JP2013211065A - Library device and magazine opening/closing detection method for library device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a library device with high precision that can have the whole constitution simplified, and also can detect even the amount of a position shift of a magazine from a proper closing position by detecting the magazine being stored using existent components, and a magazine opening/closing detection method for the library device.SOLUTION: The present invention relates to a library device, in which an accessor A includes imaging means 20 of reading a target mark M provided to a magazine 4 and an identification code on a cartridge housed in the magazine 4, and a control device (control unit) makes the imaging means 20 read the target mark M and determines whether the magazine 4 is at a proper closing position on the basis of position information on the target mark M.

Description

  The present invention relates to a library apparatus that stores a large number of cartridges (recording media) in a magazine, and relates to a technique that can reliably detect the open / closed state of the magazine.

As a related technique of this kind, a library apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 is known.
The library device includes a drive device that reads and writes a storage medium accommodated in a cartridge, a magazine in which a plurality of cells that accommodate a plurality of cartridges are arranged in one direction, and the cartridge with respect to the magazine. An accessor mechanism that is equipped with a picker mechanism for taking out / storing and selectively positions the picker mechanism at the position of one of a plurality of cells, and a magazine position for detecting the position of each cell of the magazine And a detecting means.

  In the magazine position detecting means of this library apparatus, a plurality of positioning flags provided corresponding to the positions of the respective cells of the magazine when set at an appropriate position, and a magazine position detecting which is displaced in contact with the magazine And a common position sensor that moves together with the accessor mechanism to detect the positioning flag and the magazine position detection flag.

JP 2005-209282 A

By the way, in Patent Document 1 shown above, since the magazine position detection means provided exclusively for detecting whether or not the magazine is in an appropriate closed position, the presence of the magazine position detection means There was a problem that the configuration was complicated.
An optical sensor may be used as a position sensor of the magazine position detecting means. The optical sensor has an advantage that the configuration is simple, but it has a problem that the deterioration is quick and the cost for replacement and maintenance is high.
In addition, since the detection signal of the optical sensor is indicated as ON / OFF, if it is shifted from the appropriate closed position of the magazine, the amount of position shift cannot be detected. There was a problem of being unsuitable.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and by using the existing components to detect the storage of the magazine, the overall configuration can be simplified and the magazine can be easily closed. It is an object of the present invention to provide a highly accurate library apparatus and a magazine open / close detection method in the library apparatus that can detect the amount of misalignment.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention proposes the following means. That is, according to the present invention, a magazine that is detachably disposed at a predetermined position of the magazine installation portion and stores a plurality of cartridges each having a recording medium built in each magazine cell, and moves along the cell placement direction of the magazine A library apparatus comprising an accessor that is freely provided to transfer the cartridge to and from the magazine, and a control unit that controls movement of the accessor, wherein the accessor is a target provided in the magazine An image pickup unit that reads an identification code on a mark and a cartridge stored in the magazine, and the control unit causes the image pickup unit to read the target mark, and based on position information of the target mark, It is determined whether or not the magazine is in an appropriate closed position.

  Further, in the magazine open / close detection method in the library apparatus of the present invention, a magazine that is detachably disposed at a predetermined position of the magazine installation section and stores a plurality of cartridges each having a recording medium built in each magazine cell, and the magazine And an accessor that is provided so as to be movable along the cell arrangement direction, and that exchanges the cartridge with the magazine. The accessor is housed in the magazine and a target mark provided in the magazine. Image pickup means for reading an identification code on the cartridge, and causing the image pickup means to read the target mark, and based on position information of the target mark, whether or not the magazine is in an appropriate closed position. It is characterized by discriminating.

  According to the present invention, the imaging unit on the accessor is caused to read the target mark provided in the magazine cell of the magazine, and based on the position information of the target mark, whether or not the magazine is in an appropriate closed position. It was made to distinguish. In other words, the magazine storage is detected by using the image pickup means on the existing accessor, thereby simplifying the overall configuration, and based on the image data output from the image pickup means, the magazine from the proper closed position. The amount of misalignment can also be detected, and the closed position of the magazine can be detected with high accuracy.

It is an external view which shows the outline of the library apparatus with which this invention is applied. It is a top view which shows the internal structure of the library apparatus of FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the cartridge accommodation operation | movement to the storage space 1 in a library apparatus, Comprising: (a) is a top view which shows the state in which the latch lever 11 exists in a "cartridge locking position", (b) is (a). Is a front view. It is a top view which shows the state in which the magazine 4 accommodated in the magazine installation part 50 exists in an appropriate closed position. It is a top view which shows the state which the front part of the magazine 4 accommodated in the magazine installation part 50 protruded a little forward. (A) is the figure which looked at the magazine 4 accommodated in the magazine installation part 50 from the front side (arrow VI direction in FIG. 4), (B) is the bottom view which looked at FIG. 6 (A) from the downward | lower direction. It is a flowchart which shows the control program of the accessor A set to the control apparatus 51 (control part).

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
1 and 2 are schematic configuration diagrams of a library apparatus to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the inside of a magazine cell. In the library apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a plurality of cartridges C (recording media) to be stored are guided to a predetermined guide surface 1A from the opening 2 of the storage space 1 toward the bottom 1B. A magazine 4 in which a plurality of magazine cells 3 accommodated in series (z direction) are arranged in the surface direction (xy direction) of the opening 2, and an accessor for inserting and removing the cartridge C into and from each magazine cell 3 of the magazine 4 A and a drive device 5 for writing and reading data to and from the cartridge C.
In FIG. 1, there is one magazine 4, but normally, a plurality of magazines 4 are detachably installed in the bottom 50 </ b> A of the magazine installation section 50 of the library apparatus main body L through the front opening 50 </ b> B. .

  The accessor A moves parallel to the surface of the opening 2 (moves in the xy direction) at a position facing the magazine 4, and is based on a control signal from the control device 51 (control unit). The cartridge C is moved to the opening 2 of the specific magazine cell 3 and the cartridge C is held in and out of the storage space 1 by a picker mechanism (not shown). In each storage space 1 of the plurality of magazine cells 3, a plurality of cartridges C are accommodated in series (z direction). In this example, as shown in FIG. It can be accommodated.

Further, at the bottom 1B of each storage space 1 of the magazine cell 3, as shown in FIG. 3, there is an extrusion means 10 that urges and pushes the cartridge C stored in the storage space 1 toward the opening 2 side. Is provided.
The pushing means 10 is composed of a coupling formed in a spring shape, for example, and comes into contact with the inner corner of the cartridge C inserted in the storage space 1 of the magazine cell 3 so that the cartridge C is stored. It is configured so that it can be released when it is pushed into the space 1. And the cartridge C accommodated in the storage space 1 is always urged | biased by the opening part 2 side by the press of the coupling formed in such a mainspring shape.

Further, outside the opening 2 of each storage space 1 of the magazine cell 3 is provided so as to be movable in a direction intersecting with the opening 2 (in the x direction in this example), and is not shown in a direction overlapping the opening 2. A latch lever 11 biased by a leaf spring is provided.
When there is no cartridge C in the storage space 1, the latch lever 11 is in a position protruding so as to overlap the opening 2 of the magazine cell 3. The latch lever 11 is in a position retracted from the opening 2 of the magazine cell 3 when the cartridge C is pushed into the storage space 1 by the accessor A. In addition, when the cartridge C has completely passed through the opening 2 of the magazine cell 3, the latch lever 11 protrudes so as to overlap the opening 2 as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, when the latch lever 11 is in the “cartridge locking position”, the cartridge C is placed between the latch lever 11 and the pushing means 10 in the storage space 1 of the magazine cell 3. It is arranged at a “cartridge proper closed position” sandwiched between the two.

  Further, the accessor A is provided with an operating means for temporarily pushing the latch lever 11 to a position retracted from the opening 2 of the magazine cell 3 when the cartridge C is inserted into and removed from the opening 2 of the magazine cell 3. Although not shown in the drawings.

The accessor A is provided with an imaging device 20 (imaging means) such as an image sensor for detecting the position of the latch lever 11 as shown in FIG.
This imaging device 20 is arranged so as to face the opening 2 of the magazine cell 3, reads the target mark M provided on the latch lever 11 of the magazine cell 3, and cartridges in the magazine cell 3. The cartridge identification code 21 attached to the front of C is read.
Further, when the magazine 4 is accommodated in the magazine installation section 50, the magazine cell 3 close to the front opening 50 </ b> B of the magazine installation section 50 among the target marks M provided on the latch lever 11 of the magazine cell 3. The target mark M on the latch lever 11 is the reference target mark M-0 for detecting the magazine closed state.

Further, the reference target mark M-0 for detecting the magazine closed state is used to determine whether or not the magazine 4 is in an appropriate closed position in the magazine installation unit 50 when read by the imaging device 20. Is provided.
Further, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the reference target mark M-0 for detecting the magazine closed state is the magazine cell close to the front opening 50B when the magazine 4 is accommodated in the magazine installation unit 50. 3 is provided on the latch lever 11 so that an approximate position of the magazine 4 is in the magazine installation section 50, and it is easy to determine whether the magazine 4 is in an appropriate closed position. This is because it can be done.
Further, the reference target mark M-0 is set in a special form such as a color or a shape different from that of the latch lever M in order to distinguish from the other latch lever M.
When the closed position of the magazine 4 is detected by causing the imaging device 20 to read the target mark M, the position of the reference target mark M-0 is previously determined and stored at the time of shipment or the like, and the position data is stored. Based on the above, an appropriate closed position of the magazine 4 is detected by the accessor A.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the library apparatus main body L is provided with a magazine lock mechanism 30 that engages with the magazine 4 accommodated in the magazine installation section 50 and locks the magazine 4. Yes.
The magazine lock mechanism 30 will be described with reference to FIGS. 6A and 6B. A lock lever 31 is installed in the magazine installation unit 50 that is the library apparatus main body L and accommodates the magazine 4. A rail 32 that is engaged with the lock lever 31 is fixed to the bottom of the magazine 4.
The lock lever 31 is rotatably installed on the library apparatus main body L via a vertical fixed shaft 33, and can be rotated in a horizontal plane substantially parallel to the bottom surface 50A of the magazine installation unit 50. The lock lever 31 is urged in the direction of arrow a by a spring 34 provided between the bottom surface 50 </ b> A of the magazine installation unit 50 that houses the magazine 4.

  As shown in the bottom view of FIG. 6 (B), the rail 32 is fixed to the bottom of the magazine 4 and is engaged with the tip of the lock lever 31 on the side surface on the lock lever 31 side. A plurality of step portions 35 are formed.

  In such a magazine lock mechanism 30, when the magazine 4 is stored through the front opening 50 </ b> B of the magazine installation unit 50 of the library apparatus main body L, the tip of the lock lever 31 moves the rail 32 of the magazine 4. By pressing, the magazine 4 is locked to the magazine setting section 50 of the library apparatus main body L. Further, when unlocking the magazine 4, the accessor A is advanced in the direction of the arrow x (x1) so that the lock lever 31 is rotated in the direction of the arrow b against the urging force of the spring 34. To do. Thereby, the pressing of the rail 32 by the tip of the lock lever 31 is released, so that the magazine 4 can be pulled forward through the front side opening 50B of the magazine installation section 50. At this time, depending on the rotation range of the lock lever 31 by the accessor A, the engagement between the lock lever 31 and the step portion 35 of the rail 32 is performed in stages, whereby the magazine 4 from the magazine installation portion 50 is engaged. Adjust the drawable range. The detailed configuration of the magazine lock mechanism 30 is described in detail in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-230839.

  In this embodiment, the magazine 4 is unlocked by the magazine lock mechanism 30 by the operation of the accessor A. However, the lock lever 31 is separately provided by turning the solenoid ON / OFF without interlocking with the operation of the accessor A. You may make it operate. Further, a stepped portion may be provided in the middle of the rail 32 so that the tip of the lock lever 31 engages with the rail 32 when the magazine 4 is completely stored in the magazine setting portion 50.

Next, the operation of the accessor A will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
The operation of the accessor A is performed by a control program set in the control device 51, and details thereof will be described below for each step (SP).
In addition, when the accessor A unlocks the magazine 4 by the magazine lock mechanism 30, processing for causing the imaging device 20 to read the target mark M is started. At the same time, after the magazine lock mechanism 30 releases the lock, whether the magazine 4 is in the proper closed position based on the position information of the target mark M on the magazine 4 newly accommodated in the magazine installation section 50 next. Determination of whether or not (steps 1 to 8 in the following flowchart) is started.

[Step 1]
Accessor A is accessed in the direction of arrow xy.

[Step 2]
The reference target mark M-0 for detecting the magazine closed state in the target mark M is read.

[Step 3]
It is determined whether or not the reference target mark M-0 for detecting the magazine closed state has been read. If YES, the process proceeds to the next step 4. If NO, the process proceeds to step 6.

[Step 4]
It is determined whether or not the reference target mark M-0 for detecting the magazine closed state is in a predetermined position determined at the time of shipment. If YES, the process proceeds to the next step 5, and if NO, the process proceeds to step 6.

[Step 5]
It is determined that the magazine 4 is in an appropriate closed position of the magazine installation unit 50 of the library apparatus main body L, and the process proceeds to the next step 8.

[Step 6]
It is determined that there is no magazine 4 in the closed position of the magazine installation unit 50 of the library apparatus main body L, and the magazine 4 is in an open state, and the process proceeds to the previous step 7.

[Step 7]
The operator is instructed to store the magazine 4 in the closed position of the magazine setting section 50 of the library apparatus main body L, and after performing the operation of storing the magazine 4, the process returns to the previous step 1. This instruction is given by giving a warning to a display unit (not shown).

[Step 8]
The accessor A is moved in the direction of the arrow xy with respect to the magazine 4 in the appropriate closed position of the magazine setting section 50 of the library apparatus main body L, and the cartridge identification code 21 of the cartridge C stored in the magazine 4 is displayed. Have them read. As a result, information about the cartridge C accommodated in the magazine 4 is collected, and this flow is finished.

  As described in detail above, according to the library device and the magazine open / close detection method in the library device shown in the present embodiment, the target mark provided in the magazine cell 3 of the magazine 4 with respect to the imaging device 20 on the accessor A. M is read (steps 1 and 2), and based on the position information of the target mark M, it is determined whether or not the magazine 4 is in an appropriate closed position (steps 3 to 6). In other words, the storage of the magazine 4 is detected using the imaging device 20 on the existing accessor A, so that the overall configuration is simplified, and the appropriateness of the magazine 4 is determined based on the image data output from the imaging device 20. Therefore, it is possible to detect the amount of misalignment from the closed position, and to detect the closed position of the magazine 4 with high accuracy.

In the above embodiment, one of the target marks M on the latch lever 11 of each magazine cell 3 is the reference target mark M-0. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the reference target mark M-0 is It is not limited to being provided on the latch lever 11, and the installation location may be provided on a frame that divides the magazine cell 3, for example.
The reference target mark M-0 is provided on the latch lever 11 of the magazine cell 3 close to the front opening 50B when the magazine 4 is accommodated in the magazine setting portion 50. It is not limited, The latch lever 11 specified suitably may be sufficient.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was explained in full detail with reference to drawings, the concrete structure is not restricted to this embodiment, The design change etc. of the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention are included.

  The present invention relates to a library apparatus that stores a large number of cartridges (recording media) in a magazine, and relates to a technique that can reliably detect the open / closed state of the magazine.

3 Magazine cell 4 Magazine (storage section)
20 Imaging device (imaging means)
21 Identification code 50 Magazine installation part 50B Front side opening part 51 Control device (control part)
A Accessor C Cartridge (recording medium)
L Library unit M Target mark M-0 Target mark (reference target mark)

Claims (7)

A magazine that is detachably disposed at a predetermined position of the magazine installation section and stores a plurality of cartridges each having a recording medium incorporated in each magazine cell, and a magazine that is movably provided along the cell arrangement direction of the magazine. A library apparatus comprising: an accessor that exchanges the cartridge with a magazine; and a control unit that controls movement of the accessor;
The accessor has an imaging means for reading a target mark provided in the magazine and an identification code on a cartridge stored in the magazine,
The control unit causes the imaging unit to read the target mark, and determines whether the magazine is in an appropriate closed position based on position information of the target mark. . A magazine lock mechanism for locking the magazine and releasing the lock by movement of the accessor;
The control unit causes the imaging unit to read the target mark from when the accessor unlocks the magazine, and determines whether the magazine is in an appropriate closed position based on position information of the target mark. The library apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the discrimination is started.   3. The library apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the target mark is installed on a latch lever that engages with a front portion of the cartridge that is accommodated in a magazine cell of the magazine.   4. The library according to claim 3, wherein the target mark is provided as a reference target mark in a magazine housed in the magazine installation portion, in a magazine cell near a front opening of the magazine installation portion. apparatus.   The said target mark is a reference | standard target mark for the magazine closed state detection which shows special forms, such as a color different from another latch lever, or a shape, The any one of Claims 1-4 characterized by the above-mentioned. Library device.   When detecting the closing position of the magazine by causing the imaging means to read the target mark, the position of the reference target mark serving as a reference is predetermined and stored at the time of shipment or the like, and the magazine by the accessor is based on the position data. 6. The library apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the closed position is detected. A magazine that is detachably disposed at a predetermined position of the magazine installation section and stores a plurality of cartridges each having a recording medium incorporated in each magazine cell, and a magazine that is movably provided along the cell arrangement direction of the magazine. An accessor for transferring the cartridge to and from the magazine,
The accessor has an imaging means for reading a target mark provided in the magazine and an identification code on a cartridge stored in the magazine,
A magazine open / close detection method in a library apparatus, comprising: causing the imaging unit to read the target mark; and determining whether the magazine is in an appropriate closed position based on position information of the target mark. .

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