Loading and unloading mechanism for data storage cartridge and data drive

A device comprising a data storage cartridge loading and unloading mechanism comprising:

• a cartridge carrier for releasably receiving a data cartridge and for moving the data cartridge towards or away from a data cartridge coupler and for moving the data cartridge laterally between cartridge loaded and unloaded positions;
• at least two carrier cam members associated with the cartridge carrier;
• a pair of laterally spaced apart carrier guide members, each carrier guide member having at least one carrier guide cam slot to receive one of the at least two carrier cam members, each carrier guide cam slot being configured:
• to permit the cartridge carrier to move laterally between cartridge loaded and unloaded positions;
• and
• to cause the cartridge carrier to move towards or away from the data cartridge coupler in response to movement of the one carrier cam member within the carrier guide cam slot between cartridge loaded and unloaded positions;
• wherein the cartridge carrier moves the data cartridge laterally between cartridge loaded and unloaded positions in response to lateral movement of a carrier transporter,
• wherein each carrier guide cam slot is generally S-shaped,
• wherein each carrier guide cam slot comprises a forward longitudinal slot segment extending from a front end to a rearward end, an intermediate slot segment extending and slanting downwardly from the rearward end of the forward slot segment to a rearward end of the intermediate slot segment, and rearward slot segment extending from the rearward end of the intermediate slot segment to a rearward end of the rearward slot segment,
• wherein one carrier guide cam slot of one carrier guide member is positioned vertically above the carrier guide cam slot of the other carrier guide member,
• wherein one of the carrier guide members comprises primary and secondary carrier guide cam slots,
• wherein the secondary carrier guide cam slot is positioned vertically above the primary carrier guide cam slot,
• wherein the other of the carrier guide members comprises a single carrier guide cam slot, and wherein the secondary carrier guide cam slot is positioned vertically above the single carrier guide cam slot, and
• wherein the forward slot segment of the primary carrier guide cam slot is positioned laterally forward of the forward slot segment of the secondary carrier guide cam slot, wherein the forward slot segment of the secondary carrier guide cam slot is positioned vertically above and over the rearward slot segment of the primary carrier guide cam slot, and wherein the forward slot segment of the single carrier guide cam slot is positioned laterally approximately the same relative to the forward slot segment of the secondary carrier guide cam slot.

A data drive comprising:

• a carrier transporter movable laterally between cartridge loaded and unloaded positions;
• a data cartridge coupler associated with the carrier transporter which moves laterally in response to lateral movement of the carrier transporter;
• 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 comprising:
• a cartridge carrier for releasably receiving a data storage cartridge and for moving the data cartridge towards or away from a data cartridge coupler and for moving the data cartridge laterally between cartridge loaded and unloaded positions;
• at least two carrier cam members associated with the cartridge carrier;
• a pair of laterally spaced apart carrier guide members, each carrier guide member having at least one carrier guide cam slot to receive one of the at least two carrier cam members, each carrier guide cam slot being configured:
• to permit the cartridge carrier to move laterally between cartridge loaded and unloaded positions;
• and
• to cause the cartridge carrier to move towards or away from the data cartridge coupler in response to movement of the one carrier cam member within the carrier guide cam slot between cartridge loaded and unloaded positions;
• wherein the cartridge carrier moves the data cartridge laterally between cartridge loaded and unloaded positions in response to the lateral movement of the carrier transporter, and
• wherein each carrier guide cam slot is generally S-shaped,
• wherein each carrier guide cam slot comprises a forward longitudinal slot segment extending from a front end to a rearward end, an intermediate slot segment extending and slanting downwardly from the rearward end of the forward slot segment to a rearward end of the intermediate slot segment, and a rearward longitudinal slot segment extending from the rearward end of the intermediate slot segment to a rearward end of the rearward slot segment, and
• wherein the forward slot segment extends generally horizontally along a first longitudinal axis, wherein the rearward slot segment extends generally horizontally along a second longitudinal axis, and wherein the second longitudinal axis is below the first horizontal axis,
• wherein one of the carrier guide members comprises a primary carrier guide cam slot and a secondary carrier guide cam slot, and
• wherein the other of the carrier guide members comprises a single carrier guide cam slot, and wherein the secondary carrier guide cam slot is positioned vertically above the single carrier guide cam slot.

A data drive comprising:

• a drive door pivotally mounted for pivotal movement between opened and closed positions;
• a pair of laterally spaced apart first and second carrier guide panels, wherein the drive door is pivotally mounted at a forward end of each carrier guided panel for pivotal movement between opened and closed positions;
• each of the carrier guide panels having a primary carrier guide cam slot and wherein the first carrier guide panel has a secondary carrier guide cam slot spaced from the primary carrier guide slot, each of the carrier guide cam slots receiving one carrier cam member for movement therein and comprising:
• a forward elongated longitudinal slot segment extending rearwardly along a first longitudinal axis;
• an intermediate slot segment extending rearwardly from the forward slot segment and slanting downwardly relative to the first longitudinal axis;
• and
• a rearward elongated longitudinal slot segment extending rearwardly from the intermediate slot segment along a second longitudinal axis below the first longitudinal axis;
• a cartridge carrier for releasably receiving a data storage cartridge and for moving the data cartridge towards or away from a data cartridge coupler and for moving the data cartridge laterally between cartridge loaded and unloaded positions, the cartridge carrier having laterally spaced apart first and second sides;
• first and second spaced apart carrier cam members associated with the first side of the cartridge carrier, each of the first and second carrier members being received by one of the primary and secondary carrier guide cam slots of the first guide panel for movement therein;
• a third carrier cam member associated with the second side of the cartridge carrier and being received by the primary carrier guide cam slot of the second guide panel for movement therein;
• means associated with the first or second sides of the cartridge carrier for causing the drive door to pivot to opened or closed positions in response to lateral movement of the cartridge carrier;
• wherein the cartridge carrier:
• moves laterally towards or away from the drive door in response to lateral movement of a carrier transporter;
• and
• moves towards or away from the data cartridge coupler to coupled and uncoupled positions in response to movement of the carrier cam members within the intermediate slot segments of the carrier guide cam slots,
• wherein the primary carrier guide slot of the first carrier guide panel is positioned vertically above relative to the primary carrier guide slot of the second carrier guide panel,
• wherein the secondary carrier guide cam slot is positioned vertically above the primary carrier guide cam slot of the first carrier guide panel, and
• wherein the forward slot segment of the primary carrier guide cam slot of the first carrier guide panel is positioned laterally forward of the forward slot segment of the secondary carrier guide cam slot, wherein the forward slot segment of the secondary carrier guide cam slot is positioned vertically above and over the rearward slot segment of the primary carrier guide cam slot of the first carrier guide panel, and wherein the forward slot segment of the primary carrier guide cam slot of the second carrier guide panel is positioned laterally approximately the same relative to the forward slot segment of the secondary carrier guide cam slot.

A data storage cartridge loading and unloading mechanism for a data drive comprising a drive door movable between closed and opened positions, and a data cartridge coupler associated with the loading and unloading mechanism, wherein the loading and unloading mechanism comprises:

• a cartridge carrier for releasably receiving a data cartridge and for moving the data cartridge towards or away from a data cartridge coupler and for moving the data cartridge laterally between cartridge loaded and unloaded positions;
• at least two carrier cam members associated with the cartridge carrier;
• a pair of laterally spaced apart carrier guide members, each carrier guide member having at least one carrier guide cam slot to receive one of the at least two carrier cam members, each carrier guide cam slot being configured:
• to permit the cartridge carrier to move laterally between cartridge loaded and unloaded positions;
• and
• to cause the cartridge carrier to move towards or away from the data cartridge coupler in response to movement of the one carrier cam member within the carrier guide cam slot between cartridge loaded and unloaded positions;
• and
• means for moving the drive door to opened and closed positions in response to lateral movement of the cartridge carrier;
• wherein when the loading and unloading mechanism moves:
• away from the drive door, the carrier cartridge is caused to move towards the data cartridge coupler and to a coupled position;
• or towards the drive door and towards an unloading position, the carrier cartridge is caused to move away from the data cartridge coupler and to an uncoupled position,
• wherein each carrier guide cam slot is generally S-shaped,
• wherein each carrier guide cam slot comprises a forward longitudinal slot segment extending from a front end to a rearward end, an intermediate slot segment extending and slanting downwardly from the rearward end of the forward slot segment to a rearward end of the intermediate slot segment, and rearward slot segment extending from the rearward end of the intermediate slot segment to a rearward end of the rearward slot segment,
• wherein one carrier guide cam slot of one carrier guide member is positioned vertically above the carrier guide cam slot of the other carrier guide member,
• wherein one of the carrier guide members comprises primary and secondary carrier guide cam slots,
• wherein the secondary carrier guide cam slot is positioned vertically above the primary carrier guide cam slot, and
• wherein the other of the carrier guide members comprises a single carrier guide cam slot, and wherein the secondary carrier guide cam slot is positioned vertically above the single carrier guide cam slot.