Abstract: The present invention relates to a library apparatus capable of enhancing the coupling accuracy and the positioning accuracy among a plurality of lockers to bring up the traveling accuracy and positional accuracy of an accessor within a passage penetrating the lockers so that the accessor can surely accomplish the insertion/extraction of a cartridge into/from a storage rack or a deck. For this purpose, a supporting member which holds a rail for guiding the accessor along a direction of coupling the plurality of lockers within the passage is installed in the coupling direction for each of the lockers, and a positioning groove in which a bar-like tool is fitted when positioning the adjacent lockers with respect to each other is made in an end portion of the supporting member in the coupling direction. This invention is applicable to a large-capacity external memory system storing a large number of cartridges such as magnetic tape cartridges and optical disk cartridges.

Abstract: A library apparatus is capable of enhancing the dimensional accuracy of locker frame structures to allow an accessor to surely carry out the insertion/extraction of a cartridge into/from a storage unit or a deck. Each of the locker frame structures is made up of a top board, a base and sheet metal columns vertically standing between corner portions of the top board and the base. Each of the sheet metal columns is fixedly welded to the top board and the base from the inside of the locker. The library apparatus is applicable to a large-capacity external storage system storing a large number of cartridges such as magnetic tape cartridges and optical disk cartridges.

Abstract: A library apparatus is provided with a cartridge forced exit station for forcibly discharging a defective cartridge for safe removal by an operator. The cartridge forced exit station includes a storage rack for accepting the defective from an operating space side of a transferring mechanism in the interior of the library apparatus. The storage rack houses the defective cartridge. The storage rack is configured to selectively prevent access between a cartridge storage space in the storage rack and the operating space side.

Abstract: The present invention is for the purpose of allowing a transferring mechanism to certainly carry out the direct insertion/extraction of a cartridge into/from a recording/reproduction unit. For this purpose, in a structure according to this invention, introduction guides (a guide member) for guiding the cartridge to be inserted from the external through an accessor (the transferring mechanism) toward the interior of a deck (the recording/reproduction unit) is provided in a cartridge insertion/discharge opening section of the deck. The introduction guides are formed to have tapered surfaces broadening out from the deck to the external. Further, this invention is applicable to a large-capacity external storage memory storing a large number of cartridges such as magnetic tape cartridges and optical disk cartridges.

Abstract: A cartridge access station in a library apparatus for providing safe loading/unloading of a cartridge while maintaining a simple and compact arrangement of the library apparatus. The cartridge access station includes an communication space for establishing direct communication and connection between an operating space for a transferring mechanism in the interior of a library apparatus and an external space of the library apparatus. A rack is provided in the communication space to guide the entry/exit of a cartridge from both sides of the operating space and the external space and to hold the cartridge within the communication space.

Abstract: The present invention automatically limits the number of decks drawable from a large number of decks within one locker. For this purpose, the decks are classified into sets each comprising two decks adjacent to each other. A deck lock mechanism according to this invention is composed of a first locking mechanism for, when one deck belonging to each of the deck sets is in a drawn condition, inhibiting the other deck from being drawn; and a second locking mechanism for inhibiting the one deck from being drawn when the other deck is in a drawn condition. This invention is applicable to a large-capacity external storage memory storing a large number of cartridges such as magnetic tape cartridges and optical disk cartridges.

Abstract: The present invention is for realizing the improvement of the cartridge storage efficiency and size reduction of a library apparatus by installing relative flags using cells of a storage rack to suppress the increase in the installation area or volume of a locker resulting from the installation of the relative flags, and further for shortening the time required for the initial operation of an accessor. For these purposes, a positional correction relative-flag structure of the cartridge storage rack is equipped with a body section which is inserted into the cell of the storage rack to be brought closely and fixedly into contact with the cell, and a relative flag to be read out by an sensor on the accessor side for the correction of the position of the storage rack is attached to an end surface of the body section. This invention is applicable to a large-capacity external storage memory storing a large number of cartridges such as magnetic tape cartridges and optical disk cartridges.

Abstract: The present invention provides a library apparatus which is capable of ensuring the specification accuracy of a reference flag and a diagnostic cell to make sure the error correction at the initial stage (initial operation) while facilitating the accuracy adjustment of the reference flag and the diagnostic cell, thus allowing the certain insertion/extraction of a cartridge into/from a storage unit or a deck by an accessor. In the library apparatus according to this invention, the reference flag to be read out by a sensor on the accessor side to detect the absolute position of the accessor is disposed close to and integrated with the diagnostic cell into and from which a diagnostic cartridge is inserted and extracted by the accessor to verify the operation of the accessor. This invention is applicable to a large-capacity external storage system storing a large number of cartridges such as magnetic tape cartridges and optical disk cartridges.

Abstract: A cartridge direct entry/exit station for a library apparatus, the library apparatus transferring selected cartridges to a drive unit through a transferring mechanism for processing of information recorded therein. The cartridge direct entry/exit station is configured to accommodate a magazine storing a plurality of cartridges, thereby facilitating the simultaneous entry or exit of plural cartridges. The cartridge direct entry/exit includes a communication space defined to establish direct communication between an operating space in the interior of the library apparatus and an external space of the library apparatus, and a magazine holding mechanism for holding the magazine in a state where an insertion/removal side of the cartridges faces the operating space.