Magnetic tape library device and method for maintaining magnetic recording and reproducing device and magnetic head

A magnetic recording and reproducing device for recording information on a magnetic recording medium or reproducing information from said medium through a magnetic head, comprising:

• wear amount sensing means for sensing an amount of wear of said magnetic head;
• dirt sensing means for sensing dirt of said magnetic head;
• warning means for issuing a warning corresponding to a state of wear and/or dirt of said magnetic head;
• head cleaning means for cleaning said magnetic head;
• and
• a controller for controlling said wear amount sensing means and said dirt sensing means, for determining the state of the wear and the dirt of said magnetic head based on the outputs of said sensing means, and controlling a stop or start of said head cleaning means in accordance with a determined result;
• wherein said controller controls said wear amount sensing means at a predetermined timing, and in response to a sensed wear amount indicating continued service life for said magnetic head, controlling said dirt sensing means, and in response to a sensed dirt, controlling said cleaning means to initiate a cleaning operation of said magnetic head.

A magnetic recording and reproducing device for recording information on a magnetic recording medium or reproducing information from said medium through a magnetic head, comprising:

• wear amount sensing means for sensing an amount of wear of said magnetic head by sensing change of impedance of said magnetic head;
• dirt sensing means for sensing dirt of said magnetic head based on an amplitude of a reproduced signal reproduced by said magnetic head;
• warning means for issuing a warning corresponding to wear and/or dirt of said magnetic head;
• head cleaning means for cleaning said magnetic head;
• and
• a controller for controlling said wear amount sensing means and said dirt sensing means, determining the wear and the dirt of said magnetic head based on the outputs of both of said sensing means, and determining whether an operation including starts of said warning means and said head cleaning means is to be continued or stopped based on a determined result to instruct said determined operation;
• wherein said controller controls said wear amount sensing means at a predetermined timing, and in response to a sensed wear amount indicating continued service life of said magnetic head controlling said dirt sensing means, and in response to a sensed dirt initiating operation of said cleaning means for said magnetic head.

A method for automatically maintaining a magnetic head provided in a magnetic recording and reproducing device for recording information on a magnetic recording medium or reproducing information from said medium through said magnetic head, comprising the steps of:

• determining that a head maintenance is to be executed at a predetermined timing under control of a controller;
• sensing an amount of wear of said magnetic head;
• issuing a warning and/or stopping said magnetic recording and reproducing device in accordance with the status of a sensed wear;
• if said magnetic head has no problem about wear or comes closer to a serviceable threshold state and only said warning is issued, loading said magnetic recording medium to said magnetic recording and reproducing device;
• sensing dirt of said magnetic head with said magnetic recording and reproducing medium;
• cleaning said head and re-sensing dirt of said cleaned head in accordance with the status of a sensed dirt;
• repeating said head cleaning and said re-sensing of the dirt of said head a specified number of times or until a specified amount of time is passed in accordance with the result of said re-sensing of the dirt;
• and
• stopping said device if it is determined that said magnetic head does not reach a serviceable threshold state as a result of sensing the dirt of said magnetic head and transmitting a signal indicating for said stop to a hierarchically upper controller;
• wherein said sensing of an amount of wear of said magnetic head occurs prior to sensing dirt of said magnetic head.

A method for automatically maintaining a magnetic head provided in a magnetic recording and reproducing device for recording information on a magnetic recording med rum or reproducing information from said medium through said magnetic head;

• comprising the steps of:
• determining that a head maintenance is to be executed at a predetermined timing using a controller;
• sensing an amount of wear of said magnetic head;
• issuing a warning corresponding to the status of said wear and stopping said device;
• if said magnetic head has no problem about wear or comes closer to a serviceable threshold state and only said warning is issued, loading a dedicated magnetic recording medium to sense dirt of said head to said magnetic recording and reproducing device;
• reproducing information previously recorded on said dedicated magnetic recording medium and demodulating said reproduce information;
• issuing a warning, cleaning the head and re-sensing dirt of said cleaned head in accordance with the condition of the sensed dirt;
• repeating said head cleaning and said re-sensing of the dirt a specified number of times or until a specified amount of time is passed in accordance with the re-sensed result of the dirt;
• and if said magnetic head has no problem about wear or comes closer to a serviceable threshold state and said device is stopped, transmitting a signal indicating the fact to a hierarchically upper controller;
• wherein said sensing of an amount of wear of said magnetic head occurs prior to sensing dirt of said magnetic head.

A method for maintenance of a magnetic head provided in a magnetic recording and reproducing device for recording information on a magnetic recording medium or reproducing information from said medium through said magnetic head, comprising the steps of:

• determining that a head check is to be executed at a predetermined timing using a controller;
• sensing an amount of wear of said magnetic head:
• issuing a warning corresponding to the status of said sensed wear or stopping said device;
• if said magnetic head has no problem about wear or comes closer to a serviceable threshold state and only said warning is issued, loading a dedicated magnetic recording medium for checking dirt of the head and cleaning said head to said device;
• sensing the dirt of said magnetic head with said dedicated magnetic recording medium;
• performing the issuance of said warning, said head cleaning, or said re-sensing of the dirt of said cleaned head according to the status of said dirt;
• repeating said head cleaning and re-sensing of the dirt of said cleaned head a specified number of times or until the specified amount of time is passed according to the re-sensed result of the dirt;
• and
• if said magnetic head is unserviceable and said device is stopped, transmitting a signal indicating the fact to an upper controller;
• wherein said sensing of an amount of wear of said magnetic head occurs prior to sensing dirt of said magnetic head.