Storage media lockout device for a computer mass storage media drive

A method for permitting only alternate positioning of a media disk and a tape cartridge in a dual media drive having a shuttle assembly for receiving and transporting the media disk to a media disk receiving position and a tape cartridge latch mechanism for receiving and transporting a tape cartridge to a tape cartridge receiving position, said method comprising the steps of:

• positioning a media disk arm in the shuttle assembly, the media disk arm biased in a first media-disk-arm position and pivotally rotatable into a second media-disk-arm position responsive to insertion of the media disk into the shuttle assembly and transport thereof by the shuttle assembly to the media disk receiving position;
• positioning a first side portion of a tape cartridge arm to abut against the tape cartridge latch mechanism, the tape cartridge arm pivotal between a first tape-cartridge-arm position and a second tape-cartridge-arm position, the tape cartridge arm pivotal into the second tape-cartridge-arm position responsive to insertion of the tape cartridge into engagement with the latch mechanism and transport thereof by the latch mechanism to the tape cartridge receiving position;
• engaging a first side portion of a lockout arm with the media disk arm and a second side portion of the lockout arm with the tape cartridge arm;
• and
• translating the lockout arm responsive to pivotal movement of the media disk arm and responsive to pivotal movement of the tape cartridge arm alternately into a tape lockout position when the media disk is positioned in the media receiving position to prevent translation of the tape cartridge latch mechanism to transport the tape cartridge into the tape cartridge receiving position and, alternately, into a media disk lockout position when the tape cartridge is positioned in the tape cartridge receiving position to prevent transport of the media disk into the media disk receiving position.

In a dual media drive having a random access assembly for receiving and transporting a media disk to a media disk receiving position and a tape cartridge latch mechanism for receiving and transporting a tape cartridge to a tape cartridge receiving position, an improvement of a media lockout device, said media lockout device comprising:

• a media disk arm positioned in the random access assembly, said media disk arm biased in a first media-disk-arm position and pivotally rotatable into a second media-disk-arm position responsive to insertion of the media disk into the random access assembly and transport thereof by the shuttle assembly to the media disk receiving position;
• at least one tape cartridge arm having a first side portion positioned to abut against the tape cartridge latch mechanism and pivotal between a first tape-cartridge-arm position and a second tape-cartridge-are position, said tape cartridge arm pivotal into the second tape-cartridge-arm position responsive to insertion of the tape cartridge into engagement with the latch mechanism and transport thereof by the latch mechanism to the tape cartridge receiving position;
• and
• a lockout arm having a first side portion engaged with said media disk arm and a second side portion engaged with said tape cartridge arm, said lockout arm translatable responsive to pivotal movement of said media disk arm and to pivotal movement of said tape cartridge arm, said lockout arm translatable alternately into a tape lockout position when the media disk is positioned in the media disk receiving position to prevent translation of the tape cartridge latch mechanism to transport the tape cartridge into the tape cartridge receiving position and, alternately, into a media disk lockout position when the tape cartridge is positioned in the tape cartridge receiving position to prevent transport of the media disk into the media disk receiving position.