JPH04229452A - System for switching magnetic tape device to manual action - Google Patents

Abstract

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

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Field of Industrial Application] This invention relates to a method for switching a magnetic tape device, which is an external storage device of a computer system, to manual operation. This allows manual operation if only the automatic tape loading device fails while the device is operational.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, as the amount of data processed by computer systems has increased, there has been a demand for increased storage capacity for magnetic tape devices and automation of cartridge tape replacement. For this reason, devices that combine a magnetic tape device and an automatic tape loading device have been provided. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a combination of a magnetic tape device and an automatic tape loading device. 1 is a magnetic tape device, 2 is an automatic tape loading device, and 3 is a magazine set in this automatic tape loading device 2. A plurality of cartridge tapes 4 are stored in the cartridge with their leading ends exposed.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the magnetic tape device 1 and the automatic tape loading device 2 with the covers removed, in which 1a is the cover of the magnetic tape device 1, and 1b is a printed circuit board in which the control circuit of the magnetic tape device 1 and the like are incorporated. The board 1c is a loading opening for the cartridge tape 4. 2a is a cover of the automatic tape loading device 2, and 2b is a front panel, which is provided with various operation switches and a display section. Reference numeral 2c denotes an elevating member for the magazine 3, which is composed of a pinion that is rotated forward and backward by a control motor (not shown), and this pinion meshes with a rack 3a provided on the magazine 3 to move it up and down. Reference numeral 2d denotes an elevating guide roller for the magazine 3, which abuts against the front end 3b of the magazine 3 to move the magazine 3 up and down.

Reference numeral 2e denotes a sensor for storing the cartridge tape stored in the magazine 3, and 2f denotes a cartridge tape loading arm. It protrudes from the retracted position and pushes the rear end of the cartridge tape 4. As shown in FIG. 5, 2g is a cartridge tape feeding mechanism provided at left and right opposing positions, and the cartridge tape 4 exposed from the magazine 3 is
Grasp the tip of the magazine and pull it out of the magazine 3.
Cartridge tape loading port 1c of magnetic tape device 1
supply (feed) to. This feed mechanism 2g has a column 2 whose lower end is erected so as to be swingable by a support shaft 2g1.
A belt 2g4 is formed by hanging over a pair of pulleys 2g3 provided at the upper end of g2, and the feed mechanisms 2g formed in this way are disposed facing each other, and the belt of one of the feed mechanisms 2g 2g4 is
It is hung on a pulley 2g3' which is rotated by a motor 2g5.

2h is a feed mechanism 2g, a 2g belt 2
g4, 2g4 is an unfeed sensor for checking whether or not the cartridge tape 4 held between the magnetic tape device 1 and the magazine 3 is located between the magnetic tape device 1 and the magazine 3. When passing, the cartridge tape 4 pushes the unfeed sensor 2h to confirm that the cartridge tape 4 is between the magnetic tape device 1 and the magazine 3. The feed mechanisms 2g, 2g are rotated inwardly as shown by arrow A to feed the feed mechanism 2.
The cartridge tape 4 is held between the belts 2g4 and 2g4 of the belts 2g and 2g, and is fed to the cartridge tape loading port 1c of the magnetic tape device 1. When the feeding is finished, the feed mechanisms 2g and 2g move as shown by arrow B. The cartridge tapes 4 are rotated outward from each other to release the cartridge tape 4. 2i is a link mechanism for rotating the feed mechanisms 2g, 2g as described above, and one end of the connecting rod 2j is connected to this link mechanism 2i, and the other end is attached to the rotating shaft of the catcher motor 2k. It is connected to the eccentric position of the disc 2l.

[0006]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In the above-described combination device of the magnetic tape device 1 and the automatic tape loading device 2, when a failure occurs in the automatic tape loading device 2,
Even if the magnetic tape device 1 can operate normally, the firmware performs the following processing. That is, in the first step, when a failure is detected in the entire combination of the magnetic tape device 1 and the automatic tape loading device 2, the entire device is stopped in the second step. This invention enables manual operation of the magnetic tape device to prevent the entire device from stopping when the firmware confirms that only the tape automatic loading device has failed while the magnetic tape device is in an operable state. This is the purpose.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a combination device of a magnetic tape device 1 and an automatic tape loading device 2. A device failure detection circuit 6;
This system is configured to switch the magnetic tape device to manual operation, which includes a main control circuit 7 which has a function of switching the magnetic tape device to manual operation when a failure of the automatic tape loading device is detected.

[0008]

[Operation] When the combined device of the magnetic tape device 1 and the automatic tape loading device 2 is normal, the main control circuit 7 controls both devices. When the combined device of the magnetic tape device 1 and the automatic tape loading device 2 fails, the failure detection circuit 5 of the magnetic tape device detects whether or not it is out of order.
The detected information is transferred to the main control circuit 7. Further, the failure detection circuit 6 of the automatic tape loading device detects whether or not the automatic tape loading device is out of order, and the detected information is transferred to the main control circuit 7. If the magnetic tape device 1 is normal and only the automatic tape loading device 2 is out of order, the main control circuit 7 switches the magnetic tape device to manual operation.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a system for switching a magnetic tape device to manual operation according to the present invention, in which 1 is a magnetic tape device, 2 is an automatic tape loading device, and these are the same as those described in the conventional example. 3 and are combined as shown in FIG. 5 is a failure detection circuit for the magnetic tape device, 6 is a failure detection circuit for the automatic tape loading device, and 7 is a main control circuit for controlling the magnetic tape device 1 and the automatic tape loading device 2. Failure information from the failure detection circuit 5 of the device and the failure detection circuit 6 of the automatic tape loading device is transferred. Note that 8 is a host computer connected to this main control circuit 7. The firmware included in this main control circuit 7 controls the magnetic tape device 1 and the automatic tape loading device 2, and if only the automatic tape loading device 2 fails while the magnetic tape device 1 is in an operable state, the magnetic tape device 1 and the automatic tape loading device 2 are controlled. The tape device 1 is controlled to be manually operable.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the present invention, and the firmware included in the main control circuit 7 performs the following processing. In other words, step ■
When a failure occurs in the combined device of the magnetic tape device 1 and the automatic tape loading device 2, it is determined in step (3) whether the automatic tape loading device 2 is malfunctioning, and if it is determined that the automatic tape loading device 2 is malfunctioning (Y), the next step is In step (2), it is determined whether or not the magnetic tape device 1 is out of order. If it is determined that it is not out of order (N), a message for manual operation of the magnetic tape device 1 is sent to the operator in step (2). Further, when it is determined in step (2) that the operator will manually operate the magnetic tape device 1 (Y), the magnetic tape device 1 is controlled to be manually operated. If it is determined in step (2) that the magnetic tape device 1 is at fault (Y), the failure processing, that is, the entire combination of the magnetic tape device 1 and the automatic tape loading device 2 is stopped in step (2). If it is determined in step (2) that the operator does not manually operate the magnetic tape device 1 (N), then in step (2) failure processing is performed, that is, the entire combination of the magnetic tape device 1 and the automatic tape loading device 2 is stopped. When the magnetic tape device 1 is controlled to be manually operated as described above, the magazine 3 is removed from the automatic tape loading device 2 and the magazine is removed from the position where it was inserted, as shown in FIG. The cartridge tape 4 can be picked up and loaded into the loading opening 1c of the magnetic tape device 1.

[0011]

As explained above, the magnetic storage device of the present invention is a combination device of a magnetic tape device and an automatic tape loading device, which includes a failure detection circuit for the magnetic tape device;
We adopted a system that switches the magnetic tape device to manual operation, which consists of a failure detection circuit for the automatic tape loading device and a main control circuit that has the function of switching the magnetic tape device to manual operation when a failure of the automatic tape loading device is detected. If only the tape automatic loading device fails while the tape device is operational, the firmware confirms this and controls the magnetic tape device to enable manual operation to prevent the entire device from stopping. It is possible to enable operation of the tape device. As a result, if only the tape automatic loading device malfunctions,
Since the user can operate the magnetic tape device manually while maintenance personnel are requested, the downtime of the magnetic tape device can be reduced, and the reliability of the magnetic tape device as an external storage device for computer systems can be improved. can be improved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a functional block circuit of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart explaining the operation of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a conventional magnetic tape device and an automatic tape loading device.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the magnetic tape device and the automatic tape loading device with the covers removed.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the feed mechanism.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Magnetic tape device 2 Automatic tape loading device 3 Magazine 4 Cartridge tape 5 Fault detection circuit 6 Fault detection circuit 7 Main control circuit 8. Host computer

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A combination device of a magnetic tape device (1) and an automatic tape loading device (2), comprising: a failure detection circuit (5) for the magnetic tape device; a failure detection circuit (6) for the automatic tape loading device; A system for switching a magnetic tape device to manual operation, which includes a main control circuit (7) that has a function of switching the magnetic tape device to manual operation when a failure of the automatic tape loading device is detected.