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US 6,854,275 B2Granted
Method for cooling automated storage library media using thermoelectric cooler
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorJeremy Thomas Evans
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An automated storage library including: an enclosure having a cartridge storage area in an interior of the enclosure; a plurality of media cartridges disposed in the cartridge storage area; and a cooling unit operatively connected to the enclosure for cooling at least the cartridge storage area of the enclosure. Preferably, the enclosure has an exterior wall and the cooling unit is at least partially disposed in the exterior wall. More preferably, the cooling unit is a thermoelectric cooler having a hot side disposed on an exterior of the enclosure and a cold side disposed in the interior of the enclosure.
Claims22
An automated storage library, comprising:
- an enclosure having a media storage area in an interior of the enclosure;
- a plurality of storage media elements disposed in the media storage area;
- a cooling unit operatively connected to the enclosure for cooling at least the media storage area of the enclosure;
- and
- delivery means for retrieving at least one of the plurality of media storage elements and delivering the at least one of the plurality of media storage elements to a media drive unit;
- wherein:
- the enclosure has an exterior wall and the cooling unit is at least partially disposed in the exterior wall;
- the cooling unit comprises a thermoelectric cooler;
- and
- the thermoelectric cooler comprises a hot side disposed on an exterior of the enclosure and a cold side disposed in the interior of the enclosure.
7 more elements
An automated storage library comprising:
- an enclosure having a media storage area in an interior of the enclosure;
- a plurality of storage media elements disposed in the media storage area;
- a cooling unit operatively connected to the enclosure for cooling at least the media storage area of the enclosure;
- delivery means for retrieving at least one of the plurality of media storage elements and delivering the at least one of the plurality of media storage elements to a media drive unit;
- at least one sensor disposed in the interior of the enclosure for measuring a temperature in the interior;
- and
- a controller operatively connected to the at least one sensor and cooling unit for controlling the cooling unit based on the measured temperature.
4 more elements
A method for cooling an enclosure of an automated storage library, the method comprising:
- providing the enclosure having a media storage area in an interior of the enclosure and a plurality of storage media elements disposed in the media storage area;
- directly cooling at least the media storage area of the enclosure with a cooling unit operatively connected to the enclosure;
- retrieving at least one of the plurality of media storage elements and delivering the at least one of the plurality of media storage elements to a media drive unit:
- measuring a temperature in the interior;
- and
- controlling the cooling unit based on the measured temperature.
3 more elements
A method for cooling an enclosure of an automated storage library, comprising:
- providing the enclosure having a media storage area in an interior of the enclosure and a plurality of storage media elements disposed in the media storage area;
- directly cooling at least the media storage area of the enclosure with a cooling unit operatively connected to the enclosure;
- and
- retrieving at least one of the plurality of media storage elements and delivering the at least one of the plurality of media storage elements to a media drive unit;
- wherein the cooling unit comprises a thermoelectric cooler, the method further comprising cooling a hot side of the thermoelectric cooler.
2 more elements
A method for cooling an enclosure of an automated storage library, comprising:
- providing the enclosure having a media storage area in an interior of the enclosure and a plurality of storage media elements disposed in the media storage area;
- directly cooling at least the media storage area of the enclosure with a cooling unit operatively connected to the enclosure;
- and
- retrieving at least one of the plurality of media storage elements and delivering the at least one of the plurality of media storage elements to a media drive unit;
- wherein the enclosure has an exterior wall and the method further comprises insulating the exterior wall to reduce a heat loss through the exterior wall.
2 more elements
A method for cooling an enclosure of an automated storage library, comprising:
- providing the enclosure having a media storage area in an interior of the enclosure and a plurality of storage media elements disposed in the media storage area;
- directly cooling at least the media storage area of the enclosure with a cooling unit operatively connected to the enclosure;
- and
- retrieving at least one of the plurality of media storage elements and delivering the at least one of the plurality of media storage elements to a media drive unit;
- wherein at least one of the plurality of storage media elements is a tape cartridge.
2 more elements
An automated storage library, comprising:
- an enclosure having a media storage area in an interior of the enclosure;
- a plurality of storage media elements disposed in the media storage area;
- a cooling unit operatively connected to the enclosure for cooling at least the media storage area of the enclosure;
- and
- delivery means for retrieving at least one of the plurality of media storage elements and delivering the at least one of the plurality of media storage elements to a media drive unit;
- wherein the enclosure has an exterior wall and the enclosure further comprises insulation disposed in the exterior wall for reducing a heat loss through the exterior wall.
3 more elements
An automated storage library, comprising:
- an enclosure having a media storage area in an interior of the enclosure;
- a plurality of storage media elements disposed in the media storage area;
- a cooling unit operatively connected to the enclosure for cooling at least the media storage area of the enclosure;
- and
- delivery means for retrieving at least one of the plurality of media storage elements and delivering the at least one of the plurality of media storage elements to a media drive unit;
- wherein at least one of the plurality of storage media elements is a tape cartridge.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.