JPH05282764A - Information library device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To increase the degree of freedom of maintenance operation and effectively utilize the information library device with good efficiency by cutting off conveying power while a communication between an information recording device and an external device is available at the time of maintenance inspection. CONSTITUTION:An information recording and reproducing device records information and reproduces the information from a recording medium and can make a communication with the external host equipment 10 through a bus 9. In maintenance inspection mode, the conveying mechanism control part 14 of a conveying mechanism controller 12 stops driving a conveying mechanism 5. Then the supply of an exciting current to conveying mechanism system power source control 16 is stopped and a relay 16 cuts off the electric power supplied from a DC power unit 11 to the conveying mechanism 5. Then operation is carried out while the conveying mechanism 5 can not operate. At this time, the information recording device is communicable with the outside, so the influence upon a user is minimized. Further, the degree of freedom of the maintenance operation is increased and the device is effectively utilized with good efficiency.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information library device such as an optical disk library device, and more particularly to an information library device capable of minimizing the influence on the user during maintenance and inspection work.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, when collecting information, a large amount of collected information is recorded on a recording medium by a recording device to achieve the purpose. In order to reproduce necessary information from a large number of recording media in which a large amount of collected information is recorded, a necessary recording medium is searched for from a large number of recording media, and the searched recording medium is reproduced by a reproducing device. Has achieved that purpose.

By the way, information is recorded on a recording medium,
In order to efficiently search for a recording medium on which necessary information is recorded from a large number of recording media on which a large amount of information is recorded and reproduce the necessary information, it is necessary to perform these operations consistently. It is necessary to

Conventionally, in order to meet such demands, for example, an optical disk library device as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 has been proposed. 2 and 3 are Japanese Patent Application No. Sho 62.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an optical disk library device shown in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 198473 and a block diagram showing its internal configuration.

In FIG. 2, 1 is a housing, 2 is an optical disk cartridge 3 as a recording medium capable of recording and reproducing information.
Storage shelves for detachably storing multiple sheets, 4 is this storage shelf 2
An optical disc device 5 as an information recording / reproducing device for recording information on the optical disc cartridge 3 mounted on the optical disc or reproducing the recorded information
This is a transport mechanism for mounting the optical disc cartridge 3 mounted on the optical disc device 4 or storing the optical disc cartridge 3 mounted on the optical disc device 4 in the storage rack 2.

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 6 controls a carrier mechanism control unit 8 for controlling the operation of the carrier mechanism 5 and communication with an external device connected through a SCSI (small computer system interface) bus 9. SCS
The transport mechanism controller 10 including the I control unit 7 is connected to the optical disk library device via the SCSI bus 9 and is an external host device having a host function such as a so-called file server, and 11 is an AC power source from a general commercial power source. Is a DC power source and supplies DC power to the optical disc device 4, the transport mechanism controller 6 and the transport mechanism 5, respectively.

Further, the transport mechanism controller 6, which is not shown, is a circuit for managing the position of the optical disc cartridge 3, a circuit for operating the transport mechanism 5 for transporting the optical disc cartridge 3, and a circuit for controlling the actuator. A circuit for controlling the auto-loading mechanism of the optical disk device 4, a circuit for displaying the operation status, and an SC
It is composed of a circuit for communicating with other devices through the SI bus 9.

Next, the operation will be described. When recording or reproducing with the optical disk device 4, first, an input command from a keyboard (not shown) of the host device 10 causes the host device 10 to transfer the optical disk cartridge 3 from the storage shelf 2 to the transport mechanism controller 6 through the SCSI bus 9. A command for inserting the optical disk cartridge 3 thus taken out into the optical disk device 4 is supplied. Upon receipt of this command, the transport mechanism controller 6 drives the transport mechanism 5, and the storage rack 2 in which the optical disk cartridge 3 from which this transport mechanism 5 is to be taken out is stored.
The optical disc cartridge 3 is gripped, and then the transport mechanism 5 is retracted so that the optical disc cartridge 3 is drawn into the transport mechanism 5 and is moved to the front face of the optical disc device 4, and then the optical disc cartridge 3 Is inserted into the insertion / ejection opening of the optical disk device 4.

When the optical disk cartridge 3 is inserted, the optical disk device 4 automatically sets the optical disk cartridge 3 in a recordable / reproducible state by, for example, an auto loading mechanism or the like. In this state, the host device 10 supplies information to the optical disk device 4 through the SCSI bus 9 in response to an input from a keyboard (not shown) or the like, and records this information in the optical disk cartridge 3 in the optical disk device 4,
Alternatively, the optical disk cartridge 3 in the optical disk device 4
It is possible to reproduce the information recorded in, and obtain the reproduced information.

On the contrary, when the optical disk cartridge 3 in the optical disk device 4 is housed in the housing shelf 2, the host device 10 responds to an input from a keyboard or the like (not shown) to the carrier mechanism controller 6 through the SCSI bus 9. And supplies a command to store the optical disk cartridge 3 in the optical disk device 4 in the storage shelf 2. The transport mechanism controller 6 that receives this command causes the optical disk device 4 to
Of the optical disc cartridge 3 is ejected by activating the auto-loading mechanism, and then the transport mechanism 5 is driven to move the transport mechanism 5 to the front of the optical disc device 4 from which the optical disc cartridge 3 has been ejected, and the optical disc cartridge 3 is gripped. Let

Subsequently, the transport mechanism 5 is retracted so that the optical disk cartridge 3 is drawn into the transport mechanism 5.
The transport mechanism 5 is moved to the front of the storage rack 2 in which the optical disk cartridge 3 was initially stored, and the optical disc cartridge 3 in the transport mechanism 5 is inserted into the storage rack 2. These movements are performed by the transport mechanism controller 6 by the SCS.
When a command is received from the host device 10, the optical disk device 4, or the transport mechanism 5 through the I-bus 9, the program stored in the transport mechanism controller 6 performs a corresponding process to complete the operation. Even if an error occurs, the device that sent the command on the SCSI bus 9 (the host device 10 in the above example) sends the SC
The fact is transmitted according to the SI communication protocol.

[0012]

Since the conventional optical disk library device is constructed as described above, the power supply of the optical disk library device is stopped in order to stop the operation when maintenance or inspection work of the transport mechanism is required. Maintenance and inspection work were performed in the cut state. The reason is
This is because the transport mechanism may operate unexpectedly when the optical disk library device is operated, and the safety of maintenance and inspection workers cannot be ensured. Also, in maintenance and inspection work, maintenance and inspection workers must be able to move the transport mechanism freely for maintenance and inspection, and in some cases parts may be replaced.In such cases, the power of the parts related to the work may be reduced. It is indispensable to be cut.

By the way, when the optical disk library apparatus is turned off for maintenance and inspection work, the optical disk library apparatus becomes unusable, which causes the SCSI control section of the transport mechanism controller to stop operating and SCSI. When the optical disk library device is connected to the network through the host device, the network administrator can access the host device because the external device connected by the bus determines that the condition is abnormal during maintenance and inspection work. Must be taken to affect network users, maintenance,
There is a problem that the inspection work will affect the user too much, and the maintenance and inspection work will be performed when the optical disk library device is not in use. It was

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and reads out information recorded on a recording medium in an information recording / reproducing apparatus and records the information even during maintenance and inspection work. An information library device capable of writing information on a medium, minimizing the influence on the user when performing maintenance and inspection work, increasing the degree of freedom of maintenance work, and achieving efficient and effective use. The purpose is to get.

[0015]

An information library apparatus according to the present invention includes a recording medium capable of recording and reproducing information, a storage shelf for storing the recording medium, recording information on the recording medium, and from the recording medium. At the time of maintenance and inspection, an information recording / reproducing device capable of reproducing information and communicating with the outside through a bus, a transport mechanism for transporting the recording medium between the information recording / reproducing device and the storage rack. The information recording / reproducing apparatus is provided with a control unit that shuts off the power of the transport mechanism while keeping the communication state with the outside.

[0016]

According to the present invention, at least the bus control section of the transport mechanism controller included in the information recording / reproducing apparatus and the control means is allowed to continue the operation for maintenance, maintenance, inspection, and even when the power of the transport mechanism is turned off. Also during the inspection work, the information library device is made to be in a state in which it can communicate with the outside.

[0017]

【Example】

Example 1. The following is a description of the drawings, taking as an example the case where one embodiment of the present invention is applied to an optical disk library device. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, parts corresponding to those in FIG. 3 are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. A transport mechanism controller 12 includes a transport mechanism controller 14 for controlling the operation of the transport mechanism 5 and a SCSI controller 13 for controlling communication with the host device 10 connected via the SCSI bus 9. 15 is connected to the transport mechanism controller 12,
A mode selector switch 16 for switching between maintenance and inspection modes or normal mode is provided in the optical disk library device, and is controlled by the transport mechanism controller 14 of the transport mechanism controller 12 to maintain the DC power supply unit in the maintenance and check mode. 11 is a transport mechanism system power control relay that shuts off the power supplied from 11 to the transport mechanism system such as the transport mechanism 5. The transport mechanism controller 12, the mode changeover switch 15, and the transport mechanism system power controller relay 1
Reference numeral 6 constitutes a control means.

Next, the operation will be described. When recording or reproducing is performed by the optical disk device 4, the same operation as that of the above-mentioned conventional device is performed, and thus the description thereof is omitted. When the maintenance and inspection work of the transport mechanism 5 of the optical disk library device is required, the worker switches the mode changeover switch 15 of the transport mechanism controller 12 to the maintenance and inspection mode.
The transport mechanism controller 1 indicates that the maintenance / inspection mode has been entered by switching the mode selector switch 15.
When 2 is detected, the transport mechanism controller 12 shifts the incorporated program from the normal mode to the maintenance / inspection mode. At this time, the transport mechanism controller 1
2 receives a command for driving the transport mechanism 5 via the SCSI bus 9, and if processing is being executed in accordance with this command, the processing is terminated and then the maintenance / inspection mode is entered.

When the maintenance / inspection mode is entered, the transport mechanism controller 14 of the transport mechanism controller 12 stops driving the transport mechanism 5, and the transport mechanism system power control relay 16
The supply of the exciting current is stopped. As a result, the transport mechanism system power supply control relay 16 shuts off the power supply from the DC power supply unit 11 to the transport mechanism system such as the transport mechanism 5, and renders the transport mechanism 5 inoperable. Then, in this state, maintenance and inspection work of the transport mechanism 5 and the like is performed.

On the other hand, when a command for driving the transport mechanism 5 is received via the SCSI bus 9 during the transition from the normal mode to the maintenance / inspection mode, the SCSI controller 13 of the transport mechanism controller 12 By transmitting the information indicating that the transport mechanism 5 is in operation and cannot be used to the device that is the source of the command, it is apparently operating normally. Normally, in such a case, the host device 10 or the like connected through the SCSI bus 9 of the command transmission source re-accesses at a fixed interval and waits for the end of the operation of the optical disk library device, or the user The device (in this case, the optical disk library device) reports that it is in use, but it does not cause an error or the like in a normal processing routine.

At this time, the transport mechanism controller 12
At least the SCSI control unit 13 and the optical disk device 4
Cannot continue to operate normally, the optical disk cartridge 3 in the optical disk device 4 cannot be taken out and the optical disk cartridge 3 in the optical disk device 4 cannot be inserted.
It is possible to freely write information to or read information recorded in the optical disc cartridge 3. Therefore, it is possible to shift to the maintenance / inspection mode even when the optical disk device 4 is in use. That is, only the transport operation of the optical disc cartridge 3 is restricted in the maintenance and inspection modes.

When maintenance and inspection work is completed and an operator switches the mode changeover switch 15 of the transport mechanism controller 12, the mode changeover switch 15 causes the transport mechanism controller 12 to shift from the maintenance and inspection mode to the normal mode. Then, the supply of the exciting current to the transport mechanism system power control relay 16 is started. As a result, the transport mechanism system power supply control relay 16 enables the power from the DC power supply unit 11 to be supplied to the transport mechanism system such as the transport mechanism 5. After that, the transport mechanism controller 12 initializes the transport mechanism 5, returns to the normal operation state after the completion, and enables the command of the operation of the transport mechanism 5 supplied via the SCSI bus 9 to be executed.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the transport mechanism controller 12 is provided with the mode changeover switch 15, and the worker maintains the mode changeover switch 15,
When the mode is switched to the inspection mode, the transport mechanism controller 12 shifts to the maintenance / inspection mode, and the transport mechanism power supply control relay 16 is operated while the optical disk device 4 and at least the SCSI controller 13 of the transport mechanism controller 12 are kept operating. Since the supply of the exciting current to the transport mechanism 5 is stopped and the power supply from the DC power supply unit 11 to the transport mechanism 5 is cut off, the transport mechanism 5 is stopped.
While the workers can perform maintenance and inspection work in a safe state,
It is possible to write information to the optical disk cartridge 3 in the optical disk device 4 and read information recorded in the optical disk cartridge 3 without any restriction, and thus, with the restriction that the transport mechanism 5 cannot be used. However, the user can substantially use the optical disk library device even during maintenance and inspection.

Further, even when the host device 10 makes an access at the time of shifting from the normal mode to the maintenance / inspection mode, the transport mechanism controller 12 operates in the maintenance / inspection mode program and performs the corresponding processing. Therefore, the host device 10 performs transmission / reception within a normal processing routine, and does not notify the user of an error, for example. In addition, since it is not necessary to bring the optical disk library device down and up for maintenance and inspection work, the operating time is reduced accordingly.
There are fewer operational restrictions on the system connected to it,
Reliability is improved, and efficient and effective use can be achieved.

Example 2. In the first embodiment, the carrier mechanism controller 12 uses the carrier mechanism system power control relay 16 to directly control the power supply from the DC power supply unit 11 to the carrier mechanism 5. However, a key switch or the like is used instead of the relay. Alternatively, the operator may manually turn on / off the power supply of the transport mechanism system.

Example 3. Further, although the optical disc library device using the optical disc cartridge has been described as the information library device in the first embodiment, a recording medium such as a VTR, a cassette magnetic tape, a magnetic disc cartridge or a floppy disc is automatically replaced in place of the optical disc cartridge. Such an information library device may be used, and even in such a case, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained.

[0027]

As described above, according to the present invention, a recording medium capable of recording and reproducing information, a storage rack for storing the recording medium, recording information on the recording medium, and recording information from the recording medium. An information recording / reproducing apparatus which is capable of reproducing and communicating with the outside via a bus, a transport mechanism for transporting the recording medium between the information recording / reproducing apparatus and the storage rack, and the above information at the time of maintenance and inspection. Since the recording / reproducing apparatus is provided with the control means for cutting off the power of the above-mentioned transport mechanism while keeping the communication with the outside, the information recording / reproducing apparatus is not restricted at all during maintenance and inspection work. The information recorded on the internal recording medium can be read and the information can be written on this recording medium, and the information library device is in a state in which it can substantially communicate with external devices during maintenance and inspection. It is not to an external apparatus connected to the information library device generates the information library system on the user side is abnormal, whereby, maintenance,
It is possible to minimize the impact on the user when performing inspection work, and increase the degree of freedom in maintenance and inspection work. Moreover, during maintenance and inspection work, the information library device is turned on and off one by one. Since there is no need to do so, there are the effects that the operational restrictions of the system connected to it are reduced, the reliability is improved, and efficient and effective use can be achieved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an information library device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a conventional information library device.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a conventional information library device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 4 Optical Disk Device 5 Transport Mechanism 9 SCSI Bus 10 Host Device 11 DC Power Supply Unit 12 Transport Mechanism Controller 13 SCSI Control Unit 14 Transport Mechanism Control Unit 15 Mode Change Switch 16 Transport Mechanism Power Control Relay

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A recording medium capable of recording and reproducing information, a storage shelf for accommodating the recording medium, recording information on the recording medium and reproducing the information from the recording medium, and communicating with the outside through a bus. Enabled information recording / reproducing device, a transport mechanism for transporting the recording medium between the information recording / reproducing device and the storage rack, and communication between the information recording / reproducing device and the outside during maintenance and inspection. An information library apparatus, comprising: a control unit that shuts off the power of the transport mechanism in the state.