Storage Technology Corporation

James P Campbell

Timothy Craig Ostwald

Kenneth Lee Manes

Donald Robert Manes

Bernard Alan Johnson

A system for relocating elements within a storage library is provided, the library comprising plurality of adjacent horizontal arrays of storage cells and at least one robot that moves along the horizontal arrays and can retrieve objects from and place objects into the storage cells. The present invention comprises a cross-cabinet guide rail that is placed at the end of the adjacent horizontal arrays and serves as a means 1) to move media elements and robots between adjacent arrays of storage cells, 2) to provide an easy access method for the entry and removal of components from the library, and 3) to provide a method for movement of cartridges and robots between separate library enclosures.

Lateral cross-cabinet access for horizontal storage library

A media storage library using a horizontal cell array structure is provided. The library comprises an enclosure containing at least one horizontal array of storage cells and at least one picker robot that can move horizontally over the cell array by means of guide rails. Multiple horizontal cell arrays may be stacked vertically in separate rows, wherein the space between the rows is limited by the vertical height of the picker robot. The horizontal arrays may slide horizontally out of the library enclosure, creating an access pathway for human operators. In addition, multiple horizontal arrays may be arranged end to end within each row.

High density data storage library with horizontal array structures

A backplane is disclosed for attaching storage devices to the backplane that utilize removable media. The backplane is distributed and scalable. The backplane includes a generally horizontal portion for distributing electronic signals to the storage devices and a plurality of connectors coupled to said generally horizontal portion for receiving the storage devices. The storage devices are coupled to the backplane utilizing the generally horizontal portion. The storage devices are not coupled to the backplane utilizing a front or a back of any one of the storage devices such that the front and back of each storage device remain accessible when the storage devices are coupled to the backplane.

Distributed scalable backplane

A system for directing robot movement in a storage library is provided, the library comprising at least one horizontal array of storage cells and at least one robot that moves along the horizontal array and can retrieve objects from and place objects into the storage cells. The system comprises a guide rail that runs along the length of the horizontal array and loops around from one end of the horizontal array to the other end. The robot may move along the guide rail in a continuous, unidirectional loop. If multiple robots are added to the library, they can be made to move in the same direction along looping guide rail, thus elimination contention among robot movements. If multiple horizontal arrays are stacked vertically within the library, the looping guide rail allows robots to loop around and return to the same level or move onto a different horizontal level.

Outer route for robots in a horizontal storage library

A guide rail switch for a robotic track system is provided, the robotic track system comprising at least one horizontal guide rail, at least one vertical guide rail, and at least one robot that can move along the guide rails. The switch comprises a frame coupled to the horizontal guide rail and the vertical guide rail, and a moving joint coupled to the frame, wherein the moving joint can move between a first and second position. A first rail section is coupled to the moving joint, wherein the first track section connects to the horizontal guide rail when the moving joint is in the first position. A second rail section coupled to the moving joint, wherein the second track section connects to the vertical guide rail when the moving joint is in the second position. This switch allows the robot to move between the vertical and horizontal rail depending on which position the switch is in.

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Mead, CO, United States of America

James P Campbell