that is an apparatus main body, and an insertion / extraction direction X (longitudinal direction of the apparatus 10 in the horizontal plane in the chassis 11; ), Each of which is a cartridge housing that is individually movably accommodated, that is, the uppermost magazine 12 arranged at the third level from the bottom of the chassis 11 and the middle magazine arranged at the second level. A magnetic tape drive (hereinafter simply referred to as a drive) that is provided on the back side in the insertion / extraction direction X of the chassis 11 and reads / writes data between the cartridge 15 and the lower magazine 14 disposed in the 13th and 1st stages. ) 16 and a side surface of one side of the chassis 11 along the insertion / extraction direction X, and an arbitrary cartridge 15 is connected to each magazine 12, 13, 14 and the drive 1 6 and an accessor mechanism 19 for transferring between them.

  As shown in FIGS. 1, 4, and 7, the chassis 11 is formed in a rectangular box shape as a whole, and is made of a metal such as a thin steel plate. Further, a cover 23 (shown by a one-dot chain line in FIG. 1) that covers the magazine 12, the drive 16, and the like is detachably attached to the chassis 11.

As shown in FIG. 4, the chassis 11 is provided with three magazine support plates 20 that are storage body support members for individually mounting the magazines 12, 13, and 14 at equal intervals in the vertical direction. Each magazine support plate 20 forms a magazine storage space S1 in which the magazines 12, 13, and 14 are stored.
As shown in FIG. 6, each magazine support plate 20 is formed of, for example, a thin steel plate or the like, and has a planar shape substantially corresponding to the planar size of each magazine 12, 13, 14.
A film-like sliding member (not shown) may be attached to the upper surface of each magazine support plate 20. In that case, when the magazine 12 or the like is moved, damage due to friction between the bottom surface of the magazine 12 or the like and the upper surface of the magazine support plate 20 can be prevented.

  In each magazine storage space S 1 of the chassis 11, a magazine guide 18, which is a storage body guide member for guiding each magazine 12, 13, 14 to a predetermined position in the chassis 11, is inserted and removed on the inner side surface of the chassis 11. The other side surface along X (the surface facing the accessor mechanism 19) is provided.

The magazine guide 18 has a substantially G-shaped cross section as shown in detail in FIG.
That is, the magazine guide 18 has a vertical end portion 18A fixed to the inner side surface of the chassis 11 and protruding toward the one side along the insertion / removal direction X, and the horizontal plane portion 18B. It has a shape having an engaging projection 18C that is continuous with the end and protrudes upward, and an upper surface 18D that is continuous with the upper end of the vertical one end 21D. The upper surface 18D and the horizontal surface 18B is formed in parallel.

Next, the details of the uppermost magazine 12 will be described as a representative of the magazines 12, 13, and 14 with reference to FIGS.
The magazine 12 is provided with a plurality of cells 12A (5 portions along the insertion / extraction direction X in the present embodiment, which are divided by broken lines in FIG. 3). The first cells constituting the cartridge 15 are provided in these cells 12A. Two cartridges, the cartridge 15A and the second cartridge 15B, are respectively accommodated (referred to as a deep cell structure). That is, the magazine 12 has a structure in which only one cartridge 15 is mounted in the height direction, and a total of ten cartridges 15 are accommodated.

These cartridges 15A and 15B are detachably stored in the magazine 12 in a direction Y orthogonal to the insertion / extraction direction X.
That is, among the two magnetic tape cartridges 15A and 13B in the cell 12A, the cartridge 15A disposed on the back side in the orthogonal direction Y is provided with a spring (not shown) whose rear end surface is provided in the cell 12A. It is always biased toward the accessor mechanism 19 side. When the front cartridge 15B is taken out by the accessor mechanism 19, the cartridge 15A moves forward to the front position where the cartridge 15B was accommodated.

  The middle magazine 13 and the lower magazine 14 are also formed in the same size and weight as the uppermost magazine 12 and have a deep cell structure similar to the magazine 12.

  A guide rail 21 facing the magazine guide 18 is provided on the other side surface of the magazine 12 in the longitudinal direction. The guide rail 21 is guided by the magazine guide 18 so that the magazine 12 is slidable.

That is, as shown in FIG. 6, the guide rail 21 is configured by a substantially L-shaped member such as angle steel, and the L-shaped member extends from the front end surface in the longitudinal direction of the magazine 12 to the rear end surface. It extends seamlessly.
The one side 21 </ b> A having an L-shaped cross section is provided horizontally and the other side 21 </ b> B is provided downward at a position away from the side surface of the magazine 12. Therefore, a groove having a predetermined width is formed between the other side 21 </ b> B and the side surface of the magazine 12, and this groove is an engagement groove 21 </ b> C that engages with the magazine guide 18.

Here, based on FIG. 6, the engagement state of the magazine 12 and the chassis 11 is demonstrated in detail. FIG. 6 shows an engaged state of the uppermost magazine 12, the corresponding magazine support plate 20, and the magazine guide 18 provided in the chassis 11.
When the magazine 12 is inserted into the magazine housing space S1 of the chassis 11, the bottom surface of the magazine 12 is in contact with the top surface of the magazine support plate 20, and the engagement groove 21C of the guide rail 21 in the magazine 12 The guide 18 is engaged with the engaging protrusion 18C.

  Guide rails 21 are provided on the side surfaces of the middle magazine 13 and the lower magazine 14 in the same manner as the uppermost magazine 12 in the magazine accommodating space S1, and the guide rails 21 of the magazines 13 and 14 are provided. Are also configured to engage with the magazine guides 18 in the respective magazine storage spaces S1.

As shown in FIG. 2, a tapered portion 21 </ b> D for guiding the magazine 12 into the magazine guide 18 is formed on the rear end surface of the guide rail 21 (on the insertion tip side of the magazine 12). The tapered portion 21D is inclined so that the rear end surface side becomes lower from both end surfaces in the width direction (vertical direction) of the guide rail 21. That is, when the magazine 12 is inserted into the chassis 11, the tip end side of the guide rail 21 is in a tapered state.
The angle of the taper portion 21D is not particularly limited, but is preferably formed at, for example, about 5 ° to 10 °.

As described above, the magazines 12, 13, and 14 are arranged in three layers on the chassis 11 via the three magazine support plates 20, and each of the magazines 12, 13, and 14 is arranged. 14 can be individually moved along the insertion / extraction direction X along the magazine guide 18 provided in the chassis 11, and can be detached from the front of the chassis 11.
That is, for example, as shown in FIG. 5, only the uppermost magazine 12 can be pulled out halfway (in the mail slot state) and extracted. Further, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, all the magazines 12, 13, and 14 can be individually pulled out halfway (in the mail slot state) and extracted.
The magazines 12, 13, and 14 are extracted from the chassis 11 by placing the hand on the drawer opening 25 provided on the front end surface of each magazine 12, 13, and 14 and pulling it forward. .

As shown in FIGS. 1, 4, etc., the magazines 12, 13, and 14 having the above-described configuration are arranged after the magazines 12, 13, and 14 in the magazine housing space S <b> 1 partitioned by the magazine support plates 20. Each of them can be fixed to the drive 16 by a stopper mechanism 27 disposed between the end surface and the side surface of the drive 16 on the magazine side.
The stopper mechanism 27 is fixed to the magazine 12, 13, 14 when the magazine 12, 13, 14 is inserted to a set position in the chassis 11 unless a physical force is applied. The magazine 12 and the drive 16 are disengaged from each other with a force sufficient to pull out the drawer. Therefore, the cartridge 15 can be accurately taken out from the magazine 12 or the like.

  The drive 16 is disposed at the back side position of the chassis 11 and, as described above, after loading the cartridge 15 conveyed by the accessor mechanism 19, the data of the cartridge 15 is read and written. .

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and the like, the drive 16 is provided with a cartridge retracting housing portion 16B that opens toward the accessor mechanism 19 in addition to the cartridge housing portion 16A.
When the designated cartridge among the cartridges 15 accommodated in a predetermined cell 12A such as the magazine 12 cannot be directly taken out, the cartridge evacuation containing portion 16B is first selected by the accessor mechanism 19 from an undesignated one. The cartridge 15 is configured to be temporarily retracted.

  Specifically, in the magazine 12 shown in FIG. 3, for example, when the first cartridge 15A on the back side of the leftmost cell 12A is the designated cartridge, the first cartridge 15A is the cell in the state as it is. Since it is on the back side of 12A, it cannot be removed. Therefore, the second cartridge 15B on the front side is first taken out by the accessor mechanism 19, and the second cartridge 15B is accommodated in the retracting accommodating portion 16B of the drive 16 and temporarily retracted.

  Next, the accessor mechanism 19 is moved to the position of the leftmost cell 12A of the drive 16, and the first cartridge 15A that has advanced to the position of the second cartridge 15B that has been taken out is taken out. Then, as described above, the accessor mechanism 19 is moved to the position of the drive 16 to deliver the desired first cartridge 15A to the cartridge housing portion 16A.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the apparatus 10 includes the accessor mechanism 19 for transferring a predetermined cartridge 15 between the magazines 12, 13, and 14 and the drive 16.
The accessor mechanism 19 moves in the accessor moving space S along the cutting direction X to transfer the corresponding cartridge 15 when, for example, an instruction to read or write the designated cartridge 15 is given. Yes.

The accessor mechanism 19 has a receiving portion 19A for receiving the cartridge 15, and the receiving portion 19A can take out the designated cartridge 15 from the cartridges 15 accommodated in the magazines 12, 13, and 14. It is configured to be movable in the vertical direction by a known technique.
Therefore, in order to receive the designated cartridge 15 in the magazine 12, the receiving portion 19 </ b> A of the accessor mechanism 19 may be moved up and down to adjust to the desired height of the cartridge 15.

The accessor mechanism 19 extracts the designated cartridge 15 from one of the magazines 12, 13, and 14 and transfers it to the drive 16 in accordance with an instruction from the control device, and inserts the cartridge 15 into the cartridge housing portion 16 </ b> A of the drive 16. It has become.

When data reading or data writing is completed in the drive 16, the accessor mechanism 19 extracts the cartridge 15 that has been processed from the cartridge accommodating portion 16A of the drive 16 in accordance with a command from the control device, and stores the magazine 12 in the accommodating source. And the like, and is inserted into the cell of the accommodation source.
Note that the internal magnetic tape cartridge 15 in the magazine 12 is transferred to the accessor mechanism 19 by a known transfer mechanism incorporated in the magazine 12 and a receiving mechanism of the accessor mechanism 19.

Next, the operation of the device 10 of the present embodiment will be described.
First, an operation for loading the magazine 12 into the chassis 11 will be described.
When the magazine 12 is placed on the uppermost magazine support plate 20 and inserted into the chassis 11 from the front of the apparatus 10, the taper portion 21D of the guide rail 21 of the magazine 12 is guided to the magazine guide 18 provided in the chassis 11, and the magazine 12 is easily guided to a predetermined position in the chassis 11.

Further, when the magazine 12 is completely pushed into the chassis 11, the magazine 12 is fixed at a position set by a stopper mechanism 27 provided between the magazine 12 and the drive 16.
The middle magazine 13 and the lower magazine 14 are also guided into the chassis 11 by the same operation as described above, and are fixed at the set positions.
Each magazine 12, 13, 14 contains a predetermined cartridge 15 in advance outside the apparatus 10. The order in which the magazines 12, 13, and 14 are loaded into the chassis 11 is arbitrary.

  When a command for reading or writing data from a predetermined cartridge 15 is issued from the control device, the accessor mechanism 19 moves in the accessor movement space S to the position of the cell 12A such as the magazine 12 in which the cartridge 15 is accommodated in accordance with the command. At that position, the desired cartridge 15 is received.

  Next, the accessor mechanism 19 moves toward the drive 16, and the cartridge 15 received from the magazine 12 is inserted into the cartridge housing portion 16 </ b> A and delivered to the drive 16.

  When the data reading or data writing of the desired cartridge 15 is completed in the drive 16, the accessor mechanism 19 extracts the cartridge 15 from the cartridge housing portion 16 </ b> A of the drive 16 according to a command from the control device, and stores it in the magazine 12 of the housing source. While being transferred, it is inserted into the cell 12A as a storage source.

When the cartridge 15 designated by the control device is accommodated in the back side of the cell 12A and cannot be directly taken out, first, the cartridge 15 on the front side of the cell 12A is taken out by the accessor mechanism 19 and the cartridge 15 is removed from the drive 16. The cartridge is retracted and temporarily retracted in the cartridge retracting accommodating portion 16B.
Thereafter, the accessor mechanism 19 returns to the position of the cell 12A to receive the designated cartridge 15, and receives the cartridge 15 and inserts it into the cartridge housing portion 16A of the drive 16.
The above operation is repeated until the command from the control device is completed.

Of the cartridges 15 in each of the magazines 12, 13, and 14, for example, the cartridge 15 accommodated in the cell 12 </ b> A on the front end surface of the uppermost magazine 12 is replaced with a new cartridge 15 storing other data. When the need arises, the magazine 12 is pulled out until the cell 12A in which the cartridge 15 is accommodated appears outside the chassis 11, and the mail slot is set.
At this time, the guide rail 21 of the magazine 12 is guided by the magazine guide 18 of the chassis 11, and the bottom surface of the magazine 12 moves while sliding on the upper surface of the magazine support plate 20.
Then, after replacing the used cartridge 15 and a new cartridge 15 at that position, the magazine 12 is inserted into the chassis 11 and loaded.

When it becomes necessary to replace the cartridge 15 accommodated in the cell 12A in the rear side of the chassis 11 in the magazine 12 with a new cartridge 15 in which other data is stored, the entire magazine 12 is, for example, a magazine. After the cartridge 15 is pulled out on the holding table or the like, the cartridge 15 is exchanged there, and then the magazine 12 is inserted into the chassis 11 and loaded as described above.
The replacement of the cartridge 15 in the other magazines 13 and 14 is performed in the same manner as the replacement in the magazine 12.

According to the apparatus 10 having the above configuration, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) Each of the magazines 12, 13, and 14 is provided with guide rails 21 on the other side surface along the insertion / extraction direction X of the chassis 11, and the thickness of these guide rails 21 is the respective magazines 12, 13 , 14, the thickness of the guide rail need not be taken into consideration when setting the height of the device 10. As a result, the apparatus 10 can be easily accommodated within a restricted height (for example, 2 U).

(2) Since the guide rail 21 extends over the entire length of each of the magazines 12, 13, and 14, the guide rail 21 only needs to be engaged with the magazine guide 18 provided in the chassis 11. It can be set as a simple structure.

(3) Since the guide rail 21 is provided over the entire length of each magazine 12, 13, 14, and the magazine guide 18 corresponds to the guide rail 21, the fitting length between the guide rail 21 and the magazine guide 18 is become longer. As a result, rattling between the magazines 12, 13, and 14 and the chassis 11 when the magazines 12, 13, and 14 move along the insertion / extraction direction X can be reduced, thereby improving operability for the user. Can do.

(4) The magazine guide 18 has an engaging protrusion 18C provided at a position away from the side surface of the chassis 11, and the guide rail 21 has an engaging groove 21C that engages with the engaging protrusion 18C. Since there are many portions that engage with each other, rattling during movement of the magazines 12, 13, and 14 can be suppressed.

(5) Since the taper portion 21B which becomes narrower from the both ends in the width direction of the guide rail 21 toward the tip is formed at the tip of the guide rail 21 in the insertion direction, each magazine 12, 13, 14 is placed in the magazine guide 18. When storing in the magazine guide 18, the guide rail 21 can be easily inserted into the magazine guide 18, thereby improving the workability of the user.

(6) Since the magazines 12, 13, and 14 are all formed in the same shape and size, each magazine 12, 13, and 14 can be shared with, for example, a 1U-high magnetic tape library. The magazines 12, 13, and 14 can be shared by all the magnetic tape libraries that are higher than the height, and the utility value of the magazine is great.

(7) Three magazine support plates 20 are provided at equal intervals in the vertical direction in the chassis 11, and the magazines 12, 13, and 14 have the same shape with a depth, and the weight is also optimized. Therefore, an arbitrary magazine 12 or the like can be placed on and stored on an arbitrary magazine support plate 20. Thereby, it is not necessary to confirm each magazine 12 and the like in which magazine support plate 20 and so on, so that the workability of the user can be improved.

(8) Since the magazines 12, 13, and 14 are independently arranged in the vertical direction and can be moved individually, any magazine 12 or the like is in a mail slot state (the magazine is half-toned to exchange only one cartridge). The other magazines 13 and the like can be operated independently even in a state of being removed. As a result, the operability by the user can be greatly improved.

(9) The lower surfaces of the magazines 12, 13, and 14 are in contact with the upper surfaces of the three magazine support plates 20, respectively. When the magazines 12, 13, and 14 are moved, the guide rails 21 such as the magazines 12 are moved. In addition to being guided by the magazine guide 18, the upper surface of the magazine support plate 20 is slid so that the magazine 12 and the like can move in a stable posture. Thereby, the operability by the user can be improved.

  The present invention has been described above with reference to the above embodiment, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. Various changes that can be understood by those skilled in the art can be made to the configuration and details of the present invention. In addition, the present invention includes a combination of some or all of the configurations of the above embodiments as appropriate.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, each magazine 12, 13, and 14 is moved by providing a guide rail 21 on each side of the magazine 12 and the like, and this guide rail 21 is engaged with the magazine guide 18. Not limited to this. For example, a slide guide may be provided on each side of the magazine 12 or the like, and a rail that engages with the slide guide may be provided on the chassis side. According to this, insertion / extraction work of the magazine 12 or the like becomes easier, and the operability by the user can be improved.

(Appendix 1)
At least one cartridge housing for housing a plurality of magnetic tape cartridges therein;
An apparatus main body for slidably storing the cartridge storage body in the same horizontal plane in the insertion / extraction direction; and
An accessor mechanism that is provided on one side of the apparatus main body along the insertion / extraction direction and conveys the magnetic tape cartridge taken out from the cartridge housing;
A magnetic tape drive provided in the apparatus main body and loaded with the magnetic tape cartridge conveyed by the accessor mechanism to read data,
A container guide member for guiding movement of the cartridge container along the insertion / extraction direction is provided on an inner side surface of the apparatus main body;
A magnet that engages with the storage body guide member on a side surface on the other side of the cartridge storage body and is provided with a guide rail within the entire thickness of the cartridge storage body over the entire length of the cartridge storage body. Tape library device.

(Appendix 2)
In the magnetic tape library apparatus described in appendix 1,
2. A magnetic tape library apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a storage body support member for horizontally supporting the cartridge storage body is provided in the apparatus main body.

(Appendix 3)
In the magnetic tape library apparatus described in appendix 1 or appendix 2,
One end of the container guide member is fixed to the inner side surface of the apparatus main body, and protrudes toward the one side along the insertion / extraction direction, and the other end of the horizontal plane portion And a shape having an engagement protrusion projecting upward.
The magnetic tape library device according to claim 1, wherein the guide rail has an engaging groove portion that engages with the engaging protrusion.

(Appendix 4)
In the magnetic tape library device described in Appendix 3,
2. A magnetic tape library apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a tapered portion is formed at a leading end portion in the insertion direction of the guide rail so as to become thinner from both ends in the width direction of the storage body guide member toward the leading end.

(Appendix 5)
In the magnetic tape library device according to any one of appendix 1 to appendix 4,
The cartridge housings are arranged in three tiers in the vertical direction, and the housing support members are provided at equal intervals corresponding to the three tiers of cartridge housings, and each of the cartridge housings is independent. The magnetic tape library device is movable along the insertion / extraction direction.

(Appendix 6)
In the magnetic tape library device according to any one of appendix 2 to appendix 5,
A magnetic tape library apparatus, wherein the cartridge housing is disposed with the bottom surface in contact with the top surface of the housing support member.

  The present invention can be used when a magazine that detachably accommodates a large number of magnetic tape cartridges is accommodated in a plurality of stages in a vertical direction in a chassis to constitute a magnetic tape library apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Magnetic tape library apparatus 11 Chassis which is apparatus main body 12 Magazine which is cartridge storage body (the uppermost stage; the third stage)
13 Magazine (middle stage) as cartridge housing body; 2nd stage 14 Magazine (bottom stage) as cartridge housing body; 1st stage 15 Magnetic tape cartridge 16 Magnetic tape drive 18 Magazine guide 18B as storage body guide member Horizontal plane portion 18C Joint projection portion 19 Accessor mechanism 20 Magazine receiving plate 21 as a storage body support member 21 Guide rail 21C Engaging groove portion 21D Taper portion X Insertion / extraction direction S Accessor movement space S1 Cartridge accommodation space

Claims (6)

At least one cartridge housing for housing a plurality of magnetic tape cartridges therein;
An apparatus main body for slidably storing the cartridge storage body in the same horizontal plane in the insertion / extraction direction; and
An accessor mechanism that is provided on one side of the apparatus main body along the insertion / extraction direction and conveys the magnetic tape cartridge taken out from the cartridge housing;
A magnetic tape drive provided in the apparatus main body and loaded with the magnetic tape cartridge conveyed by the accessor mechanism to read data,
A container guide member for guiding movement of the cartridge container along the insertion / extraction direction is provided on an inner side surface of the apparatus main body;
A magnet that engages with the storage body guide member on a side surface on the other side of the cartridge storage body and is provided with a guide rail within the entire thickness of the cartridge storage body over the entire length of the cartridge storage body. Tape library device. In the magnetic tape library apparatus according to claim 1,
2. A magnetic tape library apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a storage body support member for horizontally supporting the cartridge storage body is provided in the apparatus main body. In the magnetic tape library apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
One end of the container guide member is fixed to the inner side surface of the apparatus main body, and protrudes toward the one side along the insertion / extraction direction, and the other end of the horizontal plane portion And a shape having an engagement protrusion projecting upward.
The magnetic tape library device according to claim 1, wherein the guide rail has an engaging groove portion that engages with the engaging protrusion. In the magnetic tape library apparatus according to claim 3,
2. A magnetic tape library apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a tapered portion is formed at a leading end portion in the insertion direction of the guide rail so as to become thinner from both ends in the width direction of the storage body guide member toward the leading end. The magnetic tape library device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The cartridge housings are arranged in three tiers in the vertical direction, and the housing support members are provided at equal intervals corresponding to the three tiers of cartridge housings, and each of the cartridge housings is independent. The magnetic tape library device is movable along the insertion / extraction direction. The magnetic tape library device according to any one of claims 2 to 5,
A magnetic tape library apparatus, wherein the cartridge housing is disposed with the bottom surface in contact with the top surface of the housing support member.

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