A high-density offline library and a control method thereof

Abstract

The application provides a high-density offline library and a control method thereof, and belongs to the technical field of optical disc storage. The high-density offline library comprises a warehouse body provided with at least one column of accommodation grids, each of which comprises at least one offline accommodation grid and a plurality of optical disc accommodation grids arranged in a vertical stack, and one side of the offline accommodation grids in the same column is provided with a first opening; a plurality of optical disc cassettes are correspondingly arranged in the optical disc accommodation grids, and the optical disc cassettes are provided with a plurality of columns of optical disc boxes; at least one offline disc box output warehouse is arranged in each offline accommodation grid in a pullable manner, and each offline disc box output warehouse is provided with at least one layer of optical disc boxes arranged in sequence along the length direction of the offline disc box output warehouse; and a mechanical hand is used for controlledly grabbing an optical disc in a specified optical disc box in a specified optical disc cassette, carrying the optical disc to an offline disc box output warehouse, or grabbing an optical disc in an optical disc box of a specified offline disc box output warehouse and carrying the optical disc to a specified optical disc cassette. The high-density offline library can save space and improve operation efficiency.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of optical disc storage technology, and in particular relates to a high-density offline library and its control method. Background Technology

[0002] An optical disc library is a mechatronics-integrated mass data storage device that uses standardized optical discs as the data storage medium. The library connects to a computer via a data communication interface, and its management software automatically provides data from all discs in the library to the user on demand. Users can also easily write data to the discs in the library. Therefore, optical disc libraries are widely used for long-term data archiving and preservation.

[0003] An offline library is an intelligent storage device for long-term storage of data optical discs. Optical disc cartridges in an offline library are typically located using position sensors and radio frequency identification (RFID) technology and are linked to an optical disc library management database that stores the disc content information. This allows for quick location of the optical disc corresponding to the desired content using index keywords, such as filenames. Unlike near-line optical disc libraries, offline libraries typically do not have robotic arms for automatically handling optical discs, nor do they have optical disc drives for reading and writing discs. When accessing relevant search content, operators must manually remove the required optical disc cartridge from the offline library and place it into the corresponding near-line optical disc library, following the prompts from the optical disc library management software. The robotic arm of the near-line optical disc library then removes the relevant optical disc and places it into the optical disc drive for the appropriate read / write operation.

[0004] The obvious drawback of using this combination of offline and near-line optical disc libraries is that when the data to be read is scattered across multiple optical disc cartridges in different locations within the offline library, manual operations of taking multiple optical disc cartridges out of and into the library are required. Frequent operations of taking optical disc cartridges out of and into the library are time-consuming, laborious, and inconvenient. Summary of the Invention

[0005] One objective of the first aspect of this invention is to provide a high-density offline library that can improve operational efficiency.

[0006] A further objective of the present invention is to increase the density of offline library storage optical discs, thereby increasing the offline library storage capacity.

[0007] A further objective of this invention is to improve the efficiency of optical disc tray loading and unloading, and to reduce the number of times manual operation is required for optical disc tray loading and unloading.

[0008] Specifically, the present invention provides a high-density offline library, comprising:

[0009] The compartment has at least one column of storage compartments. Each column of storage compartments includes at least one offline storage compartment and multiple optical disc storage compartments arranged vertically in a stacked manner. Each offline storage compartment and each optical disc storage compartment extends in the same horizontal direction. Each offline storage compartment in the same column has a first opening on one side in the length direction.

[0010] Multiple optical disc trays are respectively and correspondingly arranged in each optical disc accommodating cell. Each optical disc tray is provided with multiple rows of optical disc boxes arranged sequentially along the length of the optical disc accommodating cell.

[0011] At least one offline disc tray output compartment, each of the offline disc tray output compartments is removably disposed within each of the offline accommodating compartments along the length direction of the offline accommodating compartment, and each offline disc tray output compartment is provided with at least one layer of optical disc trays arranged sequentially along its length direction.

[0012] A robotic arm is used to controllably grasp at least one optical disc from a specified optical disc tray within a specified optical disc chamber, and transport the grasped optical disc to a specified optical disc tray in a specified offline disc tray output compartment, or to grasp at least one optical disc from a specified optical disc tray within a specified offline disc tray output compartment, and transport the grasped optical disc to a specified optical disc tray in a specified optical disc tray.

[0013] Optionally, a limiting piece is fixed to the bottom of the offline disk tray output compartment. The limiting piece has multiple slots arranged at intervals along the length of the offline disk tray output compartment. A base is fixed to the bottom surface of the offline receiving compartment. The base is provided with a vertically adjustable limiting latch. The limiting latch is aligned with each of the slots so that the limiting piece can be locked or unlocked by controlling the lifting and lowering of the limiting latch.

[0014] Optionally, the limiting latch includes a limiting body and rollers located on both sides of the limiting body. The limiting body cooperates with each of the slots, and the rollers are used to contact the bottom of the limiting piece when the limiting body is engaged in the slot.

[0015] Optionally, the multiple slots include notched slots, one end of which extends through the side of the limiting plate away from the first opening.

[0016] Optionally, the multiple slots include a first closed slot, which includes a main body segment and a limiting segment. The width of the main body segment matches the width of the limiting body segment, and the width of the limiting segment matches the width of the limiting latch. When the limiting body segment and the roller of the limiting latch segment abut against the side of the first closed slot away from the first opening, the offline disc tray output compartment is exposed in the offline accommodating compartment as an optical disc tray.

[0017] Optionally, the bottom of the offline disk drive output compartment is further provided with a pop-out mechanism spaced apart from the limiting latch. The limiting latch is located on the side close to the first opening. When the offline disk drive output compartment is located in the offline receiving compartment, its two ends abut against the limiting latch and the pop-out mechanism respectively. The pop-out mechanism is used to push out the offline disk drive output compartment when the limiting latch first releases its restriction on the limiting piece.

[0018] Optionally, each optical disc tray, each optical disc box within each optical disc tray, each offline disc output tray, and each optical disc box within each offline disc output tray are provided with a unique electronic identifier, and the robotic arm is provided with an electronic identifier recognition device for identifying the electronic identifier.

[0019] Optionally, the high-density offline library also includes:

[0020] Each latch button is configured to correspond one-to-one with a limit latch, and the latch button is used to control the raising and lowering of the corresponding limit latch when it is pressed.

[0021] Specifically, the present invention also provides a control method for controlling the aforementioned high-density offline library, the method comprising:

[0022] The electronic identification device controlling the robotic arm reads the electronic identification of each optical disc tray, each optical disc box in each optical disc tray, each offline disc box output tray, and each optical disc box in each offline disc box output tray, and records the location of each optical disc box;

[0023] Upon receiving a disc ejection command, the robotic arm is controlled to open the first target disc case containing the discs to be ejected in the disc tray, grab the first target number of discs from the first target disc case, and close the first target disc case.

[0024] The robotic arm is controlled to transport the grasped optical disc to the empty second target optical disc box in the offline disc box output compartment. After opening the second target optical disc box, the grasped optical disc is placed in, and the second target optical disc box is closed.

[0025] Control the limit lock to unlock so that the offline disc tray output compartment can be partially ejected or completely pulled out to the second target optical disc tray, which is then exposed outside the tray body.

[0026] When a disc is received as a storage instruction, the limit lock is unlocked so that the offline disc tray output compartment is partially ejected or completely withdrawn to the outside of the empty third target disc tray, and the disc to be stored is placed into the third target disc tray.

[0027] After the offline disc tray output compartment is pushed into the offline accommodating compartment, the robotic arm is controlled to move and read the electronic tags of each optical disc tray in the offline disc tray output compartment in order to locate the third target optical disc tray.

[0028] Open the third target optical disc holder, grab the optical disc from the third target optical disc holder, and close the third target optical disc holder;

[0029] The robotic arm is controlled to transport the grasped optical disc to the fourth target optical disc compartment of the optical disc tray, open the fourth target optical disc compartment, insert the grasped optical disc, and close the fourth target optical disc compartment.

[0030] Optionally, the control method further includes:

[0031] When a CD / DVD tray ejection command is received, the location of the specified CD / DVD tray is displayed so that the user can remove the specified CD / DVD tray.

[0032] Upon receiving the disc drive's loading instruction and completing the loading process, the robotic arm reads the electronic identifiers of the loaded disc drive and each disc cartridge within it, and records the location of each disc cartridge.

[0033] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a high-density offline library arranges the offline disc tray output compartment and the optical disc cartridge compartment in the same row. The offline disc tray output compartment can be pulled out relative to the offline storage compartment of the library body. Optical discs can be easily transported between the optical disc cartridges in the arranged optical disc cartridge compartment and the optical disc cartridges in the offline disc tray output compartment through the operation of a robotic arm. The overall layout of the high-density offline library is compact, thereby improving operational efficiency. This arrangement also increases the density of optical discs stored in the high-density offline library, thereby increasing the offline library's storage capacity.

[0034] Furthermore, since the offline disc tray output compartment has at least one layer of disc trays, the robotic arm can perform the retrieval and loading operations of discs from multiple dispersed disc trays at once, thereby improving the efficiency of disc tray retrieval and loading and reducing the number of manual operations required for disc tray retrieval and loading.

[0035] According to one embodiment of the present invention, by setting a limiting piece at the bottom of the offline disk drive output compartment and setting a lifting and lowering limiting latch at the bottom surface of the offline accommodating compartment, the lifting and lowering of the limiting latch can control whether the limiting latch extends into the slot of the limiting piece, thereby achieving segmented limiting of the limiting piece and the offline disk drive output compartment, that is, the extraction length of the offline disk drive output compartment, and improving the user experience.

[0036] According to one embodiment of the present invention, by setting rollers, the offline disk output compartment can be pulled out more smoothly, thereby improving the user experience and increasing the service life of the offline disk output compartment by reducing friction damage.

[0037] According to one embodiment of the present invention, by providing a notch slot, the offline disk output compartment can be completely extracted from the compartment body.

[0038] According to one embodiment of the present invention, by setting electronic tags, the operation of the robotic arm can be automated, thereby improving operational efficiency and accuracy.

[0039] The above and other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become more apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of specific embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0040] The following sections will describe some specific embodiments of the invention in detail by way of example and not limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numerals in the drawings denote the same or similar parts or portions. Those skilled in the art should understand that these drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. In the drawings:

[0041] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a high-density offline library (the offline disk output compartment is in the withdrawn state) according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0042] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a high-density offline library (optical disc tray in the withdrawn state) according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0043] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the offline disk output compartment and base of a high-density offline library according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0044] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the offline disk output compartment of a high-density offline library according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0045] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the bottom and limiting piece of the offline storage compartment of a high-density offline library according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0046] Figure 6 yes Figure 5 A magnified view of a section at point A in the middle;

[0047] Figure 7 yes Figure 5 A magnified view of a section at point B in the middle;

[0048] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the lifting mechanism of a high-density offline warehouse according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0049] Figure 9 This is a flowchart of a control method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0050] Figure label:

[0051] 100-High-density offline storage compartment, 10-Crater body, 11-Offline storage compartment, 12-Optical disc storage compartment, 101-First opening, 102-Second opening, 13-Base, 14-Limiting latch, 141-Limiting body, 142-Roller, 15-Ejection mechanism, 17-Lifting structure, 171-First link, 172-Second link, 173-Fixed plate, 174-Hinge shaft, 175-Guide plate, 176-Guide hole, 20-Optical disc tray, 30-Offline disc output tray, 31-Limiting piece, 311-First closed slot, 301-Main body section, 302-Limiting section, 312-Second closed slot, 313-Notch slot, 32-Handle Detailed Implementation

[0052] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a high-density offline library 100 (offline disk output compartment 30 is in the withdrawn state) according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a high-density offline library 100 (optical disc tray 20 is in the withdrawn state) according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 As shown, in one embodiment, the high-density offline library 100 includes a housing 10, multiple optical disc trays 20, at least one offline disc tray output tray 30, and a robotic arm. The housing 10 has at least one row of storage compartments ( Figure 1 The embodiment shown has two columns of accommodating cells arranged side by side along the Y direction, each column of accommodating cells including cells along the vertical direction (i.e., Figure 1 At least one offline storage compartment 11 and a plurality of optical disc storage compartments 12 are stacked in the Z-direction, each offline storage compartment 11 and each optical disc storage compartment 12 extending in the same horizontal direction (see [reference]). Figure 1 In the X direction, each of the offline receiving compartments 11 in the same column has a first opening 101 on one side along its length for removing the offline disc tray output compartment 30. Multiple optical disc trays 20 are respectively and correspondingly arranged within each optical disc receiving compartment 12, and each optical disc tray 20 contains multiple rows of optical disc trays arranged sequentially along the length of the optical disc receiving compartment 12. In one embodiment, as shown... Figure 2As shown, a second opening 102 is provided on one side of the optical disc receiving compartment 12, and each optical disc cartridge 20 can be pulled out from the second opening 102 to retrieve and place optical discs in the optical disc cartridge 20. Each offline disc output compartment 30 is removably disposed within each offline receiving compartment 11 along the length direction of the offline receiving compartment 11, and each offline disc output compartment 30 has at least one layer of optical disc cartridges arranged sequentially along its length direction. That is, the offline disc output compartment 30 can have one layer of optical disc cartridges, or multiple layers of optical disc cartridges arranged sequentially along its length direction to form a multi-layer optical disc cartridge. A robotic arm is used to controllably grasp at least one optical disc from a designated optical disc cartridge in a designated optical disc receiving compartment 20 and transport the grasped optical disc to a designated optical disc cartridge in a designated offline disc output compartment 30, or to grasp at least one optical disc from a designated optical disc cartridge in a designated offline disc output compartment 30 and transport the grasped optical disc to a designated optical disc cartridge in a designated optical disc receiving compartment 20. Since the optical disc cases in the high-density offline library 100 are arranged horizontally and vertically, a robotic arm that can move along the X and Z axes can be used. Figure 1 The high-density offline library 100 in the illustrated embodiment is provided with two rows of storage compartments. Each row of storage compartments has an offline storage compartment 11 in the middle and an offline disc tray output compartment 30 that can be pulled out. A robotic arm can be positioned between the two rows of storage compartments, and the robotic arm can operate the disc on the opposite side of each row of storage compartments.

[0053] In this embodiment, the high-density offline library 100 arranges the offline disc tray output compartment 30 and the optical disc tray 20 in the same row. The offline disc tray output compartment 30 can be pulled out relative to the offline accommodating compartment 11 of the library body 10. Optical discs can be easily transported between the optical disc trays in the arranged optical disc tray 20 and the optical disc trays in the offline disc tray output compartment 30 through the operation of a robotic arm. The overall layout of the high-density offline library 100 is compact, thus improving operational efficiency. This arrangement also increases the density of optical discs stored in the high-density offline library 100, thereby increasing the offline library's storage capacity.

[0054] Furthermore, since the offline disc output compartment 30 is equipped with at least one layer of optical disc boxes, the robotic arm can perform the retrieval and loading operations of optical discs in multiple dispersed optical disc compartments 20 at one time, thereby improving the efficiency of the retrieval and loading of optical disc compartments 20 and reducing the number of times manual operation is required for the retrieval and loading of optical disc compartments 20.

[0055] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the offline disk output compartment and base of a high-density offline library according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the offline disk output compartment 30 of a high-density offline library 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the bottom and limiting piece 31 of the offline storage compartment 11 of a high-density offline library 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 As shown, in one embodiment, a limiting piece 31 is fixed to the bottom of the offline disk drive output compartment 30. The limiting piece 31 has multiple slots arranged at intervals along the length of the offline disk drive output compartment 30. Figure 5 As shown, a base 13 is fixed to the bottom surface of the offline accommodating compartment 11. A limit lock 14 that can be raised and lowered in the vertical direction is provided on the base 13. The limit lock 14 is aligned with each slot so that the limit piece 31 can be locked or unlocked by controlling the raising and lowering of the limit lock 14.

[0056] In this embodiment, a limiting piece 31 is provided at the bottom of the offline disk output compartment 30, and a lifting and lowering limiting latch 14 is provided at the bottom surface of the offline accommodating compartment 11. By controlling the lifting and lowering of the limiting latch 14, it is possible to control whether the limiting latch 14 extends into the slot of the limiting piece 31, thereby achieving segmented limiting of the limiting piece 31 and the offline disk output compartment 30, that is, the extraction length of the offline disk output compartment 30, thus improving the user experience.

[0057] It should be noted that each offline compartment 11 and each optical disc compartment 12 has baffles on both sides in the width direction to limit the position of the optical disc tray 20 and the offline disc output tray 30 in the width direction.

[0058] Figure 6 yes Figure 4 A magnified view of a portion at point A. In a further embodiment, as shown... Figure 6 As shown, the limiting latch 14 includes a limiting body 141 and rollers 142 located on both sides of the limiting body 141. For example, two rollers 142 are respectively provided on both sides of the limiting body 141. The limiting body 141 cooperates with each slot, and the rollers 142 are used to contact the bottom of the limiting piece 31 when the limiting body 141 is engaged in the slot.

[0059] In this embodiment, the roller 142 makes the offline disk output compartment 30 easier to pull out, further improving the user experience. By reducing friction damage, the service life of the offline disk output compartment 30 is improved.

[0060] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the lifting mechanism 17 of a high-density offline warehouse according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 8The embodiment shows a specific form of the lifting mechanism 17. The limiting body 141 of the limiting latch 14 is a U-shaped piece, with a first connecting rod 171 and a second connecting rod 172 respectively hinged to its two sides in the width direction. The first connecting rod 171 and the second connecting rod 172 cross and are hinged at the middle. The bottom of the first connecting rod 171 and the second connecting rod 172 are hinged to the fixing plate 173. The hinge hole between the limiting body 141 and the first connecting rod 171 is an oblong hole, and the hinge hole between the fixing plate 173 and the second connecting rod 172 is an oblong hole. The hinge shaft 174 of the first connecting rod 171 and the second connecting rod 172 also passes through the guide hole 176 on the guide plate 175. The guide hole 176 has a first horizontal part, an oblique part and a second horizontal part connected in sequence. By controlling the movement of the guide plate 175, the hinge shaft 174 is raised and lowered, thereby controlling the rotation of the first link 171 and the second link 172 as well as the raising and lowering of the top, and then driving the limit body 141 (i.e. the limit lock 14) to rise and fall.

[0061] In one embodiment, such as Figure 5 As shown, the multi-slotted design includes a notch 313, one end of which extends through the side of the limiting plate away from the first opening 101. In this embodiment, the notch 313 allows the offline disk output compartment 30 to be completely pulled out of the compartment body 10.

[0062] Furthermore, such as Figure 5 As shown, the multi-segment slot includes a first closed slot 311, which includes a main body segment 301 and a limiting segment 302. The width of the main body segment 301 matches the width of the limiting body 141, and the width of the limiting segment 302 matches the width of the limiting latch 14 (i.e., the total width of the limiting body 141 and the roller 142). When the limiting body 141 and the roller 142 of the limiting latch 14 abut against the side of the first closed slot 311 away from the first opening 101, the offline disc output compartment 30 is exposed in the offline receiving compartment 11 as an optical disc compartment.

[0063] In this embodiment, the length of the first closed groove 311 is set to match the length of an exposed optical disc tray, and the limiting segment 302 at the end of the first closed groove 311 can restrict the entire limiting latch 14, so that the offline disc tray output compartment 30 can be stably fixed when it is pulled out to the position of an optical disc tray.

[0064] like Figure 5 In the embodiment shown, the limiting piece 31 also includes a second closed groove 312, both ends of which are closed in the length direction. The length of the second closed groove 312 is set to be relatively long, which can match the length of multiple optical disc boxes. When the limiting latch 14 extends into the second closed groove 312, the user can easily pull out the offline disc box output compartment 30 to the position where multiple optical disc boxes are exposed, such as 2 to 5 optical disc boxes.

[0065] Figure 7 yes Figure 5 A magnified view of a portion at point B. In another embodiment, as shown... Figure 7 As shown, the bottom of the offline disc drive output compartment 30 is also provided with a pop-out mechanism 15, which is spaced apart from the limit lock 14. The limit lock 14 is located on the side near the first opening 101, and the pop-out mechanism 15 is located on the side away from the first opening 101. The pop-out mechanism 15 can be a spring. When the offline disc drive output compartment 30 is located in the offline receiving compartment 11, its two ends abut against the limit lock 14 and the pop-out mechanism 15, respectively. The pop-out mechanism 15 is used to push out the offline disc drive output compartment 30 when the limit lock 14 first releases the restriction on the limiting piece 31.

[0066] like Figure 5 As shown, the front end of the offline disk output compartment 30 is also provided with a handle 32, which makes it easy to pull out the offline disk output compartment 30.

[0067] In one embodiment, the high-density offline library 100 also includes locking buttons, each corresponding to a limit lock 14. That is, each limit lock 14 has a locking button. These buttons can be positioned near the offline storage compartment 11 where the offline disk output tray 30 to be locked by the limit lock 14 is located, for user operation. The locking buttons control the raising and lowering of their corresponding limit lock 14 when pressed. For example, pressing the button lowers the limit lock 14, and releasing it raises it. Alternatively, the limit lock 14 may initially be in the raised position; pressing the button lowers the limit lock 14, and releasing the button automatically returns it to the raised position.

[0068] In specific operation, when the offline disk drive output compartment 30 is fully placed within the offline receiving compartment 11, pressing the locking button once unlocks the offline disk drive output compartment 30. The user can then pull out the offline disk drive output compartment 30 using the handle 32. The limit lock 14 is located below the limit plate, and then the limit body 141 engages with the first sealing groove 311. At this point, continue pulling the offline disk drive output compartment 30 until the limit lock 14 abuts against the limit segment 302 of the first sealing groove 311. When the limit plate has multiple sealing grooves, the process of pulling out the offline disk drive output compartment 30 is the same as described above, and will not be repeated here. Finally, through the cooperation of the notch 313 and the limit lock 14, the offline disk drive output compartment 30 can be pulled out entirely.

[0069] It should be noted that since the offline disc output compartment 30 is pulled out to expose a disc tray, the end of the first closed slot 311 can be provided with a limiting segment 302 that abuts against the limiting latch 14. The second closed slot 312 or more closed slots can only be provided with one slot that matches the limiting body 141.

[0070] In another embodiment, the limit lock 14 can also be connected to an automatic control device to automatically control the raising and lowering of the limit lock 14.

[0071] In one embodiment, each optical disc tray 20, each optical disc cartridge within each optical disc tray 20, each offline disc output tray 30, and each optical disc cartridge within each offline disc output tray 30 are provided with a unique electronic tag, and the robotic arm is provided with an electronic tag recognition device for recognizing the electronic tag.

[0072] This embodiment uses electronic tags to automate the operation of the robotic arm, thereby improving operational efficiency and accuracy.

[0073] Figure 9 This is a flowchart of a control method according to an embodiment of the present invention. The present invention also provides a control method for controlling the high-density offline library 100 in any of the above embodiments or combinations thereof. In one embodiment, such as... Figure 9 As shown, the control method includes:

[0074] In step S100, the electronic tag recognition device controlling the robotic arm reads the electronic tags of each optical disc tray 20, each optical disc cartridge within each optical disc tray 20, each offline disc cartridge output tray 30, and each optical disc cartridge within each offline disc cartridge output tray 30, and records the location of each optical disc cartridge. The electronic tags corresponding to each optical disc cartridge and their locations can be stored in a memory so that the robotic arm can locate the corresponding optical disc cartridge based on the electronic tags later.

[0075] In step S200, upon receiving the optical disc ejection command, the robotic arm is controlled to open the first target optical disc case containing the optical discs to be ejected in the optical disc compartment 20, grab the first target number of optical discs from the first target optical disc case, and close the first target optical disc case. In other words, the robotic arm has the functions of opening and closing optical disc cases and grabbing optical discs.

[0076] In step S300, the robotic arm is controlled to transport the grabbed optical disc to the empty second target optical disc tray in the offline disc tray output compartment 30. After opening the second target optical disc tray, the grabbed optical disc is placed in, and the second target optical disc tray is closed.

[0077] In step S400, the control limit lock 14 is unlocked so that the offline disc output compartment 30 can be partially ejected or completely pulled out to expose the second target disc compartment outside the compartment body 10.

[0078] The limit lock 14 can be unlocked automatically or manually by pressing the limit button. The offline disc drive output compartment 30 is then removed based on the position of the second target disc drive.

[0079] In step S500, when the optical disc loading command is received, the control limit lock 14 is unlocked so that the offline disc output compartment 30 is partially ejected or completely pulled out to expose the empty third target optical disc compartment outside the compartment body 10, and the optical disc to be loaded is placed into the third target optical disc compartment.

[0080] In step S600, after the offline disc tray output compartment 30 is pushed into the offline receiving compartment 11, the robotic arm is controlled to move and read the electronic tags of each optical disc tray in the offline disc tray output compartment 30 to locate the third target optical disc tray. Since the electronic tags of the newly inserted optical disc tray have not yet been entered into the system, the electronic tag recognition device on the robotic arm needs to identify and enter them.

[0081] In step S700, the robotic arm opens the third target optical disc case, grabs the optical disc inside the third target optical disc case, and closes the third target optical disc case.

[0082] In step S800, the robotic arm is controlled to transport the grabbed optical disc to the fourth target optical disc compartment of the optical disc tray 20, the fourth target optical disc compartment is opened, the grabbed optical disc is placed in, and the fourth target optical disc compartment is closed.

[0083] In another embodiment, the control method further includes:

[0084] Upon receiving a command to remove the optical disc tray 20, the system displays the location of the specified tray 20 so that the user can remove it. For example, an indicator light may illuminate at the location of the specified tray 20.

[0085] Upon receiving the optical disc tray 20's insertion command and completing the insertion process, the robotic arm is controlled to read the electronic identifiers of the inserted optical disc tray 20 and each optical disc case within it, and records the location of each optical disc case. In other words, when a new optical disc tray 20 is placed into the high-density offline library 100, it is identified and entered using the electronic identifier recognition device on the robotic arm.

[0086] Therefore, those skilled in the art should recognize that although numerous exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described in detail herein, many other variations or modifications conforming to the principles of the present invention can be directly determined or derived from the disclosure of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the scope of the present invention should be understood and construed as covering all such other variations or modifications.

Claims

1. A high-density offline library, characterized in that, include: The compartment has at least one column of storage compartments. Each column of storage compartments includes at least one offline storage compartment and multiple optical disc storage compartments arranged vertically in a stacked manner. Each offline storage compartment and each optical disc storage compartment extends in the same horizontal direction. Each offline storage compartment in the same column has a first opening on one side in the length direction. Multiple optical disc trays are respectively and correspondingly arranged in each optical disc accommodating cell. Each optical disc tray is provided with multiple rows of optical disc boxes arranged sequentially along the length of the optical disc accommodating cell. At least one offline disc tray output compartment, each of the offline disc tray output compartments is removably disposed within each of the offline accommodating compartments along the length direction of the offline accommodating compartment, and each offline disc tray output compartment is provided with at least one layer of optical disc trays arranged sequentially along its length direction. A robotic arm is used to controllably grasp at least one optical disc in a specified optical disc case within a specified optical disc drive compartment and transport the grasped optical disc to a specified optical disc case in a specified offline disc output compartment, or to grasp at least one optical disc in a specified optical disc case in a specified offline disc output compartment and transport the grasped optical disc to a specified optical disc case in a specified optical disc drive compartment. The bottom of the offline disk box output compartment is fixed with a limiting piece. The limiting piece has multiple slots arranged at intervals along the length of the offline disk box output compartment. The bottom surface of the offline accommodating compartment is fixed with a base. The base is provided with a vertically adjustable limiting latch. The limiting latch is aligned with each of the slots so that the limiting piece can be locked or unlocked by controlling the lifting and lowering of the limiting latch. The limiting latch includes a limiting body and rollers located on both sides of the limiting body. The limiting body cooperates with each of the slots, and the rollers are used to contact the bottom of the limiting piece when the limiting body is engaged in the slot. The multiple slots include notched slots, one end of which passes through the side of the limiting plate away from the first opening; The multiple slots include a first closed slot, which includes a main body segment and a limiting segment. The width of the main body segment matches the width of the limiting body segment, and the width of the limiting segment matches the width of the limiting latch. When the limiting body segment and the roller of the limiting latch segment abut against the side of the first closed slot away from the first opening, the offline disc tray output compartment is exposed in the offline accommodating compartment as an optical disc tray.

2. The high-density offline library according to claim 1, characterized in that, The bottom of the offline disk drive output compartment is also provided with a pop-out mechanism that is spaced apart from the limiting latch. The limiting latch is located on the side close to the first opening. When the offline disk drive output compartment is located in the offline accommodating compartment, its two ends abut against the limiting latch and the pop-out mechanism respectively. The pop-out mechanism is used to push out the offline disk drive output compartment when the limiting latch is released from the limiting plate for the first time.

3. The high-density offline library according to claim 1, characterized in that, Each optical disc tray, each optical disc box within each optical disc tray, each offline disc output tray, and each optical disc box within each offline disc output tray are equipped with a unique electronic identifier. The robotic arm is equipped with an electronic identifier recognition device for identifying the electronic identifier.

4. The high-density offline library according to claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: Each latch button is configured to correspond one-to-one with a limit latch, and the latch button is used to control the raising and lowering of the corresponding limit latch when it is pressed.

5. A control method for controlling the high-density offline library as described in claim 3 or 4, characterized in that, The method includes: The electronic identification device controlling the robotic arm reads the electronic identifiers of each optical disc tray, each optical disc case within each optical disc tray, each offline disc output tray, and each optical disc case within each offline disc output tray, and records the location of each optical disc case. Upon receiving a disc ejection command, the robotic arm is controlled to open the first target disc case containing the discs to be ejected in the disc tray, grab the first target number of discs from the first target disc case, and close the first target disc case. The robotic arm is controlled to transport the grabbed optical disc to an empty second target optical disc tray in the offline disc tray output compartment. After opening the second target optical disc tray, the grabbed optical disc is placed in, and then the second target optical disc tray is closed. Control the limit lock to unlock so that the offline disc tray output compartment can be partially ejected or completely pulled out to the second target optical disc tray, which is then exposed outside the tray body. When a disc is received as a storage instruction, the limit lock is unlocked so that the offline disc tray output compartment is partially ejected or completely pulled out to expose the empty third target disc tray outside the tray body, and the disc to be stored is placed into the third target disc tray. After the offline disc tray output compartment is pushed into the offline accommodating compartment, the robotic arm is controlled to move and read the electronic tags of each optical disc tray in the offline disc tray output compartment in order to locate the third target optical disc tray. Open the third target optical disc holder, grab the optical disc from the third target optical disc holder, and close the third target optical disc holder; The robotic arm is controlled to transport the grasped optical disc to the fourth target optical disc compartment of the optical disc tray, open the fourth target optical disc compartment, insert the grasped optical disc, and close the fourth target optical disc compartment.

6. The control method according to claim 5, characterized in that, Also includes: When a CD / DVD tray ejection command is received, the location of the specified CD / DVD tray is displayed so that the user can remove the specified CD / DVD tray. Upon receiving the disc drive's loading instruction and completing the loading process, the robotic arm reads the electronic identifiers of the loaded disc drive and each disc cartridge within it, and records the location of each disc cartridge.

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