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US 6,552,868 B1Granted
Magnetic tape library apparatus having small size and capable of quickly loading/unloading tape cartridges
AssigneeNEC Corporation
InventorKenichi Suzuki
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In a magnetic tape library apparatus comprising a cartridge storage shelf for storing a plurality of tape cartridges, a data recording/reproducing unit for recording/reproducing data to/from the tape cartridge, an entry mechanism for inserting/ejecting the tape cartridge into/from the magnetic tape library apparatus, and an access mechanism for transferring the tape cartridge between the cartridge storage shelf and the data recording/reproducing unit, the entry and the access mechanisms are structured into a single body so as to serve as an access unit.
Claims23
A magnetic tape library apparatus comprising:
- a cartridge storage shelf for storing a tape cartridge;
- a data recording/reproducing unit for recording/reproducing data to/from said tape cartridge;
- an entry mechanism for inserting/ejecting said tape cartridge into/from said magnetic tape library apparatus;
- and
- an access mechanism for transferring said tape cartridge between said cartridge storage shelf and said data recording/reproducing unit,
- wherein said entry mechanism and said access mechanism are structured into a single body so as to serve as an access unit for said tape cartridge, and
- wherein said tape cartridge is movable within said access unit in a first axial direction on a first plane and in a second axial direction oil a second plane perpendicular to said first plane.
4 more elements
A magnetic tape library apparatus comprising:
- a cartridge storage shelf for storing a tape cartridge;
- a data recording/reproducing unit for recording/reproducing data to/from said tape cartridge;
- an entry mechanism for inserting/ejecting said tape cartridge into/from said magnetic tape library apparatus;
- an access mechanism for transferring said tape cartridge between said cartridge storage shell and said data recording/reproducing unit;
- and
- a case which is provided with a cartridge insertion/ejection slot for inserting/ejecting said tape cartridge into/from the magnetic tape library apparatus;
- wherein said entry mechanism and said access mechanism are structured into a single body so as to serve as an access unit for said tape cartridge,
- wherein said access unit comprises:
- a chuck mechanism portion for releasably chucking said tape cartridge and loading/unloading said tape cartridge into/from each of said cartridge storage shelf and said data recording/reproducing unit;
- and
- a vertical transfer mechanism portion for transferring said chuck mechanism portion chucking said tape cartridge between said cartridge insertion/ejection slot, said cartridge storage shelf, and said data recording/reproducing unit, and wherein said chuck mechanism portion includes a hand portion for releasably chucking said tape cartridge, a hand drive portion for loading/unloading said tape cartridge into/from each of said cartridge storage shelf and said data recording/reproducing unit, and a lifter for transferring said tape cartridge between said cartridge insertion/ejection slot and a position where said hand portion can chuck said tape cartridge.
8 more elements
A magnetic tape library apparatus comprising:
- means for storing a tape cartridge;
- means for recording/reproducing data to/from said tape cartridge;
- means for inserting/ejecting said tape cartridge into/from said magnetic tape library apparatus;
- and
- means for transferring said tape cartridge between said storing means and said recording/reproducing means,
- wherein an arrangement of said inserting/ejecting means and an arrangement of said transferring means comprises a common unit, and
- wherein said tape cartridge is movable within said common unit in a first axial direction on a first plane and in a second axial direction on a second plane perpendicular to said first plane.
4 more elements
A magnetic tape library apparatus comprising:
- means for storing a tape cartridge;
- means for recording/reproducing data to/from said tape cartridge;
- means for inserting/ejecting said tape cartridge into/from said magnetic tape library apparatus;
- and
- means for transferring said tape cartridge between said storing means and said recording/reproducing means,
- wherein an arrangement of said inserting/ejecting means and an arrangement of said transferring means comprises a common unit,
- wherein said inserting/ejecting means comprises a chuck mechanism portion for releasably chucking said tape cartridge and loading/unloading said tape cartridge into/from each of said storing means and said recording/reproducing means, and
- wherein said chuck mechanism portion includes a lifter for transferring said tape cartridge between a cartridge insertion/ejection slot and a position where said hand portion can chuck said tape cartridge.
5 more elements
A magnetic media library apparatus comprising:
- a cartridge storage shelf for storing a media cartridge;
- a data recording/reproducing unit for recording/reproducing data to/from said media cartridge;
- an entry mechanism for inserting/ejecting said media cartridge into/from said magnetic media library apparatus;
- and
- an access mechanism for transferring said media cartridge between said cartridge storage shelf and said data recording/reproducing unit,
- wherein said entry mechanism and said access mechanism are movable together, and
- wherein said media cartridge is movable within said access mechanism in a first axial direction on a first plane and in a second axial direction on a second plane perpendicular to said first plane.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.