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:
Sep. 24, 2002
Filed:
Apr. 06, 2000
Glendon D. Kappel, Eagan, MN (US);
Warren D. Pannkuk, Lakeville, MN (US);
Darren A. Groth, Fridley, MN (US);
Robert J. McPherson, Eden Prairie, MN (US);
Daniel R. Evanson, Prior Lake, MN (US);
Plasmon IDE, Inc., Eden Prairie, MN (US);
Abstract
An apparatus for picking and placing media supported in stores and drives of a data storage library without electrical actuation or separate mechanical actuation means of grasping and releasing the media's pick feature, the apparatus including: a carriage movable toward and away from the media, the media being supported in the stores and drives; at least one picker member pivotally attached to the carriage at a pivot point and having a latching portion adapted to engage the media's pick feature. The picker member is movable between an open state wherein the latching portion is spaced from the media's pick feature and a closed state wherein the latching portion engages the media's pick feature. The apparatus also includes a spring having a first end attached to the carriage and a second end attached to the picker member. The spring is alternately orientable between a first orientation wherein the spring biases the picker member toward the media and a second orientation wherein the spring biases the picker member away from the media. The movement of the picker member between the open state and the closed state and between the closed state and the open state is caused by movement of the picker member against the media supported in the stores and drives without any electrical or separate mechanical actuation means cooperating with the picker member.