JPH02130751A - Library device for information storage media - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Table of contents] Overview Industrial field of application Prior art (Figures 4 and 5) Means for solving the problem to be solved by the invention (Figure 1) Working examples (a) Description of one embodiment (Figures 2 and 3) (b)
Description of Other Embodiments Effects of the Invention [Summary] Regarding an information storage medium library device that accommodates a large number of information storage media such as optical disk cartridges and extracts and records/reproduces the necessary information storage media, the transport mechanism may malfunction. hand,
The purpose of the present invention is to make the device form as small as possible even if other transport mechanisms are used for backup, and includes a medium storage section that stores a large number of information storage media, and a media processing section that at least plays back the information storage media. In an information storage medium library device having an automatic transport unit that transports the information storage medium between the medium storage unit and the medium processing unit, a large number of information storage media are stored around the medium storage unit. In addition to providing a pair of rotating drum type storage mechanisms, a pair of rotary conveyance mechanisms for driving in the downward direction and rotational direction are provided as the automatic conveyance section, and a pair of medium processing mechanisms corresponding to the rotary conveyance mechanisms. Each of the pair of rotary conveyance mechanisms is arranged such that it can convey the information storage media of both rotary drum type storage mechanisms.

[Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to an information storage medium library device that accommodates a large number of information storage media such as optical disk cartridges, and extracts and records/reproduces necessary information storage media.

When an information processing device handles a large amount of data, the amount of files increases, and a large number of storage media are required to store the data.

For this reason, automatic warehouse (library) devices for processing and storing a large number of storage media are on the market.

In such a library device, it is desired that the installation space is small and the structure can be backed up in case of failure.

[Conventional technology]

FIGS. 4 and 5 are explanatory diagrams of the prior art.

The library device shown in FIG. 4 closes the device in units of one locker. A large number of information storage media (optical disks) 4 are stored in the storage 2, and an automatic transport mechanism 3 having a picker 30 closes the storage 2. A desired storage medium 4 is taken out from there, conveyed to the recording/reproduction processing section 5, and the storage medium 4 is set in the processing section 5.

After the recording or playback process, the automatic transport mechanism 3 returns to the processing section 5.
The storage medium 4 is taken out, conveyed to the storage 2, and stored.

In this example, the automatic transport mechanism 3 drives the picker 30 in the X direction and Y direction in the figure, and the picker 30 takes out and stores the storage medium 4 in the Z direction, and rotates in the α direction to pick up the storage medium 4 in the vertical direction. 4 in the horizontal direction and set it in the processing section 5.

Next, the library device in FIG. 5 has lockers IA, IB,
An automatic transport mechanism 3 having a picker 30 is connected to the IC and runs between the lockers IA, IB, and IC along a rail R2, and a storage shelf 2 provided on the side of the lockers IA, IB, and IC and a record/not shown A storage medium (
The magnetic tape cartridge (magnetic tape cartridge) 4 is conveyed.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, the device shown in FIG. 4 has a problem in that when the transport mechanism 3 breaks down, the entire device goes down.

On the other hand, the one in FIG.
As shown in the figure, a spare transport mechanism 3' is provided.

However, if the spare transport mechanism 3' is provided, it is necessary to provide a standby place for it, such as the left garage LG and right garage RG in FIG. 5, and there is a problem that the device configuration becomes large.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a library device for information storage media that can be made as small as possible even if a transport mechanism fails and another transport mechanism backs up.

[Means to solve the problem]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the principle of the present invention.

The present invention provides a medium storage unit 2 that stores a large number of information storage media.
, a medium processing unit 5 for at least reproducing the information storage medium 4 , and an automatic transport unit 3 for transporting the information storage medium 4 between the medium storage unit 2 and the medium processing unit 5 . In a media library device, a pair of rotating drum type storage mechanisms 2a and 2b are provided as the medium storage section 2 around which a large number of information storage media 4 are stored, and the automatic transport section 3 is provided with a pair of rotating drum type storage mechanisms 2a and 2b that store a large number of information storage media 4 in the vertical direction and rotational direction. A pair of rotary conveyance mechanisms 3a and 3b are provided for driving, and a pair of medium processing sections 5a and 5b are provided corresponding to the rotary conveyance mechanisms 3a and 3b. The information storage medium 4 of both rotating drum type storage mechanisms 2a, 2b
It is arranged so that it can be transported.

The present invention also provides rotating drum type storage mechanisms 2a and 2b that store a large number of information storage media 4 around them, and the information storage media 4.
The information storage medium 4 is moved between the rotating drum storage mechanisms 2a, 2b and the medium processing units 5a, 5b, and the media processing units 5a, 5b which perform at least playback of the media. A pair of device units having rotary conveyance mechanisms 3a and 3b for conveyance is provided, and the pair of device units are configured to
The rotary transport mechanisms 3a and 3b of one device unit are arranged adjacent to each other so that the information storage medium 4 stored in the horizontal rotary drum storage devices 2a and 2b of the other device unit can be taken in and taken out. .

[Effect]

In the present invention, since the rotary drum storage mechanism 28.2b and the rotary transport mechanisms 3a, 3b are combined, the transport bus can be shortened and the device configuration can be made compact.

Furthermore, since one of the rotary conveyance mechanisms 3a and 3b is arranged so that the information storage medium 4 stored in the other rotary drum type storage mechanism 2a and 2b can be taken in and taken out, even if one of the conveyance mechanisms breaks down, there is no problem. , the other transport mechanism can back up,
Moreover, such an arrangement can be easily adopted, and this can be realized with a compact configuration.

Furthermore, since the basic structural unit is a device unit having a rotating drum type storage mechanism, a medium processing section, and a rotating type conveyance mechanism, it can be transported on a normal office floor and can be used alone.

[Embodiments] (a) Description of an Embodiment FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a top view of an embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, the same parts as shown in FIG. 1 are indicated by the same symbols.

The rotating drum type storage machine +M2a, 2b is the information storage medium 4
The optical disk cartridge is configured so that it can be stored and held in multiple stages vertically at equal intervals on the circumference, and can be rotated in the direction of arrow GH force.

The automatic transport mechanisms 3a and 3b carry the optical disk cartridge 4.
It has a picker 30 that can take in and take out the picker and move in the vertical direction of the arrow CD, and a rotation mechanism 31 that rotates the picker 30 in the direction of the arrow EF.

Each of the medium processing sections 5a and 5b is composed of four optical disk drives, and performs recording/reproduction of the set optical disk cartridge 4.

Each of the loading N units la, lb has one rotating drum type storage mechanism 28.2b and one automatic transport mechanism 3a, 3b.
and one medium processing section 5a, 5b, and as shown in FIG. 3, rotating drum type storage mechanisms 3a, 3b and medium processing sections 5a, 5b are arranged on both sides of the automatic transport mechanism 3a, 3b, respectively. has been done.

Therefore, the device units (1a, 1b) are composed of optical disk library units.

To explain the operation of this device, when a desired optical disk cartridge 4 is specified from a host device (not shown),
The rotary drum type storage mechanism 2a (2b) is arranged so that a row with a designated optical disk cartridge 4 is placed in the automatic transport mechanism 3a (3).
It is rotated to face the picker 30 in b).

Further, the automatic conveyance mechanism 3a (3b) is arranged such that the picker 30 faces the rotating drum type storage mechanism 2a (2b).
It is rotated by the rotation mechanism 31 in the direction of the arrow EF force and moved in the direction of the arrow CD to the position where the designated optical disk cartridge 4 is accommodated.

Next, when the picker 30 takes out the optical disk cartridge 4 from the rotating drum type storage mechanism 28 (2b), the picker 30 holding the optical disk cartridge 4 is moved by the rotating mechanism 31 to the optical disk drive 5a (5b) (!
! and is positioned at the position of the optical disk drive 5a (5b).

Then, the optical disk drive 5a (5
Insert the held optical disc cartridge 4 into b).

The optical disk drive 5a (5b) performs recording/reproduction on the inserted optical disk cartridge 4, and exchanges data with a host device.

When the data processing is completed, the automatic transport mechanism 3a (3b) performs an operation opposite to that described above, and returns the optical disk cartridge 4 to its original position in the rotating drum type storage mechanism 2a (2b).

The above is the basic operation of the device units la and lb.

Next, the backup format will be explained.

As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG.
b are arranged adjacent to each other so that they face the adjacent rotating drum type storage mechanisms 2a and 2b.

In this state, the automatic transport mechanism 3a selects the optical disk cartridge 4 from both the rotary drum storage mechanism 2a or 2b, inserts it into the optical disk drive 5a, and also selects the optical disk cartridge 4 from both the rotary drum storage mechanism 2a or 2b, and inserts the optical disk cartridge 4 into the optical disk drive 5a after processing. 4 to its original position.

Similarly, the automatic conveyance mechanism 3b includes the rotating drum type storage mechanism 2.
The optical disc cartridge 4 is selected from b or 2a, inserted into the optical disc drive 5b, and the optical disc cartridge 4 that has been processed by the optical disc drive 5b is returned to its original position.

Therefore, even if the automatic transport mechanism 3a is out of order and cannot be used, the automatic transport mechanism 3b allows access to the rotating drum storage mechanisms 28 and 2b, so the entire apparatus can be operated as is.

Furthermore, even if only the automatic transport mechanism 3b fails, the automatic transport mechanism 38 can be banked up and operated.

Note that the minimum structural unit (equipment unit) la or 1b is
It can be used alone as a device, and can take various forms depending on the processing t.

With such a configuration, a backup format can be easily taken, and since no evacuation area is required, bank-up is possible with a compact configuration.

(+)) Description of other embodiments In the above embodiments, an example was explained in which an optical disk cartridge was used as the information storage medium 4. However, it can also be applied to well-known information storage media such as magnetic tape cartridges and floppy disk cartridges. can.

Furthermore, although an example in which the medium processing section uses an optical disk drive has been described, other drive mechanisms may be used, or a unit that can only perform playback, if necessary.

Although the present invention has been described above using examples, the present invention can be modified in various ways according to the gist of the present invention, and these are not excluded from the present invention.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, each automatic transport mechanism can share a pair of rotating drum type storage mechanisms, so even if one automatic transport mechanism fails, the other automatic transport mechanism can be operated only. In addition to the effect that the reliability of the entire apparatus is increased, there is also the effect that the apparatus can be configured compactly because there is no need to provide a shelter place for the automatic transport mechanism.

Furthermore, since the device units are connected together, it is easy to transport and can also be operated as a single device.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are explanatory diagrams of the prior art.

In the figure, Ia, ■b - equipment unit, 2a, 2b - rotating drum type storage mechanism; 3a, 3b - rotary transport mechanism; 4-information storage medium; 5a, 5b-media processing section.

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) Media storage unit (2) that stores a large number of information storage media
a medium processing section (5) that at least plays back the information storage medium (4); and a medium processing section (5) that transports the information storage medium (4) between the medium storage section (2) and the medium processing section (5). In a library device for information storage media, the medium storage unit (2) is a rotating drum type storage mechanism (2a, 2b) that stores a large number of information storage media (4) around the periphery.
A pair of rotary conveyance mechanisms (3a, 3b) are provided as the automatic conveyance section (3) for driving in the vertical direction and rotational direction. A pair of medium processing units (5a, 5b) are provided, and each of the pair of rotary conveyance mechanisms (3a, 3b) is connected to the information storage medium (4) of both rotary drum type storage mechanisms (2a, 2b). 1. A library device for information storage media, characterized in that the library device is arranged so as to be able to transport information storage media. (2) A rotating drum type storage mechanism (2a, 2b) that stores a large number of information storage media (4) around it, and the information storage media (4).
4) media processing units (5a, 5b) that perform at least the reproduction;
and a rotary type conveyor that is driven in the vertical direction and rotational direction and conveys the information storage medium (4) between the rotary drum type storage mechanism (2a, 2b) and the medium processing section (5a, 5b). mechanism(
3a, 3b) are provided, and the rotating drum type storage mechanism (2a, 3b) of one device unit is connected to the rotary drum type storage mechanism (2a, 3b) of the other device unit.
2b) A library device for information storage media, characterized in that the information storage media (4) stored in the storage media (4) are arranged adjacent to each other so that they can be taken in and taken out.