Storage Technology Corporation

Kiosk Information Systems, Inc.

Oracle America, Inc.

Roger Harry Grow

Richard L Malone

Charles Newsom

Daniel James Plutt

Jason Gary Weihe

James L Apple

Donald W Stark

Timothy Craig Ostwald

Michael Lawrence Leonhardt

Daniel W Underkofler

Phillip Monroe Morgan

William Thomas Veno

Kenneth Lee Manes

Donald Robert Manes

Wayne Richard Hemzacek

Dan Plutt

Sanjiv K Gupta

Bernard Alan Johnson

Randal D Fird

A docking module for use in a modular locking system includes a locking daughter board configured to selectively operate a locking mechanism into locking and unlocking positions. The docking module further includes an ID daughter board configured to interact with an identifier incorporated into a latching body of a tangible item in order to generate identification information regarding the tangible item. The ID daughter board is configured to transmit the identification information to a remote computer. The locking daughter board is configured to receive instructions from the remote computer regarding whether to selectively move the locking mechanism into the locking and unlocking positions.

Docking modules for controlling access to goods or services

A system for receiving and auditing objects according to an embodiment of the invention includes a housing having a front panel, a receiving area, an auditing area, and a drop chute, wherein the receiving area includes a shelf, the front panel includes an opening, a door assembly having a pushing wall and a second pushing wall and assembly moveable between an open position in which an object can be inserted through the opening and into the receiving area, and a closed position in which the door assembly prevents access to the receiving area, wherein the pushing wall moves the object from the shelf into the auditing area as the door assembly closed; and a control system coupled to a camera and switch, wherein the door assembly activates the switch when it is in the closed position, the control system images the object with the camera in response to switch activation.

Camera audit accepter mechanism and camera audit dispensing mechanism

Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to a locker bay system. Specifically, in some embodiments the locker bay includes a catch loop coupled to the locker door and a locking mechanism that releaseably secures the catch loop to lock and unlock the locker bay. The locking mechanism, in some embodiments, includes a lock bar that pulls and pushes the catch loop in and out of the lock bar to lock and unlock the locker bay.

Systems and methods for modular locking

An automated retail system according to embodiments of the present invention includes a front and/or rear product rack, each rack having a plurality of bins, each of which has a product door, the system further including a basket moveable along an x-y plane on a rail system to selectively open a product door of a product bin to permit the product within the bin to fall into the basket, the basket movable to a product delivery position to release the product from the basket. Such a system may include sensors and/or scanners to determine contents of each bin, such that any product may be placed in any bin, and inventory of each bin or all bins may be determined at any time. The basket may be configured to move in x and y but not z directions, and may also serve as the sole actuation mechanism for opening the doors.

Systems and methods for merchandise display, sale and inventory control

Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to a modular system for facilitating automated transactions. Specifically, in some embodiments a modular system includes a plurality of lock modules that are controlled by one or more primary lock control boards. The lock modules control access to products or services through one or more daughter boards.

Systems and methods for locking and docking

A device and method for simultaneously manipulating multiple data storage cartridges or other storage elements in a storage library. The device housing includes an opening for receiving data storage cartridges. A gripping mechanism extends from the opening. The gripping mechanism is adapted to grip a data storage cartridge to be retrieved and to urge the data storage cartridge into the opening. One or more transport mechanisms are attached to one or more inner walls of the housing. The transport mechanisms are adapted such that once a data storage cartridge moves into the opening, the transport mechanisms will urge the data storage cartridge further into the opening until the data storage cartridge is held within the housing. The data storage cartridge can be moved further into the housing such that the gripping mechanism is free to collect additional cartridges.

Method of manipulating data storage elements

In one embodiment, an apparatus for a remote monitoring device is disclosed. The apparatus includes a casing to fit at least one of a storage location for storage media and handling mechanisms for the storage media, the storage location and the handling mechanisms being part of a media storage library, one or more monitoring devices within the casing to obtain from the media storage library at least one of environmental measurements and images of components in the media storage library, and a communication transmitter within the casing and communicatively coupled to the one or more monitoring devices to transmit at least one of data signals representing the at least one of environmental measurements and images of the components in the media storage library. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Remote monitoring device

In various embodiments, a self-clinching magnet (SCM) may be used to mount a magnet in a panel or for use in alignment. The SCM may include an outer shell with a clinching portion and an inner magnetic core. The clinching portion may hold the SCM in a hole in a panel by engaging sidewalls in the hole. The clinching portion may be positioned on the outer shell of the SCM so the SCM is flush with a side of the panel when the SCM is inserted into the panel. The SCM may be mounted in a door and a switch may be mounted to detect when the door is open or closed (by detecting the presence of the magnet). The SCM may also be used to align a tape magazine in a receiver.

Self-clinching magnet

Queue hand

A cartridge magazine is shown for placement in a robotic media library. The magazine body has two walls to guide a tape cartridge into a final stopping position. A prong extends into the cartridge from a first wall and an opening is formed in the second wall to permit a friction pad to contact an opposing side of the cartridge. The friction pad is mounted onto a lever that rotates upon a pivot outside a cartridge chamber on the magazine body. The lever is pushed by a spring to ordinarily extend the friction pad well into vacant cartridge chambers. An operator pad of the lever may extend out of the magazine body for engagement by an operator or by door pressures to retract the friction pad so that the cartridge becomes either disengaged, or slightly engaged with the friction pad.

Cartridge magazine with pivoting cartridge retention mechanism

A tape cartridge transport assembly for moving a tape cartridge between a first library and a second library includes a guide arrangement disposable between the first and second libraries, and a cartridge carrier that is moveable along the guide arrangement. The cartridge carrier includes a carrier body having an opening for receiving the tape cartridge, and a retention device associated with the carrier body. The retention device is engageable with the tape cartridge for retaining the tape cartridge in the carrier body as the cartridge carrier moves along the guide arrangement. The assembly further includes a drive mechanism associated with the cartridge carrier for automatically moving the cartridge carrier along the guide arrangement.

Apparatus for tape cartridge retention during transport

A data storage library having two inward facing storage arrays and two outward (i.e., back to back) facing arrays between the two inward facing arrays, such that an access device positioned to access one of the outward facing arrays can perform a rotation to be positioned to access one of the inward facing arrays. Thus a single access device can access all four arrays only by performing translations and rotations as necessary.

Double density data storage library using back to back array walls

A tape drive for use with magnetic tape includes a drive body and a cleaning member supported by the drive body. The tape drive also includes a tape guide moveably associated with the drive body, such that the tape guide is moveable between a tape-unloaded position and a tape-loaded position. When the tape guide moves between the tape-unloaded position and the tape-loaded position, the tape guide engages the cleaning member such that the cleaning member may remove debris from the tape guide.

Growing community of inventors

Lafayette, CO, United States of America

Roger Harry Grow