JPH0317812A - Magnetic tape device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To realize a tape device in which labor saving is attained and with high reliability by detecting the numbers of times of a write error and a readout error by using a magnetic tape for maintenance, and automatically performing cleaning when a counted value exceeds a regulated value. CONSTITUTION:A controller 1 issues a command to an accessor control circuit 17 when a maintenance operation is performed, and the magnetic tape 19 for maintenance is carried to and loaded on a deck part 30 with an accessor 16. The write error and the readout error can be checked with a readout circuit 9 and an error detection circuit 10 by the tape 19. The error detection signal 11 of the error detection circuit 10 is outputted to a counter circuit 12, and the counted value of the counter circuit 12 is compared with the regulated value decided in advance at a comparator 13, and the controller automatically performs the cleaning by replacing tape 19 for maintenance with a tape 21 for cleaning when the counted value exceeds the regulated value, therefore, the tape device with high reliability can be obtained.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a magnetic tape device, and more particularly to a magnetic tape device of the so-called magnetic tape library lj type which includes a plurality of magnetic tape media and a preservation cell.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Generally, in a magnetic tape device, dirt and the like adhere to the magnetic head and the tape running path due to the flat running of the magnetic tape. Therefore, it is necessary to purify them either definitively or according to the frequency of use. For example, in a cartridge-type magnetic tape device, a tape for IIIt cleaning is already provided, and by installing this tape, a 'h'j return is performed automatically.

In addition, in response to recent demands for larger recording capacities, higher reliability, and labor savings, a large number of magnetic tape cartridges are housed in regularly arranged storage cells, and a desired tape is transported by means of transporting the tape. There is a system known as a so-called magnetic tape library that dynamically takes out tape from a storage cell, mounts it on a tape deck, or returns it to a storage cell. In such a system, the ln of the head of the magnetic tape device and the tape running path is
It is also desirable to perform cleaning automatically.

Conventional cleaning methods include counting the number of attachments and detachments of magnetic tapes, and cleaning when the value reaches a predetermined number of times, or adding up the distance traveled by the magnetic tape and determining the number of times the tape has traveled. There is a method in which cleaning is performed at 1 o'clock when the specified value is reached. In addition, as a further improvement, the number of errors in writing and reading magnetic tape was counted by 41,
Proposals include methods for carrying out cleaning whenever the value exceeds a predetermined value.

However, the conventional cleaning methods described above have the following drawbacks. First, it is difficult to think that the number of times the magnetic tape is attached and detached or the running distance of the magnetic tape necessarily has a strong correlation with the leakage of the magnetic tape device. Furthermore, in the method of counting the number of errors in writing to or reading from magnetic tape, considering the fact that these error rates strongly depend not only on the magnetic tape device side but also on the magnetic tape medium itself, this Determining when to clean a magnetic tape device based on this has the disadvantage that it is not the best idea.

Therefore, it has been desired to develop the best ln cleaning method for magnetic tape devices including storage cells.

1-1 of the Invention The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional drawbacks, and its purpose is to promote a magnetic tape device that can be cleaned more effectively and spontaneously. ．． It is to be.

Structure of the Invention A magnetic tape device according to the present invention includes a head for reading and writing data on a magnetic tape, a storage section for storing a cleaning tape and a maintenance tape for the head, and a storage section for storing a cleaning tape and a maintenance tape for the head. a transport means for transporting between the storage section and the tape deck section; and a transport means for taking out and setting the maintenance tape from the storage section to the tape deck section in response to an external command to read and write maintenance data. means for performing this, and when the read/write errors reach a predetermined same number, the conveying means takes out and sets the cleaning tape from the storage section to the tape deck section in place of the maintenance tape; It is characterized by having an f stage that performs clearing Nff.

implementation row Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of a magnetic tape apparatus according to the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a control device that controls various parts within the device, 2 is a control path of the magnetic tape device, and 3 and 4 are magnetic table reels.The magnetic tape 5 is controlled by the simultaneous rotation of these magnetic table reels 3 and 4. Let it run.

6 is a write path for converting write data sent from the control device 1 into data to be written on the magnetic tape; 7 is a write head for recording data on the magnetic tape 5;

8 is an ill head for reading data from the magnetic tape 5; 9 is a read circuit that converts the read data from the ILF/P- signal; and 11) is an error detection circuit that detects errors in the read data. (It is i1 road.

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 by 41, and 13 is a comparison circuit that compares the value of the counter circuit 12 with a predetermined value. be. 14 is a comparison result signal indicating the comparison result in the comparison circuit.

15 is a tape preservation cell that stores magnetic tape;
16 is an accessor that transports the magnetic tape between the magnetic tape storage cell 15 and the tape deck section 30 of the magnetic tape device, 17 is an accessor control path that controls the accessor 16, 18 is a magnetic tape, and 19 is a magnetic tape for maintenance. This tape is stored in a maintenance magnetic tape storage cell 20, which is a maintenance magnetic tape storage means. In addition, 21 has the l+1 sweeping tape, which is a storage means for the h1 and 1δ river tapes. i
'mouth. I} is stored in the river tape storage cell 22.

In such a configuration, normal operation 11! j, the magnetic tape device transports the magnetic tapes 18 and the like other than the maintenance magnetic tape 19 and the in-sweeping tape 21 among the magnetic tapes in the magnetic tape storage cell 151J by the accessor 16, and reads or writes data.

On the other hand, during maintenance operations, the control device 1 issues a maintenance tape attachment command to the accessor control circuit 17 in order to reduce the state of the magnetic tape device. Then, the accessor control circuit 17 operates the accessor 16 to take out one maintenance magnetic tape from the maintenance magnetic tape storage cell 20, transport it to the tape deck section 30, and mount it.

Next, the control device gives a predetermined number of write commands and read commands to the control circuit 2 of the magnetic tape device. The magnetic tape device control circuit 2 rotates the reels 3 and 4 to run the magnetic tape 5.

During writing, write data sent from the control device 1 is recorded on the magnetic tape 5 by the write circuit 6 and the write head 7. Data recorded on the magnetic tape 5 is reproduced by a reproducing head 8, and checked for errors by a reading circuit 9 and an error detection circuit 10.

Also, when reading, the data written by the write operation or the data recorded in advance is
1j is generated, and the readout circuit 9 and error detection circuit 10 check whether or not there is an error in the data. When an error is detected, the error detection circuit 10 applies the error detection signal 11 to the counter circuit 12 in both write and read operations, and the counter circuit 12 increments the count value.

During a series of write or read operations or after a series of write or read operations, the counter circuit 1
The value of 2 and a predetermined value are compared in the comparison circuit 13, and if the value of the counter circuit 12 exceeds a certain value,
The comparison signal 14 notifies the control device of this fact.

Next, the control device 1 gives a command to the accessor control path 17 to remove the maintenance magnetic tape. Accessor control circuit 1
7 operates the accessor 16 to store one maintenance magnetic tape in the maintenance magnetic tape preservation cell 20. Here, the above-mentioned comparison result signal 14 is checked, and if the value of the counter circuit 12 exceeds the specified value, a cleaning operation is performed. In this case, the control device 1 gives an i'+'t sweep command to the magnetic tape device control circuit 2 and the accelerator control circuit 17.

In response, the accessor control circuit 17
6 is activated to take out the cleaning tape 21 from the cleaning tape protection cell 22 and attach it to the tape deck section 30.

The magnetic tape device control circuit 2 detects that the cleaning tape 21 is attached, executes a predetermined cleaning operation, and then winds up the cleaning tape. Next, the accessor control path 17 removes the sweeping river tape 21 from the tape deck section 30 using the accessor 16 and removes it from the 'I+1 sweeping river tape storage cell 22.
After returning to , the control device (■) is notified of the end of the return. With this, the /I''I sweeping operation is completed.

Effects of the Invention As explained above, the present invention uses a maintenance magnetic tube to count the number of write errors and read errors in a magnetic tape device, and when these values reach a certain predetermined value, the magnetic tape is By automatically performing liff t+ii of the device, it is possible to realize a highly reliable magnetic t-pu device that saves labor.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a magnetic tape device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Explanation of symbols of main parts 6...Write circuit 9...Read circuit 10...Error detection circuit 12...Counter circuit 13... Comparison circuit 19...Maintenance magnetic tape 21.../I4t sweeping tape

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A head for reading and writing data on a magnetic tape, a storage section for storing a cleaning tape and a maintenance tape for the head, and a storage section and a tape deck section for storing the maintenance tape and cleaning tape. a means for reading and writing maintenance data by taking out and setting the maintenance tape from the storage section to the tape deck section by the transport means in response to an external command; and a means for reading and writing maintenance data. and means for cleaning the head by taking out and setting the cleaning tape from the storage section to the tape deck section instead of the maintenance tape by the conveying means when the number of times reached a predetermined number of times. A magnetic tape device featuring: