JP3607663B2 - Magnetic tape device and system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a magnetic tape apparatus and system, and more particularly to a magnetic tape apparatus and system for storing data used in an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a magnetic tape device draws a magnetic tape from a cartridge that stores the magnetic tape, writes data to the magnetic tape with a magnetic head, and reads recorded data. After data is written, the magnetic tape is rewound and stored in the cartridge.
[0003]
Here, when the magnetic tape is pulled out, the leader block provided at the tip of the magnetic tape is moved from the cartridge while being held by a detachable threader arm, so that the magnetic tape is pulled out from the cartridge to the machine reel. The operation of fixing is called threading.
[0004]
The operation of moving the threader arm in the opposite direction to the threading and storing the magnetic tape fixed to the machine reel in the cartridge is called unthreading. Ultimately, the leader block is the outlet of the magnetic tape of the cartridge. Installed in the vicinity.
[0005]
When threading, for example, if there is foreign matter such as dust on the threader arm movement path, the threader arm may hit the foreign matter and the magnetic tape cannot be moved any further. In this case, the drive of the magnetic tape device is stopped. At the same time, information indicating that an error has occurred is sent to the host device connected to the magnetic tape device.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional technology, when an abnormality occurs during threading, the magnetic tape device is stopped while the magnetic tape is pulled out in the magnetic tape device, so that the magnetic tape is damaged or broken, There has been a situation in which it is impossible to take out the tape from the magnetic tape device, and there has been a demand for improvement.
[0007]
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to prevent the magnetic tape from being damaged or from being unable to remove the cartridge from the magnetic tape device even when an abnormality occurs during threading.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problems, the present invention records the data on the magnetic tape by pulling out the magnetic tape from the cartridge by rotating the threader arm while the magnetic tape in the cartridge is held by the threader arm. or a magnetic tape apparatus for reproducing recorded to Aru data, the threader arm when the threader arm detects that does not rotate with be returned to the cartridge side, to determine whether the threader arm has returned to the required position If the result of the determination is that the threader arm does not return to the required position, there is provided means for rotating the threader arm again in the direction of pulling out the magnetic tape .
[0009]
In the present invention, the magnetic tape in the cartridge is held by the threader arm, and the magnetic tape is pulled out from the cartridge by rotating the threader arm, and data is recorded on or recorded on the magnetic tape. In the magnetic tape device for reproducing the thread, when it is detected that the threader arm does not rotate, the threader arm is returned to the cartridge side, and it is determined whether the threader arm has returned to a required position. Is provided with means for determining the position by rotating the threader arm again in the direction of pulling out the magnetic tape when the magnetic tape does not return to the required position.
[0010]
Furthermore, a magnetic tape system according to the present invention includes a magnetic tape device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, and a conveying device that carries a cartridge into or out of the magnetic tape device. With.
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[0012]
[Description of configuration]
FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of a magnetic tape device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the cartridge conveyed to the magnetic tape device of FIG.
[0013]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the magnetic tape apparatus includes a TPA (Tape Path A) sensor 22, a threader arm 20, a threader pin 21, a magnetic head 26, a machine reel 23, and a TPB (Tape Path) described below. B) A sensor 24, a file motor 31, a clutch gear 30, an encoder 32, and a CPU 33 are provided.
[0014]
The cartridge 1 also includes a magnetic tape 12 on which data processed by the information processing apparatus is recorded, a leader block 13 attached to the tip of the magnetic tape 12, a reel 10 for winding the magnetic tape 12, And a gear 11 connected to the reel 10.
[0015]
The threader arm 20 can grip the leader block 13 by a threader pin 21 provided near the tip. It is rotated by a threading motor (not shown). The threading motor is driven when data is written on the magnetic tape 12 and before and after (threading / unthreading).
[0016]
The TPA sensor 22 mainly detects whether the threader arm 20 has moved to the cartridge 1 side during threading or unthreading.
[0017]
The TPB sensor 24 mainly detects whether the threader arm 20 has moved to the machine reel 23 side during threading.
[0018]
The machine reel 23 takes up the magnetic tape 12 that has been drawn out. When the magnetic tape 12 is being drawn / rewinded between the machine reel 23 and the cartridge 1, Data is recorded on the tape 12 or data recorded therein is reproduced.
[0019]
The file motor 31 is driven while the clutch gear 30 and the gear 11 are engaged with each other, thereby rotating the reel 10 and winding the drawn magnetic tape 12 on the cartridge 1 side. The encoder 32 detects the rotation speed and the rotation direction.
[0020]
The CPU 33 controls the operation of each member described above, and outputs a rotation / stop command for the threading motor and the file motor 31 and inputs detection results of the TPA sensor 22, the TPB sensor 24, and the encoder 32.
[0021]
Further, in the vicinity of the magnetic tape device shown in FIG. 1, a transport device such as a robot for carrying in or out the cartridge 1 is provided. Each of the magnetic tape device and the transport device is connected to the host device and operates according to a command from the host device. For example, the host device includes notifying means for notifying the notification result from the magnetic tape device as will be described later.
[0022]
[Description of operation]
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the mounting process of the magnetic tape apparatus shown in FIGS.
[0023]
First, after the cartridge 1 is conveyed into the magnetic tape device, the cartridge 1 is lowered, and the leader block 13 and the threader pin 21 at the tip of the threader arm 20 are coupled. Further, the gear 11 of the cartridge 1 and the clutch gear 30 are coupled (step S11).
[0024]
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the operation in step S11 of FIG. As shown in FIG. 3A, the threader pin 21 at the tip of the threader arm 20 is attached to the groove formed in the leader block 13 at the tip of the magnetic tape 12, so that the state shown in FIG. To do.
[0025]
Thereafter, the CPU 33 drives the threader motor while keeping the file motor 31 in a free state, rotates the threader arm 20 toward the machine reel 23 side, and pulls out the magnetic tape 12 from the cartridge 1. (Step S12).
[0026]
The CPU 33 counts the number of tachometer pulses indicating the number of rotations of the file motor 31 output from the encoder 32 after the threader motor drive command. And it is discriminate | determined whether the count number is larger than a 1st threshold value (step S13).
[0027]
Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the arrival of the threader arm 20 is detected by the TPB sensor 24 (step S14).
[0028]
Here, when the magnetic tape 12 is pulled out from the cartridge 1 by the threader arm 20, the reel 10 in the cartridge 1 usually rotates at the same time, and accordingly, the free file motor 31 also rotates and rotates from the encoder 32. A tacho pulse indicating the number is output to the CPU 33.
[0029]
On the other hand, when there is foreign matter such as dust in the traveling path 25 of the magnetic tape 12 and the threader arm 20 hits the foreign matter and does not move further to the machine reel 23 side, or when the encoder 32 is broken down, The tacho pulse is not output from the encoder 32 or is not output midway.
[0030]
If the result of determination in step S13 is that the count is greater than the first threshold value, then if there is no foreign matter such as dust on the travel path 25, the TPB sensor 24 will reach the threader arm 20 within a predetermined time. Since it can be detected, the CPU 33 winds the magnetic tape 10 around the machine reel 23 using a signal indicating detection of arrival from the TPB sensor 24 as a trigger (step S15).
[0031]
Even if the count number is larger than the first threshold as a result of the determination in step S13, if there is a foreign substance such as dust on the travel path 25 thereafter, the threader arm is detected by the TPB sensor 24 within a predetermined time. Since the arrival of 20 cannot be detected (step S20), the process proceeds to step S21.
[0032]
On the other hand, as a result of the determination in step S13, if the count number is smaller than the first threshold value, that is, if there is a foreign object such as dust on the travel path 25, or if the encoder 32 fails, the CPU 33 31 is driven to wind the magnetic tape 12 around the reel 10, and the threader motor is reversely rotated to return the threader arm 20 to the cartridge 1 side (step S21).
[0033]
Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the arrival of the threader arm 20 is detected by the TPA sensor 22 (step S22).
[0034]
Here, there are cases where the threader pin 21 and the leader block 13 are not well coupled. Further, when an abnormality occurs in the threader motor by trying to rotate the threader arm 20 to the cartridge 1 side when the threader arm 20 cannot be rotated well to the machine reel 23 side, the TPA sensor 22 causes the TPA sensor 22 to move within a predetermined time. In some cases, the arrival of the threader arm 20 cannot be detected (step S23). In such a case, the threader arm 20 is retracted to the machine reel 23 side (step S32).
[0035]
Even while the threader arm 20 is retracted, the CPU 33 determines whether or not the number of tacho pulses output from the encoder 32 is greater than the second threshold value (step S26).
[0036]
As a result of the determination in step S26, when the tacho pulse is larger than the second threshold value, that is, for example, the threader pin 21 and the leader block 13 are actually coupled, and the foreign matter on the travel path 25 has been removed. If not, the process proceeds to step S14.
[0037]
On the other hand, if the result of determination in step S26 is that the count number is smaller than the second threshold value, that is, if the threader pin 21 and the leader block 13 are not well coupled, then there is foreign matter such as dust on the travel path 25 thereafter. If not, the arrival of the threader arm 20 can be detected by the TPB sensor 24 (step S17).
[0038]
The CPU 33 uses the signal indicating the arrival detection from the TPB sensor 24 as a trigger to indicate that the withdrawal of the threader arm 20 is completed and that the cartridge 1 can be carried out of the magnetic tape device. (Step S19).
[0039]
Even if the count number is larger than the second threshold value as a result of the determination in step S26, if there is a foreign object such as dust on the travel path 25 thereafter, the threader arm is detected by the TPB sensor 24 within a predetermined time. Since the arrival of 20 cannot be detected, the CPU 33 notifies the host device connected to the magnetic tape device that the magnetic tape device has failed and that the cartridge 1 cannot be unloaded from the magnetic tape device (step S30). ).
[0040]
On the other hand, when the arrival of the threader arm 20 can be detected by the TPA sensor 22, the process returns to step S12 and the threading process is tried a predetermined number of times (step S24).
[0041]
If the magnetic tape 12 cannot be wound around the machine reel 23 due to foreign matter on the running path 25 even after a specified number of threading processes, the CPU 33 abandons the threading process so as not to repeat unnecessary trials. (Step S25).
[0042]
Then, the CPU 33 notifies the host device connected to the magnetic tape device that the threading process has been abandoned and the fact that the cartridge 1 can be unloaded from the magnetic tape device (step S31).
[0043]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the present invention can prevent the magnetic tape from being damaged or the cartridge from being removed from the magnetic tape device even when an abnormality occurs during threading.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of a magnetic tape device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the vicinity of a cartridge conveyed to the magnetic tape device of FIG.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an operation in step S11 of FIG.
4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the mounting process of the magnetic tape device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
20 Threader Arm 21 Threader Pin 22 TPA (Tape Path A) Sensor 23 Machine Reel 24 TPB (Tape Path B) Sensor 26 Magnetic Head 30 Clutch Gear 31 File Motor 32 Encoder 33 CPU

Claims (6)

A magnetic tape device for pulling out a magnetic tape from the cartridge by rotating the threader arm while holding the magnetic tape in the cartridge with a threader arm, and recording data on the magnetic tape or reproducing recorded data in, with to return the threader arm on the cartridge side when the threader arm detects that does not rotate, to determine whether the threader arm has returned to the required position, the result of the determination, position the threader arm is the required A magnetic tape device comprising means for rotating a threader arm in a direction in which the magnetic tape is pulled out again when the magnetic tape does not return . A magnetic tape device for pulling out a magnetic tape from the cartridge by rotating the threader arm while holding the magnetic tape in the cartridge with a threader arm, and recording data on the magnetic tape or reproducing recorded data The threader arm is returned to the cartridge side when it is detected that the threader arm does not rotate, and it is determined whether the threader arm has returned to the required position. As a result of the determination, the threader arm is moved to the required position. A magnetic tape device comprising means for determining a position by rotating a threader arm again in a direction in which the magnetic tape is pulled out when the magnetic tape does not return. 3. The rotation of the threader arm is detected based on an output from an encoder that measures the number of rotations of a file motor that houses the magnetic tape or a threading motor that rotates the threader arm. Magnetic tape unit. 4. A magnetic tape comprising: the magnetic tape device according to claim 1; and a conveying device that carries the cartridge into the magnetic tape device or carries the cartridge out of the magnetic tape device. system. A means for detecting whether or not the magnetic tape is stored in the cartridge when the rotation of the threader arm is completed, and a means for notifying the detection result of the completion of the storage of the magnetic tape. Item 5. The magnetic tape system according to Item 4. 6. The magnetic tape system according to claim 4, further comprising means for notifying whether or not the cartridge is in a state where the cartridge can be unloaded when the rotation of the threader arm is finished.

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