Data processing: generic control systems or specific application – Specific application – apparatus or process – Article handling
Reexamination Certificate
1998-04-17
2001-03-06
Sheikh, Ayaz R. (Department: 2781)
Data processing: generic control systems or specific application
Specific application, apparatus or process
Article handling
C700S170000, C700S173000, C700S214000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06198984
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention relates generally to electromechanical devices, and more specifically to a library for storing cartridges of data-storage media, such as magnetic tape, and for providing read/write access to the stored media.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Because today's computer users often store large volumes of information on computer systems, it has become increasingly more important to backup this information to non-volatile storage media, such as magnetic tape or CD-ROM (Compact-Disc Read-Only Memory), and to archive this media so that the stored information can be easily retrieved. Furthermore, as the amount of a user's backed-up data increases, he often archives the storage media with the aid of a computer to reduce inventory errors or other errors that may occur when the storage media are manually archived.
One type of device that is often used to archive data-storage media is a data storage library. Typically, the library is interfaced to a host computer system, and includes a media drive for reading data from and writing data to the storage media, a section for archiving the storage media, a section where an operator can load and unload the storage media, and a mechanism for transporting the storage media among the load/unload section, the archive section, and the drive. By communicating with or controlling the library, the host computer system can keep track of the specific information stored on a particular storage medium and where in the library the particular storage medium is located. Thus, when one wishes to retrieve specific archived information, the host computer can control the transport mechanism to retrieve the storage medium containing the specific information and to insert the storage medium into the media drive so that the computer can access the information.
A problem with such data storage libraries is that the on-board transport mechanism often requires a relatively large operating space, and thus significantly reduces the amount of space available for media storage.
Furthermore, in today's highly computerized environment, there are many interface protocols and formats, including SCSI, fiber-channel, and ultra-wide interfaces. Therefore, a manufacturer often must make costly and complex modifications to a library so that it can properly interface with a customer's computer system. Alternatively, the manufacturer can produce different versions of the library, one version for each interface protocol and format. But this also significantly increases overall manufacturing costs.
Additionally, many computer users want a storage library to be rack-mountable so that it can be used to archive information from an entire computer network. But many libraries cannot be rack mounted because they are not properly sized to fit within the standard rack space or because parts of the library, such as an open door, will encroach on the rack space occupied by a component mounted next to the library. Furthermore, many of the libraries that are rack-mountable use the allotted rack space inefficiently. For example, such libraries may utilize the full width of the rack space but not the full depth. Moreover, many users want the storage library to be mountable within a fraction of a standard rack width but to still have a relatively large information storage capacity.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a library is provided for storing a cartridge of data-storage media. The library includes a chassis and includes cartridge slots, a media drive, a cartridge transporter having a cam mechanism, and transporter and cam drive assemblies all located within the chassis. The cartridge slots each have an outer slot opening that faces outward of the chassis and an inner slot opening that faces inward of the chassis, and each slot allows insertion and removal of the cartridge through both of the respective inner and outer slot openings. The media drive has a cartridge opening that faces the inner slot openings and receives and ejects the cartridge via this opening. The cartridge transporter is located between the slots and the media drive and includes a first transporter opening that faces the slots, a second transporter opening that faces the drive, a cartridge passage that extends between the first and second transporter openings, a first roller arm that is located at a side thereof toward the first transporter opening, a second roller arm that is located at a side thereof toward the second transporter opening, a cam mechanism that moves the first and second roller arms, and a roller mechanism that includes a first roller mounted to the first roller arm and a second roller mounted to the second roller arm and that moves the cartridge through the cartridge passage. The transporter drive assembly moves the cartridge transporter to align the first transporter opening with the inner slot opening of a selected slot or to align the second transporter opening with the cartridge opening of the media drive. The cam drive assembly moves the cam mechanism to cause the first roller of the first roller arm to engage the cartridge while the first roller moves the cartridge between the cartridge transporter and the selected slot, or to cause the second roller of the second roller arm to engage the cartridge while the second roller moves the cartridge between the cartridge transporter and the media drive. The library also includes a circuit that controls the operation of the transporter and cam drive assemblies.
Such a transporter requires significantly less operating space than conventional transporters. Thus, for a given size, such a storage library has a significantly greater storage capacity than many conventional libraries. Furthermore, such a transporter allows a library to be sized for more efficient use of rack space by allowing the library to occupy the full rack depth. Additionally, such a transporter also allows a library to have a width that is a fraction of a rack width. Moreover, because the transporter allows a library to utilize the full rack depth, a library having a fractional rack width can still have a relatively large data-storage capacity.
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Fleckenstein Allen E.
Searle Nathan H.
Advanced Digital Information Corporation
Jean Frantz Blanchard
Seed IP Law Group PLLC
Sheikh Ayaz R.
LandOfFree
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