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:
Apr. 01, 2003
Filed:
Dec. 28, 2001
James P. Campbell, Mead, CO (US);
Timothy C. Ostwald, Louisville, CO (US);
Storage Technology Corporation, Louisville, CO (US);
Abstract
A guide rail switch for a robotic track system is provided, the robotic track system comprising at least one horizontal guide rail, at least one vertical guide rail, and at least one robot that can move along the guide rails. The switch comprises a frame coupled to the horizontal guide rail and the vertical guide rail, and a moving joint coupled to the frame, wherein the moving joint can move between a first and second position. A first rail section is coupled to the moving joint, wherein the first track section connects to the horizontal guide rail when the moving joint is in the first position. A second rail section coupled to the moving joint, wherein the second track section connects to the vertical guide rail when the moving joint is in the second position. This switch allows the robot to move between the vertical and horizontal rail depending on which position the switch is in.