Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval – Record transport with head stationary during transducing – Tape record
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-05
2001-08-07
Tupper, Robert S. (Department: 2652)
Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval
Record transport with head stationary during transducing
Tape record
Reexamination Certificate
active
06271983
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to automated tape library machines used for mass storage of data, and more particularly to an improved access port which allows removal of a tape cartridge while minimizing the risk of operator injury.
BACKGROUND ART
Automated tape library machines have been used to greatly increase the efficiency and ease at which large quantities of data, such as generated by a computer network, can be stored and accessed by external host systems. Such machines are well known in the art, and generally include a robotic unit that moves within a housing under control of a microprocessor to retrieve and load desired tape cartridges into a tape drive unit. Theses machines further include a customer access port (CAP) or door arranged to allow a user to insert and remove data storage cartridges into the automated tape library machine without taking the entire machine off-line.
The mechanical design of a CAP for any given tape library machine must satisfy a wide variety of design factors relating to particular functional, safety, aesthetic, economic, and reliability requirements. Of these design factors, safety is perhaps the most important. In other words, customer operation of a CAP must be safe at all times such that at no time can the operator be in danger of physical harm from the moving robotic mechanisms of the library. Known CAP arrangements typically provide an input slot for receiving a cartridge from the customer, and a mechanism that subsequently moves the inserted cartridge from the input slot into engagement with the robotic tape system. Other arrangements use a tape loading and unloading mechanism that rotates one or more inserted tape cartridges from a position in which the tapes face outwardly through an opening in the library housing, to a position in which the tapes face inwardly so as to be accessible by a transport/robotic mechanism. An example of such a rotary arrangement is provided in U.S. Pat. No. 4,779,151 to Lind et al.
However, known CAP arrangements that use mechanisms to transport a tape from a user accessible position to a robot accessible position typically suffer the drawback of requiring expensive and complicated mechanical arrangements in order to meet high speed tape loading/de-loading and reliability demands. Therefore, a need exists for a simple access port arrangement which is both reliable and does not compromise customer/user safety
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an automatic access port and method for controlling access to a tape retaining mechanism in a tape library machine which allows a tape to remain fixed in an initial cell position during loading and unloading, while preventing any potential contact between an operator and a robotic mechanism located inside the machine.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an access control method and an automatic access port for a tape library machine which is arranged to controllably rotate a door about a stationary tape retainer mechanism so as to allow operator access to the tape retainer mechanism when the door is in an open position, and robot/transport access to loaded tape cartridges when the door is in a closed position, wherein the open and closed positions prevent any potential contact between the operator and robot mechanism during loading and unloading of a tape into the library.
In accordance with these and other objects, the present invention provides an access port mounted to an automated tape cartridge library housing for allowing insertion and removal of tape cartridges from the library that includes a cartridge access opening formed in the library housing, a stationary cartridge retainer mechanism positioned within the access opening so that tape cartridges can be loaded and unloaded through the cartridge access opening, and a shell rotatably mounted adjacent the access opening and positioned to rotate about the stationary cartridge retainer mechanism. The shell includes an opening in the surface thereof to allow operator loading and unloading of a tape cartridge from the stationary cartridge retainer when the shell is rotated to an open position, and library access to the stationary cartridge retainer when the shell is rotated to a closed position. The rotatable shell and the shell opening are dimensioned relative to the cartridge access opening such that a portion of the shell is always positioned between an operator side of the access port and the inside of the tape library.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, an automatic rotary access port for an automated tape library utilizes a door arranged to rotate about a stationary tape holder to meet the above noted safety and performance criteria. The door is controllably rotatable between an open position that allows an operator to insert or remove tape cartridges from the stationary holder, and a closed position allowing access to a tape cartridge by a robot tape handling mechanism located within the library. Cartridges are inserted and removed with labels facing the robot side of the access port and remain fixed in an initial cell or slot position within the holder during the rotation. This simplifies the tape access mechanism required by a library robot in order to access a loaded tape cartridge. In addition, because a loaded rape cartridge remains stationary, reliability of cartridge positioning and alignment when accessed is improved. The door is formed as a shell having an opening therein dimensioned to accept insertion of a tape cartridge into an inner cavity of the shell for placement within a retaining slot. The shell is configured relative to a corresponding opening in an access panel or side in the housing of the library such that a portion of the shell is always positioned between an operator and the inside of the library machine. In a preferred embodiment, the shell is cylindrical shaped, and the opening in both the shell and tape library is smaller than a 90 degree arc in the outer surface of the shell, thereby insuring that a portion of the shell is always positioned between the operator and the inside of the library even during rotation of the shell.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, a method is provided for controlling access to a stationary tape retainer mechanism positioned within an access opening in an automated tape cartridge library housing for allowing insertion and removal of tape cartridges from the library, wherein the method includes positioning a door to rotate about the stationary cartridge retainer mechanism, the door comprising an opening in the surface thereof to allow operator loading and unloading of a tape cartridge from the stationary cartridge retainer when the door is rotated to an open position, and library access to the stationary cartridge retainer when the shell is rotated to a closed position. The door is selectively operated to rotate to either a closed position which allows a robotic mechanism within the library housing access to the tape retainer mechanism, or the open position to provide a barrier between the access opening and the inside of the library housing. The door and door opening are dimensioned relative to the cartridge access opening such that a portion of the door is always positioned between an operator side of the access port and the inside of the tape library irrespective of whether the door is in the open or closed position.
The above objects and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description of the best mode for carrying out the invention when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3504808 (1970-04-01), Carabateas
patent: 4287541 (1981-09-01), Tanahashi et al.
patent: 4458802 (1984-07-01), Maciver et al.
patent: 4498603 (1985-02-01), Wittenborg
patent: 4779151 (1988-10-01), Lind et al.
patent: 4879615 (1989-11-01), Teranishi et al.
patent: 4945429 (1990-07-01), Munro et al.
patent: 5278708 (1994-01-01), Appl
Aschenbrenner Mike A.
Carpenter Kipley T.
Brooks & Kushman P.C.
Storage Technology Corporation
Tupper Robert S.
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