Library for data storage tape cartridges
AssigneePatentia Hergiswil AG
InventorFriedhelm Steinhilber
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A library for cartridges of a data storage tape comprises a drive with a cartridge pocket and a magazine revolving about the drive with a plurality of receivers for the cartridges. The receivers are positionable in front of a cartridge pocket in order to change a cartridge between the receiver and the cartridge pocket. Cartridges can be inserted or removed through a port of the housing of the library into the receiver of the magazine. The cartridge pocket, a receiver positioned in front of the cartridge pocket, and the port of the housing may be linearly aligned such that cartridges can also be inserted through the port directly into the cartridge pocket or can be removed directly from the cartridge pocket through the port.
Claims10
A library for cartridges of a data storage tape, comprising:
- at least one drive comprising a cartridge pocket;
- a magazine comprising one or more receivers for holding the cartridges, said receivers being selectively positionable in front of the cartridge pocket in order to transfer a cartridge between the receiver and the cartridge pocket;
- and
- and a housing having a port through which cartridges can be inserted into the magazine and removed from the magazine,
- wherein the cartridge pocket of at least one drive, a receiver positioned in front of the cartridge pocket, and the port are disposed aligned with one another such that a cartridge can be directly transported linearly through the port and the receiver into the cartridge pocket or can be transported from the cartridge pocket through the receiver and the port.
A method of inserting a cartridge into a cartridge pocket in a library for cartridges of a data storage tape, comprising:
- providing a cartridge pocket of a drive in alignment with a port in a housing of a library;
- aligning a carrier with said cartridge pocket and said port along a transport axis;
- inserting a cartridge at least partially through said port;
- engaging opposing sides of said cartridge with a pair of grippers provided within said housing;
- driving said pair of grippers in a direction away from said port along said transport axis, thereby sliding said cartridge toward said cartridge pocket;
- and
- disengaging said grippers from said cartridge.
A method of removing a cartridge from a cartridge pocket in a library for cartridges of a data storage tape, comprising:
- providing a cartridge pocket of a drive in alignment with a port in a housing of a library;
- aligning a carrier with said cartridge pocket and said port along a transport axis;
- ejecting a cartridge from said cartridge pocket along said transport axis, whereby at least a portion of said cartridge is located outside of said cartridge pocket;
- engaging opposing sides of said cartridge with a pair of grippers;
- driving said pair of grippers in a direction away from said cartridge pocket along said transport axis, thereby sliding said cartridge at least partially out of said cartridge pocket;
- and
- disengaging said grippers from said cartridge.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.