International Business Machines Corporation

Kevin Keith Kartchner

Paul Y Hu

Hartmut Ernst Hausler

Reed Alan Hancock

Raymond Yardy

Armando Jesus Argumedo

Frank David Gallo

Scott M Rockwell

John Ray Blair

Colleen Renee Stouffer

James Alfred Jackmond

Joseph Chase Ramirez

Perry E Abbott

James C Simkins

Steve John Roffinoli

Stephen J Roffinoli

Cartridge for information storage media

A method and system are disclosed for providing a hard stop for a robot included within an automated tape cartridge loading/unloading system. The system includes a tape drive having a loader which includes a movable loader tray. The loader tray is moved by a loader motor included within the loader. A determination is made of an insertion of a tape cartridge by the robot into a front of the tape drive. This determination is made utilizing a sensor included within the tape drive. In response to the determination, the tray is continuously held against the front of the tape drive while the tape cartridge is being inserted into the drive by the robot, thus providing a hard stop for the robot once the tape cartridge is completely inserted into the tray.

Method and system for providing a hard stop for a robot in an automated

Disclosed is a mounting structure for mounting a horizontal insertion loading data storage drive in a data storage library having downwardly inclined shelves. A bracket mounts the data storage drive, and support bars are mounted in parallel in the data storage library and support the bracket on each side at a downwardly inclined angle. Thus, the horizontal insertion loading data storage drive is mounted at the downwardly inclined angle to receive data storage media from a robot accessor at the angle of the downwardly inclined shelves. The mounting structure support bars are parallel slides which slidably support the bracket at the downwardly inclined angle. A ratchet bar is mounted in the library at the downwardly inclined angle, and has a plurality of ratchet holes in the downwardly inclined direction. A latch is mounted on the bracket for engaging the ratchet holes of the ratchet bar to support the bracket and data storage drive against sliding on the support bar slides. The latch includes a movable tab for engaging the ratchet holes and a release actuator connected to the tab, so that operation of the release actuator disengages the tab from the engaged ratchet hole.

Angled drive mounting structure for data storage library

An interlock system is provided for removable-media drive unit to prevent the drive loader from attempting to pull in and mount a data cartridge before it is released by a mechanical gripper or human hand. The interlock system includes a light source and a photodetector positioned in front of the drive on opposite sides of the path cartridge takes when it is being inserted or removed from the drive loader. The presence of the cartridge, gripper or other object in the path interrupts a light beam from the light source thereby signalling the drive controller to disable the drive loader. When the gripper has released the cartridge and withdrawn, or when the path is otherwise clear, the photodetector again detects the light beam and signals the drive controller that the loader can be safely enabled. In one embodiment, the light source and photodetector are mounted on a card which plugs into the face of the drive. The presence of the card indicates to the drive controller that the drive is installed in a library environment and causes the drive controller to execute appropriate program code to interpret signals from the photodetector and enables and disables the drive loader in response.

Removeable media drive unit with loader interlock to indicate presence

Growing community of inventors

Tucson, AZ, United States of America

Kevin Keith Kartchner