The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 19, 1998
Filed:
Sep. 16, 1996
Chi-Hung Dang, Tucson, AZ (US);
Kamal Emile Dimitri, Tucson, AZ (US);
John Edward Kulakowski, Tucson, AZ (US);
Rodney Jerome Means, Tucson, AZ (US);
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);
Abstract
A media stackloader for processing media in one or more drives of a personal computer is provided where the stackloader plugs into a half slot or full slot (51/4) inch of the personal computer. The stackloader has a plug portion which is integral with a housing portion, the plug portion plugging into the slot and the housing portion housing a magazine which contains media, such as optical disk cartridges. The stackloader is provided with a device for moving the magazine vertically within the housing to align selected cartridges with an opening in one of the drives of the personal computer. After the cartridge is aligned, a device is employed for moving the cartridge horizontally into the drive for processing and, after processing, for withdrawing the cartridge from the drive back into the magazine. A device is provided for locking and unlocking the cartridges, the operator unlocking the cartridges when it is desired to remove from or add cartridges to the magazine. In the preferred embodiment the stackloader receives its power from the personal computer and employs an autochanger controller which is connected to a microprocessor on the mother board of the personal computer via a SCSI interface. The autochanger controller operates the devices for vertically moving the magazine and horizontally moving the cartridges as well as operating sensing and indicating functions. The stackloader enables a small user to operate a mini-library of cartridges in a standard home type personal computer.