JP2014135114A - Library device and magazine mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem of a library device that, if a label reading is performed after a magazine is inserted into the library device, the increase in the number of cartridges causes an increase in time required for bringing the library device into an operation state.SOLUTION: A library device includes: a magazine for storing a plurality of cartridges; a rack in which the magazine is loaded; a conveyance mechanism for detaching and attaching the cartridges from and to the magazine; a reader which is held by the conveyance mechanism and reads identifiers provided on the cartridges; and a control device for controlling the movement of the conveyance mechanism so as to complete, before the magazine is inserted or discharged to or from an insertion hole of the rack, the movement of the reader to a position where, during the operation of inserting the magazine into the rack, the reader can continuously read the identifiers of the cartridges from the identifier of the first cartridge at the start of the insertion of the magazine to the identifier of the last cartridge at the completion of the insertion of the magazine.

Description

  The present invention relates to a magazine type library apparatus having a transport mechanism for transporting a cartridge and a magazine mechanism.

  As an apparatus for storing a large amount of information, for example, there is a library apparatus that stores and stores a large number of tape cartridges. In the library apparatus, cartridges from / to which information is read / written are sequentially taken out, and the cartridge is mounted on a recording / reproducing apparatus to read / write information. Usually, the cartridge is stored in a storage shelf in the apparatus. The storage shelf is provided with one or a plurality of racks fixed in the apparatus and a magazine that can be taken out of the apparatus. One or more cartridges are arranged in alignment in the magazine. Then, the cartridge is transported to the recording / reproducing apparatus or the storage shelf at the target position by the cartridge transport mechanism.

  When the cartridge is ejected from the library apparatus, it is necessary to take out the magazine containing the target cartridge from the library apparatus. Further, when a cartridge is inserted into the library apparatus, it is necessary to take out the magazine that should store the target cartridge from the library apparatus.

JP-A-8-53205

  In the conventional library apparatus, after the magazine is completely inserted into the library apparatus, the transport mechanism for transporting the cartridge tape scans all the cartridge tapes and uses a bar code reader attached to the transport mechanism. The barcode label affixed to the back of each cartridge tape was read to obtain information for identifying each cartridge tape (this operation is called inventory operation). In this inventory operation, the barcode label reading time is required as the number of cartridge tapes increases, and the time until the library apparatus becomes movable becomes longer.

  In addition, a technique is known in which a plurality of bar code readers are installed in a door portion in which magnetic tape is stored in a library apparatus to shorten bar code reading time. However, a bar code reader is required for all magazines and cartridges. As the number of magazines for storing tapes increases, the number of bar code readers required increases, resulting in an increase in manufacturing cost.

  Therefore, the object of the present invention is to read the barcode label attached to the back surface of the cartridge during the operation of inserting the magazine with the barcode reader incorporated in the transport mechanism for transporting the cartridge. The object is to shorten the start-up time of the library apparatus without increasing it.

  To achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a library apparatus stores a plurality of cartridges, has a magazine having a notch, a rack in which the magazine is loaded, a transport mechanism that detaches the cartridge from the magazine, and a transport mechanism. The reader that reads the barcode label provided on the cartridge and controls the movement of the transport mechanism, and before the insertion of the magazine into the rack rack insertion slot, the reader is manually inserted into the rack of the magazine. A control device that moves the barcode label of the cartridge stored in the magazine to a position where it can be read, a door provided at the magazine insertion slot of the rack, a protrusion that fixes the magazine, and a door when the magazine is not inserted. A stopper that is fixed in a closed state, and a lock bar provided at a magazine insertion slot of the rack; And the controller moves the transport mechanism holding the reader upward to the reading position of the bar code label of the cartridge, so that the lower surface of the lock bar is pushed up by the upper surface of the reader, and the stopper provided on the lock bar is A means for opening the door by moving it away from the door, and the door is opened, and after the manual insertion of the magazine through the rack insertion opening is completed, the transport mechanism holding the leader is moved to the cartridge bar. By retracting from the code label reading position, the lock bar pressed by the upper surface of the reader is pushed back downward, and the protrusion provided on the lock bar is inserted into the notch of the magazine, and the magazine is fixed. Means.

  According to the present invention, since reading by the reader can be performed in parallel with magazine insertion, it is possible to proceed to the next processing immediately after the completion of loading. Further, even if there is an identifier that is unreadable due to faintness, blurring, or the like, it can be immediately determined by moving the reader after the magazine has been loaded.

It is an external view of a library apparatus. It is a block diagram of a library apparatus. It is an external view of a magazine. It is explanatory drawing inside a library apparatus. It is explanatory drawing of the magazine insertion slot of a library apparatus. It is explanatory drawing at the time of magazine insertion operation | movement. It is an external view of a magazine. It is the encoder output and barcode reader output in the barcode display of FIG. It is a block diagram of a barcode reading mechanism. It is explanatory drawing which showed the door lock state in a door lock mechanism. It is explanatory drawing which showed cancellation | release of the door lock state in a door lock mechanism. It is an external view of a magazine. It is an enlarged view of the E section in FIG. It is explanatory drawing which showed the magazine lock state in a magazine lock mechanism. It is an enlarged view of the F section of FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the magazine lock cancellation | release in a magazine lock mechanism.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is an external view of the library apparatus 1. The library device 1 is an information storage device that stores a plurality of storage media and records or / and reproduces information on the storage media. Examples of the storage medium include a magnetic tape and an optical disk stored in a cartridge. Here, the tape library apparatus 1 is taken as an example. An operator panel 3 for operating the library apparatus 1 is provided on the front panel 5 on the front surface of the library apparatus 1. The operator panel 3 is arranged at the center of the front of the apparatus, and displays the operating status and input information of the library apparatus 1. The operator operates the operator panel 3 based on the information displayed on the operator panel 3 to give a command to the library apparatus 1.

  The magazines 2 for storing the cartridge tape 6 are arranged on the left and right sides of the apparatus. The left magazine 2 is located on the left side of the library apparatus 1, and the right magazine 2 is located on the right side of the library apparatus 1, and can be inserted and ejected from the library apparatus 1. The outside of the library apparatus 1 is covered with a housing 4.

  FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of the library apparatus. The library device 1 includes an operator panel 3, a tape drive 8, a control device 9, a transport mechanism 10, a bar code reader 11, and an encoder 12.

  FIG. 3 is an external view of a magazine on which a cartridge tape is mounted. The magazine 2 can be loaded with a plurality of cartridge tapes 6. A bar code label 13 on which information for identifying the cartridge tape 6 is recorded as an identifier is attached to the cartridge tape 6. When the magazine 2 is inserted, the bar code reader 11 reads the bar code label 13 attached to each cartridge tape 6 by an optical sensor built in the bar code reader 11. The control device 9 acquires and manages the information on the cartridge tape 6 from the information on the bar code label 13. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the inside of the housing 4 of the library apparatus. The library apparatus 1 can store a plurality of magazines 2, and the magazine 2 is stored in a rack 7 in the library apparatus 1. The magazine 2 can be mounted on both the left and right sides of the library apparatus 1 as shown in FIG. A tape drive 8 that records and / or reproduces information with respect to the cartridge tape 6 is disposed on the inner side of the library apparatus 1, and a transport mechanism 10 is disposed at the center. A bar code reader 11 is mounted on the transport mechanism 10 at a position facing the bar code label 13 of the cartridge tape 6 arranged and stored in a line in the magazine 2, and the bar code reader 11 moves as the magazine 2 is inserted. The barcode labels 13 of all the cartridge tapes 6 in the magazine 2 to be read can be read out.

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a magazine insertion slot of the library apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  When an operator operating the library apparatus 1 gives an instruction to insert or eject a magazine on the operator panel 3, the door 14 at the insertion opening of the rack 7 is opened. In response to the instruction, the controller 9 issues a command, and the barcode reader 11 held by the transport mechanism 10 moves to the barcode label 13 reading position before the magazine 2 is inserted into the insertion opening of the rack 7. The pre-insertion stage refers to a stage until the magazine 2 is inserted into the insertion opening of the rack 7 and the cartridge tape 6 stored in the magazine 2 reaches the reading position of the barcode label 13 by the barcode reader 11. . Therefore, control is performed to move the barcode reader 11 to the reading position immediately before or after the magazine 2 is inserted into the insertion slot of the rack 7 and before or after the magazine 2 is ejected from the insertion slot of the rack 7. If so, the movement can be completed before the insertion. That is, in this embodiment, as will be described later, the door 14 is a device that automatically opens and closes. In such an apparatus, before the door 14 is opened, the barcode reader 11 is moved and positioned at the reading position.

  The barcode reader 11 is mounted on a transport mechanism 10 for transporting the cartridge tape 6 and is configured to be movable, and can be positioned with respect to the insertion opening of the magazine 2. Then, before the magazine 2 is inserted, the barcode reader 11 is moved to a position where the barcode label 13 near the insertion opening of the magazine 2 can be read. Therefore, the barcode label 13 can be read by the barcode reader 11 in parallel with the insertion of the magazine 2, and the reading of the barcode label 13 can be completed simultaneously with the loading of the magazine 2. Therefore, it is possible to proceed to the next processing immediately after the completion of loading. Further, even when there is a bar code label 13 that is faint, unclear, etc. and cannot be read, it can be immediately determined by moving the bar code reader 11 after the magazine 2 is completely loaded.

  FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the magazine insertion operation. A cartridge tape 6 is attached to the magazine 2 to be inserted, and a barcode label 13 is attached to the cartridge tape 6. The transport mechanism 10 is provided with a barcode reader 11 for reading the barcode label 13.

  When the magazine 2 is inserted into the rack 7 in the library apparatus 1, the barcode reader 11 reads the barcode label 13 provided on the cartridge tape 6 while the magazine 2 is being inserted into the rack 7. The rack 7 includes an encoder 12 at a position facing the upper surface of the magazine 2. The encoder 12 outputs an encoder that is linked to the insertion speed of the magazine 2 during the insertion operation of the magazine 2 into the rack 7. A process of reading the bar code label 13 is performed while synchronizing with the output.

  Here, the barcode reading mechanism will be described in detail.

  FIG. 7 is an external view of the magazine. The magazine 2 is provided with four slots for storing the cartridge tapes 6. The cartridge tape 6 is mounted in the slots 19a, 19c, and 19d, but the cartridge tape 6 is mounted in the slot 19b. It is not in a state. FIG. 8 shows an encoder output and a barcode output in barcode reading when the magazine 2 shown in FIG. 7 is inserted into the rack 7 of the library apparatus 1. FIG. 8A shows the insertion direction of the magazine 2 and the scanning direction of the barcode when the magazine 2 is inserted. The magazine 2 is inserted in the direction of the arrow, and the bar code label 13 provided on the cartridge tape 6 is read. FIG. 8B shows a bar code label 13 displayed on the cartridge tape 6. Since the cartridge tape 6 is attached to the slot 19a, the slot 19c, and the slot 19d, the barcode is displayed, whereas the slot 19b does not have the barcode displayed because the cartridge tape 6 is not attached. Show.

  FIG. 9 is a block diagram of the barcode reading mechanism. In the library apparatus 1, the gear 16 provided on the upper surface of the magazine 2 and the gear 15 provided on the encoder 12 of the rack 7 are provided at positions facing each other so as to be interlocked with each other, and the magazine 2 is inserted into the rack 7. When connected, it is connected. During the operation in which the operator operating the library apparatus 1 is inserting the magazine 2, the barcode label 13 attached to the cartridge tape 6 is scanned by the barcode reader 11 held by the transport mechanism 10. The encoder 12 outputs an encoder pulse output as shown in FIG. 8D by encoding the insertion speed of the magazine 2 inputted from the gear 16 during the insertion operation of the magazine 2 by the encoder 12. Bar code read data read by an optical sensor (not shown) built in the bar code reader 11 is converted into an electric signal by the photoelectric conversion device 26. Then, the bar code label shown in FIG. 8B is amplified to a digital signal as shown in FIG. 8C by the signal amplifying circuit 27 and input to the reading circuit 28. The reading circuit 28 can obtain a constant barcode width by reading the input barcode data in synchronization with the signal generated by the encoder 12. Therefore, even when there is a variation in the speed at which the magazine 2 is inserted during the insertion operation of the magazine 2, reading of the barcode label 13 by the barcode reader 11 is stable.

  FIG. 8C shows a black / white detection output when the barcode label 13 shown in FIG. The barcode reader 11 outputs the slots 19a, 19c and 19d in which the cartridge tape 6 is mounted, whereas the slot 19b does not output the cartridge tape 6 since it is not mounted. By reading the bar code label 13 of the bar code reader 11, information on whether or not the cartridge tape 6 is mounted in each slot of the magazine 2, storage position information of the cartridge tape 6, and identification information mounted on the bar code label 13 are recognized. . The above information is reported to the control device 9 of the library apparatus 1 and stored in a memory (not shown) inside the control device 9.

  Heretofore, the barcode label 13 affixed to the cartridge tape 6 has been described as an example of reading by the barcode reader 11 incorporated in the transport mechanism 10, but an RFID tag is used instead of the barcode label 13. The present invention may also be applied to the case where the wireless communication tag represented by the above is read by a wireless communication reader represented by an RFID reader instead of the barcode reader 11.

  Further, in the case of having a plurality of magazines 2, the reader is mounted on the transport mechanism 10, so that it can be positioned with respect to the insertion openings of the plurality of magazines 2. Therefore, there is no need to provide a plurality of readers. In addition, when a plurality of transport mechanisms 10 are provided, a reader can be provided for each.

  A mechanism for restricting insertion or ejection of the magazine 2 will be described. FIG. 10 is an explanatory view showing a door lock state in the door lock mechanism, in which the magazine 2 is not inserted into the library apparatus 1. The lock bar 18 is provided with a stopper 23, and the door 14 is fixed in the insertion direction A of the magazine 2, so that the magazine 2 cannot be inserted. The lock bar lower surface 24 is located on the bottom surface of the lock bar 18.

  FIG. 11 is an explanatory view showing a state in which the door lock is released in the door lock mechanism. The facing surface 21 is located on the upper surface of the barcode reader 11 held by the transport mechanism 10 and presses the lock bar lower surface 24 from below.

  The door unlocking will be described in detail. In response to an instruction to insert the magazine 2, the barcode reader 11 held by the transport mechanism 10 moves to the identifier reading position according to an instruction from the control device 9. The moving direction of the transport mechanism 10 is a moving direction C from the lower side to the upper side of the library apparatus 1 as shown in FIG. When the barcode reader 11 reaches the reading position, the opposing surface 21 located on the upper surface of the barcode reader 11 presses the lower surface 24 of the lock bar that is provided in the insertion opening of the magazine 2 and engages the opposing surface 21. Push up. As a result, the entire lock bar 18 is pushed up, and the stopper 23 fixing the door 14 provided on the lock bar 18 is also pushed up at the same time. The stopper 23 moves away from the door 14 and moves away from the door 14. Then, the door 14 is unlocked, and the magazine 2 can be inserted.

  A modification of the mechanism for restricting insertion or ejection of the magazine 2 will be described. FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the magazine 2 as viewed from above. The magazine 2 has an elongated box shape, and a front cover 25 is attached to the front side. A plurality of cartridge tapes 6 can be stored inside the magazine 2. FIG. 13 is an enlarged view of portion E in FIG. The notch 20 is located on the back side of the front cover 25.

  FIG. 14 is an explanatory view showing a magazine lock state in the magazine lock mechanism. In FIG. 14, a magazine 2 is inserted in the library apparatus 1. FIG. 15 is an enlarged view of portion F in FIG. 14 (the front cover 25 is not shown). The lock bar 18 is provided with a protrusion 22. A spring 17 is incorporated in the lock bar 18.

  After the magazine 2 is inserted into the rack 7, the transport mechanism 10 moves from the label reading position. The facing surface 21 is separated from the lock bar lower surface 24 by the movement of the transport mechanism 10. The lock bar lower surface 24 pressed by the facing surface 21 is pushed back downward, and the lock bar 18 moves downward. Then, when the protruding portion 22 provided on the lock bar 18 is fitted into the notch portion 20, the magazine 2 and the lock bar 18 are fixed and the magazine 2 cannot move. Even when an impact is applied to the library apparatus 1, the magazine 2 can be stably accommodated and held in the library apparatus 1.

  FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram of magazine lock release in the magazine lock mechanism. When the magazine 2 is ejected from the library apparatus 1, the transport mechanism 10 in the library apparatus 1 is moved based on the magazine 2 ejection command from the control apparatus 9, and the bar code reader 11 is moved to the reading position. . Here, the bar code reader 11 may be moved to the reading position of the bar code label 13 based on the insertion command of the magazine 2. That is, any time may be used as long as the bar code reader 11 is moved to the reading position of the bar code label 13 before the magazine 2 is inserted. When the magazine 2 reaches the reading position of the bar code label 13, the facing surface located on the upper surface of the bar code reader 11 provided in the transport mechanism 10 presses the lock bar lower surface 24 and pushes up the lock bar 18. Then, the projecting portion 22 fitted to the notch portion 20 of the magazine 2 moves in a direction away from the notch portion 20. When the protrusion 22 is removed from the notch 20, the magazine 2 and the lock bar 18 are released from being fixed. Accordingly, the magazine 2 is unlocked and the magazine 2 can be discharged in the discharge direction D.

The following supplementary notes are further disclosed with respect to the embodiments including the above examples.
(Appendix 1) A rack loaded with a magazine for storing a plurality of cartridges;
A transport mechanism for detaching the cartridge from the magazine;
A reader that is held by the transport mechanism and reads an identifier provided on the cartridge;
The movement control of the transport mechanism is performed, and the identifier of the cartridge stored in the magazine can be read as the magazine is inserted into the rack before the magazine is inserted into the rack insertion slot. A control device to move to a position;
A library apparatus comprising:
(Supplementary note 2) The library device according to supplementary note 1, wherein the reader reads the identifier during an operation of inserting the magazine into the rack.
(Supplementary note 3) The library apparatus according to supplementary note 2, wherein the reader acquires storage position information and identification information of the cartridge when reading the identifier.
(Supplementary note 4) The library apparatus according to supplementary note 1, wherein the identifier is a barcode, and the reader is a barcode reader.
(Supplementary note 5) The library apparatus according to supplementary note 1, wherein the identifier is a wireless communication tag, and the reader is a wireless communication tag reader.
(Additional remark 6) It further has an encoder attached to the rack,
The encoder performs encoder output linked to the magazine insertion speed during the insertion operation of the magazine into the rack,
The library apparatus according to appendix 4, wherein the bar code reader performs a process of reading the bar code while synchronizing with the encoder output.
(Supplementary note 7) The library apparatus according to supplementary note 1, wherein the insertion port has a door, and has a door lock mechanism for fixing the door in a predetermined position when the magazine is not inserted.
(Supplementary Note 8) When the reader reaches the reading position, the door lock mechanism is a lock in which a surface facing the lower surface of the lock bar on the upper surface of the reader is provided in the insertion port of the magazine and engages with the facing surface. The library apparatus according to appendix 1, wherein a stopper that lifts the lower surface of the bar and fixes the door provided on the lock bar releases the lock of the door by moving away from the door.
(Supplementary Note 9) The magazine has a notch, and when the magazine is inserted into the rack and the transport mechanism is retracted from the label reading position, the lock bar pressed by the facing surface is moved downward. The library apparatus according to appendix 1, further comprising a magazine lock mechanism that is pushed back, and a protrusion provided on the lock bar is inserted into the notch, thereby fixing the magazine.
(Supplementary Note 10) When the magazine reaches the label reading position based on a magazine discharge command from the control device, the magazine lock mechanism pushes the lower surface of the lock bar so that the notch portion The library apparatus according to appendix 1, wherein the protruding portion that has been fitted is released, and the magazine is unlocked.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Library apparatus 2 Magazine 3 Operator panel 4 Case 5 Front panel 6 Cartridge tape 7 Rack 8 Tape drive 9 Control apparatus 10 Transport mechanism 11 Bar code reader 12 Encoder 13 Bar code label 14 Door 15 Gear 16 Gear 17 Spring 18 Lock bar 19 Slot 20 Notch portion 21 Opposing surface 22 Protruding portion 23 Stopper 24 Lock bar lower surface 25 Front cover 26 Photoelectric conversion device 27 Signal amplification circuit 28 Reading circuit

Claims (2)

A magazine storing a plurality of cartridges and having a notch,
A rack loaded with the magazine;
A transport mechanism for detaching the cartridge from the magazine;
A reader that is held by the transport mechanism and reads a barcode label provided on the cartridge;
The barcode of the cartridge stored in the magazine is controlled in accordance with the manual insertion operation of the magazine into the rack before the insertion of the magazine into the rack insertion slot. A control device for moving the label to a readable position;
A door provided at a magazine insertion slot of the rack;
A protrusion for fixing the magazine and a stopper for fixing the door in a closed state when the magazine is not inserted, and a lock bar provided at the magazine insertion port of the rack,
The control device is
By moving the transport mechanism holding the reader upward to the reading position of the barcode label of the cartridge, the lower surface of the lock bar is pushed up by the upper surface of the reader, and the stopper provided on the lock bar is Means for opening the door by moving it away from the door;
After the door is opened and manual insertion of the magazine is completed through the insertion port of the rack, the reader holding the reader is retracted from the bar code label reading position of the cartridge, whereby the reader The lock bar that has been pressed by the upper surface of the magazine is pushed back downward, and a protruding portion provided in the lock bar is fitted into the cutout portion of the magazine, so that the magazine is fixed. apparatus.   When the magazine is in a fixed state, the control device moves the transport mechanism holding the reader to the barcode label reading position of the cartridge so that the upper surface of the reader pushes up the lower surface of the lock bar. The protrusion of the lock bar that has been fitted to the notch of the magazine moves in a direction away from the notch of the magazine, and the protrusion of the lock bar comes off from the notch of the magazine. The library apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for releasing the fixed state of the magazine.

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