Library apparatus having a rotary cell drum with a locking mechanism

摘要

A library apparatus having a rotary cell drum that minimizes the loss of access time. The library apparatus comprises 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 library apparatus; an automatic cartridge exit unit for automatically ejecting recording medium cartridges from inside the library apparatus; and an accessor for transporting cartridges among the cell drum, the recording medium drive unit, the cartridge entry unit and the automatic cartridge exit unit. A sensor is used to detect a given cell column including a selected cell being in position for delivery of a recording medium cartridge to or from the accessor. In response to a detection signal from the sensor, a locking mechanism inhibits the cell drum from rotating. With the cell drum thus locked, the accessor inserts or extracts the cartridge to or from the selected cell of the cell drum.