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US 7,331,056 B2Granted
Data storage cartridge having baffles
AssigneeStorage Technology Corporation
InventorsMichael L. Leonhardt, Michael V. Konshak
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A media cartridge for use with data storage libraries. The cartridge includes a housing having an opening through which a carrier tray can be loaded and extracted to reveal a media element. A number of baffles are included to limit exposure of the media elements to contamination.
Claims19
A media cartridge, the cartridge comprising:
- a housing defining an opening to a cavity within the housing;
- a carrier tray for carrying a media element, the carrier tray operable within the cavity for loading and extracting the media element through the opening;
- a plurality of baffles in the media cartridge cooperating to limit exposure of the cavity to contamination when the media element is loaded and extracted through the opening;
- wherein the carrier tray further comprises a latch to secure the carrier tray within the housing when the carrier tray is loaded within the housing;
- and
- wherein the latch includes a baffles.
3 more elements
A media cartridge for holding a plurality of data storage media, the media cartridge comprising:
- a housing defining an opening;
- a plurality of media carriers disposed within the housing, each media carrier carrying at least one data storage medium, each media carrier sliding through the opening thereby permitting access to the at least one carried data storage medium, each media carrier having a front portion positioned near the opening when the media carrier is seated within the housing and a rear portion positioned near the opening as the media carrier is extracted through the opening;
- a plurality of raised baffles cooperating to limit access to the housing through the opening, each media carrier having at least one of the plurality of raised baffles disposed on the media carrier front portion thereby creating a labyrinth structure in conjunction with at least one of the plurality of raised baffles disposed on an adjacent media carrier front portion;
- wherein the carriers further comprises a latch to secure the carrier tray within the housing when the carrier tray is loaded within the housing;
- and
- wherein each latch includes a baffle.
3 more elements
A method of protecting data storage media within a media cartridge, the method comprising:
- locating the media on a media carrier slideably insertable into the media cartridge, wherein the media carrier includes a latch having a baffle, the latch used to secure the carrier tray within the media cartridge when the media carrier is loaded in the media cartridge;
- sliding the media carrier into the media cartridge so that, when the media carrier is seated within the media cartridge, at least the baffle disposed on the latch is positioned adjacent to at least one second baffle within the media cartridge, whereby the at least one first baffle and the at least one second baffle form a first labyrinth structure limiting access to an interior space of the media cartridge;
- sliding the media carrier at least partially out of the media cartridge so that at least one third baffle disposed on the media carrier is positioned adjacent to the at least one second baffle, whereby the at least one third baffle and the at least one second baffle form a second labyrinth structure limiting access to an interior space of the media cartridge.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.