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. 26, 1998
Filed:
Dec. 22, 1995
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 processes removable data storage media such as optical disks, magnetic diskettes, or tape media. The stackloader removably couples to a storage drive, such as by plugging into a slot of the host computer. The stackloader has a plug portion integral with a housing portion, the plug portion plugging into the host computer and the housing portion housing a magazine containing the removable media. The stackloader includes 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 locking mechanism selectively locks and unlocks the cartridges to prevent improper removal of cartridges from the magazine. Another aspect of the invention includes a method for operating a media stackloader, supporting operations needed to add new cartridges to a magazine, remove existing cartridges, read data from a cartridge, write data to a cartridge, audit the status of cartridges in a magazine, and aid the operator in exchanging mounted magazines and cartridges with different, un-mounted magazines or cartridges.