Data storage and retrieval system having plural data cartridges, plural drive mechanisms each with an associated transfer mechanism having a finger member to fully insert a cartridge into its associated drive

A system for storing and retrieving data, such system comprising:

• a conveyor system for carrying a plurality of data cartridges;
• a plurality of independently operable drive mechanisms;
• and
• wherein each one of the drive mechanisms has an associated data cartridge transfer mechanism for transferring a data cartridge between the conveyor system and one of the drive mechanisms;
• wherein each one of the data cartridge transfer mechanism includes:
• a finger member for forcing the data cartridge fully into the drive mechanism;
• and
• wherein each one of the data cartridge transfer mechanisms is adapted to engage one of the data cartridges in the conveyor system and retract said one of the data cartridges from the conveyor system and insert such retracted data cartridge into the associated one of the drive mechanisms and to engage a data cartridge in the associated drive mechanism and transport such data cartridge to the conveyor system;
• and
• wherein each one of the data cartridge transfer mechanism includes:
• a reversible motor;
• a pair of vertically opposed belt supports;
• a pair of belts carried by the belt supports;
• and,
• a drive mechanism coupled between the motor, the belts and belt supports, such drive mechanism being mechanically coupled to the pair of vertically opposed belt supports and belts mounted to the belt supports;
• and
• wherein the drive mechanism is coupled to change the vertical separation between the belt supports and drive the belts, the belt supports being changed between a normally, fully opened position to enable a portion of vertically positioned data cartridges extending outwardly from a carrier to pass between such supports as the conveyor system rotates the carriers to a desired position, and when a selected data cartridge is positioned in front of one of the drive mechanism selected to process such data cartridge, the transfer mechanism motor rotates in a first direction and, in response to such motor rotation, the belt supports being driven by the motor vertically towards each other until the belts thereon grasp the exposed sides of the selected data cartridge.

A system for storing and retrieving data, such system comprising:

• a conveyor system for holding data cartridges in a continuous closed loop arrangement, such loop having a substantially linear region;
• a plurality of independently operable drive mechanisms disposed along the linear region;
• and
• wherein each one of the drive mechanisms has an associated data cartridge transfer mechanism for transferring a data cartridge between the conveyor system and one of the drive mechanisms;
• wherein each one of the data cartridge transfer mechanism includes:
• a finger member for forcing the data cartridge fully into the drive mechanism;
• and
• wherein each one of the data cartridge transfer mechanisms is adapted to engage one of the data cartridges in the conveyor system and retract said one of the data cartridges from the conveyor system and insert such retracted data cartridge into the associated one of the drive mechanisms and to engage a data cartridge in the associated drive mechanism and transport such data cartridge to the conveyor system.