Tape drive cleaning device
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsPeter Walter Wendler, Shawn M. Nave, Mark Raper, Gregory Goodman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Provided are a tape drive cleaning device, tape drive library deploying a tape drive cleaning device, and method for using a tape drive cleaning device. The tape drive cleaning device is used to clean a tape drive having a tape drive loader tray in which a tape cartridge is inserted. The tape drive cleaning device includes a body and a material attached to the body. Dimensions of the body with the material are configured to fit into the tape drive loader tray to have the material engage a tray inner surfaces of the tape drive loader tray. The material is configured to collect debris on the tray inner surfaces when engaged with the tray inner surface.
Claims20
A tape drive cleaning device to clean a tape drive having a tape drive loader tray comprising tray side inner surfaces and a tray top inner surface in which a tape cartridge is inserted, comprising:
- a body having a body top surface and body side surfaces, wherein the body top surface has a greater surface area than a surface area of each of the body side surfaces;
- and
- a material attached to the body and extending across the body top surface, wherein dimensions of the body with the material are configured to fit into the tape drive loader tray to have the material engage a tray top inner surface of the tape drive loader tray, wherein the body with the attached material are configured to collect debris on the tray top inner surface when positioned within the tape drive loader tray.
A tape library, comprising:
- a tape drive having a tape drive loader tray comprising tray side inner surfaces and a tray top inner surface in which a tape cartridge is inserted;
- slots for tape cartridges;
- a slot including a tape drive cleaning cartridge, wherein the tape drive cleaning cartridge comprises:
- a body having a body top surface and body side surfaces, wherein the body top surface has a greater surface area than a surface area of each of the body side surfaces;
- and
- a material attached to the body and extending across the body top surface, wherein dimensions of the body with the material are configured to fit into the tape drive loader tray to have the material engage a tray top inner surface of the tape drive loader tray, wherein the body with the attached material are configured to collect debris on the tray top inner surface when positioned within the tape drive loader tray;
- a gripper assembly;
- and
- a controller programmed to control the gripper assembly to grip the body and transport the tape drive cleaning cartridge from the slot to insert in a tape drive loader tray of a selected tape drive to have the material engage the tray top inner surface.
A method for cleaning a tape drive having a tape drive loader tray comprising tray side inner surfaces and a tray top inner surface in which a tape cartridge is inserted, comprising
- providing a tape drive cleaning device, including:
- a body having a body top surface and body side surfaces, wherein the body top surface has a greater surface area than a surface area of each of the body side surfaces;
- and
- a material attached to the body and extending across the body top surface, wherein dimensions of the body with the material are configured to fit into the tape drive loader tray to have the material engage a tray top inner surface of the tape drive loader tray, wherein the body with the attached material are configured to collect debris on the tray top inner surface when positioned within the tape drive loader tray surface;
- inserting the tape drive cleaning device into the tape drive loader tray to have the material engage the tray top inner surface;
- and
- removing the tape drive cleaning device from the tape drive loader tray.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.