Quantum Corporation

Thua Nang Dai

John C Owens

Ryan S Porter

Scott Ryan Patterson

Kim M Thomas

David Ray Berry

Peter A Johnson

Alexander Chan

Sam Wen

Christopher Lee Felton

Gary Eugene Sadler

Theodore James Oade

Paddy Eliot Collins

Dominic John Maglia

Pat Eliot Collins

Dominic John Maglin

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

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

Growing community of inventors

Colorado Springs, CO, United States of America

Thua Nang Dai