Hewlett-packard Company

Hewlett-packard Development Company, L.p.

David Paul Jones

Mark E Wanger

Robert Wesley Luffel

Robert L Mueller

Leslie G Christie, Jr

Thomas Charles Oliver

Nicholas D Thayer

Donald J Stavely

Paul Clinton Coffin

Curtis C Ballard

Mark A Smith

Thomas Edward Berg

Jennifer L Methlie

Daniel R Dauner

Douglas R Domel

Melvin C Crane

Kelly John Reasoner

Rick A Kato

Paul Clifton Coffin

A modular data storage system for handling and storing data cartridges comprises a cartridge access device and at least two laterally adjacent modular units. Each of the modular units may comprise a plurality of cartridge receiving devices and a plurality of elongate gear racks aligned along a displacement path. The elongate gear racks are substantially in alignment with one another such that the cartridge access device may be translated among the laterally adjacent modular units. The system further comprises a translation apparatus for moving a cartridge access device along a displacement path. The translation apparatus may comprise a plurality of drive pinions mounted to the cartridge access device and engaging the plurality of elongate gear racks, and a pinion drive apparatus operatively associated with the drive pinions. The pinion drive apparatus rotates the drive pinions to move the cartridge access device among the elongate gear racks of the adjacent modular units. The adjacent modular units may be comprised of a master modular unit and at least one slave modular unit. The master modular unit further comprises a power supply and may also comprise a control system operatively associated with the pinion drive apparatus, and each slave modular unit may be electrically connected to the power supply in the master modular unit.

Laterally expandable modular data storage system

A rack-mount storage system comprises an equipment cabinet that defines at least one device opening therein. A first device sized to be received by the first device opening defines a first mounting pathway therein. The first device has a chassis that is sized to receive at least one component of the first device and that also defines at least a portion of the first mounting pathway. A support spar sized to be received by the first mounting pathway and being sized to engage said equipment cabinet and extend substantially between first and second sides of the equipment cabinet engages the first mounting pathway and the equipment cabinet to support said first device in the equipment cabinet.

Low profile support system for device rack-mounting

A system and method for providing automated access to a plurality of data media located in an extendable drawer in an opening in a data storage system are provided. Briefly, one such method comprises the steps of: receiving information associated with one of the plurality of data media located in the drawer; based on the information associated with one of the plurality of data media, determining the corresponding predefined position relative to the opening in the data storage system; and positioning the drawer in the predefined position relative to the opening in the data storage system.

Systems and methods for providing automatic access to data media in a data storage system

Translation apparatus for moving a cartridge access device along a displacement path may comprise a first elongate gear rack aligned along the displacement path and a second elongate gear rack positioned in spaced-apart relation to the first elongate gear rack so that the second elongate gear rack is aligned along the displacement path. A first drive pinion mounted to the cartridge access device engages the first elongate gear rack. A second drive pinion mounted to the cartridge access device engages the second elongate gear rack. A pinion drive apparatus operatively associated with the first and second drive pinions rotates the first and second drive pinions to move the cartridges access device along the first and second elongate gear racks.

Apparatus for translating a cartridge access device

A system for providing access to a plurality of data media contained in a data storage system is provided. The data storage system comprises a plurality of media storage devices for storing the plurality of data media, a data exchange device for exchanging data stored on the plurality of data media, and a media handling system for transferring the plurality of data media between the plurality of media storage devices and the data exchange device. The system comprises a bulk access apparatus configured to cover a plurality of openings in the data storage system. Each of the plurality of openings in the data storage system provide access to one of the media storage devices. The system further comprises a locking mechanism configured to provide a first state in which the bulk access apparatus is locked to the data storage system and in which access to the plurality of openings is restricted, and a second state in which the bulk access apparatus is not securedly attached to the data storage system and access to the plurality of openings is provided.

Bulk access system for a data storage system

Systems and methods for providing a removable media handling system in a data storage system are provided. Briefly described, in one of many possible embodiments the data storage system comprises a plurality of housings, a media handling system, and a lift system. The plurality of housings are arranged in vertical stacks and each of the plurality of housings is configured to receive one or more media storage devices that are configured to receive a plurality of data media. The media handling system is configured to access the plurality of data media received by the media storage device. The lift assembly is configured to move the media handling system vertically between the plurality of housings. The media handling system and the lift assembly are configured such that the media handling system is removably attached to the lift assembly.

Systems and methods for providing a removable media handling system in data storage system

A mail slot data cartridge exchange system for a data storage system may comprise a drawer mounted to the data storage system so that the drawer can be moved between a retracted position and an extended position. A cartridge magazine for holding at least one data cartridge is sized to be removably received by the drawer so that at least a portion of the cartridge magazine is exposed when the drawer is in the extended position. A drawer stop index member is operatively associated with the drawer so that the movement of the drawer stop index member corresponds to movement of the drawer. A lock apparatus mounted to the data storage system is switchable between a locked state and an unlocked state. The lock apparatus engages the drawer stop index member when the lock apparatus is in the locked state and when the drawer is in a regulated extended position.

Mail slot data cartridge exchange system for use with a data storage system

A method for mounting a device in an equipment cabinet may comprises: Providing a device with a mounting pathway; providing a support spar that is sized to be received by the mounting pathway in the device; engaging the support spar with the mounting pathway; engaging a spacer sleeve with the support spar; and engaging the first and second ends of the support spar with the equipment cabinet so that the support spar supports the device within the cabinet and so that the spacer sleeve is positioned between the device and at least one side of the equipment cabinet.

Method for device rack-mounting

A cartridge engaging assembly for a cartridge handing system is disclosed. The assembly may include a cartridge engaging device positioned within each of the cartridge storage locations in a cartridge storage array. An actuator device may be included which is adapted to engage the cartridge engaging device in order to push a cartridge out of a storage location during a push operating mode or pull a cartridge into a storage location during a pull operating mode. An actuator drive assembly may be operably connected to the actuator device in order to linearly translate the actuator to device in a lateral direction. A linear translation assembly may be provided in order to linearly translate the read/write drive, actuator drive assembly, and actuator device among the storage locations in the cartridge storage array. A method for transporting a cartridge between a storage location and a read/write drive utilizing the cartridge engaging assembly is also disclosed.

Cartridge engaging assembly within a storage array

A cartridge engaging assembly for translating a cartridge is disclosed. The cartridge engaging assembly may include a linearly translatable cartridge engaging device adapted to engage a cartridge, and a first drive assembly operably connected to the cartridge engaging device which is adapted to linearly translate the cartridge engaging device in a lateral direction. A second drive assembly is operably connected to the cartridge engaging device and is adapted to linearly translate the cartridge engaging device in a longitudinal direction. A third drive assembly is operably connected to the cartridge engaging device and is adapted to rotate the cartridge engaging device around an axis. In one embodiment, the cartridge engaging assembly also includes a flip latch assembly, and the second drive assembly and the third drive assembly use the same motor. One or two tracking devices such as a bar code reader may also be included. A cartridge handling system utilizing the cartridge engaging assembly of the present invention is also disclosed, as is a method for rotating a cartridge engaging device of the cartridge engaging assembly of the present invention.

Rotatable cartridge engaging assembly

A cartridge engaging assembly for translating a cartridge is disclosed. The cartridge engaging assembly comprises a laterally extending thumb member adapted to abuttingly engage the cartridge. The assembly further comprises a floating finger assembly which is detached from the thumb member and is also adapted to engage the cartridge. The finger assembly comprises at least one floating finger member with a front portion, a rear portion, and a latch portion with a guide post attached thereto. The finger assembly may comprise recovery devices for recovering a displaced floating finger member. The assembly further comprises at least one guide sleeve with an elongate track adapted to receive the guide post, and a flexible gate assembly positioned within the elongate track at the forward end thereof. The assembly further comprises a get operating mode, a first retrieve operating mode, a first put operating mode, a second put operating mode, and a second retrieve operating mode. A method of translating a cartridge with a cartridge engaging assembly from a first cartridge receiving device to a second cartridge receiving device is also disclosed.

Cartridge engaging assembly with floating finger and flexible gate assemblies

A lift system for raising and lowering a carriage may comprise a pin-in-track position indexing apparatus having a position indexing track with first and second inclined branches and at least one guide pin for engaging the position indexing track. The guide pin may be attached to the carriage. Switching apparatus associated with the pin-in-track position indexing apparatus allows the guide pin to follow the first and second inclined branches of the position indexing track. An actuator operatively associated with the pin-in-track position indexing apparatus actuates the pin-in-track position indexing apparatus to raise and lower the carriage.

Pin-in-track lift system

An online repairable multiple drive library computer system, and method of online drive repair for repairing same, wherein the method comprises the steps of detecting that a drive has failed, placing the failed drive in an offline state, removing power to the failed drive, disconnecting any cabling attached to the failed drive, replacing the failed drive, reconnecting cabling to the replaced drive, restoring power to the replaced drive, and placing the replaced drive in an online state. All of the steps occur while one or more good drives in the multiple drive library computer system remain online, and accessible to a host.

System for online SCSI drive repair utilizing detachable secondary I/O

A cartridge handling system utilizing a cartridge locking apparatus adapted to simultaneously lock cartridges within corresponding storage locations and a cartridge engaging assembly lock-down apparatus adapted to secure the cartridge engaging assembly to a fixed housing portion of the cartridge handling system. The cartridge locking apparatus includes a cartridge locking device which, in a locked operating state, coacts simultaneously with resilient cartridge retainers to prevent release of cartridges from their storage locations, and an actuator to selectively lock or unlock the cartridge locking device. The cartridge engaging assembly lock-down apparatus includes a first member which is engageable with the cartridge engaging assembly, a second member attached to both the first member and the fixed housing portion, and an actuator to lock and unlock the lock-down apparatus.

Cartridge handling system with locking devices

A new frame structure for a multiple drive library computer system having a plurality of storage drives and a number of electronic and mechanical subsystems, each drive having a media-inserting face abutting a robotic media inserter, and an electrical connection face opposite to said media-inserting face. The frame structure comprises a primary frame structure which contains a number of said subsystems, and one or more modular drive housings, attachable to said primary frame structure, in which are mounted one or more of said storage drives, wherein each of said modular drive housings, and the drive(s) mounted therein, is removable from said primary housing as a unit. The frame structure with modular housings allows good drives in a multiple drive library computer system to remain online, and accessible to a host, during the repair of one or more failed drives.

Growing community of inventors

Bellvue, CO, United States of America

David Paul Jones