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:
Aug. 11, 1998
Filed:
May. 16, 1997
Craig Thomas Danielson, Tucson, AZ (US);
James Leroy Overacker, Tucson, AZ (US);
Gustave Christian Stern, Tucson, AZ (US);
Martin David Williams, Tucson, AZ (US);
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);
Abstract
The present invention provides a flexible cable and support band assembly which is dynamically stable at high speeds over long lengths. This has been accomplished by cupping both the flexible cable and the support band in cross section along their lengths so that they cup one within the other to essentially move as a unit even though they are not attached except at their ends. A single support band can be employed to support multiple flexible cables. Additional support has been provided by employing resilient spaced apart strips along a track upon which the one or more flexible cables and support band slide. The resilient strips center the travel of the one or more flexible cables and support band and minimize rocking motion and vibration. Still further the one or more flexible cables and support band are arranged with respect to a robotic media library so that a single length of the one or more flexible cables and the support band will serve a range of lengths of the library.