Disclosed is a cartridge drop detection device for use in a magnetic tape
library apparatus (11) comprising a media rack (14) for accommodating at
least one cartridge containing a magnetic tape medium (16), a tape drive
(15) for holding the magnetic tape medium when reading from or writing to
the magnetic tape medium, and a robot for retrieving the cartridge from
the media rack and for transporting the cartridge to the tape drive,
wherein the cartridge drop detection device comprises: a microphone (18),
installed on a floor (20), for detecting that the cartridge has dropped
on the floor of the tape library apparatus; a vibration detection sensor
(17) for detecting vibration applied to the tape library apparatus; and a
detection circuit for determining that the cartridge has dropped on the
floor when a voltage detected by the microphone and a voltage detected by
the vibration detection sensor have exceeded respective threshold values,
whereby providing a device which can reliably detect whether any
cartridge in the magnetic tape library apparatus has dropped or not.