Picker mechanism that rotatably accesses data cartridges at different heights and library device using same
AssigneeNEC Corporation
InventorsKenichi Ojima, Manabu Tsuchiya
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A picker mechanism and a library device having the picker mechanism are provided in which their miniaturization can be achieved. A drive device mounted on the library device and the picker mechanism to load and unload data cartridges to and from a cell in a magazine include a swivel mechanism made up of a swivel driving motor to rotate the picker mechanism on an elevator that supports the picker mechanism, a feeding section having a picker arm on its side that is connected to a notch to be held in a fixed manner which is formed on a side of the data cartridge and, a feeding section driving mechanism made up of a picker driving motor to move the feeding section in a straight line.
Claims10
A picker mechanism for loading and unloading a data cartridge for a read/write drive device that reads and writes data onto a data cartridge, the picker mechanism also for loading and unloading a data cartridge from a data cartridge retaining cell;
- wherein the picker mechanism is in an enviromnent having a plurality of data cartridge retaining cells, each for housing a data cartridge, the plurality of cells arrayed specifically in a magazine,
- wherein the picker mechanism transfers a data cartridge from a preselected cell in the magazine to the drive device, and vice versa;
- the picker mechanism comprising:
- a data cartridge feeding and ejection section including a picker arm immovably attached on one side of the feeding and ejection section;
- a base for supporting the picker mechanism, upon which the data cartridge feeding and ejection section is rotatably mounted;
- and
- means for moving said feeding and ejection section to draw said feeding and ejection section into said picker mechanism with said picker arm held in a fixed manner in a notch formed on a side of each of said data cartridges during the moving of said feeding and ejection section,
- wherein the data cartridge feeding and ejection section is configured to feed or eject a data cartridge at a selected location after the cartridge feeding and ejection section has rotated a desirable angle.
A library device comprising:
- at least one drive device to read and write data from and onto storage media housed in a plurality of data cartridges;
- at least one magazine having a plurality of cells each housing one of said plurality of said data cartridges,
- a picker mechanism to load and unload each of said data cartridges on or from said at least one drive device and each of said cells;
- and
- an accessor mechanism to mount said picker mechanism and to transfer said picker mechanism between said at least one drive device and each of said cells;
- wherein said picker mechanism comprises:
- a swivel mechanism to rotate said picker mechanism on said accessor mechanism,
- a feeding and ejection section having a picker arm immovably attached on one side of said feeding and ejection section;
- and
- means for moving said feeding and ejection section to draw said feeding and ejection section into said picker mechanism with said picker arm held in a fixed manner in a notch formed on a side of each of said data cartridges during the moving of said feeding and ejection section.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.