Outer route for robots in a horizontal storage library
US6671580B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 28, 2001 |
| Grant date | Dec 30, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 28, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG11B17/225
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A system for directing robot movement in a storage library is provided, the library comprising at least one horizontal array of storage cells and at least one robot that moves along the horizontal array and can retrieve objects from and place objects into the storage cells. The system comprises a guide rail that runs along the length of the horizontal array and loops around from one end of the horizontal array to the other end. The robot may move along the guide rail in a continuous, unidirectional loop. If multiple robots are added to the library, they can be made to move in the same direction along looping guide rail, thus elimination contention among robot movements. If multiple horizontal arrays are stacked vertically within the library, the looping guide rail allows robots to loop around and return to the same level or move onto a different horizontal level.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.