Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority of the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-031278, filed on Feb. 21, 2014, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD 
     The embodiments discussed herein are related to a library apparatus and a method of reading information of a recording medium. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A controller of a magnetic tape library apparatus finds individual information such as an error rate, the number of mounting times, and the like for each of multiple magnetic tape cartridges accommodated in a cell. Accordingly, a magnetic tape cartridge has an attached barcode label indicating a serial number and the like, and a built-in cartridge memory recording the updated individual information. In reading the individual information from the cartridge memory, a robot which is built in the magnetic tape library causes a unit having the same shape as that of the magnetic tape cartridge and including a reader mounted to read the individual information to face the magnetic tape cartridge. 
     A related technology is disclosed in Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2007-188615. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to an aspect of the embodiments, a library apparatus, includes: a plurality of cells in each of which a cartridge-type recording medium is attachably and detachably accommodated; a robot including a hand configured to handle the recording medium; and an information reading unit which is attachably and detachably accommodated in the cells and includes a plurality of readers configured to read information of the recording medium, wherein when the information reading unit is pulled into a portion of the hand, the plurality of readers project to be capable of reading the information of the recording medium. 
     The object and advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the claims. 
     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary perspective view of a magnetic tape library apparatus; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an exemplary perspective view of an inside of a magnetic tape library apparatus; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates an exemplary perspective view of a cell in which magnetic tape cartridges are accommodated; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates an exemplary perspective view of a magnetic tape cartridge; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates an exemplary perspective view of a cell in which information reading units are accommodated; 
         FIG. 6A  and  FIG. 6B  illustrate an example of an information reading unit in a non-operating state; 
         FIG. 7A  and  FIG. 7B  illustrate an example of an information reading unit in an operating state; 
         FIG. 8  illustrates an exemplary perspective view of an inside of a information reading unit in a non-operating unit; 
         FIG. 9  illustrates an exemplary plan view of an inside of an information reading unit in a non-operating state; 
         FIG. 10  illustrates an exemplary perspective view of an inside of an information reading unit in an operating state; 
         FIG. 11  illustrates an exemplary plan view of an inside of an information reading unit in an operating state; 
         FIG. 12  illustrates an example of a hand; 
         FIG. 13  illustrates an example of a hand; 
         FIG. 14  illustrates an exemplary cross-sectional view of an operation mechanism in a non-operating state; 
         FIG. 15  illustrates an exemplary cross-sectional view of an operation mechanism in an operating state; 
         FIG. 16  illustrates an exemplary perspective view of an initial state in which a information reading unit is pulled into a hand; 
         FIG. 17  illustrates an exemplary perspective view of in-process state in which an information reading unit is being pulled into a hand; 
         FIG. 18A  and  FIG. 18B  illustrate an example of an information reading mechanism; 
         FIG. 19  illustrates an exemplary perspective view of a final state in which a information reading unit has been pulled into a hand; 
         FIG. 20  illustrates an exemplary method of reading individual information from multiple magnetic tape cartridges at the same time; and 
         FIG. 21  illustrates an exemplary method of reading individual information from the multiple magnetic tape cartridges at the same time. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     For example, in a magnetic tape library apparatus in which several hundreds to several thousands or more spools of magnetic tape cartridges are accommodated, it may take an enormous amount of time to read individual information of all the magnetic tape cartridges. Accordingly, a user may wait for a several hours or more until the magnetic tape library apparatus becomes usable. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary perspective view of a magnetic tape library apparatus. For example, a library apparatus may be a cartridge-type recording medium and may include a magnetic tape library apparatus. The library apparatus may be used for data backup or the like, for example. 
     A magnetic tape library apparatus  100  has magnetic tape cartridges of several hundreds to several thousands or more spools mounted inside a substantially cuboid-shaped casing  110 . On the front surface of the casing  110 , two cartridge access stations (CASs)  120  are provided so that a magnetic tape cartridge is taken in and out from the magnetic tape library apparatus  100 . Through the CAS  120 , the magnetic tape cartridge is taken in and out by a unit of a magazine in which a certain number of magnetic tape cartridges are accommodated. On the front surface of the casing  110 , an openable and closable door is provided so that a magnetic tape cartridge is manually taken out and in by an operator or the like. For example, the cartridge-type recording medium may include a magnetic tape cartridge. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates an exemplary perspective view of an inside of a magnetic tape library apparatus. As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the magnetic tape library apparatus  100  includes multiple cells  130 , in which multiple magnetic tape cartridges  200  are accommodated, multiple tape drives  140  which read and write data of the magnetic tape cartridges  200 , and a pair of upper and lower robots  150 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates an exemplary perspective view of a cell in which magnetic tape cartridges are accommodated. As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , in the cell  130 , a certain number (for example, 5 rolls) of the magnetic tape cartridges  200  are accommodated in a state of being stacked in the vertical direction. The multiple cells  130  are arranged longitudinally and horizontally along both sides of the casing  110 , which face each other. The tape drive  140  reads and writes data in contact with a magnetic tape installed in the magnetic tape cartridge  200 . The robot  150  is arranged in each of the upper and lower portions in the center of the casing  110 . The robot  150  includes an arm portion which is movable in at least three axes (the X axis, the Y axis, and the Z axis) directions which are orthogonal to each other and is rotatable on a horizontal plane defined by the X axis and the Y axis. In the arm portion of the robot  150 , a hand  300  to handle the magnetic tape cartridge  200  is provided. The robot  150  conveys and mounts the magnetic tape cartridge  200  accommodated in the cell  130  in the tape drive  140 . In addition, the robot  150  coveys and accommodates the magnetic tape cartridge  200  mounted in the tape drive  140  in the cell  130 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates an exemplary perspective view of a magnetic tape cartridge. As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the magnetic tape cartridge  200  has a substantially cuboid outer shape. In the magnetic tape cartridge  200 , a cartridge memory  210  to record individual information such as an error rate, the number of mounting times, and the like, is built-in inside of the front surface facing the robot  150 . For example, the cartridge memory  210  may be a non-volatile memory in which reading and writing of data may be performed in a non-contact manner through a near distance radio communication using an electromagnetic field or electric waves. On the both sides adjacent to the front surface of the magnetic tape cartridge  200 , recessed portions  220  are formed which respectively engage with claw portions provided in the hand  300  of the robot  150  and are used for inserting and removing the magnetic tape cartridge  200  into and from the cell  130 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates an exemplary perspective view of a cell in which an information reading unit is accommodated. For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , among the multiple cells  130  of the magnetic tape library apparatus  100 , the cell  130  to which the upper and lower robots  150  are accessible accommodates an information reading unit  400  that reads individual information from a cartridge memory  210  of the magnetic tape cartridge  200 . The information reading unit  400  may have outer dimensions substantially same as that of the magnetic tape cartridge  200  so that it is detachably accommodated in the cell  130 . Also the information reading unit  400  may be accommodated in at least two cells  130  in order that the magnetic tape library apparatus  100  have a redundant configuration. For example, even when one information reading unit  400  fails, the other information reading unit  400  may read the individual information of the magnetic tape cartridge  200 . 
       FIG. 6A  and  FIG. 6B  illustrate an example of an information reading unit in a non-operating state.  FIG. 6A  illustrates a perspective view diagonally seen from the back of the information reading unit.  FIG. 6B  illustrates a perspective view diagonally seen from the front of the information reading unit.  FIG. 7A  and  FIG. 7B  illustrate an exemplary information reading unit in an operating state.  FIG. 7A  illustrates a perspective view diagonally seen from the back of the information reading unit.  FIG. 7B  illustrates a perspective view diagonally seen from the front of the information reading unit. As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , on the both sides adjacent to the front surface of the information reading unit  400 , recessed portions  410  are formed which respectively engage with claw portions provided in the hand  300  of the robot  150  and are used for inserting and removing the information reading unit  400  into and from the cell  130 . In a position adjacent to the back surface of the information reading unit  400 , an information reading mechanism  420  is provided which projects when the information reading unit  400  is pulled into the innermost portion of the hand  300  and which becomes capable of reading the individual information from the cartridge memory  210  of the magnetic tape cartridge  200 . The information reading mechanism  420  has a rectangular-shaped plate member  422  which is rotatable by substantially 90 degrees between a fallen position illustrated in  FIG. 6  and an upright position illustrated in  FIG. 7  and three memory readers  424  attached to the plate member  422  in the longitudinal direction. For example, by that a memory reader  424  faces a cartridge memory  210  of the magnetic tape cartridge  200 , it becomes possible to read the individual information of the magnetic tape cartridge  200  in a non-contact manner. The number of the memory readers  424  of the information reading mechanism  420  may be three, and, for example, be any number according to the outer dimensions (for example, height) of the magnetic tape cartridge  200 . 
       FIG. 8  illustrates an exemplary perspective view of an inside of an information reading unit in a non-contact state.  FIG. 9  illustrates an exemplary plan view of an inside of an information reading unit in the non-contact state. As illustrated in  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9 , the information reading unit  400  has a built-in driving mechanism  430  for driving the information reading mechanism  420 . For the convenience of describing the inner structure,  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9  illustrate the information reading unit  400  in a state where a lid portion (cover) is removed. 
     The driving mechanism  430  has a rod  432 , a supporting member  434 , a coil spring  436 , a rack  438 , a pinion  440 , a first rotational shaft  442 , a pair of bevel gears  444 , and a second rotational shaft  446 . The rod  432  includes a bar-shaped member extending in the front-back direction of the information reading unit  400 . In the non-operating state of the information reading mechanism  420 , a tip end portion of the bar-shaped member projects from the front surface of the information reading unit  400 . The supporting member  434  is a member which has includes two uprising plate members, which supports the rod  432  to be capable of reciprocating in the axial direction, and is fixed on the inner bottom surface of the information reading unit  400 . The coil spring  436  is provided between the two uprising plate members in the supporting member  434  and biases the rod  432  in the direction projecting from the front surface of the information reading unit  400 . The rack  438  is a movable member coupled to a base end portion of the rod  432  and has a projection  438 A to operate a switch. The pinion  440  engages with the rack  438  and converts the linear motion of the rod  432  to a rotational motion. The first rotational shaft  442  couples the pinion  440  and the bevel gears  444  and transmits the rotational motion of the pinion  440  to the bevel gears  444 . The bevel gears  444  change the rotational motion transmitted from the pinion  440  by substantially 90 degrees. The second rotational shaft  446  couples the bevel gears  444  and the plate member  422  of the information reading mechanism  420  and rotates the plate member  422  by the rotation of the bevel gears  444  between the fallen position and the upright position. 
       FIG. 10  illustrates an exemplary perspective view of an inside of the information reading unit in an operating state.  FIG. 11  illustrates an exemplary plan view of an inside of the information reading unit in an operating state. For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 10  and  FIG. 11 , when external force acts on the rod  432  to push the rod  432  against the urging force of the coil spring  436 , the rack  438  integrated with the rod  432  rotates the pinion  440 . The direction of the rotational motion of the pinion  440  is changed by substantially 90 degrees by the bevel gears  444  to rotate the plate member  422  of the information reading mechanism  420  from the fallen position to the upright position. Accordingly, the information reading mechanism  420  projects from the information reading unit  400  and the preparation for reading the individual information from the cartridge memory  210  of the magnetic tape cartridge  200  is completed. 
     On the other hand, when the external force stops acting on the rod  432 , the rod  432  is moved in a direction projecting from the front surface of the information reading unit  400  by the urging force of the coil spring  436 . When the rod  432  moves, the rack  438  integrated with the rod  432  rotates the pinion  440 . For example, the rotational direction of the pinion  440  may be a direction opposite to the direction when the rod  432  is pushed. The direction of the rotational motion of the pinion  440  is changed by substantially 90 degrees by the bevel gears  444  to rotate the plate member  422  of the information reading mechanism  420  from the upright position to the fallen position. Accordingly, the information reading mechanism  420  is accommodated in the information reading unit  400  and is to have the outer dimensions substantially same as that of the magnetic tape cartridge  200 . 
     The information reading unit  400  internally includes a control circuit  450  which controls the memory reader  424  of the information reading mechanism  420 , an information transmission unit  460  which transmits the individual information read by the memory reader  424  to the hand  300  in the non-contact manner, and a battery  470  such as a button battery. As illustrated in  FIG. 10  and  FIG. 11 , the information reading unit  400  is provided with a switch  480  such as a limit switch which supplies power to the control circuit  450  and the information transmission unit  460  from the battery  470  when the rod  432  is pushed and the information reading mechanism  420  projects. For example, the switch  480  operates by being pushed by the projection  438 A projecting from the rack  438 . When the information reading unit  400  is not used, power is not supplied to the control circuit  450  and the information transmission unit  460  from the battery  470 , so that power consumption of the battery  470  may be suppressed. 
       FIG. 12  and  FIG. 13  illustrate an exemplary hand.  FIG. 12  illustrates a perspective view of an inside of the hand in a non-operating state.  FIG. 13  illustrates a perspective view of an inside of the hand in an operating state. For the convenience of describing the inner structure,  FIG. 12  and  FIG. 13  illustrate the hand  300  in a state where an upper plate is removed. The actual hand  300  has a substantially cuboid outer shape with the upper plate. 
     The hand  300  has a built-in mounter  320  which is designed to insert or discharge the magnetic tape cartridge  200  or the information reading unit  400  into or from a substantially cuboid-shaped casing  310  in which one surface is opened. The mounter  320  is guided by a pair of right and left guide pipes  330  which extends in the front-back direction on the both sides of the casing  310 , and reciprocates in one direction by an actuator such as an electric motor. The tip end portion (on the opening side) of the mounter  320  is provided with a pair of right and left claw portions  322  which engage with the recessed portion  220  of the magnetic tape cartridge  200  or a recessed portions  410  of the information reading unit  400 . The claw portions  322  open with each other in a separating direction in the non-operating state of the mounter  320 . The claw portions  322  narrow in a direction of sandwiching the magnetic tape cartridge  200  or the information reading unit  400  when the mounter  320  operates. For example, as power to open and close the claw portions  322 , an output of the actuator reciprocating the mounter  320  may be utilized through various link mechanisms. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 13 , in the mounter  320 , an operation mechanism  340  is incorporated to push the rod  432  against the urging force of the coil spring  436  when the information reading unit  400  is pulled into the innermost portion.  FIG. 14  illustrates an exemplary cross-sectional view of an operation mechanism in a non-operating state. As illustrated in  FIG. 14 , the operation mechanism  340  has a cylindrical member  342  which passes through the mounter  320  in the front-back direction, a rod  344  which is inserted into the cylindrical member  342  and projects from the end surface facing the innermost portion, and a coil spring  346  which urges the rod  344  in a projecting direction. The cylindrical member  342  is provided in a position which becomes concentric with the rod  432  of the information reading unit  400  in a state where the claw portions  322  of the mounter  320  engage with the recessed portions  410  of the information reading unit  400 . The end surface of the rod  344  positioned on the opening side of the casing  310  is in a position recessed by a distance substantially the same as the projected length of the rod  432  of the information reading unit  400  from the end surface of the cylindrical member  342 . Accordingly, in the state where the information reading unit  400  is held by the mounter  320 , the information reading mechanism  420  of the information reading unit  400  does not operate. When the mounter  320  moves to the innermost portion of the hand  300 , the tip end portion of the rod  344  comes in contact with the inner back surface of the casing  310  and the rod  344  starts moving to the opening side against the urging face of the coil spring  346 .  FIG. 15  illustrates an exemplary cross-sectional view of an operation mechanism in an operating state. When the mounter  320  moves to the innermost portion of the hand  300 , as illustrated in  FIG. 15 , the rod  344  moves to the direction of the base end portion (an end portion on the opposite side to the tip end portion) of the rod  344 . The projected length of the rod  344  may have a length with which the information reading mechanism  420  of the information reading unit  400  is operable. 
     In the magnetic tape library apparatus  100 , for example, an operator opens or closes a door of the casing  110  and the magnetic tape cartridge  200  is replaced with a new one. When the operator exchanges the magnetic tape cartridge  200 , there is a possibility that a controller of the magnetic tape library apparatus  100  may not find a magnetic tape cartridge  200  which is exchanged. Accordingly, the controller of the magnetic tape library apparatus  100  may read the individual information of all the magnetic tape cartridges  200  which are accommodated in the cell  130 . 
       FIG. 16  illustrates an exemplary perspective view of an initial state in which an information reading unit is pulled into the hand.  FIG. 17  illustrates an exemplary perspective view of an intermediate state in which an information reading unit is being pulled into the hand. The controller of the magnetic tape library apparatus  100  outputs driving signals for the robot  150 , and, as illustrated in  FIG. 16 , causes the hand  300  to face the information reading unit  400 . When the movement of the mounter  320  of the hand  300  is started in this state, the pair of the right and left claw portions  322  are narrowed and engaged with the recessed portions  410  of the information reading unit  400  to hold. When the mounter  320  begins to move toward the innermost portion of the hand  300 , as illustrated in  FIG. 17 , the information reading unit  400  is pulled into the innermost portion of the hand  300 . 
       FIG. 18A  and  FIG. 18B  illustrate an example of an information reading mechanism.  FIG. 18A  illustrates a non-operating state and  FIG. 18B  illustrates an operating state.  FIG. 19  illustrates an exemplary perspective view of a final state in which an information reading unit has been pulled into a hand. When the information reading unit  400  is pulled into the hand  300  near the innermost portion thereof, as illustrated in  FIG. 18A , the tip end portion of the rod  344  of the operation mechanism  340  provided in the mounter  320  contacts with the casing  310 . Along with the pulling of the information reading unit  400 , as illustrated in  FIG. 18B , the rod  344  moves to the direction of the information reading unit  400  against the urging force of the coil spring  346 . When the rod  344  moves in the direction of the information reading unit  400 , the rod  432  projecting from the information reading unit  400  is pushed in against the urging force of the coil spring  436 . Accordingly, as illustrated in  FIG. 19 , the plate member  422  of the information reading mechanism  420  rotates from the fallen position to the upright position to project. 
       FIG. 20  and  FIG. 21  illustrate an example of reading individual information.  FIG. 20  and  FIG. 21  illustrate an exemplary method of reading individual information from multiple magnetic tape cartridges. The individual information may be read at the substantially same time. When the plate member  422  of the information reading mechanism  420  projects, the controller of the magnetic tape library apparatus  100  causes the memory reader  424  of the information reading unit  400  to face the cartridge memory  210  of the magnetic tape cartridge  200 , as illustrated in  FIG. 20 . As illustrated in  FIG. 21 , the memory reader  424  may read the individual information at the substantially same time from adjacent three rolls of the magnetic tape cartridges  200  in the upper and lower direction. The individual information read from the magnetic tape cartridges  200  is transmitted to the hand  300  through the information transmission unit  460  and transmitted to the controller through an information transmission path. 
     When the individual information of the next magnetic tape cartridge  200  is read, the controller of the magnetic tape library apparatus  100  causes the memory reader  424  of the information reading unit  400  to face a cartridge memory  210  of another magnetic tape cartridge  200 . As described above, the individual information is read at the substantially same time from the adjacent three rolls of the magnetic tape cartridges  200  in the upper and lower direction. These procedures are sequentially repeated to read the individual information of all the magnetic tape cartridges  200  accommodated in the magnetic tape library apparatus  100 . 
     At this time, the individual information of the three rolls of the magnetic tape cartridges  200  is read at the substantially same time by the information reading unit  400  without moving the hand  300 , and accordingly, a time taken for reading the individual information may be shortened. Since the time taken for reading the individual information is shortened, for example, after the magnetic tape cartridge  200  is replaced with a new one, a period of time during which a user is unable to use the magnetic tape library apparatus  100  may be shortened. 
     The recording medium is not limited to the magnetic tape cartridge  200 , but may be a cartridge-type hard disk drive, for example. The individual information of the recording medium is not limited to the cartridge memory  210  but may be a flash read only memory (ROM) in which data is capable of being electrically read and written, for example. The driving mechanism  430  in the information reading unit  400  may include a switch which operates when the information reading unit  400  is pulled into the innermost portion of the hand  300  and an electric motor which rotates the plate member  422  of the information reading mechanism  420 . 
     All examples and conditional language recited herein are intended for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the invention and the concepts contributed by the inventor to furthering the art, and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions, nor does the organization of such examples in the specification relate to a showing of the superiority and inferiority of the invention. Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, it should be understood that the various changes, substitutions, and alterations could be made hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Technology Category: 3