JP2810823B2 - Library apparatus and method of controlling cartridge exchange information in the apparatus - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a cartridge storage cell for storing and storing a plurality of cartridge type recording media,
A plurality of magnetic tape devices, a cartridge loading / unloading mechanism, an accessor mechanism for transporting the cartridge, and a control unit for the accessor, etc., which automatically mount, remove, store, record and reproduce the cartridge, etc. The present invention relates to a library device that can be used for a tape library device and the like, and a method for controlling cartridge replacement information in the device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIGS. 16 and 17 show a conventional example. In FIGS. 16 and 17, 1 is a magnetic tape library device, 2 is a magnetic tape device, 3 is a cartridge storage cell,
4 is a motor, 5 is an accessor mechanism, 6 is a cartridge input / output mechanism, 7 is an accessor controller, 8 is a control unit, 9 is a cartridge (cartridge type magnetic tape recording medium), 10 is a door, 12 is an accessor controller, 13 Is an accessor mechanical controller, 14 is M
PU (microprocessor), 15 is a communication LSI, 1
6 is RAM, 17 is communication memory, 18
Indicates an I / O port.

FIG. 16 shows an example of a conventional magnetic tape library device. The conventional magnetic tape library device 1
A cartridge storage cell 3 (in this example, a cylindrical cell drum) for storing and storing a plurality of cartridges, a plurality of magnetic tape devices 2, an accessor mechanism 5, an accessor controller 7, a cartridge loading / unloading mechanism 6, And a control unit 8 for controlling the entire apparatus.

The cartridge storage cell 3 can accommodate a plurality of cartridges 9 therein, and is driven to rotate to a predetermined position by a motor 4. The cartridge loading / unloading mechanism 6 transports a cartridge loaded from outside by an operator to a position where the cartridge is delivered to the accessor mechanism unit 5 while separating one by one.

The accessor mechanism 5 receives the cartridge transported by the cartridge loading / unloading mechanism 6 and transports the cartridge to insert it into the cartridge storage cell 3 or removes the cartridge from the cartridge storage cell 3 to remove the cartridge. The cartridge is mounted on the tape device 2 or the cartridge is removed from the magnetic tape device and inserted into the cartridge storage cell 3.

In such an apparatus, when an operator inserts a plurality of cartridges from the insertion port of the cartridge insertion / ejection mechanism 6, the mechanism 6 separates the cartridge 9 one by one and transports it to a predetermined position. Delivered to the mechanism unit 5.

The accessor mechanism 5 includes a cartridge 9
Is received, the cartridge is conveyed, inserted into a predetermined location of the cartridge storage cell, and stored. When performing recording or reproduction, the accessor mechanism unit 5 takes out the cartridge from the designated location of the cartridge storage cell 3, transports the cartridge, mounts the cartridge on the magnetic tape device 2,
Alternatively, the cartridge after the processing is taken out of the magnetic tape device 2 and transported, and inserted into a predetermined location of the cartridge storage cell 3 and stored.

By the way, in the above device,
Since the cartridge loading / unloading mechanism 6 loads the cartridge by separating and transporting the cartridge one by one, it takes time to load the cartridge. In addition, it is inconvenient because a large number of cartridges cannot be loaded at one time.

Therefore, it has been considered that a door 10 is provided in the vicinity of the cartridge storage cell 3 and a large number of cartridges are manually inserted or removed at a time (replacement of cartridges). .

FIG. 17 shows the configuration of the accessor control section 7 in such an apparatus. In this example, the accessor controller 7 includes an accessor controller 12 and an accessor mechanical controller 13.

The accessor controller 12 includes:
MPU (microprocessor) 14, communication LSI 1
5, RAM 16, communication memory 17, I
An / O port 18 and the like are provided.

The accessor controller 12 performs various controls with the host and controls the entire accessor. In addition, the accessor mechanical controller 13 controls the accessor mechanism unit 5, controls the motor 4 to rotate the cartridge storage cell 3, and the like.

The cartridge storage cell 3 is manually
When a large number of cartridges are loaded or discharged at one time (replacement of cartridges), the following is performed.

The operator operates the operator panel to rotate the cartridge storage cells 3 and moves the row of the cartridge storage cells 3 to be replaced to the position of the door 10.

The operator operates the operator panel, and when the door 10 is opened, replaces the cartridges in row units. The operator closes the door 10 and presses the cartridge replacement end switch to end the replacement operation.

In this way, the cartridge is replaced. In this case, the MPU of the accessor controller 12
14 performs the following processing. (a) The information of the exchanged column is stored in the RAM 16.

(B) When the replacement operation is completed, the host is notified that the cartridge has been replaced. Also, RAM
The information in 16 (information of the exchanged column) is reported to the host.

As described above, when the cartridge is replaced, the information is sent to the host. The host re-registers information on the cartridge based on this information.

[0019]

The above-mentioned conventional apparatus has the following problems. (1) The column information on the exchange of the cartridge is stored in the RAM 16. Therefore, when the power of the apparatus is turned off during the replacement work, the information in the RAM 16 is lost. Therefore, the information of the exchanged column cannot be sent to the host.

(2) Since the host cannot recognize that the cartridge has been replaced, the host cannot re-register information on the replaced cartridge. Therefore, subsequent processing cannot be continued.

(3) If the power of the magnetic tape library device is turned off during the cartridge replacement operation, the information in the row is lost, so that the host cannot recognize this information.
Therefore, it is necessary for the host to re-register the cartridge information in the cartridge storage cells by performing a moving operation or the like for checking the presence or absence of the cartridge for all the columns of all the cartridge storage cells. Therefore, useless time is required.

The present invention solves such a conventional problem, and ensures that even when the power of the apparatus is cut off during the cartridge replacement operation, the information of the row in which the cartridge has been replaced is reliably transmitted to the host. The purpose is to be able to do.

[0023]

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the principle of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the same components as those in FIGS. 16 and 17 are denoted by the same reference numerals. Reference numeral 20 denotes a magnetic tape controller, and reference numeral 21 denotes a nonvolatile memory.

The present invention has the following configuration in order to solve the above problems. (1) A cartridge storage cell 3 capable of storing a plurality of cartridge-type recording media, a cartridge loading / unloading mechanism for loading / unloading cartridge-type recording media, and recording / reproducing data on / from the cartridge-type recording media. A recording / reproducing apparatus 2, an accessor mechanism 5 for transporting a cartridge-type recording medium, and an accessor controller 7 for controlling the accessor mechanism 5 are provided, and can be opened and closed near the cartridge storage cell 3. A door 10 is provided to open the door 10 so that the cartridge storage cell 3 can be directly replaced with the cartridge type recording medium, and the accessor control unit 7 allows the cartridge type recording medium to be exchanged. Is performed, the accessor control unit 7 is configured to detect that the The non-volatile memory 21 for storing cartridge replacement information when the cartridge type recording medium is exchanged, and the cartridge type recording medium exchange operation is started.
If it is determined that the cartridge storage cell 3
Cartridge replacement information to be stored in the non-volatile memory 21
Cartridge replacement information control means, and when the replacement work is completed, and during the replacement work, the power is turned off,
When the power is turned on again, the nonvolatile memory 21
Read the cartridge exchange information and report it to the higher-level equipment.
A cartridge information reporting means was provided.

(2) A method for controlling cartridge exchange information in the library apparatus of the configuration (1), wherein the accessor control section 7 detects that the cartridge type recording medium has been exchanged, The cartridge replacement information relating to the column of the cartridge storage cells 3 in which the recording medium replacement operation has been performed is stored in the non-volatile memory 21, and the power is turned off and the power is turned on again during the cartridge type recording medium replacement operation. At this time, the accessor control section 7 reads out the cartridge replacement information from the nonvolatile memory 21 and reports it to the host device (host).

[0026]

The operation of the present invention based on the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG. When a large number of cartridges are loaded or discharged at a time (exchanging cartridges), the operator operates a cartridge replacement operator panel to open the door 10 provided on the back side of the apparatus, and manually replaces the cartridge. I have. In this case, the operation is performed in the following order.

The operator operates the operator panel to rotate the cartridge storage cell 3 and moves the row of the cartridge storage cell 3 to be replaced to the position of the door 10.

The operator operates the operator panel and, when the door 10 is opened, replaces the cartridge in units of rows. The operator closes the door 10 and presses the cartridge replacement end switch to end the replacement operation.

In this way, the cartridge is replaced. In this case, the accessor control unit performs the following processing. (a) The information of the replaced column is stored in the nonvolatile memory 21.

(B) When the replacement operation is completed, the host is notified that the cartridge has been replaced. Also, the information of the exchanged column is reported to the host. In this way, when the cartridge is replaced, the information is sent to the host. The host re-registers information on the cartridge based on this information.

When the power is turned off during the replacement of the cartridge type recording medium and the power is turned on again,
It checks whether data is set in the table of the non-volatile memory and, if set, reports to the host cartridge exchange information on the row of cartridge storage cells 3 where the exchange operation has been performed.

In this way, even if the power is turned off during the replacement of the cartridge type recording medium, the cartridge replacement information is held in the non-volatile memory 21.
When the power is turned on again, it can be reported to the host.

[0033]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. (Explanation of First Embodiment) FIGS. 2 to 13 are views showing a first embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIGS.
13 to 13 are denoted by the same reference numerals. Also,
Reference numerals 22 and 23 denote operation panels, 24 denotes an input port, 25 denotes a discharge port, 26 denotes a cartridge replacement operator panel 27 denotes a storage shelf, 28 denotes an actuator, 29 denotes a rotating shaft, and 30 denotes a power monitor.

(A): Description of Magnetic Tape Library Apparatus FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the front side of the magnetic tape library apparatus used in the first embodiment. As shown in the figure, operation panels 22 and 23 are provided on the front side of the apparatus, and are configured to be operated by an operator. Further, an insertion port 24 and a discharge port 26 of the cartridge charging / discharging mechanism are provided.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the back side of the magnetic tape library device 1. On the back side of the apparatus, a door 10 that can be opened and closed and a cartridge replacement operator panel 26 are provided.

The door 10 corresponds to the length of one row of storage shelves of cartridge storage cells (cylindrical cell drums) 3 provided inside the apparatus. When the door 10 is opened, the cartridge storage cells 3 Cartridge 9 for one row of storage shelf
Can be manually inserted or removed (replacement of cartridge).

The cartridge replacement operator panel 26 is a panel operated when the door 10 is opened and a cartridge is manually inserted or removed.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the inside of the magnetic tape library apparatus 1. As shown in FIG. As shown, a cartridge storage cell 3 provided with a storage shelf 27 for storing the cartridge 9 is provided inside the magnetic tape library device 1, and a magnetic tape device is provided adjacent to the cartridge storage cell 3. 2 are installed.

An accessor mechanism 5 is provided adjacent to the cartridge storage cell 3 and the magnetic tape device 2, and is controlled by an accessor controller 7.

FIG. 5 is a detailed view of the vicinity of the door on the back side of the magnetic tape library device 1. Cartridge storage cell 3
Means that the accessor mechanism automatically inserts the cartridge 9 via the cartridge charging / discharging mechanism, or
The cartridge 9 can be removed, and the door 10 on the back of the apparatus can be manually opened and closed to insert or remove the cartridge.

For this reason, a cartridge replacement operator panel 26 is provided near the door 10 and the
An actuator 28 that rotates about a rotation axis 29 in conjunction with the opening / closing operation of is provided.

When a large number of cartridges 9 are to be inserted or ejected (exchanged) at once, the operator operates the cartridge exchange operator panel 26 to operate the door 10 provided on the back side of the apparatus.
Is opened and exchange is performed manually.

When the cartridge 9 is inserted, the door 1
When 0 is closed, the actuator 28 rotates around the rotating shaft 29 in conjunction with the closing operation of the door 10, and the actuator 9 pushes the cartridge 9 being inserted.

The cartridge replacement operator panel is constructed, for example, as shown in FIG. In FIG. 6, “DEE” is an LED (light emitting diode) indicating that the cartridge is being replaced, “OPEN” is an LED indicating that the door 10 can be opened, and “STAT”.
“US” is an LED indicating the column number of the cartridge storage cell 3 where the cartridge can be replaced.

"DEE REQ" (cartridge replacement request switch) is a switch for starting cartridge replacement work, "DEE END" (cartridge replacement end switch) is a switch for finishing cartridge replacement work, and "SELECT". A (switch for moving the cartridge storage cell) is a switch for moving the cartridge storage cell, a “DOOR OPEN” (door open switch) is a switch for opening the door 10, and “RESE”.
T "(error reset switch) is a switch for releasing the error when an error occurs during the cartridge replacement operation.

Next, the configuration of the control system will be described. As shown in FIG. 7, the control system of the magnetic tape library device 1 includes a magnetic tape controller 20 for controlling the magnetic tape device 2 and an accessor control unit 7. Further, the accessor control unit 7 includes an accessor controller 12 and an accessor mechanical controller 13.

The accessor controller 12 performs various controls with the host, controls the entire accessor, and the like. The accessor mechanism controller 13 controls the accessor mechanism unit 5, drives the motor 4 to rotate the cartridge storage cell 3, or controls the door 10.
And the like when opening and closing.

The accessor controller 12 includes, for example, an MPU (microprocessor) 1 as shown in FIG.
4. Communication LSI 15, RAM 16, Communication memory 17, I / O port 18, Non-volatile memory 2.
1, a power supply monitoring unit 31 and the like.

The nonvolatile memory 21 stores column information (cartridge replacement information) of the cartridge storage cells 3 when the door 10 is opened and the cartridge is manually replaced. The power monitoring unit 31 detects that the power of the apparatus has been turned off and that the power has been turned on.

In the non-volatile memory 21, for example, a cartridge replacement execution table (hereinafter simply referred to as “table”) as shown in FIG. The column information is stored in the column.

For example, when the cartridge is replaced, a number larger than 0, for example, data "FF" (hexadecimal) is stored in the table, but when the cartridge is not replaced, Data "00" is stored.
Therefore, FIG. 9 shows that the cartridge replacement operation has been performed in the second and third rows.

(B): Description of the operation of the embodiment and the control method Hereinafter, description will be made with reference to FIGS. The processing numbers in each figure are shown in parentheses.

Description of the processing when the door 10 is opened and the cartridge 9 is manually inserted or ejected (exchanged)
.. Refer to FIG. 10. First, when a large number of cartridges are manually inserted or ejected, the cartridge replacement operator panel 26 is required.
Press the "DEE REQ" switch (S1). next,
Wait for the light emitting diode LED of "DEE" to light up (S2), and press the "SELECT" switch (S3).

Thereafter, it is checked whether or not a target row (row of storage shelves) is behind the door 10 (S4). That is, when loading or unloading a cartridge, processing can be performed in units of one row of storage shelves of the cartridge storage cell 3, so that the above-described operation is performed.

If there is no target row behind the door, the "SELECT" switch is pressed again. In this way,
When the target row comes behind the door, the "OPEN" LED is turned on, so the "DOOR OPEN" switch is pressed (S5).

When the door 10 is opened, a cartridge loading or discharging operation (replacement operation) is performed (S6). When the operation of inserting or discharging the cartridge (exchange operation) is completed (S7), the exchange operation of another row is executed.

When all cartridge replacement operations have been completed in this way, the "DEE END" switch is pressed (S9). : Processing of the host ... see FIG. 11 In the host 30, when the accessor controller 12 notifies the end of the replacement work of the cartridge 9 (S11),
The column information of the cartridge storage cell 3 that has undergone the replacement operation is received (S12).

After that, the cartridges in the row of the cartridge storage cell 3 where the replacement operation has been performed are taken out and put in (S1).
3) If there is a cartridge (S14), the presence of the cartridge is registered in the cartridge information table (S15).

However, if there is no cartridge, the absence of the cartridge is registered in the cartridge information table (S16). Thereafter, when the confirmation of the presence / absence of the cartridges in all the rows in the reported row is completed (S17), the process proceeds to a normal process.

: Processing of accessor control section FIG. 12
When the "SELECT" switch is pressed (S21), the cartridge storage cell 3 is moved by one line (S22). When the “DOOR OPEN” switch is pressed (S
23), the door 10 is opened (S24).

At this time, data is set in the table of the nonvolatile memory 21 (S25), and the process waits until the door 10 is closed (S26). Thereafter, when the "DEE END" switch is pressed (S27), the information of the column of the cartridge storage cell 3 which has been replaced is reported to the host (S27).
28). Thereafter, the nonvolatile memory 21 is cleared (S
29).

Processing of the accessor control unit when the power is turned on again after the power is turned off, see FIG. 13. When the power is turned on again after the power of the device is turned off, the table in the nonvolatile memory 21 It is checked whether or not data has been set (S31). If the data has been set, the column of the cartridge storage cell 3 which has been replaced is reported to the host (S32). Thereafter, the table of the nonvolatile memory is cleared (S33).

(Explanation of Second Embodiment) FIG. 14 is a view showing a nonvolatile memory according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
Medium, 32 is an EEPROM memory array, 33 is S-RAM
A memory array, 34 is an address control circuit, 35 is a control circuit, and 36 is a data control circuit.

The second embodiment is an example in which a memory having the structure shown in FIG. 14 is used as the nonvolatile memory, and the other configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment. This nonvolatile memory is a NOVRAM (Non Volatile St).
atic Random Access Memory
y: a non-volatile S-RAM) element.

This N0VRAM element is an S-RAM (S
static Random Access Memory
y) The memory array 33 and an EEPROM (Electr
ically Erasable and Progr
amble ReadOnly Memory: E
EPROM) memory array 32 and address control circuit 3
4, a control circuit 35, and a data control circuit 36.

The control circuit 35 receives a write signal and a read signal from outside, and also receives a store signal and a recall signal, and performs various controls in the device. Also,
The address control circuit 34 controls the address of the memory array, and the data control circuit 36 controls the reading / writing of data from / to the memory array.

In such a NOVRAM, data written to the S-RAM memory array 33 can be instantaneously stored in the EEPROM memory array 32 by a store signal in response to an address signal, a data signal, and a write signal.

On the contrary, the EEPROM memory array 3
2 can be instantaneously extracted to the S-RAM memory array 33 by a recall signal. The store signal and the recall signal are single pulse signals,
The store operation and the recall operation can be controlled as described above.

Normally, when it is detected that the cartridge-type recording medium has been replaced, the cartridge-replacement information relating to the row of the cartridge housing 3 in which the cartridge-type recording medium has been replaced is stored in the S-RAM. It is stored in the memory array 33.

When the power supply monitoring unit 31 of FIG. 8 detects that the power supply has been turned off, the data in the S-RAM memory array 33 is stored in the EEPROM memory array 32 and saved.

Thereafter, when the power is turned on, the cartridge exchange information is read from the EEPROM memory array 32 by a recall operation and reported to the host. (Explanation of Third Embodiment) FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a magnetic tape library device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
The same components as those in FIGS. 1 to 13 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

The third embodiment is an example in which a flat cell is used as the cartridge storage cell 3, and the other configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment. In this case, a door 10 is provided on the back side of the apparatus, corresponding to each row of the cartridge storage cells 3. Then, each door is opened and the cartridge is directly exchanged.

[0073]

As described above, the present invention has the following effects. (1) Even if the power of the device is turned off during manual column-by-row cartridge replacement, the cartridge replacement information is
It is held in a non-volatile memory in the magnetic tape library device. Therefore, even in this case, the cartridge exchange information can be reported to the host.

(2) The host can receive a report of cartridge replacement information from the magnetic tape library device even if the power of the device is turned off during the cartridge replacement operation in the magnetic tape library device.

Therefore, since the host can always recognize the information of the exchanged column, the processing can be continued and performed efficiently. (3) The host only needs to re-register the cartridge in the row where the cartridge has been replaced. Therefore, unlike the related art, it is not necessary to move the cartridge storage cell or the like for re-registering the cartridge, so that it is not necessary to waste time.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the principle of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view (front side) of the magnetic tape library device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view (back side) of the magnetic tape library device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the inside of the magnetic tape library device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a detailed view of the vicinity of a door on the back side of the magnetic tape library device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a view showing a cartridge replacement operator panel according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a control system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of an accessor controller according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a table example of a nonvolatile memory according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a cartridge replacement operation in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a host according to the first embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 12 is a processing flowchart of an accessor control unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a processing flowchart of the accessor control unit when the power is turned on in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of a nonvolatile memory according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram of a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a conventional magnetic tape library device.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram of a conventional accessor controller.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Magnetic tape library apparatus 2 Magnetic tape apparatus 3 Cartridge storage cell 5 Accessor mechanism part 7 Accessor control part 10 Door 21 Non-volatile memory

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A cartridge storage cell (3) capable of storing a plurality of cartridge type recording media (9), a cartridge loading / unloading mechanism (6) for loading and discharging a cartridge type recording medium (9), and a cartridge A recording / reproducing device (2) for recording and reproducing data on / from a recording medium (9), an accessor mechanism (5) for transporting a cartridge-type recording medium (9), and an accessor mechanism (5) And a door (10) that can be opened and closed in the vicinity of the cartridge storage cell (3). The door (10) is opened and the cartridge storage cell (7) is opened. 3)
The cartridge-type recording medium (9) can be directly exchanged, and the accessor control unit (7) can detect that the cartridge-type recording medium (9) has been exchanged. The accessor control unit (7) includes a nonvolatile memory (2) that stores cartridge replacement information when the cartridge-type recording medium is replaced.
1) and the exchange work of the cartridge type recording medium (9) has started.
In the case, the column of the corresponding cartridge storage cell (3) is
Cartridge replacement information stored in the non-volatile memory (21).
A cartridge replacement information control means for storing the cartridge when the replacement is completed and during the replacement.
If the power is turned off and turned on again, the nonvolatile memory
Read cartridge replacement information from memory (21)
Cartridge information reporting means for reporting to the
A library device characterized in that: " 2. A method for controlling cartridge replacement information in the library apparatus, wherein the accessor control section (7) detects that a cartridge type recording medium (9) has been replaced, Cartridge replacement information relating to the row of the cartridge storage cells (3) where the replacement of the recording medium (9) has been performed is stored in the non-volatile memory (21), and during the replacement of the cartridge-type recording medium (9). When the power is turned off and the power is turned on again, the accessor control unit (7) reads the nonvolatile memory (2)
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the cartridge exchange information is read out from 1) and is reported to a host device (host).
A method for controlling cartridge exchange information in the library apparatus described in the above.