Storage Technology Corporation

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

Quantum Corporation

Other

Communications Capital Partners, LLC

John C Owens

David T Hoge

William C Dodt

Ryan S Porter

Michael W Johnson

Scott Ryan Patterson

George P Rambosek

Kim M Thomas

Paddy Eliot Collins

David Ray Berry

Peter A Johnson

Alexander Chan

Theodore James Oade

Sam Wen

Christopher Lee Felton

Thua Nang Dai

Gary Eugene Sadler

Dominic John Maglia

Jerry L Donze

Charles Allen Milligan

Michael Lawrence Leonhardt

Donovan M Janssen

Michael Vaughn Konshak

Brian P Egan

Samuel D Cheatham

Pat Eliot Collins

Ralph Leon Butts

Kurt William Pyatt

Debra C Rutherford

Donald R Schenck

Leland Hawkins

Dominic John Maglin

Hari S Narahari

Thomas J Rieger

The removable optical disc storage cartridge stores a plurality of optical disc media in a substantially stacked orientation for later extraction and presentation to a picker in an optical disc storage library. Each optical disc media is stored on a separate extractor that slides between a retracted and a stored position. An extractor tab, accessible outside or inside of the removable optical disc storage cartridge, is connected to each one of the extractors located within the removable optical disc storage cartridge. The removable optical disc storage cartridge further includes a security front door that operates between a closed and open position and further includes a locking element. The locking element may be operated by the picker or a release element contained on a magazine that handles multiple disc storage cartridges. The removable optical disc storage cartridge also includes seals to prevent dust from entering the removable optical disc storage cartridge.

Removable optical disc storage cartridge

The tape cartridge autoloader library system comprises at least one read/write tape drive, a tape cartridge picker, a single tape cartridge interface, and at least one pair of tape cartridge transport magazines within a compact form factor that fits into a standard library rack mount of cabinet. The autoloader/library system is a complete tape cartridge library that stores, manages, and automatically exchanges a plurality of tape cartridges between the tape drive unit, the single cartridge interface, and the tape cartridge transport magazines. The tape cartridge transport magazines are each configured to receive and store a plurality of individual tape cartridges in a horizontal relationship. The tape cartridge transport magazines also transport the individual tape cartridges within the tape cartridge transport magazine so that a specific one of the tape cartridges is in position for selection by the cartridge picker. The cartridge picker is configured to rotate to position the cartridge picker to exchange the individual tape cartridges with one of the tape drive, the tape cartridge transport magazines, and/or the single tape cartridge interface. The single cartridge interface is configured to receive individual tape cartridges for either storage in one of the tape cartridge transport magazines or read/write operations in the tape drive.

Automated tape cartridge autoloader/library system

Tape cartridge picker including a turntable that rotates in a fixed base to interface with at least one tape cartridge storage location and at least one tape drive. The turntable includes a cavity configured to receive a tape cartridge. The cavity is defined in the turntable about a central axis of rotation so that once received in the cavity, the tape cartridge may be rotated within the turntable for delivery to one of the at least one storage location and the at least one tape drive. Tape cartridges are loaded onto the turntable using a translation arm that extends horizontally from the turntable to engage or hook a tape cartridge and pull the tape cartridge into the cavity. Tape cartridges are unloaded from the turntable by extending the translation arm to slide the tape cartridge out of the cavity and into one of the at least one storage location and the at least one tape drive.

Tape cartridge picker for an automated tape cartridge autoloader/library system

A tape cartridge autoloader library system including at least one read/write tape drive, a tape cartridge picker, a single tape cartridge interface, and a pair of tape cartridge magazines within a compact form factor that fits into a standard library rack mount. The autoloader/library system is a complete tape cartridge library that stores, manages, and automatically exchanges a plurality of tape cartridges between the tape drive, the single cartridge interface, and the pair of tape cartridge magazines. The tape cartridge magazines are each configured to receive and store a plurality of individual tape cartridges in a horizontal relationship. The tape cartridge magazines transport the individual tape cartridges within the tape cartridge magazines so that an individual one of the tape cartridges is in position for selection by the cartridge picker. The cartridge picker rotates to exchange tape cartridges between one of the tape drive, the pair of tape cartridge magazines, and/or the single tape cartridge interface. The single cartridge interface exchanges individual tape cartridges between an operator and the autoloader/library system.

Compact form factor for an automated tape cartridge autoloader/library system

The tape cartridge transport magazine receives and stores tape cartridges in a horizontal orientation relative to the tape cartridge transport magazine to achieve a substantially smaller form factor. Once loaded into the magazine, the tape cartridges are shuffled in a vertical closed loop within the magazine so that any one of the tape cartridges can be positioned for selection by a cartridge picker. During shuffling within the magazine, individual tape cartridges are not flipped or reoriented, but remain properly oriented for selection by the cartridge picker. When used with a tape cartridge autoloader/library system as disclosed herein, a pair of interchangeable magazines can be utilized to store and provide tape cartridges for selection by a rotating cartridge picker.

Tape cartridge transport magazine for an automated tape cartridge autoloader/library system

A helical scan transport apparatus for reading and writing data on to a magnetic recording tape which is wound on a supply reel rotatably mounted within a removable tape cartridge includes a chassis having a front end portion and rear end portion. An elevator assembly is mounted on the chassis at the front end. The elevator assembly is configured to receive the tape cartridge and to position the tape cartridge in a loaded position. A take-up reel assembly is coupled to the chassis at the rear end position. A helical deck is mounted on a central portion of the chassis between the elevator assembly and the take-up reel assembly. The helical deck includes a rotary read/write head, a substantially linear tape loading path between the elevator assembly and the take-up reel assembly, and a movable guide for the seizing the tape from the tape loading path and for at least partially wrapping the tape around the rotary head. A linear threading mechanism is configured to grasp the leader block of the tape, thread the tape through the tape loading path of the helical deck, and couple the leader block to the take-up reel assembly. The helical transport has a form factor compatible with the Storage Technology Corporation Model 4400 Automated Cartridge System.

Helical scan transport for single reel tape cartridge

The tape drive control unit administers both computer data and video data that is stored on the same type of data storage media. This is accomplished by determining, when a magnetic tape is mounted in the tape drive, the format that is used to store the data on the magnetic tape media. In the case of video data, the data is directly written on to the magnetic tape media, while for computer data, a header is interposed between a leader portion of the magnetic tape on the 3480-type magnetic tape cartridge and the remainder of the magnetic tape contained therein.

Method and apparatus for automatically activating a one of video data channel and a computer data channel in a tape drive in response to detection of the nature of the data recorded on a magnetic tape loaded in the tape drive

An apparatus for reducing head wear in a helical scan tape transport passes a flow of relatively clean, dry air through a transport housing without allowing the flow of air to flow directly across the rotary head assembly. Air from a fan positioned at a rear portion of the transport cools a power supply and creates a positive air pressure within the transport housing. The air is heated by the power supply before it passes through the transport housing, so that only relatively 'dry' air reaches the rotary head assembly. The air is exhausted out the opening through which a tape is loaded. This arrangement substantially reduces the possibility of contaminants entering the transport housing. Additionally, the air cleans a magnetic recording tape on a tape cartridge as the tape is passes through the transport housing so that only relatively 'clean' tape reaches the rotary head assembly.

Apparatus and method for reducing head wear in helical scan tape

Indicator portion of a write protect block

The improved magnetic tape cartridge includes a leader block retainer mechanism that provides a positive locking function to automatically secure the leader block in place in the opening of the magnetic tape cartridge housing. The leader block retainer mechanism comprises detent members springably attached to both the top and bottom sides of the housing, juxtaposed to the opening, to engage corresponding features on the leader block to resist withdrawal of the leader block from the housing.

Magnetic tape cartridge having leader block retainer mechanism

A system is disclosed which threads a tape media leader block from a 3480-type cartridge to a takeup reel by aligning the tape media directly above the tape threading path, seating the leader block in the takeup reel, and lowering the tape media downwards onto the helical tape threading path guides by concurrently lowering the takeup reel and the tape cartridge onto the associated drive motor spindles. When the tape media is thus positioned in the tape threading path, the helical scan mechanism can then operate in conventional fashion to wrap a length of the tape media around the scanner for reading and writing data on the tape media.

Tape threading system for a helical tape drive

A mechanism for defining a write protect state of a data storage media enclosed in a housing of a data storage element is disclosed. The mechanism includes an aperture formed in an exterior surface of the housing, wherein the aperture has a first region and a second region. A member is movably secured within the aperture and is manually moveable between a first position wherein the member is positioned proximate the aperture first region, and a second position wherein the member is positioned proximate the aperture second region. A first human intelligible mark is placed on the housing proximate the aperture first region. The first human intelligible mark depicts a portion of a predetermined symbol corresponding to one of a write enabled state and a write protect state of the data storage media. A second human intelligible mark is placed on the member. The second human intelligible mark depicts a remaining portion of the symbol. The second human intelligible mark is alignable with the first human intelligible mark by moving the member into the first position. When the first and second human intelligible marks are aligned, the first and second human intelligible marks depict an unbroken image of the symbol, thereby indicating that the data storage media is in the one of the write enabled state and the write protect state. When the first and second human intelligible marks are not aligned, the first and second human intelligible marks depict a broken image of the symbol, thereby indicating that the data storage media is in another of the write enabled state and the write protect state of the data storage media.

Self identifying universal data storage element with human intelligible

This magnetic tape cartridge has the same exterior dimensions as a conventional 3480-type magnetic tape cartridge but houses different media. To clearly identify the media contained in the cartridge, a label receiving recess in included on the back of the cartridge. A human readable and machine readable label can be inserted into this recess to identify the media contained in this cartridge. Additional label recesses are provided juxtaposed to the media identification recess and on the top and side of the cartridge to receive user installed labels to uniquely identify the cartridge.

Magnetic tape cartridge having media identification

A linear threading apparatus for threading a tape through a predetermined path in a tape transport mechanism. The tape transport mechanism typically has an elevator assembly to receive a single-reel tape cartridge having a web of tape and a leader block, a tape drive assembly for reading and writing data on the tape, and a take-up reel assembly for receiving the tape. The linear threading mechanism includes a platform having a cam track positioned above the predetermined path that the tape is to travel. The platform has a linear bearing mechanism which provides a linear track from a point proximate to the elevator assembly to a point proximate to the take-up reel. A linear arm is attached to and travels freely over the linear bearing mechanism. Pivotally attached to the linear arm is a threading arm which is coupled with and travels in the cam track as the linear arm travels along the linear bearing mechanism. The linear arm is connected to and controlled by a belt and motor assembly. The cam track has a profile such that the threading arm properly positions the leader block of the tape along the predetermined path as the threading arm travels along said cam track.

Raised linear threading mechanism for a tape transport system

A universal data storage element presents a data storage element of uniform form factor while enables the selection of media types to provide variable data recording characteristics. Using multiple types of media in an automated library system or a manually operated media storage retrieval system is now possible with a uniform form factor exists in all of the data storage elements. Physical characteristics of the media are identified by a plurality of coding apertures outside the data storage element. A drive element decodes and identifies the type of media from the apertures.

Growing community of inventors

Arvada, CO, United States of America

John C Owens