Five and one-quarter inch form factor combination DAT tape drive and cassette magazine loader

A combination tape drive and cassette magazine loader, comprising:

• a generally rectangular outer housing sized to fit within the full height five and one quarter inch form factor;
• drawer means mounted for sliding motion within the housing along a longitudinal axis thereof from a retracted position in which the drawer means is contained within the housing to an extended position in which a forward portion of the drawer means extends beyond a forward transverse end of the housing;
• a tape drive mounted within a rear portion of the drawer means;
• cassette magazine means mounted in the forward portion of the drawer means for holding a plurality of tape cassettes in a vertically stacked configuration;
• and
• magazine loader means mounted in the forward portion of the drawer means for receiving and vertically reciprocating the cassette magazine and for selectively transferring cassettes between the magazine and the tape drive.

A combination DAT tape drive and cassette magazine loader, comprising:

• a generally rectangular outer housing sized to fit within the full height five and one quarter inch form factor;
• a drawer mounted for sliding motion within the housing along a longitudinal axis thereof from a retracted position in which the drawer is contained within the housing to an extended position in which a forward portion of the drawer extends beyond a forward transverse end of the housing;
• means for holding the drawer in its retracted position;
• means connected between the housing and the drawer for urging the drawer toward its extended position;
• a DAT tape drive mounted within a rear portion of the drawer and having a forwardly opening cassette insertion slot;
• a cassette magazine mounted in the forward portion of the drawer having a plurality of vertically spaced receptacles for holding a plurality of DAT cassettes in a vertically stacked configuration;
• magazine loader means mounted in the forward portion of the drawer for receiving and vertically reciprocating the cassette magazine and for selectively transferring cassettes between the magazine and the cassette insertion slot of the DAT tape drive, including first drive wheel means for engaging and vertically reciprocating the magazine and second drive wheel means for engaging and moving a cassette in a longitudinal direction between the magazine and the DAT tape drive;
• and
• loader control circuit means connected to the magazine loader means for transferring a preselected cassette between the magazine and the DAT tape drive upon receipt of a command relayed from a computer through the DAT tape drive.

A combination tape drive and cassette magazine loader, comprising:

• a generally rectangular outer housing sized to fit within the full height five and one quarter inch form factor drive bay;
• a drawer mounted for sliding motion within the housing along a longitudinal axis thereof from a retracted position in which the drawer is contained within the housing to an extended position in which a forward portion of the drawer extends beyond a forward transverse end of the housing;
• a tape drive mounted within a rear portion of the drawer and having a forwardly opening cassette insertion slot;
• a cassette magazine mounted in the forward portion of the drawer having a plurality of vertically spaced receptacles for holding a plurality of tape cassettes in a vertically stacked configuration;
• and
• a magazine loader mounted in the forward portion of the drawer for receiving and vertically reciprocating the cassette magazine and for selectively transferring tape cassettes between the magazine and the cassette insertion slot of the tape drive.

A combination tape drive and cassette magazine loader, comprising:

• a generally rectangular outer housing including a front bezel, said housing fitting within a full height five and one quarter inch form factor drive bay with said bezel mounted against a front of said drive bay;
• a drawer mounted for sliding motion within the housing along a longitudinal axis thereof from a retracted position, in which the drawer is contained within the housing with a forwardmost portion of the drawer flush with a front of said bezel, to an extended position, in which said forwardmost portion of the drawer extends beyond said bezel;
• a tape drive mounted within a rear portion of the drawer and having a forwardly opening cassette insertion slot;
• a cassette magazine mounted in the forward portion of the drawer having a plurality of vertically spaced receptacles for holding a plurality of tape cassettes in a vertically stacked configuration;
• and
• a magazine loader mounted in the forward portion of the drawer for receiving and vertically reciprocating the cassette magazine and for selectively transferring tape cassettes between the magazine and the cassette insertion slot of the tape drive.