Philips Electronics North America Corporation

Plasmon Lms, Inc.

Scott R Patterson

Ryan S Porter

Gregory S Leger

Joseph A Stabile

An x-y positioning system having a reduced footprint for use in a tape library mountable in standard electronics racks incorporates a cantilevered x-axis frame movably mounted to a single y-axis rail. A rotation preventer is mounted to one end of the frame for stability. An elevator mounted to the x-axis frame for translation in that axis carries a gripper for cartridge handling. The gripper is aligned with individual cartridges contained in tape library magazines by the x and y motion of the elevator. The gripper mechanism provides pass-through handling of tape cartridges for insertion and removal from tape transport units and storage magazines.

Tape library cartridge manipulation x-y positioning system

A compact x-y position system employing a cantilevered frame for carrying an elevator, a gripper with z-axis motion capability mounted to the elevator and cartridge handling and storage including multiple removable magazines and a mailbox for cartridge insertion and disgorgement provide a complete cartridge manipulation apparatus for tape libraries. The x-y position system includes a y-axis rail with unlimited vertical expansion capability and a cantilevered x-axis frame mountable within a standard 19' electronics rack. The gripper mounted to an elevator carried by the x-axis frame is bidirectionally translatable in a z axis and includes a traction assembly having a belt drive train and reaction rollers for cartridge handling. The mailbox incorporates an aperture in an exposed face of the library with a movable door for blocking access to an interior bay of the tape library. An ejection mechanism is incorporated for cartridges inserted into the mailbox by the gripper. The movable door and ejection mechanism are both operable by the gripper. Multiple magazines, each having a vertically stacked series of cartridge storage slots, are mounted within the library, and sensors for a library closure door and individual access to the magazines allows efficient cartridge configuration control.

Tape library cartridge manipulation apparatus

A cartridge manipulation gripper with bidirectional z-axis translation is mountable on an x-y positioning system for cartridge handling in a tape Library. The gripper incorporates a traction assembly for frictionally engaging a cartridge and drawing the cartridge through the gripper. The traction assembly includes a belt drive train mounted to a first side of the gripper frame and a reaction roller assembly mounted to a second side of the gripper frame opposite the belt drive train. Bidirectional translation of the gripper allows engagement by the traction and reaction roller assemblies with cartridges stored in a plurality of magazines and tape drive assemblies mounted in an opposing orientation with the x-y positioning system and gripper mounted intermediate the tape drives and magazines.

Tape library cartridge manipulation gripper with z-axis translation

A cartridge handling and storage apparatus for use with a multiple axis cartridge handling system includes a mailbox for receiving and disgorging cartridges from a tape library. The mailbox incorporates an aperture in an exposed face of the library, and a door for blocking access to an interior bay of the tape library which is movable by the cartridge handling system for passing cartridges through the mailbox. An ejecting mechanism is provided for cartridges inserted into the mailbox by the cartridge handling system and is actuated by the cartridge handling system. Sensors for a tape library closure door and multi-cartridge magazines held in the library provide the ability for configuration control on cartridges inserted to or removed from the library directly bypassing the mailbox.

Growing community of inventors

Colorado Springs, CO, United States of America

Scott R Patterson