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:
Nov. 09, 2004
Filed:
Nov. 09, 2001
Haavard Hoelsaeter, Oslo, NO;
Truls Simensen, Hagan, NO;
Tandberg Data ASA, Oslo, NO;
Abstract
A magnetic tape cartridge loader and unloader includes a platform positionable in front of a storage slot of a storage magazine and having a pivotable gripper that releases the cartridge from the storage slot, engages and pulls the cartridge from the slot onto the platform with a hook, engages a back edge of the cartridge with a second hook, and pushes the cartridge into a tape streaming device. The reverse operation is performed to unload the cartridge from the tape streaming device and store it in the storage magazine. The platform includes a locking device to hold the cartridge in position during movement of the platform. The gripper has two oppositely directed spring loaded hooks to engage the cartridge. The gripper is driven laterally by a threaded nut on a lead screw and is pivoted between engaging and disengaging positions of the cartridge engaging hook by a spur gear and gear segment arrangement on a guide along which the gripper slides. Sensors sense the position of the gripper to determine if a cartridge is engaged and to calibrate the automatic operation of the apparatus.