Exabyte Corporation

Daniel W Hoekstra

Daniel J Woodruff

Thomas J Studebaker

John F Ellis

Bruce L Younglove

Thomas W Volckhausen

Christopher L Scott

Ronald L Lass

David M Romig

A bezel (100) mitigates cartridge over ejection from a tape drive, the tape drive receiving and ejecting a cartridge of magnetic tape for performing recording and reading operations with respect to the magnetic tape. The bezel (100) comprises both a bezel plate (102) and a pair of cartridge braking projections (120) attached thereto. The cartridge braking projections partially extend into a cartridge slot (104) and retard motion of a cartridge travelling through the slot. The cartridge braking projections (120) are resilient and bidirectionally flexible, preferably being formed of cellular urethane. The cartridge braking projections (120) extend into the slot by a predetermined distance above a lower cartridge plane (115). In one embodiment, the bezel (100) is attached to a rack which accommodates the tape drive.

Tape drive with bezel having cartridge ejection retarding projections

An automated cartridge handling system or library (20, 20') for storing cartridges (22) of information storage media comprises a cartridge holder (26); a tape drive (30) movably mounted with respect to the cartridge holder; and, a transport system (40) for transporting the tape drive (30) in a drive transport path (42) between a unloaded position and a cartridge loaded position. The cartridges (22) remain stationary in the library while the tape drive is transported between the unloaded position and the cartridge loaded position. The cartridge holder library has a plurality of apertures (70) which receive cartridge holders or spines (80). To retain the cartridge (22) within the spine, each spine has resilient cartridge retaining fingers (100) formed in its interior cavity (90) for engaging a notch (104) on the cartridge. Each spine is provided with stabilization flanges (112) for stabilizing the cartridge. Each spine has asymmetrical orientation flanges (116) so that the cartridge-laden spine can be inserted into the library only in an up-right orientation.

Cartridge spine and library employing same

Cartridge handling system with moving I/O drive

An automated library (30) handles a plurality of data storage units (e.g., data cartridges) stored therein. The library comprises an octagonal drum-like member (34) mounted above a library frame (32). The drum (34) has a plurality of faces on an exterior periphery thereof, each for selectively accommodating a cartridge rack (62). Each face of the drum has a rack mount (110) selectively attachable thereto. The library further comprises a rack (38) for accommodating a plurality of modular I/O drive-containing drawers (64). A picker device (80) engages and transports data cartridges between drives (320), an active rack (60), and an entry/exit port transport (500). The entry/exit transport device (500) transports a selected cartridge between a predetermined position in the cabinet and the entry/exit port (100). The entry/exit transport device (500) is both rotatable and extensible. A picker move method and library inventory method are also provided.

Cartridge library and method of operation

An automated library (30) for handling a plurality of data storage units comprises a frame (32), an I/O drive (320); a unit engagement device (80) which transports data storage units between the drive and the storage receptacle. A cabinet substantially encloses the frame and has an entry/exit port (100) formed therein. The library is further provided with an entry/exit transport device (500) which pivots 90 degrees about an axis perpendicular to a unit orientation plane to transport a selected data storage unit between the entry/exit port and a predetermined position in the cabinet. The entry/exit transport device has a cartridge engagement portion with two edges (574, 576), a first of the edges being configured to load/unload the selected data storage unit at the entry/exit port and a second of the edges being configured to load/unload the selected data storage cartridge at the predetermined position. The first and second edges are orthogonal to one another in the entry/exit transport plane.

Growing community of inventors

Louisville, CO, United States of America

Daniel W Hoekstra