Robotics for a data storage system
AssigneeTandberg Data ASA
InventorHåvard Hoelsaeter
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A data storage and retrieval device utilizes a data cartridge recording and playback apparatus and has storage magazines for holding a plurality of data cartridges for use by the recording and playback apparatus. A cartridge shuttle moves the data cartridges between the recording and playback apparatus and the storage magazines. The cartridge shuttle has a translation drive for moving the shuttle and the cartridges held therein along a translation space within the data storage and retrieval device. The shuttle also has an elevator for lifting and lowering the cartridges, a rotation apparatus to rotate the cartridges, and a cartridge gripper to move the cartridges into and out of the rotation apparatus.
Claims21
A cartridge shuttle for use in an automated cartridge recording and playback apparatus, comprising:
- a chassis;
- a rotation frame on said chassis operable to rotate the data cartridge;
- a cartridge picker in said rotation frame operable to draw the data cartridge into the rotation frame and to push the data cartridge from said rotation frame;
- a translation apparatus connected to said chassis for translational movement of said chassis in a translation space so that the data cartridge in the rotation frame is carried from a first location to a second location;
- and
- an elevator on said chassis, said elevator having said rotation frame mounted thereon, said elevator being operable to move said rotation frame and the data cartridge carried in said rotation frame in a direction substantially perpendicular to the translational movement;
- said elevator including first and second threaded shafts through threaded nuts at one side of said rotation frame and spring loaded lifters acting at another side of said rotation frame.
A data storage and retrieval device, comprising:
- a housing;
- a tape drive mounted in said housing;
- at least one storage magazine in said housing, said storage magazine having a plurality of storage slots for holding data cartridges;
- a cartridge shuttle mounted in said housing and operable to move the data cartridges from said storage magazine to said tape drive and vise versa, said cartridge shuttle including:
- a chassis;
- a rotation frame on said chassis to rotate the data cartridge;
- a cartridge picker in said rotation frame operable to draw the data cartridge into the rotation frame and to push the data cartridge from said rotation frame;
- and
- a translation apparatus connected to said chassis for translational movement of said chassis in a translation space so that the data cartridge in the rotation frame is carried from a first location to a second location;
- and
- an elevator on said chassis, said elevator having said rotation frame mounted thereon, said elevator being operable to move said rotation frame and the data cartridge carried in said rotation frame in a direction substantially perpendicular to the translational movement;
- said elevator including first and second threaded shafts through threaded nuts at one side of said rotation frame and spring loaded lifters acting at another side of said rotation frame.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.