JP6344801B2 - Library device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a library device, and more particularly to a technique suitable for use in an inter-device medium transport mechanism that can handle a plurality of library devices capable of storing a plurality of data storage media such as tape cartridges as a single library system.

  As an inter-device medium transport mechanism for sharing a data storage medium among a plurality of library devices stacked in the vertical direction, the upper part of the accessor enters the lower part of the adjacent library device so that the adjacent library devices There are a system for transferring media (Patent Document 1), a system for providing a PTP (pass-through port) mechanism dedicated to media transfer between adjacent library devices or in a library device, and the like (Patent Document 2, Patent Document 3). In these systems, the medium transport tray can move only between the upper and lower library apparatuses. Therefore, in order to transport the medium to a further distant library apparatus, the medium is transferred to the transport tray to the upper layer by the accessor. It takes time to move the medium.

As a means to solve this problem, not only the two upper and lower libraries, but also a self-propelled accessor that can freely move vertically between a plurality of library devices from the lower end to the upper end, a rack in the library device, and an accessor There is a system in which a medium stored in an arbitrary library device is transferred by the accessor by sharing one or a plurality of accessors in the library system. Patent Document 4 and Patent Document 5). However, in these systems, when the self-propelled accessor moves between adjacent library devices, the racks of adjacent library devices are arranged so that the pinion normally meshes with the teeth of the rack provided in the destination library device. It is necessary to adjust the position manually so that the interdental distance at the end is a multiple of a predetermined pitch.

  With respect to this problem, in Patent Document 6, in addition to a normal rack and pinion for movement, by providing a transition pinion and a partial rack for adjusting the phase of the movement rack and pinion during movement between library devices, It provides a mechanism that automatically adjusts the phase without requiring manual rack position adjustment. As a result, the problem relating to the movement of the accessor between the library devices has been solved.

As means for solving the above problem, there is a method in which a drive source is provided on the library apparatus side and only the medium is moved between the library apparatuses without moving the drive apparatus (Patent Document 7).

JP 2003-162857 A JP 2006-127628 A JP 2011-76653 A JP 2000-90545 A JP 2000-348417 A Special table 2014-513856 gazette JP 2003-67999 A

However, sharing a self-propelled accessor as in Patent Document 6 still has other problems. In a self-propelled accessor, it is necessary to connect a cable for power supply and command transmission / reception to the control board of any library device, but considering the possibility that a library device will be added in the future, it is necessary to connect it in advance. It is necessary to adjust the delivery length so that the cable does not get in the way using a take-up reel or the like.

This not only has an adverse effect on the service life of the cable because the cable is movable, but if the cable length is set to be long, if there are few library devices, the cost is wasted, and if the cable length is set to be short. This leads to a problem that limits the expandability of the library device. In addition, by sharing accessors, it is only necessary to provide the minimum number of accessors and drives in the entire library system, and cost efficiency can be achieved. On the other hand, accessors such as media transportation to the drive and inventory are required. There is also a problem that work must be performed with one or a few accessors, which takes a lot of time.

Furthermore, in the means described in Patent Document 7, since the belt connected to the drive source and the medium are brought into contact with each other and the medium is conveyed by the frictional force generated there, slip between the belt and the medium is inevitable. As a result, it may be difficult to obtain the accuracy of the medium stop position, and in the worst case, the medium cannot be transported.

Furthermore, in a system in which library devices can be stacked and used, more media can be transported between library devices faster and without sacrificing inventory time or loading time of media to the drive. There was a request.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is possible to smoothly move in the vertical direction by absorbing the speed difference of the drive source between the plurality of library apparatuses and synchronizing the conveyance speed. It is intended to achieve the purpose.

The library apparatus of the present invention handles a plurality of library apparatuses that can store a plurality of data storage media (such as tape cartridges) as a single library system by a medium transport magazine composed of a plurality of medium transport trays. In a library device that can
A plurality of the library devices are connected in one direction, and a plurality of medium transport magazines movable in the one direction are movable between the connected library devices.
Each library apparatus is provided with a medium transport mechanism for driving the medium transport magazine,
The medium transport mechanism includes a drive source for driving the medium transport magazine and a differential device,
When the differential device drives the medium transport magazine between the plurality of library devices, the speed difference of each drive source between the plurality of library devices is absorbed to thereby transport the media transport magazine. The above-mentioned problem has been solved by making it possible to synchronize.

  According to the present invention, the medium transport magazine can be smoothly transported between a plurality of library devices by synchronizing the transport speed of the medium transport magazine. As a result, for example, since the medium transport tray can be freely moved between the stacked library apparatuses from the stacked lower end to the upper end, compared to a mechanism capable of transferring the medium only between adjacent upper and lower library apparatuses, The conveyance time can be shortened. Further, when a plurality of medium transport trays are transported together, the transport efficiency can be further improved. Furthermore, since a power source and a drive source that requires command transmission / reception can be arranged on the library apparatus side, it is not necessary to make a cable or the like for supplying these movable, and the cable length can be set as fixed. . In addition, since each library apparatus has an accessor, the inventory time can be shortened, and in the library apparatus having a drive, it is possible to achieve the effect that the medium can be conveyed to the drive in parallel. Become.

It is a perspective view which shows 1st Embodiment of the library apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the medium conveyance mechanism in 1st Embodiment of the library apparatus concerning this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the medium conveyance mechanism in 1st Embodiment of the library apparatus concerning this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the magazine for medium conveyance in 1st Embodiment of the library apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the magazine for medium conveyance in 1st Embodiment of the library apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the medium conveyance mechanism in 1st Embodiment of the library apparatus concerning this invention. It is a top view which shows the medium conveyance mechanism in 1st Embodiment of the library apparatus concerning this invention. It is a figure which shows the state in which the magazine 400 for medium conveyance in 1st Embodiment of the library apparatus which concerns on this invention is driven only by the medium conveyance mechanism 310 of the lower layer. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a state in which a medium transport magazine 400 in the first embodiment of the library apparatus according to the present invention is driven by both a lower layer medium transport mechanism 310 and an upper layer medium transport mechanism 210. It is a figure which shows the state in which the magazine 400 for medium conveyance in 1st Embodiment of the library apparatus based on this invention is driven only by the medium conveying mechanism 210 of the upper layer. It is a schematic diagram which shows 2nd Embodiment of the library apparatus which concerns on this invention.

Hereinafter, a first embodiment of a library device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims. In addition, not all the combinations of features described in the embodiments are essential for the solving means of the invention.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a library apparatus according to the present embodiment. In the figure, reference numeral 100 denotes a library apparatus.

As shown in FIG. 1, the library apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment includes a library apparatus 200, 300 that is capable of storing a plurality of data storage media and is stacked up and down, and a medium transport medium that transports a medium between them. A magazine 400 and a library control unit 130 are included, and a plurality of library devices 200 and 300 can be stacked and handled as one library system.
The data storage medium refers to a storage device such as a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk, a portable medium such as a ROM and a CD-ROM, and a hard disk incorporated in a computer system.

A plurality of magazines 103 and 103 are inserted into the library devices 200 and 300. Library apparatuses 200 and 300 include medium transport mechanisms 210 and 310 and accessors 201 and 301, respectively.

The library devices 200 and 300 are devices that read and write data (at least one of reading and writing) with respect to a data storage medium (medium) stored in the magazine 103.
The magazine 103 stores a cartridge type storage medium. The magazine 103 is provided so that it can be inserted into and removed from the library apparatuses 200 and 300 from the front surface of the library apparatuses 110 and 120. The user of the library apparatus 100 can remove the magazine 103 from the library apparatuses 200 and 300, replace the storage medium, and insert the magazine 103 into the library apparatuses 200 and 300 again. The storage medium stored in the magazine 103 is a storage medium such as a magnetic tape.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view showing the vicinity of the medium transport mechanism in the library apparatus in the present embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view showing the vicinity of the medium transport mechanism in the library apparatus in the present embodiment.
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the library apparatus 200 includes a medium transport mechanism 210 and a plurality of standing guide rails 202 and 202. Similarly, the library apparatus 300 is also provided with a medium transport mechanism 310 and a plurality of standing guide rails 302 and 302, respectively, as shown in FIGS. With these medium transport mechanisms 210 and 310 and guide rails 202 and 302, the medium transport magazine 400 can be transported vertically between the two library apparatuses 200 and 300.

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view showing a medium transport magazine in the library apparatus according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view showing the medium transport magazine in the library apparatus according to the present embodiment.
In this embodiment, the medium transport magazine 400 includes a plurality of medium transport trays 401 (three in this example) as shown in FIGS. The medium transport magazine 400 has a substantially rectangular box shape, and has a plurality of guide rollers 402 and 402 (eight in this example) near the corners thereof. Two racks 403 extending in the vertical direction are arranged at the left and right positions of the back side of the medium transport magazine 400.

FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view showing the medium transport mechanism in the library apparatus according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 7 is a top view showing the medium transport mechanism in the library apparatus according to the present embodiment.
In the present embodiment, since the medium transport mechanism 210 and the medium transport mechanism 310 have substantially the same configuration, the medium transport mechanism 210 will be described below, and the description regarding the medium transport mechanism 310 will be omitted. Note that in the medium transport mechanism 310, the code of the medium transport mechanism 210 is replaced with the 300s.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the medium transport mechanism 210 has a structure in which driving force is transmitted from the rotational drive source 211 to the magazine transport lower pinion 213 and the magazine transport upper pinion 214 via the transmission mechanism 212. doing.

The transmission mechanism 212 includes a differential device 215.
Here, the differential device 215 includes a drive side gear 215a connected to the magazine lower conveyance pinion 213 and the magazine conveyance upper pinion 214, a resistance side gear 215b connected to the torque load member 216, and a drive side gear 215a. A ring gear 217 arranged so as to rotate idly around the rotation shaft, connected to the rotation drive source 211, a pinion shaft 215c fixed so as to be orthogonal to the rotation shaft of the ring gear 217, and the pinion shaft 215c can be rotated about the rotation shaft. In addition, a plurality of (two in this example) that revolve around the rotation axis of the ring gear 217 as the ring gear 217 rotates and transmit the rotation of the ring gear 217 to the driving side gear 215a and the resistance side gear 215b. Pinions 215d and 215e It is those having a kinematic gear.

  The torque load member 216 is set so that a torque equivalent to the torque generated in the drive side gear 215a during the conveyance of the medium conveyance magazine 400 is applied to the resistance side gear 215b. A rotary damper or a torque limiter can be arranged as the torque load member 216 in the present embodiment.

In the medium transport mechanism 310, the torque load member 316 is applied with a torque equivalent to the torque generated in the drive side gear 315a during the transport of the medium transport magazine 400 to the resistance side gear 315b, similar to the torque load member 216. Can be set to
Furthermore, in this embodiment, it is preferable that the torque of the torque load member 216 and the torque of the torque load member 316 are set equal. Further, the torque of the torque load member 216 and the torque of the torque load member 316 are set such that the torque of the upper layer torque load member 216 is set smaller than the torque of the lower layer torque load member 316 or the lower layer torque load member 316. The torque of 316 can be set smaller than the torque of the torque load member 216 in the upper layer.

The guide rail 306 is disposed on the wall surface of the library apparatus so as to come into contact with the guide roller 402 provided in the medium transport magazine 400. Accordingly, the movement of the medium transport magazine 400 is regulated in the vertical direction, and the vertical direction of the medium transport magazine 400 by the driving force transmitted from the rotational drive source 211 to the magazine transport pinions 213 and 214 via the transmission mechanism 212. Can be moved to.

The drive gear 212 a is connected to the drive side gear 215 a via the ring gear 217 and is also connected to the rotational drive source 211. The resistance gear 216 a is connected to the resistance side gear 215 b and the torque load member 216.

Next, an operation of raising the medium transport magazine 400 from the library apparatus 300 located at the lower stage to the library apparatus 200 located at the upper stage will be described as an operation of the present embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a state in which the medium transport magazine 400 in the library apparatus according to this embodiment is driven only by the lower layer medium transport mechanism 310.

In the library apparatus 100 of the present embodiment, a state will be described in which the medium transport magazine 400 is driven and raised only by the medium transport mechanism 310 after the medium is exchanged in the lower library apparatus 300.

In the present embodiment, first, the driving force is transmitted from the rotary drive source 311 provided in the lower library apparatus 300 to the magazine transport lower pinion 313 and the magazine transport upper pinion 314 via the transmission mechanism 315, and the magazine transport The lower pinion 313 and the magazine transport upper pinion 314 rotate.

In the transmission mechanism 312, the driving force transmitted from the rotational drive source 311 rotates the ring gear 317 via the drive gear 312a. As a result, the pinion shaft 315c fixed so as to be orthogonal to the rotation axis of the ring gear 317 revolves around the rotation axis of the ring gear 317. At the same time, the pinions 315d and 315e at both ends of the pinion shaft 315c revolve around the rotation axis of the ring gear 317.

Accordingly, the driving side gear 315a and the resistance side gear 315b meshed with the pinions 315d and 315e rotate according to the ring gear 317. When the driving side gear 315a is rotated, the magazine transport lower pinion 313 and the magazine transport upper pinion 314, which are coaxially fixed, are rotationally driven.
At this time, since the medium transport magazine 400 is transported only by the lower-layer magazine transport pinion 314, the differential devices 315 and 215 do not operate, and the lower-layer driving side gear 315a and the lower-layer resistance side gear 315b are at the same speed. Rotates and raises the medium transport magazine 400.

Here, the magazine transport lower pinion 313 and the magazine transport upper pinion 314 mesh with the two racks 403 and 403 provided in the medium transport magazine 400 at the lower end position to transmit the driving force. Thus, the medium guided by the guide rails 303 and 303 and the guide rollers 402 and 402 along the guide rails 303 and 303 arranged to guide the guide rollers 402 and 402 of the medium transport magazine 400 in the vertical direction, respectively. The conveyance magazine 400 is conveyed vertically upward.

As shown in FIG. 8, the medium transport magazine 400 that has risen to some extent, even if the lower ends of the racks 403, 403 are disengaged from the magazine transport lower pinion 313, the racks 403, 403 remain in the magazine transport upper pinion 314. Since it meshes with, it continues to rise. As a result, the medium transport magazine 400 can be moved in the vertical direction within the library apparatus 300.
During this time, since the magazine lower conveyance pinion 313 and the magazine conveyance upper pinion 314 are driven by the same rotational drive source 311, the ascending speed of the medium conveyance magazine 400 does not change.

Further, when the medium transport magazine 400 rises, the upper end of the medium transport magazine 400 is positioned in the upper library apparatus 200. Then, the guide rollers 402 and 402 at the upper end position of the medium transport magazine 400 are guided by the guide rails 203 and 203 that extend in a continuous manner with the guide rails 303 and 303. In this state, the medium transport magazine 400 is driven by the rotational drive source 311 of the library apparatus 300.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the medium transport magazine 400 in the library apparatus according to the present embodiment is driven by both the lower layer medium transport mechanism 310 and the upper layer medium transport mechanism 210.

Further, when the medium transport magazine 400 is raised, the racks 403 and 403 of the medium transport magazine 400 are engaged with the magazine transport upper pinion 314 of the library apparatus 300 and the magazine of the library apparatus 200 as shown in FIG. It will be in the state which meshed with the lower pinion 213 for conveyance.
At this time, when a difference occurs in the peripheral speed between the magazine transport upper pinion 314 and the magazine transport lower pinion 213, the speed difference is absorbed by the differential device 215 or the differential device 315, and the magazine transport upper pinion The peripheral speeds of 314 and the lower pinion 213 for carrying the magazine are synchronized.

Specifically, when the peripheral speed of the upper magazine transport lower pinion 213 is slower than that of the lower magazine transport upper pinion 314, the upper magazine transport lower pinion 213 is passed through the rack 403 of the medium transport magazine 400. In addition, a force for increasing the rotation is applied so as to rotate at the peripheral speed of the upper stage pinion 314 for conveying the lower layer magazine. The increased number of rotations is transmitted to the upper pinions 215d and 215e by the upper drive side gear 215d fixedly connected coaxially to the upper magazine transport lower pinion 213.

At this time, the upper pinions 215d and 215e rotate in addition to the revolution by the upper drive gear 212a, thereby transmitting the increase in the number of rotations to the upper resistance side gear 215b. The increase in the rotational speed transmitted to the upper resistance side gear 215b is transmitted to the upper layer torque load member 216 via the upper resistance gear 216a. The torque load member 216 absorbs the increase in the rotational speed so as to slow down the rotation of the upper resistance side gear 215b and the upper resistance gear 216a. As a result, the medium transport magazine 400 can continue to rise smoothly without stopping.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the medium transport magazine 400 in the library apparatus according to the present embodiment is driven only by the upper layer medium transport mechanism 210.

As shown in FIG. 10, the racks 403 and 403 of the medium transport magazine 400 are disengaged from the magazine transport upper pinion 314 of the library apparatus 300, and only the magazine transport lower pinion 213 of the library apparatus 200 is Engaged state. Similarly, in the library apparatus 200, the driving force is transmitted from the rotational drive source 211 to the magazine transport lower pinion 213 and the magazine transport upper pinion 214 via the transmission mechanism 215, and the magazine transport lower pinion 213 and the magazine transport The upper stage pinion 214 rotates. When the racks 403 and 403 are engaged with each other, the medium transport magazine 400 is transported upward only by the rotational drive source 211.

As described above, even when the medium transport magazine 400 is moved from the lower library apparatus 300 to the library apparatus 200 adjacent to the upper side, the two libraries driven separately by the different rotation drive source 211 and the rotation drive source 311 are used. Between the apparatus 200 and the library apparatus 300, the magazine transporting magazine 400 is delivered while the magazine transporting upper pinion 314 and the magazine transporting lower pinion 213 are simultaneously engaged with the rack 403 of the media transporting magazine 400. Can be done smoothly.

In addition, when the medium transport magazine 400 is transferred and moved from the lower library apparatus 300 to the upper adjacent library apparatus 200, the peripheral speed of the upper magazine transport lower pinion 213 is opposite to the above-described example. When the speed is higher than that of the lower magazine transport upper pinion 314, the differential speed is absorbed by the differential device 315, and the peripheral speeds of the magazine transport upper pinion 314 and the magazine transport lower pinion 213 are synchronized.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 9, when the peripheral speed of the upper magazine transport lower pinion 213 is faster than the lower magazine transport upper pinion 314, the lower layer via the rack 403 of the medium transport magazine 400 is used. A force for increasing the rotation is applied to the upper magazine transfer upper pinion 314 so as to rotate at the peripheral speed of the upper magazine transfer lower pinion 213. The increased number of rotations is transmitted to the lower pinions 315d and 315e by the lower drive side gear 315d fixedly connected coaxially with the lower magazine transfer lower pinion 313 connected to the lower magazine transfer upper pinion 314.

At this time, the lower pinions 315d and 315e rotate in addition to the revolution by the lower drive gear 312a, thereby transmitting an increase in the rotational speed to the lower resistance side gear 315b. The increase in the rotational speed transmitted to the lower resistance side gear 315b is transmitted to the lower torque load member 316 via the lower resistance gear 316a. The lower torque load member 316 absorbs the increase in the rotational speed so as to slow down the rotation of the lower resistance side gear 315b and the lower resistance gear 316a. As a result, the medium transport magazine 400 can continue to rise smoothly without stopping.

Similarly, as shown in FIG. 10, the racks 403 and 403 of the medium transport magazine 400 are disengaged from the magazine transport upper pinion 314 of the library apparatus 300, and the magazine transport lower pinion of the library apparatus 200 is released. Only 213 is engaged. Accordingly, the magazine transport upper pinion 314 and the magazine transport lower pinion 213 are simultaneously connected between the two library devices 200 and the library device 300 that are separately driven by different rotational drive sources 211 and 311. In the state where the rack 403 of the transport magazine 400 is engaged, the delivery of the medium transport magazine 400 can be performed smoothly.

In the present embodiment, when the medium transport magazine 400 is transferred between the two library devices 200 and the library device 300 each having the rotational drive source 211 and the rotational drive source 312 that are driven separately, the differential device The rotation speeds of the magazine transport upper pinion 314 and the magazine transport lower pinion 213 that drive the medium transport magazine 400 can be made to coincide with each other by the 215 or the differential device 315. Thus, the delivery of the medium transport magazine 400 can be performed smoothly.
Therefore, it is possible to shorten the medium conveyance time, and it is possible to increase the conveyance efficiency. Furthermore, since the cable for supplying power and command transmission / reception can be fixed, the service life of the cable is not adversely affected. At the same time, the expandability of the library apparatus is not limited, and the cost can be reduced.

Hereinafter, a second embodiment of a library apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing a medium transport mechanism of the library apparatus according to the present embodiment.
This embodiment is different from the first embodiment described above in respect of the number of stacked library devices, and other corresponding components are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

In the library apparatus 100 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, four library apparatuses 200, 300, 500, and 600 are stacked in order from the bottom.
In the present embodiment, since the four library apparatuses 200, 300, 500, and 600 all have substantially the same configuration, in the library apparatuses 500 and 600, the reference numbers of the library apparatuses 200 and 300 are in the 500s and 600s. Shall be read as In the figure, there are configurations such as guide rails 202 to 602 that are not shown.

  In the library device 500, the torque load member 516 is applied with a torque equivalent to the torque generated in the drive side gear 515a during the conveyance of the medium conveyance magazine 400 to the resistance side gear 515b, similarly to the torque load members 216 and 316. Can be set as follows. Similarly, in the library apparatus 600, the torque load member 616 receives a torque equivalent to the torque generated in the drive side gear 615a during the conveyance of the medium conveyance magazine 400 in the resistance side gear 615b, similarly to the torque load members 216 and 316. It can be set as such.

Further, in the present embodiment, it is preferable that the torques of the torque load members 216 to 616 arranged at different positions in the hierarchy are set to be equal.
Further, the torques of the torque load member 216 to the torque load member 616 can be set so as to have different torque values depending on the level of arrangement. In this case, the torque of the upper layer torque load member is set smaller than the torque of the lower layer torque load member relative to the adjacent layer, or the torque of the lower layer torque load member is set to the torque of the upper layer torque load member. It can be set smaller than.

  In the present embodiment, since the medium transport magazine 400 can be freely moved between the stacked library apparatuses 200 to 600 from the lower end to the upper end, the medium can be transferred only between the adjacent upper and lower library apparatuses. Compared to the mechanism, it is possible to shorten the medium transport time. In addition, as in the present embodiment, by transporting a plurality of medium transport trays 401 together, it is possible to further increase the transport efficiency.

  In the present embodiment, the rotational drive sources 211 of the respective library apparatuses 200 to 600 are also transferred between the library apparatuses 200 to 600 of the medium transport tray 401 that are driven by a plurality of different rotational drive sources 211 to 611. The tray can be transported without locking ~ 611. As described above, the medium transport magazine 400 is vertically moved between the plurality of library apparatuses 200 to 600 from the lower end to the upper end of the library apparatus 100 by the rotational drive sources 211 to 611 provided on the library apparatuses 200 to 600 side. It is possible to move freely.

  In the present embodiment, the rotational drive sources 211 to 611 that require power supply and command transmission / reception are not fixed to the medium transport magazine 400 but are fixedly arranged on the library apparatus 200 to 600 side. The cable for supplying power and signals to 611 need not be movable. Thereby, the cable length can be fixed. Further, since each library apparatus 200 to 600 has accessors 201 to 601 respectively, the inventory time can be shortened, and in a library apparatus having a drive, it is possible to transport media to the drive in parallel. it can.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Library apparatus 200,300,500,600 ... Library apparatus 210 ... Media conveyance mechanism 211 ... Rotation drive source 212 ... Transmission mechanism 213 ... Magazine conveyance lower stage pinion 214 ... Magazine conveyance upper stage pinion 215 ... Differential apparatus 215a ... Driving Side gear 215b ... Resistance side gear 215c ... Pinion shafts 215d, 215e ... Pinion 216 ... Torque load member 217 ... Ring gear 217
400 ... Magazine for conveying media

Claims (5)

In a library apparatus capable of stacking a plurality of library apparatuses capable of storing a plurality of data storage media by a medium conveying magazine composed of a plurality of medium conveying trays and handling them as a single library system,
A plurality of the library devices are connected in one direction, and a plurality of medium transport magazines movable in the one direction are movable between the connected library devices.
Each library apparatus is provided with a medium transport mechanism for driving the medium transport magazine,
The medium transport mechanism includes a rotation drive source that drives the medium transport magazine and a differential device,
When the differential device drives the medium transport magazine between the plurality of library devices, the differential device absorbs a speed difference in the rotation drive source between the plurality of library devices, and A library apparatus characterized in that the conveyance speed can be synchronized.   The library apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the plurality of library apparatuses are connected in a vertical direction, and a transport direction of the medium transport magazine is a vertical direction. The medium transport magazine is provided with a rack extending in the transport direction,
Each of the library devices is provided with a magazine transport pinion connected to the rotational drive source as a position that can be engaged with the rack when the medium transport magazine moves as the medium transport mechanism.
When the medium transport magazine is moved, the magazine transport pinion and the rack of the medium transport magazine are engaged with each other in the library apparatus, and the medium transport magazine is transferred. The library apparatus according to claim 2 . The differential is a differential gear having a ring gear, a pinion connected to the ring gear and capable of revolving, and two side gears meshed with the pinion.
The rotation drive source is connected to the ring gear, the magazine transport pinion is connected to one drive side gear, and a torque adding member whose rotation speed varies due to a load variation is connected to the other resistance side gear, 4. The library apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the rotational speed of the magazine transport pinion is controlled by controlling a rotational resistance in the driving side gear.   The torque adding member is set such that a torque equivalent to a torque generated on the magazine transfer pinion side during transfer of the medium transfer magazine by the medium transfer mechanism is applied to the torque adding member side. The library apparatus according to claim 4.

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