US 5,498,116 A · Entry-exit port for cartridge library · patentgrep

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Abstract

An automated library (30) for handling a plurality of data storage units comprises a frame (32), an I/O drive (320); a unit engagement device (80) which transports data storage units between the drive and the storage receptacle. A cabinet substantially encloses the frame and has an entry/exit port (100) formed therein. The library is further provided with an entry/exit transport device (500) which pivots 90 degrees about an axis perpendicular to a unit orientation plane to transport a selected data storage unit between the entry/exit port and a predetermined position in the cabinet. The entry/exit transport device has a cartridge engagement portion with two edges (574, 576), a first of the edges being configured to load/unload the selected data storage unit at the entry/exit port and a second of the edges being configured to load/unload the selected data storage cartridge at the predetermined position. The first and second edges are orthogonal to one another in the entry/exit transport plane.

Claims41

Dependent claims

An automated library for handling a plurality of data storage units stored therein, the library comprising:

a frame having a storage receptacle for receiving a plurality of data storage units with the data storage units having major dimensions thereof lying in planes parallel to a unit orientation plane;
at least one I/O drive for performing input/output operations with respect to a data storage unit inserted therein, the drive being mounted on the frame and vertically aligned with the storage receptacle, the drive being oriented whereby data storage units are insertable therein with the major dimensions of the data storage units lying in a plane parallel to the unit orientation plane;
a unit engagement device for engaging and transporting data storage units in a direction perpendicular to the unit orientation plane whereby data storage units are transportable between the drive and the storage receptacle;
a cabinet substantially enclosing the frame, the I/O drive, and the unit engagement device, the cabinet having an entry/exit port formed therein;
an entry/exit transport device for transporting a selected data storage unit in an entry/exit transport plane parallel to the unit orientation plane between a predetermined position in the cabinet and the entry/exit port, the entry/exit transport device being substantially housed within the cabinet, the entry/exit transport device pivoting about an axis perpendicular to the unit orientation plane as the selected data storage unit is transported;
wherein the entry/exit transport device comprises an entry/exit transport arm which travels in the entry/exit transport plane when transporting the selected data storage unit, and wherein the entry/exit transport arm is extensible in a direction lying in the entry/exit transport plane.

3 more elements

An automated library for handling a plurality of data storage units stored therein, the library comprising:

a frame having a storage receptacle for receiving a plurality of data storage units with the data storage units having major dimensions thereof lying in planes parallel to a unit orientation plane;
at least one I/O drive for performing input/output operations with respect to a data storage unit inserted therein, the drive being oriented whereby data storage units are insertable therein with the major dimensions of the data storage units lying in planes parallel to the unit orientation plane;
a unit engagement device for engaging and transporting data storage units between the drive and the storage receptacle;
a cabinet substantially enclosing the frame, the I/O drive, and the unit engagement device, the cabinet having an entry/exit port formed therein;
an entry/exit transport device for transporting a selected data storage unit in an entry/exit transport plane parallel to the unit orientation plane between a predetermined position in the cabinet and the entry/exit port, the entry/exit transport device being substantially housed within the cabinet, the entry/exit transport device comprising:
an entry/exit transport device first section;
an entry/exit transport device second section attached to the entry/exit transport device first section whereby the entry/exit transport device second section pivots about an entry/exit pivot axis, the entry/exit pivot axis being perpendicular to the unit orientation plane;
a cartridge handling section carried by the entry/exit transport device second section, the cartridge handling section being configured to accommodate a cartridge therein and being extensible in a plane parallel to the unit orientation plane;
a selective biasing spring which selectively biases the entry/exit transport device second section toward either the entry/exit port or to the predetermined position;
wherein the selective biasing spring selectively biases the entry/exit transport device second section toward either a home position or a rotated position, and wherein in the home position the entry/exit transport device second section is oriented at a 180 degree angle with respect to the entry/exit transport device first section and wherein in the rotated position the entry/exit transport device second section is oriented at a 90 degree angle with respect to the entry/exit transport device first section.

7 more elements

An automated library for handling a plurality of data storage units stored therein, the library comprising:

a frame having a storage receptacle for receiving a plurality of data storage units with the data storage units having major dimensions thereof lying in planes parallel to a unit orientation plane;
at least one I/O drive for performing input/output operations with respect to a data storage unit inserted therein, the drive being oriented whereby data storage units are insertable therein with the major dimensions of the data storage units lying in planes parallel to the unit orientation plane;
a unit engagement device for engaging and transporting data storage units between the drive and the storage receptacle;
a cabinet substantially enclosing the frame, the I/O drive, and the unit engagement device, the cabinet having an entry/exit port formed therein;
an entry/exit transport device for transporting a selected data storage unit in an entry/exit transport plane parallel to the unit orientation plane between a predetermined position in the cabinet and the entry/exit port, the entry/exit transport device being substantially housed within the cabinet, the entry/exit transport device comprising:
an entry/exit transport device first section;
an entry/exit transport device second section attached to the entry/exit transport device first section whereby the entry/exit transport device second section pivots about an entry/exit pivot axis, the entry/exit pivot axis being perpendicular to the unit orientation plane;
a cartridge handling section carried by the entry/exit transport device second section, the cartridge handling section being configured to accommodate a cartridge therein and being extensible in a plane parallel to the unit orientation plane;
a selective biasing spring which selectively biases the entry/exit transport device second section toward either the entry/exit port or to the predetermined position;
wherein the selective biasing spring biases the entry/exit transport device second section toward either the entry/exit port or to the predetermined position depending upon an angular positioning of the entry/exit transport device second section relative to the entry/exit transport device first section.

7 more elements

An automated library for handling a plurality of data storage units stored therein, the library comprising:

a frame having a storage receptacle for receiving a plurality of data storage units with the data storage units having major dimensions thereof lying in planes parallel to a unit orientation plane;
at least one I/O drive for performing input/output operations with respect to a data storage unit inserted therein, the drive being oriented whereby data storage units are insertable therein with the major dimensions of the data storage units lying in planes parallel to the unit orientation plane;
a unit engagement device for engaging and transporting data storage units between the drive and the storage receptacle;
a cabinet substantially enclosing the frame, the I/O drive, and the unit engagement device, the cabinet having an entry/exit port formed therein;
an entry/exit transport device for transporting a selected data storage unit in an entry/exit transport plane parallel to the unit orientation plane between a predetermined position in the cabinet and the entry/exit port, the entry/exit transport device being substantially housed within the cabinet, the entry/exit transport device comprising:
an entry/exit transport device first section;
an entry/exit transport device second section attached to the entry/exit transport device first section whereby the entry/exit transport device second section pivots about an entry/exit pivot axis, the entry/exit pivot axis being perpendicular to the unit orientation plane;
a cartridge handling section carried by the entry/exit transport device second section, the cartridge handling section being configured to accommodate a cartridge therein and being extensible in a plane parallel to the unit orientation plane;
wherein the entry/exit transport device first section has an arcuate aperture formed therein, wherein the entry/exit transport device first section has a bracket which engages a first end of a selective biasing spring, wherein the entry/exit transport device second section has a bracket which extends through the arcuate aperture and engages a second end of the selective biasing spring, and wherein the selective biasing spring changes biasing directions when the bracket of the entry/exit transport device second section rotates past a midpoint of the arcuate aperture.

6 more elements

An automated library for handling a plurality of data storage units stored therein, the library comprising:

a frame having a storage receptacle for receiving a plurality of data storage units with the data storage units having major dimensions thereof lying in planes parallel to a unit orientation plane;
at least one I/O drive for performing input/output operations with respect to a data storage unit inserted therein, the drive being oriented whereby data storage units are insertable therein with the major dimensions of the data storage units lying in planes parallel to the unit orientation plane;
a unit engagement device for engaging and transporting data storage units between the drive and the storage receptacle;
a cabinet substantially enclosing the frame, the I/O drive, and the unit engagement device, the cabinet having an entry/exit port formed therein;
an entry/exit transport device for transporting a selected data storage unit in an entry/exit transport plane parallel to the unit orientation plane between a predetermined position in the cabinet and the entry/exit port, the entry/exit transport device being substantially housed within the cabinet, the entry/exit transport device comprising:
an entry/exit transport device first section;
an entry/exit transport device second section attached to the entry/exit transport device first section whereby the entry/exit transport device second section pivots about an entry/exit pivot axis, the entry/exit pivot axis being perpendicular to the unit orientation plane;
a cartridge handling section carried by the entry/exit transport device second section, the cartridge handling section being configured to accommodate a cartridge therein and being extensible in a plane parallel to the unit orientation plane;
wherein the entry/exit transport device second section includes a gear, wherein a linkage has a first end connected to the cartridge handling section and a second end connected to the gear of the entry/exit transport device second section, and wherein rotation of the gear causes selective extension and retraction of the cartridge handling section relative to the entry/exit transport device second section.

6 more elements

An automated library for handling a plurality of data storage units stored therein, the library comprising:

a frame having a storage receptacle for receiving a plurality of data storage units with the data storage units having major dimensions thereof lying in planes parallel to a unit orientation plane;
at least one I/O drive for performing input/output operations with respect to a data storage unit inserted therein, the drive being oriented whereby data storage units are insertable therein with the major dimensions of the data storage units lying in planes parallel to the unit orientation plane;
a unit engagement device for engaging and transporting data storage units between the drive and the storage receptacle;
a cabinet substantially enclosing the frame, the I/O drive, and the unit engagement device, the cabinet having an entry/exit port formed therein;
an entry/exit transport device for transporting a selected data storage unit in an entry/exit transport plane parallel to the unit orientation plane between a predetermined position in the cabinet and the entry/exit port, the entry/exit transport device being substantially housed within the cabinet, the entry/exit transport device comprising:
an entry/exit transport device first section;
an entry/exit transport device second section attached to the entry/exit transport device first section whereby the entry/exit transport device second section pivots about an entry/exit pivot axis, the entry/exit pivot axis being perpendicular to the unit orientation plane;
a cartridge handling section carried by the entry/exit transport device second section, the cartridge handling section being configured to accommodate a cartridge therein and being extensible in a plane parallel to the unit orientation plane;
a gear mounted for rotational motion about the entry/exit pivot axis;
a motor for rotating the gear about the entry/exit pivot axis;
a linkage having a first end connected to the cartridge handling section and a second end connected to the gear, and wherein rotation of the gear causes selective extension and retraction of the cartridge handling section relative to the entry/exit transport device second section;
and
wherein the entry/exit transport device first section has an arcuate aperture formed therein, wherein the entry/exit transport device first section has a bracket which engages a first end of a selective biasing spring, wherein the entry/exit transport device second section has a bracket which extends through the arcuate aperture and engages a second end of the selective biasing spring, and wherein the selective biasing spring changes biasing directions when the gear is rotated and the bracket of the entry/exit transport device second section travels past a midpoint of the arcuate aperture.

10 more elements

An automated data storage library comprising:

a frame having a plurality of cells for accommodating a data storage unit, the data storage unit having a major dimension thereof lying in a plane parallel to a unit orientation plane;
an I/O drive for performing input/output operations with respect to a data storage unit inserted therein, the drive being mounted on the frame;
a unit engagement device for engaging and transporting a data storage unit whereby the data storage unit is transportable between the drive and a selected cell;
a cabinet substantially enclosing the frame, the I/O drive, and the unit engagement device, the cabinet having an entry/exit port formed therein;
an entry/exit transport device for transporting a selected data storage unit in an entry/exit transport plane parallel to the unit orientation plane between a predetermined position in the cabinet and the entry/exit port, the selected data storage unit being engagable by the unit engagement device in the predetermined position in the cabinet, the entry/exit transport device being substantially housed within the cabinet, the entry/exit transport device pivoting 90 degrees about an axis perpendicular to the unit orientation plane to transport the selected data storage unit between the entry/exit port and the predetermined position in the cabinet.

2 more elements

An automated data storage library comprising:

a frame having a plurality of cells for accommodating a data storage unit, the data storage unit having a major dimension thereof lying in a plane parallel to a unit orientation plane;
an I/O drive for performing input/output operations with respect to a data storage unit inserted therein, the drive being mounted on the frame;
a unit engagement device for engaging and transporting a data storage unit whereby the data storage unit is transportable between the drive and a selected cell;
a cabinet substantially enclosing the frame, the I/O drive, and the unit engagement device, the cabinet having an entry/exit port formed therein;
an entry/exit transport device for transporting a selected data storage unit in an entry/exit transport plane parallel to the unit orientation plane between a predetermined position in the cabinet and the entry/exit port, the selected data storage unit being engagable by the unit engagement device in the predetermined position in the cabinet, the entry/exit transport device being substantially housed within the cabinet, the entry/exit transport device pivoting 90 degrees about an axis perpendicular to the unit orientation plane to transport the selected data storage unit between the entry/exit port and the predetermined position in the cabinet, the entry/exit transport device having a cartridge engagement portion which has two edges, a first of the edges being configured to load/unload the selected data storage unit at the entry/exit port and a second of the edges being configured to load/unload the selected data storage cartridge at the predetermined position, the first and second edges being orthogonal to one another in the entry/exit transport plane.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.