Z-drive shipping lock for storage library robotic assembly
AssigneeOracle International Corporation
InventorJoseph P. Manes
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for selectively disallowing unwinding of a storage library robotic mechanism cable assembly in a direction that would otherwise allow a platform of the robotic mechanism to move downwardly via the force of gravity while at the same time allowing for winding up of the cable assembly and the platform, such as during shipping, manual access, replacement of the robotic mechanism, and/or the like. The system may include a ratchet pawl for engaging between adjacent teeth of a drive assembly of the robotic mechanism and an actuator for selectively moving or allowing for movement of the ratchet pawl into and out of the engaged position. In one embodiment, the system may include an electric switch or the like to sense when the pawl is engaged with the drive assembly.
Claims20
A robotics module for manipulating media elements in a storage library, comprising:
- a chassis;
- a platform assembly for manipulating media elements in a storage library;
- a drive assembly secured to the chassis, the drive assembly including a suspension cable reel;
- a cable assembly secured between the suspension cable reel and the platform, wherein rotation of the suspension cable reel in a first rotation direction unwinds the cable assembly from the suspension cable reel and allows the platform assembly to move in a first direction along an axis relative to media elements in the storage library, and wherein rotation of the suspension cable reel in an opposed second rotation direction winds the cable assembly on the suspension cable reel and moves the platform assembly in an opposed second direction along the axis relative to the media elements in the storage library;
- and
- a locking system secured to the chassis and manipulatable between at least first and second configurations, wherein manipulation of the locking system into the first configuration allows the suspension cable reel to move in either of the first and second rotation directions, and wherein manipulation of the locking system into the second configuration disallows the suspension cable reel from moving in the first rotation direction and allows the suspension cable reel to move in the second rotation direction.
A method for use with a drive assembly of a robotics module of a storage library, the drive assembly configured to wind and unwind a cable assembly from a suspension cable reel of the drive assembly to respectively raise or lower a platform of the robotics module, the method comprising:
- first positioning an actuator of the robotics module into one of at least first and second positions of the actuator;
- and
- engaging, in response to the first positioning, a portion of a ratchet pawl between adjacent teeth of a gear of the drive assembly to disallow unwinding of the cable assembly and corresponding lowering of the platform.
A locking subsystem of a drive assembly, comprising:
- a spring-loaded ratchet pawl comprising a portion thereof movable between at least first and second positions, wherein the ratchet pawl is configured to be disengaged from between adjacent gear teeth of the drive assembly when in the first position to allow rotational movement of the drive assembly in both of first and second opposing rotational directions, and wherein the ratchet pawl is configured to engage between adjacent gear teeth of the drive gear of the drive assembly in the first position to disallow rotational movement of the drive assembly in the first rotational direction and allow rotational movement of the drive assembly in the opposing second rotational direction;
- a handle movable between at least first and second positions;
- and
- a cam member rigidly secured to the handle and movable between the first and second positions of the handle, wherein the cam member urges the pawl into the first pawl position in the first handle position, and wherein the pawl moves into the second pawl position in the second handle position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.