Gripper mechanism for tape cartridges
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorRaymond Yardy
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A gripper mechanism for manipulating tape cartridges in a tape library system, the tape library system having a plurality of storage cells for removably storing a tape cartridge therein, each tape cartridge formed with engageable side slots located at side portions of the cartridge designed for retaining a respective cartridge in a respective storage cell and including a downward sloped lower front edge portion. The gripper mechanism includes a pair of gripping fingers actuated for respectively engaging a respective side slot located at a side portion of the cartridge for manipulating the cartridge, and including support members extending outward from the gripper mechanism at a lower portion thereof for engagement with the sloped lower front edge portion of the cartridge.
Claims18
A gripper mechanism for manipulating tape cartridges in a tape library system, said tape library system having a plurality of storage cells for removably storing a tape cartridge therein, each tape cartridge formed with engageable side slots located at side portions of the cartridge designed for retaining a respective cartridge in a respective storage cell and including a downward sloped lower front edge portion, said gripper mechanism having a pair of gripper fingers actuated for respectively engaging a respective side slot located at a side portion of the cartridge for manipulating said cartridge, and including support means extending outward from said gripper mechanism at a lower portion thereof for engagement with said sloped lower front edge portion, wherein said cartridge is lifted by said support means and grasped by said gripper fingers for storage and retrieval operations.
A tape library system comprising:
- a plurality of storage cells each for removably storing a tape cartridge therein, a storage cell including a bottom portion having a retaining member extending outwardly therefrom, said retaining member including an upward extending lip portion for securing said tape cartridge within the storage cell;
- a tape cartridge for storing data, each tape cartridge formed with a side slot located at a respective side portion of the cartridge, said side slots designed for retaining a respective cartridge in a respective storage cell, said tape cartridge further including a downward sloped lower front edge portion, and, a recessed portion at said sloped lower front edge portion of said cartridge, wherein said upwardly extending lip portion engages said recessed portion for limiting movement of said tape cartridge when inserted within the storage cell;
- a gripper mechanism having a pair of gripper fingers actuated for respectively engaging a respective side slot located at a side portion of the cartridge for manipulating said cartridge, said gripper mechanism including ramp members extending outward from said gripper mechanism at a lower portion thereof for engagement with said sloped lower front edge portion;
- and,
- means for extending said gripper mechanism toward and away from said storage cell for tape cartridge storage and retrieval operations,
- wherein for a tape cartridge retrieval operation, said ramp members are actuated to lift said cartridge over said upwardly extending lip portion while in said cell prior to grasping said cartridge with said gripper fingers.
A tape library system comprising:
- a plurality of storage cells each for removably storing a tape cartridge therein, a storage cell including a bottom portion having a retaining member extending outwardly therefrom, said retaining member including an upward extending lip portion for securing said tape cartridge within the storage cell;
- a tape cartridge for storing data, each tape cartridge formed with a side slot located at a respective side portion of the cartridge, said side slots designed for retaining a respective cartridge in a respective storage cell, said tape cartridge further including a sloped lower front edge portion, and, a recessed portion formed at said lower front edge portion, wherein said upwardly extending lip portion engages said recessed portion for securing said tape cartridge within the storage cell;
- a gripper mechanism having a pair of gripper fingers actuated for respectively engaging a respective side slot located at a side portion of the cartridge for manipulating said cartridge, said gripper mechanism including ramp members each extending outward from said gripper mechanism at a lower portion thereof for engagement with said sloped lower front edge portion, and,
- means for extending said gripper mechanism toward and away from said storage cell for cartridge storage and retrieval operations,
- wherein for cartridge storage operations when said gripper mechanism is grasping said tape cartridge at said respective side slots, said gripper mechanism is caused to be extended toward the storage cell for inserting said cartridge in said cell, said cartridge being lowered behind said upwardly extending lip portion prior to releasing said gripper fingers.
A method for manipulating tape cartridges in a tape library system, said tape library system having a plurality of storage cells for removably storing a tape cartridge therein, each tape cartridge formed with engageable side slots located at side portions of the cartridge designed for retaining a respective cartridge in a respective storage cell and including a downward sloped lower front edge portion, said method comprising:
- a) engaging ramp members extending outward from a gripper device at a lower portion thereof with said sloped lower front edge portion of said cartridge;
- b) actuating a pair of gripper fingers provided in said gripper device for engaging a respective side slot located at a side portion of the cartridge for grasping said cartridge, and,
- c) lifting said cartridge by said ramp members while grasped by said gripper fingers for cartridge storage and retrieval operations.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.