US 9,174,621 B2 · Linear rail magnetic biasing for a storage library

Abstract

Systems and methods are described for providing magnetic biasing of a carriage in context of linear guides. In one embodiment, a robotic mechanism is configured to travel on a platform assembly within a structural context. The platform assembly transports a carriage in a Z direction, and the carriage transports the robotic mechanism in an X direction. The carriage moves in the X direction along rails (e.g., and/or other types of linear guides) in a substantially floating or unbiased manner. For example, one or more alignment features on the carriage are in communication with the rails to allow the carriage to move relatively freely within an alignment region defined by the alignment features. When the carriage reaches its desired X location, magnetic features bias the carriage into a substantially accurate, secure, and repeatable position.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A system for selectively biasing a carriage in context of linear guides, the system comprising:

a linear guide that extends in an X direction;
and
a carriage configured to travel along the linear guide in the X direction, the carriage comprising:
an alignment feature configured to form a relatively low-tolerance engagement between the carriage and the linear guide while the carriage is traveling along the linear guide in the X direction, such that the carriage is supportively engaged in adjacent contactable relation with the linear guide in a Z direction and is permitted to float relative to the linear guide in a Y direction, the X, Y, and Z directions being orthogonal to each other;
and
a biaser configured to magnetically shift the carriage in the Y direction relative to the guide means and to magnetically couple the carriage with the linear guide in such a way that forms a relatively high-tolerance engagement between the carriage and the linear guide to park the carriage in a substantially fixed position relative to the linear guide when the carriage is not traveling along the linear guide in the X direction.

3 more elements

A method for selectively biasing a carriage, the method comprising:

moving a carriage in an X direction to a desired X location with respect to a platform, the platform having a linear guide and the carriage having an alignment feature configured to form a relatively low-tolerance engagement between the carriage and the linear guide while the carriage is traveling along the linear guide in the X direction, such that the carriage is supportively engaged in adjacent contractable relation with the linear guide in a Z direction and is permitted to float relative to the linear guide in a Y direction, the X, Y, and Z directions being orthogonal to each other;
and
upon reaching the desired X location, magnetically shifting the carriage in the Y direction relative to the guide means and magnetically coupling the carriage with the linear guide in such a way that forms a relatively high-tolerance engagement between the carriage and the linear guide to park the carriage in a substantially fixed position relative to the linear guides when the carriage is not traveling along the linear guide in the X direction.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Linear rail magnetic biasing for a storage library

Life of this patent

Linear rail magnetic biasing for a storage library

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20