Fujitsu Corporation

Keisuke Hoshino

Makoto Sasaki

Masayoshi Kobayashi

Akira Takano

Masaru Ohshita

Makoto Matsuda

Toshihiko Fujii

Yukio Katsuyama

Katsumi Inazawa

Hiroshi Sibuya

A library apparatus includes a cell unit having a plurality of cells arrayed in a matrix, a holder to insert the storage medium to one of the cells or extract the storage medium from the cell, and a position controller to move the holder over the cell unit in X-axis and Y-axis directions to position the holder at a desired position. The holder has a reading unit configured to acquire data of the edges on both sides of each cell. The position controller determines each position of the cells on the basis of the data of the edges acquired at a plurality of positions while moving the holder in a predetermined direction from a predetermined position of the cell unit.

Library apparatus and position controlling method

The present invention relates to bar-code reading from a carried object such as a cartridge and enables the bar-code reading from a gripped carried object. For a bar-code label attached to a carried object such as a cartridge storing a magnetic tape, a bar-code reading unit is provided in a hand unit, which grips the carried object, at a surface opposite to the carried object; the bar-code reading unit includes a light source (light emitting device) that emits light to the bar-code label and a light receiving unit (light receiving device) that receives reflected light from the bar-code label; the bar-code label is detected by scanning with the light; and therefore, the gripping of the carrier object can be performed concurrently with the reading of the bar-code label.

Bar-code reading apparatus, bar-code reading method, and library apparatus

A library apparatus includes an enclosure enclosing at least a storage cabinet. A sound sensor is located within the enclosure. The sound sensor is designed to detect sound within the enclosure. The library apparatus enables detection of sound inside the enclosure of the library apparatus. A fall of the cartridge can immediately be determined based on the detected sound, for example. If the directivity of the sound sensor has a wider range, the sound sensor is capable of reliably detecting sound caused within the entire enclosure. The sound sensor contributes to a reliable detection of a fall of the cartridge with a simplified structure as compared with an image sensor having a narrower coverage.

Library apparatus and cartridge therefor

The inventory processing unit reads by the barcode reader barcode labels of medium cartridges by scanning a plurality of times per one label as the carrier robot is moved in a predetermined cell array direction in the medium storage and notifies of stored medium information the high-order device. The cause of error specification processing unit extracts the error data from the scanning data obtained at the completion of the inventory process to determine the presence or absence of a barcode label and if it is determined that a barcode label exists, the predetermined retry process is executed, otherwise, notifies of the determination result the high-order device without executing the retry process.

Method for controlling a library apparatus, program and units

Disclosed herein is a magnetic tape unit having a magnetic head for reading and writing data from and onto a magnetic tape. The magnetic tape is traveled in contact with the magnetic head during a read/write operation of the magnetic head. During a rest period where the read/write operation of the magnetic head is not performed, a reciprocating motion of the magnetic tape by a small distance is performed with a predetermined period. A temperature in the vicinity of the magnetic head is detected by a temperature sensor. The predetermined period is changed according to the temperature detected by the temperature sensor. Accordingly, the adhesion of the magnetic tape to the magnetic head can be well prevented irrespective of the temperature inside the tape unit.

Magnetic tape unit

A magnetic tape unit with a magnetic head for reading and writing data from and onto a magnetic tape. The magnetic tape is kept in constant contact with the magnetic head, and a reel motor travels the magnetic tape kept in contact with the magnetic head. Adhesion of the magnetic tape to the magnetic head is prevented by slowly driving the reel motor to travel the magnetic tape at a speed lower than a normal traveling speed for a read/write operation of the magnetic head, during a rest period when the read/write operation of the magnetic head is not performed.

A library apparatus having an accessor equipped with a bar code reader. The library apparatus includes a recording medium drive unit for writing and reading data to and from a recording medium cartridge; a cartridge entry unit for entering recording medium cartridges into the apparatus; and an automatic cartridge exit unit for automatically ejecting recording medium cartridges from inside the apparatus. The accessor transports cartridges through the cell unit, the recording medium drive unit, the cartridge entry unit and the automatic cartridge exit unit. The library apparatus also includes a door for allowing a large number of recording medium cartridges to enter all at once into the cells of a given cell column of the cell unit. Because the accessor is equipped with the bar code reader, the bar code of each cartridge is read thereby every time a cartridge is taken out of its cell by the accessor.

Growing community of inventors

Kawasaki, Japan

Keisuke Hoshino