Cartridge loader for loading each of a plurality of cartridges into a cartridge insertion slot
US5050020A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 9, 1989 |
| Grant date | Sep 17, 1991 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 9, 2009 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG11B15/681
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The present invention provides an automated cartridge loader 10 of novel design for use with a cartridge drive 12. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sequentially loading cartridge loader 10 which allows the unattended storage of gigabytes of data. The loaders are adapted to be attached to a cartridge drive 12. The novel loaders of the present invention may comprise three moving components: the magazine 30, the pusher 91, and the gripper 93. Each moving component has its own drive motor 80, 94, 146. The magazine 30 has a plurality of slots 40 for holding cartridges 38 which are loaded into a cartridge drive 12. The pusher 91 of the present invention is aligned with the cartridge drive 12 and pushes the cartridges 38 into the cartridge drive 12. The gripper 93 closes on a cartridge 38 after it is ejected from the cartridge drive 12 and holds the cartridge 38 as the pusher 91 moves back to pull the cartridge 38 back into its slot 40 in the magazine 30. There is additionally provided a method of sequentially loading cartridges 38 into a cartridge drive 12 using the novel cartridge loader 10.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.