Autoloader for magnetic tape cartridges
US5041929A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 29, 1989 |
| Grant date | Aug 20, 1991 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 29, 2009 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG11B15/681
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The autoloader for magnetic tape cartridges uses a companion autoloader magazine that holds a plurality of preloaded magnetic tape cartridges to individually access any one of the plurality of magnetic tape cartridges held by the magazine. The autoloader of the present invention is able to move an associated magazine containing a plurality of preloaded magnetic tape cartridges in a vertical direction, either up or down, such that the autoloader is able to selectively access any one of the plurality of magnetic tape cartridges loaded in the magazine. The autoloader contains only two motors: one for controlling the vertical motion of the magazine, one for loading a magnetic tape cartridge from the magazine into the associated tape drive. The width of the autoloader is equal to or less than the width of the associated tape drive so that two autoloader-tape drive units can be mounted side by side.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.