JP6172728B2 - Library apparatus and accessor control method in library apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a library apparatus that stores a large number of cassettes (recording media) in a magazine, and easily detects whether or not the magazine has been replaced by maintenance or the like, and efficiently performs subsequent accessor position correction. It relates to the technology that can.

As a related technique of this kind, a library apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 is known.
The library apparatus determines whether or not the storage operation to the specified magazine cell is normally completed after the accessor mechanism performs the storage operation to the specified magazine cell of the magnetic tape medium, When the magnetic tape medium comes into contact with the entrance of the cell and the storing operation fails, a positioning operation is performed with respect to the X and Y positions of the cell designated as retry processing of the storing operation. After that, the magnetic tape medium is stored again in the same magazine cell, and it is determined whether or not the storage operation to the designated cell is normally completed. The magnetic tape medium comes into contact with the entrance / exit of the cell. If the storage operation fails, the cell attachment error relative to the stop position of the accessor mechanism is measured for the cell.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-69688

By the way, in Patent Document 1 shown above, the magnetic tape medium is stored by the detecting means provided in the accessor mechanism while checking the position of the cell in the magazine and performing the retry process of the storage. Is stored in a predetermined cell.
However, in the technique of Patent Document 1, when a magnetic tape medium is stored, the magazine is replaced and the newly installed magazine has a specification different from that of the previous magazine (for example, there is a manufacturing error). For example, when the cell installation position is slightly different from the previous position, it is necessary to perform a storage process with a retry process for each cell of the magazine. As a result, the storage processing of the magnetic tape medium takes time, and there is a problem that the storage efficiency deteriorates.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and improves the efficiency of storage processing when a magazine is replaced and a newly installed magazine has a specification different from that of the previous magazine. It is an object of the present invention to provide a library apparatus and an accessor control method in the library apparatus that can shorten the time required for the medium storage process.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention proposes the following means. That is, the present invention provides a plurality of magazines that are arranged at predetermined positions of the magazine installation unit and store recording media in the respective magazine cells, and that are movably provided along the cell arrangement direction of the magazines. Correction data storage for storing, for each magazine ID unique to each magazine , an accessor for exchanging recording media between them, a control unit for controlling movement and position of the accessor, and correction data for correcting the access path of the accessor a library device comprising a part, and the magazine, an ID recording unit which records the magazine ID, and a reference target as a reference for measuring the position of the magazine cell is provided, the accessor , Reading means for reading the magazine ID and the reference target is provided, and the control unit reads by the reading means. The magazine the magazine ID, which are taken, it is determined whether the magazine is a magazine ID be read in the past, when a magazine ID read in the past, that the correction data storage unit stores Based on the correction data corresponding to the ID, the movement of the accessor is controlled. When the magazine ID has not been read in the past, the correction data is calculated based on the reference target and stored in the correction data storage unit. And storing and controlling the movement of the accessor based on the correction data.

According to the present invention, it is determined whether or not the magazine ID read by the reading means is a magazine with a magazine ID that has been read in the past. Based on the correction data corresponding to the ID, the movement of the accessor is controlled. If the magazine ID has not been read in the past, the correction data is calculated based on the reference target, and the movement of the accessor is controlled based on the correction data.
Since the storage medium storage process by the accessor can be corrected based on the correction data in units of such magazines, the magazine that has been replaced and newly installed has a different specification from the previous magazine. In this case, it is not necessary to individually correct the position of the accessor for each of a large number of magazine cells in the magazine. As a result, it is possible to improve the efficiency of the storage process and shorten the time required for the storage process of the recording medium.

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. (A) is a plan view showing a state in which the latch lever is in the “normal latch position” and the cassette is in the proper storage position, for explaining the cassette storage operation in the storage space in the library apparatus. b) is a front view of (a). It is a front view which shows the some magazine installed in the magazine installation part, and the magazine barcode label (ID recording part) installed in the front side part of this magazine. It is a perspective view which shows in detail the magazine barcode label (ID recording part) installed in the front side part of the magazine. It is a flowchart which shows the step (SP) of the control program which operates an accessor.

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 the library apparatus. In the library apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a plurality of cassettes 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 / removing the cassette C to / from each magazine cell 3 of the magazine 4 A and a drive device 5 that reads and writes the cassette C conveyed by the accessor A.
In FIG. 1, there is one magazine 4, but usually a plurality (four in FIG. 4) are installed in the magazine installation section 50 as shown in FIG. 4.

  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 cassette C is moved to the opening 2 of the specific magazine cell 3 and the cassette 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 cassettes 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 cassette C stored in the storage space 1 toward the opening 2 side. Is provided.
The push-out means 10 is composed of, for example, a coupling formed in a spring shape, and comes into contact with the back corner of the cassette C inserted into the storage space 1 of the magazine cell 3 so that the cassette C is stored. It is configured so that it can be released when it is pushed into the space 1. And the cassette C accommodated in the storage space 1 is always urged | biased to the opening part 2 side by the press of the coupling formed in such a spring 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 cassette 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 cassette C is pushed into the storage space 1 by the accessor A. In addition, when the cassette 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 “normal latch position”, the cassette 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 an “appropriate storage position” to be sandwiched.

  Further, the accessor A is provided with operation means for temporarily pushing the latch lever 11 to a position retracted from the opening 2 of the magazine cell 3 when the cassette 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 (reading means) such as an image sensor for detecting the position of the latch lever 11 as shown in FIG.
The imaging device 20 is arranged so as to face the opening 2 of the magazine cell 3, and reads the target mark M (reference target) provided on the latch lever 11 of the magazine cell 3, as well as the magazine cell. 3, a cassette identification code 21 affixed to the front of the cassette C in the magazine 3, and a magazine barcode label 22 (ID recording portion) provided on the magazine 4 and recording a magazine ID unique to the magazine are read (described later).

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the magazine barcode label 22 is disposed on the front side of the magazine cell 3 in the magazine 4 via the label mounting stay 23, and identifies the magazine 4. Contains specific data.

Next, the operation of the accessor A will be described with reference to 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). Further, in the control device 51, when the magazine barcode label 22 has been read in the past by the accessor A, there is a correction data storage unit 52 for storing correction data of the magazine 4 specified by the magazine barcode label 22. Is provided. The correction data is for correcting the access path of the accessor A with the target mark M as a reference, and is stored in the correction data storage unit 52 for each magazine ID which is the magazine barcode label 22. Further, a nonvolatile memory (EEPROM) is used as the correction data storage unit 52.

[Step 1]
It is determined whether or not the magazine 4 is inserted and installed at a predetermined location of the magazine installation unit 50 due to maintenance or the like, and the process proceeds to the next step on the condition of YES. The YES operation in step 1 may be performed manually according to an instruction from an operator, or a sensor that detects that the magazine 4 is installed in the magazine installation unit 50 may be provided.

[Step 2]
By moving the accessor A in the direction of the arrow xy, the image pickup device 20 mounted on the accessor A is caused to read the data of the magazine barcode label 22 installed at the front of the magazine 4.

[Step 3]
The magazine barcode label 22 read by the imaging device 20 in step 2 is compared with the past magazine barcode label 22 stored in the correction data storage unit 52 in the control device 51. Proceed to step 4, and if there is no matching data, proceed to step 5.

[Step 4]
It is assumed that the magazine barcode label 22 read by the imaging device 20 is the same as the magazine barcode label 22 read in the past, and the past corresponding to the magazine barcode label 22 stored in the correction data storage unit 52. Based on the correction data, the position of the accessor A is controlled. As a result, the storage processing of the cassette C by the accessor A can be corrected collectively based on the correction data in units of the magazine 4, so that each of the magazine cells 3 in the magazine 4 can be individually It is not necessary to correct the position of the accessor A.

[Step 5]
When the magazine barcode label 22 read by the imaging device 20 is not the magazine barcode label 22 read in the past, that is, when the magazine 4 installed in the magazine installation section 50 is a new one installed for the first time this time. Then, a plurality of target marks M (reference targets) installed in the magazine cell 3 of the magazine 4 are read from the imaging device 20, and the process proceeds to the next step 6.

[Step 6]
Based on the plurality of target marks M read in step 5, correction data for correcting the access path in the XY direction when the accessor A accesses the magazine cell 3 of the magazine 4 is created.

[Step 7]
It is determined whether or not the processing shown in steps 5 and 6 has been performed for all the magazine cells 3 of the magazine 4. If NO, the process returns to the previous step 5, and if YES, the process proceeds to the next step 8. move on.

[Step 8]
If correction data is created for all the magazine cells 3 of the magazine 4, the correction data is associated with the magazine ID of the magazine barcode label 22 of the magazine 4, and the nonvolatile memory ( (EEPROM).

[Step 9]
Based on the correction data read in step 4 or the correction data newly set in steps 5 to 8, the access path when the accessor A accesses the magazine cell 3 of the magazine 4 is corrected. As a result, the accessor A accesses the specific magazine cell 3 of the magazine 4 at the correct position, and after inserting or removing the cassette C by the accessor A without any trouble, this flowchart is ended.

As described above in detail, according to the library apparatus and the accessor control method in the library apparatus shown in the present embodiment, each magazine 4 has a magazine barcode label 22 in which a magazine-specific ID is recorded, A target mark M serving as a reference for optically measuring the position of the magazine cell 3 is provided. Further, the accessor A is provided with an imaging device 20 that optically reads the magazine barcode label 22 and the target mark M. On the other hand, the control device 50 determines whether or not the magazine barcode label 22 read by the imaging device 20 is the magazine 4 of the magazine barcode label 22 that has been read in the past (steps 2 to 3). If the magazine barcode label 22 has been read in the past, the position of the accessor A is controlled based on the past correction data corresponding to the magazine barcode label 22 (steps 4 and 9). If the magazine barcode label 22 is not present, the position of the accessor A is controlled based on the newly set correction data (steps 5 to 9).
Since the storage process of the cassette C by the accessor A can be corrected based on the correction data with the magazine 4 as a unit, the magazine 4 in which the magazine 4 is replaced and newly installed becomes the previous magazine. When the specification is different from that of the magazine 4, it is not necessary to individually correct the position of the accessor A for each of the many magazine cells 3 in the magazine 4. As a result, it is possible to improve the efficiency of the storage process and shorten the time required for the storage process of the recording medium.

In the above embodiment, the target mark M serving as a reference target is provided on the latch lever 11 of each magazine cell 3, but the installation location may be provided on a frame that divides the magazine cell 3, for example. The lever 11 is not limited.
Further, the magazine bar code label 22 is provided on the front side of the magazine 4 as an ID recording unit for storing the unique information of the magazine 4, but it may be a matrix type two-dimensional code. Is not particularly limited.
In the above embodiment, optical reading means (imaging device 20, magazine barcode label 22, target mark M) is adopted as reading means. However, the reading means is not limited to this means. For example, RFID or magnetically What is recorded may be read.

  A part or all of the above embodiment is described as in the following supplementary notes, but is not limited to the following.

(Appendix 1)
A plurality of magazines that are arranged at predetermined positions of the magazine installation unit and store recording media in the respective magazine cells, and are arranged so as to be movable along the cell arrangement direction of the magazines. A library apparatus comprising an accessor for sending and receiving and a control unit for controlling movement and position of the accessor, wherein the magazine includes an ID recording unit for recording a magazine ID unique to each magazine, and a magazine cell. A reference target serving as a reference for measuring the position is provided; the accessor is provided with reading means for reading the magazine ID and the reference target; and the control unit is configured to read the magazine ID read by the reading means. Determines whether it is a magazine with a magazine ID that has been read in the past, and the magazine that was read in the past If the magazine ID is D, the movement of the accessor is controlled based on the correction data corresponding to the magazine ID. If the magazine ID has not been read in the past, the correction data is obtained based on the reference target. A library apparatus characterized by calculating and controlling movement of the accessor based on the correction data.

(Appendix 2)
The library apparatus according to appendix 1, wherein the reading unit is an optical reading unit.

(Appendix 3)
When the magazine ID read by the reading unit is a magazine ID that has not been read in the past, the control unit calculates correction data for correcting the access path of the accessor based on the reference target. The library apparatus according to Supplementary Note 1 or 2, wherein the library apparatus is characterized.

(Appendix 4)
Any one of Supplementary notes 1 to 3, wherein the control unit is provided with a correction data storage unit that stores correction data corresponding to the magazine ID read in the past by the reading unit for each magazine ID. The library apparatus according to claim 1.

(Appendix 5)
A plurality of magazines that are arranged at predetermined positions of the magazine installation unit and store recording media in the respective magazine cells, and are arranged so as to be movable along the cell arrangement direction of the magazines. An accessor for transferring and controlling the movement and position of the accessor, an ID recording unit in which a magazine ID unique to each magazine is recorded in the magazine, and a reference for measuring the position of the magazine cell And the accessor is provided with reading means for optically reading the magazine ID and the reference target, and the magazine ID read by the reading means has been read in the past. It is determined whether the magazine has a magazine ID. If the magazine ID has been read in the past, Based on the correction data corresponding to the magazine ID, the movement of the accessor is controlled. If the magazine ID has not been read in the past, the correction data is calculated based on the reference target, and based on the correction data. And controlling the accessor movement in the library apparatus.

(Appendix 6)
The library apparatus according to appendix 5, wherein the reading unit is an optical reading unit.

(Appendix 7)
Supplementary Note 5: When the magazine ID read by the reading means is a magazine ID that has not been read in the past, correction data for correcting the access path of the accessor is calculated using the reference target as a reference. A method of controlling an accessor in the library apparatus according to 6.

(Appendix 8)
8. The correction data storage unit for storing correction data corresponding to a magazine ID read in the past by the reading unit, for each magazine ID, is provided. Control method for an accessor in a library apparatus.

  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 cassettes (recording media) in a magazine, and easily detects whether or not the magazine has been replaced by maintenance or the like, and efficiently performs subsequent accessor position correction. It relates to the technology that can.

3 Magazine cell 4 Magazine (storage section)
20 Imaging device (reading means)
22 Magazine barcode label (ID recording part)
50 Magazine installation section 51 Control device (control section)
52 Correction data storage section A Accessor (reading means)
C cassette (recording medium)
M target mark (reference target)

Claims (6)

A plurality of magazines that are arranged at predetermined positions of the magazine installation unit and store recording media in the respective magazine cells, and are arranged so as to be movable along the cell arrangement direction of the magazines. An accessor for sending and receiving; a control unit for controlling movement and position of the accessor; and a correction data storage unit for storing correction data for correcting the access path of the accessor for each magazine ID unique to each magazine. A library device,
The magazine, an ID recording unit which records the magazine ID, and a reference target as a reference for measuring the position of the magazine cells provided,
The accessor is provided with reading means for reading the magazine ID and the reference target,
Wherein the control unit, the reading the magazine ID read by means determines whether the magazine is a magazine ID be read in the past, when a magazine ID read in the past, the Based on the correction data corresponding to the magazine ID stored in the correction data storage unit , the movement of the accessor is controlled. If the magazine ID has not been read in the past, the correction data is stored based on the reference target. A library apparatus characterized in that it calculates and stores it in the correction data storage unit, and controls movement of the accessor based on the correction data.   The library apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reading unit is an optical reading unit.   When the magazine ID read by the reading unit is a magazine ID that has not been read in the past, the control unit calculates correction data for correcting the access path of the accessor with reference to the reference target. The library apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: A plurality of magazines that are arranged at predetermined positions of the magazine installation unit and store recording media in the respective magazine cells, and are arranged so as to be movable along the cell arrangement direction of the magazines. an accessor for exchanging, the correction data for correcting the access path of the accessor a control method of the accessor in the library device that have a correction data storage unit for storing for each magazine unique magazine ID,
A step that the reading means of the accessor is read the magazine ID provided in the magazine,
A step of the magazine ID read is, determines whether or not the magazine is a magazine ID be read in the past by said reading means,
If a magazine ID read in the past, the steps of based on the correction data corresponding to the magazine ID, controls the movement of the accessor,
When the magazine ID has not been read in the past, the reading means of the accessor reads a reference target serving as a reference for measuring the position of the magazine cell provided in the magazine;
Calculating correction data based on the reference target and storing the correction data in the correction data storage unit;
Controlling the movement of the accessor based on the calculated correction data ;
A method of controlling an accessor in a library apparatus, comprising: 5. The method of controlling an accessor in a library apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the reading means is an optical reading means. The correction data for correcting the access path of the accessor is calculated based on the reference target when the magazine ID read by the reading unit is a magazine ID that has not been read in the past. Item 6. The accessor control method in the library device according to Item 4 or 5 .

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