Inter-row transfer unit for moving tape cartridges between rows of library systems
US6457928B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 4, 1999 |
| Grant date | Oct 1, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 4, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG11B17/225
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An easily installed inter-row transfer unit is disclosed employing a movable cartridge bin assembly suspended via linkage from a pair of bearing blocks, wherein the resulting bin assembly carriage travels horizontally along a support housing extending between front-to-back arrangements of rows of library systems, to enable expansion of the library systems into very large mass storage systems. The pair of bearing blocks of the bin assembly carriage are spread or closed to respectively raise or lower the bin assembly from or into a respective library system. Thus, vertical as well as horizontal motions of the bearing blocks are controlled by a motor/cable drum drive device secured to the support housing. In a preferred embodiment, a trapdoor mechanism and a cooperating roller support mechanism are used to enable reversing the direction of horizontal translation of the bin assembly carriage with a single motor/cable drum drive device. Various other embodiments and modifications are illustrated.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.