Media storage system with modular robotic elements
OwnerKelly J. Reasoner, Gregg S. Schmidtke +1inventors
InventorsKelly J. Reasoner, Gregg S. Schmidtke, Jeff Kato
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Embodiments include methods, apparatus, and systems for media storage systems with plural robotic elements. One embodiment is a media storage system that has storage libraries connected together to form a stack. Each storage library includes a storage location for holding plural data cartridges and a picker for transporting the data cartridges. A read/write device is located in a housing that is separated from the storage libraries. A cartridge-handling apparatus transports the data cartridges from the storage libraries to the read/write device.
Claims20
1) A media storage system, comprising:
- a plurality of storage libraries connected together to form a first vertical stack, each storage library including a storage location for holding plural data cartridges and a picker for transporting the data cartridges;
- a read/write device in a housing that is separated from the storage libraries;
- and
- a first cartridge-handling apparatus for transporting the data cartridges from the plurality of storage libraries to the read/write device.
8) A media storage system, comprising:
- a first frame having plural storage libraries stacked together;
- a second frame adjacent the first frame and having plural storage libraries stacked together, each storage library being devoid of a read/write device but including a storage location for holding plural data cartridges and a picker for transporting the data cartridges;
- plural read/write devices remote from the first and second frames;
- and
- plural cartridge-handling apparatus for transporting the data cartridges away from the first and second frames to another device.
15) A media storage system, comprising:
- a plurality of storage libraries connected together to form a first stack, each storage library having a housing that is devoid of a read/write device but includes (1) a storage location for holding plural data cartridges and (2) a picker for transporting the data cartridges to an opening in the housing;
- a read/write device remote from the first stack of storage libraries;
- and
- a first cartridge-handling apparatus for transporting the data cartridges from the plurality of storage libraries to the read/write device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.