Abstract: A library apparatus includes a shutter mechanism including a slide-type shutter configured to open and close the opening and an urging member configured to urge the shutter in a closing direction, and a first locking mechanism configured such that when the running body is stopped at a passing and receiving position of the cartridge, the first locking mechanism permits the shutter in a fully closed state to slide in an opening direction and enables a fully open state of the shutter to be maintained, whereas when the running body is not stopped at the passing and receiving position of the cartridge, the first locking mechanism releases the maintenance of the fully open state of the shutter and prohibits the shutter in the fully closed state from sliding in the opening direction.

Abstract: There is provided a print control apparatus capable of outputting a plurality of printed materials after a user checks a dividing line of an original image and the layout of image portions on each page when performing poster printing. For this purpose, the original image is divided based on the size of the original image and the size of a sheet such that each of a plurality of image portions obtained by division sets in the predetermined size. At the same time, the original image is displayed in print preview, so that the dividing line of the original image is specified. This allows the user to output printed materials and obtain a product after checking the dividing line of the image.

Abstract: An article transport system includes: a first transport device configured to transport an article within a first article storage area or a second article storage area; a second transport device configured to transport the article between the first article storage area and the second article storage area; an alternative power supplier configured to supply the second transport device with first power output by a first power part in the first transport device; and a power switcher configured to switch a power source for the second transport device from a second power part in the second transport device to the alternative power supplier, based on operation of the first transport device.

Abstract: An application is determined, which has a function of printing data using a printer and requests capability information of the printer. Based on the determined application and the capability information of the printer, sizes of selection candidates of a recording medium to be used for printing are decided. The decided sizes are provided to the application.

Abstract: A library apparatus includes: a storage rack configured to be capable of storing a plurality of recording media; a recording-and-reproducing device configured to perform a recording operation and a reproducing operation on the recording media; a robot configured to deliver the recording media between the storage rack and the recording-and-reproducing device using a hand mechanism; an elevator platform configured to carry the hand mechanism; a pair of toothed belts, provided between a driving pulley and a driven pulley, configured to move the elevator platform vertically; a pair of belt-connecting portions configured to couple one of ends of the elevator platform to one of the pair of toothed belts respectively; and a disconnecting mechanism configured to release at least one of connections at the pair of belt connecting portions.

Abstract: There is provided a library apparatus that including a storage rack configured to store a plurality of storage media, a recording-reproducing device configured to perform writing of data to the storage media and reading of data from the storage media, a first movement device configured to include, a first attachment-detachment mechanism that inserts a storage medium to and extracts the storage medium from the storage rack or the recording-reproducing device, a first driving unit that supplies first driving force to the first attachment-detachment mechanism, and a first coupling unit that transmits second driving force to the first attachment-detachment mechanism, and a second movement device configured to include, a second coupling unit that transmits third driving force to the first coupling unit when the second coupling unit is coupled with the first coupling unit, and a second driving unit that supplies fourth driving force to the second coupling unit.

Abstract: A library device includes: a storage shelf including storage units aligned in a plurality of columns; and a conveying robot that grasps and conveys cartridges stored in the storage units, wherein the conveying robot includes: a base board located to face the plurality of columns, one end of the base board being supported movably up and down by a first support post, and another end of the base board being supported movably up and down by a second support post; a movable unit including a grasping unit grasping the cartridges stored in the storage units and moving on the base board; an inclination measuring unit measuring an inclination of the movable unit; and an inclination correction unit adjusting heights of both ends of the base board according to an inclination value of the movable unit measured by the inclination measuring unit and correcting the inclination of the movable unit.

Abstract: There is provided a library apparatus that including a storage rack configured to store a plurality of storage media, a recording-reproducing device configured to perform writing of data to the storage media and reading of data from the storage media, a first movement device configured to include, a first attachment-detachment mechanism that inserts a storage medium to and extracts the storage medium from the storage rack or the recording-reproducing device, a first driving unit that supplies first driving force to the first attachment-detachment mechanism, and a first coupling unit that transmits second driving force to the first attachment-detachment mechanism, and a second movement device configured to include, a second coupling unit that transmits third driving force to the first coupling unit when the second coupling unit is coupled with the first coupling unit, and a second driving unit that supplies fourth driving force to the second coupling unit.

Abstract: In a print control apparatus, a specifying unit specifies a size in a first direction and/or a size in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction thereby specifying a folding size into which to fold a sheet with a printed image. A determination unit determines an output size in which the image is to be printed, based on a size equal to an integral number times the specified size in the first direction and/or a size equal to an integral number times the specified size in the second direction.

Abstract: A method of controlling a transport mechanism allows a first mobile carrier to move based on a power source incorporated in the first mobile carrier when an instructions signal specifying an access to a cell defined in a storage is supplied to a controller. When a fault is detected in the first mobile carrier, the first mobile carrier is moved based on the action of a second mobile carrier. The method ensures the movement of the first mobile carrier with the assistance of the second mobile carrier even when the first mobile carrier suffers from a fault. The first mobile carrier can be moved out of the movable range of the second mobile carrier. The second mobile carrier is allowed to move in the own movable range without an interference to the first mobile carrier. The second mobile carrier keeps operating without an interruption.

Abstract: A library device includes: a storage shelf including storage units aligned in a plurality of columns; and a conveying robot that grasps and conveys cartridges stored in the storage units, wherein the conveying robot includes: a base board located to face the plurality of columns, one end of the base board being supported movably up and down by a first support post, and another end of the base board being supported movably up and down by a second support post; a movable unit including a grasping unit grasping the cartridges stored in the storage units and moving on the base board; an inclination measuring unit measuring an inclination of the movable unit; and an inclination correction unit adjusting heights of both ends of the base board according to an inclination value of the movable unit measured by the inclination measuring unit and correcting the inclination of the movable unit.

Abstract: A method of controlling a transport mechanism allows a first mobile carrier to move based on a power source incorporated in the first mobile carrier when an instructions signal specifying an access to a cell defined in a storage is supplied to a controller. When a fault is detected in the first mobile carrier, the first mobile carrier is moved based on the action of a second mobile carrier. The method ensures the movement of the first mobile carrier with the assistance of the second mobile carrier even when the first mobile carrier suffers from a fault. The first mobile carrier can be moved out of the movable range of the second mobile carrier. The second mobile carrier is allowed to move in the own movable range without an interference to the first mobile carrier. The second mobile carrier keeps operating without an interruption.

Abstract: A cartridge transferring robot for use in a library apparatus includes a pair of upper and lower hand members made to vertically come into contact with a cartridge to grip the cartridge, a pair of left and right direct-acting beatings for fitting the hand members to a hand base so that they are vertically slidable, and an opening and closing mechanism for making the hand members take opening and closing actions. The hand members are independently guided by the direct-acting bearings, and the fitting portions of the hand members to the direct-acting bearings are made not to interfere with each other in a state where the hand members are in a closed condition. This invention is applicable to a library apparatus storing a large number of cartridges such as magnetic tape cartridges and optical disk cartridges.

Abstract: A cartridge transferring robot for use in a library apparatus which is capable of improving the accuracy of the cartridge inserting/extracting angle of a hand mechanism and further of ensuring the positional accuracy of the tip portion of the hand mechanism sufficient for direct insertion and extraction of a cartridge into/from a drive unit. In the present invention, for these purposes, a tilt mechanism for adjusting the angle of the cartridge inserting/extracting direction with respect to a horizontal plane is composed of a tilt base for supporting a picker section so that the picker section is swingable around a supporting shaft located on a picker section front surface side facing a place for insertion or extraction of the cartridge, and a swinging drive mechanism disposed on the rear side of the picker section for making the picker section swing around the supporting shaft with respect to the tilt base.

Abstract: An accessor includes a drive mechanism having a direct drive swivel mechanism which does not utilize a timing belt, and reduces the required installation space while maintaining a high degree of positioning accuracy. The direct drive swivel mechanism preferably includes an external gear mounted coaxially to the swivel axis of the picker section and integrated into the picker section, an internal gear meshing with the external gear, and a drive mechanism for directly driving the internal gear to swivel the picker section.

Abstract: A cartridge transferring robot for use in a library apparatus which is capable of certainly transferring a plurality of types of cartridges (media) to meet various needs from the users. In the present invention, for this purpose, in case where a plurality of types of cartridges are handled within the library apparatus, a picker section includes a type identifying mechanism to identify the type of the cartridge held in the picker section in a state of being gripped by a hand mechanism. Further, this invention is for transferring cartridges among a storage unit, a cartridge entry/exit station and a drive unit within a library apparatus storing a large number of cartridges such as magnetic tape cartridges and optical disk cartridges.

Abstract: A cartridge transferring robot which is capable of providing multiple functions to a hand mechanism to allow the direct insertion/extraction of a cartridge between a deck and the hand mechanism. The cartridge transferring robot according to the present invention has a hand mechanism comprising a pair of upper and lower hand members attached to a hand base to be slidable vertically, a spring for biasing the hand members in a direction of closing directions of gripping the cartridge, a pair of upper and lower cam followers attached to the hand members, a cam disposed between the cam followers for adjusting the separation between the cam followers to cause the hand members to take opening and closing actions against the biasing force of the spring, and a motor for rotationally driving the cam. This invention is applicable to a library apparatus storing a large number of cartridges such as magnetic tape cartridges and optical disk cartridges.