JPH09180341A - Carrying method in recording medium cartridge library device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To effectively shorten the required time for carrying a recording medium cartridge. SOLUTION: When a cartridge housed in a specified housing cell is carried to a drive, a carrier body is moved to a position just opposite to this specified housing cell, and parallel to the step in which the cartridge housed in this housing cell is taken out and held by the carrier body, checking is performed prior to insertion, and also approximately simultaneously with the aforesaid insertion of the cartridge into the drive, checking posterior to the insertion is performed. Moreover, when the used cartridge in the drive is carried to a specified place other than the drive, approximately simultaneously with unloading the used cartridge, checking prior to ejection is performed, and then simultaneously with movement of the carrier body to a specified place from the drive, checking posterior to the ejection is performed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording medium cartridge library apparatus for accommodating and driving (reading / writing) a recording medium cartridge, which is capable of effectively shortening the time required to convey the recording medium cartridge.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An optical disk cartridge library device (hereinafter also referred to as an OLU) is a device for storing and driving (reading and writing) an optical disk cartridge (hereinafter also referred to as a cartridge). Generally, an OLU is a rack-type storage body that stores a large number of cartridges, a drive (hereinafter, also referred to as ODD) that reads and writes the cartridges, and a desired cartridge that is detachably held in a predetermined transport path. A carrier (generally called a carrier holder or a carrier robot) that carries the cartridge inside the OLU by moving along.

In this type of OLU, for example, a cartridge accommodated in a designated storage cell is OD.
When carrying to D, the carrier first moves to a position directly facing the cartridge inlet / outlet of the designated storage cell, takes out a desired cartridge from the storage cell, holds it, and holds the cartridge. At ODD
Move to the position. Then, by checking whether or not another cartridge exists in the ODD, a pre-insertion check is performed to confirm whether or not the ODD is in a cartridge insertable state. When the determination result that the ODD is in the cartridge insertable state is obtained, the cartridge is inserted from the transport body to the ODD. A post-insertion check is then performed to see if the cartridge was properly inserted into the ODD. Then, by checking after this insertion, the cartridge is
When it is confirmed that the cartridge is properly inserted in the DD, the cartridge is pulled into a predetermined position on the turntable of the ODD, that is, the loading of the ODD is performed.

[0004]

One of the most important problems relating to the performance of OLUs is the reduction of the time required to carry a cartridge. However, a conventional OL of the above type
In U, as described above, the ODD by the carrier is
Since the individual operations of moving the cartridge to the cartridge, checking before insertion, inserting the cartridge into the ODD, and checking after insertion are performed sequentially, that is, serially, the cartridge transport time can be effectively shortened. I couldn't. The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and provides a carrying method capable of effectively shortening the time required to carry a recording medium cartridge in a recording medium cartridge library apparatus that stores and drives the recording medium cartridge. Is what you are trying to do.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a storage body having a large number of storage cells for storing a recording medium cartridge, a drive for reading and writing the recording medium cartridge, and recording in the apparatus. In a recording medium cartridge library apparatus including a carrier for carrying a medium cartridge, when the recording medium cartridge housed in the designated storage cell is carried to the drive, the carrier is placed in the designated storage cell. The drive is capable of inserting the recording medium cartridge cartridge in parallel with the step of moving to a directly facing position, taking out the recording medium cartridge stored in the storage cell and holding it on the carrier. The step of performing a pre-insertion check to see if it is When the drive is confirmed that it is ready insertion of the cartridge to move the carrier holding the cartridge to the position of the drive,
Inserting the cartridge into the drive,
Performing a post-insertion check to confirm whether the cartridge is properly inserted into the drive from the carrier when the cartridge is inserted to a predetermined position in the drive; When it is confirmed that the cartridge has been properly inserted, the step of loading the cartridge into a predetermined position on the turntable of the drive is executed.

With the above arrangement, in parallel with the step of moving the carrier to a position directly facing the designated storage cell, taking out the recording medium cartridge housed in the storage cell and holding it on the carrier ( Ie at the same time),
The pre-insertion check is performed, and the post-insertion check is performed substantially in parallel with the step of inserting the recording medium cartridge into the drive, so that the recording medium cartridge stored in the designated storage cell is conveyed to the drive. In this case, the total transport time can be effectively shortened. Also,
According to the present invention, when a recording medium cartridge used by the drive is conveyed to a designated place other than the drive, the step of unloading the used cartridge from the turntable of the drive, When the cartridge is unloaded to a predetermined position outside the table, a step of performing a pre-extraction check to confirm whether the cartridge is in a state in which it can be removed from the drive, and a confirmation that the cartridge can be removed are confirmed. At this time, the cartridge is pulled out and held in the transport body, and thereafter, the step of moving the transport body to the designated location and the step of moving are performed in parallel with the removal of the cartridge from the drive. Check after extraction to make sure that the It is characterized in performing and performing click. In this configuration, in parallel with the step of unloading the used cartridge, the pre-extraction check is performed, and in parallel with the step of moving the carrier from the drive to a designated location, Since the check is performed after the removal, it is possible to effectively reduce the total transport time when transporting the recording medium cartridge that has been used by the drive to a designated location other than the drive.

[0007]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 2 is a schematic front view showing the overall structure of the OLU to which the present invention is applied. FIG.
In FIG. 1, the OLU is a rack-type storage body 2 having a large number of storage cells 2 a (each of which shows only one cartridge C for simplification) in which the cartridge C is stored. Do ODD
4 and a carrier 5 for carrying the cartridge C inside the OLU by holding the desired cartridge C detachably and moving it along a predetermined carrying path.

The overall operation of this OLU is controlled by the control unit 6 which is, for example, a microcomputer. The control unit 6 and the ODD 4 can communicate with each other via a predetermined communication interface. In the OLU embodying the present invention, when the cartridge C is transported from the designated storage cell 2a of the storage body 2 to the ODD 4, the operation as shown in FIG. 1 is performed under the control of the control unit 6. .

That is, first, the carrier 5 moves to a position directly facing the cartridge entrance / exit of the designated storage cell 2a, takes out the cartridge C stored in the storage cell 2a, and holds it. According to this embodiment, the carrier 5 moves to the storage cell 2a in this way,
A predetermined pre-insertion check is performed by the controller 6 in parallel with the operation of taking out and holding the cartridge C from the storage cell 2a, that is, in parallel. In this pre-insertion check, by checking whether or not another cartridge C is present in the ODD 4, the O
It is confirmed whether the DD 4 is in a state where the cartridge C can be inserted.

When it is confirmed that the ODD 4 can insert the cartridge C, the carrier 5 moves to the position of the ODD 4 while holding the cartridge C,
The cartridge C is inserted into the ODD4. When it is recognized that the cartridge C has been inserted to a predetermined position in the ODD 4, the control unit 6 performs a predetermined post-insertion check. Therefore, the check after insertion is O
The insertion is performed substantially in parallel with the insertion of the cartridge C into the DD4. In this post-insertion check, the cartridge C is O
It is confirmed whether it is properly inserted into the DD4. When the post-insertion check confirms that the cartridge C is properly inserted into the ODD 4, the operation of pulling the cartridge C into a predetermined position on the turntable of the ODD 4, that is, the ODD 4
Loading operation is performed.

As is apparent from the above, "insertion" of the cartridge C means that the carrier 5 feeds the cartridge C into the ODD4, and "loading" of the cartridge C means that the ODD4 is the above-mentioned. This means that the cartridge C sent from the carrier 5 is taken into a predetermined position on its own turntable. in this way,
According to this embodiment, the pre-insertion check is performed in parallel with the operation of moving the carrier 5 to the storage cell 2a and taking out and holding the cartridge C from the storage cell 2a, and after the insertion. Check is ODD
By performing the operation of inserting the cartridge C into the cartridge 4 substantially in parallel, the time required to convey the cartridge C to the ODD 4 can be effectively shortened.

Although not shown, according to the present invention, the cartridge C that has been used (driven) by the ODD 4 is used.
In the case where the sheet is transported to a predetermined location other than the ODD 4 (for example, the designated storage cell 2a), the following operation is performed under the control of the control unit 6. The operation in this case is substantially the same as the operation shown in FIG. 1, but is performed in the reverse order. In the following, “unloading” of the cartridge C means that the ODD 4 sends the cartridge C to a predetermined position outside the turntable, and “extracting” of the cartridge C means that the transport body 5 causes the ODD 4 to move.
Means to take in the cartridge C unloaded from.

That is, first, the used cartridge C is sent out from a predetermined position on the turntable of the ODD 4, that is, the unloading operation from the ODD 4 is performed. Then, when the cartridge C is sent out from the turntable of the ODD 4 to a predetermined outside position, the control unit 6 checks whether or not the cartridge C is in a condition in which it can be extracted from the ODD 4. I do. Thus,
The unloading of the cartridge C and the check before removal can be performed substantially in parallel.

If the result of the pre-detachment check indicates that the product can be extracted,
The cartridge C unloaded from the DD 4 is taken out, and in the state where it is held, it is moved to, for example, the designated storage cell 2a. During such movement of the carrier 5, the control unit 6 performs a post-extraction check for confirming whether or not the extraction of the cartridge C from the ODD 4 is properly performed. The above-described operation can be applied when the cartridge C to be read from and written to the ODD 4 is replaced.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the pre-extraction check is performed substantially in parallel with the unloading of the cartridge C from the ODD 4, and the post-extraction check is performed in parallel with the movement operation of the transfer body 5. Therefore, the time required to convey the cartridge C from the ODD 4 can be effectively shortened. The present invention is not limited to the OLU as described above, but may be applied to other types of recording medium cartridge library devices that handle recording medium cartridges other than optical disc cartridges.

[0016]

As described above, according to the present invention, the carrier is moved to a position directly facing the designated storage cell, and the recording medium cartridge housed in the storage cell is taken out and held on the carrier. In parallel with steps (ie,
At the same time), the pre-insertion check is performed, and the post-insertion check is performed substantially in parallel with the step of inserting the recording medium cartridge into the drive, so that the recording medium cartridge stored in the designated storage cell is It has an excellent effect that the total transport time when transporting to the drive can be effectively shortened. Also, substantially in parallel with the step of unloading the used cartridge,
The pre-extraction check is performed, and the post-extraction check is performed in parallel with the step of moving the transport body from the drive to a designated location. It is possible to effectively reduce the total transport time when transporting to the designated place.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic front view showing the overall configuration of an OLU to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a flow of a transport operation performed by the OLU of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 storage 2a storage cell 4 drive 5 carrier 6 control unit C cartridge

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A recording medium cartridge library comprising: a container having a large number of storage cells for accommodating recording medium cartridges; a drive for reading and writing the recording medium cartridge; and a carrier for conveying the recording medium cartridge inside the apparatus. In the apparatus, when the recording medium cartridge stored in the designated storage cell is transported to the drive, the transport body is moved to a position directly facing the designated storage cell, and the recording stored in the storage cell is performed. A step of taking out the medium cartridge and holding it in the transport body, and a pre-insertion check for confirming whether or not the drive is in a state where the recording medium cartridge cartridge can be inserted in parallel with the step of holding the medium cartridge. Steps to perform and the drive is ready to insert the cartridge When it is confirmed that, the step of moving the carrier holding the cartridge to the position of the drive and inserting the cartridge into the drive, and when the cartridge is inserted to a predetermined position in the drive A step of performing a post-insertion check for confirming whether or not the cartridge is properly inserted into the drive from the transport body; and, when it is confirmed that the cartridge is properly inserted into the drive, Loading the drive at a predetermined position on the turntable of the drive. 2. When transporting a recording medium cartridge that has been used by the drive to a designated location other than the drive, unloading the used cartridge from a turntable of the drive; Performing a pre-extraction check for confirming whether or not the cartridge is in a state in which it can be extracted from the drive when it is unloaded at a predetermined position outside the turntable; and the cartridge can be extracted. When it is confirmed, the cartridge is pulled out and held in the transport body, and thereafter, the step of moving the transport body to the designated location, and the step of moving the drive in parallel with the step of moving the transport To check whether the cartridge is properly removed Conveying method according to claim 1, characterized in that to perform the steps of checking after extraction.