Quantum Corporation

Other

William A Yearsley

Jesse Baker

Scott M Rockwell

Christian Allen Todd

An apparatus includes a housing that is configured to receive and retain a plurality of removable storage media, and a shuffler that is positioned at least partially within the housing. The housing includes an open first end, an opposed, closed second end, a first channel that receives and retains a first subset of the plurality of removable storage media, and a second channel that receives and retains a second subset of the plurality of removable storage media. The first channel and the second channel are shaped to receive and retain the plurality of removable storage media in respective single-file rows via the open first end. The shuffler is movable between a resting position and a second position wherein the shuffler has been moved away from the resting position. The shuffler includes a rake that protrudes into the first channel to contact and move a first removable storage medium of the first subset of the plurality of removable storage media toward the open first end when the shuffler is moved from the resting position to the second position.

Storage apparatus for shuffling removable storage media

An automated tape library () includes a library housing () that is substantially rectangular box-shaped, including a first housing side (A), a second housing side (B), a housing rear (C), a housing top (D), a housing bottom (E), and a housing front (F). The library housing () defines a library width (W) that is less than or equal to approximately 550 millimeters and a library depth (D) that is at least approximately 1000 millimeters. The automated tape library () can further include a front door () that is movably coupled to the housing front (F) to move between a closed configuration (A) and an open configuration (B); wherein the library housing () defines a library interior (); and wherein full access to the library interior () is only provided through the front door () when the front door () has been moved to the open configuration (B). The automated tape library () can also include at least one tape drive () that is coupled to the front door ().

Reduced form factor, high-density, front-access only automated tape library

The technology disclosed herein enables a gripper to shuffle items of removable storage media within a storage apparatus for those items. In a particular embodiment, an apparatus includes a housing for items of removable storage media. A top channel and a bottom channel are shaped to accept and store the items in respective single-file rows via an opening at one end of the rows. The apparatus also includes a shuffler for moving a first subset of the items, including ones of the items located in the bottom channel, towards the opening. When in a resting position, the shuffler includes a catch located at the opening and is connected to a rake at a closed side of the housing at an opposite end from the opening. The rake moves the first subset towards the opening when a gripper grips the catch and pulls outward from the opening. The shuffler returns to the resting position when the gripper releases the catch.

Growing community of inventors

Centennial, CO, United States of America

William A Yearsley