Data storage cartridge loading and unloading mechanism, drive door mechanism and data drive

A data storage cartridge loading and unloading mechanism for a data drive comprising a drive door assembly having a drive door movable between closed and opened positions, a data cartridge coupler associated with the loading and unloading mechanism, a pair of spaced apart carrier cam slots, and a pair of door cams each having a cam pin for causing the drive door to move between the closed and opened positions, the loading and unloading mechanism comprising:

• a cartridge carrier for releasably receiving the data cartridge and for moving the data cartridge towards or away from the data cartridge coupler, and having a pair of spaced apart sides, each side rotatably mounting a pair of laterally spaced apart cam rollers;
• a pair of laterally spaced apart carrier guides each having an interior and exterior for receiving the cartridge carrier therebetween, each carrier guide further having:
• a pair of laterally spaced cartridge carrier cam slots aligned along the same longitudinal axis;
• and
• a drive door cam slot for receiving a drive door cam actuating member of one of the drive door cams and for actuating the drive door cam;
• a pair of carrier cam assemblies, each carrier cam assembly associated with the exterior of one of the carrier guides and having a carrier cam member that is receivable by and for engaging one of the carrier cam slots when received thereby;
• wherein each of the cam rollers extends through and is movable within one of cartridge carrier cam slots and which engages one of the carrier cam assemblies associated with the carrier guide of the one cartridge carrier cam slot so that the one carrier cam assembly can move the cartridge carrier towards or away from the data cartridge coupler;
• wherein when the loading and unloading mechanism moves towards the drive door assembly and towards a cartridge unloading position:
• each cartridge carrier cam slot engages the one cam roller so that the cartridge carrier moves towards the drive door assembly and towards the cartridge unloading position;
• each carrier cam assembly causes the cartridge carrier to move away from the data cartridge coupler and to an uncoupled position;
• and
• each drive door cam slot receives the one drive door cam actuating member and actuates the one drive door cam to a drive door opened position;
• wherein when the loading and unloading mechanism moves away from the drive door assembly and towards a cartridge loading position:
• each cartridge carrier cam slot engages the one cam roller so as to cause the cartridge carrier to move away from the drive door assembly and towards the cartridge loading position;
• each carrier cam assembly causes the cartridge carrier to move towards the data cartridge coupler and to a coupled position;
• and
• each drive door cam slot engages the one drive door cam actuating member and actuates the one drive door cam to a drive door closed position.

A data drive comprising:

• a data cartridge coupler;
• a carrier transporter having the data cartridge coupler associated therewith and movable laterally between cartridge loaded and unloaded positions;
• a drive motor assembly for causing the carrier transporter to move laterally between cartridge loaded and unloaded positions;
• a data storage cartridge loading and unloading mechanism having a cartridge carrier for releasably receiving a data storage cartridge and for moving the data cartridge towards or away from the data cartridge coupler and for moving the data cartridge laterally between cartridge loaded and unloaded positions;
• wherein the cartridge carrier moves the data cartridge towards or away from the data cartridge coupler and moves the data cartridge laterally between cartridge loaded and unloaded positions in response to lateral movement of the carrier transporter,
• wherein the loading and unloading mechanism further comprises:
• at least one carrier guide associated with the carrier transporter for receiving the cartridge carrier and having:
• at least one cartridge carrier cam slot;
• and
• cam means for engaging and actuating a drive door cam between drive door closed and opened positions;
• a carrier cam assembly associated with the at least one carrier guide for causing the cartridge carrier to move towards or away from the data cartridge coupler;
• wherein the cartridge carrier has cam means extending through and movable within the at least one cartridge carrier cam slot and engaging the carrier cam assembly so that the carrier cam assembly can move the cartridge carrier towards or away from the data cartridge coupler;
• wherein when the loading and unloading mechanism moves towards the unloading position:
• the at least one cartridge carrier cam slot engages the cartridge carrier cam means so that the cartridge carrier moves towards the cartridge unloading position;
• the carrier cam assembly causes the cartridge carrier to move away from the data cartridge coupler and to an uncoupled position;
• and
• the carrier guide cam means engages and actuates the drive door cam to a drive door opened position;
• wherein when the loading and unloading mechanism moves towards a loading position:
• the at least one cartridge carrier cam slot engages the cartridge carrier cam means so as to cause the cartridge carrier to move towards the cartridge loading position;
• the carrier cam assembly causes the cartridge carrier to move toward the data cartridge coupler and to a coupled position;
• and
• the carrier guide cam means engages and actuates the drive door cam to a drive door closed position.

A data drive comprising:

• a data cartridge coupler;
• a carrier transporter having the data cartridge coupler associated therewith and movable laterally between cartridge loaded and unloaded positions;
• a drive motor assembly for causing the carrier transporter to move laterally between cartridge loaded and unloaded positions;
• a data storage cartridge loading and unloading mechanism having a cartridge carrier for releasably receiving a data storage cartridge and for moving the data cartridge towards or away from the data cartridge coupler and for moving the data cartridge laterally between cartridge loaded and unloaded positions;
• wherein the cartridge carrier moves the data cartridge towards or away from the data cartridge coupler and moves the data cartridge laterally between cartridge loaded and unloaded positions in response to lateral movement of the carrier transporter,
• wherein the drive motor assembly comprises a motor and gear drive assembly, a rotatable lateral movement transfer member, and a movement transfer responsive member associated with the carrier transporter that imparts lateral movement to the carrier transporter in response to rotation of the lateral movement transfer member, the motor and gear drive assembly causing reciprocal and reversible rotation of the lateral movement transfer member.

A data drive comprising:

• a data cartridge coupler;
• a carrier transporter having the data cartridge coupler associated therewith and movable laterally between cartridge loaded and unloaded positions;
• a drive motor assembly for causing the carrier transporter to move laterally between cartridge loaded and unloaded positions;
• a data storage cartridge loading and unloading mechanism having a cartridge carrier for releasably receiving a data storage cartridge and for moving the data cartridge towards or away from the data cartridge coupler and for moving the data cartridge laterally between cartridge loaded and unloaded positions;
• wherein the cartridge carrier moves the data cartridge towards or away from the data cartridge coupler and moves the data cartridge laterally between cartridge loaded and unloaded positions in response to lateral movement of the carrier transporter,
• wherein the drive motor assembly further causes the carrier transporter to move laterally to an appropriate position for reading/writing data from a disk medium the data cartridge by a read/write head.