Library apparatus
A library apparatus includes a rack that holds a magazine loaded with plural tape cartridges, the rack including an insertion slot through which the magazine is inserted, a conveying mechanism that attaches the plural tape cartridges to the magazine and detaches the plural tape cartridges from the magazine, the conveying mechanism including a reader for reading an identifier provided on each of the plural tape cartridges, and a control device that moves the conveying mechanism, prior to the magazine being inserted into the insertion slot, to an identifier reading position enabling the reader to read the identifiers as the magazine is inserted through the insertion slot.
1. A library apparatus comprising:
a rack that holds a magazine loaded with a plurality of tape cartridges, the rack including an insertion slot that allows the magazine to be inserted into the rack;
a conveying mechanism that attaches the plural tape cartridges to the magazine and detaches the plural tape cartridges from the magazine, the conveying mechanism including a reader configured to read an identifier provided on each of the plural tape cartridges; and
a control device that moves the conveying mechanism, prior to the magazine being inserted into the insertion slot, to an identifier reading position enabling the reader to read the identifiers as the magazine is inserted through the insertion slot;
wherein the reader is movably mounted to the conveying mechanism to read the identifiers by moving in a direction parallel to a direction in which the magazine is inserted,
wherein the reader is configured to move in the direction parallel to the direction in which the magazine is inserted while the magazine is being inserted through the insertion slot.
2. The library apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the reader is configured to obtain cartridge position data and identification data corresponding to each of the plural tape cartridges.
3. The library apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the identifier is a barcode, wherein the reader is a barcode reader.
4. The library apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the identifier is a wireless communications tag, wherein the reader is a wireless communications tag reader.
5. A library apparatus comprising:
a rack that holds a magazine loaded with a plurality of tape cartridges, the rack including an insertion slot that allows the magazine to be inserted into the rack;
a conveying mechanism that attaches the plural tape cartridges to the magazine and detaches the plural tape cartridges from the magazine, the conveying mechanism including a reader configured to read an identifier provided on each of the plural tape cartridges;
a control device that moves the conveying mechanism, prior to the magazine being inserted into the insertion slot, to an identifier reading position enabling the reader to read the identifiers as the magazine is inserted through the insertion slot; and
an encoder attached to the rack;
wherein the encoder is configured to output encoder signals in correspondence with an inserting speed of the magazine while the magazine is being inserted through the insertion slot,
wherein the reader is configured to read data from the identifier in synchronization with the output of the encoder.
6. The library apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a door panel provided in the insertion slot; and
a locking mechanism that locks the door panel to a predetermined position when the magazine is not being inserted through the insertion slot.
7. A library apparatus comprising:
a rack that holds a magazine loaded with a plurality of tape cartridges, the rack including an insertion slot that allows the magazine to be inserted into the rack;
a conveying mechanism that attaches the plural tape cartridges to the magazine and detaches the plural tape cartridges from the magazine, the conveying mechanism including a reader configured to read an identifier provided on each of the plural tape cartridges;
a control device that moves the conveying mechanism, prior to the magazine being inserted into the insertion slot, to an identifier reading position enabling the reader to read the identifiers as the magazine is inserted through the insertion slot;
a door panel provided in the insertion slot; and
a locking mechanism that locks the door panel to a predetermined position when the magazine is not being inserted through the insertion slot;
wherein the locking mechanism includes a lock bar having a stopper engaged to the door panel and a bottom surface that faces an upper surface of the reader,
wherein the door panel is unlocked by pressing the upper surface of the reader against the bottom surface of the lock bar and separating the stopper from the door panel when the reader reaches the identifier reading position.
8. The library apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the magazine includes a notch part, the lock bar further includes a protruding part, wherein the protruding part is configured to lock the magazine to a predetermined position by engaging with the notch part when the reader deviates from the identifier reading position after the magazine is installed in the rack.
9. The library apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the protruding part is configured to unlock the magazine by disengaging from the notch part when the reader moves to the identifier reading position according to a magazine ejection command from the control device.