JPH01113912A - Magnetic tape device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To attain labor saving and to improve reliability by automatically executing the cleaning of a magnetic tape device when the number of writing errors and reading errors of the magnetic tape achieves a specified value. CONSTITUTION:When it is known that the number of the errors goes to be over the specified value by a signal 14, a control and a reading or writing to a magnetic tape 5, which is processed at the time point, is wholly finished, a control device 1 returns the tape 5 to a magnetic tape keeping cell 15 and after that, a cleaning instruction is given to a magnetic tape device control circuit 2 and an accessor control circuit 17. An accessor 16 and the accessor control circuit 17 remove a tape 19 for cleaning from a receiving cell 20 for cleaning tape, which is determined in advance, and the tape 19 is mounted to the magnetic tape device. The magnetic tape device control circuit 2 detects the tape 19 for cleaning is mounted and executes prescribed cleaning operation. Thus, the reliability and the labor saving can be improved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a magnetic tape device, and more particularly to a magnetic tape device called a so-called magnetic tape library device that stores a plurality of magnetic tape media.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, in magnetic tape devices, as the magnetic tape runs, dirt and the like adhere to the magnetic head and the tape running path, so it is necessary to clean them periodically or depending on the frequency of use. In a cartridge type magnetic tape device, a cleaning tape is prepared, and cleaning is automatically performed by attaching the tape. Due to the need for labor-saving in recent years, systems have been created in which multiple volumes of magnetic tape cartridges are loaded into a magnetic tape device and a large amount of data is processed continuously without human intervention while automatically exchanging tapes. In order to process data, a large number of magnetic tape cartridges are stored in regularly arranged tape storage cells, and the desired tape is taken out from the storage cell by means of transporting the tape, loaded into a magnetic tape device, or stored again. There is a system called a so-called collective or magnetic tape library that automatically performs the process of returning data to a cell. In a system such as the one described above, it is desirable to automatically clean the magnetic tape device. Conventionally, the conditions for cleaning were as follows:
A method that calculates the number of times the magnetic tape is attached and detached and performs cleaning when the specified number of times is reached, or a method that calculates the number of times the magnetic tape has been attached and detached, and performs cleaning when the distance traveled by the magnetic tape is accumulated and reaches a specified value. Methods of implementation have been proposed.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

However, it is difficult to think that the number of times the magnetic tape is loaded and unloaded using the conventional method described above, or the distance traveled by the magnetic tape, has a strong correlation with the dirt on the magnetic tape device, and there is a risk of an increase in write/read errors due to delays in cleaning. However, there are drawbacks such as a decrease in performance and a decrease in usage efficiency due to unnecessary and non-urgent cleaning.

[Means for solving problems]

The magnetic tape device according to the present invention includes a means for counting the number of writing and reading errors, a comparing means for comparing the counted value with a predetermined reference value, and a cleaning device for cleaning necessary parts of the magnetic tape device. a cleaning tape, storage means for storing the cleaning tape, and when the count value of the comparison means exceeds the reference value, the cleaning tape is stored between the cleaning tape storage means and the magnetic tape device. It has a conveying means for conveying.

〔Example〕

Next, the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention. 1
2 is a control circuit for a magnetic tape library system using the present invention; 2 is a control circuit for a magnetic tape device; 3.4 is a magnetic tape reel; the magnetic tape 5 is caused to run by rotating the magnetic tape reels 2 and 3; . 6 is a write circuit that converts the write data sent from the control device 1 into data to be written on the magnetic tape;
A write head that records data. 8 is a reproducing head for reading data from the magnetic tape 5; 9 is a reading circuit for converting a reproduction signal into read data; and 10 is an error detection circuit for detecting errors in the read data. 11 is an error detection signal obtained from the error detection circuit 10, 12 is a counter circuit that counts the error detection signal 11, and 13 is a comparison circuit that compares the value of the counter circuit with a predetermined value. 14 is a signal indicating the comparison result. 15 is a magnetic tape storage cell that stores a magnetic tape; 16 is an accessor that transports the magnetic tape between the magnetic tape storage cell 15 and the magnetic tape device; 17 is an accessor control circuit that controls the accessor 16; 18 is a magnetic tape; 19 is a cleaning tape; cleaning tape 19;
Cleaning tape storage cell 2 is a storage means for cleaning tape.
It is stored in 0.

Next, the operation of the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 will be explained in order. When writing data to the magnetic tape 5, the control device 1 controls the control circuit 2 of the magnetic tape device.
Give a write command to. The magnetic tape device control circuit 2 rotates the reel 3.4 to run the magnetic tape 5. The write data sent from the control device 1 is sent to the write circuit 6. Written onto magnetic tape 7 by write head 8 . The data written on the magnetic tape 7 is reproduced by a reproduction head 8, and then read by a read circuit 9. An error detection circuit 10 checks whether there is an error. When an error is detected, the error detection circuit 10 provides the error detection signal 11 to the counter circuit 12, and the counter circuit 12 increments the count value.

When reading data from the magnetic tape 5, the control device 1 gives a read command to the magnetic tape device control circuit 2. The magnetic tape 5 runs in the same way as in the writing described above,
Playback head8. Readout circuit 9. The read data is sent to the control device 1 via the error detection circuit 10.

Error detection circuit 1 when an error is detected in read data
0 gives the error detection signal 11 to the counter circuit 12, and the counter circuit 12 increments the count value.

As mentioned above, the value of the counter circuit 12 is incremented every time an error is detected. The value of the counter circuit 12 is compared with a predetermined value in a comparison circuit 13, and when the value of the counter circuit 12 exceeds a certain value, a signal 14 is used to notify the control device 1. When the control device 1 learns from the signal 14 that the number of errors has exceeded the specified value, when all reading or writing to the magnetic tape being processed at that time is completed, the tape is stored in the magnetic tape storage cell 15. Then, a cleaning command is given to the magnetic tape device control circuit 2 and the accessor control circuit 17. The accessor 16 and the accessor control circuit 17 take out the cleaning tape 19 from a predetermined cleaning tape storage cell 20 and load it into the magnetic tape device. The magnetic tape device control circuit 2 detects that the cleaning tape 19 is attached, performs a predetermined cleaning operation, and then winds up the cleaning tee 119. Next, the accessor 16 and the accessor control circuit 17 remove the cleaning tape from the magnetic tape device, return it to the cleaning tape storage cell 20, and then notify the control device 1 of the completion of cleaning.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, the present invention automatically cleans the magnetic tape device when the number of write errors and read errors on the magnetic tape reaches a certain predetermined value. A tape device can be provided.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention. 1... Control device, 2... Magnetic tape device control circuit,
3.4...Magnetic tape reel, 5...Magnetic tape,
6...Writing circuit, 7...Writing head, 8...
Reproduction head, 9... Readout circuit, 10... Error detection circuit, 11... Error detection signal, 12... Counter circuit, 13... Comparison circuit, 14... Comparison result signal, 15. ...Magnetic tape storage cell, 16...Accessor (transport means), 17...Accessor control circuit, 18
...Magnetic tape, 19...Cleaning tape, 20...
・Cleaning tape storage cell.

Claims (1)

[Claims] means for counting the number of writing and reading errors; comparison means for comparing the counted value with a predetermined reference value; a cleaning tape for cleaning necessary parts of the magnetic tape device; and the cleaning tape. and a conveyance means for conveying the cleaning tape between the cleaning tape storage means and the magnetic tape device when the count value of the comparison means exceeds the reference value. A magnetic tape device featuring: