Patent · US Expired

Guide rail switches for storage libraries

US6539876B1 · kind B1 · utility

33Cited by
7References
4Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 28, 2001
Grant dateApr 1, 2003
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 28, 2021

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG11B17/225
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A guide rail switch for a robotic track system is provided, the robotic track system comprising at least one horizontal guide rail, at least one vertical guide rail, and at least one robot that can move along the guide rails. The switch comprises a frame coupled to the horizontal guide rail and the vertical guide rail, and a moving joint coupled to the frame, wherein the moving joint can move between a first and second position. A first rail section is coupled to the moving joint, wherein the first track section connects to the horizontal guide rail when the moving joint is in the first position. A second rail section coupled to the moving joint, wherein the second track section connects to the vertical guide rail when the moving joint is in the second position. This switch allows the robot to move between the vertical and horizontal rail depending on which position the switch is in.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.