Exabyte Corporation

Storage Technology Corporation

Automated Cartridge Libraries, Inc.

Zoltan L Herger

Vladimir Nejezchleb

Sanford Platter

August P Epina

Richard E Sills

Dennis R Olmsted

Howard L Derby

An autoloading apparatus for alternately, sequentially loading magnetic tape cartridges into and unloading them from an adjacent magnetic tape drive includes a vertically oriented tape cartridge chute for containing a manually stacked plurality of tape cartridges to be subsequently sequentially loaded by gravity into the tape drive, an unload storage enclosure for storing a plurality of tape cartridges removed by the autoloading apparatus from the magnetic tape drive, a cartridge unloading mechanism responsive to opening of the cartridge door of the magnetic tape drive and having a hook and cartridge sleeve arrangement for engaging and holding a cartridge resident in the magnetic tape drive and for retractably moving that cartridge to a position where it is released by gravity into the unloading storage enclosure, and a cartridge loading mechanism operative in alternating sequence with the cartridge unloading mechanism for controlling a hinged slide at the bottom of the tape cartridge chute for releasing the bottom one of the stacked plurality of tape cartridges therein for entry by gravity into the open cartridge door of the magnetic tape drive, while retaining the remaining stacked plurality of tape cartridges in the tape cartridge chute, for then closing the hinged slide and releasing the remaining stacked plurality of tape cartridges against the closed hinged slide, and for finally closing the open cartridge door by urging a lever against it.

Tape drive autoloader apparatus for 8 mm magnetic tape cartridges

An automated magnetic tape cartridge library system includes a cabinet (24) having a door (26) removably and pivotally connected thereto. The cabinet (24) houses a plurality of tape drives (56A-56E) and a plurality of racks (70) wherein magnetic tape cartridges are stored. A cartridge transport assembly (100) serves to retrieve a cartridge from a rack (70) and to load the cartridge into a target tape drive (56), and vice versa. Movement of the cartridge transport assembly (100) along X, Y and Z rectangular coordinate axes is effected by X, Y, and Z displacement systems (104, 106, 108). The cartridge transport assembly (100) and the X, Y and Z displacement systems (104, 106, 108) are all mounted on the removable, pivotal door (26). The cartridge transport assembly (100) includes a pair of engagement fingers (402A, 402B) which engage a selected cartridge upon contact with the cartridge. In an engagement mode, engagement fingers (402A, 402B) are configured and oriented to engage notches provided on opposite edges of standard 8 mm magnetic tape cartridge such that, upon engagement, the cartridge is locked between the fingers (402A, 402B) without the need of further locking mechanisms. Portions of the linkage means of the cartridge transport assembly (100) dually function as ram elements (452A, 452B) for closing a tape drive door (60) once a cartridge is loaded into a target tape drive (56).

Cartridge library system and method of operation thereof

An automated magnetic tape cartridge library system includes a cabinet (24) having a door (26) removably and pivotally connected thereto. The cabinet (24) houses a plurality of tape drives (56A-56E) and a plurality of racks (70) wherein magnetic tape cartridges are stored. A cartridge transport assembly (100) serves to retrieve a cartridge from a rack (70) and to load the cartridge into a target tape drive (56), and vice versa. Movement of the cartridge transport assembly (100) along X, Y, and Z rectangular coordinate axes is effected by X, Y, and Z displacement systems (104, 106, 108). The cartridge transport assembly (100) and the X, Y, and Z displacement systems (104, 106, 108) are all mounted on the removable, pivotal door (26). The cartridge transport assembly (100) includes a pair of engagement fingers (402A, 402B) which engage a selected cartridge upon contact with the cartridge. In an engagement mode, engagement fingers (402A, 402B) are configured and oriented to engage notches provided on opposite edges of standard 8 mm magnetic tape cartridge such that, upon engagement, the cartridge is locked between the fingers (402A, 402B) without the need of further locking mechanisms. Portions of the linkage means of the cartridge transport assembly (100) dually function as ram elements (452A, 452B) for closing a tape drive door (60) once a cartridge is loaded into a target tape drive (56).

Cartridge transport assembly and method of operation thereof

Cleaning apparatus for removing foreign material from the front or oxide-covered surface of a magnetic recording tape. A sharp edged blade is mounted near a pad of open-cell reticulated foam material, and in close proximity to the front surface of a magnetic tape. A source of negative pressure is coupled to the region of the blade and cell and when actuated serves to draw the tape against the blade and foam material. Foreign material removed from the surface of the tape is embedded in the foam pad, and collected upon the blade. Air flow effected by the negative pressure area serves to transport some of the contaminants away from the region about the blade and foam pad.

Growing community of inventors

Boulder, CO, United States of America

Zoltan L Herger