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:
Dec. 21, 1999
Filed:
Jul. 24, 1998
Brad Filkins, Lafayette, CO (US);
William R Brennan, Jr, Longmont, CO (US);
Carl W Fabian, Longmont, CO (US);
Exabyte Corporation, Boulder, CO (US);
Abstract
An automated cartridge library (2230) has a cartridge transport system (2240) which transports cartridges of information storage media between a cartridge storage section (2234) and a drive section (2238). The cartridge storage section includes a plurality of stacked magazine-bearing drums (2235) and a entry/exit magazine carrier (2236). The entry/exit magazine carrier linearly reciprocates from a docking position to an entry/exit port position, thereby carrying an entry/exit magazine (70) carried thereby between the docking position and the entry/exit position. The entry/exit magazine is accessible by the cartridge transport system when in the docking position, and manually accessible through a entry/exit door (2310) when at the entry/exit position. At the entry/exit position the entry/exit magazine carrier facilitates removal of the entry/exit magazine or cartridges therefrom through the entry/exit door but precludes manual penetration into the interior of the cabinet beyond the magazine carrier. At the entry/exit position the entry/exit magazine carrier is positioned substantially flush against a cabinet wall wherein the entry/exit door is formed. The entry/exit magazine carrier comprises a multi-paneled carrier housing which is substantially closed except for a face oriented toward the entry/exit door. The library includes a controller (2246) which permits continued operation of the cartridge transport system while the entry/exit door is opened so long as the entry/exit magazine carrier is in the entry/exit position.