Dynamic information storage or retrieval – Information location or remote operator actuated control – Selective addressing of storage medium
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-28
2003-06-03
Davis, David (Department: 2652)
Dynamic information storage or retrieval
Information location or remote operator actuated control
Selective addressing of storage medium
Reexamination Certificate
active
06574173
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention is directed to a total axis, self adjusting pass-through port. Specifically, the present invention is directed to a pass-through port for use with library storage modules that facilitates various angles between the library storage modules, varying distances between the library storage modules, and varying heights of the library storage modules.
2. Description of Related Art
The use of library storage modules is generally known in the art. Library storage modules allow for the storage and retrieval of thousands of magnetic tape cartridges for use with computing systems. A typical library storage module is described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,864,511 issued to Moy et al., which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
It is also known to use pass-through ports to facilitate the passing of magnetic tape cartridges from one library storage module to another.
FIG. 1
is a diagram illustrating the prior art pass-through port. As shown in
FIG. 1
, the pass-through port is comprised of multiple storage cells
132
adapted to ride upon a carriage
384
for transference between the library storage modules. The array of storage cells
132
are spring-loaded upon a pivot
386
attached to the carriage
384
, and includes a pair of cam followers
388
adapted to follow a cam surface
390
from one library storage module to the other. The carriage
384
is further coupled to a lead screw
392
by a nut (not shown), which pulls the carriage
384
along the lead screw
392
. In order to guide the carriage
384
along the lead screw
392
, the carriage
384
is further coupled to a pair of guide rods
396
.
When a drive motor
398
rotates the lead screw
392
, the carriage
384
is pulled along the lead screw
392
by the nut
394
, but the pivoting array of cells
132
following the cam surface
390
enable the cells
132
to be positioned advantageously for incorporation with either library storage module. That is, the array of cells
132
is initially positioned within one library storage module in a manner similar to each of the other storage cells
132
mounted upon the outer housing of the library storage module for access by a robotic arm. Thereafter, upon rotation of the lead screw
392
by the motor
398
, the array of cells
132
are rotated, as shown by the dashed arrows in
FIG. 1
, to a position within the interconnected library storage module for access by its respective robotic arm. The carriage
384
does not enter the arm swing space so that motions of the robotic arm may continue during rotation.
FIGS. 2 and 3
show another prior art pass-through port in which, instead of guide rods
396
, the carriage
384
a
is guided by a simple groove
395
and pin
397
arrangement which maintains its stability. Like the pass-through port
382
shown in
FIG. 1
, the pass through port
382
a
includes a pair of cam surfaces
390
a
and
390
b
each of which are referenced to their respective library storage modules. A lead screw
392
a
and nut
394
a
arrangement provides the motive force for translating the carriage
384
a
between the library storage modules. A torsion spring
384
is used to pivot the cells
132
just as in the pass-through port
382
of FIG.
1
.
These prior art pass-through ports are limited, however, to a specific angle between library storage modules, a specific distance between library storage modules, and library storage modules that are of the same height. As a consequence, the prior art pass-through ports are very difficult to align due to variations in all directions from one library storage module to another. Thus, there is a need for new technology to allow a library storage module to pass tape cartridges from itself to other dissimilar library storage modules or library modules placed in different positions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The total axis, self adjusting pass-through port according to this invention includes a tape carrier attached to a carriage for movement between two library storage modules (LSMs). The carriage is further coupled to a drive belt and guide rail assembly. The drive belt moves the carriage from one LSM terminal port, associated with a sending LSM, to another, associated with a receiving LSM, when driven by the drive motor. The guide rail assembly guides the carriage along the path between LSM terminal ports. One or both of the LSM terminal ports may be hinged to the guide rail assembly to facilitate varying angles between the LSMs.
The LSM terminal ports are two separate devices that may be mounted on respective LSMs and may be mounted in various positions relative to one another. Thus, the use of the two separate LSM terminal ports helps to facilitate the placement of LSMs in various positions relative to one another and also helps to facilitate the use of LSMs having different radii.
The tape carrier includes a cam follower which follows cam surfaces in the LSM terminal ports as the tape carrier is moved from one LSM terminal port to the other LSM terminal port, and vice versa. The cam follower engaging the cam surfaces provides a mechanism by which the tape carrier is rotated about a pivot such that the tape carrier may be rotated into a position relative to the LSMs that allows an associated robotic arm to retrieve tape cartridges present in the tape carrier.
The guide rail assembly may be comprised of telescopic guide rails having a master guide rail and a slave guide rail which is configured such that it may slide in and out of the master guide rail to thereby provide a telescopic motion of the guide rails. The use of telescopic guide rails in the guide rail assembly allows for varying distances between the LSM terminal ports, and hence varying distances between the LSMs. The varying distances may be a-result of varying angles between the LSMs, varying heights between the LSMs, placement of the LSMs and the like.
As a further feature, the guide rail assembly may include a ball joint for attachment of the guide rail assembly to one or more of the LSM terminal ports. The ball joint provides for three degrees of rotation about an attachment point. Thus, by using the ball joint, the LSM terminal ports may be positioned in varying positions relative to one another. The combination of the ball joint, telescoping guide rails, and the hinged LSM terminal port provides for a tape cartridge pass-through port that is capable of facilitating varying heights, angles, and distances between LSMs.
In addition, the LSM terminal ports may include orientation devices which help to orient the tape carrier so that the tape carrier is in a proper position when engaged with the LSM terminal port. When the orientation devices contact an orientation device engagement device on the tape carrier, the engagement between the two devices causes the tape carrier to orient to a position from which a robotic arm associated with the receiving LSM may retrieve tape cartridges.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5429470 (1995-07-01), Nicol et al.
patent: 5548521 (1996-08-01), Krayer et al.
patent: 5663938 (1997-09-01), Dang et al.
patent: 6011669 (2000-01-01), Apple et al.
patent: 6064544 (2000-05-01), Wada
patent: 0 276 967 (1988-08-01), None
Brooks & Kushman P.C.
Davis David
Storage Technology Corporation
LandOfFree
Total axis, self adjusting pass-through port does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Total axis, self adjusting pass-through port, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Total axis, self adjusting pass-through port will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3162628