JP2013084317A - Tape library device dust cleaning system control method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem of having to prevent dust from coming into contact with a tape medium by removing the dust accumulated in a tape slot in the conventional manner.SOLUTION: According to this invention, when a dedicated empty tape storage shelf is set, a magnetic tape medium is carried from a tape storage shelf having already stored a tape to the empty tape storage shelf, and temporarily stores the magnetic tape medium. After that, dust cleaning is applied to the tape storage shelf in an empty state with no tape by using a dust cleaning tape. A serial tape library device control method is applied in the case that there is an empty tape storage shelf among the tape storage shelves.

Description

  The present invention relates to a library apparatus control system for removing dust accumulated in a storage shelf for storing a magnetic tape medium of a magnetic tape library apparatus.

  The tape library device is a device capable of automatically storing data using a magnetic tape medium capable of recording data. The apparatus has a storage shelf for storing magnetic tape media (hereinafter referred to as a tape storage shelf) and can store a plurality of magnetic tape media. In addition, it has a magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus for recording and reproducing data on a tape medium. It has a mechanism capable of transporting magnetic tape media between tape storage shelves and tape storage shelves, and between tape storage shelves and magnetic recording / reproducing devices, and enables management of magnetic tape media (hereinafter referred to as transport mechanism). Called).

  The tape library device makes full use of these functions such as storage of a plurality of magnetic tape media by a tape storage shelf, recording and reproduction of data on the magnetic tape medium by a magnetic recording / reproducing device, and transport operation of the magnetic tape medium by a transport mechanism, Automatic data recording on multiple magnetic tape media is realized.

  The magnetic tape medium and the magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus are vulnerable to dust, and if dust adheres, it causes data writing failure or failure of the magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus. At present, the data read / write unit of the magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus is cleaned with a cleaning tape and measures against dust are taken. However, the countermeasures against dust are not perfect only by cleaning the data read / write unit of the magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus. Dust enters the tape library apparatus and is affected by air flow or static electricity, and may adhere to the magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus or the magnetic tape medium. There is also a risk that dust adhering to the magnetic tape medium may enter the magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus via the magnetic tape medium. Therefore, it was thought that a function for removing dust that had entered the apparatus was necessary.

JP 2008-171514 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-021516

When the dust that has entered the apparatus accumulates in the tape storage shelf, the dust adheres to the magnetic tape medium, and the dust enters the magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus. In order to solve this problem, it is necessary to remove dust accumulated on the tape storage shelf and prevent adhesion to the magnetic tape medium. At present, manual cleaning has been used to wipe the tape storage shelves and remove dust. However, it is necessary to turn off the power of the tape library apparatus or temporarily stop the operation.
Also, manual work has been carried out over a very long time when it becomes a large apparatus.

  In order to solve the above problem, it is necessary to remove dust accumulated in the tape storage shelf without turning off the power of the tape library apparatus. For this purpose, a cleaning tape dedicated to tape storage shelves that can be removed from the tape storage shelves (hereinafter referred to as dust cleaning tape) is used to store the tapes without stopping operation even when the equipment is in operation. Remove dust from shelves.

  It is possible to prevent the dust accumulated in the slot from entering the magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus via the magnetic tape medium. Further, dust on the tape storage shelf can be automatically cleaned even when the apparatus is in operation.

Block Diagram. Dust cleaning method diagram. Dust cleaning tape. Cleaning operation | movement flowchart. Explanatory drawing of cleaning operation | movement when the exclusive empty tape storage shelf is set. Cleaning operation explanatory drawing when a dedicated empty tape storage shelf is not set and there is no empty tape storage shelf. The control flow figure at the time of a data writing process interruption. Explanatory drawing of operation at the time of data write processing interruption. FIG.

  Embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a tape library apparatus, showing an embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 100 denotes dust cleaning, which is a cleaning tape dedicated to the tape storage shelf that enables removal of dust attached to the tape storage shelf by being taken in and out of the tape storage shelf 101. Reference numeral 102 denotes a bar code label attached to the dust cleaning tape 100. This bar code can be read by the 104 bar code reading unit provided in the 103 transport mechanism, recognizes that it is a dust cleaning tape, and discriminates it from other magnetic tape media for data writing. It manages the magnetic tape media that exist within it. Reference numeral 105 denotes a magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus, which is an apparatus for recording / reproducing data on the magnetic tape surface of the magnetic tape medium. The front panel 106 displays the state of the tape library device on the screen, and is also used during manual operation of the tape library device using the 107 operation buttons.
The control unit 108 controls and manages the magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus, the transport mechanism, the front panel and the like, and is mainly performed by the 109 processor of the control unit. The tape library device is a device in which the above system is configured.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a dust cleaning method.

  The tape storage rack 200 accumulates dust 201 that has entered the apparatus. In order to remove the dust, the dust cleaning tape 203 is transported to the tape storage shelf 200 by the transport mechanism 202, and the dust is removed by putting it in and out of the tape storage shelf. (Hereinafter, this operation is referred to as a dust cleaning operation). Reference numeral 204 denotes a gripping mechanism for gripping the magnetic tape medium and the dust cleaning tape. The barcode reading unit 205 reads the barcode 206 and reads the tape information.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the shape of the dust cleaning tape. A material (301, 302, 303) for removing dust is affixed to the top surface, bottom surface, side surface (both left and right sides), back surface, and a total of five surfaces of the tape cartridge 300. This material is, for example, a cleaning cloth or a microfiber cloth. As shown in FIG. 3, 301 is attached to the top and bottom surfaces, 302 is attached to both sides, and 303 is attached to the back, and dust accumulated on the tape storage shelf is wiped off. A bar code label (304) is affixed to the front surface of the magnetic tape medium, and the tape library apparatus reads the bar code so that it can be recognized as a dust cleaning tape. The dust cleaning tape has a shape that can be taken in and out of the tape storage shelf.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of the dust cleaning operation. First, it is necessary to set the dust cleaning operation (400). Details of the setting of the dust cleaning operation are described in FIG. 8 and will be described later. After that, when a dedicated shelf is used for dust cleaning (hereinafter referred to as a dedicated empty tape storage shelf), when a dedicated empty tape storage shelf is not set, and when there is no empty tape storage shelf Branch to (401).

If a dedicated empty tape storage shelf is set, first, dust cleaning of the dedicated empty tape storage shelf is performed (402). The reason why dust cleaning of the dedicated empty tape storage shelf is performed first is to prevent the dust accumulated in the dedicated empty tape storage shelf 8 from adhering to the conveyed magnetic tape medium. In 403, the dust cleaning operation of the dedicated empty tape storage shelf is completed.
Next, the magnetic tape medium is transported from a tape storage shelf (hereinafter referred to as a stored tape storage shelf) x in which the magnetic tape medium is stored to a dedicated empty tape storage shelf (404). Since the tape storage shelf x is empty, dust cleaning is performed on the tape storage shelf x (405). At 406, cleaning of the tape storage shelf x is completed. 402 to 406 are dust cleaning operations when a dedicated empty tape storage shelf is set. Details of the dust cleaning operation will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a dust cleaning operation procedure when a dedicated empty tape storage shelf is set.

When a dedicated empty tape storage shelf is set, dust cleaning is performed during a time period when the tape library apparatus is not performing data writing processing. As a procedure, first, the dust cleaning tape is taken out from the tape storage shelf 7 and conveyed to the dedicated empty tape storage shelf 8 (600). Dust cleaning of the dedicated empty tape storage shelf 8 is performed (601). After the dust cleaning of the dedicated empty tape storage shelf 8 is completed, the dust cleaning tape is stored in the tape storage shelf 7 (602).
Next, the magnetic tape medium is conveyed from the stored tape storage shelf 1 to the dedicated empty tape storage shelf 8 (603). The dust cleaning tape is taken out from the tape storage shelf 7 and moved to the tape storage shelf 1 (604). At 605, dust cleaning of the tape storage shelf 1 is performed. After the cleaning is completed, the dust cleaning tape is conveyed to the tape storage shelf 7 and stored (606). The magnetic tape medium temporarily stored in the tape storage shelf 8 is stored in the tape storage shelf 1 (607). Similar to the dust cleaning procedure for the tape storage rack 1, the dust cleaning for the tape storage racks 2 to 6 is also performed.

  If there is no dedicated empty tape storage shelf and there is no empty tape storage shelf, use the fact that the magnetic tape medium is transported from the stored tape storage shelf to the magnetic recording / reproducing device during backup processing, Dust cleaning is performed on the tape storage shelves.

  If the dedicated empty tape storage shelf is not set and there is no empty tape storage shelf, after the dust cleaning operation is enabled, the tape library device enters a standby state (500). In 501, a data write processing command is issued to the tape library device. In accordance with the data write processing command, the magnetic tape medium in the tape storage shelf x is conveyed to the magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus (502). Data writing starts (503). The tape storage shelf x becomes empty, and dust cleaning is performed on the tape storage shelf x (405). The cleaning of the tape storage shelf x is completed (406). Details of the dust cleaning operation will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a dust cleaning operation procedure when the dedicated empty tape storage shelf is not set and there is no empty tape storage shelf.

  In the case of FIG. 6, a data write processing command is issued from the tape library device controller, and the magnetic tape medium stored in the tape storage shelf 1 is conveyed to the magnetic recording / reproducing device (700). At 701, data writing starts. While data writing is being executed, the tape storage shelf 1 is in an empty state. The dust cleaning tape is taken out from the tape storage shelf 8 and conveyed to the tape storage shelf 1 (702). Dust cleaning of the tape storage shelf 1 is performed (703). After the cleaning is completed, the dust cleaning tape is stored in the tape storage shelf 8 (704). After the backup is completed, the magnetic tape medium is stored in the tape storage shelf 1 (705). Similar to the dust cleaning procedure of the tape storage shelf 1, the other tape storage shelves perform the dust cleaning when the magnetic tape medium in the tape storage shelf is transported to the magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus during data writing and becomes empty.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart in the case where an interruption of a data write processing command is input during the dust cleaning operation. The first situation is a dust cleaning operation (800). At 801, a data write processing command is issued during the dust cleaning operation. In this case, the dust cleaning operation is temporarily stopped (802). The designated magnetic tape medium is conveyed to the magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus (803). In 804, execution of data write processing is started. Thereafter, the dust cleaning operation is resumed (805). At 806, the cleaning is completed.

  FIG. 8 shows a specific example of FIG. In the initial state, the magnetic tape medium stored in the tape storage shelf 1 is stored in the tape storage shelf 8, the dust cleaning tape is taken out from the tape storage shelf 7, and dust cleaning is performed on the tape storage shelf 1. It is. The procedure when a backup processing instruction is issued to the tape medium originally stored in the tape storage shelf 1 during this time is shown in the figure. When a backup processing command is issued during the dust cleaning, the dust cleaning is temporarily stopped and the dust cleaning tape is temporarily stored in the tape storage shelf 1 (900). Next, the magnetic tape medium stored in the tape storage shelf 8 is conveyed to the magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus (901). At 902, the data writing process is being executed. After that, it moves again to the tape storage shelf 1 and resumes dust cleaning (903). After the dust cleaning is completed, the dust cleaning tape is stored in the tape storage shelf 7 (904). When the data writing process is completed, the magnetic tape medium in the magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus is stored in the tape storage shelf 1 (905).

  FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a setting tree of the dust cleaning mode.

  The tape library apparatus can be set on the front panel 1000 of the apparatus, and the screen operation is performed with the front panel operation button 901. 1002 Adds a 903 dust cleaning mode item to the device setting menu to enable detailed settings of the dust cleaning mode. First, an item for enabling / disabling the dust cleaning mode was added (1004). When the dust cleaning mode is disabled, there is no change in the operation of the apparatus. When the dust cleaning mode is enabled, it is necessary to continuously set the dedicated empty tape storage shelf and the frequency of the dust cleaning operation. 1005 dedicated empty tape storage shelf is set to specify whether or not a dedicated empty tape storage shelf is provided in the device. When the dedicated empty tape storage shelf is enabled in 1006, the dedicated empty tape storage shelf is selected in 1007. Also add. The setting of the frequency of the dust cleaning operation 1008 is selected from 1009.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100100 ... Dust cleaning tape, 101 ... Tape storage shelf, 102 ... Bar code label, 103 ... Conveyance mechanism, 104 ... Bar code reading part, 105 ... Magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus, 106 ... Front panel, 107 ... Operation button, 108 ... Processor 109: Control unit, 200 ... Tape storage shelf, 201 ... Dust, 202 ... Conveyance mechanism, 203 ... Dust cleaning tape, 204 ... Holding mechanism, 205 ... Hold barcode reading unit, 300 ... Magnetic tape medium, 301 ... Dust wipe Material (for top and bottom), 302 ... Dust wipe material (for side), 303 ... Dust wipe material (for back), 304 ... Bar code label, 1000 ... Tape library device front panel, 1001 ... Front panel operation button, 1002 ... Setting menu, 1003 ... Dust cleaning setting, 1004 ... Cleaning enable / disable setting, 1005 ... Dedicated empty tape storage shelf setting, 1006 ... Exclusive empty tape storage shelf enable / disable setting, 1007: Dedicated empty tape storage shelf selection, 1008 ... Cleaning frequency setting, 1009 ... Cleaning frequency selection.

Claims (2)

  If you have set up a dedicated empty tape storage shelf, temporarily store the magnetic tape media from the stored tape storage shelf into the dedicated empty tape storage shelf, and then remove dust adhering to the empty tape storage shelf. A control method of a tape library apparatus when a dedicated empty tape storage shelf having a function of performing dust cleaning using a cleaning tape dedicated to a tape storage shelf having a shape and a material to be removed is set.   When the dedicated empty tape storage shelf is not set and there is no space in the tape storage shelf, the tape storage becomes empty by transporting the magnetic tape medium from the stored tape storage shelf to the magnetic recording / reproducing device during the data writing operation of the tape library device A dedicated empty tape storage shelf with a function to perform dust cleaning using a dust cleaning tape dedicated to the tape storage shelf having a shape and material for removing dust adhering to the tape storage shelf during data writing operation to the shelf Control method of the tape library device when there is no setting and tape storage shelf.

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