Cartridge orientation insertion detection for mass storage systems including finger detections of recesses in the cartridges

A mass storage library comprising:

• a plurality of cartridges,each of the cartridges having media for storing data information within an enclosure having a top, bottom, front, rear and two sides encasing the media, means for providing access to the media within the enclosure at one front corner of the enclosure, and a cartridge positioning indicator shaped in the form of a recess at one corner of the cartridge;
• at least one storage module each having a plurality of storage cells for retaining the cartridges;
• at least one input/output station having a plurality of input/output cells for retaining the cartridges and for externally entering and removing cartridges into and out of the mass storage library;
• a plurality of data recorder modules for receiving and reading information from and writing information to the media of the cartridge for information storage;
• and
• an accessor associated with the storage module for transportation of the cartridges between the storage cells and the input/output cells and for transporting cartridges between the storage cells and the data recorder modules;
• wherein the input/output station includes a toggle bracket having fingers, one for each input/output cell in the and pivoted to position said fingers of the toggle bracket to enter the recess of correctly positioned cartridges when the input/output station is closed, said toggle bracket preventing the closure of the input/output station if one or more cartridges placed into the input/output station is incorrectly oriented such that one or more of said fingers fails to enter the recess of the incorrectly oriented cartridge.

A tape cartridge library system comprising:

• a plurality of tape cartridges each of the tape cartridges having media for storing data information located within an enclosure having a top, bottom, front, rear and two sides encasing the media, means for providing access to the media within the enclosure at one front corner of the enclosure, and a cartridge positioning indicator shaped in the form of a recess at one corner of the cartridge;
• at least one storage module each having a plurality of storage cells for retaining the cartridges;
• at least one input/output station having a plurality of input/output cells for retaining the cartridges and for externally entering and removing cartridges into and out of the tape cartridge library system;
• a plurality of data recorder modules for receiving and reading information from and writing information to the media of the cartridge for information storage;
• an accessor associated with the storage module for transportation of the cartridges between the storage cells and
• an accessor associated with the storage module for transportation of the cartridges between the storage cells and the input/output cells and for transporting cartridges between the storage cells and the data recorder modules;
• wherein the input/output station includes a door having a door cam fastened to the door and pivotally connected to a station frame and a toggle bracket pivotally connected to the station frame and rotated by the door cams, said toggle bracket having fingers, one for each input/output cell in the input/output station, said toggle bracket pivoted to allow access to the input/output cells when the input/output station is open and pivoted to position said fingers of the toggle bracket to enter the recess of correctly positioned cartridges when the input/output station is closed, said toggle bracket preventing the closure of the input/output station if one or more cartridges placed into the input/output station is incorrectly oriented such that one or more of said fingers fails to enter the recess of the incorrectly oriented cartridge.