JPH1139768A - Automatic changer of optical disk - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automatic changer of optical disk capable of reducing the handling time when a medium is exchanged, by allowing the simultaneous execution of the loading/unloading of a group of plural media by one positioning operation. SOLUTION: This automatic changer of optical disk is provided with plural pickers 41 -4n for loading or unloading the medium 6 on a medium handling mechanism 3 transporting between plural drive devices 2 for recording the data to the medium or reading the data on the medium and shelves 7 for housing the medium 6. In this case, the pitch of the pickers 41 -4n is made to coincide with the pitch of the drive devices 2, and also the pitch of the shelves 7 for housing the medium 6 is arranged to coincide with 1/n times (n : integer) of the pitch of the pickers 41 -4n .

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an optical disk autochanger.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In order to increase the recording / reproducing speed of data, a technique of arranging a plurality of drive devices in an array and simultaneously accessing a plurality of recording media has been advanced. In an autochanger-type optical disk device having a medium handling mechanism, a medium storage, and the like, in order to simultaneously read and write data on a plurality of media, it is necessary to carry an arrayed set of media from a storage shelf to a drive device. . Further, in the handling mechanism for medium exchange, a plurality of picker mechanisms for taking out and inserting the medium are installed in order to reduce the exchange time, and the medium exchange time is reduced in response to a data access request from a higher-level device. There is something. At this time, since the pitch of the medium insertion slot of the drive device is usually different, if the handling mechanism does not easily take the medium into the storage shelf, the positioning operation of the handling mechanism at the location of the medium storage shelf is performed by the number of media in the set. This has to be done, which has been a factor in prolonging the handling time.

[0003] In the conventional method for loading and unloading media, as shown in FIG. 3, the media stored in the shelves of the media storage 5 are used in order, so that the storage positions of a plurality of media are the first in the first set. Storage shelf 31, first set second storage shelf 32, first set 3
It becomes like the third storage shelf 33. When these media are moved to the drive devices 2 ₁ , 2 ₂ , 2 ₃ , the first picker 41 _first takes out the media from the storage shelf 31 by controlling the positioning of the handling mechanism 3 to the position 1. The medium is positioned and taken out. Thereafter, retrieval media second picker 4 ₂ is in the storage rack 32 as shown in FIG. 4, to move the handling mechanism 3 takes out the media. Furthermore, the picker 4 ₃ 3 th in the same procedure as in FIG. 5 taken out medium in the storage shelf 33. If the number of media in one set is large, the positioning operation increases, and the handling time increases. Then, the handling mechanism 3
There drive 2 _{1, 2} 2, 2 ₃ before moving to the (position d of the handling mechanism 3), the drive unit 2 _1-3 th drive 2 ₃ medium of the first storage rack 31, 32, 33 To each other.

FIG. 9 is a time chart for explaining the time relationship between the positioning of the conventional handling mechanism and the loading and unloading of the medium.
Assuming that the positioning time for the medium storage shelf is Tpos and the time for taking the medium in and out is Tpic, in the conventional case, as shown in FIG.
After the positioning on the medium storage shelf 31, the medium removal and insertion is performed, and thereafter, the positioning on the medium storage shelf 32, the medium removal and insertion, the positioning on the medium storage shelf 33, and the medium removal and insertion are performed. Handling of the first medium + handling of the second medium + handling of the third medium, the total time is (Tpos +
Tpic) + (Tpos + Tpic) + (Tpos + Tpic).

[0005]

In the conventional apparatus, it takes a long time to exchange the medium, resulting in a long waiting time for data access from the host apparatus, and a reduction in handling time is required.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has made it possible for a handling mechanism having a plurality of pickers to simultaneously drive a plurality of media from a shelf to a drive device or vice versa. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an optical disc autochanger that can perform positioning once in a medium storage shelf without performing positioning of the medium handling mechanism a plurality of times, thereby shortening the time for medium handling.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a shelf for accommodating a medium, a plurality of drive devices for recording data on the medium or reading data on the medium, and a medium for accommodating the medium. An optical disc autochanger having a medium handling mechanism for transporting between a shelf to be moved and the drive device, and a plurality of picker mechanisms for taking out or inserting a medium installed in the medium handling mechanism, wherein a pitch of the picker mechanism is reduced. The pitch of the shelf accommodating the medium is adjusted to the integral pitch of the pitch of the picker mechanism.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that in the above-mentioned optical disk autochanger, the plurality of picker mechanisms can be driven independently of each other. Therefore, by adjusting the pitch of the medium storage shelves to the pitch of the drive device, a plurality of media can be simultaneously taken out of the medium storage shelves by a single operation, and can be simultaneously inserted into a plurality of drive devices or vice versa. Furthermore, in the medium picker mechanism, the plurality of picker mechanisms can be controlled independently of each other.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention. In the drawing, reference numeral 1 denotes a storage device for storing a plurality of media and a library device having a handling mechanism for transporting the media, 2 denotes a drive device for reading and writing data on the media, and 3 denotes a storage device for storing the media and a drive device. handling mechanism for moving between, 4 ₁ 1 th picker for loading and unloading to grip the medium or storage rack and the drive device, 4 _n is n th picker plurality of pickers, 5 houses the medium Storage medium with shelves for storing, 6 is a medium for recording, reproducing and storing data, 6 ₁
Denotes a first medium, 6 _n denotes an n-th medium, and 7 denotes a shelf for storing the medium. 4 _n 1 th picker 4 _of ~n th picker is integrated with the handling mechanism 3 as shown in perspective side view of FIG. 2, the movement of the handling mechanism 3, n pieces of picker ₄₁ to _n moves simultaneously. However, the operation of the picker 4 ₁ to 4 _n for loading and unloading the medium 6 from the storage rack 7 and the drive unit 2, can be driven each independently.

The operation of this embodiment will be described below. 1
Th of the medium 6 ₁ ~n th medium 6 _n, such as for shortening of the handling time, a set of medium 6 ₁ to 6 _n to handle n sheets simultaneously, 4 ₁ ~n th first picker picker 4 _n mounting position of, as shown in FIG. 2, is set corresponding first respectively from the optical disc drive 2 ₁ so as to match the position of the n-th drive 2 _n medium loading and unloading opening of. Therefore, this set of media 6
The ₁ to 6 _n picker 4 ₁ to 4 _n is simultaneously drive 2
To insert into ₁ to 2 _n, or you can remove it from the drive device 2 ₁ to 2 _n. 1st picker 4 ₁ ~
The n-th picker 4 _n is inside the handling mechanism 3, and as the handling mechanism 3 moves, the _{first to} n-th pickers 4 _{1 to} 4 _n move simultaneously.

Further, in order to take out the medium 6 from the medium storage box 5 at the same time, it is necessary to match the pitch of the medium storage rack 7 in the first picker 4 ₁ pitch ~n th picker 4 _n. Usually, the pitch of the medium storage shelves 7 is set in consideration of the storage efficiency of the medium 6 and the margin of medium handling, but the height of the pickers 4 ₁ to 4 _n and the drive device 2 is larger than the height of the medium 6. Pickers 4 ₁ to 4 _n because they are large
If the pitch of the medium storage shelves 7 is set in accordance with the pitch of the drive device 2, the pitch of the medium storage shelves 7 becomes large, and the storage efficiency of the medium 6 deteriorates. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6 to FIG.
Set in accordance with the plurality of pickers 4 ₁ to 4 _n 1 an integer fraction of the position of the inner.

At this time, the plurality of pickers 4 ₁ to 4 _n in the handling mechanism 3 can take in and out a plurality of media 6 at the same time. However, the characteristics of the plurality of drive devices 2 are not always uniform, and loading (medium loading) is performed. since variations occur in time or ejector (medium removal) time, it is necessary a plurality of pickers 4 ₁ to 4 _n it is possible to operate solely, respectively.

FIG. 6 shows a case where the number of media sets = the number of pickers = the number of drive devices is three. When the handling mechanism 3 is at the position d, the first pickers 4 ₁ and 1
Th drive device 2 _1, second picker 4 ₂ and the second drive unit 2 _2, a third picker 4 ₃ and the third drive unit 2 ₃ and out of the medium, respectively, set at the same time possible position It is.

[0014] In and out of the way of the medium of the present embodiment, as shown in the configuration diagram of FIG. 6, when handling mechanism 3 is in position 1, 1 1 th picker 4 ₁ and the
Set the first storage rack 31,2 th picker 4 ₂ and the first set and the second storage rack 34,3 th picker 4 ₃ the first set 3
The medium is stored so that the positions of the third storage shelves 37 match each other. Similarly, when the handling mechanism 3 as shown in FIG. 7 in position 2, the first picker 4 ₁
When the position of the second set the first storage rack 32,2 th picker 4 ₂ and the second set second storage rack 35, 3 th picker 4 ₃ and the second set third storage rack 38 matches respectively To accommodate the medium. Then, as shown in FIG. 6, when the first picker 4 ₁ is positioned at the position of the medium storing shelf 31, the medium of the storage shelves 31,34,37 can be removed at the same time, as shown in FIG. 7, 1 if positioning th picker 4 ₁ to the position of the medium storing shelf 32, media storage rack 3
2, 35 and 38 media can be taken out at the same time, and the positioning time can be shortened. 8 shows a case where the first picker 4 ₁ is positioned at the position of the third set first storage shelf 33, the medium storing shelf 33,36,39
Media can be taken out at the same time. As described above, by picker 4 ₁ position the first handling mechanism 3 is positioned in the medium storage shelf 31, 32 or 33, etc., and the second picker 4 _2, the third picker 4 ₃ medium Storage shelves 34, 37 or 35, 3
8, or 36, 39 simultaneously, and the positioning time of the handling mechanism 3 is reduced.

FIG. 10 is a time chart for explaining the time relationship between the positioning of the handling mechanism of this embodiment and the loading and unloading of the medium. Assuming that the positioning time for the medium storage shelf is Tpos and the time for taking the medium in and out is Tpic, in this embodiment,
As shown in FIG. 10, the positioning time Tpos for the medium storage shelves 31, 32, and 33 is one time, and the time Tpi for taking out and loading the medium is Tpi.
Since c can be done at the same time, the total time is Tpos +
Tpic is sufficient, and it can be reduced to 1/3 of the conventional one.

Here, the case where the number of pickers is 3 has been described. However, if the number of pickers is equal to the number of drive devices and the number of sets of media, the number of pickers can be generally n. With this method, it is possible to reduce the handling time of a set of media.

[0017]

As described above, according to the present invention, in a device having a picker mechanism for taking in and out a medium, the pitch of the medium storage shelf is adjusted to the position of the slot of the drive device and the position of the picker mechanism. By managing the media in the same interval as the picker interval, a set of a plurality of media can be simultaneously loaded and unloaded by one positioning operation. Therefore, the handling time at the time of medium exchange can be reduced, and quick response to a data input / output request from the host can be achieved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective side view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration explanatory diagram for explaining a conventional method for taking a medium in and out.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a configuration for explaining a conventional medium loading / unloading method.

FIG. 5 is a configuration explanatory diagram for explaining a conventional method of taking a medium in and out.

FIG. 6 is a configuration explanatory diagram for explaining an example of a method for taking out and inserting a medium according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a configuration explanatory diagram for explaining an example of a method for taking a medium in and out of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a configuration explanatory diagram for explaining an example of a method for taking out and inserting a medium according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a time chart for explaining a time relationship between positioning of a conventional handling mechanism and taking in and out of a medium.

FIG. 10 is a time chart for explaining an example of a time relationship between the positioning of the handling mechanism of the present invention and the loading / unloading of the medium.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Library apparatus 2 Drive apparatus 3 Handling mechanism 4 ₁ 1st picker 4 _n nth picker 5 Medium storage 6 Medium 6 ₁ medium 6 _n medium 7 Shelf which stores medium

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Manabu Yamamoto Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation, 3-19-2 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A shelf for storing a medium, a plurality of drive devices for recording data on or reading data from the medium, and a medium handling mechanism for transporting the medium between the shelf for storing the medium and the drive device. An optical disc autochanger that has a plurality of picker mechanisms for taking out and inserting a medium in a medium handling mechanism, wherein the pitch of the picker mechanism is adjusted to the pitch of a drive device, and a rack for storing the medium is provided. An optical disc autochanger characterized in that the pitch is adjusted to an integer fraction of the pitch of the picker mechanism. 2. The automatic optical disc changer according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of picker mechanisms can be driven independently of each other.