Tape cartridge transport magazine for an automated tape cartridge autoloader/library system

A tape cartridge transport magazine for a tape library, the tape cartridge transport magazine comprising:

• a rectangular housing configured to interface with a magazine port in the tape library;
• a plurality of individual carriages within the housing configured to receive and store a plurality of tape cartridges;
• and
• a drive assembly configured to transport the plurality of individual carriages in a loop between at least a first position and a second position vertically displaced relative to each other
• wherein the drive assembly is connected to a first side of each of the plurality of individual carriages, and
• wherein a tape cartridge is loaded onto an individual carriage through a second side opposite the first side of the individual carriage.

A method of operating a tape cartridge transport magazine, the method comprising:

• inserting a plurality of tape cartridges into a plurality of individual carriages in the tape cartridge transport magazine;
• inserting the tape cartridge transport magazine into a first magazine port in a tape cartridge autoloader library system;
• and
• transporting the plurality of tape cartridges on the plurality of individual carriages between vertically displaced first and second positions within the magazine to position an individual one of the plurality of tape cartridges for selection by a cartridge picker,
• wherein a drive assembly is connected to a first side of each of the plurality of individual carriages, and
• wherein a tape cartridge is inserted into an individual carriage through a second side opposite the first side of the individual carriage.

A tape cartridge transport magazine for an automated tape cartridge autoloader library system, the tape cartridge transport magazine comprising:

• a housing configured to interface with a magazine port in the tape cartridge autoloader library system;
• a plurality of storage locations horizontally oriented within the housing for receiving and storing a plurality of tape cartridges, wherein at least one of the storage locations comprises:
• a slidable flag to retract into the at least one storage location as a tape cartridge is inserted to indicate a cartridge present condition when the flag is retracted and an empty condition when the flag is not retracted;
• and
• a perforated tab to indicate when the at least one storage location is positioned to receive a tape cartridge from a cartridge picker;
• and
• means for transporting the plurality of storage locations within the housing between an upper portion of the housing and a lower portion of the housing.

A method of operating a tape cartridge transport magazine, the method comprising:

• inserting a plurality of tape cartridges into a plurality of individual carriages in the tape cartridge transport magazine;
• inserting the tape cartridge transport magazine into a first magazine port in a tape cartridge autoloader library system;
• and
• transporting the plurality of individual carriages horizontally and vertically within the tape cartridge transport magazine between an upper portion and a lower portion of the magazine to position an individual one of the plurality of tape cartridges for selection by a cartridge picker,
• wherein a drive assembly is connected to a first side of each of the plurality of individual carriages, and
• wherein a tape cartridge is inserted into an individual carriage through a second side opposite the first side of the individual carriage.