Storage Technology Corporation

Storage Technology Coproration

Lynn C Jacobs

Donovan M Janssen

Christian Allen Todd

Joseph A Fryberger

Robert E Leonard

Matthew P Wojciechowski

Brian P Egan

Charles Allen Milligan

Michael Lawrence Leonhardt

Michael Vaughn Konshak

Joe Kent Jurneke

Gerald B Lammers

Samuel D Cheatham

James William Wolf

Christian P Marlow

Patrick M Barton

A tape threading apparatus (20) includes a tape guide arm (22) having a spring-biased elbow (32). The arm (22) is coupled for rotation with a rotatable shaft (24). The shaft is provided with a barrel cam (76, 92) for a third dimension of movement. A drive mechanism includes two gears (88, 90) that overlap to permit vertical slippage in the third dimension of movement. An arm guide cam slot (102) provides a directional orientation for movement of the arm (22) along a tape travel pathway (100).

Automatic tape guide arm with three dimensional range of motion and

A tape cartridge and reel for storing magnetic tape wound on the reel such that damage to the edges of the magnetic tape is significantly reduced. A protective ring is formed in the reel or in the tape cartridge such that shock-induced energy is transmitted through a defined path. Transmission of the shock-induced energy through the defined path is effective to avoid the compression of the flanges of the reel so that the edges of the magnetic tape are not folded, wrinkled, or otherwise damaged.

Tape reel and cartridge having protective flange rings

The coaxial reel tape cartridge uses a lengthy tape path within the tape cartridge to reduce the stresses on the tape medium as it is transported between the two reels. The tape is drawn from each reel around a corresponding rotating guide element which is coplanar with the tape reel. The tape is then transported along one side of the tape cartridge exterior housing to a corresponding hydrostatic bearing which is located at a corner of the tape cartridge adjacent the tape access opening. The hydrostatic bearing is coplanar with the tape guide, but at a slight angle with the vertical to thereby impart a slight twist to the tape as it traverses the length of the tape cartridge. The two hydrostatic bearings are located inside of and at opposite ends of the tape cartridge exterior housing, flanking the tape access opening. The two hydrostatic bearings are attached to a base plate which maintains the hydrostatic bearings coplanar with respect to each other. The base plate itself is angled with respect to the horizontal plane of the tape cartridge exterior housing so that the tape, as it traverses the path between the two hydrostatic bearings, changes elevation from the plane of the first reel to the plane of the second reel. The tape is only subjected to a twist along one segment of the tape path while remaining coplanar along this segment of the tape path, and is subjected to an elevation change in a manner that involves neither twist nor bending.

Coaxial reel tape cartridge with reduced tape forces

A cassette for a high performance tape drive is disclosed. A cassette shell having the same general external dimensions as an industry standard leader block tape cartridge (3480/3490) includes both a tape supply spool and a take-up spool. Two tape guides present a segment of tape to a cassette access port which can be closed by a sliding door to prevent contamination when the tape is not in use. A tape cleaning device and a spool locking device are incorporated into the cassette mechanism.

Tape cassette with internal tape cleaning and locking

A read/write head positioning device for vertically displacing a magnetic head relative to a tape transport path of a high-performance tape path system, enabling the magnetic head to read and write magnetic data on a plurality of parallel data tracks of a passing magnetic medium which is moving longitudinally on the tape transport path. The device includes a support base assembly fixedly secured in a position proximate to the tape transport path, a carriage assembly adapted to securely receive a magnetic head, and a rack and pinion linear slide bearing unit interposed between the carriage and base to enable the carriage to smoothly and controllably move in the vertical axis relative to the base under the control of an electromagnetic device. The linear slide mechanism includes a rectangular carriage and a base of substantially U-shaped cross-section disposed so as to straddle the carriage. The carriage has longitudinal recesses of rectangular cross-section symmetrically formed on parallel side surfaces. The base has longitudinal recesses formed in opposing inner surfaces of skirt portions in opposing relationship with the longitudinal recesses of the carriage. A pair of bearing rods is respectively interposed in each of the recesses to form a bearing roller surface. On each side of the device is a pair of opposing parallel rack gears, one integral with the base and the other integral with the carriage. These rack gears work in conjunction with each other to communicate with associated pinion gears to enable controlled movement of the carriage relative to the base. The pinions are configured with retaining through holes to freely secure an associated ball bearing. As the bearings travel along the bearing rolling surfaces, the pinions rotate as they travel in the longitudinal direction.

Rack and pinion linear slide read/write head positioning device

A reel brake of a magnetic tape single-reel cartridge is released by a contact member positioned in non-rotational contact with the reel brake release button to prevent wear, vibration and noise in the mechanism. One embodiment places a spindle in a centering cone of a hub which operatively engages the tape reel. The centering cone rotates relative to the spindle which is in stationary contact with the release button. A second embodiment involves use of a non-rotating center shaft of a motor which has a rotor that rotates about the shaft. The stationary shaft contacts the release button. A third embodiment extends a stationary post through a hollow rotating motor shaft to contact the release button.

Tape cartridge reel brake release technique

A pneumatic compliant tape guidance device for pneumatically applying a biasing load to a passing tape media. The tape guidance device includes at least one guide button and associated cylinder in which the guide button travels. It also includes a supply port which provides the input for a pressure and/or a vacuum to a pressurized chamber which couples the supply port with the cylinder. The guide button position and its applied pressure are controlled by a compressor which controls the amount of air pressure applied to the guide button through the supply port. The pneumatic compliant tape guidance applies pressure to the top edge or bottom edge of the tape media. The guide button may be configured to travel over a support tube which transfers the pressure/vacuum applied at the supply port to the guide button. The amount of pressure the guide button applies to the passing tape media is determined by the pressure/vacuum which is applied by a pneumatic source to the supply port. The pneumatic compliant tape guidance device enables the present invention to apply a predetermined pressure to the tape media, to change the amount of pressure quickly and easily, and can be used in multiple configurations to apply a specific customized pressure profile to a traveling tape.

Pneumatic compliant tape guidance device

Robot gripper jaw apparatus is disclosed that is suited for grasping a media cartridge in a robot-controlled media library, or for grasping other objects. The gripper jaw apparatus employs a novel circular cam which reduces the amount of torque required to operate the gripper jaws. This allows use of a relatively small servo motor. The use of a circular cam additionally decreases the overall size and complexity of the gripper apparatus as compared to conventional gripper mechanisms. The gripper apparatus provides for an easily controllable robot gripper jaw mechanism for grasping a media cartridge wherein the force applied by the gripper jaw mechanism does not damage the media cartridge being grasped, due to the use of a flat spring which limits the force applied to the media cartridge. In addition, the gripper apparatus does not require that the gripper drive servo motor be reversed in order to release the media cartridge. Therefore, the gripper jaw servo motor need only rotate in one direction. This uni-directional servo motor motion reduces the complexity of the gripper controlling electronics and also reduces servo motor brush wear.

Gripper apparatus for use in a robotics system

The positioner for a magnetic tape cartridge magazine uses a companion cartridge magazine that holds a plurality of preloaded magnetic tape cartridges to individually access any one of the plurality of magnetic tape cartridges held by the cartridge magazine. The positioner of the present invention is able to move the cartridge magazine in a vertical direction, either up or down, such that an associated magnetic tape cartridge loader is able to selectively access any one of the plurality of magnetic tape cartridges loaded in the cartridge magazine. The positioner and loader each contain only one motor: one in the positioner for controlling the vertical motion of the cartridge magazine, one in the loader for loading a magnetic tape cartridge from the cartridge magazine into the associated tape drive. The width of the positioner is equal to or less than the width of the associated tape drive so that two positioner/loader-tape drive units can be mounted side by side.

Positioner for magnetic tape cartridge magazine

The autoloader for magnetic tape cartridges uses a companion autoloader magazine that holds a plurality of preloaded magnetic tape cartridges to individually access any one of the plurality of magnetic tape cartridges held by the magazine. The autoloader of the present invention is able to move an associated magazine containing a plurality of preloaded magnetic tape cartridges in a vertical direction, either up or down, such that the autoloader is able to selectively access any one of the plurality of magnetic tape cartridges loaded in the magazine. The autoloader contains only two motors: one for controlling the vertical motion of the magazine, one for loading a magnetic tape cartridge from the magazine into the associated tape drive. The width of the autoloader is equal to or less than the width of the associated tape drive so that two autoloader-tape drive units can be mounted side by side.

Autoloader for magnetic tape cartridges

The loader for magnetic tape cartridges uses a receiver that holds a single magnetic tape cartridge or a companion cartridge magazine that holds a plurality of preloaded magnetic tape cartridges to individually access any one of the plurality of magnetic tape cartridges held by the magazine. The loader of the present invention is able to move a magnetic tape cartridge from the receiver or a magazine into the associate tape drive without the use of a friction feed drive. The loader contains only one motor for loading a magnetic tape cartridge from the magazine into the associated tape drive. The width of the loader is equal to or less than the width of the associated tape drive so that two loader-tape drive units can be mounted side by side.

Growing community of inventors

Louisville, CO, United States of America

Lynn C Jacobs