Hard disk drive picking device and method
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsRobert G. Emberty, Craig Klein, Daniel J. Winarski
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed is a hard disk drive picking device and method for transferring a disk drive from one of a plurality of storage bins in a library to a destination wherein the disk drive may be electrically interconnected to a computer. The picking device includes a backplane adapted to provide power or I/O interconnections between the disk drive and the destination during transfer of the disk drive.
Claims39
A method for communicating between one or more host computers through a destination in a hard disk drive library and one or more disk drives shelved in corresponding storage bins in the library, comprising:
- gripping a first disk drive at a first storage bin corresponding to the first disk drive;
- translating the first disk drive within the library to a second storage bin corresponding to a second disk drive;
- and
- powering the first disk drive during said step of translating.
A method for communicating between one or more host computers through a destination in a hard disk drive library and one or more disk drives shelved in corresponding storage bins in the library, comprising:
- gripping a first disk drive at a first storage bin corresponding to the first disk drive;
- translating the first disk drive within the library to a second storage bin corresponding to a second disk drive;
- and
- powering the first disk drive during said step of translating;
- wherein said step of powering the first disk drive at least commences spinning the first disk drive up to operating velocity during said translating.
A robotic picker for communicating between one or more host computers and one or more disk drives shelved in respective storage bins in a hard disk drive library through a destination in the library, comprising:
- a first gripping element for selectably gripping and releasing a first disk drive;
- a translating mechanism for translating said first gripping element from the storage bin corresponding to the first disk drive to the destination, and
- a picker backplane attached proximate said first gripping element, said picker backplane being adapted to provide a first power connection between the first disk drive and a source of electrical power for powering the first disk drive while gripped by said first gripping element over the range of said translating.
A library of hard disk drives for use by one or more host computers communicating with the library through a destination, comprising:
- a plurality of storage bins, each bin being adapted to receive a corresponding one of the hard disk drives;
- and
- a robotic picker comprising a first gripping element for selectably gripping and releasing a first one of the disk drives, a translating mechanism for translating said first gripping element from one of said storage bins to another, and a picker backplane attached proximate the first gripping element adapted to provide a first power connection between a source of electrical power and the first disk drive for powering the first disk drive over the range of said translating.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.